Cowichan Valley Regional District public meetings in 2023
13 substantive meetings from 2023, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Electoral Area Services Committee
The committee recommended a curbside collection system consisting of comingled food and yard waste, recycling, garbage, and glass pick up. Several development variance permits and rezoning applications were processed, and three notices of bylaw contravention were recommended for registration on titles.
- Recommended three-stream curbside collection (food/yard waste, recycling, garbage, and glass)
- Recommended approval of Application No. ALR23C01 for 4214 Trans-Canada Highway
- Recommended issuance of Development Variance Permits DVP23D03 and DVP23D04
- Recommended registration of Bylaw Contravention notices for 1641 West Shawnigan Lake Road, 2674 Forsyth Way, and 4545 Tipperary Road
- Recommended adoption of Bylaw No. 4517 regarding Dog Regulation and Impounding annual fees
- Recommended $17,303.45 budget increase for Malahat Volunteer Fire Department
- Recommended rescinding the 2018 CVRD Landscape Security Policy
- Recommended budget amendments for Function 325 involving a $30,000 consultant decrease
Regular Session Board
The Board adopted establishment bylaws for the Cowichan South, North, Core, and Lake Recreation Commissions. Several grant-in-aid requests were approved, and zoning amendments for multiple properties were processed. The Board also authorized budget increases for the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre and emergency radio vehicle replacement.
- Adopted Bylaws No. 4510, 4511, 4512, and 4513 for Recreation Commission establishments
- Approved $45,000 budget increase for Emergency 9-1-1 radio service vehicle replacement
- Approved $21,981 budget amendment for Cowichan Performing Arts Centre supplies and equipment
- Approved $500 grants to RCMSAR34 Marine Rescue Society (Area A and Area B), Cowichan Valley Primary Care Society (Area A and Area E), and George Bonner Elementary School PAC
- Approved height variance for 9634 Creekside Drive and frontage exemption for Youbou Road subdivision
- Denied Development Variance Permit No. DVP23D01 for 4598 Sparwood Road
- Adopted Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 4496 for 11224 Chemainus Road
- Established Cowichan Lake Community Hall Advisory Committee
Committee of the Whole
The Committee of the Whole recommended the creation of a Cowichan Lake Community Hall Advisory Committee consisting of two appointed residents from Electoral Area F, Electoral Area I, and the Town of Lake Cowichan. The committee also recommended referring specific items to the July 26, 2023 Board Meeting and Closed Session.
- Recommended establishing a Cowichan Lake Community Hall Advisory Committee (Motion Carried)
- Recommended membership for the advisory committee include two residents each from Electoral Area F, Electoral Area I, and the Town of Lake Cowichan (Motion Carried)
- Recommended referring item R7 and Closed Session items CSR1 and CSR2 to the July 26, 2023 Board Meeting (Motion Carried)
- Adopted the agenda (Motion Carried)
- Adopted the July 12, 2023 meeting minutes (Motion Carried)
- Extended delegation time limit by an additional 10 minutes (Motion Carried)
Electoral Area Services Committee
The Committee recommended several land-use decisions to the Board, including the denial of one development variance permit and the approval of another. It also recommended a $500 grant for marine rescue and endorsed a pathway entrance structure at Lashburn Road.
- Recommended $500 Grant-in-Aid to RCMSAR34 Marine Rescue Society
- Recommended denial of Development Variance Permit No. DVP23D01 (4598 Sparwood Road)
- Recommended staff review of Cowichan Bay Sewer Servicing Policy 2015
- Recommended approval of height variance Application No. DVP22I02 (9634 Creekside Drive)
- Recommended parcel frontage exemption for Subdivision Application No. SA20I04 (Youbou Road)
- Endorsed Brentwood College's Lashburn Road entrance structure and related pathway agreements
- Recommended 2021 Gas Tax – Community Works Fund allocation for 2024 Budget
- Recommended Growing Community Funds be allocated via 2024 budget process
Regular Session Board
The Board approved several short-term borrowings for park upgrades, theatre improvements, and waste management vehicles. It also authorized budget amendments for housing and land management systems and issued several development variance permits.
- Approved short-term borrowing up to $1.1M for Cowichan Lake Recreation exterior cladding
- Approved short-term borrowing up to $500,000 for a Curbside Truck
- Approved short-term borrowing up to $400,000 for Trailer Chassis
- Approved short-term borrowing up to $217,000 for a Curbster Collection Truck
- Approved short-term borrowing up to $200,000 for Cowichan Performing Arts Centre upgrades
- Approved $14,500 grant to Cowichan Housing Association for a 2023 Housing Forum
- Approved 20-year lease renewal for Saltair Community Centre at $1.00 per year
- Defeated establishment of Paldi Water, Sewer, Drainage, and Street Lighting service areas
Committee of the Whole
The Committee recommended that the Board prioritize operating reserves for building inspection, community planning, and bylaw enforcement to implement a Land Management System. They also recommended specific 2023 budget increases for consultants and a 2024 allocation for dog licensing.
- Approved July 12, 2023 agenda
- Adopted June 28, 2023 meeting minutes
- Recommended referring Cowichan Lake Recreation Community Halls report back to staff for financial data
- Recommended prioritizing operating reserves for Functions 320, 325, and 328 for Land Management System implementation
- Recommended increasing 2023 Budget for Function 320 Consultants by $267,574.51
- Recommended increasing 2023 Budget for Function 325 Consultants by $155,024.51
- Recommended increasing 2023 Budget for Function 328 Consultants by $219,000.51
- Recommended 2024 Budget for Function 310 include $72,000 for dog licensing module
Electoral Area Services Committee
The Electoral Area Services Committee recommended several land use and utility approvals to the Board, including the establishment of water, sewer, drainage, and street lighting services for Paldi. The committee also recommended a 20-year lease renewal for the Saltair Community Centre and approved a local area plan engagement strategy.
- Recommended denying Application No. ALR22D02 (2274/2276 Cowichan Bay Road) due to non-compliance
- Recommended issuing Development Variance Permits DVP22B02 and DVP23C02
- Recommended preparing Zoning Amendment Bylaw for Application No. RZ23C01 (1146 Fisher Road)
- Recommended 20-year lease renewal for Saltair Community Centre at $1.00 per year
- Recommended approving street light installation on Cowichan Bay Road (pole 2340162)
- Recommended reallocating Satellite Park Water budget from generator to pump replacement
- Recommended establishing Paldi Water, Sewer, Drainage, and Street Lighting service areas
- Recommended workshop for Community Benefits Policy cost comparison (Land Lift vs. Target Rate)
Committee of the Whole
The Committee of the Whole recommended several short-term loans for infrastructure and equipment, including waste trucks and recreation upgrades. It also recommended funding for elder care and housing initiatives and the adoption of terms for an Accessibility Advisory Committee.
- Recommended short-term borrowing up to $1.1M for Cowichan Lake Recreation exterior cladding
- Recommended short-term borrowing up to $500,000 for a Curbside Truck
- Recommended short-term borrowing up to $400,000 for Trailer Chassis
- Recommended $75,000 for Cowichan Lake Elder Care Society preconstruction costs
- Recommended $14,500 for Cowichan Housing Association to host a fall 2023 Housing Forum
- Recommended adoption of Accessibility Advisory Committee Terms of Reference
- Recommended receiving the Cannabis in the Cowichan Valley Report and sharing it with municipalities
- Recommended the Board Chair state that CVRD will continue discussions with Pan Disposal
Regular Session Board
The Board decided that the three-stream curbside collection service for electoral areas will be operated and delivered by the CVRD. Other key actions included approving grants for local societies and renewing several land occupation agreements with the Province of BC.
- Approved CVRD-operated three-stream curbside collection service
- Approved $75,000 for Cowichan Lake Elder Care Society preconstruction costs
- Approved $14,500 for Cowichan Housing Association to host a Housing Forum
- Approved $6,560,221 increase in short-term borrowing for curbside garbage and recycling
- Approved 5-year Licence of Occupation renewals for Gibsons/Cairn Park, Skinner Road Beach Access, Boulder Point Beach Access, and Blue Heron Park
- Approved 30-year lease term for Yellow Point Park
- Approved $1,000, $750, and $300 grants to Cobble Hill Events Society for Music in the Park 2023
- Approved $3,750 grant to Cowichan Lake District Chamber of Commerce for Mobile Business/Tourism Unit
Electoral Area Services Committee
The Committee recommended that the CVRD directly operate the three-stream curbside collection service. They also recommended several grant-in-aid payments for local events and the renewal of multiple park occupation agreements and leases. A request for $60,000 for a community issues assessment in South Cowichan was also recommended to the Board.
- Recommended CVRD-operated three-stream curbside collection service
- Recommended $1,000 grant to Cobble Hill Events Society (Area B)
- Recommended $750 grant to Cobble Hill Events Society (Area D)
- Recommended $500 grant to Cowichan Bay Improvement Association
- Recommended $300 grant to Cobble Hill Events Society (Area E)
- Recommended $3,750 grant to Cowichan Lake District Chamber of Commerce
- Recommended 5-year Licence of Occupation renewals for four parks
- Recommended 30-year lease renewal for Yellow Point Park
Committee of the Whole
The Committee of the Whole recommended several actions to the Board, including a watershed-based flood management plan for the Chemainus River and new governance procedures for sub-regional recreation commissions. It also recommended funding for agricultural programs and the approval of the 2023/24 BC Transit operating agreement.
- Recommended public information sessions and a watershed-based flood management plan for Chemainus River
- Recommended allocating $30,000 (2024-2026) for Young Agrarians BC Land Matching Program
- Recommended releasing $10,000 (2023) contribution to Young Agrarians BC Land Matching Program
- Recommended $10,000 payment to Islands Agriculture for Winter Vegetable Variety Trials report
- Recommended approval of 2023/24 BC Transit Annual Operating Agreement
- Recommended including ten governance principles in new sub-regional recreation commission bylaws
- Recommended delegated authority and advisory responsibilities for sub-regional recreation commissions
- Recommended referring Cowichan Public Art Gallery presentation to Community Services Department
Regular Session Board
The Board established a 3.5% increase for the 2024 core budget mandate, excluding transit, library, and regional recreation services. Other key actions included updating the Code of Conduct and approving various community grants and land-use amendments.
- Set 2024 core budget mandate at 3.5% increase (Opposed: Acton, Manhas, Wilson)
- Adopted revised Code of Conduct for Board, Committee and Commission Members (Opposed: Morrison)
- Approved $50,000 for Cowichan Watershed Society strategic partnership
- Approved $9,000 grant to Caycuse Volunteer Fire Department for First Responder training
- Approved Licence of Use Agreement with Lake Cowichan Adventure Company Ltd. for Little Beach Park
- Directed public engagement on the future of the World’s Largest Hockey Stick
- Amended Bylaw 2140 to increase maximum annual requisition limit for Cowichan Bay streetlighting
- Approved rainbow crosswalk installation at Kerry Park Recreation Centre entrance
Electoral Area Services Committee
The Electoral Area Services Committee recommended several grant-in-aid awards for community organizations and fire services. The committee also processed various development variance permits and zoning amendments for recommendation to the Board.
- Recommended $9,000 grant to Caycuse Volunteer Fire Department for First Responder training
- Recommended $5,000 grant to Honeymoon Bay Community Society for sign rehabilitation
- Recommended $3,500 grant to Cowichan Lake & District Chamber of Commerce for tourism services
- Recommended $2,500 grant to Cowichan Lake & River Stewardship Society
- Recommended issuance of Development Variance Permit No. DVP22C01 (3668 Telegraph Road)
- Recommended adoption of Shawnigan Lake Waterfront Parks Schematic Design Brief
- Recommended Zoning Amendment Bylaw for Application No. RZ22F02 (7531 Cowichan Lake Road)
- Recommended $1,250 grant to Shawnigan Cobble Hill Farmers Institute & Agriculture Society