Council met for about three hours during our Regular Council meeting on April 17, 2024.
My Mayor’s Report included the following:
- Port Alberni Mayor Shari Minions and I met with the Honourable Andrew Mercier, Minister of State for Sustainable Forestry Innovation, to discuss the challenges the Port Alberni paper mill and Crofton pulp mill are facing in accessing fibre for their operations and potential solutions at the provincial level.
- North Cowichan Council attended the Association Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) convention in Victoria, where we met with mayors and councils from neighbouring local governments, debated policy resolutions, participated in various workshops, and received updates from the province and other public bodies. As part of the convention, I also had an opportunity to meet with senior leadership from Island Health, where we stressed the need for more treatment and recovery beds in the Cowichan region and advocated for a more appropriate location for the Overdose Prevention Site on York Road.
- Council and staff received a tour of the Tsow-Tun Le Lum centre that opened on Cowichan Tribes territory earlier this year. Tsow-Tun Le Lum, which means “Helping House” in the Hul’q’umi’num’ language, is a fully accredited, registered, non-profit treatment society offering holistic and cultural supports for people struggling with addictions and for survivors of trauma.
- North Cowichan staff and I met with leadership from the BC Emergency Health Services who oversee the ambulance station on Lewis Street, which is facing worsening issues related to the homelessness and street disorder in the surrounding area. North Cowichan will seek input from the ambulance station staff as we update our Safety Community Plan to manage the current challenges along the Trans-Canada Highway Corridor.
The 2024 Property Tax Rates Bylaw received first three readings. The total General Municipal Tax requisition is $38,330,877. The tax increase on the average home assessed at $767,412 is $97.15.
The Council and Committee Procedures Bylaw received first three readings. This bylaw will replace the existing bylaw and outlines various procedures related to meetings of Council.
The Development Procedures and Development Approval Information bylaws received first three readings. These bylaws will establish procedures for processing of land development applications and development approvals. The Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw also received first three readings, with updates to include refunds for incomplete, inactive, and withdrawn applications.
Council agreed to increase the 2024 budget allocation for the service agreement with the Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society (SWMS) from $50,000 to $70,000, with the increase to be funded from unappropriated surplus. The SMWS is working in partnership with North Cowichan in the Somenos watershed to control invasive species such as parrot’s feather, construct and maintain green drainage, plant native trees, monitor water quality, and provide volunteer opportunities to help restore habitats.
A Development Permit with Variance application for 2591 Beverly Street was issued. The permit will facilitate the construction of a six-storey mixed-use building with ground-floor commercial use and 210 residential apartment units.
Council authorized two Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) Non-Farm Use applications be forwarded to the ALCs:
- For the construction of an agricultural storage building at 6651 Lakes Road.
- For the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) at 7550 Bell McKinnon Road to enable the replacement of their animal shelter building.
Council received a report for information regarding the status of the Municipal Forest Reserve review, engagement with Quw’utsun Nation and outline on next steps associated with developing a forest management plan for the forest.
Three motions introduced by Councillor Findlay regarding termination of the COVID-19 vaccine mandates for health care workers, support for “Save BC Restaurants,” and postponing implementation of the Zero Carbon Step Code (Level 4) at the April 3 Council meeting, were debated. Two of the motions were defeated, however, elements of the “Save BC Restaurants” motion were forwarded to the Duncan-Cowichan Chamber of Commerce.
The next council meeting is on Wednesday, May 1 at 5 pm.
Thank you for reading and staying informed!
Rob Douglas, Mayor
Municipality of North Cowichan
T 250.746.3117
E rob.douglas@northcowichan.ca