Here are the highlights from the City Council meeting held on March 11, 2026. Read the full agenda and attachments for more details.
To learn more about council meetings — including video recordings, meeting schedules, past minutes and upcoming agendas — visit the Council meetings page.
Temporary winter shelter – extension of operating hours
Council will consider extending the operating hours of the temporary winter shelter at 971 Cumberland Road from 16 hours a day to 24 hours a day for the remainder of the winter season.
City staff report that building upgrades at the site are now complete, including improved water, electrical service and additional washrooms. These improvements mean the shelter can safely operate around the clock. Staff say a 24-hour model would allow guests to stay at the site during the day instead of leaving each morning. This could reduce daytime impacts in nearby parks and public spaces and help staff connect guests with health, housing and social supports.
The change would not require additional City funding. BC Housing has funding available to support the expanded service for the remainder of the season. Staff say the change would also allow the City and service provider to test a 24-hour model and assess its impacts before future winter seasons.
Action:
Council directed staff to modify the current Licence to Occupy with Lookout Housing and Health Services to allow 24-hour operations at 971 Cumberland Rd for the purposes of providing Temporary Winter Shelter services.
View the staff report
2023–2026 Strategic priorities update
Council received an update on progress toward the City’s 2023-2026 Strategic Priorities. The update outlines work that has been completed, projects that are now underway, and timelines that have been adjusted as the City enters the final year of the current council term. The Strategic Priorities help guide the City’s work program, financial planning, and response to changing provincial legislation and service demands.
Since the last update in September 2025, completed items include the City website refresh, the Subdivision Servicing Bylaw update, the Bylaw Adjudication Program, and McPhee Meadows Phase 1. Major projects still in progress include the 6th Street Bridge multi-modal link, the Downtown Vitalization Local Area Plan, East Side Fire Hall planning, the Ryan Road sidewalk project, and several regional initiatives related to housing, water, sewer, transit, and emergency planning. Staff also confirmed that further strategic priorities updates are planned for July and September 2026.
Action:
Council received the update, approved revisions to the 2023-2026 Strategic Priorities to reflect new items and adjusted timelines and directed staff to report back again in July and September 2026.
Read the priorites
Ryan Road sidewalk project update
Council received an update on the Ryan Road sidewalk project, which would close a 350-metre sidewalk gap on the north side of Ryan Road between Back Road and Sandwick Road. Ryan Road is under provincial control, so any changes must meet Ministry of Transportation and Transit requirements. Staff reviewed options for adding both a sidewalk and a protected bike lane, but found that cycling options would require major property impacts, retaining walls, more approvals and a much higher risk of delay.
Staff recommended moving ahead with a sidewalk-only design so the City can address the pedestrian safety gap now. This option would have the lowest cost and the fewest property impacts, and it could move into construction in summer 2026 if approvals stay on schedule. The report notes that Ryan Road is still planned as a future long-term cycling corridor, but a protected bike lane would be more appropriate as part of a larger corridor upgrade with the province.
Action:
Council directed staff to proceed with the sidewalk-only design for the Ryan Road Sidewalk Project, complete detailed design, and begin construction in 2026.
Read the reports
Community grants – 2025 impact report
Council received a report on five community grant agreements administered through Community Services in 2025. These partnerships supported substance use response, food security, environmental stewardship, farmers market operations and winter support for vulnerable residents. The report highlights how City funding, along with staff support and community partnerships, helped deliver services and programs that align with the Official Community Plan and Council priorities.
The report summarizes outcomes from five initiatives: the Comox Valley Substance Use Strategy, Share the Harvest Community Garden, the Vanier Nature Park Garry Oak Restoration Project, rental support for the Courtenay Winter Farmers Market, and the Community Winter Response and Storage Solutions grant. Staff noted that these projects created strong community benefits, including local food access, environmental restoration, peer-led support, volunteer engagement and support for people experiencing homelessness. Staff also recommended developing a community granting policy to create a more consistent and fair approach to City funding, agreements and reporting.
Action:
Council received the 2025 Annual Grant Impact Report for information and directed staff to review City funding contributions to community agencies and report back with options for a community granting policy.
Read the impact report