The Board approved a policy change that lets its commissions consider paying all commissioners for meeting work, while setting future Board pay reviews for the final year of a term. The sharpest debate was over View Royal’s request to reduce its contribution to the regional arts service: directors disagreed about local choice and tight budgets versus the effect on other participants and arts grants, and the Board rejected the request. The Board also backed a study of governance and services in Magic Lake Estates, and changes to allow First Nations cultural access in parts of the Greater Victoria water supply area. Major borrowing and fire-service bylaws advanced, while a new public-engagement policy was adopted.
Generated from the recording's captions and the official minutes.
community services3 public speakers10:39 Watch · Read
The Board allowed a late delegation from the Magic Lake Estates Property Owners Society to speak about a proposed governance and services study. It also extended a Highlands representative’s speaking time by three minutes. Delegations raised concerns about the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee’s service review, Magic Lake’s fit with rural governance, and coordination of regional transportation planning with a Saanich road project.
Agreement
The Board allowed the late delegation and the extended speaking time.
Official wording: That the rules of the Capital Regional District Board Procedures Bylaw be suspended to allow Marcie McLean's speaking time be extended for an additional 3 minutes.
The Board approved the remaining consent items as a group. Three items were pulled for separate discussion: recycling in schools, the public engagement policy, and regional transportation and growth planning.
Agreement
The remaining consent items were approved together.
The updated policy will take effect January 1, 2027. The Board agreed that future reviews of director remuneration should happen in the final year of a Board term, with changes taking effect for the following term. Directors then debated a proposed $12,000 increase for the Salt Spring Island Electoral Area Director. Supporters of the increase said cutting it would be unsupported by the consultant’s comparisons and could make elected service less accessible; the amendment failed. The policy also removes extra payments to directors appointed to commissions and lets commissions propose meeting payments for all commissioners, subject to Board approval.
Agreement
Future remuneration reviews should be scheduled in the final year of a Board term and apply to the following term.
Commission meeting payments will require Board approval.
Disagreement
A proposed amendment to remove the $12,000 recommended increase for the Salt Spring Island Electoral Area Director was opposed by directors who said it was arbitrary, inconsistent with the consultant’s work, and risked limiting who could afford to run for office. The mover argued the local community commission made the role distinct and warranted removing the increase.
Require the remuneration policy review to happen in the final year of each Board term, with changes taking effect for the next term.
Official wording: That the main motion be amended by adding the following as part 4. "That the review occurs in the final year of the each Board term to take effect for the following Board term."
Remove the proposed $12,000 increase to the Salt Spring Island Electoral Area Director’s remuneration from the policy approval motion.
Official wording: That part 3 of the main motion be amended to include the following wording, "As amended, to remove the recommended $12,000 increase to the Salt Spring Island Electoral Area Director." after the words "as attached."
Stop paying CRD Directors extra per-meeting amounts for serving on local and sub-regional commissions. Allow commissions to pay their commissioners per meeting from their service budgets if the commission and CRD Board approve. Approve the updated remuneration and travel policy effective January 1, 2027, and schedule its review for the final year of each Board term so it takes effect for the next term.
Official wording: 1. That the CRD Board remuneration philosophy be revised to remove the per meeting payments to CRD Directors appointed to local and sub-regional Commissions; and
2. That that the CRD Board remuneration philosophy be revised to authorize CRD Commissions to provide per meeting payments for all Commissioners as may be approved by the Commission and the CRD Board and paid at the per meeting rate from the Commission's service budget; and
3. That the CRD Board Remuneration and Travel Expense Policy be approved effective January 1, 2027, as attached.
4. That the review occurs in the final year of the each Board term to take effect for the following Board term.
The Board set the steps for an alternative approval process on borrowing up to $34.84 million for Core Area wastewater treatment and conveyance upgrades, including up to $2 million for advanced thermal design for Class A biosolids. Electors have until July 31, 2026 to respond. If at least 25,259 electors—10% of the registered total—object, the borrowing bylaw cannot proceed through this process. A director asked whether notices would explain how costs would be divided among municipalities; staff said they would publish the overall borrowing, not a municipal breakdown.
Agreement
The alternative approval process will run to July 31, 2026, with 25,259 responses set as the 10% threshold.
The approved information will include the bylaw summary, notice, response form, and communication channels.
Set July 31, 2026, as the deadline for eligible electors in the wastewater service area to respond to the alternative approval process. Approve the public notice and response materials, and confirm there are 252,590 registered electors, making the 10% response threshold 25,259.
Official wording: 1. That in accordance with section 86(3) of the Community Charter, the date of July 31, 2026 be confirmed as the deadline by which elector responses, under the alternative approval process for CRD Bylaw No. 4699, must be submitted to the Capital Regional District by qualified electors within the service participating area;
2. That the attached Synopsis of Bylaw No. 4699 (Appendix B), Notice of Alternative Approval Process (Appendix C), Elector Response Form (Appendix D), and AAP communication channels (Appendix E) be approved; and
3. That the total number of registered electors within the service participating area is 252,590 and that 10% of that number is 25,259 electors.
The Board approved temporary borrowing of up to $2 million for already-planned capital upgrades to the Lyall Harbour and Boot Cove water services. The short-term financing will cover costs until long-term debt is issued. Staff said no money had yet been drawn and that financing costs were included in the approved financial plan.
Agreement
The temporary borrowing bylaw was given three readings and adopted.
Give the temporary borrowing bylaw for the Lyall Harbour and Boot Cove water service its first three readings.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 4776, “Temporary Borrowing (Lyall Harbour/Boot Cove Water) Bylaw No. 1, 2026”, be introduced and read a first, second and third time:
Staff reported that all biosolids continued to go to non-agricultural uses outside the region, mainly quarry reclamation in Cassidy. The treatment facility began accepting residuals from Sooke, following earlier integration of Saanich Peninsula material, ending disposal of those residuals at the Hartland Landfill. Staff said this was financially close to neutral under current tipping-fee arrangements. A thermal treatment project remains in development, with a Board decision expected in early to mid-2027 and a possible 2030 commissioning date. Staff also said the roughly $800,000 paid to a cement plant for equipment may not be recoverable under the existing agreement, but they will look further into it.
Agreement
Directors welcomed the regional approach to handling residuals and the progress toward thermal processing.
Disagreement
A director urged the CRD to consider sharing future thermal facility costs more regionally; staff described the current arrangement but did not commit to a change.
8.1 26-0568 Impact of View Royal Changing Participation Level from Tier 1 to Tier 2 in the Arts Development Service
The Board denied View Royal’s request to move from Tier 1 to the lower-cost Tier 2 level in the regional arts service. The change would have reduced View Royal’s contribution by about $90,000, leaving less money for grants unless the service budget also fell. Opponents of the request stressed regional fairness, grant impacts, and the service’s shared purpose. Supporters emphasized municipal choice, local budget pressures, and the risk that communities might hesitate to join regional services if they cannot later adjust participation. Some directors called for a service review or clearer rules for withdrawal; staff explained that changing participants still requires a bylaw amendment and approvals from participating jurisdictions.
Agreement
View Royal can raise concerns about its participation, and the Board should consider the regional effects of any proposed change.
The arts service’s funding model and rules for reducing or ending participation warrant further consideration.
Disagreement
Directors differed over whether View Royal should be allowed to reduce its contribution: some prioritized municipal autonomy and local fiscal pressure, while others warned that remaining participants or grant recipients would bear the cost and that the change could weaken the service.
Directors also differed over whether the request should be accepted at the Board level or proceed to the participating councils for their consideration.
Keep View Royal in its current Tier 1 level of participation in the Arts Development Service rather than moving it to Tier 2, because of the financial effects on other participants and the lack of fit with CRD plans.
Official wording: That View Royal's request for a change in its membership level to Tier 2 be denied, due to financial impacts to other participants and lack of alignment with existing CRD plans and strategies.
The Board received the petition results for borrowing for the Beddis Water Treatment Plant upgrades, gave the loan authorization bylaw three readings, and sent it to the Inspector of Municipalities for approval.
Agreement
All three recommendations passed without opposition.
Give the Beddis water treatment plant loan authorization bylaw its first three readings.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 4752, "Beddis Water Service Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 1, 2026" be introduced and read a first, second and third time;
The Board gave Bylaw No. 4763 three readings and adopted amendments to the CRD’s Fire Services Operational, Fire Prevention and Administrative Bylaw. No debate was recorded.
Give the proposed changes to the CRD fire services operational and administrative rules their first three readings.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 4763, "Capital Regional District Fire Services Operational, Fire Prevention and Administrative Bylaw No.1, 2026, Amendment Bylaw No. 1", be introduced and read a first, second, and a third time; and
Give the proposed amendment to the CRD fire regulations its first three readings.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 4758, “Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 2, 2022, Amendment Bylaw No. 1, 2026,” be introduced and read a first, second, and third time; and
The Board gave three readings and adopted amendments to the ticketing and bylaw-notice enforcement bylaws for fire services. No discussion or opposition was recorded.
Give the proposed fire-services ticketing amendment its first three readings.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 4755, "Capital Regional District Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw, 1990, Amendment Bylaw No. 88, 2026", be introduced and read a first, second, and third time;
Give the proposed fire-services bylaw-notice enforcement amendment its first three readings.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 4756, "Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1, 2025, Amendment Bylaw No. 2, 2026", be introduced and read a first, second, and a third time; and
The Board gave three readings and adopted two more amendments to the ticketing and bylaw-notice enforcement bylaws for fire services. No debate was recorded.
Give the other proposed fire-services ticketing amendment its first three readings.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 4759, "Capital Regional District Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw, 1990, Amendment Bylaw No. 89, 2026", be introduced and read a first, second, and third time;
Give the proposed second fire-services bylaw-notice enforcement amendment its first three readings.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 4760, "Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1, 2025, Amendment Bylaw No. 3, 2026", be introduced and read a first, second, and a third time; and
The Board asked the Province to fund a governance and services study for Magic Lake Estates on North Pender Island. The study is to detail the current system and examine possible structural changes, including changes to electoral area boundaries or incorporation as a municipality. The mover described Magic Lake as a dense community facing problems under rural service arrangements; a property owners’ society representative offered community help with the study. The Board kept the request focused on Magic Lake rather than broadening it to the whole Southern Gulf Islands.
Agreement
The Board supported seeking provincial funding for a study focused on Magic Lake Estates.
Ask the Province to fund a study of how services and governance currently work in Magic Lake Estates on North Pender Island, including their costs and technical details. The study would help assess possible governance changes, such as changing electoral boundaries or forming a municipality.
Official wording: That the CRD Board request funding from the Province to complete a Governance and Services Study for the Magic Lake Estates on North Pender Island that would provide the technical and financial details of the current system and would inform consideration of structural changes in governance, which could include changing electoral area boundaries, or incorporation as a standalone municipality.
Give the proposed changes to CRD election and voting procedures their first three readings.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 4781, "Capital Regional District Election and Voting Procedures Bylaw, 2008, Amendment Bylaw No. 5, 2026", be introduced, read a first, second, and third time.
The Board adopted a public engagement policy and framework. A director asked whether each engagement would state its level of public influence and what parts of a decision were open for input. Staff said a summary template will identify the engagement level and purpose, explain how feedback will be used, and set out what is in or out of scope.
Agreement
Public engagement should make clear what input is being sought, how it may affect a decision, and what is outside the decision’s scope.
Adopt the CRD’s public engagement policy and supporting framework, and have staff report later on how social media platforms are used.
Official wording: 1. That the Public Engagement Policy (BRD09) and supporting Framework be adopted.
2. That staff report back on the use of social media platforms.
The Board advanced three bylaws to support First Nations’ traditional and cultural access in parts of the Greater Victoria water supply area. Staff said access details would be handled through individual agreements, with safety checks, insurance, and limits during higher-risk conditions. Access could include cultural practices, bathing, and hunting in the Leech and Goldstream areas; the Sooke watershed, the region’s main water source, would remain more restricted. The Board also amended the firearms and hunting wording in the water-supply-area bylaw. Directors described the changes as a step toward reconciliation while emphasizing protection of drinking water.
Agreement
Future access agreements should be developed with attention to watershed safety and drinking-water protection.
The Board supported moving forward with the bylaw changes and individual agreements.
Give the proposed amendment to the water supply area regulations its first and second readings.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 4753, "Capital Regional District Water Supply Area Regulations Bylaw No. 1, 2000, Amendment Bylaw No. 3, 2026" be introduced and read a first, second time;
Amend the proposed water-supply-area rules by removing the words “in the Leech Water Supply Area” from the section about firearms and hunting.
Official wording: That CRD Bylaw 4753 be amended in Section 1 (o) to read: "In section 30, 'Firearms and Hunting', by removing the words 'in the Leech Water Supply Area'.
Give the related ticketing bylaw amendment its first three readings.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 4769, "Capital Regional District Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw, 1990, Amendment Bylaw No. 90, 2026" be introduced and read a first, second and third time;
Give the related bylaw-notice enforcement amendment its first three readings.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 4770, "Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1, 2025, Amendment Bylaw No. 4, 2026" be introduced and read a first, second and third time; and
The Board directed staff to offer the recycling supports described in the report to all school districts in the region. A director added that some schools already reuse food scraps in school gardens, save refundable containers for fundraising, and use private haulers. Staff clarified that the CRD cannot currently require waste separation at schools; possible new authority will be considered in the next solid waste management plan, during the following Board term.
Agreement
The CRD should make the available recycling supports accessible to all regional school districts.
Any broader source-separation rules will need future consideration through the solid waste management plan.
8.11 26-0598 Aligning Regional Transportation and Growth Planning
transportation1 public speaker2:32:53 Watch · Read
The Board supported work to align the Regional Transportation Plan with the Regional Growth Strategy. A director asked how new population forecasts and employment changes, including possible growth connected to CFB Esquimalt, would shape the plans. Staff said updated projections are being incorporated and a report is due to the Planning and Protective Services Committee on June 24. Staff also confirmed the CRD has no regional economic development strategy and said the current planning work will examine industrial land and transportation links. A public delegation had urged the CRD to address governance and a regional corridor near Wilkinson and Interurban roads; staff said governance will be discussed at a June 22 workshop.
Agreement
Transportation, land use, population, and employment planning should be better coordinated.
Governance is part of the ongoing work and will be discussed at the June 22 workshop.
Have the transportation plan team explain to the Planning and Protective Services Committee how the plan update connects with regional growth and land-use planning, so the committee can consider whether the Regional Growth Strategy may need updating. Send this report to that committee for information.
Official wording: 1. That the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) project team provide an update to the Planning and Protective Services Committee on how the ongoing RTP update relates to regional growth planning and land use integration, for context and consideration of a potential update to the Regional Growth Strategy; and
2. That this report be referred to the Planning and Protective Services Committee for information.
The Board adopted the bylaws that establish the service and authorize borrowing for an expanded West Shore RCMP detachment in Langford. Staff said a one-month challenge period comes next, followed by a temporary borrowing bylaw and ministry approval. Directors described the expansion as an important example of regional cooperation; Langford, Colwood, and View Royal own the building, while other communities rent space there.
The Board voted to move into a closed meeting for appointments and personal information, land matters, potential harm to the regional district’s interests, and contract negotiations. The transcript ends as the meeting is about to close.
Hold a closed session to discuss appointments and personal information, land acquisition or disposition, and contract negotiations. The minutes also record that some disclosures could reasonably harm the Regional District’s interests.
Official wording: 1. That the meeting be closed for appointments and personal information in accordance with Section 90(1)(a) of the Community Charter. [1 item]
2. That the meeting be closed for land acquisition/disposition in accordance with Section 90(1)(e) of the Community Charter. [2 items]
3. That such disclosures could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the Regional District. [2 items]
4. That the meeting be closed for contract negotiations in accordance with Section (90)(1)(k) of the Community Charter. [1 item]