Municipality of North Cowichan
Regular Council
AGENDA

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 5:00 P.m. - 6:00 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 2773 596 5767, 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 30 minutes of the scheduled time for the meeting, the meeting is adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

2.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

To adopt all recommendations appearing on the Consent Agenda in one motion, without discussion or debate. Included are items that are regular, non-controversial, or routine in nature. Any item may be moved out at the request of any Council member for discussion or debate, before the agenda is approved. Items removed from the Consent Agenda will be placed under New Business.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council approve the Consent Agenda and the recommendations contained therein.

2.1

Items for decision

All recommendations provided under each of the items listed below will be adopted once the Consent Agenda is approved, unless removed and placed under New Business. 

2.1.1

Council Meeting Minutes for Adoption

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

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council adopt the minutes of their regular meeting held October 4, 2023 and their special meeting held October 10, 2023.

2.2

Items for information

All items listed below will be received for information purposes only once the Consent Agenda is approved, unless removed and placed under New Business where Council may consider taking action. 

2.2.1

Committee of the Whole meeting minutes

Purpose: To receive for information the minutes from the October 10, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council receive for information the minutes from the October 10, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting.

2.2.2

3rd Quarter List of Supplier Payments

Purpose: To provide a listing of payments to suppliers totalling over $10,000 in the third quarter of 2023.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council receive for information the 3^rd Quarter Payment Listing (July – September 2023) report.

2.2.3

3rd Quarter Financial Report

Purpose: To provide an update on the General Fund Statement of Operation and Capital for the period ending September 30, 2023.

• Recommendation:
• Recommendation:

  THAT Council receive the 3rd Quarter Financial Report for information.

2.2.4

CERCA re Obtaining a Permit to Improve the Trail Along the Cowichan Estuary

Purpose: To receive the August 29, 2023 letter from Cowichan Estuary Restoration & Conservation Association (CERCA) requesting support to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations to improve the trail along the Cowichan Estuary and remove the invasive Scotch broom.

• THAT Council receive for information the August 29, 2023 letter from Cowichan Estuary Restoration & Conservation Association for information.

2.2.5

Honourable Mitzi Dean re Celebrating October as Foster Family Month

Purpose: To receive for information the September 26, 2023 email from the Honourable Mitzi Dean, Minister of Children and Family Development announcing this October as the 33^rd Foster Family Month.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council receive for information the September 26, 2023 email from the Honourable Mitzi Dean. 

2.2.6

Erin Hemmen and Ben Hyman re VIRL 2024 Budget Adopted

Purpose: To receive for information the September 19, 2023 email from Erin Hemmen, Chair, and Ben Hyman, Executive Director of the Vancouver Island Regional Library Board regarding the Vancouver Island Regional Library’s 2024 Budget that was adopted at its September 16, 2023 meeting.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council receive for information the September 19, 2023 email from Erin Hemmen and Ben Hyman on behalf of the Vancouver Island Library.

2.2.7

Petition re Townend Road Traffic Problems 

Purpose: To receive for information the June 24, 2023 petition submitted by G. Cheema, regarding traffic problems.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council receive for information the June 24, 2023 petition from G. Cheema.

2.2.8

Somenos March Wildlife Society re Somenos Marsh Open Air Classroom Parking Lot

Purpose: To receive for information the October 10, 2023 letter from the Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society regarding safety concerns in relation to the Somenos Marsh Open Air Classroom parking lot.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council receive for information the October 10, 2023 letter from the Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society.

2.2.9

Peter Rusland re North Cowichan's Public Input Sign-In Sheet

Purpose: To receive for information the October 5, 2023 email from Peter Rusland asking that Council revamp the Public Input policy to ensure that addressing council is equal for everyone and to increase the amount of speakers from 5 to 10.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council receive for information the October 5, 2023 email from Peter Rusland.

3.

APPROVAL OF REGULAR 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].

4.

MAYOR'S REPORT

Mayor’s opportunity to make announcements and update Council and the community on various matters which the Mayor has participated in since the last meeting.

5.

DELEGATIONS

6.

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.

7.

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.

7.1

Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw No. 3928, 2023, for adoption

Purpose: To consider adoption of Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw No. 3928, 2023, which received first three readings on September 26, 2023. If adopted, this bylaw will exempt certain properties in 2024 from municipal property taxes.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council adopt Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw No. 3928, 2023.

7.2

Building Amendment Bylaw No. 3932, 2023 for adoption

Purpose: To consider adoption of Building Amendment Bylaw No. 3928, 2023, which received first three readings on October 4, 2023. If adopted, this bylaw will include the full range of building inspections undertaken during the building process, the Energy Step Code as specified under the BC Building Code, and Emission Level 3 of the BC Zero Carbon Step Code will begin on January 1, 2024 and Emission Level 4 of the BC Zero Carbon Step Code will begin on July 1, 2024.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council adopt Building Amendment Bylaw No. 3932, 2023.

7.3

Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3933, 2023, for first and second readings

Purpose: To introduce Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3933, 2023, which proposes to amend Zoning Bylaw No. 2950, 1997, to permit a detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at 7495 Relke Road.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council:

  1. Give first and second readings to Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3933, 2023;
  2. Authorize a Public Hearing for Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3933, 2023.

8.

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.

8.1

Development permit application for 2431 Beverly Street

Purpose: To consider an application for a development permit with variance for constructing a food processing and innovation hub facility at 2431 Beverly Street.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council approve Application DP000321 and authorize issuance of a development permit for 2431 Beverly Steet for a food processing and innovation hub facility and grant a variance to Section 17 of Zoning Bylaw No. 2950 to relax the development standard for off-street parking.

8.2

Council Strategic Plan 2023 - Quarter 3 Update

Purpose: To provide a quarterly status update on projects identified within the Council Strategic Plan for the period from July 1, 2023 – September 30, 2023, in accordance with the Council Strategic Plan Administration Policy.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council receive for information the Council Strategic Plan 3rd Quarter Update (July 1, 2023 - September 30, 2023). 

9.

NOTICES OF MOTIONS

This section includes notices of motions submitted by Members of Council for introduction only, discussion and debate of the motion shall occur at a future meeting. Introductory remarks or clarifying questions are not permitted at this time as per Council’s Notice of Motion Policy.

9.1

Evaluation of Noise Bylaw

Purpose: So that Councillor Justice may introduce the following motion which Council will consider at the November 1, 2023, regular Council meeting:

• Recommendation:

  “THAT Council direct staff to prepare a report which provides options for creating a progressive Noise Bylaw which would mitigate noise complaints by:

  1. Leveraging best practices from other jurisdictions;
  2. Taking into account the multiple aspects of noise - including its frequency, predictability, complexity, time course, duration, as well as level (decibels) - which can lead to annoyance and have negative health impacts or other detrimental effects on residents' well-being;
  3. Recognizing that in residential areas there are shift workers sleeping, home businesses operating, and an increasing number of people working remotely from home during 'work hours' throughout which increased noise levels have in the past been tolerated;
  4. Complying with our OCP goal of both mitigating the impact of current sources of noise pollution and preventing the creation of new sources.”

10.

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.

11.

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.

12.

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.

13.

ADJOURNMENT

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