COWICHAN VALLEY REGIONAL DISTRICT

SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES

Thursday, November 06, 2025 09:30 AM

 

Boardroom 

175 Ingram Street, Duncan, BC

 

PRESENT:           Chair B. MaartmanDirector H. AbbottDirector S. Acton*Director D. Beeston*Director M. CaljouwDirector K. DeckDirector B. FindlayDirector C. JusticeDirector T. Manhas*Director J. McClintonDirector I. MorrisonDirector A. NicholsonDirector K. SegallDirector M. StaplesDirector M. Wilson*

 

ABSENT:           Director T. McGonigle

 

ALSO PRESENT: D. Myles Wilson, Chief Administrative OfficerP. Robins, Corporate OfficerT. Bowen, Chief Financial OfficerC. Postings, General Manager, Corporate Services DepartmentD. Mooney, General Manager Operations DepartmentA. Kjerulf, General Manager, Land Use Services DepartmentN. Pukesh, General Manager, Community Services DepartmentI. Paydli, Senior Manager, Human Resource DivisionC. Nugent, Manager, Financial PlanningN. Forrest, Manager, Asset SystemsV. Phelan, Secretary III

 

*Participated Electronically

Thursday, November 06, 2025 at 5:30 P.November 6. - 11:30 P.November 6.

1.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

• It was moved and seconded:

• That the Agenda be approved, as circulated.

  
  MOTION CARRIED

2.

PUBLIC INPUT PERIOD

3.

DELEGATIONS

4.

CORRESPONDENCE

5.

INFORMATION

6.

REPORTS

6.1

Draft 2026 Budget Overview

• For information.

Director Findlay joined the meeting remotely at 9:52 a.m.

Director Findlay joined the meeting in person at 10:34 a.m.

The Committee of the Whole Meeting recessed at 10:49 a.m.

The Closed meeting resumed at 10:56 a.m. 

Director McClinton left the meeting at 12:55 p.m.

Open Session resumed at 1:00 p.m.

Director McClinton return to the meeting at 1:34 p.m.

Director Nicholson left the meeting at 1:36 p.m. 

Director Beeston left the meeting at 1:49 p.m.

• It was moved and seconded:

• That it be recommended to the Board:

  That staff bring forward reports to consider reductions to Functions:

  • 100 General Government
  • 320 Building Inspection
  • 520 Solid Waste Complex
  • Various parks (Regional and Community)
  
  MOTION CARRIED

• It was moved and seconded:

• That it be recommended to the Board: 

  That staff bring forward a report to consider full or partial reductions to Function 285 - Parkland Acquisition. 

  
  MOTION DEFEATED

• It was moved and seconded:

• That it be recommended to the Board:

  That staff bring forward a report to consider full or partial reductions to Function 498 - Cowichan Housing Association. 

  
  MOTION CARRIED

• It was moved and seconded:

• That it be recommended to the Board:

  That Function 236 - Area F Parks be maintained at the 2025 requisition levels. 

  
  MOTION CARRIED

Director Justice left the meeting at 2:16 p.m.

Director Staples left meeting at 2:29 p.m.

• It was moved and seconded:

• That it be recommended to the Board:

  That the Board consider the 5% increase to the capital reserve contributions to utilities functions identified and prioritized. 

  
  MOTION CARRIED

• It was moved and seconded:

• That it be recommended to the Board:

  That the Board consider maintaining fire reserve contributions to 2025 levels. 

  
  MOTION CARRIED

• It was moved and seconded:

• That it be recommended to the Board:

  That the Board consider committing to contributing to the capital reserves for Kerry Park Recreation Centre and Shawnigan Lake Community Centre at the same level as Cowichan Lake Sport Arena. 

  
  MOTION CARRIED

• It was moved and seconded:

• That it be recommended to the Board:

  That the 2026 fleet replacements be approved and that annual contributions to the fleet replacement reserves at 50% in year one of that presented for future fleet renewals be made. 

  
  MOTION CARRIED

• It was moved and seconded:

• That it be recommended to the Board:

  That staff bring forward a report for consideration of revenue generation for Function 100 - General Government.

  
  MOTION CARRIED

• It was moved and seconded:

• That it be recommended to the Board:

  That staff bring forward a report for consideration to create a Section Manager for Sustainable Transportation with additional funding support from Parks & Trails - Function 279, to advance active transportation initiatives; including an option to use reserve funds for a two-year pilot. 

  
  MOTION CARRIED

• It was moved and seconded:

• That it be recommended to the Board: 

  That three 2026 Budget community meetings be conducted  in the more populated areas and to be scheduled for the end of January 2026. 

• It was moved and seconded:

• That the motion be amended to remove "for the end of January 2026" and insert "prior to January 15, 2026" after "scheduled".

  
  MOTION CARRIED

Voting resumed on the main motion, as amended:

• That it be recommended to the Board:

  That three 2026 Budget community meetings be conducted in the more populated areas and be scheduled prior to January 15, 2026.

• It was moved and seconded:

• That the motion be amended to replace "three" with "four".

  
  MOTION CARRIED

Voting resumed on the main motion, as amended:

• That it be recommended to the Board:

  That four 2026 Budget community meetings be conducted in the more populated areas and to be scheduled prior to January 15, 2026. 

  
  MOTION CARRIED

7.

QUESTION PERIOD

8.

CLOSED SESSION

• That the meeting be closed to the public in accordance with the Community Charter Part 4, Division 3, Section 90(1)(a) Personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agent of the municipality or another position appointed by the municipality, as noted in accordance with each agenda item at 10:48 a.m.

  
  MOTION CARRIED

8.1

REPORTS

8.1.1

Personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agent of the municipality or another position appointed by the municipality {Section 90(1)(a)} and Labour relations or other employee relations {Section 90(1)(c)}

8.1.2

Personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agent of the municipality or another position appointed by the municipality {Section 90(1)(a)}

9.

ADJOURNMENT

• That the meeting be adjourned at 3:12 p.m.

  
  MOTION CARRIED