Council adopted two new development-charge bylaws and advanced rules for waiving some charges for nonprofit affordable-rental projects, while one councillor objected that the waiver would also cover market units in those developments. The most divided vote was on whether Sidney should help fund a recreation space in Central Saanich: Council refused consent to the $9.1-million loan bylaw, citing concerns about cost, need and household budgets. Council did approve a 10-year lease for the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, which its representatives said would help secure donations and grants. On the Bowerbank Bikeway, Council backed a report on possible alternatives and grant implications, and confirmed a 30 km/h speed limit.
Generated from the recording's captions and the official minutes.
Council added four emails about the Second Street heat-pump variance, two about the Forsythia Place deck variance and seven about the Bowerbank Bikeway. It also moved a Peninsula Streams Society letter from information correspondence to a discussion item.
Routine: approve the agenda, add the listed emails to the meeting materials, and move the Mermaid Creek correspondence item to the correspondence discussion section.
Official wording: That the agenda be approved with the following amendments: 1. additions to item 9a - 4 emails; 2. additions to item 9b - 2 emails; 3. additions to item 12aR4 - 7 emails; and 4. that item 15.1 be raised to Correspondence as item 14d.
community services4 public speakers4:14 Watch · Read
Four members of the public spoke. A pickleball club representative asked for a preliminary letter of support to discuss a possible covered facility on airport lands; the Shaw Centre’s executive director urged Council to renew its lease; a repair-café representative announced a new monthly home at St. Paul’s United Church and asked the Town to help publicize it; and a resident argued for keeping the Bowerbank Bikeway in place. The pickleball and Shaw Centre requests were considered later in the meeting, and the bikeway was discussed under the committee recommendations.
Agreement
The chair thanked the speakers and noted that the pickleball and Shaw Centre requests were on the agenda.
Disagreement
The resident speaking about Bowerbank supported keeping the bikeway, while later Council discussion showed differing views on whether to seek alternative designs.
The Sidney/North Saanich RCMP reported that first-half calls for service were steady year over year, property crime was down 17%, and reported collisions fell from 40 to 33, with no fatalities. Impaired-driving enforcement rose sharply, with 30 contraventions compared with seven in the same period of 2025; theft of vehicles and bikes increased, and break-ins near marinas and at construction sites remained concerns. The community policing officer returned to that role on September 8, and the detachment said it would increase education and enforcement around e-scooter rules. From September 30, residents seeking service in either official language will be directed to the Westshore RCMP detachment.
Agreement
Councillors thanked the detachment for the report and for its enforcement work.
7D.2 Petition - Parking Enforcement on Allbay Road
A spokesperson for 23 residents described safety concerns on Allbay Road: vehicles park where signs are unclear, use the road as a shortcut and often exceed the posted 30 km/h limit, leaving pedestrians with little shoulder space. Suggested remedies included clearer signs or painted curbs, time-limited parking, residential-traffic-only signs, a one-way section and speed humps. The presenter said earlier Town discussions had not made the road safe for residents in the part of Allbay farther from commercial activity. No new action was moved at this presentation.
Agreement
Council heard that the petitioners wanted to work with the Town on practical safety measures.
8.a Bylaw No. 2301 - Development Cost Charges (DCC)
After provincial approval, Council adopted the bylaw that lets the Town collect development charges for growth-related costs such as sewer, water, drainage, roads and parks. A councillor said the Town had been waiting a long time for these charges.
Agreement
Most councillors supported adopting the bylaw.
Disagreement
A councillor opposed adoption; the transcript does not record the reason.
Carried 6 to 12026.22.358Item 8.a48:04 Watch · Read
Adopt the Town's development charge rules, which collect money from development to help pay for related sewer, water, drainage, transportation and park infrastructure.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 2301 - Development Cost Charges (DCC) be adopted.
The proposed bylaw would reduce development and amenity charges by 50% for qualifying affordable-rental projects run by nonprofit providers, subject to a housing agreement. Council amended the wording so it clearly applies to the entire development, not only its affordable units, then gave the amended bylaw three readings. A councillor supported the purpose but opposed extending the reduction to market units in the same project and questioned whether the Town had authority to do so. The bylaw will return for adoption.
Agreement
Council supported offering relief to qualifying nonprofit affordable-rental developments.
Council agreed to clarify that the 50% reduction applies to the entire development.
Disagreement
A councillor questioned the legal authority and fairness of extending the reduction to market units; the majority supported the bylaw as amended.
Give the proposed rules for waiving or reducing development and amenity charges their first reading; this is an initial step in considering the bylaw, not its final adoption.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 2303 - Development Cost Charge and Amenity Cost Charge Waivers and Reductions be given first reading.
Change two sections of the proposed charge-waiver rules to make clear that the stated condition applies to the entire development.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 2303 be amended by inserting the words "for the entire development" immediately after the words "Cost Charges" in section 3.1 and 4.1.
Carried 6 to 12026.22.363Item 8.c57:59 Watch · Read
Give the proposed rules for waiving or reducing development and amenity charges their third reading, another step toward bringing the bylaw into effect.
Official wording: That Bylaw No. 2303 - Development Cost Charge and Amenity Cost Charge Waivers and Reductions be given third reading.
Council gave three readings to a bylaw exempting Rest Haven Lodge at 2281 Mills Road from property tax for eight years, from 2027 through 2034. The exemption had already been approved in principle; the bylaw will return for adoption.
Agreement
Council gave all three readings without opposition.
Council approved a variance allowing a heat pump on a balcony within the front yard. Staff confirmed the Town’s noise bylaw still applies. Councillors described this balcony’s layout as unusual and raised whether some minor heat-pump variances could eventually be handled through a more streamlined process; staff said they were already considering options.
Agreement
Councillors supporting the application considered this case suitable because of the balcony’s particular configuration and the noise rules already in place.
Allow the resident at 404-9870 Second Street to have a heat pump on the balcony, even though it is within the front yard setback area.
Official wording: That Development Variance Permit Application No. DV100396 for 404- 9870 Second Street (to permit a heat pump on the balcony within the front yard) be approved.
Council approved a variance retroactively relaxing the west-side setback so an existing deck addition could remain. A councillor who had earlier raised concerns about the process welcomed that the applicant had worked with staff and waited for the review; two pieces of late correspondence supported the application.
Approve a variance after the fact at 10249 Forsythia Place so the existing deck addition can remain closer to the west-side property line than normally allowed.
Official wording: That Development Variance Permit Application No. DV100397 for 10249 Forsythia Place (to retroactively relax the minimum interior side setback along the west lot line to allow the deck addition) be approved.
Ask staff to look into whether bike lockers and a public washroom could be provided at the proposed transit hub, and how much they would cost, then report back to Council.
Official wording: That staff report back on the feasibility and cost of bike lockers and a public washroom at the proposed Sidney Transit Hub.
Council directed the Town to notify owners and tenants within 75 metres of 10007 Siddall Road about a proposed rear-yard dwelling and setback variances. Any written comments will go to Council when it considers whether to approve the variance.
Agreement
Council supported notifying nearby owners and tenants.
Notify nearby property owners and tenants about the proposed setback changes for a new home in the rear yard at 10007 Siddall Road, and send any written responses to Council when it considers the variance.
Official wording: That owners and tenants in occupation of property within 75 metres (246 feet) of 10007 Siddall Road be notified regarding Development Variance Application No. DV100395 (to relax the minimum rear yard setback from 4.5m to 3m, the minimum interior side yard setback from 2 m to 1.5 m, and the minimum exterior side yard setback from 3m to 1.5m to allow a dwelling in the rear yard) and that any written correspondence received be forwarded to Council at the time of consideration of approval of the variance.
Council authorized a grant application for a bundled package of public infrastructure projects estimated at $972,750. The package includes raising the Tulista Park boat-launch rehabilitation budget from $100,000 to $600,000, with proposed funding from a $300,000 grant, $50,000 from reserves and up to $250,000 in borrowing if the grant is approved; advancing the Iroquois Park Pathway project from 2028 to 2027; and moving funding for two park shade projects to the Amenity Reserve. Council also endorsed up to $550,000 in short-term borrowing and authorized staff to bring forward a borrowing bylaw. Councillors who supported the package said the boat launch is important public and emergency-service infrastructure and that approval would not force the Town to proceed before costs were clearer. Opponents warned that the project’s costs remain uncertain and did not want to commit to borrowing yet.
Agreement
Council agreed to seek grant funding for the package.
Staff said the grant application and borrowing endorsement do not prevent Council from reconsidering the project after more detailed costs are available.
Disagreement
A councillor opposed endorsing up to $550,000 in borrowing before the boat-launch costs were better known; other councillors considered the grant opportunity and later review sufficient safeguards.
Carried 6 to 12026.22.371Item 12.a.R.31:27:37 Watch · Read
Apply for a federal grant for a package of park, recreation, accessibility, waterfront and public-use projects. Also plan to borrow up to $550,000 for the Tulista Park boat launch work, subject to the grant, increase that project's budget, move the Iroquois Park pathway work from 2028 to 2027, and use the Amenity Reserve rather than the Canada Community Building Fund for two park shade projects.
Official wording: That Council authorize submission of an application to PacifiCan's Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) Local Impact Stream 2026 for a bundled package of park, recreation, accessibility, waterfront, and public-use infrastructure improvements with a total estimated combined project value of $972,750. That Council endorse short-term borrowing of up to $550,000 to fund the Tulista Park Boat Launch Rehabilitation project and authorize staff to bring forward the necessary short-term borrowing bylaw. That the following budget amendments be approved: Increase the budget for the Tulista Park Boat Launch Rehabilitation project to $600,000 (from the current $100,000), funded as follows: $300,000 from grants; $50,000 from Boat Launch reserve; $250,000 from short-term borrowing, subject to approval of the grant. Bring forward the Iroquois Park Pathway project from 2028 to 2027. Change the funding source for the two Parks Shade Element projects from Canada Community Building Fund to Amenity Reserve.
transportation1 public speaker1:27:37 Watch · Read
Council directed staff to bring alternatives to the next Committee of the Whole meeting, break down the $516,000 spent on the bikeway, and explain what changing or removing elements—especially the traffic diversions at Calvin and Siddall—could mean for grant funding. Supporters wanted options to address traffic concerns and said a report could guide the next steps. Opponents said the request was rushed, could duplicate work for the incoming Council, and should be paired with meaningful public engagement. One councillor said the existing route has helped reduce speeding; another argued that the decision should wait for the next Council. The motion passed.
Agreement
Councillors across the debate said the project could be reviewed and that community engagement would matter if changes were considered.
Disagreement
Supporters wanted staff to report back promptly on alternatives, costs and grant consequences.
Opponents objected to the short timeline and preferred leaving the work to the next Council; other councillors favoured beginning the review now.
Carried 4 to 32026.22.372Item 12.a.R.41:52:23 Watch · Read
Ask staff to report to the next Committee of the Whole on possible alternatives for the Bowerbank Bikeway, how the $516,000 spent was divided among its parts, and whether changing or removing features—especially the traffic diversions at Calvin and Siddall—could affect the project grant.
Official wording: That staff bring forward to the next Committee of the Whole Meeting a report that includes: Potential alternative designs or approaches that could be considered for the Bowerbank Bikeway; A breakdown of the costs for the different elements on the $516,000 spent on the Bowerbank Bikeway; and Implications on the grant money received for the project if Council opted to remove/change elements of the Bikeway; specifically traffic diversions at Calvin and Siddall.
Council confirmed a 30 km/h speed limit for the Bowerbank Bikeway corridor in the Town’s written bylaw. The limit was already signed on the road, but the bylaw needed to match it. Councillors said a clear legal limit supports safety and the bikeway’s intended design.
Send the proposal to set Resthaven Drive between Mills Road and McDonald Park Road to 40 km/h to a future Committee of the Whole meeting for consideration.
Official wording: That the following motion be referred to a future Committee of the Whole Meeting: "That Resthaven Drive, between Mills Road and McDonald Park Road, be established as 40 km/h."
13.a Renewal of Lease & Operating Agreement - Shaw Centre for Salish Sea
community services2 public speakers2:05:45 Watch · Read
Council approved a 10-year lease and operating agreement, running from January 2027 to December 2036, subject to newspaper notice. The Town’s ongoing contribution is set at 1.4% of property taxes, reflecting an earlier Council funding decision. The centre’s representatives said a secure lease would help them retain staff, renew exhibits and equipment, and qualify for grants and major donations. One councillor opposed the 10-year term and wanted a new Council to review the arrangement; supporters emphasized the centre’s community and visitor value and the need for certainty before the current lease expires in 2027.
Agreement
Supporters agreed the centre is a valued community and visitor attraction.
Council invited centre representatives to answer questions before deciding.
Disagreement
One councillor wanted a shorter delay or a fresh review by the next Council, raising concerns about a long lease and ongoing tax-funded support.
The majority favoured approving the 10-year agreement now to give the centre stability for fundraising and planning.
Carried 6 to 12026.22.377Item 13.a2:29:21 Watch · Read
Approve a 10-year agreement with the New Marine Centre Society to continue operating the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, from 2027 through 2036, once the required newspaper notice is published.
Official wording: That the 10-year (January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2036) Lease and Operating Agreement between the Town and the New Marine Centre Society, for continuing operation of the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, be approved, subject to a notice being published in the newspaper.
14.a Request for Letter of Support - Pickleball Courts on VAA Sub-Leased Lands
parks environment1 public speaker2:30:06 Watch · Read
Council agreed to provide a preliminary letter of support for the Peninsula Community Pickleball Club to discuss a possible covered, year-round facility on airport lands, potentially near Rotary Park. The letter allows discussions with the Victoria Airport Authority to continue; it does not commit the Town to funding or approving a project. Staff said the proposed area appears distinct from the baseball association’s current use, and the club was also seeking support from that association.
Agreement
Councillors supported allowing preliminary discussions to proceed without committing the Town to a facility.
Give the Peninsula Community Pickleball Club a letter supporting its discussions with the airport authority about a proposed community pickleball facility at Rotary Park.
Official wording: That the Town provide a letter of support to the Peninsula Community Pickleball Club for its discussions with the Victoria Airport Authority regarding a proposal for a community pickleball facility at Rotary Park.
Council refused consent to the Capital Regional District’s proposed loan bylaw for recreation space in a planned Central Saanich municipal building, then passed a separate motion formally stating that it did not consent. Supporters viewed the project as part of the Peninsula’s shared recreation service and said the new space could ease demand at Panorama and Green Glade. Opponents questioned whether the need for this particular facility had been demonstrated, cited the $9.1-million loan authorization and future operating costs, and said households were already under pressure. The debate also covered whether Central Saanich residents had clearly supported the recreation space and whether more cost-effective alternatives had been explored.
Agreement
Councillors agreed recreation services are valuable and that the Peninsula’s shared service has benefited residents across the three municipalities.
The recorded vote rejected consent, and Council then formally recorded its decision not to consent.
Disagreement
Supporters said shared facilities should serve residents across municipal boundaries and that the project could relieve crowded programs.
Opponents argued the need, public support and cost case for this specific facility were not strong enough, and raised the added burden on taxpayers.
Defeated 0 to 72026.22.379Item 14.b3:18:58 Watch · Read
Agree to the Capital Regional District adopting its loan authorization for the Saanich Peninsula recreation facility.
Official wording: That Council consent to the CRD adopting Bylaw 4782 - Saanich Peninsula Recreation Services (DCS Recreation Facility) Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 2, 2026.
Carried 4 to 32026.22.380Item 14.b3:20:34 Watch · Read
Withhold the Town's consent to the Capital Regional District adopting its loan authorization for the Saanich Peninsula recreation facility.
Official wording: That Council not consent to the CRD adopting Bylaw 4782 - Saanich Peninsula Recreation Services (DCS Recreation Facility) Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 2, 2026.
Council agreed to provide a letter supporting the Victoria Airport Authority’s application to Transport Canada’s Trade Diversification Corridors Fund. A councillor also flagged concerns about airport noise as the airport expands and said residents had asked for off-site noise monitoring; the support letter itself was not changed.
Agreement
Council supported providing the requested letter unanimously.
Provide the Victoria Airport Authority with a letter supporting its application to Transport Canada's Trade Diversification Corridors Fund.
Official wording: That the Town provide a letter of support to the Victoria Airport Authority for their application to Transport Canada’s Trade Diversification Corridors Fund.
14.d (15.1) Letter from Peninsula Streams Society, regarding development permit conditions for 10231 Resthaven Drive, Mermaid Creek ESA Development Permit Area
A councillor asked how the Town was protecting Mermaid Creek and the Roberts Bay environmentally sensitive area beside a development at 10231 Resthaven Drive. Staff said the permit requires controls against sediment and runoff, authorizes no work beyond the property line, and complies with the Town’s 15-metre setback from the natural boundary. Staff said inspectors visit when building inspections are requested and planning staff check periodically, but limited capacity prevents frequent monitoring of every site. Councillors thanked Peninsula Streams Society for raising the issue and noted that broader ecological protections could be considered through future policy work.
Agreement
Councillors welcomed the society’s attention to the site and agreed that protecting the creek and shoreline matters.
Staff clarified that the permit does not authorize work in the creek or on the shore bank.
Disagreement
A councillor pressed for more active monitoring of this sensitive site; staff said they lacked capacity for frequent inspections, while another councillor noted that policy changes would require Council direction.
Council voted to continue in closed session to consider confidential personal information about an individual who holds or is being considered for an appointment.
Close the meeting to the public so Council and officers can discuss confidential personal information about someone who holds or is being considered for an appointment.
Official wording: That it is in the opinion of Council that the public interest requires that persons other than members of the Council and Officers be excluded from the meeting to consider confidential matters regarding personal information of an individual who holds or is being considered for an appointment, pursuant to section 90.1(a) of the Community Charter and that Council continue the meeting in closed session.