Transcript: Council (to follow COTW) - 2026/07/02

Welcome to today's July 2nd, daytime Victoria City Council meeting. I believe that we will be shortly joined by Councillor Kim, and so when that happens, we will all be here in one body. Today we have for our consideration at Council, two sets of minutes. Reports from one earlier committee of the whole, one bylaw, and a brief closed item. But before we begin our work together, we always begin taking a moment to ground ourselves and a recognition and acknowledgement of the lands and waters that surround these lands on this wonderful island, south end of the island that we all live, and that we attribute, of course, much of that opportunity to the generations of stewardship afforded to the lens and waters by the LeCongan people of the Songhees Nation and the Costapsum Nation. We continue to enjoy a remarkable relationship with both nations, and we always know that it's important for us to acknowledge that and to also acknowledge the importance of nurturing that relationship and

ensuring that it is solid enough that when times are good, it is easy, and it is family. And what times are more challenging, it is still family, and it allows us to move through those challenges with a reciprocal understanding of the needs that we all need to achieve for all of our residents and members. We've had a wonderful opportunity yesterday to join with the nation's to celebrate Canada at Angeli 1st, and it was great to begin that extravaganza, of course, with a performance by the LaCongan Dancers, and also to hear the wisdom and words shared with us from leaders from both nations. And it continues to be a privilege to work with them in collaboration as family members and as colleagues, and to look among all of us at the opportunities that exist for every member who has an opportunity to be here. Every resident has an opportunity to be here in Victoria to seize the opportunities that can be created and seized, and they're

unexpected occasionally to do the best that we can. Thinking of all of it that has come before us challenging. The amazing things that we have in the present day, but also looking ahead to many generations, hopefully, to how our decisions will affect those who come after. With that, we always like to say thank you and offer a bit of respect by saying so in the language of the Le Quangun folk, and that is to say Hexkim Nichulia, to offer our thanks, but also our respect to those who make a choice each day to take a moment to do something that will increase the betterment of all of the folks who have the joy of living here in Victoria. Highdracy McWheelia. I have no additional remarks to make today, and I'm not aware of any late items that need to be added to today's agenda, and so I would look for someone to move the publicly distributed agenda. Thanks Councillor Coleman, Second Vice Councillor Thompson. Any

discussion on the published agenda. Not seeing any discussions, so all those in favor, name would oppose. That is unanimous. We do have three items proposed for the consent agenda, and I'll just read them for the public, for the record. It is item F1, which are the minutes from the Council meeting the daytime Council meeting of April 23rd, item F2. The minutes from the daytime council meeting of May 21st, an item G1AA, that is the development permit with variances application for 2839 and 2845 Cedar Hale Road. Just as a reminder, that items are placed on the consent agenda at Council if, in fact, they were either, or both, unanimous at committee, and also preliminary readings of a bylaw. Does anyone wish to remove any of those?

I don't believe the qualifies to be added. All right, seeing nothing else or someone like to move the consent, thanks Councillor Coleman, Secreted by Councillor Thompson, all those in favor, anyone opposed. That is unanimous. We would usually go on to the consideration of minutes, but of course we just added those minutes to the consent agenda, both for the minutes for April 23rd and May 21st. And just as a reminder, because we are in Council, when those items are adopted as part of consent, that concludes their consideration as Council makes the final determination. So we will not see those again. We move on then to Section G, and this is G1, the Committee of the whole report from the June 18th Committee of the Whole meeting.

The first item there, G1AA, we just placed on the consent agenda, and just as a reminder, this was the development permit with variances application. For 2839 and 2845 Cedar Hill Road, that was carried unanimously at Committee, and just as a note, there was also a motion arising regarding the exploration of additional fire safety for the second block that was also carried unanimously. Moving on to item G1ab, this was the Victoria Housing Strategy Annual Review for 2025. Uh, these parts of this were carried in parts unanimously in parts were not, so we will look at them in parts again. Uh, item number one was carry unanimously, so the need for us to vote on that. Item number two was not unanimous, and so I would ask someone to move a number two again. Some would like to move number two, thanks Councillor Thompson's. Senator My Council Caradona. Thompson, her Caradonna for the discussion, not seeing anyone else any further discussion. Just on number two. Not seeing

any further discussion, all those in favor. Anyone opposed. Councillor Hammond, a Councillor Gardner, our opposed to, number two. As well, number three was not carried unanimously, and so again, it asks someone to move number three. Thanks, Councillor Thompson, seconded by Councillor Caradona, Thompson, any comments, carry on any comments. Anybody else, any comments? Council Grudner, on number three. Sorry, I had my high - end up, you didn't see it before. So, on the second and third one, that's what both of them. I voted against them because I didn't feel that we are currently working on accurate database population data. Thank you. Great, thank you very much.

Anyone else on number three. Not seeing anyone else, all those in favor. And I want opposed. Councillor Gardner is opposed. And note, I believe Councillor Kim has not yet returned to us, so just noting that for the record. There were no items from this morning's Committee with a hole that required same day considerations, so G1B does not need to be considered, and that moves us onto bylaws. There's one bylaw for our adoption. This is the amendment bylaw for development cost charges, someone like to move adoption, please Councillor Thompson's moving. Councillor Devil is seconding Councillor Thompson, any comments. Councillor Dell, any comments? Nope. Anyone else? Any comments? Again, this is adoption of the development cost charges bylaw, not seeing any further comments, all those in favor.

And it would oppose. That is unanimous. Again, noting absence of Councillor Kim. That would take us on to our closed meeting. That concludes all of the items for the open portion of the meeting. Mr. Kingsley, as I always do, would you please remind us and the public remind Council on the public of the relevant sections of the Community Charter that either enable or require Council to consider a matter in closed? Certainly, Mayor, the reasons proposed today to close the meeting are under Section 91C of the Community Charter regarding labour relations or other employee relations. Section 91E regarding the acquisition, disposition, or expropriation of lando improvements.

Section 91F regarding a law enforcement matter, and Section 92b regarding the consideration of information received and held in confidence relating to negotiations within the municipality and another level of government. Thank you very much for those reasons. Someone please move a motion to move into close. Thanks, Councillor Coleman, seconded by Councillor Dell. Any discussion, seeing none O's in favor. And when opposed. It appears to be unanimous. With that then, I will just note that, um, we will take our lunch break now a little bit early, return at one o'clock for the remaining single remaining item on our closed agenda. I will note for the public, we do not have an evening meeting tonight, and so the next time you will see us, we'll be nine o'clock.

Next July 9th, 9 - 9. And actually, just as a reminder, and I will remind folks, next week as well, the regularly scheduled evening meeting on July 9th has been rescheduled to the 23rd, and so, uh, next week you will see us during the day, but not during the evening, as you might otherwise expect. With that then, Council, I would suggest that we do perhaps reward ourselves lately, uh, by having a slightly longer lunch break than usual, and that we return at 1 p. m. for our closed agenda.