I Council Meeting
governance
The agenda called for a closed meeting at 6:00 p.m. to discuss personal information about an identifiable person being considered for a municipal position. The motion to close the meeting was carried.
Carried, unanimous
Close the public meeting to discuss personal information about a person holding, or being considered for, a municipal appointment or position.
Official wording: That the meeting be closed in accordance with the Community Charter, Part 4, Division 3, Section 90 (1) (a) as the matter relates to personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agent of the municipality or another position appointed by the municipality.
II.B.1–3 Adoption of Minutes
governance
Council adopted the minutes of its May 25 meeting, the June 8 Committee of the Whole meeting and the June 8 special Council meeting.
Carried, unanimous
Routine: adopt the minutes of the May 25 Council meeting and the June 8 Committee of the Whole and Special Council meetings.
Official wording: That Council adopt the minutes of the Council meeting of May 25, 2026; Committee of the Whole meeting of June 8, 2026; and Special Council meeting of June 8, 2026.
II.C.1 TECHNICAL ZONING AMENDMENTS FOR SMALL-SCALE MULTI-UNIT HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS - FINAL READING
zoning development
Council gave final reading to Bylaw No. 10169, which corrects errors and omissions and addresses unintended effects in the zoning rules for small-scale multi-unit housing.
Carried 7 to 1
Give final approval to technical corrections to the zoning rules for small-scale multi-unit housing.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 10169 be given Final Reading.
II.C.2 SAANICH AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESERVE FUND BYLAW AMENDMENT - FINAL READING
housing
Council gave final reading to Bylaw No. 10300, allowing non-profit affordable homeownership projects to be considered for grants from the Affordable Housing Reserve Fund.
Carried, unanimous
Give final approval to a change allowing non-profit affordable homeownership projects to be considered for grants from the affordable housing reserve fund.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 10300 be given Final Reading.
II.D.1–3, D.5 CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
other
Council approved the Richmond Road school height variance, the Parks Operations Centre permit amendment at 4098 Lochside Drive, a revised meeting schedule and receipt of the 2025 Statement of Financial Information. The Lochside Drive permit covers renovations, a new unenclosed structure and changes to parking and bicycle parking.
Carried, unanimous
Routine: approve the four consent items, covering two development permits, the revised meeting schedule, and the 2025 financial information report.
Official wording: That Consent Agenda items D1, D2, D3 and D5 be approved.
II.D.4 MUNICIPAL FINANCE AUTHORITY BORROWING – 2026 FALL ISSUE
budget finance
Council authorized $10.28 million in long-term borrowing through the Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia’s 2026 fall issue, under existing loan authorization bylaws.
Carried, unanimous
Borrow $10.28 million through the Municipal Finance Authority for previously authorized capital projects, and ask the Capital Regional District to approve and include the borrowing in its security-issuing bylaw.
Official wording: That Council approves borrowing from the Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia, as part of the 2026 Fall Issue, $10,280,000 as authorized through the Loan Authorization Bylaws and over the terms specified in the table below and that the Capital Regional District be requested to consent to our borrowing and include the borrowing in a Security Issuing Bylaw.
II.E.1 ZONING BYLAW TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS
zoning development
Council gave first, second and third readings to Bylaw No. 10299, a set of technical changes intended to correct errors and make the zoning bylaw clearer and easier to use.
Carried 7 to 1
Give the first of three readings to zoning-bylaw housekeeping changes intended to correct typographical errors and make the rules clearer and easier to use.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 10299 be given First Reading.
Carried 7 to 1
Give the second of three readings to zoning-bylaw housekeeping changes intended to correct typographical errors and make the rules clearer and easier to use.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 10299 be given Second Reading.
Carried 7 to 1
Give the third of three readings to zoning-bylaw housekeeping changes intended to correct typographical errors and make the rules clearer and easier to use.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 10299 be given Third Reading.
II.E.2 4029 ZINNIA ROAD – SUBDIVISION, REZONING AND DEVELOPMENT VARIANCE PERMIT APPLICATION
zoning development
Council gave first reading to the rezoning bylaw for part of 4029 Zinnia Road, from RS-6 to RS-4. It postponed second reading while the applicant and staff discuss a covenant; the listed motions do not record a decision on the requested variance permit.
Carried 7 to 1
Give the first reading to a zoning change for part of 4029 Zinnia Road and approve requested variances for the proposed subdivision.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 10282 be given First Reading.
Carried, unanimous
Pause consideration of the next reading of the 4029 Zinnia Road proposal while Council discusses a possible covenant with the applicant.
Official wording: That Council postpone consideration of second reading pending further discussions with the applicant regarding a covenant.
II.E.3 TICKET AND BYLAW OFFENCE NOTICE BYLAWS
governance
Council gave three readings to amendments to the Ticket Bylaw and the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw. The changes are intended to improve clarity and consistency in the District’s bylaw enforcement tools.
Carried, unanimous
Give the first reading to proposed updates to the District’s ticketing and bylaw-enforcement rules.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 10278 be given First Reading.
Carried, unanimous
Give the second reading to proposed updates to the District’s ticketing and bylaw-enforcement rules.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 10278 be given Second Reading.
Carried, unanimous
Give the third reading to proposed updates to the District’s ticketing and bylaw-enforcement rules.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 10278 be given Third Reading.
Carried, unanimous
Give the first reading to proposed updates to the District’s ticketing and bylaw-enforcement rules.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 10277 be given First Reading.
Carried, unanimous
Give the second reading to proposed updates to the District’s ticketing and bylaw-enforcement rules.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 10277 be given Second Reading.
Carried, unanimous
Give the third reading to proposed updates to the District’s ticketing and bylaw-enforcement rules.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 10277 be given Third Reading.
II.E.4 SAANICH 2026 ELECTION BYLAW UPDATE
governance
Council gave three readings to Bylaw No. 10263. It updates the vote-counting rules to cover processing mail ballots and revises the definition of a “secrecy enclosure.”
Carried, unanimous
Give the first reading to election-bylaw changes covering the processing of mail ballots and updating the meaning of “secrecy enclosure.”
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 10263 be given First Reading.
Carried, unanimous
Give the second reading to election-bylaw changes covering the processing of mail ballots and updating the meaning of “secrecy enclosure.”
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 10263 be given Second Reading.
Carried, unanimous
Give the third reading to election-bylaw changes covering the processing of mail ballots and updating the meaning of “secrecy enclosure.”
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 10263 be given Third Reading.
II.F.1 PRELIMINARY 2027 BUDGET GUIDELINES
budget finance
Council amended the budget guidelines to require consideration of scenarios that reduce the proposed tax increase by 1% to 4%. It then approved preliminary guidelines for preparing the 2027 budget and passed additional budget-related direction, including a request for the Mayor to seek a joint meeting with the Saanich Police Board and Police Department leadership before their 2027 budget submission. The available motion text is truncated, so the full guidelines and additional direction cannot be reported.
Carried 6 to 2
Expand the budget-planning work to consider possible cuts of 1% to 4% of the proposed tax increase, rather than only 1% to 2%.
Official wording: That the motion be amended to include consideration of budget reduction scenarios ranging from 1% to 4% of the proposed tax increase.
Carried, unanimous
Set preliminary 2027 budget directions: hold most departmental budgets level, continue the infrastructure and debt-service tax increases, provide a small annual increase for new active-transportation infrastructure, restore $500,000 a year for accelerated active transportation, consider specified staffing and operating requests and strategic-plan needs, and examine budget-cut options equal to 1%–4% of the proposed tax increase.
Official wording: That Council approve the following preliminary 2027 Budget Guidelines: 1. 2027 departmental net budget totals will be limited to a 0.0 % increase over the 2026 adopted net budget totals, exclusive of existing personnel costs, phased in funding for positions approved by Council in a prior year, core capital increases, and non discretionary increases. 2. Continue implementing the Infrastructure Replacement Funding Strategy (IRFS) through increase to property taxes by 1.5%. 3. Continue implementing the Debt Servicing Funding Strategy through increase to property taxes by 0.60%. 4. Provision for an inflationary increase for new transportation infrastructure in the Active Transportation Plan by increasing property taxes 0.08% annually. 5. Reinstate Accelerated Active Transportation Plan funding of $500,000 annually. 6. Consider resource requests for additional operating budgets (including one-time projects) and new tax funded personnel will be considered for critical capacity issues, implementation of the long-term staffing plan or where upfront investment will result in longer term savings. 7. Consider resourcing needs for strategic initiatives from the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. 8. Consider budget reduction scenarios of 1% to 4% of the proposed tax increase.
Carried 7 to 1
Ask the Mayor to seek a joint meeting with the Police Board and department leadership to discuss their 2027 budget before it is submitted, and have the Mayor and Board Chair decide with staff whether that meeting should be public or in camera.
Official wording: That Council: 1. Ask the Mayor to write the Saanich Police Board to request a joint meeting with the Saanich Police Department Board and Leadership to discuss budget 2027 before their submission. 2. And that the Mayor and Police Board Chair consult with staff and determine if such a meeting should be held in-camera or in open.
II.F.2 5118, 5120 AND 5122 CORDOVA BAY ROAD - DEVELOPMENT PERMIT AMENDMENT APPLICATION
parks environment
Council approved and issued permit amendment DPA01067 to remove two trees that block commercial signage on the property. This was contrary to the staff report’s recommendation to deny the application.
Disagreement- Council approved the tree removal, while staff recommended denying the permit amendment.
Carried, unanimous
Approve changes to the property’s permit so that two trees blocking the shopping centre’s business signs can be removed.
Official wording: That Council approve and issue DPA01067 to remove two trees blocking commercial signage for the property.
II.F.3 SHORT-TERM RENTALS – ITEM RECAP AND CONTINUANCE
housing
Council received the June 3 recap memo about the short-term rental report and its earlier motions. The memo was received for information ahead of Council’s consideration of proposed regulations.
Carried, unanimous
Routine: receive the short-term-rentals memo for information.
Official wording: That Council receive the memo titled “Short Term Rentals – Item Recap and Continuance” dated June 3, 2026 from the Director of Legislative and Protective Services/Corporate Officer for information.
II.F.4 PROPOSED SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS
housing
Council resumed debate on proposed short-term rental rules. An amendment to the proposed direction was defeated; Council also voted to continue past 10 p.m. The main recommendation to develop regulatory bylaws ended in a tie. Council then postponed the item until a full Council is present and closed public input on it, leaving the proposed regulations unresolved.
Disagreement- A proposed amendment to the regulatory direction was defeated. The main recommendation to develop short-term rental bylaws received a tied vote, indicating a split Council; the available record does not identify how individual members voted.
Carried, unanimous
Close debate on the previously proposed amendment to set a 120-night yearly limit for short-term rentals and put that amendment to a vote.
Official wording: That the question be called on the amendment currently on the floor, which was carried over from the April 27, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting.
Defeated 0 to 8
Change the proposed yearly short-term-rental limit from 91 nights to 120 nights per property.
Official wording: That the first point be amended to read: develop regulatory bylaws for Council’s consideration for the regulation of short term rentals consistent with the recommendations in this report but including a 120-night limit per property per year.
Carried, unanimous
Allow councillors to speak again in the debate on the short-term-rental proposal, even if they have already spoken.
Official wording: That Council suspend the rules of order to allow members of Council to begin debate as if they hadn’t previously spoken to the main motion.
Carried, unanimous
Allow the meeting to continue after 10 p.m.
Official wording: That the meeting continue past 10 p.m.
Tied 4 to 4
Direct staff to prepare short-term-rental rules for Council to consider, including a limit of 91 rental nights per property each year, and return with a review of how the rules are working after two years.
Official wording: That it be recommended that Council direct staff to: 1. develop regulatory bylaws for Council’s consideration for the regulation of short term rentals consistent with the recommendations in this report but including a 91-night limit per property per year; and 2. report back with a two-year implementation review of short-term rental regulations.
Carried, unanimous
Delay further consideration of the short-term-rental proposal until all Council members are present, and close public input on it.
Official wording: That Council postpone consideration of this item until a full Council is present, and that public input on this item be closed.
II.G.1 TWO-YEAR REVIEW OF SMALL-SCALE MULTI-UNIT HOUSING (SSMUH)
housing
Council directed staff to include a broad review in the two-year SSMUH review, due in the fourth quarter of 2026. The work will examine other municipalities’ approaches, Saanich’s design guidelines and residents’ concerns about building size, privacy, trees, green space and neighbourhood fit, among other issues.
Carried, unanimous
Have staff’s scheduled review of small-scale multi-unit housing examine how other municipalities have handled it, whether design guidelines should apply more broadly, residents’ concerns about building form and neighbourhood impacts, and design and siting issues. Staff should also recommend any further steps to better align this housing with Saanich policies and neighbourhood character.
Official wording: That Council direct staff to include, as part of the two-year review of Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) scheduled to be presented to Council in Q4 2026 that staff: Scan amendments and implementation approaches adopted by other municipalities; Review Saanich’s Design Guidelines, including consideration of whether such guidelines and requirements should apply to all SSMUH projects regardless if under a Development Permit (DP); Include concerns raised by residents related to building massing, height, lot coverage, privacy, overlook, shadowing, tree retention, loss of green space, and impacts on views, which highlight that the current regulations may be producing unintended consequences; Consider design and siting of elements such as dormers, streetscape character, cooling and energy considerations, and neighbourhood connectivity; Add any additional recommendations that would help ensure SSMUH development is compatible with Saanich policies and neighbourhood character.
II.H ADJOURNMENT
governance
Council adjourned the meeting.
Carried, unanimous
Routine: end the meeting.
Official wording: That the meeting be adjourned.