{"videoId":"e5be39eb-bec5-411c-90ce-0d2a39808656","source":"assemblyai","segments":[{"t":0,"text":"Sam,","speaker":"A"},{"t":131,"text":"Our staff ready? Welcome everyone. Welcome everyone to council meeting on Monday, June 1, 2026. I would look for a motion to reconvene the regular meeting of council.","speaker":"B"},{"t":147,"text":"So moved.","speaker":"C"},{"t":147,"text":"Second.","speaker":"A"},{"t":148,"text":"Thank you. All those in favor? Any opposed? None opposed. And I will look to Councillor Morrison for the territorial acknowledgement.","speaker":"B"},{"t":156,"text":"Thank you, Mayor. We wish to recognize and acknowledge the Songhees Nation, the Cosopsin nation on whose traditional territory we live, we learn and we do our work. Thank you.","speaker":"A"},{"t":167,"text":"Thank you. There are no late items, so I will look for a motion to approve the agenda, please. So moved.","speaker":"B"},{"t":177,"text":"Second.","speaker":"D"},{"t":177,"text":"Thank you. All those in favor? Any opposed? None opposed.","speaker":"B"},{"t":182,"text":"Councillor Cavins sends his regrets, but he is doing double duty as a parent at his son's graduation tonight and also speaking on behalf of council to the Esquimult high grads. So we thank him for doing that.","speaker":"B"},{"t":199,"text":"And up next is very special presentation of the Volunteer Spirit Award. And so I'm just going to move down to another mic.","speaker":"B"},{"t":233,"text":"And Carolyn, I won't ask you to come up while I'm reading all this","speaker":"E"},{"t":236,"text":"because, wow, I've got a lot to say about you.","speaker":"B"},{"t":241,"text":"It's my pleasure to present this Township of Esquimalt Volunteer Spirit award to Carolyn MacIsaac. This award recognizes individuals whose dedication, generosity and community spirit help make Esquimal such a vibrant and caring place to live.","speaker":"E"},{"t":263,"text":"Carolyn has quite quietly and consistently contributed to our community for many years through her volunteer work with both the Township Community Arts Council and the Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce.","speaker":"E"},{"t":282,"text":"Since 2014, the township community Arts Council has brought art, music, theater and cultural enrichment to residents and visitors throughout the region. Behind the scenes, Carolyn played an essential role in helping that work happen.","speaker":"E"},{"t":303,"text":"For nearly 10 years, she volunteered as the Township Community Arts Council's bookkeeper, providing meticulous attention to detail and ensuring the organization remained financially strong and accountable.","speaker":"E"},{"t":319,"text":"Every bill was paid, every grant report completed, and every financial review carefully managed. Her professionalism and reliability gave the organization a solid foundation. But Carolyn's contributions went far beyond bookkeeping. She also volunteered at events.","speaker":"E"},{"t":341,"text":"She staffed welcome tables and supported countless behind the scene activities. Always willing to help whenever needed, always wearing appropriate costume as necessary. The Chamber of Commerce also spoke very highly of Carolyn's contributions.","speaker":"E"},{"t":362,"text":"During her years with the Chamber, she helped restructure financial systems and became a trusted and welcoming presence for local business owners.","speaker":"E"},{"t":376,"text":"Although Carolyn may describe herself as someone who prefers to work quietly behind the scenes, her warmth, kindness and genuine desire to help others made a lasting impression on everyone.","speaker":"E"},{"t":394,"text":"You have met Carolyn.","speaker":"B"},{"t":397,"text":"You represent the very Best of volunteerism in Esquimault. Dedication without seeking recognition, service without expectation, and a true commitment to community.","speaker":"E"},{"t":409,"text":"So on behalf of council and the township of Esquimalt, thank you, Carolyn, for your many years of outstanding volunteer service and the positive impact you have made in our community. Please come forward.","speaker":"E"},{"t":428,"text":"Let's give her a big round of applause.","speaker":"E"},{"t":453,"text":"Thank you very much. I really appreciate it. I'm just one of many of the volunteers that make all the different organizations function here.","speaker":"B"},{"t":465,"text":"So it's not me alone.","speaker":"F"},{"t":467,"text":"I have a lot of people. I really can't say much more.","speaker":"B"},{"t":474,"text":"Thank you, Carolyn.","speaker":"E"},{"t":576,"text":"All right. Oh, don't leave yet. Now we're at public input time. And this is on items 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.","speaker":"B"},{"t":588,"text":"Six being the staff reports, seven being bylaw readings not subject to a public hearing, eight being reports, nine being communications, and 10 is the notice of motion.","speaker":"B"},{"t":602,"text":"All right, so are there any members of the public that wish to speak? Are there any members of the public that wish to speak? And I will ask a third time, and seeing none, we'll move on now.","speaker":"B"},{"t":621,"text":"And we're at staff reports development variant permit application, 604 Nelson Street. Mr. Brown, Mr. Tang, thank you.","speaker":"B"},{"t":631,"text":"This application came to council on April 27 before it was postponed at the time as development variance permit. There's also a development permit amendment that accompanies at this time.","speaker":"G"},{"t":642,"text":"The amendment is for a 2 by 2 meter cutout of the parkade on the northeast corner, and as such the facade and the treatment is amended so the variance once again is 1.","speaker":"G"},{"t":656,"text":"1 meter reduction in side setback on the Nelson street frontage for the parkade level. And to be. To be clear, everything from the first level upwards remains the same, albeit 17 meters.","speaker":"G"},{"t":669,"text":"The northern 70 meter portion of the parkade does protrude from. From the ground upwards. The applicant's architect is here to answer any questions, if you choose.","speaker":"G"},{"t":680,"text":"Thank you. Are there questions? Let's start with questions for staff at this time.","speaker":"B"},{"t":687,"text":"Sure.","speaker":"H"},{"t":687,"text":"I have Councillor Boardman.","speaker":"B"},{"t":689,"text":"So when I look at the architectural and landscape plans, there's nothing up. This picture here, that's what we're talking about, Right. Where it kind of goes in a little bit. Okay.","speaker":"H"},{"t":698,"text":"And the previous one, it came out and it was quite high at the corner. Okay, thank you.","speaker":"H"},{"t":705,"text":"Any other questions? Sorry, just Councillor Morrison.","speaker":"B"},{"t":710,"text":"So they didn't. Basically they did not. They weren't able to take care of the entire. I don't know how you describe it, but intrusion, I suppose we'll call it.","speaker":"A"},{"t":721,"text":"So there was some back and forth between staff and the developer. And is this where you both landed or is this just. The developer said this is all they can do. Was this a negotiated compromise? I suppose.","speaker":"A"},{"t":736,"text":"Three, worship to councillor. For the most part, it's a reduction where they tried to accommodate the parking that was required as per the zoning and removing enough of the corner for the sight line as per the zoning bylaw.","speaker":"G"},{"t":750,"text":"Where the corner intersection. The sight line has to be clear on that triangle area. That's delineated on the architectural drawings. And that's what. That's the removal of the 2 by 2 on the northeast corner.","speaker":"G"},{"t":762,"text":"Okay. And then I think in our last meeting, we sort of talked about maybe softening that. That extra space, I guess. Was there a discussion on that as well?","speaker":"A"},{"t":775,"text":"The applicant's architect is probably better suited to answer questions related to any facade treatments or anything of the sorts.","speaker":"G"},{"t":783,"text":"Okay.","speaker":"A"},{"t":783,"text":"Yeah.","speaker":"I"},{"t":783,"text":"It'd be good to see the visuals that Councilor Boardman was referencing. Thank you.","speaker":"A"},{"t":789,"text":"Just before we go to the proponent, did you have another question for staff?","speaker":"B"},{"t":793,"text":"Just one more question. He could probably answer it as well, but is it looks like there's loss of one parking stall. Is that correct?","speaker":"H"},{"t":802,"text":"Once again, I'll defer that to the applicants. I know that they. They still conform to the zoning bylaw, right?","speaker":"G"},{"t":809,"text":"There's a loss of one parking stall.","speaker":"H"},{"t":810,"text":"I believe so, yeah.","speaker":"G"},{"t":811,"text":"Okay, thank you.","speaker":"H"},{"t":812,"text":"Okay, welcome. And so, Councillor Morrison, do you wish to ask your question again?","speaker":"B"},{"t":820,"text":"Yeah, it's. And it's sort of related as to what Councilor Boardman was referencing the visuals. Could you like, can you show us sort of what.","speaker":"A"},{"t":828,"text":"I guess I don't know if it's in here, but what it, what, what you originally had it look like and what. What you changed it to visually originally,","speaker":"A"},{"t":838,"text":"like, I, I know. I'm not sure which one you're looking at, but it's probably the glass on top and the planter on the bottom.","speaker":"J"},{"t":844,"text":"Appendix C, I think it is.","speaker":"A"},{"t":846,"text":"Yeah.","speaker":"C"},{"t":846,"text":"Or yeah, yeah, correct.","speaker":"A"},{"t":848,"text":"That's it.","speaker":"C"},{"t":849,"text":"So that corner, we originally were actually pushing the brick veneer higher where the glasses for privacy of those patios. But we kind of found that as urban strategy, we could put glass there instead.","speaker":"J"},{"t":861,"text":"So it doesn't seem higher than it is. We're also just protruding, like from the lobby down that. That 17 meters. We start at actually zero feet and end up at two meters.","speaker":"J"},{"t":872,"text":"But in order to kind of soften that edge, we also are incorporating those planters in front of them. So there's kind of two treatments we're going about. This is adding the brick Veneer on top of the Parcade.","speaker":"J"},{"t":886,"text":"Actually, do you have your presentation? Are you able to put that up on the screen?","speaker":"A"},{"t":890,"text":"I don't have a presentation with me. It's just.","speaker":"J"},{"t":892,"text":"Oh, I see. Okay. Because we're all looking at. But I wonder if the public want to see it.","speaker":"A"},{"t":895,"text":"Yeah. So if the DP 401 is kind of what I'm referencing.","speaker":"J"},{"t":899,"text":"Okay. So what I'm looking at is. Yeah, you're right. There's the brick and then there's the glass above that, the black glass. And then. So you've got. You said you've added planters. So those are the.","speaker":"A"},{"t":910,"text":"What we're seeing there in front of the brick.","speaker":"A"},{"t":913,"text":"Planters were previously there, but it's just on the corner. We've cut that down as well for the visibility triangle.","speaker":"J"},{"t":921,"text":"Oh, I see. So is that where the planter. That's lower. Is that what you mean? Cut down? Oh, okay. I see.","speaker":"A"},{"t":926,"text":"And as according to the bylaw, we're not allowed to go over 600 millimeters just for visibility, so we ensured that there's only shrubs there on the ground level. And then as well as, like.","speaker":"J"},{"t":936,"text":"So a little bit of higher quality on the Parcade for visual reference.","speaker":"J"},{"t":940,"text":"And then we're hoping the landscape kind of grows in and helps cover that as well as kind of the patio condition being good for urban design in terms of eyes on the street and kind of being more engaging.","speaker":"J"},{"t":956,"text":"Anything further?","speaker":"B"},{"t":956,"text":"No, I'm just trying to remember what it was. I guess I could go back and look at our previous agenda to see.","speaker":"A"},{"t":961,"text":"I'm wondering if staff could put up on one of the pictures, the architectural and landscape plans. It's the last slide of the Appendix E. Because this. This was very confusing before, and it's not getting less confus.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1015,"text":"It.","speaker":"K"},{"t":1041,"text":"It's.","speaker":"A"},{"t":1066,"text":"There.","speaker":"H"},{"t":1097,"text":"That's it. If you can expand it, great. If you can't, I think that's. There we are. Perfect. Okay.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1119,"text":"So","speaker":"E"},{"t":1122,"text":"as we look at that corner, what we're seeing in the drawings for tonight is that that would be flattened off. Am I right? Or is it going to stay as a corner?","speaker":"B"},{"t":1134,"text":"So. Exactly. The visual right here.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1137,"text":"You can use the board if you want to make any pictures that can help us here.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1141,"text":"Yeah, no, I can basically talk to this picture. So the picture that we're looking at right now.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1146,"text":"Yep.","speaker":"L"},{"t":1146,"text":"That's what the intention is for it to be.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1148,"text":"Now, what you see is what you get.","speaker":"K"},{"t":1151,"text":"So it's. So it's cut in, but it's still. Okay. And what is the height of that brick?","speaker":"B"},{"t":1159,"text":"So the maximum height on that corner is 2 meters, which is about 6 foot 6. The planters in front are about 1 meter. So we're actually.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1167,"text":"We're going to see 1 meter above, and the planters are 1 meter in front of.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1173,"text":"Okay. And there's a restriction to the planters having to stay at that lower amount.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1182,"text":"And you see the shrubs on the. Just for the corner visibility. That's why we're actually pushing in 2 meters from both sides.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1190,"text":"Yeah.","speaker":"C"},{"t":1190,"text":"Okay.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1190,"text":"So we want to ensure we're kind of meeting that requirement.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1194,"text":"Okay, thank you, Councillor Morrison. And then I'll look around.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1197,"text":"Sorry. You said the height of the brick area was six foot something?","speaker":"A"},{"t":1202,"text":"Yeah. From the ground all the. The way to the top, it would be six foot six.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1206,"text":"Okay. And then see where those three people are? That just the plain concrete wall. How tall is that concrete wall that is at its tallest point where the people are there?","speaker":"A"},{"t":1215,"text":"So that's a planter that would be about five feet.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1218,"text":"Okay.","speaker":"A"},{"t":1218,"text":"So actually the corner is the tallest. Six foot six. And then it decreases all the way to the lobby that we see in the back. In the blue, it goes down to zero.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1228,"text":"So the plane kind of concrete. That is a planter. The tallest that gets is five feet.","speaker":"A"},{"t":1233,"text":"Yeah.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1234,"text":"Okay. So it goes down in height from there.","speaker":"A"},{"t":1236,"text":"Yep. So it was just due to the site constraint with the grading that we had to kind of increase and have the parquet protrude.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1244,"text":"But we try to mitigate that through the materials, through the planters, and through adding those glass patios instead of.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1250,"text":"Previously, we actually had the brick going to the top of that glass, so we pushed all that down and introduced glass. So it's not perceived as higher.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1259,"text":"Was there any. Sorry. Through the chair, was there any possibility of extending the brick for where the concrete wall part is? The reason I say is because it's just.","speaker":"A"},{"t":1270,"text":"I can see that as being spray painted, and it just seems like ready for some sort of unauthorized use, which you have to take care of.","speaker":"A"},{"t":1279,"text":"We're also open to stepping that planter more if required. If you don't want, like the five feet, we can step it every, like three feet. So it bumps up.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1287,"text":"We can do a couple of steps in there, and then we can also look at different cladding as well.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1292,"text":"Yeah.","speaker":"C"},{"t":1292,"text":"But if you wanted, could you do the brick where the. Where the concrete wall is, though?","speaker":"A"},{"t":1297,"text":"Yep. And we should.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1298,"text":"Would that be.","speaker":"A"},{"t":1299,"text":"Yeah, we can. We can do that. And if. If there's a preference for a wood planter instead for, like, warmth, we can. We can also explore that Route.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1309,"text":"Yeah. Okay, thank you.","speaker":"A"},{"t":1310,"text":"So that I.","speaker":"C"},{"t":1311,"text":"That would be my concern. If you got tallest point where those three people are. You've got five feet of just blank canvas for spray painting or whatever.","speaker":"A"},{"t":1320,"text":"I would prefer council, if we looked at if the proponent is agreeable, having the brickwork done there as well. If that could be done. But I'll just put that out there for suggestion. Thank you.","speaker":"A"},{"t":1332,"text":"Are there other members of the public of council sorry that have questions? Councillor,","speaker":"B"},{"t":1342,"text":"I wanted to pick up on Councillor Morrison.","speaker":"D"},{"t":1345,"text":"Just ask staff in the context of what we're looking at here today, if there were some minor things about, you know, trying to soften some of the areas there were at five feet.","speaker":"D"},{"t":1355,"text":"Is that a change in the motion today? Is that something that. It's enough that the proponent has sort of made an indication that they're willing to look at it. What would be our best course of action?","speaker":"D"},{"t":1374,"text":"Your worship, to Councillor Halliwell. These development permits, where it's minor in nature, can actually be delegated to the director of development Services. So I've heard what you've asked for. As the applicant has two.","speaker":"K"},{"t":1387,"text":"So if you want, you need to approve the variance. I can't do that. You need to approve the variance. But the rest, if you trust me.","speaker":"K"},{"t":1396,"text":"I will make sure that the brickwork is in place and that the planter has stepped up. And so all you would approve tonight is the variance.","speaker":"K"},{"t":1408,"text":"Councillor Hallowell.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1410,"text":"And just before I try a motion then, just wanted to confirm and perhaps this is for Ms. Hopkins. Do I need to add anything to the recommendation that we delegate final approval to staff","speaker":"D"},{"t":1422,"text":"through the chair? No, because you've already done that. That delegation already exists elsewhere, so you don't need to do an additional.","speaker":"L"},{"t":1428,"text":"So we can take the recommendation as is with just with stat. Okay, thank you.","speaker":"D"},{"t":1434,"text":"So in that case then I will move that council approve development permit number DP000244amendment number one and development variance permit number DVP00182 for the variance is requested to accommodate an underground parcade at 604 Nelson street, as outlined in staff report DEV 26026.","speaker":"D"},{"t":1451,"text":"I'll second. Thank you. Do you wish to speak to it, Councillor Hallowell?","speaker":"B"},{"t":1457,"text":"I think the APC said it best that it's relatively minor to the neighborhood. I think this is a better design than what we had seen previously. So I appreciate that.","speaker":"D"},{"t":1469,"text":"I did like Councillor Morrison's option just to try and soften that one sort of five foot concrete wall. That is quite inviting. And there are a few other Developments in town that have that.","speaker":"D"},{"t":1484,"text":"And it's to some people's tastes, but not to everybody's. But I fully trust that staff and the applicant can find something that will soften that a little bit.","speaker":"D"},{"t":1496,"text":"Councillor Armour, I was looking at you, so I'm accepting yours. Okay. Further discussion, I'll go to Councilor Bream. All right, Councillor Morrison, just as per","speaker":"B"},{"t":1509,"text":"Mr. Brown's comments and so with the minutes. The minutes will show that we, the council gave direction and feedback that we would like as part of the delegated authority of the Director to do some.","speaker":"A"},{"t":1524,"text":"To do some rethinking of that bare concrete 5 foot area and maybe even maybe make it uniform for the entire concrete area that you just. If it's just a simple matter of","speaker":"A"},{"t":1538,"text":"a brick, you're getting nods.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1539,"text":"Okay, so in the minutes, officially, I just wanted to be recorded so that we have that on record legally. Thank you.","speaker":"A"},{"t":1545,"text":"Further discussion. All right, I think this is. I appreciate your input, Councillor Morrison and the slight change we're looking for in the change now that I understand it. So I will call the question.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1560,"text":"All those in favor and none opposed. Motions carried. Thank you very much.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1566,"text":"Thank you.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1567,"text":"All right, we move down to the 2025 annual report. And is Ms. Zaj.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1587,"text":"Good evening, Mayor and council. In front of you you have our 2025 annual report. In that are the audited financial statements as well.","speaker":"I"},{"t":1595,"text":"You'll notice what isn't in there, and that will be coming later this year is the climate Annual Report. But this has the council priority plan projects that were completed in 2025 departmental reports and as I mentioned, the financials.","speaker":"I"},{"t":1609,"text":"So, ready to hear any questions or comments?","speaker":"I"},{"t":1613,"text":"Questions? Councillor Morrison, Just.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1617,"text":"Maybe it's more of a comment, but it's just a correction. Sorry, I had it open and then I closed it here. It's just to do with our committee assignments because this is still draft, right?","speaker":"A"},{"t":1628,"text":"We can make edits to it. Okay, that's what I thought. But I know it's because Councilor Boardman and I switched our committee appointments.","speaker":"A"},{"t":1636,"text":"So it says for Councillor Boardman that she's on APC Design Review Committee and she's a Buccaneer Days committee liaison. And then it says for me that","speaker":"A"},{"t":1645,"text":"I'm","speaker":"C"},{"t":1648,"text":"the Esquimal rib fest liaison. But those two roles we did actually officially change. I know this is how it was originally written and then we made an amendment to that. So. Councillor Boardman, am I getting that correct?","speaker":"A"},{"t":1662,"text":"Right.","speaker":"D"},{"t":1663,"text":"Okay. Okay. So that would be the only. Just to swap those two to whatever currently is listed now on the website, yeah.","speaker":"A"},{"t":1678,"text":"All right. Any other.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1680,"text":"For the record, that's page 12.","speaker":"A"},{"t":1682,"text":"Any other corrections or changes? All right, There is a recommendation for you, Council.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1693,"text":"Okay.","speaker":"K"},{"t":1693,"text":"Is there a second? Second. Thank you. Do you wish to speak to it? Councilor Armour,","speaker":"B"},{"t":1699,"text":"just say, once again, thank you very much. Great report. I know it's a lot of work and a lot goes into it, so really appreciate all your efforts.","speaker":"C"},{"t":1705,"text":"Thanks.","speaker":"I"},{"t":1706,"text":"Thank you, Councilor Breen. That's what I was going to say.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1708,"text":"So.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1709,"text":"All right.","speaker":"I"},{"t":1710,"text":"Yes, a lot of work and thank you very much. And I will call the question. All those in favor? Any opposed? None opposed. Motions carried. Thanks very much.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1723,"text":"All right, we're now down to revising the inter Community Business License bylaw. And that's Ms. Finnegan.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1732,"text":"Thank you. Through the chair. So I just want to introduce the report just with a little bit more information, just to get more understanding. So just wanted to explain.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1743,"text":"Business licenses in Esquimot start off with a base license in their home municipality and that is what allows them to operate locally.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1752,"text":"If they work in nearby municipalities, they can add an inter municipal license, which is across all 13 of our CRD municipalities.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1760,"text":"The Inter Community business license builds on that same concept and that's what we're talking about tonight, but at a much larger scale.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1769,"text":"And that allows eligible businesses to operate across participating communities throughout most of southern Vancouver island with an additional license. So currently in the ICBL, the Inter community, we have 14 participating jurisdictions which go up to Parksville.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1784,"text":"And in addition to our ICBL, and this isn't in the report, there's additional ICBLs further up island like Central Vancouver Island, Comox Valley and Cowichan Valley.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1794,"text":"So the intent across all three levels, the base, the inter municipal and the inter community, is the same, to reduce duplication, lower costs for business businesses and make it easier to operate across municipal boundaries while still maintaining local oversight.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1810,"text":"So this review is not a fundamental overhaul, but just some modernization and strengthening of the existing system.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1817,"text":"So what we've improved, and this Is across the 14 participating jurisdictions, which I may add, took probably a year and a half of many, many meetings of gathering everybody together, which was led by the province.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1831,"text":"So what's improved is the stronger regional coordination and the formal agreement model, clearer eligibility and enforcement rules, better data sharing and compliance tools, a stronger link to having a real premise and automatic cancellation if local presence is lost, and clearer enforcement authority across the jurisdictions.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1849,"text":"So I just wanted to give that clarity. I know it can sound a bit confusing out there with all the different layers, but essentially tonight it's improving the inter community.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1861,"text":"And we are hoping with that that we will then be able to invite more communities to join and thereby continue to expand and strengthen that inter community program. So here to take any questions.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1874,"text":"Thank you.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1875,"text":"Councillor Helua, curiosity question and you were, I think you were just starting to get at it a little bit there, but there are some notable communities that are not part of this.","speaker":"D"},{"t":1884,"text":"What would be some of the rationale for not wanting to participate in something like this?","speaker":"D"},{"t":1890,"text":"That's a good question and probably one that I can't answer fully. I'll take a stab of it though.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1897,"text":"I think there's some communities in the CRD region who are moving from perpetual licenses to a more robust business license scheme, which is what we have.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1906,"text":"And there's some communities who tend to just want to stay governing within themselves. I can certainly find out some more information and see if I can get some more clearer answers.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1918,"text":"I think as a group we're hoping now that this, it's been several years of this pilot, so to speak, that we'll be able to expand and get more communities municipally to participate.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1930,"text":"Appreciate that.","speaker":"J"},{"t":1931,"text":"It just seems like a really good idea. I remember when this first came as an original pilot, so it's good to see that it continues to grow and has lots of participating.","speaker":"D"},{"t":1940,"text":"It's just interesting that there are some gaps there, why that may be the case. Thank you.","speaker":"D"},{"t":1945,"text":"Councilor Harmer.","speaker":"B"},{"t":1949,"text":"Yeah, this is building on Council Helliwell's. This is, I mean, brilliant. It just seems like an obvious step and I'm just curious, I mean, two questions for you. One is both related to the province's role.","speaker":"C"},{"t":1961,"text":"So the problem was the province, the one the B. C. government sort of kick started this process or what was their role initially?","speaker":"C"},{"t":1969,"text":"That was well before my time, but from the way that the meetings have been run and organized, it's definitely facilitated by the province.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1978,"text":"So we have a business contact liaison that calls, you know, puts a poll out, gets everybody to a meeting, brings the agenda.","speaker":"F"},{"t":1987,"text":"When we were doing the review on this particular icbl, they had the legal staff review, the agreement review, the bylaw. So there was a lot of input, not in terms of direction from the province.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2001,"text":"It's very much there waiting to get agreement from whoever's at the table. It really is just strong facilitation which can be a little bit of a thankless job. It is very much like herding cats sometimes.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2015,"text":"So I don't know who initiated it in the beginning, but it's certainly provincially led. And similarly we meet regularly to discuss inter Municipal. So there's two sets of meetings, the inter municipal and the inter community.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2029,"text":"And was it the Rec Dev department that was leading it or municipal affairs?","speaker":"C"},{"t":2033,"text":"It's actually a mix. So the inter municipal and the inter community. Actually we can sometimes have like the last meeting we had the CAO of the inter community from Cowichan. There we've had.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2044,"text":"Sorry, from the province.","speaker":"C"},{"t":2045,"text":"I meant from the province.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2048,"text":"It is.","speaker":"C"},{"t":2050,"text":"Where is Kimberly from? I'd have to double check it, but I think she was from Jig, which makes sense.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2055,"text":"Okay. Well, I just want to say because often, like many municipal councils, we sometimes find it easy to criticize the provincial government. So I just.","speaker":"C"},{"t":2061,"text":"This is great that the province led it and helped drove it and it sounds like they were a key player and all that.","speaker":"C"},{"t":2067,"text":"So that's nice to hear.","speaker":"A"},{"t":2068,"text":"And my understanding is that we wanted to continue to grow it. And this is strengthening it is another step in the right direction.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2078,"text":"Councillor Morrison, did you have your hand up?","speaker":"B"},{"t":2080,"text":"Yes, thank you. It's the same type of question of Councillor Helliwell's. So I mean, obviously one of the Most. The biggest Ms. Pallies. Not listed. There's Saanage. Great.","speaker":"A"},{"t":2089,"text":"That Victoria's and our other neighbor looks like View Royal is there. So if you're in a Squamont business, you could get this license and you could practice in Victoria and neighboring municipalities.","speaker":"A"},{"t":2100,"text":"But if you want to go into Saanich, you would have to go to Saanich and get a separate business license with them.","speaker":"A"},{"t":2107,"text":"Is that the problem through the chair? No. So if there was. So the inter municipal is all 13. So this is inter community.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2118,"text":"Okay.","speaker":"A"},{"t":2118,"text":"So this is taking municipalities from the CRD who want to operate across communities outside of.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2127,"text":"Outside out of the 13. Okay.","speaker":"A"},{"t":2129,"text":"So the inter municipal has all 13 in them.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2132,"text":"Oh, perfect.","speaker":"A"},{"t":2133,"text":"So that's a good base.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2134,"text":"Okay. I just want to make sure that. That I did. I got that right. Okay. Because that's important.","speaker":"A"},{"t":2138,"text":"And probably if I can, through the chair, that we have 14 businesses who currently have an inter community. So those are businesses who want to work up in Nanaimo and Parksville. So it's not a huge amount of businesses.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2151,"text":"But as businesses become more mobile and come to understand that they can have more mobility and it's not this whole big paper trail, we hope to expand that.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2160,"text":"So every business has an inter municipal as a default.","speaker":"A"},{"t":2164,"text":"Right.","speaker":"D"},{"t":2165,"text":"You have to. Sorry. Through the chair, you have to apply for an inter municipal. So a local bricks and mortar here, let's take the bake shop, for example, would just have a base License.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2175,"text":"If they were wanting to put a catering and go on the road and deliver to other parts of the crd, they would get an inter municipal. If they wanted to deliver to Nanaimo, they would get an inter community.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2189,"text":"Okay. And just in terms of trying to get everybody on board with the inter community, is that something that SIP has been championing or discussing?","speaker":"A"},{"t":2198,"text":"As far as I know, this is local government and provincial.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2203,"text":"Their mandate, and I can't speak for them, but I would take a stab at it again is, you know, we consider ourselves a regional economy, so it makes sense that we don't create false borders around the municipalities, that business can flow amongst them.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2220,"text":"So one of the recommendations or the intent of the of these inter business licenses is to make it easier for businesses to cross, you know, our constructs of municipalities.","speaker":"F"},{"t":2234,"text":"No, it'd be great to see, I shouldn't say South Island Prosperity Project, you know, try and get some of that herding of the cats, as you say, into all doing the same thing, at least with the inter community because it seems to work really well with the inter municipal license and this would just expand that ability.","speaker":"A"},{"t":2252,"text":"So I'll go to councilor brain now.","speaker":"B"},{"t":2255,"text":"You know, I find this really interesting as a brick and mortar that, you know, the kids came to me for the daycare. I only ever had a base one.","speaker":"L"},{"t":2264,"text":"So just, I mean, because I'm sure there's others that are just filling all in all the dots.","speaker":"L"},{"t":2270,"text":"So you would start with the base and then instead of getting a business license in Saanich and in this, you know, in Victoria, a plumber, for example, just to use give context to people, they do the inter. The.","speaker":"L"},{"t":2282,"text":"Either the inter community if they want to go up, or the inter municipal.","speaker":"L"},{"t":2286,"text":"And then instead of getting a business license at every single one, which adds to business costs which trickles back down to the customer, it is lowering those costs considerably. But they can still work in different jurisdictions.","speaker":"L"},{"t":2299,"text":"You got it?","speaker":"F"},{"t":2301,"text":"Excellent.","speaker":"L"},{"t":2302,"text":"Great. And we have a recommendation.","speaker":"B"},{"t":2304,"text":"I will move the recommendation.","speaker":"L"},{"t":2307,"text":"How's that?","speaker":"F"},{"t":2307,"text":"Second, I can mute it if you want. Do you want it? Read it out.","speaker":"B"},{"t":2311,"text":"Yeah. For the audience that council one, give three readings to Vancouver Island Inter Community Business License Bylaw 2026, number 3189.","speaker":"L"},{"t":2319,"text":"And number two, authorize the mayor and corporate officer to execute the Vancouver Island Inter Community business license agreement on behalf of the township of Esquimalt upon adoption of bylaw number 3189.","speaker":"L"},{"t":2333,"text":"And do you wish to say anything?","speaker":"B"},{"t":2335,"text":"No, I think anything that can save our businesses a little bit of Money to help them help our residents and other residents, I think is a good thing.","speaker":"L"},{"t":2344,"text":"Thank you. And Councillor Morrison, anything extra?","speaker":"B"},{"t":2347,"text":"It'd be nice if there was just one. Whatever we call inter municipal or inter community, that was just one.","speaker":"A"},{"t":2352,"text":"And you could do all of these things with that one license and not have to have the CRD version, which is the inter municipal sounds like in the inter community.","speaker":"A"},{"t":2360,"text":"Because you saw for myself how confusing that was to imagine trying to start a business and trying to out figure. Figure out where it is you're allowed to do business in which municipalities and which not.","speaker":"A"},{"t":2370,"text":"I think this is trying to build on that. So any further discussion? All right, all those in favor? Any opposed? None opposed. Motions carried. Thank you very much.","speaker":"B"},{"t":2382,"text":"And next we have reports or minutes from committee and we need to ratify the resolution from the special committee of the whole.","speaker":"B"},{"t":2392,"text":"And that is that the committee of the whole recommends to council that staff be directed to include tabular data on the number of housing units per category on future development services, period reports. So I'd ask somebody. Thank you.","speaker":"B"},{"t":2409,"text":"And the seconder is Councillor Boardman. Any discussion? Do you wish to speak to us?","speaker":"B"},{"t":2415,"text":"I think we discussed it fully last week.","speaker":"D"},{"t":2417,"text":"I would like to add a portion to that, if I could. I would like to add that and that the tabular data also include trends over time, both periodic and annual, over three years.","speaker":"H"},{"t":2429,"text":"So that is an amendment.","speaker":"B"},{"t":2431,"text":"I'd like to amend that.","speaker":"H"},{"t":2432,"text":"And do you want to say that out just one more time so that","speaker":"B"},{"t":2436,"text":"everybody knows to add to that and that the tabular data also include trends over time, comma, both periodic and annual, over three years.","speaker":"H"},{"t":2446,"text":"Okay. And just second that. All right. And I just want to look to staff that there's no challenges with. Okay, terrific.","speaker":"B"},{"t":2453,"text":"All right.","speaker":"E"},{"t":2453,"text":"Do you want to speak further to your amendment?","speaker":"B"},{"t":2457,"text":"Sure. I just think that it's really difficult to look at a single number in time without. Without trying to figure out where we've come and how we've improved or not improved over time.","speaker":"H"},{"t":2466,"text":"I think better decision making comes from that type of data.","speaker":"H"},{"t":2469,"text":"And Councillor Brain, I agree measurables having","speaker":"B"},{"t":2473,"text":"the data is super important.","speaker":"L"},{"t":2475,"text":"Okay. Any further discussion? Councillor Moore?","speaker":"B"},{"t":2480,"text":"Yeah. Just a question for the mover of the amendment. Why three years? By picking three years versus, say because our term is four years, for example.","speaker":"A"},{"t":2488,"text":"I just think three rolling years is reasonable.","speaker":"H"},{"t":2493,"text":"Okay.","speaker":"D"},{"t":2493,"text":"My thought, I don't know if there's a standard. We could ask the director of Planning if there's a standard that you might be easy to use.","speaker":"H"},{"t":2503,"text":"Your worship, there's no standard, but we'll figure it out.","speaker":"K"},{"t":2505,"text":"Does three years sound reasonable?","speaker":"H"},{"t":2508,"text":"Do you want us not to include a certain year?","speaker":"B"},{"t":2510,"text":"Yeah, I think just say over and show trends over time. That would be easier.","speaker":"K"},{"t":2517,"text":"Okay.","speaker":"H"},{"t":2518,"text":"Are you comfortable with that change to your amendment?","speaker":"B"},{"t":2521,"text":"As long as the intent is that it's not just a trend for the last six months, it's like.","speaker":"H"},{"t":2525,"text":"Yeah. No, no, no, no. Okay. Three years is not. Our trends are. Our cycles are much longer than that.","speaker":"K"},{"t":2532,"text":"Okay, that's fine.","speaker":"H"},{"t":2533,"text":"Thank you.","speaker":"J"},{"t":2534,"text":"Okay. And the secondary is amenable to that change. Councillor, I'll come back to you.","speaker":"B"},{"t":2538,"text":"So we've removed the reference to three years. Okay. But it'll still say annual. Over. Sorry, years. I guess it'll just say years.","speaker":"A"},{"t":2545,"text":"Yeah, it will show the trend.","speaker":"B"},{"t":2547,"text":"Okay.","speaker":"A"},{"t":2547,"text":"All right, so I will call the question on the amendment. All those in favor? Any opposed? None opposed. We go back to the main motion as amended. Any further discussion? All right, I think it's good addition.","speaker":"B"},{"t":2563,"text":"More data is helpful. All those in favor? Any opposed? None opposed. Motions carried. I'm going down now under communication.","speaker":"B"},{"t":2571,"text":"We have the email from the Victoria Family Court Youth Justice Committee, their annual report, and I will now go down to the notice of motion that will come back to us in on June 22, I believe, which is bylaw amendments for community sharing boxes.","speaker":"B"},{"t":2590,"text":"And this is being introduced. All right, and we now move down to the last item, which is public comment, period. Are there any members of the public that wish to speak?","speaker":"B"},{"t":2603,"text":"And this is on any topic that impacts the squamult, excluding what was on the agenda or may have been or will be subject of a public hearing. Not many of those these days.","speaker":"B"},{"t":2616,"text":"Are there any members of the public that wish to speak? Are there any members of the public that wish to speak? I will call a third and final time and seeing none.","speaker":"B"},{"t":2630,"text":"Thank you all for coming out tonight on such a beautiful evening. A motion to adjourn, please. So moved.","speaker":"B"},{"t":2637,"text":"Second.","speaker":"C"},{"t":2638,"text":"All those in favor? Any opposed? None opposed. Motions carried. We will see you in two weeks.","speaker":"B"}],"words":5856,"fetchedAt":"2026-10-03T05:32:15.424Z"}