Council backed a proposal for one additional home at 770 Pemberton Road, but split 6–3 over whether changing title covenants would weaken public trust in future agreements. It also approved the direction for a simpler noise bylaw, while removing a proposed citywide 6 a.m. start for waste collection and asking for more information about special-event noise exemptions. Two further noise-related directions passed unanimously: staff will explore phasing out gas-powered leaf blowers and increasing penalties for noise-bylaw breaches. Council also approved a formal opposition to the proposed West Coast Pipeline, after deleting one phrase it considered too rhetorical; the motion was sent to the same-day Council meeting because of the submission deadline.
Generated from the recording's captions and the agenda (minutes not yet published by the council).
What was discussed
AI summary · check against sources
G.1 Report back on Establishing a By Name List for the City of Victoria (Verbal)
Staff said the region is preparing for the federal Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS), which will support referrals, case coordination and matching people with housing—not just maintain a list of names. The Capital Regional District has hired a HIFIS administrator and is mapping services and setting up governance for a future rollout, but staff did not yet know when that rollout would begin. In the meantime, BC Housing and Victoria service providers have been building a city-focused shared by-name list, using existing data and privacy and consent safeguards. Staff expected an implementation update later in September and said the next Council update was planned for October 1; a regional point-in-time count was also due in October.
Agreement
Council welcomed the work under way to prepare for HIFIS and the interim shared list.
Staff will report back with whatever implementation information is available at the October 1 update.
H.1 770 Pemberton Road: Rezoning Application No. 00906 and Development Variance Permit No. 00299 (Rockland)
The application would allow subdivision of the existing property and construction of a new single-family home within the site’s comprehensive development zone. Staff supported the proposal, subject to shifting the new building roughly a metre south and/or west to improve the chances of retaining trees, including boulevard trees. Council debated the effect of amending covenants registered with an earlier approval: some councillors saw the proposed review as consistent with the covenants’ purpose and the site’s heritage setting, while others argued that the open view toward the heritage house was a negotiated public benefit and that changing the covenant could erode public trust. The application was approved 6–3, subject to the plan revision, and is to proceed to bylaw readings.
Agreement
The proposal adds only one home and is less dense than a small multi-unit option the site could potentially have accommodated.
The new building should be shifted to help protect retained trees.
The site’s heritage setting and the view toward the heritage house are important considerations.
Disagreement
Supporters said the design was compatible with the site and heritage context, staff had reviewed it, and changing the covenants would not automatically determine future applications.
Opponents said the open view was part of the public benefit negotiated in 2017, and that changing a relatively recent covenant for one more single-family home could undermine trust in such agreements.
One supporter also described the proposal as a missed opportunity for more housing, but said it complied with the applicable zoning and policies.
Staff proposed replacing the city’s outdated noise districts with rules based more on the type of activity, keeping decibel limits where sound can reasonably be turned down or contained, and using clear permitted hours for sources such as power equipment. The approach also aims to clarify construction, waste-collection and vehicle-related definitions, make noise-exemption permits easier to obtain, and improve public information about approved permits. Staff clarified that construction hours would remain 7 a.m.–7 p.m. on weekdays and change from 10 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturdays. Council amended the recommendation to remove the proposed expansion of waste-collection hours to 6 a.m. citywide, retaining the existing hours. It also directed staff to report back with the outdoor special-event sound policy and data on use of exemptions; that report does not have to come back before the bylaw work proceeds. The amended framework passed unanimously. Two separate motions also passed unanimously: staff will explore phasing out gas-powered leaf blowers, and explore increasing penalties for noise-bylaw breaches.
Agreement
The existing noise bylaw is hard to understand and enforce consistently, and clearer rules are needed.
The city should use decibel limits where practical and clearer time-based rules where sound cannot readily be reduced.
The bylaw should proceed to drafting, with a report back on special-event sound policy and exemption use.
Council unanimously supported exploring a phase-out of gas-powered leaf blowers and exploring increased penalties.
Disagreement
A councillor opposed moving waste collection to a 6 a.m. start citywide, citing the impact on residents’ sleep and concern that residents had not been adequately consulted; the amendment to retain existing hours passed.
Councillors differed on whether a report about special-event exemptions should be a prerequisite to the bylaw work. Council removed that condition, so staff can continue the bylaw work while preparing the requested information.
Councillors raised differing concerns about how much protection residents need from event noise, the practicality of enforcement, and the effect of additional work on staff.
C.1 (added as new item J) Council Member Motion: Public Statement and Position on the Federal Designation of the West Coast Pipeline as a Project of National Interest
Council added the late motion because comments on the federal process were due by September 18. The motion opposes construction of a new West Coast pipeline and its designation as a Project of National Interest, citing climate and coastal risks. Council amended the wording to remove a reference to the pipeline as one of the world’s largest “carbon bombs” and to make the formal submission to the federal consultation process the first step; the mayor’s submission is to be made public. The amended motion passed 6–2, with one councillor absent from the vote, and was forwarded for same-day Council consideration so it could meet the deadline.
Agreement
The city should make its position known through the federal consultation process before the deadline.
The wording should be clear and structured as a formal submission that can also be issued publicly.
Disagreement
Supporters said the pipeline could increase climate and coastal risks and that Victoria should state its opposition.
Opponents argued that the motion could damage relationships with people elsewhere in Canada, questioned the value of the city taking this position, or preferred the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ approach focused on safety, oversight and consultation.
Most councillors supported removing the “carbon bombs” phrase as too rhetorical for a formal submission; the mover said she stood by its expression of residents’ urgency.
Decisions
Victoria has not published the minutes for this meeting yet. Councils post minutes only after a later meeting adopts them, usually two to six weeks afterwards. We check weekly. We last checked Fri, Oct 2, 2026. Votes and decisions are taken only from the official minutes, so this section fills in once Victoria publishes them. Anything above about motions comes from the recording and is preliminary.