Council meeting highlights for December 10
Here are the highlights from the City Council meeting held on December 10, 2025. 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.
BC Housing – Update on 925 Braidwood Road
(purpose-built shelter and permanent housing)
Council received an update from BC Housing on two major housing projects planned for 925 Braidwood Road and Ryan Road. The presentation outlined the development schedule, next steps, and the selection of the non-profit operators who will run the future shelter and supportive housing. BC Housing confirmed that all key permits are progressing, with construction expected to begin in February 2026, and estimated to open in late 2027. A public open house was held on December 8 to introduce the operators and answer questions from nearby residents.
The new purpose-built shelter will be operated by Connective, offering about 73 beds with the ability to add more during extreme weather. The supportive housing building will be operated by Lookout Housing and Health Society and will include 70 homes for individuals who need stable housing with on-site supports. A summary of neighbourhood engagement will be posted soon on the project webpage, and BC Housing will continue sharing updates as the project moves forward.
Development Cost Charges Bylaw No. 3191, 2025
Council reviewed a proposed new Development Cost Charges (DCC) Bylaw for Courtenay. DCCs are fees paid by new development to help cover the cost of growth-related infrastructure like roads, water, sewer, parks, and some community facilities. The current bylaw has been in place since 2016 and no longer reflects today’s construction costs or updated growth forecasts to 2045. The updated program would bring Courtenay in line with other local governments in the region by using common land use categories and units of charge, and would use a 1% “municipal assist factor,” meaning most growth-related costs stay with new development rather than existing taxpayers.
The draft bylaw and background report were refined after a joint industry information session and public engagement in summer 2025. Feedback focused on development viability, how costs are shared between new and existing residents, and how timing and payment rules would work. Under the proposed bylaw, DCCs for a typical new single-family home would be just under $22,000 from the City portion, with additional regional DCCs collected on behalf of the Comox Valley Regional District. The report also explained new provincial rules that allow qualified developers to pay part of their DCCs in instalments over time, which may affect cash flow for future capital projects. If adopted, the bylaw and background report must first be approved by the Inspector of Municipalities before the new rates can come into effect.
Actions: council gave first, second and third readings to Development Cost Charges Bylaw No. 3191, 2025 and directed staff to submit the bylaw and background report to the Inspector of Municipalities for approval.
Amenity Cost Charges (ACC) Rate Options
Council reviewed options for setting new Amenity Cost Charges (ACCs), which are fees paid by new development to help fund future recreation and cultural amenities. Unlike Development Cost Charges (DCCs), which pay for core infrastructure like water, sewer, and roads, ACCs help pay for facilities such as expanded community and recreation centres, sports fields, pickleball courts, dog parks, cultural spaces, and spray parks. The proposed ACC program is based on a list of growth-related projects worth about $72.75 million over 20 years, with new development expected to contribute about $26 million and the City covering the rest.
Three options were presented for how ACCs could apply to different land uses:
- Option 1 (recommended): apply ACCs to residential and commercial uses only.
- Option 2: apply ACCs to residential, commercial, and industrial uses.
- Option 3: apply ACCs to residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional uses.
Staff recommended Option 1, noting that most demand for these amenities comes from residents and workers in commercial areas near community facilities, while industrial areas are generally farther away and institutional uses (such as schools and libraries) are often amenities themselves.
Actions: council directed staff to prepare a new Amenity Cost Charges bylaw using Option 1, applying ACCs to residential and commercial development only.
Snow and ice Control 2025–2026
Council received an update on the City’s 2025–2026 Snow and Ice Control Program. From October 1 to March 31 each year, City crews are on call 24/7 to respond to winter weather. They maintain over 341 lane-kilometres of roads and also clear key sidewalks, bike lanes, multi-use pathways, and storm drains to help prevent flooding when snow melts. During storms, staff work overlapping shifts of up to 16 hours and also handle related work such as winter road patrols, pothole repairs, and equipment maintenance.
The program follows a clear priority system so limited crews and equipment are used where they are needed most. Main routes such as arterials, major collectors, bus routes, emergency service routes, and the downtown core are cleared first, followed by minor collectors, steep hills, and school zones, and then local roads, cul-de-sacs, and lanes. Sidewalk and pathway clearing also follows a priority list, starting with busy routes near main roads, downtown, parks, transit areas, and municipal facilities.
Pickleball court needs assessment and options analysis
Council reviewed a needs assessment and options analysis for new outdoor pickleball courts in Courtenay. The study looked at court supply across the Comox Valley, membership trends for local pickleball and tennis clubs, and how often courts are used. It found that Courtenay has no dedicated outdoor pickleball courts, even though most local players live in the city and existing shared courts in the Comox Valley are often full at peak times. With population and sport participation both growing, the assessment recommends building a “pickleball hub” of four to six dedicated courts in the short term, with the potential for more courts in the future.
Two main locations were studied: Lewis Park and Bill Moore Park. Both sites scored well, but Lewis Park was identified as the preferred option because it is farther from nearby homes (reducing noise concerns), already functions as a major sports hub, and has good access to washrooms, parking, and transit. While the courts would be in the floodplain, they can be designed to withstand seasonal flooding and closed when river levels are high. The Class D cost estimate for six new courts at Lewis Park is $850,000.
Actions: council received the assessment and directed staff to proceed with detailed design and construction of six new dedicated pickleball courts at Lewis Park, and updated the project budget to $850,000 in the 2026–2030 Financial Plan.
Park bench donation policy and implementation strategy
Council reviewed a proposed Park Bench Donation Program to replace the previous memorial bench program, which was suspended in 2008. The new program is designed to be fair, transparent, and financially sustainable, with donation fees set at full cost recovery for the purchase, installation, maintenance, and administration of benches over a ten-year term. A new Park Bench Donation Policy and Park and Donation Bench Guidelines set out where benches can go, how many can be added each year, and how they will be maintained, so that benches support park planning goals and do not overcrowd popular locations.
The program would allow individuals or groups to donate a standard park bench and plaque, with clear rules for plaque wording that is respectful, inclusive, and suitable for a recreational setting. Donated benches and plaques would become City property, with plaques removed at the end of the ten-year term and donors offered the chance to renew at updated fees. The program is expected to be limited to about 15 new donated benches per year, with past donors and people on the historical waitlist offered the first opportunity to participate when it launches.
Actions: council received the guidelines for information, adopted the new Park Bench Donation Program Policy, and directed staff to proceed with implementation and prepare a Fees and Charges Bylaw amendment for the new cost-recovery fee.