Council ratified five decisions from the Committee of the Whole, including a non-binding question asking whether Saanich and Victoria should become one municipality on the 2026 election ballot. That ballot question drew the meeting’s only recorded opposition: two councillors opposed authorizing it, while the proposed wording passed without opposition. Council also adopted the 2026 Climate Plan, directed staff to publish the 2025 Annual Report, and gave final readings to three bylaw amendments. No public speakers are heard in the transcript.
Generated from the recording's captions and the official minutes.
What was discussed
AI summary · check against sources
A.1 Committee of the Whole meeting of June 22, 2026
Council ratified five Committee of the Whole motions. It referred the Victoria Women’s Transition House Society’s presentation to staff to consider while developing the density bonusing framework. It authorized staff to put a non-binding amalgamation question on the 2026 election ballot, then approved the wording: “Do you support Saanich and Victoria becoming one municipality?” Council also received the 2025 Annual Report and directed staff to publish its final version, and adopted the 2026 Climate Plan: 100% Renewable & Resilient Saanich.
Agreement
The motion referring the transition house presentation to staff carried without opposition.
The proposed wording of the non-binding ballot question carried without opposition.
The annual report and climate plan motions carried without opposition.
Disagreement
Two councillors opposed authorizing staff to place the amalgamation question on the 2026 ballot; the motion carried.
Send the Women’s Transition House Society’s presentation to staff to consider while they develop the rules for allowing extra density in exchange for community benefits.
Official wording: That Council refers the presentation from the Victoria Women’s Transition House Society to staff for consideration when developing the density bonusing framework.
Allow staff to put a non-binding public opinion question on the 2026 election ballot, following the approach described in the mayor’s memo.
Official wording: That Council authorize staff to place a non-binding public opinion question on the ballot for the 2026 General Local Election as outlined in the memo from Mayor Murdock.
Approve asking voters on the 2026 ballot whether they support Saanich and Victoria becoming one municipality. The question is advisory and does not itself merge the municipalities.
Official wording: That Council approve the non-binding question cited on the ballot as “Do you support Saanich and Victoria becoming one municipality?”
Council gave final readings to amendments to the Ticket Bylaw and the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw. The agenda describes the changes as intended to make the District’s enforcement tools clearer, more consistent and more effective. Both motions carried without opposition.
Agreement
Both bylaw amendments received final reading without opposition.
Council gave final reading to the amendment authorizing and setting procedures for the automated vote-counting system. The update covers processing mail ballots and revises the bylaw’s definition of “secrecy enclosure.” The motion carried without opposition.
Agreement
The election bylaw amendment received final reading without opposition.