Council met for roughly five-and-a-half hours during our Regular Council meeting and Public Hearing on September 26, 2023.
My Mayor’s Report included the following updates:
Earlier this month, Chief James Thomas from the Halalt Nation invited Councillor Debra Toporowski and I to join a meeting with the Minister of Emergency Management & Climate Change Readiness, Bowin Ma, to discuss the need for provincial funding for additional flood mitigation works along the Chemainus River, including to stabilize the right bank downstream from the Trans-Canada Highway bridge.
Shortly after this meeting, work began to remove about 8,500 cubic metres of sediment from a gravel bar between the Chemainus Road Bridge and the E & N railway bridge on the Chemainus River. The work is being funded by the Province and managed by their consultant, KWL, with North Cowichan providing in-kind assistance in liaising with nearby residents, documentation reviews and related support to the project. Halalt Nation is an integral part of the project, supporting the work and facilitating the contract with local company Stone Pacific. Sharing of the gravel was agreed upon with the affected landowners, who are donating about half of the material for municipal use and half to the Halalt Nation.
In September, North Cowichan Council joined more than 2,000 elected officials from communities across the province for the annual Union of BC Municipalities convention in Vancouver. Council met with Premier David Eby, Minister of Forests Bruce Ralston, Minister of Mental Health & Addictions Jennifer Whiteside, and Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture Lana Popham, to discuss the growing challenges we are facing in municipality — including housing, homelessness, climate change and infrastructure — and the need for more support from the senior levels of government to tackle these issues.
Paper Excellence informed me that more than 300 workers from the Crofton mill will back on the job in the first week of October, and the kraft pulp operations will restart in mid-October. After the three-month shutdown, this is great news for the workers and their families, for our municipality, and for the broader Cowichan region. However, curtailment of the paper operations has been extended to late October, affecting more than 100 workers.
Paul Fletcher of the Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society presented on their Firehouse Creek and S'amunu wetland proposal. The proposal outlined plans to restore Bings Creek upstream and downstream of the RCMP station on Canada Avenue, and restore Firehouse Creek, which currently exists as a ditch located near the North Cowichan and Duncan fire halls between Duncan Street and Canada Avenue. These habitat restoration projects would not only benefit fish populations but would also help stormwater management and provide a place for public interaction with the aquatic environment.
Two organizations which had applied for Permissive Tax Exemptions presented to Council. Corina Finlay, on behalf of House of Grace Pregnancy Centre, and Scott Bayley, on behalf of Camp Qwanoes, each provided an overview of their organizations in response to Council’s decision at the September 12, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting to deny their requests for a permissive tax exemption.
Council then gave first three readings to the Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw which exempts certain properties in 2024 from municipal property taxes. The list of properties includes Camp Qwanoes, in addition to the other properties endorsed on September 12. Council will be reviewing its Permissive Tax Exemption Policy over the next 12 months in advance of the 2025 budget.
The Sewer Services User Fee Amendment Bylaw was adopted. This bylaw amendment ensures consistency with user fee practices and compliance with provincial legislation and is necessary now that North Cowichan issues separate bills for utility charges.
An amendment to the Official Community Plan and Zoning bylaws to facilitate a proposed five-lot subdivision at 6409 Wicks Road was denied.
Council directed staff to align the Building Bylaw to reflect provincial Energy Step Code requirements for space and water heating in buildings. As of May 1, 2023, the Province requires all new residential and commercial buildings to demonstrate compliance with the BC Energy Step Code. North Cowichan will consider adopting Zero Emission Step Code EL-3, once the Building Bylaw is amended in October, with EL-4 effective July 1, 2024. This would mean that newly constructed buildings are energy-efficient and use low-carbon energy sources. North Cowichan will be engaging with the building industry on these changes.
A Temporary Use Permit for 6823/6833 Bell McKinnon Road was approved. The permit will allow construction worker vehicle parking, trades trailers, and storage of topsoil adjacent to the new hospital construction site.
A Remedial Action Order to rectify hazardous conditions at 7900 Mays Road was imposed. A number of issues related to an exposed embankment have been noted.
Council approved a request to apply for the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund Grant under the Volunteer & Composite Fire Department Training & Equipment funding stream for Wildland Personal Protective Equipment in the amount of $30,000.
Pre-budget approval for regional recreation budgets was approved. The 2024 – 2028 budget for the Cowichan Aquatic Centre and the Fuller Lake Arena will be submitted to the Cowichan Valley Regional District.
Council directed staff to investigate various aspects of installing solar power on civic buildings and homes and bring back a report to the Environmental Advisory Committee for review.
Two items were heard at a public hearing:
An application to permit a detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at 6344 Woodgrove Way received third reading.
A two-lot subdivision at 3211 Malcolm Road received third reading and was adopted.
The next Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 4, 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