{"videoId":"https://video.isilive.ca/victoria/New%20Encoder_COTW_2026-05-14-12-03.mp4","source":"isilive_vtt","segments":[{"t":8,"text":"Today we have for our consideration two sets of minutes,"},{"t":12,"text":"one presentation, one land use item, a staff report, and"},{"t":15,"text":"one council member motion. But of course, before we begin,"},{"t":19,"text":"we always want to take a moment to ground ourselves"},{"t":21,"text":"and our work in our acknowledgement. And in the opportunity"},{"t":25,"text":"to pay our respects to the two nations on whose"},{"t":28,"text":"territories our city sits in its entirety, of course the"},{"t":32,"text":"nations of the La Quangan people, the COSAPSum Nation and"},{"t":35,"text":"the Songhees Nation. And we continue to enjoy their generosity"},{"t":41,"text":"in taking the time to work with us on a"},{"t":43,"text":"variety of different programs and policies and projects and endeavours"},{"t":48,"text":"where we together learn from one another, but also have"},{"t":51,"text":"an opportunity to discover new things every time we do"},{"t":54,"text":"work together, about both the history of the lands and"},{"t":57,"text":"the waters that surround them, as well as the opportunities"},{"t":60,"text":"and potential of the land and the waters and the"},{"t":62,"text":"people here who occupy both indigenous and non - indigenous."},{"t":67,"text":"We always want to take a moment to remind ourselves"},{"t":70,"text":"and the people who are listening and the people that"},{"t":73,"text":"we serve, that we are here as partners in trying"},{"t":76,"text":"to reflect the history that has gone before us and"},{"t":80,"text":"address head - on, the challenges that are right in"},{"t":82,"text":"front of us and the present, but also keep an"},{"t":85,"text":"eye to what needs to be done to ensure that"},{"t":87,"text":"there is a future that all those who come after"},{"t":90,"text":"us can enjoy, certainly to the extent that we have,"},{"t":94,"text":"the privilege of enjoying here today. When we think of"},{"t":97,"text":"all that has been done over the years by the"},{"t":100,"text":"nations to preserve these lands and waters, it is indeed"},{"t":104,"text":"daunting, but it is also very inspiring and hopefully it"},{"t":107,"text":"is a context in which we do our own work"},{"t":110,"text":"and hope that whatever the decisions we make today and"},{"t":112,"text":"in the coming weeks that those are decisions that will"},{"t":115,"text":"be long - lasting and they best interest of the"},{"t":117,"text":"people who will live here and who do live here."},{"t":120,"text":"And perhaps inspiring to someone as any individual may consider"},{"t":124,"text":"their own version of public service. We say hi tricusium"},{"t":128,"text":"to say thank you, but also sometimes we say hi"},{"t":130,"text":"to Casey McUlea to say thank you and to offer"},{"t":132,"text":"our respect to all of those people who are here"},{"t":135,"text":"in our community as individuals, as groups, families, leaders, whatever"},{"t":140,"text":"endeavour they choose to place their time, because we know"},{"t":143,"text":"that they do so in the best interest of all"},{"t":145,"text":"who are around them. I actually guess you have Nick"},{"t":147,"text":"William. Chair's remarks on it just briefly today, brother. Today"},{"t":154,"text":"is Moosehead campaign day. And for those of you who"},{"t":157,"text":"are aware of this or for those of you who"},{"t":158,"text":"are not, you will see very often through the community"},{"t":161,"text":"in different places, this little cute little brown card beige"},{"t":165,"text":"card. Not sure what colour that is. And it talks"},{"t":167,"text":"a little bit about the campaign and I believe most"},{"t":170,"text":"of us today are wearing a moose HUD square. This"},{"t":174,"text":"is indeed a representation of a particular program that was"},{"t":178,"text":"started about 15 years ago. And this is a campaign"},{"t":181,"text":"that was originally initiated by a variety of indigenous communities"},{"t":187,"text":"to bring attention to violence against women and children. It"},{"t":191,"text":"is now a campaign that has moved broadly throughout all"},{"t":194,"text":"communities in the country, and you will see these small"},{"t":197,"text":"squares of moose - hide in many, many different areas."},{"t":201,"text":"They are available free, and they are here at City"},{"t":203,"text":"Hall. If anyone wishes to pick one up, they're also"},{"t":206,"text":"throughout the community in a variety of different organisations. And"},{"t":209,"text":"in fact, you can get them directly from the moveset"},{"t":211,"text":"campaign just by writing to them. And they do have,"},{"t":215,"text":"of course, a website, which is simply moosehead campaign. ca."},{"t":219,"text":"It's an important opportunity for us to wear something that"},{"t":222,"text":"is pretty simple and which often always, in fact, draws"},{"t":226,"text":"attention and creates an opportunity for a question. And an"},{"t":230,"text":"answer, and most importantly, a conversation about these critical issues"},{"t":234,"text":"that affect all of our community. So I would urge"},{"t":236,"text":"you to investigate a little bit and to find a"},{"t":239,"text":"location where you can choose to take one of these"},{"t":243,"text":"small squares. And it's a simple action, but it's an"},{"t":246,"text":"action of remembrance, an action that prompts conversation and an"},{"t":250,"text":"action that gives us all a chance to speak clearly"},{"t":254,"text":"about our own roles and responsibilities and stopping all violence."},{"t":259,"text":"So I urge you to check out the Moosehead campaign."},{"t":261,"text":"ca. With that, I'm not aware of any late items"},{"t":266,"text":"that need to be added to committee today. And so"},{"t":268,"text":"I would look for a motion to approve the agenda"},{"t":270,"text":"as published. Thanks Councillor Coleman, seconded by Councillor Chopson. Any"},{"t":274,"text":"discussion of the agenda? Not seeing any, all those in"},{"t":278,"text":"favor. Anyone opposed. That is unanimous. That does take us"},{"t":284,"text":"on to proposals for the consent agenda at Committee. There"},{"t":286,"text":"are four. Just for the information of the public. This"},{"t":289,"text":"is item F1. The minutes from the Committee of the"},{"t":291,"text":"Hole meeting held April 9th. Item F2, the minutes from"},{"t":294,"text":"the Committee of the whole meeting held April 16th. The"},{"t":298,"text":"item H1, which is a heritage designation application for the"},{"t":301,"text":"property at 1784 Denman Street. And item ION, an endorsement"},{"t":307,"text":"of funding and award applications on behalf of City from"},{"t":311,"text":"City staff. Now, would anyone like to remove any of"},{"t":314,"text":"those items? Not seeing any interest in removing anything anyone"},{"t":318,"text":"would like to add. Not seeing anything there either. So"},{"t":322,"text":"without someone like to move the consent agenda, I think"},{"t":324,"text":"it's Councillor Coleman. I second my councillor Cardona. All those"},{"t":328,"text":"in favor. And I'm going to pose. That is unanimous."},{"t":332,"text":"Thank you for that. That would take us on usually"},{"t":335,"text":"to the consideration of minutes, but of course we've just"},{"t":337,"text":"placed both F1 and F2. The minutes from the Committee"},{"t":340,"text":"with the whole meetings on April 9th and April 16th"},{"t":343,"text":"on the consent agenda. So those will return to us"},{"t":346,"text":"for final consideration at a future daytime council meeting, which"},{"t":350,"text":"takes us right on to item G, and we have"},{"t":353,"text":"one item under item G, G1. And that is our"},{"t":356,"text":"regular update from staff on the work being undertaken under"},{"t":362,"text":"the rubric of our Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan. I"},{"t":366,"text":"believe this is ADM Web. And or, and direction. Just,"},{"t":374,"text":"and oh my God, and ADM CARE, we've got the"},{"t":376,"text":"whole crew right on. Come on up. When you're settled."},{"t":381,"text":"Yes, bring your own chair. We're going to make your"},{"t":382,"text":"work extra. And when you're settled, then, uh, take it"},{"t":387,"text":"away whenever you are ready."},{"t":410,"text":"And as usual, we know who you are, but when"},{"t":412,"text":"you do begin to speak, you can introduce yourselves for"},{"t":415,"text":"the interest of the public. Good morning, Mayor and Council."},{"t":419,"text":"I'm pleased to be here today to provide you with"},{"t":421,"text":"a progress update on the Community Safety and Wellbeing plan."},{"t":424,"text":"My name is Sarah Webb. I'm the assistant director of"},{"t":427,"text":"corporate planning and strategic partnerships. Here along with Director Peter"},{"t":430,"text":"Rantucci of the Community Safety Wellbeing and Partnerships Department, an"},{"t":435,"text":"assistant director, Carrie Lee Jones, of the Community Safety and"},{"t":439,"text":"Bilef Services team. Before we begin the presentation today, and"},{"t":443,"text":"for those listening at home, we typically commence these updates"},{"t":446,"text":"with a reminder of what we are trying to achieve."},{"t":450,"text":"Community safety is a collaborative multi - sector approach to"},{"t":454,"text":"creating a secure, inclusive, and supportive environment for our entire"},{"t":458,"text":"community. When we speak about community safety, we're extending efforts"},{"t":462,"text":"beyond traditional law enforcement to a shared responsibility for overall"},{"t":467,"text":"well - being, quality of life and social supports in"},{"t":470,"text":"our community. Community safety requires collaboration and commitment from all"},{"t":475,"text":"orders of government, residents, businesses and organisation who make up"},{"t":479,"text":"our community today for generations to come. In July 2025,"},{"t":486,"text":"council endorsed the Community Safety and Wellbeing Klan. The plan"},{"t":490,"text":"focuses on prevention, intervention, and response with 99 recommendations across"},{"t":495,"text":"eight sectors. During the same month, council directed the implementation"},{"t":499,"text":"of 11 priority actions to support a range of interventions,"},{"t":503,"text":"fill gaps, and contribute to solutions as a part of"},{"t":506,"text":"the first phase of implementation. Between October 2025 and February,"},{"t":511,"text":"2026, the city took on an enhanced role to deliver"},{"t":515,"text":"actions under a new department as well working across collaboratively"},{"t":519,"text":"with teams from public works, engineering, parks, economic development, and"},{"t":524,"text":"planning, working to deliver both upstream and downstream solutions in"},{"t":529,"text":"line with the plan's objectives. In March 2026, staff provided"},{"t":534,"text":"a comprehensive update of the program actions and identified several"},{"t":539,"text":"initiatives planned for 2026 that align with the recommendations within"},{"t":543,"text":"the plan. As council will recall, the leavened priority actions"},{"t":550,"text":"covered a broad range of activities, including shifting municipal service"},{"t":554,"text":"delivery, increasing capacity to respond to community needs. Creating additional"},{"t":560,"text":"housing and sheltering solutions. Making targeted capital investments and expanding"},{"t":566,"text":"partnerships on on - the - ground solutions. While in"},{"t":570,"text":"the past, we have used these updates to cover a"},{"t":572,"text":"wide range of topics and projects. Today I will be"},{"t":575,"text":"focusing our work, focusing in on our work to expand"},{"t":578,"text":"partnerships and deliver on the ground solutions. In January of"},{"t":583,"text":"2026, the city announced a partnership with the government of"},{"t":586,"text":"Canada to deliver the spark program for enhanced youth safety"},{"t":590,"text":"and well - being. The program recently wrapped up on"},{"t":594,"text":"April 1st, 2026. I'm pleased to take the opportunity today"},{"t":598,"text":"to share some of the highlights and outcomes of this"},{"t":601,"text":"initiative. The SPARC program for enhanced youth safety and well"},{"t":606,"text":"- being was made possible by a 750, 000 -"},{"t":609,"text":"dollar grant through the federal crime prevention action fund. The"},{"t":614,"text":"fund supports evident space models and promising practices associated with"},{"t":618,"text":"upstream interventions to improve public safety and prevent crime. With"},{"t":624,"text":"funding secured in December of 2025, the city embarked on"},{"t":628,"text":"a three - month multi - partner initiative focused on"},{"t":632,"text":"strengthening protective factors, for a children, youth, and young adults,"},{"t":637,"text":"under the age of 30 in the City of Victoria."},{"t":640,"text":"The focus of efforts were to support crime and violence"},{"t":644,"text":"prevention, increase sense of belonging, and address root causes of"},{"t":648,"text":"vulnerability. The program delivered activities in five key areas spanning"},{"t":654,"text":"case management and counseling services to increasing access to sport"},{"t":659,"text":"recreations, science and art and cultural opportunities. Data collection and"},{"t":666,"text":"community engagement conducted between 2023 and 2025 through the development"},{"t":671,"text":"of the Community Safety Wellbeing Plan, identified that children, youth,"},{"t":675,"text":"and young adults are vulnerable populations within our community. We"},{"t":679,"text":"heard that there are opportunities to strengthen well - being"},{"t":682,"text":"among this demographic by supporting all dimensions of health, including"},{"t":686,"text":"mental, community, social, emotional, and physical health. Research demonstrates that"},{"t":693,"text":"upstream interventions in well - being at an early age"},{"t":696,"text":"can help to address structural causes of social disorder and"},{"t":699,"text":"reduce long - term risks to safety in the community."},{"t":702,"text":"This might include school disengagement, substance abuse, gang involvement, and"},{"t":707,"text":"even homelessness. Strategic interventions at different ages can help de"},{"t":712,"text":"foster individual resilience and has the potential to reduce future"},{"t":716,"text":"pressures on health and justice systems. The program objectives for"},{"t":722,"text":"Spark or were based on five key areas. First, to"},{"t":725,"text":"reduce risk factors, address youth and family violence, family disorganization,"},{"t":730,"text":"community fear, substance - related harms, school disengagement, and justice"},{"t":735,"text":"involvement. The second to protect its strength and protective fact"},{"t":740,"text":"factors, build cultural identity, support family stability, provide new options"},{"t":745,"text":"and activities that build life, offer employment skills, and increase"},{"t":750,"text":"well - being at different ages. Advanced equity and inclusion"},{"t":754,"text":"by delivering tailored services for youth and families coming from"},{"t":757,"text":"diverse backgrounds, including indigenous youth, newcomers, gender diverse, or youth"},{"t":763,"text":"experiencing poverty or homelessness today. Improving service access by reducing"},{"t":768,"text":"weightless and access to mentorship and counseling services, and expanding"},{"t":772,"text":"access to resource in the community to help youth lead"},{"t":775,"text":"their best lives. And finally, the pillar of building system"},{"t":780,"text":"can capacity. Using this program to enhance collaboration and build"},{"t":784,"text":"capacity, through training and education for those working with youth"},{"t":788,"text":"in the field. In order to deliver this rapid implementation"},{"t":794,"text":"program, the City partnered with 16 diverse community organisations shown"},{"t":799,"text":"on the screen. To collectively, along with three city departments,"},{"t":803,"text":"we focused on delivering a series of projects, initiatives, and"},{"t":807,"text":"activities that would contribute to program objectives. We are pleased"},{"t":812,"text":"to report that more than 17, 000 children youth and"},{"t":816,"text":"young adults were involved in the SPARC program between January"},{"t":819,"text":"2026 and April 1st, 2026. The City and its partners"},{"t":825,"text":"directly served more than 5, 000 individuals through services and"},{"t":829,"text":"programs and engaged more than 12, 000 children youth and"},{"t":833,"text":"young adults through outreach, events, and activities. The Spark program"},{"t":838,"text":"was able to support more than 200 employees and volunteers"},{"t":842,"text":"who work in youth and family serving organisations. And through"},{"t":846,"text":"creative partnerships, all of our partners and the city engaged"},{"t":850,"text":"in additional 26 organisations and six schools here in Victoria"},{"t":855,"text":"to help reach youth in different places across our community."},{"t":860,"text":"So before we get into some of the detailed outcomes,"},{"t":862,"text":"we thought we would share some of the ways in"},{"t":865,"text":"which help spark help to create stories of change in"},{"t":869,"text":"such a short order of time. First, we targeted outreach"},{"t":878,"text":"by removing barriers to engagement and initiating diverse connections to"},{"t":882,"text":"meet youth where they're at here in the city. We"},{"t":885,"text":"built readiness, developed trust and strength and conditions for positive"},{"t":889,"text":"outcomes through case management, counseling, and education. We increased access"},{"t":896,"text":"to food and basic needs so that youth and families"},{"t":900,"text":"could attend programs, focus on learning and engage in skill"},{"t":904,"text":"building. We enabled learning through diverse workshops and providing access"},{"t":908,"text":"to culture, recreation, science, and art to build skills and"},{"t":913,"text":"strengthen sense of belonging. And finally, we strengthened service -"},{"t":919,"text":"COBITRI provider capacity by offering training to staff and volunteers,"},{"t":923,"text":"improving systems and materials, and updating equipment to sustain youth"},{"t":928,"text":"services beyond the project period. Collectively, these helped to build"},{"t":932,"text":"stories of change, which I'll feature just some of the"},{"t":935,"text":"outcomes and accomplishments across the organisations over the last three"},{"t":940,"text":"months. The City is currently preparing its final reports for"},{"t":944,"text":"the federal government and a comprehensive summary will be available"},{"t":947,"text":"at the end of June. So I'd like to start"},{"t":951,"text":"by featuring some of the 16 partners. The Aboriginal Coalition"},{"t":955,"text":"to End Homelessness held the land - based healing camp"},{"t":958,"text":"and cultural experiences for at - risk indigenous youth. They"},{"t":962,"text":"focused on traditional customs, dancing, and the arts. They held"},{"t":966,"text":"a blanketing ceremony to honour a youth who had completed"},{"t":968,"text":"three months of treatment supporting their healing journey and strengthening"},{"t":971,"text":"connections with family and community. The AVI community services Circle"},{"t":976,"text":"program increased their service capacity over the past three months"},{"t":980,"text":"to provide direct support for 100 young adults experiencing mental"},{"t":984,"text":"health emergencies in crises. They also supported 30 of their"},{"t":989,"text":"program staff to attend training workshops on working directly with"},{"t":993,"text":"indigenous youth focused on client - centred practices, cultural safety,"},{"t":997,"text":"and crisis response. Beacon Community Services supported 41 youth to"},{"t":1004,"text":"connect them to employment councillors, participate in job fairs, and"},{"t":1008,"text":"explore opportunities to re - enter education, training, and employment."},{"t":1013,"text":"This may be KDA - 12 education, and it may"},{"t":1015,"text":"also be post - secondary. The also provided art therapy"},{"t":1019,"text":"for 61 young adult males experiencing or at risk of"},{"t":1023,"text":"homelessness. Big brothers and big sisters led the BU Healthy"},{"t":1028,"text":"Bodie Bodies Healthy Minds Workshops. Focused on helping to provide"},{"t":1032,"text":"increased sense of confidence and belonging and skills for 33"},{"t":1037,"text":"youth age 9 to 15 in three different schools here"},{"t":1040,"text":"in Victoria. They also initiated 15 new in - school"},{"t":1045,"text":"mentoring matches for youth facing systemic barriers such as trauma"},{"t":1049,"text":"or lack of stable adult presence in their lives. Capital"},{"t":1054,"text":"Bike expanded their youth bike lending library. And served 23"},{"t":1059,"text":"new households lending requests. This included providing an adaptive bicycle"},{"t":1063,"text":"for a neurodiverse child, which was their first experience being"},{"t":1066,"text":"able to work with adaptive bikes in their lending library."},{"t":1069,"text":"The Cringe Centre for the family delivered a month -"},{"t":1072,"text":"long program for 15 mothers with 19 children focused on"},{"t":1075,"text":"healing from family violence. Families also received take - home"},{"t":1079,"text":"toolkits and hampers and increased access to counseling supports over"},{"t":1083,"text":"three months. Good night out in Victoria expanded their workshop"},{"t":1088,"text":"on sexual violence prevention and education, focusing in on the"},{"t":1092,"text":"entertainment and restaurant industry. And the Victoria Street Team operated"},{"t":1096,"text":"late night until 3 a. m. on Friday, Thursdays, Fridays,"},{"t":1099,"text":"and Saturdays, focusing on areas where they could intervene to"},{"t":1103,"text":"help assist people with distress, de - escalate conflicts, and"},{"t":1106,"text":"support wellness check - ins. The interocultural association of greater"},{"t":1112,"text":"Victoria delivered a series of integrated programs for 42 newcomer"},{"t":1117,"text":"youth and their families. Offering inclusive recreational programs, volunteer activities."},{"t":1123,"text":"Cultural connections and community are rootings. The John Howard Society"},{"t":1128,"text":"expanded their outreach and recruitment and training to support a"},{"t":1131,"text":"kid's start volunteers, resulting in 33 new recruits and 21"},{"t":1135,"text":"volunteers trained with five partner organisations. They hosted 55 skills"},{"t":1140,"text":"- building meetings and made 17 new kid - start"},{"t":1143,"text":"and mentor matches within schools. Power to B, Adventure Therapy"},{"t":1148,"text":"hosted two wilderness trips to support 18 vulnerable youth from"},{"t":1152,"text":"Victoria to learn technical skills while building resilience and teamwork"},{"t":1156,"text":"and developing healthy peer relationships and conflict resolution. Restorative justice"},{"t":1163,"text":"focused on turnly to update their practices to better serve"},{"t":1166,"text":"24 youth in their family, interacting with a criminal justice"},{"t":1169,"text":"system, including remote conferencing system, physical space improvements, and internal"},{"t":1174,"text":"process improvements. Thrive Social Services delivered the rise up employment"},{"t":1179,"text":"program for 18 youth who face barriers to employment, an"},{"t":1183,"text":"upscaled their social media presence to have a better and"},{"t":1186,"text":"ongoing sustained youth engagement, both post - program. The umbrella"},{"t":1191,"text":"society expanded hours of recovery - oriented outreach and drop"},{"t":1195,"text":"- in services and provided detox and treatment options and"},{"t":1199,"text":"peer support for 60 individuals under the age of 30"},{"t":1201,"text":"over the last three months. They also deliver recovery -"},{"t":1205,"text":"oriented school educational programming to 120 youth. The Victoria Youth"},{"t":1212,"text":"Empowerment Society provided custom case management support for 11 youth"},{"t":1216,"text":"who have justice involvement involving system navigation, education to improve"},{"t":1220,"text":"understanding, compliance with probation, and reduce breaches of probation. They"},{"t":1225,"text":"strengthened their youth pantry program, providing supplies and food for"},{"t":1229,"text":"at - rescuth youth, and hosted cooking and baking workshops"},{"t":1232,"text":"for 75 individuals under the age of 30. Mustard seed"},{"t":1237,"text":"society played a support role providing fresh food and catered"},{"t":1240,"text":"meals for eight of our spark partners, reaching 150 youth"},{"t":1244,"text":"and their families, and created volunteer experiences at their food"},{"t":1247,"text":"distribution hub for 12 youth through portner organisations to gain"},{"t":1251,"text":"hands - on practical experience volunteering for the resume. The"},{"t":1256,"text":"make space society delivered 145 hours of programming within 17"},{"t":1261,"text":"sessions focused on equipping youth with design, repair, building and"},{"t":1265,"text":"fabrication skills, and engaged 130 unique participants through a several"},{"t":1270,"text":"workshops in the month of March. The city itself hosted"},{"t":1274,"text":"our Victoria at Dusk event with more than 80, 000"},{"t":1278,"text":"people attending with an estimated 10, 000 attendees under the"},{"t":1281,"text":"age of 30 at the festival. We also provide sponsored"},{"t":1285,"text":"admissions, passes, supplies, and learning opportunities to 18 different youth"},{"t":1290,"text":"and family serving organisations and 11 classes in public schools"},{"t":1294,"text":"here in Victoria. And finally our recreation team introduced a"},{"t":1298,"text":"new inclusive swim lessons and water safety education program to"},{"t":1302,"text":"over 170 children youth and caregivers with a focus on"},{"t":1307,"text":"newcomer immigrant and refugee participants. Truly these all make up"},{"t":1311,"text":"many stories of change and are only just a sample"},{"t":1314,"text":"of the kinds of impacts that the spark program had"},{"t":1317,"text":"within the first three months. Spark was focused on rapid"},{"t":1321,"text":"deployment and targeted investments to support children, youth and young"},{"t":1325,"text":"adults in our community. Direct benefits include new and strength"},{"t":1329,"text":"and relationships between organisations, individuals, and schools. More efficient referrals"},{"t":1336,"text":"pathways improved system and service coordination. Additional capacity to serve"},{"t":1342,"text":"priority populations, additional capacity to reduce waitlists. The ability to"},{"t":1349,"text":"test out new systems, models, or programs, and increased awareness"},{"t":1353,"text":"of city services and the broader community safety and well"},{"t":1356,"text":"- being plan. We could have easily continued this program"},{"t":1359,"text":"for years to come with the success that was given"},{"t":1363,"text":"through this grant from the government of Canada. Participants in"},{"t":1368,"text":"Spark achieved greater stability, increased life skilled resiness, and had"},{"t":1371,"text":"an opportunity to be supported through diverse activities over a"},{"t":1375,"text":"three - month period. Activities supported healing, resilience, and greater"},{"t":1380,"text":"community connections for children, youth, and young adults. An interventions"},{"t":1384,"text":"helped to increase sense of belonging will addressing unmet needs"},{"t":1387,"text":"related to mental health, substance use, family stress, isolation, and"},{"t":1393,"text":"access to care, culture, and recreation. We are continuing to"},{"t":1398,"text":"make progress towards desired outcomes in the community safety well"},{"t":1401,"text":"- being planned through innovative programs like Spark. We're staff"},{"t":1406,"text":"are looking to leverage investments from other orders of government,"},{"t":1410,"text":"working with trusted and established organisations in our community. Delivering"},{"t":1415,"text":"on established solutions and piloting new approaches. Focusing in on"},{"t":1419,"text":"specific population demographics and responding to community needs. Our teams"},{"t":1424,"text":"will continue to listen, reflect and act with all members"},{"t":1427,"text":"of the community as we continue plan implementation. While this"},{"t":1431,"text":"is a little bit different than our regular reports on"},{"t":1434,"text":"Community Safety Wellbeing, this was such a short and impactful"},{"t":1437,"text":"program that we wanted to come and present the outcomes"},{"t":1439,"text":"to you. Our next progress report, which will be a"},{"t":1443,"text":"comprehensive one - year implementation review and launch of several"},{"t":1447,"text":"new initiatives that are helping to deliver on the city's"},{"t":1449,"text":"community safety and well - being plan will take place"},{"t":1452,"text":"in July. At this point, I'll close the presentation and"},{"t":1455,"text":"welcome any questions for today. Thank you, Aedium. It was"},{"t":1461,"text":"very comprehensive and interesting example of one particular approach. I'm"},{"t":1465,"text":"sure there will be a few questions. I'll just remind"},{"t":1466,"text":"folks that there are no decisions today. This is an"},{"t":1469,"text":"information update for public and council. And so one of"},{"t":1473,"text":"the things I think that we are expecting is at"},{"t":1475,"text":"our June evening council meeting. I believe that is one"},{"t":1479,"text":"of our opportunities to focus in on a particular theme."},{"t":1482,"text":"And if I recall correctly, we have invited all of"},{"t":1486,"text":"the organisations who received funding either through Spark or through"},{"t":1490,"text":"the Community Safety Wellbeing plan as a whole to join"},{"t":1493,"text":"us in the evening and give us their own updates"},{"t":1496,"text":"on the impact of that funding and support and partnership."},{"t":1499,"text":"So that will be another thing for us to hear"},{"t":1501,"text":"in June. With that, any questions for yes, Councillor Thompson."},{"t":1508,"text":"Go ahead. Thanks Mayor. And through you, thanks very much"},{"t":1511,"text":"for all the work that you do. And for this"},{"t":1515,"text":"presentation. I guess the big benefit of Spark is that"},{"t":1519,"text":"it's a prevention measure. And what I understand from the"},{"t":1523,"text":"presentation was that there was a temporary period where organisations"},{"t":1529,"text":"got a boost, but there may be long - term"},{"t":1530,"text":"impacts of that with those organisations, as well as long"},{"t":1534,"text":"- term impacts. For the youth that they served. I"},{"t":1537,"text":"imagine that those will decline over time. And I'm wondering"},{"t":1542,"text":"if you see any prospect for more federal funding. Is"},{"t":1548,"text":"there, have you been in touch with them? Do they"},{"t":1550,"text":"have an ongoing program. Through the mayor, this particular program"},{"t":1555,"text":"was one stream of funding from the government of Canada,"},{"t":1559,"text":"but we do know that youth continue to be a"},{"t":1561,"text":"focus area for the government and also again, the broader"},{"t":1566,"text":"emphasis on crime prevention, um, and vulnerable populations. Um, whether"},{"t":1570,"text":"it be youth or elders and seniors in our community,"},{"t":1573,"text":"one thing that the city continues to do is identify"},{"t":1576,"text":"and look for a funding partnership opportunities like this. Um,"},{"t":1579,"text":"on the consent agenda today was a report seeking endorsement"},{"t":1583,"text":"for grant applications. The City continues to look for every"},{"t":1586,"text":"opportunity. And what we will continue to do is take"},{"t":1589,"text":"that lens of community safety well - being and whether"},{"t":1592,"text":"it be delivered through our department or through other parts"},{"t":1595,"text":"of our organisation. We will actively pursue funding opportunities to"},{"t":1598,"text":"help deliver on plan objectives. Okay, thanks. And mayor, um,"},{"t":1604,"text":"do you want us to go, are we okay going"},{"t":1606,"text":"broader than Spark into Community Safety and Wellbeing, or do"},{"t":1609,"text":"you want to keep it focused on the presentation? Would"},{"t":1612,"text":"be good if we could prioritize any questions or comments"},{"t":1615,"text":"on this, but yes, staff are willing to answer any"},{"t":1617,"text":"questions you have. Before I go off on another topic"},{"t":1621,"text":"related to CSWB than maybe I'll see the floor in"},{"t":1624,"text":"my comments. I'll come back to you. Any other questions"},{"t":1627,"text":"just on this presentation and then after we exhaust those,"},{"t":1630,"text":"we'll open the floor to broader questions to staff. On"},{"t":1633,"text":"this room, Councillor Goleman, Council Gardner. Thank you. Um, thank"},{"t":1638,"text":"you fabulous work. Um. Do we have an understanding of"},{"t":1644,"text":"how many youth 30 and under. That haven't yet. Been"},{"t":1651,"text":"caught into the ambit of these programs. Yes, what? Through"},{"t":1655,"text":"the mayor, I don't have the, uh, the demographics from"},{"t":1658,"text":"our last census update on hand, but, you know, I"},{"t":1662,"text":"think one thing that we do recognise is that children,"},{"t":1664,"text":"youth and young adults in our community or an area"},{"t":1667,"text":"that we want to continue focusing on. Um, across our"},{"t":1670,"text":"organisation, many programs touch on this demographic, whether it be"},{"t":1674,"text":"migrate neighbourhood grant or the local champions program, uh, whether"},{"t":1678,"text":"it be a recreation, arts and culture programming. I think"},{"t":1682,"text":"we would, we would, uh, be able to give you"},{"t":1684,"text":"a percentage of, you know, what does 17, 000 out"},{"t":1687,"text":"of our total, uh, city demographic. I just need to"},{"t":1689,"text":"be able to get back to you on that. That's,"},{"t":1692,"text":"that's fair. Thank you. Um, are we allowed broader comments"},{"t":1696,"text":"or just questions? Let's focus on this presentation first and"},{"t":1699,"text":"then we'll give everybody another one. It deals with this."},{"t":1701,"text":"And I, um. You've hit into, I think the critical"},{"t":1705,"text":"theme of where we need to invest. I was at"},{"t":1710,"text":"this council table when the community at large had to"},{"t":1714,"text":"deal with the rena verk issue. And there was a"},{"t":1716,"text":"lot of assessment at that point on the number of"},{"t":1721,"text":"non - parental adults involved in a youth's life. And"},{"t":1725,"text":"if you had one non - parental adult, it could"},{"t":1728,"text":"be a relative. It could be a music teacher. It"},{"t":1731,"text":"could be a sports, whatever. Um, the chances of being"},{"t":1734,"text":"involved in youth violence dropped by 83 percent. And if"},{"t":1737,"text":"there were six non - parental adults, it dropped by"},{"t":1741,"text":"99. And then they did the scan of inner cities"},{"t":1747,"text":"in the US. And most youth couldn't identify one adult."},{"t":1753,"text":"These organisations have become those adults. Um, and it's critically"},{"t":1757,"text":"important that we try and invest more time in this."},{"t":1762,"text":"Because there are some organisations out there that, um, teach"},{"t":1766,"text":"loyalty, teach team ethic, but they're criminal. And so this"},{"t":1773,"text":"is the counterpoint to that. So. You've given us a"},{"t":1777,"text":"number of, uh, organisations that could be involved. How many"},{"t":1781,"text":"more would you like. Muhaha. Through the mayor. Please excuse"},{"t":1789,"text":"the decorum change there. Um, tomorrow we take over and"},{"t":1794,"text":"perhaps in anticipation of, of recognising just how, um, significant"},{"t":1799,"text":"a program like this, uh, while we work directly with,"},{"t":1802,"text":"with 16 organisations. And we again had a rapid deployment"},{"t":1806,"text":"to be able to apply for this funding and secure"},{"t":1809,"text":"it in a matter of days. Um, we did use"},{"t":1812,"text":"this as an opportunity to build relationships beyond, um, so"},{"t":1816,"text":"I had mentioned six schools and 26 partners. I just"},{"t":1819,"text":"wanted to take a few minutes to share with you"},{"t":1821,"text":"on three slides the names of these organisations. Um, threshold"},{"t":1826,"text":"youth housing society, sanctuary youth bridges for women's society, COMOS"},{"t":1831,"text":"and college. Canadian mental health association of BC. The compost"},{"t":1835,"text":"education centre. The crisis in trauma resource institute. Life cycles"},{"t":1841,"text":"project society. The headstart program within the Song He's Nation."},{"t":1845,"text":"Volunteer Victoria. Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary, Emily Car House, Victoria"},{"t":1851,"text":"Tool Library. Foundry Victoria, the Justice Education Society of BC,"},{"t":1857,"text":"the community arts hub in quadra village. The Yvette CARSA"},{"t":1860,"text":"program, Vancouver Island Mental Health Society, Victoria Immigrant Refugee Centre"},{"t":1865,"text":"Society. Victoria Women's Transition House. One up single parent resource"},{"t":1871,"text":"centre. The women in Need Society, the African art and"},{"t":1874,"text":"cultural community centre. The central middle school, George J, James"},{"t":1879,"text":"Bay, Quadra, and VicUest Elementary Schools, as well as Victoria"},{"t":1882,"text":"High Schools. So these additional organisations were touched through the"},{"t":1887,"text":"Spark program, led through either city or any of our"},{"t":1890,"text":"16 partners. And so where we see as an opportunity"},{"t":1894,"text":"is to recognise that each of these organisations play a"},{"t":1898,"text":"different role in the continuum of solutions on safety and"},{"t":1901,"text":"well - being. Sometimes they're providing the mentorship kind of"},{"t":1904,"text":"supports and programs. Sometimes they're delivering, counseling, or case management."},{"t":1909,"text":"And sometimes it's being a place where children and youth"},{"t":1912,"text":"can increase and find their community so that they can"},{"t":1916,"text":"be a part of Victoria. So, uh, how many other"},{"t":1920,"text":"organisations many more? But I think this gave us an"},{"t":1923,"text":"example of how the city using federal funding leveraged direct"},{"t":1927,"text":"impact for quality of life for children, youth, and young"},{"t":1930,"text":"adults in our community. Thank you. Please, please carry on"},{"t":1936,"text":"your devious plotting. Yes, Councillor Gardner, just on this presentation,"},{"t":1942,"text":"we'll come back for another round. Um, thank you. And"},{"t":1944,"text":"thank you for the presentation. As the organization's contacted other"},{"t":1949,"text":"organisations and you've read 26, didn't you have a bigger"},{"t":1951,"text":"number earlier that are actually linked into what you called"},{"t":1955,"text":"in at work at one time or you networked? Or"},{"t":1957,"text":"was it just 26? Did I miss here in earlier"},{"t":1960,"text":"number. So we worked with 16 organisations directly. And then"},{"t":1966,"text":"within the program we worked with another 26 organisations and"},{"t":1971,"text":"six schools. Okay. So that's 32 plus 16. Okay. Thank"},{"t":1976,"text":"you. That's, that was it. 48 quick math. Yeah. And"},{"t":1980,"text":"I think I was going to actually ask almost the"},{"t":1982,"text":"same questions that, uh, comes from Commander, which is how"},{"t":1985,"text":"many youths are we dealing with here. And 17, 000"},{"t":1989,"text":"in what age group. And how many, cause when I"},{"t":1991,"text":"look at some of these programs, they're not actually in"},{"t":1994,"text":"the city of Victoria or the programs might be, but"},{"t":1995,"text":"the people may not be. In other words, do we"},{"t":1997,"text":"know how many of the people reached were actually Victoria"},{"t":2000,"text":"residents versus other municipalities and did other municipalities also have"},{"t":2005,"text":"any funding? Or is this again using Victoria. Through the"},{"t":2010,"text":"mayor, we designed this program for Victoria residents. So with"},{"t":2014,"text":"the exception of schools, which of course draw, um, on"},{"t":2018,"text":"a broader catchment area that may include residents from a"},{"t":2021,"text":"squy multer sanitch, but they're in Victoria school district 61,"},{"t":2025,"text":"the intention was to support Victoria based children, youth, and"},{"t":2029,"text":"young adults. We very much intended that. We worked with"},{"t":2032,"text":"the partners to be able to look at and work"},{"t":2035,"text":"directly with an impact our community. My colleagues and Community"},{"t":2040,"text":"Planning are pulling up some data from the last census"},{"t":2043,"text":"and updated forecasts around youth between the ages of five"},{"t":2046,"text":"and 30. Be happy to share that with you. But"},{"t":2049,"text":"to your point, Councillor Gardner, we emphasize, um, a focus"},{"t":2053,"text":"in on Victoria residents, um, and this was funding through"},{"t":2057,"text":"the government of Canada. So if other municipalities, um, may"},{"t":2061,"text":"have benedited benefited, uh, with let's say a child who"},{"t":2064,"text":"attended us school at George J, but lives in San"},{"t":2068,"text":"Anch, for example, um, the catchments for those schools are"},{"t":2071,"text":"relatively, uh, local. So I think we have a high"},{"t":2073,"text":"confidence that many Victoria children were included. I was thinking"},{"t":2077,"text":"more of the nat program. And their outreach were like,"},{"t":2083,"text":"how many of these, I wasn't thinking of the schools"},{"t":2086,"text":"as much as how many of these other people are"},{"t":2089,"text":"actually, you know, that's what I was thinking of. Um,"},{"t":2093,"text":"through the mayor, the, the good night out program is"},{"t":2096,"text":"a great program of targeting a very specific audience. There"},{"t":2100,"text":"are many people who go out to enjoy a vibrant"},{"t":2102,"text":"nightlife, uh, nightclubs, bands, entertainment. And that would be an"},{"t":2106,"text":"example where we may have people from other communities coming"},{"t":2110,"text":"into Victoria. They did not track where people were coming"},{"t":2113,"text":"from. The focus of their efforts is on the people"},{"t":2116,"text":"who are attending nightclubs events and activities in downtown Victoria."},{"t":2122,"text":"Yeah. Thank you. Cause I know some that I, a"},{"t":2124,"text":"couple of particular that I financially contribute to myself aren't"},{"t":2128,"text":"of course on the list, but they do, I'm not"},{"t":2131,"text":"going to say job training. They take real people at"},{"t":2134,"text":"risk. And some, shall we say living it rough and"},{"t":2137,"text":"give them skills training. And so I have a feeling"},{"t":2139,"text":"that we have many, many, many groups. In the city"},{"t":2143,"text":"and some not identified because I'm worried that we're going"},{"t":2147,"text":"to start in it with a huge administrative load as"},{"t":2149,"text":"opposed to actually on the kid. So that's why I'm"},{"t":2152,"text":"really looking forward to see how many kids and five"},{"t":2155,"text":"to 30 is wide range. But I would think that"},{"t":2158,"text":"here we're dealing more with late elementary school or middle"},{"t":2164,"text":"schooling up or all ages. Through the mayor, the government"},{"t":2167,"text":"of Canada determines youth as the age's children, youth and"},{"t":2170,"text":"young adults up to the age of 30. And so"},{"t":2172,"text":"that was included in the scope of our, our work."},{"t":2174,"text":"Um, the breakdown of, uh, ranges, we can pull together"},{"t":2178,"text":"as a part of our final report. But we were"},{"t":2181,"text":"intentionally trying to, uh, include, uh, five to 10 year"},{"t":2185,"text":"olds, um, 10 to 17 year olds, 18 to 30"},{"t":2189,"text":"year olds in a variety of different projects. Great. No,"},{"t":2191,"text":"that's great to hear. And so will you have some"},{"t":2193,"text":"result in that by age bracket. Or situation, shall we"},{"t":2197,"text":"say later? Uh, through the mayor, we can provide an"},{"t":2200,"text":"estimated breakdown proportionately. Yes. Yeah. I'd like to see that"},{"t":2203,"text":"cause I'm just worried about job creation to provide services"},{"t":2207,"text":"versus the kids, not kids. Young adults whomever who perhaps"},{"t":2211,"text":"could benefit from the services. So thank you. And a"},{"t":2215,"text":"lot more questions later. Yes. Thank you very much. Councillor"},{"t":2217,"text":"Loton on this presentation. Good morning. Thanks and through you"},{"t":2221,"text":"mayor like everyone else. Very impressed by this. Of course"},{"t":2225,"text":"we all know that prevention is a huge part of"},{"t":2227,"text":"the solution here. And that's what we're seeing. So incredibly"},{"t":2231,"text":"hopeful. I know you mentioned this and I think there"},{"t":2233,"text":"was a slide, but I'm just curious about how we"},{"t":2236,"text":"keep this going or what the opportunities are to keep"},{"t":2240,"text":"it going. And then I have another question about education,"},{"t":2243,"text":"but maybe I'll separate them. And start with how do"},{"t":2246,"text":"we, how does this keep going? Uh, through the mayor,"},{"t":2251,"text":"while the federal funding grant has been expended, um, one"},{"t":2255,"text":"of the, you know, fundamentals here was building and sustaining"},{"t":2258,"text":"relationships. So for some of these organisations, they work directly"},{"t":2262,"text":"with each other on a regular basis already, uh, for"},{"t":2265,"text":"others, this was a chance to make new relationships and"},{"t":2268,"text":"forge new partnerships together. So part of our goal is"},{"t":2271,"text":"that lasting impact of being able to bring organisations, um,"},{"t":2276,"text":"to meet each other, to help work together and to"},{"t":2278,"text":"find opportunities to work together again in the future. Um,"},{"t":2282,"text":"I think that one of the things as we look"},{"t":2284,"text":"to phase two as a part of the city's community"},{"t":2287,"text":"safety wellbeing plan could include continued focus on different demographics,"},{"t":2291,"text":"um, of vulnerable people. And that may include children, youth"},{"t":2294,"text":"and young adults. Yeah. We'll just have to figure it"},{"t":2297,"text":"out to find the money to support these things. Um,"},{"t":2299,"text":"you also mentioned education, including post - secondary education. So"},{"t":2304,"text":"I'm curious if there was opportunities for people to get"},{"t":2308,"text":"their GED or what that post - secondary education looks"},{"t":2312,"text":"like. I know that kids in care, um, I think"},{"t":2316,"text":"they have opportunity to free education. So if you could"},{"t":2320,"text":"just comment on what you know about that and maybe"},{"t":2323,"text":"just as an add - on to that, how many"},{"t":2325,"text":"kids in care were involved in this program. Because we"},{"t":2329,"text":"know that a lot of, uh, homeless people, the, it's"},{"t":2336,"text":"a funnel into homelessness. The foster care system. Idiom Webb"},{"t":2343,"text":"through the mayor, I would have to get back to"},{"t":2345,"text":"you on the number of kids in CARE in Victoria."},{"t":2347,"text":"Don't have that at my fingertips, but we do have"},{"t":2349,"text":"access to that data. Sure. Um, both beacon community services"},{"t":2353,"text":"as well as, uh, thrive social services, had different employment"},{"t":2358,"text":"program focuses and skills training. And one of the focus"},{"t":2363,"text":"components is, uh, for people to either help complete their"},{"t":2367,"text":"high school education, um, through the South Island distance education"},{"t":2371,"text":"program, or also potentially who've graduated high school, perhaps, um,"},{"t":2376,"text":"haven't found a pathway and it got a chance to"},{"t":2378,"text":"introduce to Camoson College. So both of those were kind"},{"t":2382,"text":"of employment and school readiness programs. Fantastic. That's it for"},{"t":2386,"text":"me. I just want to kudos to all of you"},{"t":2388,"text":"for the work you've done on this. It's incredible. It's"},{"t":2391,"text":"very good stuff. Thank you very much. Anybody else want"},{"t":2394,"text":"this presentation? If not, we'll go to a second round"},{"t":2396,"text":"more generally. Okay. So Councillor Thompson, I believe you said"},{"t":2401,"text":"you had some broader questions. Let's start with you. Thank"},{"t":2404,"text":"you, Mayor. Um, I was listening to the radio this"},{"t":2406,"text":"morning and there was discussion of FIFA and the increasing"},{"t":2410,"text":"potential for increasing cost of it. But I've, um, also"},{"t":2414,"text":"been, uh, in conversations with service providers, uh, and they're"},{"t":2419,"text":"worried about, uh, folks coming over being displaced from the"},{"t":2423,"text":"two kilometer radius around FIFA, uh, and going up the"},{"t":2427,"text":"valley, but also coming over to the island. And here,"},{"t":2429,"text":"do we have any reliable information about what's going to"},{"t":2434,"text":"be happening with folks displaced for FIFA. We would like"},{"t":2440,"text":"to venture a comment on that. Idiot. Through the mayor."},{"t":2447,"text":"Um, we have also heard that. And we have not"},{"t":2450,"text":"been able to, um, although we have heard that there's"},{"t":2454,"text":"a bit of an uptick in, uh, folks from outside"},{"t":2457,"text":"of our community, um, we have not been able to"},{"t":2460,"text":"source with any accuracy that they have actually come from"},{"t":2463,"text":"FIFA. And, um, same with Nanaimo just had a conversation"},{"t":2468,"text":"with our colleagues there, uh, and they have not been"},{"t":2470,"text":"able to source that either. Okay. And I guess that'll"},{"t":2475,"text":"probably coincide with what I've heard is the normal seasonal"},{"t":2479,"text":"change in the visibility of people, uh, on the street."},{"t":2485,"text":"Are we seeing the seasonal uptick now and how long"},{"t":2488,"text":"does that generally continue. Through the mayor? Yes. We are"},{"t":2494,"text":"seeing our normal seasonal optic in folks that are coming"},{"t":2499,"text":"out with a nicer weather that will generally lead into"},{"t":2503,"text":"the fold. And again, it really just depends on the"},{"t":2506,"text":"weather. So we should start to see a decline probably"},{"t":2510,"text":"in October. Okay. Um, I also have been paying attention"},{"t":2516,"text":"to some social media accounts profiling people who actually live"},{"t":2520,"text":"on the West shore. And among others, but folks who"},{"t":2524,"text":"live on the West Shore and come into Pandora, um,"},{"t":2528,"text":"uh, because of the social scene and other attributes. I'm"},{"t":2534,"text":"wondering, do we have any sense of how many folks"},{"t":2537,"text":"showing up on the street on a general day are"},{"t":2540,"text":"actually from outside of Victoria. Ms. Jones. Through the mayor,"},{"t":2548,"text":"I think the bigger picture is that it is a"},{"t":2553,"text":"transient, uh, community. And so yes, we do see on"},{"t":2558,"text":"a regular basis, um, folks that are coming from our"},{"t":2562,"text":"local communities, but then some of, um, our folks that"},{"t":2566,"text":"were previously, uh, in the corridor in the downtown core,"},{"t":2570,"text":"um, are now also insani and the West shore. Interesting."},{"t":2581,"text":"Glad you brought that up. Um, we have heard, uh,"},{"t":2584,"text":"well, I guess we've, we've received the information from, uh,"},{"t":2587,"text":"the housing ministry that Victoria hosts over 80 percent of"},{"t":2593,"text":"supportive housing units. In the region, uh, most of the"},{"t":2600,"text":"other municipalities in the region host zero, uh, although, uh,"},{"t":2605,"text":"they do have homeless folks, uh, for instance, Callwood hosts"},{"t":2609,"text":"zero, but has 47 homeless folks according to their own"},{"t":2612,"text":"count. Uh, are we hearing anything about those other communities"},{"t":2616,"text":"developing shelter bids or supportive housing. Swep. Through the merit."},{"t":2625,"text":"This time we're in regular contact with the ministry of"},{"t":2628,"text":"housing, BC housing as well as other municipalities. Um, while"},{"t":2632,"text":"there may be some future opportunities for supportive and affordable"},{"t":2636,"text":"housing, I'm not aware of currently any plans for new"},{"t":2639,"text":"shelters in other adjacent municipalities at this time. Thanks. I"},{"t":2643,"text":"haven't heard of any either. Very disappointing. Thank you very"},{"t":2646,"text":"much. Thank you very much. Councillor Gardner. You had some"},{"t":2649,"text":"subsequent questions beyond the presentation. Yes. Thanks before you do"},{"t":2652,"text":"that. Um, Ms. Webb, I believe you do have now"},{"t":2655,"text":"the demographic data on the younger age cohort. Is that"},{"t":2658,"text":"right? Uh, yes. Through the mayor to answer Councillor Gardner"},{"t":2662,"text":"and Councillor Coleman's previous question about the total population in"},{"t":2665,"text":"Victoria, uh, of, of, of people between the ages of"},{"t":2669,"text":"five and 29, because that's the census, um, is just"},{"t":2673,"text":"over 23, 000, um, in Victoria in the last year."},{"t":2676,"text":"Thank you. Go ahead, Council Croater. Thank you very much"},{"t":2681,"text":"for that information. And I hope you can give us"},{"t":2683,"text":"another breakdown later. What age groups are reached in the"},{"t":2686,"text":"programs? So thank you very much. Um, now onto the"},{"t":2690,"text":"broader questions. And following up on what has just been"},{"t":2694,"text":"asked, what is your estimate? I know it's transient. So"},{"t":2698,"text":"it's very much a sec of people now, um, either"},{"t":2702,"text":"sheltering or not sheltering, but in the parks and on"},{"t":2704,"text":"the boulevards and streets at this point. Is Jones. Through"},{"t":2712,"text":"you, Mayor, just to go back to the point in"},{"t":2714,"text":"time count, there were 811 folks that were unsheltered. In"},{"t":2720,"text":"the downtown core, um, and parks we're seeing about, uh,"},{"t":2726,"text":"200 or so, uh, and along the corridor, just under"},{"t":2729,"text":"a hundred. And that would be inclusive of the 200."},{"t":2732,"text":"Okay. And the point in time was remind me. It's"},{"t":2737,"text":"regional. And about what year 2025. 2020. Yeah. Okay. Yeah."},{"t":2742,"text":"Uh, and what was our count then? Cause I think"},{"t":2744,"text":"you also had account then. Did we not for the"},{"t":2745,"text":"city a year ago. Through the mayor, I don't have"},{"t":2751,"text":"our count, uh, for a year ago, um, but our"},{"t":2754,"text":"current numbers are within the City of Victoria about just"},{"t":2758,"text":"over 200. Okay. Um, thank you. And again, I know"},{"t":2765,"text":"we ask this question each time or someone does. How"},{"t":2768,"text":"many are now, uh, situated in either support of housing"},{"t":2771,"text":"or in shelters within the City Victoria. How many people."},{"t":2775,"text":"Stranducci, do you have this one? Through the"},{"t":2785,"text":"mayor. We'll go by our count of units. We have"},{"t":2790,"text":"just over 481 shelter units. And, um, I'm just going"},{"t":2795,"text":"by memory here approximately 1100 supportive housing units. So in"},{"t":2802,"text":"total, uh, you'd be in the 1500 to 1600 range."},{"t":2809,"text":"Again, as I've, uh, point out in the past, the"},{"t":2811,"text":"definition of support of housing is a bit fluid. There"},{"t":2815,"text":"are forms of senior housing. For example, that are considered"},{"t":2818,"text":"that. And I'm focused more on the, uh, traditional general"},{"t":2824,"text":"population supportive housing site. So when you're talking 1100, did"},{"t":2828,"text":"that include the senior ones? No. No. Thank you. That's"},{"t":2830,"text":"what I thought. Okay. Thank you. Um, okay. And, um."},{"t":2834,"text":"Can you give us an update? Cause I'm getting emails"},{"t":2837,"text":"now about the bridge pathway. Through the mayor council. We'll"},{"t":2844,"text":"recall that, uh, as a part of the direction that"},{"t":2846,"text":"you provided us to introduce new housing and sheltering solutions"},{"t":2850,"text":"in Victoria as a part of the first phase of"},{"t":2852,"text":"implementation, one of the projects that we initiated was the"},{"t":2855,"text":"new Bridge Street pathway shelter. Referrals started for that shelter"},{"t":2860,"text":"on the week of April 27th and the shelter is"},{"t":2863,"text":"now operational and welcoming people. This is a referral -"},{"t":2866,"text":"based shelter. So it per councils direction the intent is"},{"t":2869,"text":"to be able to help provide a bridge and opportunity"},{"t":2873,"text":"to bring people off the street, living in emergency situations"},{"t":2877,"text":"and help connect them with housing and support services and"},{"t":2879,"text":"resources. Thank you. So is it now, it was 34"},{"t":2883,"text":"units, I believe. Through the mayor, up to 34 bits."},{"t":2888,"text":"And how many are occupied at this point? Uh, through"},{"t":2891,"text":"the mayor, I'm unable to tell you that, uh, until"},{"t":2893,"text":"tomorrow, uh, we just started the referral process on April"},{"t":2896,"text":"27th. So, uh, there will not be a 34 people"},{"t":2899,"text":"moving in one time. So I'll be able to provide"},{"t":2902,"text":"counsel with an update, um, July, um, progress to talk"},{"t":2906,"text":"about kind of occupancy overall and trends that we've been"},{"t":2909,"text":"able to find for the first few months. Okay. Thank"},{"t":2911,"text":"you very much. Thank you, Councillor Lotton. You had another"},{"t":2914,"text":"question? I do. Thanks. And through you, Mayor. I'm just"},{"t":2917,"text":"wondering if you could give us an update on how"},{"t":2919,"text":"Johnson Manor is, um, unfolding thus far. Is what? Uh,"},{"t":2924,"text":"through the mayor, um, again, setting the context for those"},{"t":2927,"text":"listening at home. One of the housing and sheltering solutions"},{"t":2930,"text":"that we just talked about was Bridge Street pathways shelter"},{"t":2933,"text":"and the other one was the Johnson Street Manor Recovery"},{"t":2935,"text":"Housing. Uh, so this development, which is already existing, um,"},{"t":2939,"text":"hosts 20 units of, uh, dedicated recovery housing for individual"},{"t":2944,"text":"adults. Um, the occupancy started on, uh, in April and"},{"t":2949,"text":"all units are full. Uh, we are anticipating to get"},{"t":2952,"text":"our first kind of major progress report, uh, in July"},{"t":2956,"text":"around how the programming and services going, particularly because, um,"},{"t":2961,"text":"part of the role in helping to support people through"},{"t":2963,"text":"their recovery journey is giving them opportunities for employment and"},{"t":2967,"text":"volunteer, um, and so this is an exciting area that"},{"t":2970,"text":"I think we'll continue to emerge. But, uh, as it"},{"t":2973,"text":"stands, the Johnson Manor, um, recovery housing is full. That's"},{"t":2977,"text":"great news. Do you, this is probably too much, but"},{"t":2979,"text":"do you know if the wait list there yet or"},{"t":2981,"text":"what kind of demand, um, there is for this sober"},{"t":2985,"text":"recovery based housing. This web. Well, I couldn't tell you"},{"t":2989,"text":"what the wait list, uh, status is for the Johnson"},{"t":2991,"text":"manner. We do know from many of our service providers"},{"t":2994,"text":"that there's an ongoing demand to be able to support"},{"t":2996,"text":"this type of transitional housing to help improve, uh, skills"},{"t":3000,"text":"and ability help to create that positive flow and give"},{"t":3003,"text":"independent living opportunities. So I would say that while I"},{"t":3006,"text":"don't have a wait list number, we do know that"},{"t":3008,"text":"this is an area of particular interest. I will flag"},{"t":3012,"text":"that this was a very creative and innovative partnership with"},{"t":3015,"text":"BC housing and the Ministry of housing. And part of"},{"t":3018,"text":"the program model with Johnson Manor is to do detailed"},{"t":3022,"text":"analysis and research associated with individuals moving in and out"},{"t":3026,"text":"of and through the program. So, uh, part of it"},{"t":3029,"text":"is to be able to help create the basis for"},{"t":3031,"text":"understanding what are the success outcomes? How do we manage"},{"t":3034,"text":"the kinds of needs that will continue to, uh, be"},{"t":3037,"text":"present in communities like Victoria, but potentially across British Columbia?"},{"t":3041,"text":"I just want to send just my most heartfelt kudos"},{"t":3045,"text":"to all of you for making that happen because I"},{"t":3047,"text":"don't believe that without the community safety and wellbeing plan,"},{"t":3051,"text":"Johnson Manor would have come to fruition. So thank you"},{"t":3053,"text":"all for your forward thinking and making that program happen."},{"t":3058,"text":"Thank you very much. And either a general questions. Well,"},{"t":3062,"text":"not general questions, but questions on City Safety while being"},{"t":3065,"text":"planned. All right. Uh, as everyone has said, thank you"},{"t":3069,"text":"so much for your work. We know how much we"},{"t":3071,"text":"don't see. But the proof, I guess, is in what"},{"t":3075,"text":"we see in the changes in the People's Lives that"},{"t":3077,"text":"are being touched by this plan. So thank you very"},{"t":3078,"text":"much for all of your work and continued. Good luck."},{"t":3083,"text":"That would take us on to the next item on"},{"t":3086,"text":"our agenda, which would be land use matters. But as"},{"t":3088,"text":"you will recall, we placed the one land use metre,"},{"t":3091,"text":"which was the Heritage Designation application for 1784 Denman Street"},{"t":3096,"text":"on the consent agenda. And so that will again, appear"},{"t":3100,"text":"before us in the future at both for preliminary readings"},{"t":3104,"text":"and then ultimately the scheduling of a public hearing, the"},{"t":3107,"text":"only part which we are allowed to do public hearings"},{"t":3109,"text":"book, heritage applications sometime in the future. That would also"},{"t":3112,"text":"then usually take us on to the next item, which"},{"t":3115,"text":"would be staff reports. And this as was referenced in"},{"t":3117,"text":"our previous presentation, uh, the approval for applications for a"},{"t":3121,"text":"variety of different grants and funding supports, which was also"},{"t":3125,"text":"placed on the consent agenda. So that will also return"},{"t":3127,"text":"to us at a future council meeting, which takes us"},{"t":3131,"text":"on to our one item of new business. And this"},{"t":3134,"text":"is a council member motion on strategies and resources to"},{"t":3137,"text":"require cooling in Victoria's rental buildings. This was put forward"},{"t":3140,"text":"by three different council members. I think they have been"},{"t":3143,"text":"listed alphabetically. If I'm guessing. So which of councillors Cardano"},{"t":3149,"text":"Dell and or Thompson wished to move and second this?"},{"t":3152,"text":"Dell is moving. Thompson is seconding. We'll start with councillors"},{"t":3156,"text":"Dell and Thompson and then go to the rest of"},{"t":3158,"text":"the console. Councillor Delwould like to introduce this? Uh, sure."},{"t":3162,"text":"I'm going to provide a bit of a lengthy introduction."},{"t":3164,"text":"So bear with me. So I want to start by"},{"t":3165,"text":"thanking the Canadian association of nurses for the environment to"},{"t":3168,"text":"help bring this issue to our attention and for advocating"},{"t":3170,"text":"for the health, the residents of BC. I also want"},{"t":3173,"text":"to thank the City of newestminster and councillor Nadine Nakagawa"},{"t":3177,"text":"who supported us in drafting this motion and took leadership"},{"t":3179,"text":"on this issue a number of years ago. The background"},{"t":3182,"text":"for this motion starts with the 2021 Extreme Heat event."},{"t":3186,"text":"Extreme heat events are also described as heat waves or"},{"t":3188,"text":"heat domes. Heat dome occurs when an area of high"},{"t":3191,"text":"pressure stays over the same area for days or even"},{"t":3193,"text":"weeks trapping very warm air underneath like a lid on"},{"t":3196,"text":"a hot pot. It definitely, the definition of extreme heat"},{"t":3199,"text":"event varies based on many factors, including geographic location, weather"},{"t":3203,"text":"conditions, et cetera. During this type of event, the temperature"},{"t":3206,"text":"is much hotter than average for a particular time and"},{"t":3208,"text":"place. In late June, 2021, British Columbia experience an unprecedented"},{"t":3212,"text":"heat dome, which resulted in record temperatures across many parts"},{"t":3215,"text":"of the province. Temperature started to rise on June 24th,"},{"t":3219,"text":"which is about a month from now. We'll continue to"},{"t":3221,"text":"increasing to the peak on June 28th and 29th. At"},{"t":3224,"text":"the peak, temperatures reached over 40 degrees on many parts"},{"t":3226,"text":"of the province. Overnight, temperatures were also uncharacteristically high. During"},{"t":3231,"text":"the week of the heat dome, the BC corner service"},{"t":3234,"text":"responded to the setting and significant increase in deaths. More"},{"t":3236,"text":"than 800 deaths were investigated by the coroner service during"},{"t":3239,"text":"that week with 619 of these deaths later identified as"},{"t":3243,"text":"being heat related."},{"t":3254,"text":"Corner investigation found that those who died were predominantly older"},{"t":3257,"text":"adults with chronic health conditions and relatively compromised overall health."},{"t":3261,"text":"These conditions may have impacted their ability to seek assistance"},{"t":3264,"text":"or cooler environments. The majority of those who died lacked"},{"t":3267,"text":"access to cooling or ventilation are often living in areas"},{"t":3270,"text":"of higher material and social deprivation. Um, since the 2021"},{"t":3276,"text":"Western Canadian heat dome and the subsequent trend towards hotter"},{"t":3280,"text":"summer temperatures, cooling and rental departments have become an area"},{"t":3282,"text":"of concern. Climate projections for the region indicate a continued"},{"t":3286,"text":"rise in temperatures with the hottest days and nights becoming"},{"t":3289,"text":"more frequent and severe and cooling degree days, uh, increasing"},{"t":3293,"text":"12 fold by 2080. Most multi - unit residential buildings"},{"t":3298,"text":"in our area were designed for mild their climates and"},{"t":3300,"text":"lack mechanical cooling systems, making them susceptible to overheating. Additionally,"},{"t":3305,"text":"the growing incidence of wildfire smoke events poses compounding risk"},{"t":3309,"text":"to indoor air quality and health. While BC building code"},{"t":3312,"text":"updates in 2024 set maximum indoor temperatures for new buildings,"},{"t":3315,"text":"many existing buildings urgently need retrofits to address these challenges"},{"t":3319,"text":"to protect public health. So why 26 degrees? Human body"},{"t":3324,"text":"maintains a core temperature of approximately 36. 6 and significant"},{"t":3327,"text":"changes in core temperature are hazardous to health. A maximum"},{"t":3332,"text":"indoor temperature is widely of 26 degrees as widely recognises"},{"t":3335,"text":"a critical threshold for human comfort and health with temperatures"},{"t":3339,"text":"exceeding this level posing risks, particularly for vulnerable population. Health"},{"t":3344,"text":"Canada and various municipal bylaws such as those in new"},{"t":3346,"text":"S and Toronto Aftenus 26 degrees is a standard for"},{"t":3349,"text":"safe, livable conditions during heat waves. Research from the university"},{"t":3354,"text":"of Ottawa indicates that 26 degrees is the highest indoor"},{"t":3356,"text":"temperature the human body can sustain without excessive strain, particularly"},{"t":3360,"text":"when cooling system do not presence. Also new building cones"},{"t":3364,"text":"and standards are incorporating a 26 degree into design requirements."},{"t":3368,"text":"Um, so what to do? Retrofitting existing buildings to add"},{"t":3373,"text":"cooling measures is not as simple as it might sound."},{"t":3376,"text":"There are myriad of barriers and challenges that owners attendance"},{"t":3378,"text":"can and do encounter when trying to keep their units"},{"t":3381,"text":"cool. These range from simple lack of awareness of the"},{"t":3383,"text":"problem and opportunities to address it. The cost association with"},{"t":3387,"text":"upgrading an existing building or unit to complex decision -"},{"t":3390,"text":"making structures, um, various authorities are beginning to explore means"},{"t":3394,"text":"of removing some of these barriers and encouraging incentivizing life"},{"t":3398,"text":"- saving retrofits. Clear direction for local government remains lacking."},{"t":3404,"text":"So what this motion is intended to do is to"},{"t":3407,"text":"start this process for the City of Victoria. It's not"},{"t":3409,"text":"asking for something right away. This is a big project."},{"t":3412,"text":"It's asking staff to start the process of looking into"},{"t":3415,"text":"tools that can address this serious health hazard. Um, so"},{"t":3421,"text":"it has staff to look at potentially adopting a bylaw"},{"t":3424,"text":"or modifying existing bylaw that does a couple of things."},{"t":3428,"text":"First it restricts landlords from prohibiting cooling. So from prohibiting"},{"t":3432,"text":"air conditioners, blackout blinds or anything else that is using"},{"t":3435,"text":"cooling, which is one problem. But also looking into a"},{"t":3438,"text":"bylaw that prevents at least one rumour unit from an"},{"t":3441,"text":"apartment from exceeding 26 degrees. So that in the next"},{"t":3445,"text":"heat wave, which will be coming at some point everyone"},{"t":3447,"text":"has access to a room that can keep them, keep"},{"t":3450,"text":"them alive. Um. Newest minister was the first municipality of"},{"t":3454,"text":"British Columbia to do this. Although many around North America"},{"t":3457,"text":"and my research are now doing this, including Toronto and"},{"t":3459,"text":"places in Ontario where it does get even hotter. Um,"},{"t":3462,"text":"so this just mentions really acknowledges new us work. And"},{"t":3465,"text":"if there's things to learn there, obviously, uh, please look"},{"t":3468,"text":"into that. The third provision here is about ensuring that"},{"t":3472,"text":"because these are rental units at any type of renovations"},{"t":3475,"text":"used to, um, hit the 26 degree threshold cannot be"},{"t":3479,"text":"used to renovic people or, or implement rent increases. That's"},{"t":3483,"text":"one of the taken from newest MSNSTR, one of the"},{"t":3485,"text":"main concerns that they had is that we didn't want"},{"t":3487,"text":"to create a loophole where, you know, we do an"},{"t":3491,"text":"landlord, doesn't HVAC system, but uses it as an excuse"},{"t":3494,"text":"to renovict people. Um, so if that, that would be"},{"t":3497,"text":"the mayor to write a letter to the Minister of"},{"t":3499,"text":"Housing on this issue, which I'm sure the minister is"},{"t":3501,"text":"aware of. Um, so yeah, I'm just putting this on"},{"t":3504,"text":"the floor. I'm sure the robust discussion, but, um, I"},{"t":3508,"text":"think this is something that Victoria should take a leadership"},{"t":3510,"text":"on. Again, maybe this summer will be fine. Maybe next"},{"t":3513,"text":"summer will be fine, but we know these, these events"},{"t":3515,"text":"are going to be coming more often down the future."},{"t":3518,"text":"We've already committed to updating our older building rental stock."},{"t":3521,"text":"We have a, uh, we have a tax exemption program"},{"t":3524,"text":"for updating, um, converting from oil to electricity for doing"},{"t":3528,"text":"seismic renovations. And so this is something that could be"},{"t":3530,"text":"incorporated to that work. Um, I think we are, uniquely"},{"t":3534,"text":"positioned to make sure that we don't lose another 600"},{"t":3536,"text":"or so of our residence. I believe in Victoria area."},{"t":3540,"text":"It was 18 people, uh, which is still too many"},{"t":3542,"text":"for something that could be prevented. So, um, hopefully council"},{"t":3545,"text":"is able to support this. And I'm looking forward to"},{"t":3547,"text":"a good discussion. Very much, Councillor Thompson is the secondary."},{"t":3551,"text":"Thanks Mayor. Yes. The 2021 heat dome, uh, killed 619"},{"t":3556,"text":"people. The medical officer of health wrote to us, uh,"},{"t":3563,"text":"saying that the number in greater Victoria was actually 24."},{"t":3566,"text":"I had heard that, that estimate before as well. Uh,"},{"t":3569,"text":"as my colleague mentioned, most were in their homes elderly"},{"t":3572,"text":"living alone, uh, and the large majority in older rental"},{"t":3577,"text":"stock of which we have much in Victoria. So that"},{"t":3580,"text":"was 2021. Will a heat dome happen again? The answer"},{"t":3585,"text":"is yes. It's not a question of whether it's going"},{"t":3587,"text":"to happen. It's a question of when and how often."},{"t":3591,"text":"And with climate change, we have been told by the"},{"t":3594,"text":"experts that they will happen more often. And they will"},{"t":3596,"text":"be more severe. Uh, if anyone wants to get a"},{"t":3599,"text":"vivid description of a heat dome and a wet bulb"},{"t":3603,"text":"event, I would recommend the book, Ministry for the Future."},{"t":3606,"text":"It is not an easy read. That's the, uh, that's"},{"t":3609,"text":"the warning. Um, we currently have requirements about temperature in"},{"t":3616,"text":"rental buildings. We require by law that landlords provide heating."},{"t":3621,"text":"Uh, cooling is now this under the same principle. It's"},{"t":3625,"text":"about keeping residents safe. And I will support the, uh,"},{"t":3629,"text":"I will note the support from the medical health officer"},{"t":3633,"text":"in the letter she sent to all council. The new"},{"t":3638,"text":"West bylaw allowed for different options for landlords to, um,"},{"t":3644,"text":"to meet the requirements. And this motion also mentions that,"},{"t":3648,"text":"uh, it mentions cooling equipment or passive means, uh, it's"},{"t":3653,"text":"really a direction to staff to explore the options for"},{"t":3659,"text":"achieving the outcome. I'll note that landlord BC wrote to"},{"t":3663,"text":"us. Uh, wanting to make sure that they were consulted."},{"t":3668,"text":"I responded saying, uh, I'm sure that staff are going"},{"t":3671,"text":"to have a range of consultations with a range of"},{"t":3674,"text":"stakeholders. Uh, and staff have probably already heard from a"},{"t":3679,"text":"number of stakeholders. This isn't going to be done rationally."},{"t":3684,"text":"We're going to do this the right way. Assuming this"},{"t":3687,"text":"goes ahead. Will we have maybe a different approach from"},{"t":3691,"text":"what happened in new west? Maybe. Um, we've got a"},{"t":3695,"text":"is Victoria different from new west, yes. So we'll see"},{"t":3698,"text":"what staff recommend. My colleague has spoken about the renovictions"},{"t":3708,"text":"and unusual renting creases. So I won't speak to that."},{"t":3711,"text":"I will just say that this is a first step"},{"t":3714,"text":"towards protecting our residents. And I think it's important that"},{"t":3718,"text":"we do it because, uh, the most dangerous place to"},{"t":3722,"text":"be in a heat emergency should not be in someone's"},{"t":3725,"text":"home. So I'm hoping that council is going to support"},{"t":3727,"text":"this unanimously. Thanks Mayor. Thank you very much. Councillor Gardner."},{"t":3736,"text":"Thank you, Mirror. I'd like to postpone consideration of this"},{"t":3740,"text":"motion until June 11th. Is properly in order. A motion"},{"t":3746,"text":"to postpone. Is there a seconder for that. I'll second"},{"t":3752,"text":"it for discussion. Go ahead. Thank you. Perimantary worked by"},{"t":3756,"text":"staff will inform the motion before us and add value"},{"t":3759,"text":"to that motion. And emotion directing this work is forthcoming"},{"t":3763,"text":"in two weeks. Because this motion is directed towards creating"},{"t":3766,"text":"a bylaw as opposed to actually, you know, really looking"},{"t":3770,"text":"into it in a different way. Thank you. Thank you"},{"t":3772,"text":"very much. Postponed this for discussion. Is there any other"},{"t":3776,"text":"discussion on the motion to postpone. Councillor Hemingway. Go ahead."},{"t":3784,"text":"Sorry. Um, can the mover of this most truth postpone"},{"t":3790,"text":"explain again what exactly is coming to us from the,"},{"t":3793,"text":"from the staff. I think my understanding was that the"},{"t":3797,"text":"mover indicated that there would be a further emotion coming."},{"t":3801,"text":"I think he referenced a couple of weeks. That would"},{"t":3803,"text":"be on the same matter. So not a staff motion,"},{"t":3807,"text":"but another motion from another council member. And Mayor, do"},{"t":3812,"text":"we know anything about what that motion will entail. Um,"},{"t":3816,"text":"that would be up to the mover. To discuss. Perhaps"},{"t":3821,"text":"the mover of the postponement motion could speak briefly to"},{"t":3825,"text":"what might be forthcoming. It's provide summaries of"},{"t":3835,"text":"how the impact of the 2011 heat dome on the"},{"t":3838,"text":"city of Victoria. The number of properties that may be"},{"t":3841,"text":"involved in this, uh, if there is a bylaw and"},{"t":3845,"text":"it would be actually perhaps involved all existing pre 2024"},{"t":3850,"text":"built rental buildings and others, because of course the condo"},{"t":3856,"text":"is a great source of the secondary rental market. So"},{"t":3858,"text":"there's a lot going on here. And also to deal"},{"t":3862,"text":"with the legal issues. All right, thank you for that."},{"t":3866,"text":"I'll think I would summarize that and saying further work"},{"t":3870,"text":"before the bylaw is considered. Is that sent okay councillor"},{"t":3874,"text":"Thompson. On the motion to postpone? Just on the motion"},{"t":3878,"text":"to postpone, uh, staff have heard what the, um, considerations"},{"t":3883,"text":"might be coming forward. Would these be things that would"},{"t":3885,"text":"be included in the staff report back in any event?"},{"t":3889,"text":"That's a great question. Is that perhaps for our fire"},{"t":3892,"text":"chief? I'm not sure what let's ask a question differently."},{"t":3898,"text":"For the motion that, um, is on the screen and"},{"t":3902,"text":"now is proposed being postponed. Can you talk a little"},{"t":3906,"text":"bit about what information would be shared with council if"},{"t":3909,"text":"you were to begin the work that's described in the"},{"t":3911,"text":"motion on the screen? Oh yes. All right, Mr. Johnson."},{"t":3916,"text":"Thank you Mayor. Alec Johnston acting director of planning and"},{"t":3920,"text":"development department. Um, I might just hand it over to,"},{"t":3924,"text":"uh, assistant director Hudson to provide a response. We have"},{"t":3928,"text":"been, uh, having some preliminary discussions about this topic. Very"},{"t":3933,"text":"good. Idiom Hudson, what were you? Uh, Through the mayor,"},{"t":3938,"text":"um, staff have already started doing some preliminary research on"},{"t":3943,"text":"this topic. So in response to this motion, I think"},{"t":3946,"text":"what we were envisioning is that we would come back"},{"t":3948,"text":"to council with some preliminary findings of what others are"},{"t":3952,"text":"doing around this, what tools are available in municipal authorities."},{"t":3957,"text":"Um, we would reach out to the City of New"},{"t":3960,"text":"Westminster staff and find out from them how, um, administration"},{"t":3964,"text":"of their bylaw is going. And so I think we"},{"t":3967,"text":"would envision coming back to council with some initial recommendations"},{"t":3971,"text":"on potential strategies that the City of Victoria could explore."},{"t":3976,"text":"Um, we do envision that, you know, should council want"},{"t":3980,"text":"to go down this road and explode some strategies that"},{"t":3983,"text":"we would probably need to do a follow - up"},{"t":3985,"text":"report because, um, as councillor Dell mentioned, it is a"},{"t":3989,"text":"very complex matter. Um, we would need to consider the"},{"t":3992,"text":"implications to the city. And we would likely want to"},{"t":3995,"text":"engage with some organisations that are directly impacted. So, um,"},{"t":4000,"text":"I think we could do a preliminary report back to"},{"t":4002,"text":"you in early July, um, but further work would be"},{"t":4005,"text":"needed depending on, uh, what council decides to do. So"},{"t":4009,"text":"just as a follow - up, thank you very much"},{"t":4010,"text":"for that. Um, is there, are you aware of work"},{"t":4013,"text":"that you would want or need to do that is"},{"t":4017,"text":"not described in this particular motion for which you would"},{"t":4020,"text":"need more time. In advance of beginning the work in"},{"t":4023,"text":"this motion? You've indicated you're already starting on research. So"},{"t":4027,"text":"you must have some idea of what you're inclined to"},{"t":4029,"text":"do. Do you need more time before you get this"},{"t":4033,"text":"direction. Yes, Mr. and Tucci. Through the mayor, I would,"},{"t":4041,"text":"uh, I would in coming back want to be able"},{"t":4043,"text":"to provide some estimates of resource impacts. These programs can"},{"t":4048,"text":"be extremely intensive because of the need to be on"},{"t":4052,"text":"site. So, um, if it involves, for example, by law"},{"t":4057,"text":"enforcement, uh, it will involve, um, an impact to our"},{"t":4062,"text":"resources. Okay. Thank you for that. Any other stuff went"},{"t":4066,"text":"away in? Nope. Okay. Uh, so I have now, uh,"},{"t":4069,"text":"no other speakers on the postponer. And then councillor Thompson."},{"t":4074,"text":"A question through you, your worship. Probably to Mr. Rantucci,"},{"t":4078,"text":"but I don't know. Does the postponement actually curtail doing"},{"t":4084,"text":"some of that work. Mr. Rantucci. Was directed at you."},{"t":4094,"text":"I'm not sure that's the right. I'm not sure that's,"},{"t":4096,"text":"that's fair. Great. We'll also be 8am Hudson. Or director"},{"t":4099,"text":"Johnson. What would like to weigh out of that? What"},{"t":4102,"text":"would be, if any, what would be the impact of"},{"t":4105,"text":"postponing this. Understanding that there appears to be likely another"},{"t":4110,"text":"motion related to this coming soon. I'm interpreting that from"},{"t":4115,"text":"the earlier comments. Is there an impact to postponing this."},{"t":4124,"text":"Through the mayor? Maybe I'll start. I, you know, as"},{"t":4126,"text":"I mentioned, staff have already been doing some initial research"},{"t":4129,"text":"on this. And we've already reached out to staff at"},{"t":4132,"text":"newestminster to chat more and have a meeting soon. So"},{"t":4135,"text":"I think we would continue sort of to look into"},{"t":4138,"text":"this behind the scenes. But definitely having council direction about"},{"t":4142,"text":"what specifically, you know, you are wanting staff to look"},{"t":4145,"text":"at and to achieve and to report back on is"},{"t":4148,"text":"always helpful. Okay. Thank you, Rivan. Just to clarify. So"},{"t":4152,"text":"you've already begun this work prior to council making a"},{"t":4154,"text":"decision. Uh, through the mayor, I wouldn't say we've been"},{"t":4160,"text":"doing, um, it would be a light touch that we've"},{"t":4162,"text":"been doing just in anticipation of our upcoming housing strategy,"},{"t":4167,"text":"um, as you know, our current one is coming to"},{"t":4169,"text":"an end. And we're going to be thinking forward about"},{"t":4171,"text":"what our next housing strategy looks like. It's also something"},{"t":4174,"text":"that we're considering as part of the city's adept climate"},{"t":4178,"text":"adaptation plan, which will be coming too shortly. So, um,"},{"t":4181,"text":"it's, it's just been on our radar and staff have"},{"t":4183,"text":"been sort of learning about, you know, and keeping up"},{"t":4186,"text":"to date on what others are doing in this space."},{"t":4189,"text":"So that's really what we've been doing. Thank you very"},{"t":4191,"text":"much for that. Councillor Coleman. You still have the floor?"},{"t":4193,"text":"Well, thank you. You postponed something if you're not sure"},{"t":4198,"text":"of direction or you're changing direction. I'm not sure that"},{"t":4201,"text":"the postponement helps because staff are already looking at this"},{"t":4204,"text":"and it's not that they need direction from us. Um,"},{"t":4207,"text":"it's happening across the country. It's coming to be C."},{"t":4211,"text":"New est the beginning of it. I have, I think"},{"t":4214,"text":"it's a very tricky area, but I don't think the"},{"t":4216,"text":"postponement helps. Councillor Thompson on the motion to postpone. Yeah."},{"t":4221,"text":"I'll, I'll just say that I don't see value in"},{"t":4224,"text":"postponing this. It seems like staff, uh, understand the motion,"},{"t":4229,"text":"uh, are prepared to do the work acknowledge that it's"},{"t":4233,"text":"complex. There's a lot of considerations. I have full confidence"},{"t":4236,"text":"that they're going to take this forward, uh, in the"},{"t":4239,"text":"right way, uh, and so I'll oppose the motion to"},{"t":4241,"text":"postpone. PENNE Thank you very much. Anyone else on the"},{"t":4244,"text":"motion to postpone. Checking cancer Kim. Not seeing anyone else"},{"t":4252,"text":"in the motion to postpone. So we'll call a question"},{"t":4255,"text":"on the motion to postpone all those in favor. Okay."},{"t":4261,"text":"That would be Councillor Gardner. All those in opposition. That'd"},{"t":4264,"text":"be Councillor Dell. Councillor Kim, uh, Councillor Cardona, Councillor Loton,"},{"t":4269,"text":"myself, Councillor Coleman. Councillor Hammond and Councillor Thompson. So the"},{"t":4273,"text":"motion to postpone is not supported. That would take us"},{"t":4277,"text":"back onto the main motion and councillor, uh, Gardner, you"},{"t":4280,"text":"still have the floor. On the main motion. Thank you"},{"t":4283,"text":"Mayor slides, please, to staff. The matter before us, and"},{"t":4288,"text":"the City's response is to extreme heat events is very"},{"t":4291,"text":"important. And what is missing in the motion is the"},{"t":4294,"text":"information specific to the city. And I appreciate the staff"},{"t":4298,"text":"has, of course, uh, started work on this since they"},{"t":4301,"text":"had two weeks notice of this. Whereas we were only"},{"t":4303,"text":"given a few days. And, uh, but I don't want"},{"t":4306,"text":"the general public to think the staff hasn't been dealing"},{"t":4309,"text":"with it because the staff has. And what is needed"},{"t":4313,"text":"is a city program to address extreme heat events. No"},{"t":4316,"text":"question. Does the City already have one and how extensive"},{"t":4319,"text":"is the heat threat to city Victoria residents? And what"},{"t":4322,"text":"is doable and what is not. June 22 slide please."},{"t":4328,"text":"The office of the chief corps and the released report"},{"t":4330,"text":"about the heat related death during the 2021 heat dome."},{"t":4336,"text":"Slide the report tells us of the 73 percent of"},{"t":4339,"text":"deaths in private housing, which means both rental and ownership"},{"t":4343,"text":"housing. 39 percent were multi - unit residential buildings and"},{"t":4347,"text":"34 percent in traditional housing corner investigations found that those"},{"t":4352,"text":"who died were predominantly older adults with chronic health. While"},{"t":4355,"text":"health problems may begin with indoor temperatures, uh, above 26"},{"t":4359,"text":"degrees sustained indoor temperature 31 are classified as dangerous. Next"},{"t":4364,"text":"slide. How did greater Victoria compare to other areas of"},{"t":4367,"text":"the province? The report shows that new Westminster fared the"},{"t":4371,"text":"worst with a death rate of nearly 42 for 100,"},{"t":4373,"text":"000 population. Greater Victoria near to the water had the"},{"t":4377,"text":"lowest death rate. New Westminster being seven times higher than"},{"t":4382,"text":"Victoria. This report does not separate our city from the"},{"t":4386,"text":"greater Victor Victoria area. Next slide. What is the city"},{"t":4389,"text":"doing? The fire department is responsible for emergency management. Engineering"},{"t":4394,"text":"is responsible for looking for solutions. Planning is responsible for"},{"t":4397,"text":"adherence to the 2024 building code for new housing and"},{"t":4401,"text":"proximity response for the tree canopy, which is very important."},{"t":4404,"text":"For public respite and heat areas. This council has at"},{"t":4408,"text":"least two reports from engineering or from emergency management about"},{"t":4411,"text":"the heat dome impacts on a residence and ongoing respite"},{"t":4415,"text":"during heat events. The CRD has provided heat maps, which"},{"t":4419,"text":"indicates those demographic and building vulnerabilities. Note how the buildings"},{"t":4423,"text":"from 20, 000 to 2000 onwards tend to compensate for"},{"t":4428,"text":"the demographic vulnerability. This tool aids municipalities in extreme heat"},{"t":4433,"text":"event responses. Health link PC has provided guidance to residents"},{"t":4437,"text":"and two municipalities. If you are at risk and you"},{"t":4440,"text":"live in a building or residents that gets very hot"},{"t":4443,"text":"with unsustained internal temperatures of 31 degrees or higher, you"},{"t":4448,"text":"have to plan to go elsewhere during heat event. Sustained"},{"t":4451,"text":"temperatures of 31 degrees can occur when the outdoor temperature"},{"t":4453,"text":"is significantly lower. Last week we're heard of the 30"},{"t":4457,"text":"degree temperatures in a coldwood school when the outdoor temperature"},{"t":4460,"text":"was lower. We have heard of the desire for requirement"},{"t":4464,"text":"for a room to be held at 26 degrees or"},{"t":4466,"text":"lower. But also we've heard about the fear of the"},{"t":4470,"text":"loss of tenancy. We've also heard from landlords that work"},{"t":4474,"text":"has been done to address the heat problem. But the"},{"t":4477,"text":"fix is not clear. We have also heard over the"},{"t":4480,"text":"past years of the electricity capacity limit of buildings with"},{"t":4483,"text":"electrification of vehicles and phasing out of old heating systems."},{"t":4488,"text":"We are how much time to have left. 555. Thank"},{"t":4492,"text":"you. I want to read part of a letter that"},{"t":4495,"text":"came through to us all, uh, a few days ago."},{"t":4499,"text":"And it said at a time when British claimings are"},{"t":4500,"text":"facing record baking financial distress, local governments must exercise extreme"},{"t":4506,"text":"caution before imposing new high cost mandates for extreme heat."},{"t":4511,"text":"In this fragile economic environment, the proposed mandate for mandatory"},{"t":4515,"text":"air conditioning in existing billing is not in practice, just"},{"t":4518,"text":"in practical, it's a direct threat to housing stability. The"},{"t":4522,"text":"mandate creates a dangerous financial double whammy for our community,"},{"t":4527,"text":"financial burden on tenants, while intended to protect this policy"},{"t":4530,"text":"as a higher potential, but people on the street. Air"},{"t":4534,"text":"conditioning units are significant hydrohogs. For a chain is already"},{"t":4537,"text":"choosing between groceries and ranch, an additional 50 to 75"},{"t":4540,"text":"dollars may make a unit effectively unaffordable for that person."},{"t":4546,"text":"Landlord renovation costs. In a highly regulated industry, already struggling"},{"t":4550,"text":"with high interest rates and craft revenues, the capital expenditure"},{"t":4554,"text":"required for these retrofisses astronomical. These costs will inevitably lead"},{"t":4560,"text":"to applications for additional ret increases or worse renovictions. Bürocratic"},{"t":4566,"text":"weight and director W and she was already mentioned this"},{"t":4570,"text":"infection, such a bylaw requires a new layer of administrative"},{"t":4573,"text":"oversight and a complaint during enforcement model that really protects"},{"t":4577,"text":"the most vulnerable. And we can't fix every problem through"},{"t":4580,"text":"legislation. How much time do I have mayor. 410. Pardon"},{"t":4585,"text":"410. Thank you. I have a couple of questions. We"},{"t":4589,"text":"have time for staff. And they may or may not"},{"t":4593,"text":"have the answers. I realise that now that they're looking"},{"t":4595,"text":"into it. Just staff yet have the actual data for"},{"t":4600,"text":"the City of Victoria. Uh, if we look at the"},{"t":4602,"text":"data that was provided through this report that was provided"},{"t":4606,"text":"by the Chief Corner, it suggests of course the number"},{"t":4609,"text":"of deaths. And if you look at proportionally, it could"},{"t":4611,"text":"be six in Victoria. What I don't believe that the"},{"t":4614,"text":"actual location of the desk that occurred in the City"},{"t":4617,"text":"of Victoria or the number of deaths has been released."},{"t":4620,"text":"Do we have that information. Very good. Through the mayor,"},{"t":4627,"text":"yes, we have that information through health emergency management BCE"},{"t":4631,"text":"and island health. Could you introduce an introduce yourself please"},{"t":4634,"text":"for the public? Oh, I'm Tanya CLLANS, the emergency program"},{"t":4637,"text":"coordinator. And what is that information. I don't want to"},{"t":4642,"text":"be quoted here because it is through island health, the"},{"t":4644,"text":"data, but I believe it was six in the City"},{"t":4646,"text":"of Victoria during the heat dome. Sorry? Six. Yes, but"},{"t":4652,"text":"do you know what props about areas? Cause I know"},{"t":4653,"text":"when they presented to us, I guessed particular streets just"},{"t":4656,"text":"because of my knowledge of, uh, really old buildings. The"},{"t":4660,"text":"information that I recall from health emergency management BC is"},{"t":4664,"text":"six deaths in James Bay. All six. But I don't"},{"t":4670,"text":"want, I don't have the data in front of me"},{"t":4672,"text":"to be quoted exactly. Um, but that's what I recall."},{"t":4675,"text":"Thank you. And can you describe the city's extreme heat"},{"t":4678,"text":"event program as carried out by your department now. Uh,"},{"t":4682,"text":"yes, we do have quite an extensive extreme heat response"},{"t":4686,"text":"plan. Um, we implemented that since the heat dome and"},{"t":4690,"text":"learned lessons from that. So we do, um, as you"},{"t":4694,"text":"mentioned, the heat vulnerability mapping that we conducted with the"},{"t":4697,"text":"CRD to understand our risks. So we know where our"},{"t":4701,"text":"vulnerabilities are and what our risks are. We follow the"},{"t":4704,"text":"BC HARS system, which is the BC heat alert response"},{"t":4708,"text":"system developed that, um, they set the triggers for what"},{"t":4713,"text":"constitutes a heat emergency. And heat alerts. So the temperature"},{"t":4716,"text":"thresholds where we need to activate that's based on when"},{"t":4719,"text":"they see illnesses and deaths in people. And we'll activate"},{"t":4723,"text":"our plans when that BCR is alerting system gets triggered."},{"t":4728,"text":"So during a heat emergency, there will be a broadcast"},{"t":4730,"text":"intrusive alert sent out through the provincial alerting system. And"},{"t":4735,"text":"for an alert, the city will activate our additional resources."},{"t":4739,"text":"The number one, um, response mechanism that we focus on"},{"t":4743,"text":"is people checking in on their neighbours. The most vulnerable"},{"t":4746,"text":"population, as we know, is the seniors who are socially"},{"t":4749,"text":"isolated living alone that can be difficult to reach through"},{"t":4752,"text":"our regular response measures. Uh, so we've created heat health"},{"t":4757,"text":"check kits. And we work with service providers and organisations"},{"t":4760,"text":"across the city to put the health check kits at"},{"t":4763,"text":"their organisation. So at libraries and community centres and service"},{"t":4766,"text":"providers. And we put out public messaging and through our"},{"t":4770,"text":"internal communications, uh, reach out to all the organisations who"},{"t":4774,"text":"can support, um, educating the public and communicating out that"},{"t":4777,"text":"there is a heat alert in effect. Please check in"},{"t":4780,"text":"on your neighbours. You can go to these centres and"},{"t":4783,"text":"basically check out one of the kits like a library"},{"t":4785,"text":"book and go in and check on, um, it tells"},{"t":4788,"text":"you exactly what science to check for. Um, in addition"},{"t":4792,"text":"to the heat health checks, we have keep cool kits,"},{"t":4795,"text":"which we provide a service providers. Um, and those are"},{"t":4798,"text":"like water sunscreen electrolytes items for people to keep cool."},{"t":4803,"text":"Uh, we have also installed, we have 13 misting stations"},{"t":4807,"text":"and we've received a grant through our resilience hubs program"},{"t":4811,"text":"for an additional nine, which are being built and will"},{"t":4814,"text":"be put out in the next couple of weeks. So"},{"t":4815,"text":"that'll be 24 misting stations in addition to the water"},{"t":4820,"text":"fountains and spray parks. And then the community cooling spaces."},{"t":4825,"text":"So on our VIC map and Victoria, I readied Osee"},{"t":4828,"text":"webpage. We have a resource map of all of these."},{"t":4832,"text":"So there's also community cooling spaces listed on there where"},{"t":4835,"text":"people can go to cooldown. Thank you. What is your"},{"t":4840,"text":"communication mechanism for many of these elderly living alone who"},{"t":4843,"text":"are not going out or aren't on the internet, et"},{"t":4846,"text":"cetera? Will you be going through property managers when there"},{"t":4849,"text":"are large buildings or how will they be reached? The"},{"t":4851,"text":"people who aren't on the internet. We go through the"},{"t":4856,"text":"service providers that we know of. So, um, James Bay"},{"t":4859,"text":"knew horizons and those organisations that worked directly with seniors"},{"t":4863,"text":"who do have outreach programs, um, we recognise we can't"},{"t":4867,"text":"reach everybody. And that's why we do a call out"},{"t":4869,"text":"to the public if you do have a neighbour or"},{"t":4871,"text":"someone, you know who might be living alone and social"},{"t":4873,"text":"isolated. Please check on them. But you don't go through,"},{"t":4877,"text":"for example, I'm just going to say Devin property since"},{"t":4879,"text":"they have most rental units in the city. No. That"},{"t":4884,"text":"might be something we want to add on. Okay, yes."},{"t":4887,"text":"Through, sorry, through the mayor, um, chief Atkinson just mentioned"},{"t":4890,"text":"we do, um, emergency preparedness workshops, um, and we work"},{"t":4894,"text":"with those organisations and property managers and multi - unit"},{"t":4897,"text":"residential buildings a lot. Um, and educate them on these"},{"t":4900,"text":"programs. Okay. And, uh, question, another question is, have staff"},{"t":4904,"text":"being consulting with landlords in general and what has been"},{"t":4907,"text":"in your experience with the landlords as they're trying to,"},{"t":4909,"text":"um, resolve their problems in their own buildings. For emergency"},{"t":4916,"text":"response, again, it's through those educational workshops and our public"},{"t":4920,"text":"messaging where we reach out through, um, our emergency management"},{"t":4926,"text":"community liaison. And he delivers free education and workshops, uh,"},{"t":4930,"text":"but we don't reach out directly to landlords to check"},{"t":4933,"text":"in on tenants. I guess I'm thinking here of the"},{"t":4937,"text":"other department responsible for it in our city, which is"},{"t":4940,"text":"the, uh, engineering and the climate change group. Do they"},{"t":4945,"text":"have they've been having discussions at all with land or"},{"t":4948,"text":"BC for example on changes and amendments beyond the code."},{"t":4954,"text":"William Hudson. And then I'm going to actually go to"},{"t":4956,"text":"chief Atkinson who put his hand up, uh, misled, why"},{"t":4959,"text":"don't you go first? Um, so the mayor just with"},{"t":4962,"text":"respect to the climate and the housing team, no, we"},{"t":4965,"text":"haven't done any formal engagement on this. We would, you"},{"t":4967,"text":"know, not do that until we were, um, directed by"},{"t":4970,"text":"council. And then of course we would seek some advice"},{"t":4972,"text":"as to who you would like us to consult with,"},{"t":4975,"text":"um, but no, we haven't done that work. Chief Atkinson,"},{"t":4977,"text":"did you want to weigh in on something? Uh, thank"},{"t":4979,"text":"you through you. Uh, I was just going to, uh,"},{"t":4981,"text":"expand on Tanya's comments previously and just say that, uh,"},{"t":4984,"text":"through emergency preparedness workshops, we wouldn't be offering recommendations around"},{"t":4987,"text":"engineered solutions. We'd be providing recommendations based on the specific"},{"t":4991,"text":"conditions of the individual properties and looking at what resources"},{"t":4995,"text":"are available primarily human resources to make sure that we're"},{"t":4998,"text":"taking an appropriate action within the existing conditions. So, uh,"},{"t":5002,"text":"misadzan already addressed the engineering portion. Very good. Thank you."},{"t":5005,"text":"Keith, does anyone have know how many buildings or units"},{"t":5008,"text":"of housing could be impacted by the motion as it"},{"t":5011,"text":"stands for bilabert to come into effect. For that question?"},{"t":5017,"text":"Yes. Go ahead, Ms. Teal Jones. Uh, through the mayor"},{"t":5020,"text":"with that, um, vulnerability mapping that Councillor Gardner put up"},{"t":5025,"text":"that this, that we completed with the CRD. It is"},{"t":5028,"text":"down to the address level. So we have had our"},{"t":5031,"text":"GIS team poll, the addresses that are the highest risk."},{"t":5035,"text":"So it overlays the demographics, the building type, um, which"},{"t":5039,"text":"way it's facing for the extreme heat risk. Thank you"},{"t":5045,"text":"very much. Um. That's a pronom. I didn't have a"},{"t":5049,"text":"few more comments if I got two minutes left. You"},{"t":5050,"text":"do. Thank you. Uh, Black Stuff Councillor Carora. Thanks Mayor."},{"t":5058,"text":"Yes, I am very happy to support this motion moving"},{"t":5063,"text":"head. And I just do want to remind folks in"},{"t":5065,"text":"the room and listening online that this would be the"},{"t":5068,"text":"beginning of a process. If this passes staff would take"},{"t":5072,"text":"it away. There'd be a report back. There might be"},{"t":5074,"text":"multiple report backs. If and when we ever got to"},{"t":5077,"text":"a bylaw, there'd be multiple readings before that would there"},{"t":5080,"text":"be stakehold engagement. This is going to be a process."},{"t":5083,"text":"Um, I would envision it will take at least a"},{"t":5085,"text":"year. Which is unfortunate because I would love to come"},{"t":5088,"text":"up with some solutions for this summer, but I just"},{"t":5090,"text":"don't think that that's realistic. So I think people do"},{"t":5092,"text":"need to temper their expectations that this is the beginning"},{"t":5094,"text":"of a process. That said, I do think it's worthwhile"},{"t":5097,"text":"to begin that process. Because as, as Councillor Dell noted"},{"t":5101,"text":"more extreme heat days are coming in this region. And,"},{"t":5104,"text":"and not to overly personalize this, but my own mother"},{"t":5107,"text":"has faced this exact issue in her apartment. She lives"},{"t":5110,"text":"in a 1970s era fern wood. Uh, apartment four story"},{"t":5116,"text":"apartment that does not have great insulation. And it does"},{"t":5119,"text":"have a beautiful West facing view, but starting at about"},{"t":5122,"text":"two or three o'clock in the afternoon on a warm"},{"t":5125,"text":"day, her apartment gets unbelievably hot. She does not have"},{"t":5128,"text":"any CU in it. She does not have a heat"},{"t":5130,"text":"pump. And even with the blinds closed, it gets quite"},{"t":5132,"text":"hot in there. To the point where she often actually"},{"t":5134,"text":"avoids their own apartment. During the hottest part of the"},{"t":5137,"text":"day. And she frets quite a lot about the impacts"},{"t":5139,"text":"of the heat on her and on her cats. So"},{"t":5141,"text":"that's just an anecdote. But there's thousands of other Victorians"},{"t":5144,"text":"who are facing similar situations. A lot of the housing"},{"t":5147,"text":"stock that we had is pre - 1980. And it"},{"t":5151,"text":"was not built with our current climate in mind. It"},{"t":5154,"text":"often has really poor insulation. Newer buildings are totally different"},{"t":5157,"text":"situation. Newer buildings are built to withstand all of this."},{"t":5160,"text":"It's really the existing older housing stock that's the problem."},{"t":5164,"text":"And we have a lot of vulnerable seniors. Seniors like"},{"t":5166,"text":"my mother who are facing the risk of extreme heat"},{"t":5169,"text":"impacts that like we saw in the heat dome. I"},{"t":5173,"text":"do want to share just briefly that I had the"},{"t":5175,"text":"opportunity to give a talk at the building electrification roadmap"},{"t":5179,"text":"launch a couple of weeks ago here in Victoria. The"},{"t":5182,"text":"building electrification roadmap is a plan that's been put together"},{"t":5185,"text":"by NGOs that work on building electrification. And it was"},{"t":5189,"text":"supported by a number of governments, BC Hydro, Vancouver, the"},{"t":5193,"text":"province, et cetera. So I gave, um, a talk there"},{"t":5196,"text":"on what Victoria's been up to. And that's actually where"},{"t":5198,"text":"I got this. Teacher that says I love electric heat"},{"t":5200,"text":"pumps. And what was really interesting about that talk is"},{"t":5207,"text":"that afterwards civil servant after civil servant came up to"},{"t":5211,"text":"me to talk to me about how inspired the R"},{"t":5214,"text":"by what Victoria is already doing. And in particular, um."},{"t":5221,"text":"Sorry, our market rental building revitalization tax exemption, which a"},{"t":5226,"text":"previous councillor also referred to. It's flown under the radar,"},{"t":5229,"text":"but we have this program at the city. It's a"},{"t":5231,"text":"pilot. Where, uh, a landlord of a multi - unit"},{"t":5235,"text":"building can receive up to 10 years tax exemption in"},{"t":5239,"text":"exchange for a deep retrofit of that building. Didn't really"},{"t":5242,"text":"get a lot of attention when we did this last"},{"t":5244,"text":"year. Uh, it's still a pilot, but, uh, a lot"},{"t":5247,"text":"of civil servants and utilities took note because cost is"},{"t":5251,"text":"really the big barrier here. And so I want to"},{"t":5252,"text":"focus in on costs for a minute, Mayor. And actually"},{"t":5255,"text":"through you, I'm just going to put it to staff"},{"t":5257,"text":"and just have a brief conversation about the market rental"},{"t":5259,"text":"building RTE, which might seem a bit off topic here,"},{"t":5261,"text":"but I will connect the dots. So, um, through Utaff,"},{"t":5266,"text":"I just want to confirm that the pilot was limited"},{"t":5271,"text":"to only a handful of buildings. And also that there"},{"t":5274,"text":"has been demand for that program. Ms. Hudson. Uh, through"},{"t":5279,"text":"the mayor, um, yes, that's correct. The pilot program allows"},{"t":5282,"text":"a maximum of five buildings to participate. Of those five,"},{"t":5287,"text":"three have to be, um, for greenhouse gas, emission improvements."},{"t":5292,"text":"And two of them could be for seismic retrofit improvements."},{"t":5296,"text":"Um, the purpose of capping it at five was to"},{"t":5298,"text":"really, um, take a lessons learned approach and find out"},{"t":5302,"text":"the efficacy of this program. And it was very much"},{"t":5304,"text":"meant to target buildings pre 2000, I think, um, but"},{"t":5309,"text":"it was meant to target older buildings and encourage them"},{"t":5314,"text":"to be retrofitted because they are our naturally occurring affordable"},{"t":5317,"text":"rental housing in the city. And we wanted to breathe"},{"t":5320,"text":"new life into them to date. We have received two"},{"t":5323,"text":"applications in the energy retrofit stream. And we do have"},{"t":5329,"text":"a list of buildings that are interested in doing energy"},{"t":5333,"text":"retrofits. Um, that may apply for the third spot. We"},{"t":5337,"text":"have not received any interest to date on the seismic"},{"t":5340,"text":"stream. So we're still in the process of learning from"},{"t":5344,"text":"it. And we are gaining some learning so far. And,"},{"t":5348,"text":"uh, and our intention is to come back to council"},{"t":5351,"text":"fairly soon with just an update on the program and"},{"t":5354,"text":"some recommended next steps. Thanks very much. And the reason"},{"t":5357,"text":"I wanted to bring that up is because I suspect"},{"t":5359,"text":"that the revitalization tax exemption, the RTE could be the"},{"t":5366,"text":"ticket here. And, um, the RTE, as noted, is currently"},{"t":5370,"text":"focused on two streams. One is on decarbonization. And the"},{"t":5375,"text":"other that has had less interest is on seismic. So"},{"t":5377,"text":"just setting aside the seismic for a minute because it's"},{"t":5379,"text":"kind of a different topic. I think that there's an"},{"t":5381,"text":"opportunity here, Mayor, to release two birds from one cage."},{"t":5385,"text":"And think about a program that might both decarbonize buildings,"},{"t":5390,"text":"but also increase climate adaptation and address extreme heat considerations."},{"t":5397,"text":"And a lot of that points towards heat pumps, which"},{"t":5399,"text":"is why I'm wearing the t - shirt. I mean,"},{"t":5404,"text":"is there any objective reason why that RTE could not"},{"t":5410,"text":"be expanded in scope and number of applicants in the"},{"t":5414,"text":"future. So that buildings that want to both decarbonize and"},{"t":5420,"text":"address extreme heat. Cannot apply to that program. PET you"},{"t":5425,"text":"might be preempting what Ms. Hudson described as an upcoming"},{"t":5429,"text":"report back. And I think that there's likely a conversation"},{"t":5432,"text":"to be had also with finance on this. Sure. But"},{"t":5435,"text":"if you can park it. If you'd like to make"},{"t":5437,"text":"any preliminary comments, you're welcome too, but I would have"},{"t":5440,"text":"taken that from your earlier comments that that could in"},{"t":5443,"text":"fact be part of your report, but it may or"},{"t":5445,"text":"may not at this point. Yeah. I'm happy to park"},{"t":5447,"text":"that question, but, but just, uh, a note to staff"},{"t":5450,"text":"that that's where my head's going. And then I think"},{"t":5452,"text":"there's an opportunity to have that conversation. What's particularly interesting"},{"t":5456,"text":"about that RTE is that it actually doesn't cause the"},{"t":5459,"text":"city anything. I mean, maybe the bit of staff time,"},{"t":5462,"text":"but, um, the tax break, redistribution of taxes to everyone"},{"t":5467,"text":"else. Let's just be clear about that. Everyone else's taxes"},{"t":5469,"text":"went up by three cents. But it doesn't actually cause"},{"t":5473,"text":"the city anything. It's not like we're loaning money or"},{"t":5475,"text":"something like that. Um, because he's building remediations are quite"},{"t":5480,"text":"expensive. If we're looking at envelope remediation, glazing, insulation, heat"},{"t":5485,"text":"pumps, that stuff adds up to hundreds of thousands of"},{"t":5487,"text":"dollars. I want to avoid a situation. Just bring it"},{"t":5491,"text":"back to this topic, Mayor. I want to avoid a"},{"t":5493,"text":"situation in which landlords are saying, we can't afford to"},{"t":5496,"text":"do this. Therefore, we're not going to do this. Or"},{"t":5498,"text":"they take on debt and they just pass the costs"},{"t":5500,"text":"onto consumers. Because we have rent control in this province,"},{"t":5503,"text":"but we don't have vacancy control. So we don't want"},{"t":5505,"text":"to situation in which we're actually driving up the cost"},{"t":5508,"text":"of living. So I am particularly interested in how we"},{"t":5511,"text":"solve the cost issue here and how we make this"},{"t":5513,"text":"cost neutral so that more buildings could apply to the"},{"t":5517,"text":"RTE. And so landlord X who is building is overheating"},{"t":5521,"text":"can go to the city and say, you know what?"},{"t":5523,"text":"We did the, we look, we crunched the numbers. It's"},{"t":5525,"text":"250, 000 dollars to do the upgrades we need to"},{"t":5527,"text":"do. We would love to get that tax exemption so"},{"t":5530,"text":"that this is cost neutral for us so that we"},{"t":5532,"text":"don't pass the costs onto renters. And so that we're"},{"t":5535,"text":"keeping renters safe. So I do, if this does pass,"},{"t":5538,"text":"I just really encourage staff to be really thinking about"},{"t":5541,"text":"the cost component. And in a couple of weeks when"},{"t":5543,"text":"the RTE is reported back to us, be prepared to"},{"t":5546,"text":"have that conversation about a potential expansion of scope and"},{"t":5549,"text":"number of applicants so that we can solve multiple problems"},{"t":5551,"text":"at once. Thanks Mayor. Thank you, Councillor. Just a question."},{"t":5555,"text":"I have Councillor Loten next. Are there other comments that"},{"t":5558,"text":"wish to be made on this topic? Yes. So more"},{"t":5561,"text":"than one, then I'm going to suggest that we take"},{"t":5563,"text":"a short break now because we are a longer sitting"},{"t":5566,"text":"than we usually do. And I think there are several"},{"t":5568,"text":"other comments on this motion. So it is now 1036."},{"t":5572,"text":"Let us try and return at 1045. And up next"},{"t":5582,"text":"is Councillor Loton. Thanks. And through you mayor, I just"},{"t":5590,"text":"wanted to start with the data that came from Ireland"},{"t":5595,"text":"Health about the deaths in Victoria. So there was six"},{"t":5599,"text":"and they were in James Bay. And I'm wondering if"},{"t":5601,"text":"those buildings have been retrofitted or if anything has changed"},{"t":5606,"text":"in those specific buildings where the tragic fatalities occurred in"},{"t":5611,"text":"2021. Ms. Hill Jones, do you know that? Through the"},{"t":5617,"text":"mayor, I do not know that information. Okay. That might"},{"t":5627,"text":"be a good place for, I got not part of"},{"t":5629,"text":"the motion, but we probably should find that out. I"},{"t":5632,"text":"don't know if that would need an amendment or something."},{"t":5635,"text":"But I'll leave that for now. I also, in preparation"},{"t":5639,"text":"for today, I did quite a bit of research on"},{"t":5642,"text":"this and read about the passive first strategy. So my"},{"t":5646,"text":"question is things like high quality solar window film or"},{"t":5654,"text":"energy efficient windows or exterior shading. How much has any"},{"t":5660,"text":"research gone into that? And does that seem like the"},{"t":5663,"text":"first logical step? And I'm, cause I'm also interested in"},{"t":5667,"text":"the cost neutral of this and different programs that might"},{"t":5671,"text":"be able to provide grants for that, both federally and"},{"t":5674,"text":"provincially and potentially through the city as well. Like even"},{"t":5678,"text":"starting with high quality window films. Does any have anyone"},{"t":5682,"text":"have information on that? Seal Jones. Through the mayor, we"},{"t":5688,"text":"did receive a grant for our resilience hubs, but those"},{"t":5693,"text":"are City owned community centres that we've designated as resilience"},{"t":5696,"text":"hubs where people can go before, during, and after any"},{"t":5699,"text":"type of emergency, including heat. And we receive grant money"},{"t":5703,"text":"for each vax systems and three of those, including window"},{"t":5706,"text":"coverings and awnings. So those measures, they're having studies and"},{"t":5709,"text":"they do prove effective, particularly in certain buildings that are"},{"t":5714,"text":"exposed and we can shade those areas. UBC has a"},{"t":5719,"text":"program as well where they retrofitted their buildings for climate"},{"t":5723,"text":"resilience and heat and has some data on that. Okay."},{"t":5729,"text":"It just seems to me like a logical place to"},{"t":5731,"text":"start. Do any of those, like any of the shading"},{"t":5735,"text":"systems that are on the outside of the building? I"},{"t":5737,"text":"imagine window films and windows themselves wouldn't need any kind"},{"t":5741,"text":"of permit. But is there any permitting requirements for those"},{"t":5745,"text":"passive measures. Senator, Ms. Hudson question. Through the mayor. I"},{"t":5753,"text":"may look to acting director Johnston, but, um, I think,"},{"t":5757,"text":"you know, we can consider minor exterior changes to buildings"},{"t":5761,"text":"without much of a process. But I think it depends"},{"t":5763,"text":"on what's being proposed. Right. I think it out. Okay."},{"t":5767,"text":"Okay. I think that's pretty much it for me. I"},{"t":5772,"text":"do have some comments, but I can wait until questions"},{"t":5774,"text":"are done or? No, this is go ahead with my"},{"t":5777,"text":"comments. Okay. So I'll just, I'll just say, um, I"},{"t":5780,"text":"am in support of this. As global warming increases, updating"},{"t":5785,"text":"our temperature regulations for rental buildings is a vital step"},{"t":5789,"text":"in protecting human life. And I think that ultimately the"},{"t":5793,"text":"residential tenancy act should, should govern this. But the province"},{"t":5798,"text":"has already set precedent by mandating cooling for new buildings"},{"t":5801,"text":"with the BC building CODE. And I understand that this"},{"t":5803,"text":"is very complicated. So I'm sure they're watching new West"},{"t":5808,"text":"and even this conversation quite closely. Um, the, the work"},{"t":5814,"text":"done in the West, I believe is commendable on a"},{"t":5817,"text":"national scale. And I wanted to take a second to"},{"t":5820,"text":"thank councillors Nadine Nakagawa and Tasha Henderson for initially bringing"},{"t":5825,"text":"this forward in 2023 and recently seeing it through to"},{"t":5828,"text":"a formal bylaw. Um, when we've talked about this, but"},{"t":5832,"text":"extreme heat primarily threatens the most vulnerable low income ranchers"},{"t":5836,"text":"and seniors living alone. And safety in one's home should"},{"t":5841,"text":"be a given. We never want to see a repeat"},{"t":5844,"text":"of the lives loss during the 2021 heat dome. But"},{"t":5847,"text":"I do believe that the practical first step in this"},{"t":5851,"text":"is prioritizing the passive measures such as solar window films,"},{"t":5857,"text":"heat reflective windows or external outdoor shading to help me"},{"t":5862,"text":"that 26 degree target immediately. This would also protect the"},{"t":5868,"text":"electrical grid for now. Um, I don't know that air"},{"t":5872,"text":"conditioners or heat pumps, although that would be wonderful. I"},{"t":5876,"text":"don't know that they're actually necessarily to meet that target."},{"t":5881,"text":"And this would be more affordable for building owners. And"},{"t":5884,"text":"it would ensure that safety upgrades don't lead to higher"},{"t":5887,"text":"rent. And just as an aside, I have, um, a"},{"t":5891,"text":"window film on my windows. It was for privacy reasons."},{"t":5896,"text":"So it's reflective. So it's mirrored so people can't see"},{"t":5899,"text":"in my unit when they're walking past it on the"},{"t":5902,"text":"street. And it does block out the light somewhat, not,"},{"t":5906,"text":"not very much at all, like a little bit, but"},{"t":5908,"text":"it does keep my apartment cooler. And the research that"},{"t":5912,"text":"I did, and of course, I would want staff to"},{"t":5914,"text":"go dig into this a little bit further. But those"},{"t":5917,"text":"window films themselves can decrease temperatures between five and 15"},{"t":5921,"text":"degrees depending on the quality of them. And I think"},{"t":5924,"text":"that to me, um, seems really smart. As a place"},{"t":5930,"text":"to begin. Um, so I think solutions can be made"},{"t":5938,"text":"in an easy as possible way to begin with. And"},{"t":5943,"text":"I did find various grant programs offered by the federal"},{"t":5946,"text":"and provincial government as well to fund some of this"},{"t":5949,"text":"work. I'll just, um, fly through them really quickly. There's"},{"t":5954,"text":"a clean provincial clean BC multi unit residential building, MERB"},{"t":5960,"text":"program, which does cover windows and films. There's a provincial"},{"t":5966,"text":"social housing energy savings program, which does the same sort"},{"t":5970,"text":"of things for nonprofit and social housing. There's the federal"},{"t":5975,"text":"green municipal fund that also supports passive cooling focus. And"},{"t":5982,"text":"then a federal build community strong fund that does do,"},{"t":5986,"text":"um, climate adaptation. So there are places for people to"},{"t":5991,"text":"start. And furthermore, I also know about this, um, BC"},{"t":5996,"text":"hydro provides and installs free portable air conditioning units for"},{"t":6000,"text":"households, meeting medical or income eligibility. And renters are included,"},{"t":6006,"text":"but they currently require a landlord signature on the consent"},{"t":6010,"text":"form, which under current guidelines I read cannot be unreasonably"},{"t":6015,"text":"confused or refused. But this motion helps with that because"},{"t":6020,"text":"it puts that critical piece in supporting that process and"},{"t":6024,"text":"ensuring that all residents can stay safe during extreme heat"},{"t":6027,"text":"events. So just that knowledge that that program is out"},{"t":6030,"text":"there for air conditioning units for under a certain income"},{"t":6035,"text":"with medical conditions for people. And then just one more"},{"t":6040,"text":"final thing. I also have a little temperature with a"},{"t":6049,"text":"high groumeter. So it reads the humidity and the temperature."},{"t":6053,"text":"I'm sure I bought it for less than twenty dollars."},{"t":6056,"text":"I have it on my fridge. Because the humidity can"},{"t":6060,"text":"also make a unit feel hotter depending on that humidity"},{"t":6065,"text":"level. And I'm just, I'm just going to throw it"},{"t":6067,"text":"out there. But when, when the emergency management workshops are"},{"t":6071,"text":"happening, it might be a thought to, to hand those"},{"t":6073,"text":"out or to hand those out to vulnerable single seniors"},{"t":6077,"text":"so they can keep track of how hot it is"},{"t":6079,"text":"in their units. And then maybe a number to call"},{"t":6081,"text":"for support if it gets up above 26 degrees, just"},{"t":6086,"text":"a thought. Um, and I just in closing, I'm really"},{"t":6089,"text":"happy to support this. And I want to thank the"},{"t":6091,"text":"authors of this motion for bringing it forward. It's a,"},{"t":6094,"text":"it's a really important piece of the evolution of keeping"},{"t":6097,"text":"people safe in their own homes due to, um, cooling"},{"t":6102,"text":"measures. And, you know, we already obviously already have it"},{"t":6104,"text":"for mandates around heat levels. And now we need to"},{"t":6108,"text":"move forward with the future to do that on cooling"},{"t":6110,"text":"as well. So thanks very much. Thank you very much,"},{"t":6113,"text":"Councillor Havend. Thanks, Mayor. Uh, yeah, I also want to"},{"t":6120,"text":"thank the movers because everyone's a while you sort of"},{"t":6123,"text":"think, what can we possibly do? And yet someone has"},{"t":6126,"text":"come up with something that we might be able to"},{"t":6127,"text":"do something. Um, if we can protect renters health due"},{"t":6131,"text":"to extreme heat events, we want to make sure that"},{"t":6134,"text":"we do it properly. As the movers have noted, this"},{"t":6138,"text":"is exploratory and I'm in favor of this. Four of"},{"t":6141,"text":"us at this table have legal education and experience in"},{"t":6143,"text":"dealing with and understanding complex legal issues. Yet all of"},{"t":6147,"text":"us know the impact of creating bylaws that will invariably"},{"t":6150,"text":"invite legal challenges so we can't rush anything. Otherwise we"},{"t":6155,"text":"spend a short amount of time creating a good intention"},{"t":6158,"text":"by law, but potentially spend years inexpensive litigation, hence the"},{"t":6163,"text":"importance of not rushing and to make sure it's done"},{"t":6165,"text":"correctly. In 2018, the City of Victoria created a bylaw"},{"t":6169,"text":"to ban single - use plastic checkout bags. The city"},{"t":6172,"text":"was sued by the Canadian plastic bag association. And while"},{"t":6176,"text":"the city initially wanted the BC Supreme Court, the city"},{"t":6178,"text":"lost at the BC Court of Appeal in 2019. In"},{"t":6182,"text":"the end, the city was ahead of its time as"},{"t":6185,"text":"there is now a province - wide ban on most"},{"t":6187,"text":"plastic bags since 2022. In law, we lost because we"},{"t":6191,"text":"ventured into provincial jurisdiction and did not obtain provincial approval"},{"t":6195,"text":"under the Community Charter. For those who say we were"},{"t":6199,"text":"ahead of our time on plastic bags and therefore it"},{"t":6201,"text":"was worth it, I say, let's get it right prior"},{"t":6204,"text":"to losing on an important issue because we didn't do"},{"t":6207,"text":"our proper homework and encourage substantial, external legal expenses, as"},{"t":6212,"text":"well as the time of our staff and not just"},{"t":6214,"text":"our legal department. While I want to support my sisters"},{"t":6218,"text":"and brothers in the bar, I don't want to support"},{"t":6220,"text":"them at the expense of our taxpayers. Hence, I'm in"},{"t":6223,"text":"favor of staff looking into ways to keep Victorian safe."},{"t":6226,"text":"I just want to make sure we don't rush anything"},{"t":6228,"text":"that will give people false hope for years followed by"},{"t":6231,"text":"years of litigation. If staff were given enough time to"},{"t":6235,"text":"report even verbally back by July 2nd, then that's fine."},{"t":6239,"text":"However, I don't want anything rushed that will be at"},{"t":6242,"text":"our peril. And more importantly, the peril of the health"},{"t":6245,"text":"of our residents. Thank you very much. Anybody else. Yep,"},{"t":6250,"text":"got subscribed. Ahead. Thank you very much. Some were extreme"},{"t":6259,"text":"heat events and the impact on our residents are important."},{"t":6262,"text":"We received many emails we've seen in a lot of"},{"t":6265,"text":"opinions. And today we've heard from staff some of the"},{"t":6269,"text":"work that they are already doing, which I truly appreciate."},{"t":6273,"text":"And we will need more of that work before we"},{"t":6275,"text":"actually venture to consider a bylaw. We need to know"},{"t":6280,"text":"the real impact that these changes will create. We need"},{"t":6286,"text":"to know the consequences, not just to the city or"},{"t":6288,"text":"to the residents, but to the landlords so that we"},{"t":6291,"text":"can continue to have affordable housing. I don't want the"},{"t":6294,"text":"Affordable Housing we have to be threatened. And we have"},{"t":6297,"text":"to be very careful of that. We do not want"},{"t":6299,"text":"to have more people have to leave the city because"},{"t":6302,"text":"they can't afford to live in a place they've lived"},{"t":6304,"text":"in for 10 or 20 or 30 years. So it'd"},{"t":6307,"text":"be very careful of that. We did not discuss today"},{"t":6309,"text":"the electrical grid issue as to whether or not, um,"},{"t":6312,"text":"the capacity is there for so much of our city"},{"t":6316,"text":"to become, um, to put in different type of, uh,"},{"t":6321,"text":"air cooling systems. We really need to know that. This"},{"t":6324,"text":"may impact, uh, all of the buildings built prior to"},{"t":6328,"text":"2024. In the city. And, uh, again, we have to"},{"t":6333,"text":"remember that the intent is rental and that includes a"},{"t":6337,"text":"lot of condominium buildings since the secondary rental market is"},{"t":6341,"text":"quite large in our city. It also includes all of"},{"t":6344,"text":"the flatted, uh, very old heritage homes throughout the city"},{"t":6350,"text":"that are now, uh, rental accommodations. So I think we"},{"t":6354,"text":"have to really look at this very thoroughly. It'll take"},{"t":6356,"text":"a long time, but I'm very pleased that staff has"},{"t":6360,"text":"really begun looking at the things we need to know"},{"t":6363,"text":"before decisions are made. And I look forward to staff's"},{"t":6367,"text":"report, uh, in July. And I, uh, I don't believe"},{"t":6371,"text":"it'll be the only report. I think straff will be"},{"t":6373,"text":"reporting back on this for quite some time. I said,"},{"t":6376,"text":"look and do things further. So thank you very much."},{"t":6379,"text":"Thank you, Councillor Thompson. Thanks, Mayora. And I just wanted"},{"t":6383,"text":"to ask staff about, uh, about the wording here. It"},{"t":6388,"text":"doesn't expressly mention stratas, uh, with staff feel constrained to"},{"t":6394,"text":"not look at stratas here. Or you, are you looking"},{"t":6396,"text":"at this and thinking, you know, multifamily buildings. Ms. Hudson,"},{"t":6403,"text":"is that a question for you. Through the mayor? I"},{"t":6410,"text":"think we certainly took this to be an examination on"},{"t":6413,"text":"rental building. So I think that's what we would have"},{"t":6415,"text":"pursued in response to this motion. With that excluded strata"},{"t":6422,"text":"buildings that were rented. Many stratags are rented out. We"},{"t":6430,"text":"might have to give that some thought. I guess, okay,"},{"t":6435,"text":"thanks for that response. I guess when we hear a"},{"t":6438,"text":"verbal report back on July 2, we can consider further"},{"t":6441,"text":"whether we need to say, you know, restricts landlords and"},{"t":6445,"text":"strata corporals from prohibiting cooling equipment. Uh, are not, um,"},{"t":6451,"text":"and I think that a lot of the same considerations"},{"t":6454,"text":"would apply. So I'm not going to propose an amendment"},{"t":6459,"text":"right now. Uh, I think we can wait until July"},{"t":6461,"text":"2nd. Thanks. Very good. Thank you. Anybody else. Oh, yes."},{"t":6470,"text":"Uh, through the mayor, I think maybe the only thing"},{"t":6472,"text":"I would want to mention is, um, of course, we"},{"t":6474,"text":"would be, you know, discussing this with newestminster. And I"},{"t":6477,"text":"believe there's supplies to rental buildings. Um, we would be"},{"t":6480,"text":"considering things like provincial legislation like the rental, um, the"},{"t":6483,"text":"residential tenancy act, which of course deals with rental. So"},{"t":6487,"text":"that may be, um, an expansion of scope. But we"},{"t":6490,"text":"can, um, you know, we can certainly come back to"},{"t":6493,"text":"you in July and see what we're able to find"},{"t":6495,"text":"out. But layering stride of councils and the strata property"},{"t":6499,"text":"act into this may maybe quite extensive at this point,"},{"t":6503,"text":"but we can, we can answer that back to you"},{"t":6505,"text":"in July. I have not heard any indication that we"},{"t":6508,"text":"are asking you to do that now. So I think"},{"t":6511,"text":"it is appropriate for your YouTube return with whatever your"},{"t":6515,"text":"report might be in July. And if at that time"},{"t":6518,"text":"council thinks that there is value added to adding that"},{"t":6521,"text":"layer, then that would be the time for us to"},{"t":6523,"text":"provide that direction. Anyone else on this main motion. Councillor"},{"t":6528,"text":"Coleman. Thank you. Um, it is an incredibly complex issue."},{"t":6535,"text":"I appreciate staff already exploring this. I think that is"},{"t":6539,"text":"the right thing to do. In both the preamble to"},{"t":6544,"text":"this and in the preamble to the new west bylaw,"},{"t":6550,"text":"there is reference to the importance of trees or shade"},{"t":6555,"text":"coming from them. Um, that's not specific to this, but"},{"t":6558,"text":"I do think there have been a number of comments"},{"t":6561,"text":"saying this doesn't apply to buildings built after 2024. We"},{"t":6565,"text":"have had a number of applications that have come before"},{"t":6569,"text":"us. And part of the, uh, amenities were trees on"},{"t":6574,"text":"site because they gave shade. After the fact, um, those"},{"t":6579,"text":"trees didn't appear and they paid payment in lieu. That"},{"t":6583,"text":"has an impact. On buildings and the shading. So it"},{"t":6588,"text":"would be useful perhaps it's not part of this motion,"},{"t":6590,"text":"but if staff are looking at the issue, how are"},{"t":6593,"text":"we, uh, achieving our arboreal canopy, the impact to shade."},{"t":6602,"text":"And should the payments in lieu of not providing trees"},{"t":6605,"text":"on site actually be higher. Um, because I think the,"},{"t":6610,"text":"the impetus or perhaps for this table, part of the"},{"t":6614,"text":"charm of some of those applications was the landscaping component."},{"t":6618,"text":"So I think that that has to perhaps be included"},{"t":6620,"text":"in this. But I do think that this is an"},{"t":6624,"text":"interesting, exploratory area and a necessary one. My fear is"},{"t":6630,"text":"that we become a very, uh, passionate counsel. And we"},{"t":6637,"text":"push it forward and we come July 2nd. We go,"},{"t":6640,"text":"okay, now we want to buy a lot. We've already"},{"t":6641,"text":"made up our minds on that. This is asking Staff"},{"t":6644,"text":"to explore. Absolutely supportable. Let's put it in context and"},{"t":6648,"text":"I appreciate one member of council saying earlier that this"},{"t":6652,"text":"is going to be a year - long, more than"},{"t":6653,"text":"a year - long process. Let's remember that. Thank you."},{"t":6656,"text":"Thank you very much. Anyone else on this main motion."},{"t":6662,"text":"Not seeing anyone else. It's been moved to seconded and"},{"t":6665,"text":"amply debated. All those in favor. Is anyone opposed. That"},{"t":6673,"text":"is unanimous. Thank you very much for that. That does"},{"t":6675,"text":"take us on to, um, the item K, which would"},{"t":6678,"text":"be a closed meeting if we needed any, but we"},{"t":6679,"text":"do not need that at committee today. And so I"},{"t":6682,"text":"will look now for a motion to adjourn. Thanks Councillor"},{"t":6684,"text":"Coleman, seconded by Councillor Kim. All those in favor. Anyone"},{"t":6690,"text":"opposed. That is unanimous. Um, stuff, let's just take as"},{"t":6693,"text":"long a break as you need to move us into"},{"t":6695,"text":"council and then we'll proceed with our daytime council meeting."}],"words":17874,"fetchedAt":"2026-10-03T05:41:52.533Z"}