Municipality of North Cowichan
Committee of the Whole
REVISED AGENDA

Tuesday, October 07, 2025 at 5:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

Municipal Hall - Council Chambers & Electronically

This meeting will be conducted by video conference using the Cisco Webex platform. This meeting, though electronic, is open to the public and will be streamed live and archived for viewing on demand at www.northcowichan.ca.

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 you can connect online or you may dial 1.844.426.4405, enter 1# for English, enter the meeting ID 2770 194 4643, 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.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Purpose: 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].

3.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

Purpose: To consider if there were any errors or omissions prior to adopting the minutes of previous meetings of Council.

3.1

Minutes from the September 9, 2025 meeting for adoption

• Recommendation:

  THAT the minutes of the meeting held September 9, 2025 be adopted, as circulated.

4.

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.

5.

STAFF REPORTS

This section includes reports from staff requiring a decision of Council and/or staff presentations.

5.1

Update on Quamichan Lake Water Quality and Aerator Trial

Purpose: To provide an update on the status of water quality in Quamichan Lake and seek direction on the program to trial aeration to improve lake water quality in lake enclosures in spring/summer 2026. A staff presentation will be provided at the meeting.

• Recommendation:

  THAT the Committee of the Whole directs staff to:

  1. conduct aerator trials as described in the report of the Senior Environmental Specialist, dated October 7, 2025, and report back to Council upon completion of the trials with an assessment of results and advise on the efficacy of full-scale aerator installation, and,
  2. seek support from the Cowichan Valley Regional District under the Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program to fund in whole or in part the Quamichan Lake Aerator trials.

5.2

Community Wellness Plan

Purpose: To provide the Committee of the Whole with background information on the Community Wellness Plan and North Cowichan’s role in its implementation.

• Recommendation:

  THAT the Committee of the Whole directs staff to:

  1. Return with a report outlining two sites for village style housing;
  2. Work with the City of Duncan and CVRD to identify a location for a year round 24/7 shelter
  3. Prepare an advocacy package for Council to deliver to senior levels of government
  4. Prepare a report on potential locations for overnight sheltering within municipal parks.

5.3

Safer Community Plan

Purpose: To provide Mayor and Council with an overview of the draft SAFER Plan and information for how North Cowichan can respond to homelessness, mental health, and addictions.

5.3.1

Staff materials

Purpose: To provide Mayor and Council with an overview of the draft SAFER Plan and information for how North Cowichan can respond to homelessness, mental health, and addictions.

• Recommendation:

  That Council receive this report for information only.

6.

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.

7.

ADJOURNMENT

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