Council met for about an hour and a half during our Regular Council meeting on April 19, 2023. Here are some highlights from the meeting.
During the Mayor’s Report, I provided updates on the following meetings and events that I participated in in recent weeks:
- Last weekend Council attended the annual convention of the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC), held in Nanaimo. Established in 1950, AVICC represents municipalities and regional districts from Haida Gwaii, Vancouver Island, Powell River/qathet, Sunshine Coast, Central Coast and North Coast. The convention was an opportunity for us to meet with other mayors, councillors and regional directors to discuss the common issues we are all facing — including the lack of affordable housing and growing challenges related to homelessness, street disorder, mental health and addictions — and to hear directly from representatives from the federal and provincial government, including BC Housing, Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation, and Island Health, about various programs and initiatives relevant to local government.
- Earlier today, municipal staff and I met with property owners along the Chemainus River, who have seen their lands badly impacted by more serve and frequent flooding in recent years. We discussed the current work led by the Cowichan Valley Regional District to develop a Flood Management Plan for the Lower Chemainus Watershed, and the importance of immediate actions to reduce future flood damages, including the removal of gravel, sediment, and log jams in the Chemainus River. We will be discussing this important issue at an upcoming Council meeting.
North Cowichan resident Peter Nix presented on the benefits of solar energy in reducing carbon emissions, using personal experience from his own solar farm near Maple Bay. Council referred the matter of solar power energy to the Environmental Advisory Committee for further discussion.
Six bylaws that had previously received three readings were approved:
- The Reserve Fund Establishment Amendment Bylaw now includes the Growing Communities Fund, the recently announced provincial program that provided North Cowichan with a $7.7 million grant, as well as housekeeping amendments to remove the Aquannis Centre Reserve and add the Bell McKinnon Local Area Plan Streetscape Reserve.
- The Delegation of Authority Amendment Bylaw delegates Council’s authority to issue development permits with retaining wall variances and to issue public notices, to municipal staff.
- The new Parks and Recreation Fees and Charges Bylaw includes all fees that cover parks and recreation activities and removes these fees from the general Fees and Charges bylaw. These fees will change on September 1 each year instead of January 1.
- The Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw no longer includes parks and recreation fees, the waste collection fee will be reduced to $153 per household, mobile home park permit fees will be established, and other minor amendments related to late penalties and water leak adjustments are now in effect.
- The Waterworks Amendment Bylaw includes minor updates to the annual water conservation measures, and establishes a time limit for applying for fee adjustments in relation to water leaks.
- The 2023-2027 Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw now includes the Growing Communities Fund grant and reduces the waste collection revenue.
The Public Notice Bylaw received first three readings. This bylaw outlines how public notices will be placed, following recent changes to the Community Charter and Local Government Act. If passed, North Cowichan will place public notices in the local newspaper and on its social media channels (Facebook and Twitter). This is in addition to posts on www.northcowichan.ca Notification letters will be mailed to owners or residents within 60 metres of a land use application property.
The 2023 Tax Rates Bylaw also received first three readings. This bylaw establishes the tax rates per property class for 2023.
The BC Bike Race Event received a temporary use permit for overnight parking and camping at 1658 Robert Street and the Crofton Sportsfield Park as part of its race event July 2-6, 2023, as well as for events in 2024 and 2025. The permit is subject to organizers obtaining a Special Event Permit. The BC Bike Race is an annual event that attracts hundreds of mountain bike riders from around the world to participate in staged races in BC. This year’s event begins in North Cowichan before moving to Cumberland.
The 2023 Fire Protection Services Agreement to provide fire protection services for Cowichan Tribes First Nation was approved by Council. The agreement updates the 2019 fire protection agreement with new language that better reflects roles and responsibilities.
Council adopted revisions to the Council Standards of Conduct Policy. The revisions follow a Council-directed review of the policy last year. Council also directed staff to complete a more fulsome analysis of the policy and then report back to the Committee of the Whole for review and recommendation to Council.
Council also discussed the 2023 Quarter 1 Council Strategic Plan, which provided an update on projects identified within the Council Strategic Plan for the period from January 2023 to March 2023,
The next Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 3, at 5pm.
Thank you for reading and staying informed!
Rob Douglas, Mayor
Municipality of North Cowichan
T 250.746.3117
E rob.douglas@northcowichan.ca