Council met for about two-and-a-half hours during our Regular Council meeting on December 7, 2022. Here are some highlights from the meeting.
During the Mayor’s Report, I provided updates on the following events and meetings that I have participated in during recent weeks:
- Meetings with the RCMP, School District, City of Duncan, local business owners and parents to discuss immediate and longer-term solutions to ongoing issues in the Trans-Canada Highway corridor area between Beverly Street and Boys Road.
- Hosted discussions between the Province, Paper Excellence, PWWC, Unifor and various partners and stakeholders regarding supporting workers at the Crofton Mill impacted by the company’s decision to cease its paper operations indefinitely.
- Introductory conversation with the Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, to discuss how the Province can support North Cowichan to develop our own economic development strategy.
- Continued to have weekly calls with West Urban Developments and the Cowichan Housing Association regarding the Magdalena Complex and the impacted tenants.
Item 8.1 was moved up in the agenda and we heard Inspector Chris Bear’s third quarter report for RCMP activities for the period of July, August and September. We learned that it was a busy quarter and calls for service were up 3.1% compared to the same quarter last year, but overall, calls for service are down slightly this year (15,170 files) compared to 2021 (15,387). RCMP have stepped up foot patrols significantly, and in September they held Coffee with a Cop in Chemainus, offering the opportunity for members of the public to sit down with a police officer for a coffee and open discussion. The full report is included in the agenda.
Next, we heard from two delegations. The first from Our Cowichan Communities Health Network and Island Health about a region-wide health and wellness survey planned for the Cowichan Valley in 2023. The Our Health, Our Community survey project aims to capture local data on the health and well-being of Cowichan Valley region residents, and the data collected will identify the health status, health inequities and priorities of residents, and support local evidence-based decision-making. The survey is expected to launch next spring and will be open to all residents of the Cowichan Valley.
On behalf of the Duncan Curling Club, Jennifer Woike provided a presentation on the Curling Club’s activities and challenges that have occurred over the past 12 months. Early in 2022, the Club discovered the unexpected failure of the building’s chiller system, causing last winter’s season to end early. The Club’s members quickly launched a significant fundraising campaign and over the next six months they raised $236,000, enough to cover all of the repair costs. The future looks bright for the club, as they are hosting the Curl BC U21 Championships next month (January 24-29) where the province’s best will compete for a spot at the National Championships in March.
Council adopted the Paddle Road Housing Agreement Bylaw, entering into a housing agreement with the owner of five properties at the north end of Paddle Road, securing a total of 37 apartment units at below market rental rates. The agreement also includes that at least half of the units (19) be constructed within the first three phases of development.
Next, we received a presentation from staff on the introduction of a new Infill Residential Neighbourhood (R3-N) zone as well as a proposal to rezone 3016 George Street from R3 to this new zone, R3-N. The owner’s request to build a third dwelling unit (single floor garden suite) is better addressed through a zoning amendment application instead of subdividing the lot under the current zone. The intention of the new zone is to support gentle densification and flexible housing options in residential neighbourhoods within the urban containment boundary and within 15-minute walking distance of a village core. Council gave the zoning bylaw amendment first and second reading and directed staff to schedule a Public Hearing to take place in the coming weeks.
The Council Procedure Amendment Bylaw was before Council proposing to change regular Council meeting start times from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and formally establishing regular Committee of the Whole (CoW) meetings at 5:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month and public hearings at 7:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. The bylaw received first three readings and will be back before Council for adoption on December 21.
Council also gave the first three readings to the Board of Variance Amendment Bylaw that proposes to authorize that the Board of Variance can meeting or participate electronically.
The Revenue Anticipation Borrowing Bylaw received first three readings, and when adopted will enable the Municipality to borrow money for a short term, if needed, to continue municipal operations while waiting for anticipated revenue (e.g. property taxes) to be received.
The Town of Ladysmith provided Council with their proposed Official Community Plan (OCP) for review and comment. Council authorized the Mayor to write a letter advising that North Cowichan does not have any significant concerns relating to their proposed OCP, and recommends that the Town of Ladysmith consider potential future agricultural or forestry land uses taking place within the North Cowichan area immediately adjacent to the proposed “Urban Reserve” designation to avoid potential conflicts.
Lastly, Council agreed to appoint Councillor Manhas to the to CVRD’s Sports Tourism Grant Sub-Committee.
The next Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 21, at 1:30 p.m.
Thank you for reading and staying informed!
Rob Douglas, Mayor
Municipality of North Cowichan
T 250.746.3117
E rob.douglas@northcowichan.ca