Council approved two sets of minutes and adopted new rules for street entertainment, including a licensing scheme for performances in city streets and public places. The most contested decision was a three-reading change to the Delegation Bylaw: a councillor objected that some administrative powers should remain with Council and be decided in public, and two councillors voted against it. The change passed and will return to Council for final adoption. Council also unanimously agreed to move into a closed meeting to discuss land, law enforcement, litigation and confidential intergovernmental negotiations.
Generated from the recording's captions and the official minutes.
Council approved the May 7 and May 14, 2026 Council meeting minutes through the consent agenda. The chair said that approval at Council is final, so the minutes will not return for another vote.
Routine: approve the minutes of the May 7 and May 14, 2026 Council meetings.
Official wording: That the following Consent Agenda items be approved:
F.1 Minutes from the Council (to follow COTW) Meeting held May 07, 2026
That the minutes from the Council (to follow COTW) meeting held May 07, 2026 be approved.
F.2 Minutes from the Council (to follow COTW) Meeting held May 14, 2026
That the minutes from the Council (to follow COTW) meeting held May 14, 2026 be approved.
Council gave first, second and third readings to an amendment to the Delegation Bylaw. The amendment updates the Anchor Rod Encroachment Agreement and adds delegations of authority to staff. A councillor said the existing delegation powers were already too broad and that decisions involving matters of public concern should remain with Council in open meetings. The councillor supported the Schedule A changes but objected to some Schedule B changes. The amendment passed with two councillors opposed and will return to Council for final adoption.
Disagreement
A councillor objected to expanding or retaining broad staff powers over matters of public concern, citing housing and facilities that could support people using illicit drugs; the councillor said these matters should be decided by Council in public.
The opposing councillor said they had no objection to the Schedule A changes but found some Schedule B changes problematic. Two councillors voted against the readings.
Give the proposed change to the Delegation Bylaw its first three readings. This advances the amendment through those readings; the motion does not say that it is being adopted.
Official wording: That the following bylaw be given first, second, and third readings:
1. Delegation Bylaw, Amendment Bylaw (No. 2), No. 26-050
Council adopted the Street Entertainment Bylaw and related miscellaneous amendments. The bylaws set rules and a licensing scheme for street entertainment on city streets and public places, and make related changes following the replacement of the Street Vendors Bylaw. The vote was unanimous.
Adopt the street entertainment rules and related bylaw changes, putting those bylaws into effect.
Official wording: That the following bylaws be adopted:
1. Street Entertainment Bylaw, No. 26-043
2. Street Entertainment Miscellaneous Amendments Bylaw, No. 26-044
Council unanimously voted to meet in private under the Community Charter. The stated grounds included land matters, law enforcement, litigation or potential litigation, and confidential negotiations involving another level of government.
Agreement
The motion to close the meeting passed unanimously.
Hold a portion of the meeting without the public to discuss the listed confidential land, law-enforcement, litigation, and intergovernmental-negotiation matters.
Official wording: That Council convene a closed meeting that excludes the public under Section 90 of the Community Charter for the reason that the following agenda items deal with matters specified in Sections 90(1) and/or (2) of the Community Charter, namely:
Section 90(1) A part of a council meeting may be closed to the public if the subject matter being considered relates to or is one or more of the following:
Section 90(1)(e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality;
Section 90(1)(f) law enforcement, if the council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the conduct of an investigation under or enforcement of an enactment;
Section 90(1)(g) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality;
Section 90(2) A part of a council meeting must be closed to the public if the subject matter being considered relates to one or more of the following:
Section 90(2)(b) the consideration of information received and held in confidence relating to negotiations between the municipality and a provincial government or the federal government or both, or between a provincial government or the federal government or both and a third party;