There are several types of meetings where Mayor and Council gather to discuss and make decisions or recommendations on important matters. Members of the public can attend Council and Committee of the Whole meetings in-person (Council Chambers at Municipal Hall) or electronically via Webex.
Visit the Council Meetings webpage to see upcoming meeting dates and learn how you can participate in these meetings, and find past meeting agendas, minutes, and video.
Council meetings are formal meetings chaired by the Mayor where Council members make decisions or move toward making decisions about bylaws, spending, services, and more.
North Cowichan's Regular Council meetings typically take place at 5:00 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month, with the exception of January, July, and August when the meeting on the first Wednesday of these months have been cancelled.
Special Council meetings are typically scheduled to address urgent business. Special Council meetings are open to the public, unless all or part of the meeting is closed by a vote of Council.
Notice of a special Council meeting must be given at least 24 hours before the time of the meeting which includes the date, time and place of the meeting, and a description of the purpose (in general terms) of the meeting.
Committee of the Whole meetings are intended to be a less formal forum for discussing issues. During a Committee of the Whole meeting, Council reviews and gathers information on an issue and if needed, gives direction to staff or makes a recommendation that will be brought forward to a Regular Council meeting in the Consent Agenda for endorsement by Council.
Regular Committee of the Whole meetings typically take place at 5:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, unless otherwise resolved by Council or the Committee of the Whole.
Special Committee of the Whole meetings, which may be called after giving at least 24 hours notice, are open to the public, unless all or part of the meeting is closed by a vote of the Committee of the Whole.
In-camera meetings are also known as ‘closed meetings’ and are conducted in accordance with the Community Charter. Closed meetings are scheduled to discuss and make decision on matters pertaining to personnel, land, labour or employee negotiations, law enforcement, litigation or potential litigation and information that is prohibited from disclosure under theFreedom of Information and Protective of Privacy Act.
Where there are in-camera items for Council or Committee of the Whole to consider, the regular meeting, which is open to the public, will be called to order in Council Chambers at 3:00pm. Once the motion to close the meeting to the public has passed, the in-camera portion of the meeting will be held in the Large Committee Room at Municipal Hall. After the closed business has been completed, the regular meeting will resume in open and Council or Committee of the Whole will rise with or without report at 5:00pm in Council Chambers.
Council will release their decision to the public if and when appropriate.
Council or Committee of the Whole is only authorized to hold in-camera meetings under the circumstances set out in Section 90 of the Community Charter.
Prior to a Council or Committee of the Whole closing a meeting or part of a meeting to the public, the Chair must state, by resolution, the fact that the meeting is to be closed, and the basis in legislation under which the meeting is to be closed. The public is not allowed to attend a closed meeting.