The main item was a plan to restore the 1950 BC Power Commission Building at 780 Blanshard Street and turn it into a 126-room hotel, with a one-storey rooftop addition. Councillors focused on what would happen to parking, whether the building’s seismic upgrade would be adequate, and the loss of its mural; the parking discussion led to a proposal for staff to talk with the applicant about keeping nearby parking available. The committee also heard the external auditor’s 2026 work plan, including a review of accounting for the housing project at 930 Pandora Avenue and a reporting date of May 6, 2027. The 1050 Pandora Avenue covenant request and the licence inspector appointment went through the consent agenda and are scheduled to return at a future daytime Council meeting.
Generated from the recording's captions and the agenda (minutes not yet published by the council).
The external auditor presented the planned scope and schedule for the City’s 2026 audit. Interim field work is expected to start October 19, year-end field work March 15, and the auditor expects to report to Council on May 6, 2027. The audit will examine journal entries, restricted revenues such as development cost charges, and estimates related to unsettled collective bargaining agreements. The auditor is also watching how the City accounts for its housing partnership at 930 Pandora Avenue with BC Housing and CRD Housing; detailed accounting conclusions are not yet available. A new public-sector accounting standard will change the layout of the City’s financial statements for fiscal 2027.
Agreement
The audit plan was presented for information, not for a decision.
The auditor and City staff said they expect to explain the new financial-statement format as the 2027 change approaches.
G.1 780 Blanshard Street: Heritage Alteration Permit with Variances Application No. 00034 and Heritage Designation Application No. 000206 (Downtown)
Staff recommended restoring and reusing the former BC Power Commission Building as a 126-room hotel with food and beverage service, a rooftop terrace and a one-storey rooftop addition. The proposal would retain and rehabilitate the Art Deco building, designate it as heritage property, and replace many existing windows; staff said the windows’ defining pattern and profile would be replicated. The site would have two accessible parking stalls rather than the 68 required by the bylaw. The applicant has an arrangement for 25 nearby stalls, but it may end; councillors debated whether to require replacement parking or leave that to the hotel operator. The discussion also covered the proposed seismic work, the loss of the 1994 exterior mural, the addition’s setback from the roof edge, and the future of the arts group that has used the building. Councillors supported discussion of an amendment asking staff to discuss options for maintaining access to off-site parking with the applicant. Staff said construction was expected to start in mid-2027.
Agreement
Councillors broadly supported retaining, restoring and putting the heritage building back into active use rather than leaving it vacant or demolishing it.
There was support for the proposal’s adaptive reuse and heritage protection, while recognizing that the building’s constrained site limits on-site parking.
The mural was not part of the original building and was not identified as a character-defining heritage feature, though councillors expressed regret at its loss.
Disagreement
Some councillors wanted a firm requirement for off-site parking, citing the applicant’s existing arrangement for 25 stalls and the needs of hotel staff and guests. Others argued that parking arrangements should be left to the hotel operator and that Council should not prescribe the details of a private business. The discussion shifted toward staff discussing options with the applicant rather than requiring a particular parking arrangement.
Councillors raised questions about whether the seismic upgrade would provide adequate life safety. Staff said the detailed review would occur later in the building-permit process and through the heritage tax-incentive review.
One councillor questioned why the fifth-floor addition did not meet the usual three-metre roof setback guideline; staff said the smaller setback would not harm the building’s heritage character.
G.2 1050 Pandora Avenue: Request to Discharge a Statutory Right-of-Way and Covenant (Downtown)
The request to remove a statutory right-of-way and covenant from the 1050 Pandora Avenue property was placed on the consent agenda and was not discussed separately. The chair said it would return at a future daytime Council meeting for final consideration.
The recommendation to appoint Marissa Peluso as the City’s Licence Inspector was placed on the consent agenda and was not discussed separately. The chair said it would return at a future daytime Council meeting for final consideration.
Decisions
Victoria has not published the minutes for this meeting yet. Councils post minutes only after a later meeting adopts them, usually two to six weeks afterwards. We check weekly. We last checked Fri, Oct 2, 2026. Votes and decisions are taken only from the official minutes, so this section fills in once Victoria publishes them. Anything above about motions comes from the recording and is preliminary.