Municipality of North Cowichan
Special Council
REVISED AGENDA

Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 3:00 P.m. - 7:00 P.m.

Municipal Hall - Council Chambers & Electronically

This meeting which is open to the public, will be conducted in-person in Council Chambers and by video conference using the Cisco Webex platform, and will be streamed live and archived for viewing on demand at www.northcowichan.ca. All representations to Council form part of the public record.

 

Members of the public may attend the Municipal Hall [7030 Trans-Canada Highway] in person, or join the meeting electronically to participate during the 'Public Input' and 'Question Period' portions of the agenda. Please visit northcowichan.ca/virtualmeeting for instructions on how to connect online or you may dial 1.844.426.4405, enter 1# for English, enter the meeting ID 2771 713 6193, and then enter the meeting password 1111.

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

As soon as there is a quorum present after the time specified for the Council meeting, the Mayor shall call the meeting to order. If there is no quorum of Council present within 15 minutes of the scheduled time for the meeting, the Corporate Officer records the names of the members present and those absent, and adjourns the meeting until the next scheduled meeting.

2.

RESOLUTION TO CLOSE THE MEETING TO THE PUBLIC [3:00PM - 5:00 PM]

Any matters that must or may be closed to the public in accordance with section 90 of the Community Charter shall appear here. A resolution of Council must be passed during the open portion which states that the remainder of the meeting is to be closed, including the basis under the applicable subsection.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council close the meeting at ____ p.m. to the public on the basis of the following sections of the Community Charter:

  • 90(1)(c) labour relations or other employee relations;
  • 90(1)(e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, which the council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality.
  • 90(1)(g) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality.
  • 90(2)(d) a matter that, under another enactment, is such that the public must be excluded from the meeting:  Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, section 22(1) The head of a public body must refuse to disclose personal information to an applicant if the disclosure would be an unreasonable invasion of a third party's personal privacy.

2.1

Approval of in-camera meeting Agenda

Matters must be taken up in the order that they are listed unless changed at this time.

2.2

In-camera meeting items

2.2.1

Closed under sections 90(1)(c) Labour Relations, and 90(1)(g) Legal

2.2.2

Closed under section 90(1)(e) Land

2.2.3

Closed under Section 90(2)(d) Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, section 22(1) Personal Information 

2.3

Rise and Report

3.

RECESS UNTIL 5:00PM

4.

APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA

To consider any items of business not included in the Agenda that are of an urgent nature they must be introduced and approved at the time the agenda is adopted. Matters must be taken up in the order that they are listed unless changed at this time.

• Recommendation:

  THAT the agenda be adopted as circulated [or as amended].

5.

PUBLIC INPUT ON AGENDA ITEMS

Public Input is an opportunity for the public to provide feedback on matters included on the agenda. The maximum number of speakers to be heard during the public input period is limited to five (5), and each speaker is allotted up to a maximum of three (3) minutes to provide their input. Members of the public must register at least 10 minutes and not more than 30 minutes before the meeting using the webform available on North Cowichan’s website. Please visit Addressing Council to access the webform and for instructions on how to participate. Speakers are asked to state their name and residential address when commencing their address to Council, as per Council’s Public Input and Meeting Conduct Policy.

6.

PRESENTATIONS AND PETITIONS

6.1

Presenters

In accordance with Council’s Delegations and Presenters Policy, a presenter [person or organization] is invited to appear before Council and is not subject to the 10-minute speaking limit.

6.1.1

North Cowichan Fire Department Bi-annual Report [Jan-Jun]

Purpose: Ron French, Fire Chief, to present the Bi-annual Report (January – June 2025) from the North Cowichan Fire Department.

7.

UNFINISHED AND POSTPONED BUSINESS

This section includes matters that have been postponed to a certain time or referred to staff, a committee or some other organization or person, and shall be placed under this section when the matter is returned to Council for consideration.

8.

BYLAWS

Bylaws appearing under this section will be listed in order of readings as follows: (a) bylaws for adoption shall appear first, followed by (b) bylaws receiving third reading, then (c) bylaws receiving first and second or first three readings.

8.1

Parks and Recreation Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 4022, 2025 for adoption

Purpose: To consider adopting Parks and Recreation Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 4022, 2025 which received first 3 readings on July 16, 2025. If adopted this bylaw will update definitions, general conditions, titles of schedules and fees and charges.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council adopt Parks and Recreation Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 4022, 2025. 

8.2

Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 4024, 2025 (Waste Collection Fees) for adoption

Purpose: To consider adopting Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 4024, 2025 (Waste Collection Fees) which received first 3 readings on July 16, 2025. If adopted this bylaw will update the fees associated with the collection of garbage, organic waste and recyclables.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council adopt Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 4024, 2025 (Waste Collection Fees).

8.3

Municipal Fine Amendment Bylaw No. 4025, 2025 for adoption

Purpose: To consider adopting Municipal Fine Amendment Bylaw No. 4025, 2025 which received first 3 readings on July 16, 2025. If adopted this bylaw will include fines related to the Waste Collection Bylaw and the Sign Bylaw.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council adopt Municipal Fine Amendment Bylaw No. 4025, 2025.

9.

REPORTS

This section includes reports from staff requiring a decision of Council and/or staff presentations. Staff reports for information only are placed in the Consent Agenda.

9.1

2026 Budget Update and Timeline

Purpose: To provide Council with background information on the 2026-2030 financial plan, including budget projections, key cost drivers, and a proposed timeline for reports and presentations to be brought forward in the fall of 2025 and early 2026.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council endorses the 9.26% tax increase as proposed, and further that Council:

  1. Directs staff to create a robust digital engagement for the 2026 budget;
  2. Provides feedback on the proposed 2026 budget timeline; and,
  3. Reviews business plans with supplementals and capital requests at future meetings to establish the final property tax revenue increase needed for the 2026 budget.

9.2

Pre-stressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe/Ductile Iron Watermain Pipe - Scour Assessment, Mitigation, and Pipe Protection - [Cowichan River Pipe Protection Project Construction Contract Award]

Purpose: To seek Council approval to award the construction contract for the Cowichan River Pipe Protection Project.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council:

  1. Awards the Cowichan River Pipes Crossing Protection Project to Draycor Construction Ltd. with an initial cost of $992,664 and up to a maximum total cost of $4,500,000 to also cover the time and materials component of the project.
  2. Authorizes the Chief Administrative Officer to enter into a construction contract for up to $4,500,000 to carry out the above works.

9.3

Quamichan Park Road Water Main Replacement (Jaynes Road to Somenos Creek)

Purpose: To request authorization to add a capital project to the 2025 Financial Plan with an estimated budget of $630,000 to replace approximately 230 m of Asbestos Cement (AC) water main between Jaynes Road and Somenos Creek and to abandon another 80 m of AC water main between Murison Place and Quamichan Park Road.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council:

  1. Authorizes the allocation of $630,000 from the 2025 South End Water budget to:
     • Replace approximately 230 metres of water main along Quamichan Park Road (from Jaynes Road to Somenos Creek), and,
     • Decommission approximately 80 metres of water main between Murison Place and Quamichan Park Road.
  2. Authorizes the Chief Administrative Officer to enter into a construction contract for up to $630,000 to carry out the above works.

9.4

Bill 44 Compliance: Official Community Plan (OCP) & Zoned Capacity

Purpose: To provide Council with an analysis of Official Community Plan (OCP) designations and zoned capacity with respect to the requirements of the Local Government Act and to recommend that an associated OCP amendment be initiated.

• Recommendation:

  WHEREAS Local Government Act section 473.1(5) requires Council to review and, if necessary, adopt an official community plan that includes statements, maps and housing policies in accordance with subsections (3) and (4);

  AND WHEREAS Local Government Act section 481.7(2) requires Council to review and, if necessary, adopt a zoning bylaw to permit the use and density of use required to be permitted under that section;

  AND WHEREAS Council has reviewed the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw 2700 (as amended);

  THAT Council:

  1. Confirms that the map designations included in the Official Community Plan provide for a quantity of housing units in excess of the 20-year total number of housing units identified within the Municipality’s 2024 Interim Housing Needs Report;
  2. Directs staff to initiate an Official Community Plan amendment as described in the Planning Manager’s August 12, 2025 report to ensure that the statements included in the Official Community Plan also provide for the 20-year total number of housing units identified within the Municipality’s 2024 Interim Housing Needs Report; and,
  3. Confirms that Zoning Bylaw 2950 (as amended) permits the use and density necessary to accommodate at least the 20-year total number of housing units identified within the Municipality’s 2024 Interim Housing Needs Report.

9.5

2025 Updates – Draft Affordable Housing Policy

Purpose: To provide Council with background information on a revised Affordable Housing Policy and Implementation Plan (Attachment 1) and to seek Council's endorsement of the policy.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council adopts the Affordable Housing Policy and Implementation Plan, as attached to the August 12, 2025, report.

9.6

Foreshore Sublease in Chemainus to Jones Marine Group Ltd.

Purpose: To provide Council with background information on a Provincial water lot lease in Chemainus held by North Cowichan and to seek Council authorization to sublease the water lot to Jones Marine Group Ltd.

• Recommendation:
  1. That Council authorizes and directs the Chief Administrative Officer to sign the Foreshore Sublease Agreement with Jones Marine Group Ltd. for a ten-year sublease of foreshore property in Chemainus, described as Block B of District Lot 269, and District Lot 2014 within Cowichan District.

10.

NEW BUSINESS

This section includes external items that require a decision of Council, items that have been removed from the Consent Agenda, and motions submitted by Council members, where previous notice has been given, for Council consideration.

11.

QUESTION PERIOD

Members of the public shall be provided an opportunity to ask questions of Council regarding matters discussed at the meeting and shall be allotted up to 30 seconds each to ask their question. Question Period is limited to 15 minutes.

12.

ADJOURNMENT

Once all the business is done and over with, the Mayor may declare the meeting adjourned without requiring a resolution of Council.