4.1 Report from the July 20, 2026 Committee of the Whole Meeting
Council approved the recommendations from the Committee of the Whole meeting immediately before this meeting as one batch. The chair described them as matters for receipt and formal receiving. The agenda listed the 2026 First Trimester Report, the Emergency Program update, development-process outcomes and performance measures, and correspondence policy updates.
Agreement- The recommendations were approved together without discussion or opposition.
Routine: receive four reports for information, covering the first trimester of 2026, the emergency program and preparedness survey, development-process performance measures, and correspondence-management policy updates.
Official wording: That the following recommendations from the July 20, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting be approved:
2026 First Trimester Report
That Council receive the 2026 First Trimester Report for the period ending April 30, 2026.
District of Oak Bay Emergency Program Update
That Council receive the report titled ‘Oak Bay Emergency Program Update’, authored by Jolette Schenk, Emergency Program Manager, dated July 20, 2026, and the accompanying Oak Bay Community Preparedness Survey, prepared by Discovery Research Inc.
Optimize Development Processes (CPP#78) - Outcomes and Key Performance Indicators
That Council receive the report regarding "Optimize Development Processes (CPP#78) - Outcomes and Key Performance Indicators" authored by Andre Boel, Director Community Building and Planning, and dated July 20, 2026.
Correspondence Management Policy Updates
That Council receive the report titled "Correspondence Management Policy Updated" authored by Crystal Anderson, Director of Corporate Services, dated July 20, 2026.
5.1 2027 Financial Planning Guidelines
The guidelines set the process and schedule for the 2027–2031 Financial Plan, including a 3% baseline inflationary budget increase. The Director of Finance said the report does not yet set an overall property-tax increase, and that staff would start budget work earlier to allow more time for Council review. She clarified that $9 million in previously approved borrowing will begin requiring debt-service payments of $868,820 a year in 2027, over a 15-year term ending in 2041; that impact is on top of the 3% baseline. Councillors also asked about the police provisional budget, uncertain climate grant funding, the 2% infrastructure levy, investment income, and whether new-development tax revenue could offset general tax increases. Staff said they would add police-budget and utility-rate milestones to the schedule and analyse the sources and uses of new tax growth during budget planning. No members of the public spoke.
Agreement- Councillors praised the report’s clarity and transparency and supported beginning budget work earlier.
- Staff will examine how to build the police budget process and utility rates into the schedule.
- Staff will consider future investment income and the drivers of new-development tax revenue as part of financial planning.
Have staff prepare the District’s five-year financial plan using the guidelines and schedule in the report, including a 3% baseline inflation-related budget increase for 2027.
Official wording: That Council direct staff to prepare the 2027-2031 Financial Plan based on the Financial Planning Guidelines and Schedule outlined in the report titled “2027 Financial Planning Guidelines” authored by Jennifer Lockhart, Director of Finance, and which includes a baseline inflationary budget increase of 3% for 2027.
5.2 Heritage Commission 2025 Annual Report and 2026/2027 Work Plan
The Heritage Commission presented a work plan covering heritage protections, adding properties to the heritage register, and building the commission’s knowledge and public outreach. Staff recommended removing a proposal to subsidize heritage plaques for homeowners, saying that could overlap with the Heritage Foundation’s work. Council removed that funding proposal but approved the amended 2026–2027 work plan, subject to timing and staff resources. Councillors and commission representatives discussed how plaque funding could still be pursued through the Foundation or other grants, and how commission learning could be shared more widely through the District’s website. Two Heritage Commission representatives spoke.
Agreement- Council supported the heritage plaque initiative in principle, while agreeing to remove the proposed homeowner subsidy from this work plan.
- Council approved the amended work plan, with delivery dependent on timing and available resources.
- Council members stressed the value of sharing heritage information with the wider community.
Routine: receive the Heritage Commission’s 2025 annual report for information.
Official wording: That Council receive the 2025 Heritage Commission Annual Report for information.
Remove the plan to use District funding to cover part of the cost of heritage plaques for homeowners under Initiative 2A.
Official wording: That Council amend the Heritage Commission Work Plan by removing the proposal to fund a portion of the heritage plaques for homeowners under Initiative 2A.
Approve the Heritage Commission’s amended work plan for 2026 and 2027, with projects carried out according to the timing and staff-resource considerations in the report.
Official wording: That Council approve the amended 2026 and 2027 Heritage Commission Work Plan, with implementation subject to the timing, and resourcing considerations outlined in the staff report titled Heritage Commission Annual Report and Work Plan, authored by Andre Boel, Director of Community Building and Planning, dated July 20, 2026.
6.1 Council Priority Project #98 Update to Home-Based Business Regulations - Engagement Results and Proposed Options
Staff reported that engagement supported small home-based businesses more strongly than higher-impact businesses, and that only five tutoring or music-lesson businesses were currently licensed. Council directed staff to draft bylaw amendments allowing Type 3 businesses up to four customers at a time, only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, and only in infill housing. Type 2 businesses will be allowed in infill housing and townhouses; an amendment to include townhouses passed. Council also required one additional off-street parking space for Type 3 businesses; a proposal to allow alternative transportation-demand measures instead was defeated. A proposal to pause Type 1 licensing pending a staff report was defeated. Council waived the public hearing requirement. Some councillors argued that the engagement—315 questionnaire responses and 21 open-house attendees—was not enough, especially given concerns from the business community and neighbourhoods; others said the consultation was adequate and a hearing would add little. Staff expect draft bylaws to return, likely in September. No members of the public spoke at this item.
Agreement- Council agreed to receive the engagement report and proceed with drafting regulatory amendments.
- Council approved tighter limits on Type 3 customer numbers, hours, and days of operation.
- Council agreed that the regulations should be reviewed after they have been in place for a period of time.
Disagreement- Some councillors wanted a public hearing, citing the limited engagement sample, neighbourhood effects, and concerns raised by the Business Improvement Association; others said the engagement was adequate and supported waiving the hearing. The hearing waiver passed.
- Councillor Braithwaite argued for an extra parking space for Type 2 and Type 3 businesses to treat home businesses more like commercial businesses. Other councillors said a new space could be costly, remove green space or trees, and discourage walkable businesses. The requirement passed for Type 3 only.
- Councillors Appleton, Watson, and Smart supported allowing transportation-demand measures instead of the Type 3 parking space; that amendment failed.
- Councillor Watson proposed suspending Type 1 business licensing until staff clarified whether it was required. Councillors supporting licensing cited practical needs such as business registration; the proposal was defeated.
- Councillors Green and Braithwaite opposed the amendment allowing Type 2 businesses in townhouses, and later opposed the overall regulatory direction.
Routine: receive the report summarizing public engagement on proposed home-based business rules.
Official wording: That Council:
1. receive the "What We Learned Home-Based Business Engagement Report" for information.
Change the proposed rules so Type 2 home businesses would be allowed only in townhouses and infill housing, while Type 3 businesses would be allowed only in infill housing.
Official wording: That the motion be amended to include :
b. Limit Type 2 Businesses to townhouses and infill housing only, and Type 3 Businesses to infill housing only.
Pause business licensing for Type 1 home businesses until staff report on whether the District needs to license businesses.
Official wording: That the motion be amended to include:
c. Suspension of implementation of business licensing for Type 1 businesses, pending the receipt of a staff report on the requirement for the District to license businesses.
Require each Type 3 home business to provide one additional off-street parking space.
Official wording: That the motion be amended to include:
c. Requirement of one (1) additional off street parking space for type 3 businesses.
Allow a Type 3 home business to meet the added transportation requirement with either one additional off-street parking space or alternative transit-demand-management measures.
Official wording: That the motion be amended to include :
c. Requirement of one (1) additional off street parking space for type 3 businesses , or alternative Transit Demand Management measures.
Have staff draft bylaw changes that would limit Type 3 businesses to four customers at a time, restrict their hours to 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and prohibit them on Sundays and statutory holidays. Type 2 businesses would be limited to townhouses and infill housing, Type 3 businesses to infill housing, and Type 3 businesses would need one additional off-street parking space.
Official wording: That Council:
2. That Council direct staff to prepare the necessary amendment bylaws to implement the proposed updates to home-based business regulations with the following changes:
a. For Type 3 Businesses:
i. Reduce the maximum number of customers permitted on site at any one time from seven (7) to four (4);
ii. Reduce the permitted business hours from 7:00am to 7:00pm, to 9:00am to 5:00pm; and
iii. Type 3 Businesses are not permitted on Sundays and Statutory Holidays;
b. Limit Type 2 Businesses to townhouses and infill housing only, and Type 3 Businesses to infill housing only.
c. Requirement of one (1) additional off street parking space for type 3 businesses.
Proceed with the home-based business zoning changes without holding a public hearing.
Official wording: That Council:
3. waive the requirement to hold a public hearing for the necessary Zoning Bylaw, 1986 amendment bylaw for home-based business regulations.
6.2 1587 York Place: Heritage Revitalization Agreement Amendment Application (HRA00017)
Council adopted the amendment to the heritage revitalization agreement for 1587 York Place and 1562 Prospect Place. The bylaw had already received its earlier readings. Councillor Braithwaite opposed adoption, citing the same reasons given at earlier meetings.
Disagreement- Councillor Braithwaite opposed adoption; the other councillors present supported it.
Adopt the amendment to the heritage agreement authorization for the York Place and Prospect Place properties.
Official wording: That 1587 "York Place/1562 Prospect Place Heritage Revitalization Agreement Authorization Bylaw No. 4885, 2025, Amendment Bylaw No. 4975, 2026" be adopted.