Council advanced plans for a seasonal extreme-weather shelter at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, but first required nearby residents to be notified and the proposal advertised so written comments can be considered later. A request to designate the Sails & Sagas festival as municipally significant drew disagreement over liquor sales at a for-profit event in a public park; Council approved it specifically for the event’s liquor-licence application. Council also set proposed park and amenity contributions for a four-storey rental project at 9972 Third Street, after a resident and the developer disputed how the fees should be calculated. Other decisions included renewing Rest Haven Lodge’s tax exemption for eight years and approving a $7,500 Legion contribution toward a memorial along the library walkway.
Generated from the recording's captions and the official minutes.
Staff presented the Town’s 2025 annual report, including audited financial statements, departmental updates, progress on seven community plans and the strategic plan, and 2026 initiatives. A councillor asked why the report showed a large increase in some emissions; staff explained that the regional calculation method had changed, so the apparent increase did not reflect a true rise in the Town’s waste emissions. No one spoke during the special public input period. Council approved the report.
Agreement
Councillors and the mayor praised staff for the report and the breadth of work it documented.
A councillor suggested future reports could show progress toward the Town’s 2030 and 2050 climate targets.
community services1 public speaker28:48 Watch · Read
ArtSea reported 25,000 visits to its gallery in Tulista Park, 7,500 visits to its studio tour and more than 2,000 participants in its lantern festival in 2025. Its president described plans for a fundraising event at the Mary Winspear Centre in March 2027, new Indigenous-artist and youth programming, and ways to make the gallery a year-round community hub. ArtSea said it faced ongoing funding and staffing pressures, including a projected $20,000 shortfall, and hoped its new fundraiser would bring in about $51,600. Council discussed possible income sources such as tap donations and higher or tiered gallery fees.
Agreement
Councillors welcomed the expanded board and recognised the work of ArtSea’s volunteers.
Council members supported ArtSea’s efforts to diversify revenue and build long-term stability.
7.D.2 Sails & Sagas Special Events Permit
parks environment1 public speaker50:54 Watch · Read
The event organizer asked Council to designate the August 29–30, 2026 festival in Iroquois Park as municipally significant so it could complete its liquor-licence application. The organizer said the event’s footprint and safety plans would not change, and argued the designation would allow market-rate drink prices and help cover costs. Supporters viewed the request as a procedural step for an already approved event; others questioned whether a for-profit festival on public parkland qualified as municipally significant and raised concerns about alcohol at a family event. Council amended the motion to make clear that the designation was for the liquor application, then approved it.
Agreement
The request did not change the previously approved event layout or activities.
Council noted that the liquor application would still be reviewed by the provincial licensing branch and local emergency services.
Disagreement
Some councillors supported market-rate drink prices and the event’s economic and community benefits; others questioned the municipal-significance designation for a for-profit event and were uncomfortable with liquor sales in a public park.
Carried 5 to 12026.298Item 7.D.21:09:02 Watch · Read
Add wording to the proposed event designation to clarify that the designation is for the event’s liquor licence application.
Official wording: That the motion be amended by adding the following wording to item 1:
"for its Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) Licence Application".
Carried 5 to 12026.299Item 7.D.21:11:33 Watch · Read
Designate the August 29–30 Sails & Sagas event at Iroquois Park as municipally significant for its liquor licence application, and have staff notify the organizer.
Official wording: 1. That the Sails & Sagas event to be held in Iroquois Park on August 29-30, 2026, be designated to be of municipal significance for its Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) Licence Application.
2. That staff be directed to send a letter to the event organizer advising them of the event designation.
15.3 Email from Panorama Recreation Commission regarding reduced-scope for new Peninsula recreation facility, dated June 8, 2026
community services1 public speaker14:14 Watch · Read
The chair of the Peninsula Recreation Commission spoke about a scaled-down proposal for a new recreation facility. He said the revised plan reduced the proposed requisition from municipalities and the project footprint by about 30%, while still addressing needs that existing facilities cannot meet through schedule changes alone. He said the proposal would go to the Commission, then the Capital Regional District board in July, and could return to municipalities for consideration later in July or August. The mayor clarified that Council was receiving the update for information, not deciding on borrowing that evening.
Agreement
The speaker said the revised proposal responded to concerns raised by Council and the public.
The mayor confirmed the proposal would proceed through regional review before potentially coming back to municipalities.
Council adopted the amendment, which sets maximum speeds of 20 km/h on specified roads and lanes, 30 km/h on other specified roads, and authorizes the municipal engineer to establish school and playground zones. A councillor said staff had done a good job identifying the streets.
Agreement
Council supported the bylaw after considering it at earlier meetings.
Adopt the streets and traffic changes setting maximum speeds for roads and lanes and allowing the Municipal Engineer to establish school and playground zones.
Official wording: that Bylaw No. 2318 - Streets & Traffic, Amendment No. 5, be adopted.
Council adopted amendments to the Land Use Procedures Bylaw that expand temporary-use-permit procedures and remove the application form so it can be updated administratively. The bylaw had received three readings at an earlier meeting.
9.a Temporary Use Permit Application No. TEM00003 (9691 Fourth Street, St Andrew Anglican Church)
community services2 public speakers1:12:21 Watch · Read
St. Andrew’s Anglican Church and Beacon Community Services proposed a seasonal extreme-weather response shelter in the church hall. Unlike the warming centre that operated for seven nights at the library in February, the shelter could offer floor mats, a place to lie down, washrooms, hot drinks, snacks and warm meals. The warming centre served 15 people without incidents, and one resident spoke in support of the new shelter. Council did not approve the permit that night: it directed staff to notify nearby owners and tenants, advertise the proposal and bring written comments back for Council’s later consideration. The proposed permit would cover three winter seasons, from October 15 to April 15 each year.
Agreement
Councillors thanked the church, Beacon Community Services and staff for working together on the proposal.
Councillors supported giving the community an opportunity to comment before Council considers approval.
Notify nearby property owners and tenants, advertise the permit for consideration, and forward any written responses to Council. If approved, the shelter could operate seasonally from October 15 to April 15 for three years, in the church meeting hall.
Official wording: 1. That owners and tenants in occupation of property within 75 metres (246 feet) of 9686 Third Street be notified regarding Temporary Use Permit No. TEM00003 (to allow an Extreme Weather Response Shelter as a permitted use on the property for a maximum of three years), and that staff be directed to advertise consideration of Temporary Use Permit No. TEM00003 in two consecutive issues of the Peninsula News Review, and that any written correspondence received be forwarded to Council at the time of consideration of approval of the permit;
2. That the following conditions of approval be applied to Temporary Use Permit No. TEM00003:
a. the permit be effective from October 15, 2026 to April 15, 2027 and the following two years for the same operational periods; and
b. the location of the Extreme Weather Response Shelter is within the meeting hall at 9691 Fourth Street (civic address) within St. Andrew Anglican Church on the property at 9686 Third Street.
Council approved a variance for the former Cedarwood site at 9522 Lochside Drive. It allows a longer extension to the preliminary letter of approval for subdivision and postpones off-site improvements for proposed Lot 2 until that lot is developed. No written submissions had been received by June 16.
Agreement
Councillors who spoke supported the variance, citing staff’s rationale and the flexibility it would give the project.
Approve the requested subdivision-related variances at 9522 Lochside Drive, subject to the conditions Council had already set. The changes extend the preliminary approval and delay required off-site improvements for proposed Lot 2 until that lot is developed.
Official wording: that Development Variance Permit Application No. DV100390 for 9522 Lochside Drive (to allow a longer extension to the Preliminary Letter of Approval for the subdivision application, and defer off-site improvements for proposed Lot 2 until the time of development on Lot 2) be approved, subject to the conditions as per Council Resolution No. 2026.16.289.
A councillor reported on the Capital Regional District’s climate work, including a renewed climate action strategy expected before a regional committee in July, building-emissions benchmarking and more than 107 school workshops. The councillor also shared updates from the South Island Prosperity Partnership annual meeting: each municipal dollar was reported to leverage $1.63, and its Coast initiative had helped attract $83 million in investment to the B.C. coast, including $3.7 million to the local region. The report also recognised emergency-management and fire-service volunteers, including nine new volunteer recruits for the fire department.
Agreement
The councillor praised the regional climate work and the contributions of volunteers to community safety.
13.a Parks & Amenity Contributions for Zoning Amendment Application No. RZ100110 (9972 Third Street)
zoning development2 public speakers1:46:59 Watch · Read
Council set proposed contributions for a four-storey, 75-unit residential project at 9972 Third Street; the decision did not approve the rezoning itself. Staff recommended a parkland contribution of $23.50 per square metre of gross floor area, less permitted exemptions and the required parks development cost charge, plus an amenity contribution calculated from the RM7 zone’s base density. Staff said a consultant’s financial-feasibility analysis found the project’s viability under current market conditions to be marginal. A resident argued the lower calculation could leave $100,000 to $350,000 in park and amenity funding uncollected and urged Council not to give the developer a discount. The developer said the site had originally been RM7, that the rezoning process was intended to secure rental housing, and that the proposed contribution was meant to avoid penalising that commitment; the developer also said an on-site playground was planned. Council approved staff’s recommendations unanimously.
Agreement
Council clarified that this was one step in the rezoning process, not a decision to approve the development.
Staff explained that the feasibility analysis and the proposed contributions were part of the Town’s process under changed provincial legislation.
Disagreement
A resident argued the proposed contribution was too low and unfair to other ratepayers; the developer argued that calculating the amenity contribution from the RM7 base density was fair given the rental-housing commitment and the site’s original zoning.
A councillor expressed reluctance about the lower fee but said the consultant’s analysis and staff recommendation gave Council little basis to set a different amount.
Ask the applicant for comments on the proposed zoning change and bring any feedback back to Council. If the zoning change proceeds, require the property owner to pay a parkland contribution and an amenity contribution before a building permit is issued.
Official wording: 1. That having considered the appropriate persons, public authorities and organizations that will be affected by the proposed zoning bylaw, staff be directed to prepare and send a letter inviting comment from the applicant, and that any feedback be provided to Council at the time of consideration of the bylaw.
2. That, in addition to resolution 2026.18.197 made by Council on April 13, 2026, as a condition of approval of Zoning Amendment Application No. RZ100110 (to amend the zoning designation of the property at 9972 Third Street in order to allow for the development of a 4 storey multi-unit residential development), the property owner shall, prior to issuance of Building Permit:
a. Pay a parkland acquisition contribution of $23.50 per square metre of gross floor area of the building, less any floor area exemptions permitted in Section 5.1.11 of the Zoning Bylaw and less the required Parks DCC amount payable;
b. Pay an amenity contribution based on the increase in floor area ratio calculated from the base density permitted by the RM7 zone.
Council renewed Rest Haven Lodge’s permissive tax exemption for eight years, covering 2027–2034. Staff said the Town’s municipal taxes exempted for the current year were about $21,000, with total taxes across all jurisdictions of about $41,000. A councillor noted sharp year-over-year changes in employee benefits and Island Health funding in the lodge’s financial statements, but supported the renewal because of the lodge’s community benefit.
Agreement
Councillors supported renewing the exemption and cited the lodge’s value to the community.
Council accepted staff’s rationale for an eight-year term rather than another two-year renewal.
Council approved a commemorative plaque, memorial bench and landscaping along the walkway to the Sidney/North Saanich Library. The Royal Canadian Legion, Saanich Peninsula Branch 37, will contribute $7,500, and the work will be added to the Town’s existing library pathway lighting and landscaping project. Staff said the timing could also support the Legion’s application for a grant connected to its centenary.
Agreement
Councillors welcomed locating the memorial on a walkway serving both Sidney and North Saanich.
Staff and Council supported combining the work with the existing library pathway project.
Approve a Legion memorial plaque, bench, and landscaping along the walkway to the Sidney / North Saanich Library. Accept the Legion’s $7,500 contribution and include the work in the existing library pathway lighting and landscaping project.
Official wording: 1. That the legacy project request from the Royal Canadian Legion, Saanich Peninsula Branch 37, for the installation of a commemorative plaque, memorial bench and area landscaping along the walkway to the Sidney / North Saanich Library be approved; and
2. That the Legion's contribution of $7,500 be accepted and these works be included within the existing capital project to improve the Library's pathway lighting and landscaping.
Council approved a new 10-year lease with the Vancouver Island Regional Library for 2026–2036, subject to publishing notice in the newspaper. Staff said the changes from the previous lease were limited to dates and annual payment amounts, with other terms remaining the same. The agreement includes one five-year renewal option.
Approve a new 10-year lease between the Town and the Vancouver Island Regional Library, after the required newspaper notice is published.
Official wording: that the 10-year lease (2026-2036) between the Town and the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) be approved, subject to a notice being published in the newspaper.
Council approved an update to a planning-procedures policy first adopted in 2005. Staff said the update reflects current practice and adds updated guidance, without changing the procedures themselves. A councillor praised the flowcharts and question-and-answer material as useful for the public.
Agreement
Council supported the policy update and the clearer guidance for staff and the public.
Council approved the Town’s 2025 Statement of Financial Information, an annual report prepared under provincial law and due to the province by June 30. The mayor thanked staff for preparing it.
Council received the May 2026 building permit report for information. No questions or comments were raised.
Other decisions
Official · from the minutes
Carried 5 to 12026.17.295Item 3
Approve the agenda after removing Councillor Novek’s report, adding two reports from Councillor Duck, and adding an email from A. Coe to the correspondence list.
Official wording: That the agenda be approved with the following amendments:
1. remove item 11b - report from Councillor R. Novek;
2. add to item 11a - two additional reports from Councillor S. Duck; and
3. addition to item 15.7 - email from A. Coe, dated June 19, 2026.