The Board approved a plan to start updating the Regional Growth Strategy in early 2027 and adopted several financial and borrowing bylaws, including temporary borrowing for water projects and the West Shore RCMP detachment expansion. The most debated decision was to ask staff how the CRD might help fund the civilian counsellor on the Mobile Youth Services Team; councillors stressed the service’s value but differed over whether local funding would shift provincial or federal responsibilities onto local governments. The Board also approved a request to announce a Royal Roads University entrance award in memory of Lillian Marie Spock at its annual June meeting. A separate proposal to study a regional Agricultural Advisory Committee was read into the record for later consideration, while a water advocacy letter was sent back to staff for a report.
Generated from the recording's captions and the official minutes.
What was discussed
AI summary · check against sources
A.1 Motion to Close the Meeting
governance
The official motions list records a motion to close the meeting for labour relations and a legal update. This portion of the meeting is not included in the transcript, which begins as the Board reconvenes in open session.
Carried 18 to 026-0800Item A.1
Routine: close the meeting to discuss labour relations and a legal update in private.
Official wording: 1. That the meeting be closed for Labour Relations in accordance with Section 90(1)(c) of the Community Charter. [1 item]
2. That the meeting be closed for a Legal Update in accordance with Section 90(1)(i) of the Community Charter. [1 item]
The Chair said Director Plant had withdrawn his bursary notice of motion after learning of a separate scholarship initiative at Royal Roads University. The Board approved the agenda with that item removed. The Chair proposed allowing the scholarship’s family representative to speak despite the removal; the Board dealt with that request under Delegations.
Routine: approve the meeting agenda after removing the proposed Lillian Szpak Bursary motion.
Official wording: That the agenda for the Capital Regional District Board meeting of July 8, 2026 be approved as amended with the removal of item 10.1. Motion with Notice: Lillian Szpak Bursary (Director Plant).
Although the related bursary motion had been removed from the agenda, the Board suspended its procedure rules so a member of the Spock family could speak about the Lillian Marie Spock Entrance Award at Royal Roads University. The speaker described the award as supporting a female student with financial need who shows resilience, leadership and a commitment to helping others. The family said the endowment was not yet fully funded and welcomed support from community partners and donors.
Agreement
The Board allowed the family representative to speak after the related agenda item was removed.
Allow M. Sunshine to speak to the Board as a delegation, despite the usual speaking rules.
Official wording: That the rules of the Capital Regional District Board Procedures Bylaw be suspended to allow delegation, M. Sunshine, the opportunity to speak.
The Board approved the listed consent items as a group. One item, the Sticks Allison water advocacy letter, was pulled from consent and later considered as item 8.3.
Agreement
The consent items listed for approval were carried without opposition.
The Sticks Allison water advocacy letter was removed from the consent vote for separate consideration.
The report was approved through the consent agenda. The Board directed staff to distribute it to local councils and electoral area directors to raise awareness of the Arts Development Service’s impact.
Agreement
The report and its distribution were approved through consent.
Send the Arts Development Service’s 2025 impact report to local councils and electoral area directors so they can share information about the service’s work across the region.
Official wording: That staff distribute the CRD Arts Development: 2025 Impact Report to all councils and electoral area directors to raise awareness about the positive impact of the Arts Development Service throughout the capital region.
Approve the 2025 drinking-water quality report and send the water quality report to Island Health.
Official wording: 1. That the Greater Victoria Drinking Water Quality 2025 Annual Report be approved;
2. That the Greater Victoria Water Quality 2025 Annual Report be forwarded to Island Health Authority.
The presentation item was received for information through the consent agenda. The transcript does not include a presentation or discussion of its contents.
Have staff begin updating the region’s growth strategy in the first quarter of 2027, using the analysis in the report to guide the work.
Official wording: That the Capital Regional District Board direct staff to initiate an update of the Regional Growth Strategy starting in Q1 2027, informed by the analysis summarized in this report.
The Board accepted the Town of View Royal’s Regional Context Statement as aligned with the 2018 Regional Growth Strategy. The item passed through consent.
Agreement
The Town’s statement was accepted through consent.
Accept View Royal’s statement about how its plans align with the region’s growth strategy.
Official wording: That the Town of View Royal Regional Context Statement be considered in relation to the 2018 Regional Growth Strategy (Bylaw No. 4017) and be accepted in accordance with the requirements of section 448 of the Local Government Act.
Appoint Akhil Kunjumon, Jack Calabrase, Sahal Moidutty, Zachary Snow, and Brennen Schoenau as bylaw enforcement officers.
Official wording: That for the purpose of Section 233 of the Local Government Act and Section 28(3) of the Offence Act, and in accordance with Capital Regional District Bylaw No. 2681, Akhil Kunjumon, Jack Calabrase, Sahal Moidutty, Zachary Snow, Brennen Schoenau be appointed as Bylaw Enforcement Officers.
The Chief Administrative Officer reported on second-quarter work and first-quarter financial and workforce data. Highlights included two new accessible bus shelters on Salt Spring Island, 158 affordable homes at Caledonia in Victoria, the Sooke Skatepark opening and a $1.7-million grant agreement for planning work on the Reconciliation Corridor Initiative. The CRD sent 17 advocacy letters in the quarter. Operating finances were generally on track; some capital projects had timing delays, but most were still expected to finish within budget and scope. A councillor asked for clearer sources behind the report’s industry benchmarks, and the Chief Administrative Officer agreed to address this in a future report.
Agreement
The report was received for information.
Staff agreed to identify the sources for industry benchmarks in a future quarterly report.
Carried 18 to 026-0779Item 7.1
Routine: receive the CAO’s quarterly progress report for information; no action was directed.
Official wording: This report was received for information.
The Board amended the five-year financial plan to reflect previously directed work, new grants and donations, emergency repairs and other changes. Among the changes were advancing a Galloping Goose Trail project near the Callwood pedestrian and cyclist overpass; increasing the Esquimalt Health Unit roof replacement budget from $440,000 by $491,000, with some offsets from deferred work; buying an off-road vehicle for watershed access; and about $12,000 for emergency reservoir repairs in the Wilderness Mountain Water Service. The bylaw received three readings and was adopted.
Agreement
The financial plan amendments were approved without opposition.
Give the proposed financial-plan amendment its first three readings.
Official wording: 1. That Bylaw No. 4775, "2026 to 2030 Financial Plan Bylaw, 2026, Amendment Bylaw No. 2, 2026", be introduced and read a first, second and third time;
The Board authorized temporary borrowing against a 2021 loan authorization of $15 million for Juan de Fuca water distribution facilities. About $7.5 million had already been borrowed; the temporary bylaw makes the remaining balance available for construction projects. Temporary borrowing requires interest-only payments until converted to long-term debt, when principal payments also begin. The bylaw was given three readings and adopted.
Agreement
The temporary borrowing bylaw was approved without opposition.
Give the temporary-borrowing bylaw for Juan de Fuca water distribution facilities its first three readings.
Official wording: 1. That Bylaw No. 4780, "Temporary Borrowing (Juan de Fuca Water Distribution Facilities) Bylaw No. 1, 2026", be introduced and read a first, second and third time; and
The Board authorized temporary borrowing against a 2021 loan authorization of $46 million for regional water supply works. About $4 million had been borrowed so far, and the temporary bylaw makes the balance available for construction. As with the Juan de Fuca borrowing, payments are interest-only until the debt becomes long term. The bylaw was given three readings and adopted.
Agreement
The temporary borrowing bylaw was approved without opposition.
Give the temporary-borrowing bylaw for regional water-supply works its first three readings.
Official wording: 1. That Bylaw No. 4779, "Temporary Borrowing (Regional Water Supply Water Works Facilities) Bylaw No. 1, 2026", be introduced and read a first, second and third time; and
The Board approved temporary borrowing for the West Shore RCMP detachment expansion, which has a $103-million loan authorization. Staff said the temporary borrowing is needed because the project could not meet the deadline for the current long-term debt issue. They expect to convert it to long-term debt in spring 2027. The bylaw was given three readings and adopted.
Agreement
The temporary borrowing bylaw was approved without opposition.
Give the temporary-borrowing bylaw for the West Shore RCMP detachment expansion its first three readings and adopt it.
Official wording: 1. That Bylaw No. 4793, "Temporary Borrowing (West Shore RCMP Detachment Expansion) Bylaw No. 1, 2026", be introduced and read a first, second and third time; and
2. That Bylaw No. 4793 be adopted.
The Board approved four security-issuing bylaws for the 2026 fall borrowing cycle. Staff described roughly $38 million in CRD borrowing, mostly for the Core Area Wastewater Service, plus borrowing for the Seagirt water service. The CRD would also borrow on behalf of Victoria ($17 million), Saanich ($10 million) and Oak Bay ($9 million). In response to a question, staff said Seagirt’s connection infrastructure was complete and in service, and that the borrowing would pay the remaining project costs. All four bylaws received three readings and were adopted.
The Board updated recreation fees and charges for the 2026–27 season at facilities and services including Panorama, Sea Park, Salt Spring Island Parks and Recreation, Juan de Fuca community parks and the Port Renfrew Community Recreation Centre. Staff described the changes as reflecting decisions already made by the relevant commissions and through the financial plan. The bylaw received three readings and was adopted for the participating areas.
Give the recreation services and facilities fees amendment its first three readings.
Official wording: 1. That Bylaw No. 4767, "Capital Regional District Recreation Services and Facilities Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1, 2009, Amendment Bylaw No. 22, 2026", be introduced and read a first, second and third time; and
Staff reported that biosolids continued to be used for non-agricultural purposes outside the region, mainly for quarry reclamation near Cassidy. A procurement process began in late June to identify future uses; staff will return later in the year with outcomes and financial implications. Work on the advanced thermal treatment project continued, including preparation of material for a provincial air permit application. The report was for information.
Carried 18 to 026-0743Item 7.8
Routine: receive the biosolids update for information; no action was directed.
Official wording: This report was received for information.
The Board considered a revised loan authorization for the recreation facility project after municipal consent for an earlier $14-million authorization was not achieved. The revised project has a maximum budget of $10.1 million and still includes a new facility in Saanich. The Board gave the bylaw three readings and approved seeking municipal consent from Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney; if successful, the bylaw will go to the Inspector of Municipalities.
Agreement
Both the revised loan authorization and the municipal-consent process were approved.
Give the loan-authorization bylaw for the DCS recreation facility its first three readings.
Official wording: 1. That Bylaw No. 4782, "Saanich Peninsula Recreation Services (DCS Recreation Facility) Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 2, 2026", be introduced and read a first, second and third time; and
Seek municipal consent on behalf of voters in Central Saanich, North Saanich, and Sidney for the recreation-facility borrowing; if consent succeeds, send the bylaw to the Inspector of Municipalities for approval.
Official wording: 2. That participating area approval for Bylaw No. 4782 be obtained by way of the municipal consent on behalf of electors for Central Saanich, North Saanich, and Sidney, and if successful, be referred to the Inspector of Municipalities for approval.
The Board approved amendments to the regional parks fees and charges bylaw and the parks regulation bylaw. The first-reading motion for the fees and charges bylaw passed with one opposing vote; the remaining motions, including adoption of both bylaws, passed without opposition.
Agreement
The Board approved both bylaw amendments.
Disagreement
One councillor opposed the first-reading motion for Bylaw No. 4774; the transcript does not identify the councillor or give a reason.
Give the regional parks fees and charges amendment its first three readings.
Official wording: 1. That Bylaw No. 4774, "Capital Regional District Regional Parks Services and Facilities Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1, 2010, Amendment Bylaw No. 12, 2026", be introduced and read a first, second, and third time;
Give the parks regulation amendment its first three readings.
Official wording: 3. That Bylaw No. 4787 "Capital Regional District Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1, 2018, Amendment Bylaw No. 3, 2026", be introduced and read a first, second, and third time; and
Rather than proceed with the original water advocacy letter motion, the Board referred the issue to staff for a report. The mover said that having staff identify relevant milestones first would make a later motion more effective.
Agreement
The referral to staff for a report passed without opposition.
The Board adopted the amendment to the Traffic Safety Commission Establishment Bylaw. The Chair noted the issue had already been discussed by the Board.
The motion was withdrawn before the Board considered it. The Chair explained that Director Plant no longer wished to proceed after learning of a separate Royal Roads University scholarship initiative in Lillian Marie Spock’s memory.
The Board agreed to announce the recipient of the Lillian Marie Spock Entrance Award at its June meeting each year, alongside two other bursaries. The award, established by the family with support from Royal Roads University, the City of Langford and other donors, recognizes a female student who shows resilience, leadership and a commitment to improving others’ lives while demonstrating financial need. The Board accepted same-day consideration and then carried the main motion unanimously.
Agreement
Councillors supported publicizing the award recipient as a way to recognize the award’s purpose and its namesake’s legacy.
Both same-day consideration and the main motion passed without opposition.
Ask CRD staff to work with the Szpak family and Royal Roads University so the Lillian Marie Szpak Entrance Award recipient is announced each year alongside the Ed MacGregor Memorial and Nils Jensen bursary recipients.
Official wording: That the CRD Board request that CRD Staff work with the Szpak family and Royal Roads University to announce annually, when the Ed MacGregor Memorial and the Nils Jensen Bursaries are announced, the recipient of the recently established Royal Roads University Lillian Marie Szpak Entrance Award.
The Board unanimously directed staff to report on possible ways to fund the civilian counsellor position with the Mobile Youth Services Team, an integrated police and youth-support service. The mover described an urgent funding gap and the team’s work with young people at risk of gangs, exploitation, addiction and homelessness. Several councillors supported the report but warned that local funding could become a download of provincial or federal responsibility. Others stressed the danger of interrupting trusted support for young people and families. A councillor asked for advocacy as well as a funding review; the Chair said that would need separate consideration. Staff indicated a report could return at the September Board meeting.
Agreement
Councillors broadly agreed that the service provides important support and that its funding situation merits attention.
The Board unanimously approved a staff report, with a return expected at the September meeting.
Disagreement
Some councillors cautioned that CRD funding could shift provincial or federal responsibilities onto local governments and add to existing municipal costs.
Other councillors emphasized the immediate risk to young people if the counselling service were reduced or lost, and argued that local action should not wait for senior governments.
Carried 18 to 026-0836Item 10.31:24:27 Watch · Read
Ask staff to come back with possible ways to fund the civilian counsellor position with the Mobile Youth Services Team, which works as an integrated police unit.
Official wording: That the CRD Board direct staff to report back on potential methodologies for funding the civilian counselor position affiliated with the Mobile Youth Services Team (MYST), which operates as an Integrated Police Unit under the direction of the Greater Victoria Police Chiefs and Detachment Commanders.
A notice of motion was read into the record on behalf of a director. It asks the CRD to consider creating a regional Agricultural Advisory Committee, taking on administrative responsibility for it or a successor model, and having staff report on regional or sub-regional governance and administration options. The notice was not debated or voted on at this meeting; staff indicated it would return for discussion in September.
The Board voted to close the meeting for the reasons read into the record, including appointments and personal information, labour relations, legal advice and consideration of whether a meeting should be closed. It then voted to recess so the Capital Regional Housing Corporation and Capital Regional Hospital District boards could meet. The transcript ends as the Chair called a 10-minute recess.
Agreement
The motions to close the meeting and recess passed without opposition.
Carried 18 to 026-0803Item 12.11:27:51 Watch · Read
Close the meeting to discuss appointments and personal information, labour relations, legal advice, and whether another meeting should be closed.
Official wording: 1. That the meeting be closed for appointments and personal information in accordance with Section 90(1)(a) of the Community Charter.
2. That the meeting be closed for Labour Relations in accordance with Section (90)(1)(c) of the Community Charter.
3. That the meeting be closed for Legal Advice in accordance with Section 90(1)(i) of the Community Charter.
4. That the meeting be closed for consideration of whether a meeting should be closed in accordance with Section (90)(1)(n) of the Community Charter.
Pause this Board meeting so the Housing Corporation and Hospital District boards can meet.
Official wording: That the meeting be recessed for the meetings of the Capital Region Housing Corporation Board and Capital Regional Hospital District Board.