Municipality of North Cowichan
Special Committee of the Whole
AGENDA

Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 4:00 P.m. - 5:00 P.m.

Municipal Hall - Council Chambers

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 2772 230 9376, 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 meeting, the Mayor shall call the meeting to order. If there is no quorum of Council present within 30 minutes of the scheduled time for the meeting, the meeting is adjourned 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, 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 December 12, 2023 meeting for adoption

• Recommendation:

  THAT the minutes of the meeting held December 12, 2023 be adopted, as circulated.

4.

PUBLIC INPUT ON  AGENDA ITEMS

Public Input is an opportunity for the public to provide their feedback on matters included on the agenda. The maximum number of speakers to be heard during the public input period is limited to five, with a maximum of three minutes allotted to each speaker.  Members of the public attending the meeting in person must register at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting by signing the sheet posted outside of Council Chambers. Members of the public attending electronically must raise their hand once the meeting has been called to order. Please visit northcowichan.ca/virtualmeeting for instructions on how to raise your hand. Speakers are asked to state their name and residential address when commencing their address to Council.

5.

STAFF REPORTS

5.1

Draft Master Transportation Plan (Phase 3)

Purpose: To present the draft Master Transportation Plan to the Committee of the Whole for feedback and direction on the next steps before presenting it to Council for adoption.

• Recommendation:

  THAT the Committee of the Whole directs staff to:

  1. Publish the draft Master Transportation Plan (MTP), prepared by Watt Consulting Group, on our social media platform in advance of an open house hosted by the Consultant in January;
  2. Forward the draft MTP to the Environmental Advisory Committee for feedback;
  3. Work with the consultant, Watt Consulting Group, to prepare a ‘What We Heard’ report during the first quarter of 2024, for Council’s consideration before receiving the final MTP;
  4. Seek early engagement and consultation with:
     1. First Nations where projects may have a mutual and/or direct benefit, including alignment with Cowichan Tribes’ Active Transportation Plan;
     2. Other government bodies where projects may impact the level of service or physical infrastructure within those jurisdictional boundaries; and,
  5. Prioritize the recommendations in the MTP: 
  6. 1. Related to bylaws, policies and budget updates within the existing engineering studies budget; and,
     2. To incorporate the recommendations into a multi-year capital plan and annual roads capital budget.

  AND THAT the Master Transportation Plan, including revisions based upon feedback received, be brought forward to a future Council meeting for consideration of adoption.

5.2

Council Procedure Bylaw Workshop

Purpose: To review the results from the Council Procedure Bylaw Questionnaire and discuss the changes to be made to the new bylaw. A staff presentation will be provided at the meeting.

6.

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

6.1

Changes to the 2024 Budget Suggested by Members of Council

6.1.1

Suggested changes from Councillor Findlay to reduce tax increase

Purpose: To consider potential budget reductions submitted by Councillor Findlay.

7.

NEW BUSINESS

7.1

Stamps Road to Bazett Road Connection in the Master Transportation Plan

Purpose: For Councillor Justice to move the motion that was introduced at the November 1, 2023, regular Council meeting for direction to staff.

“THAT the Committee of the Whole direct staff to remove the proposed Stamps Road to Bazett Road Connection Multi-Use Pathway from the Master Transportation Plan.”

8.

QUESTION PERIOD

Question Period is an opportunity for the public to ask brief questions regarding the business discussed during the meeting. When invited by the Mayor, members of the public who are attending the meeting in person may step up to the podium to ask their question(s) and members of the public who are attending electronically may raise their hand at this time. Please visit northcowichan.ca/virtualmeeting for instructions on how to raise your hand.

9.

ADJOURNMENT

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