July 2021

Council Highlights provide a snapshot of the progress made on City programs, initiatives and on Council decision-making. For more information on each initiative, please visit the accompanying link where noted. The items are selected highlights from the June 2021 Council Meetings. To review all the topics discussed, click here to see the full agenda and webcast.

We welcome anyone who would like to receive Council Highlights to email us at engage@victoria.ca. To visit the City Council Meeting Dashboard, click here.

July 8

Term 1 (T1) Update
Council receive the T1 Update from staff on progress towards key deliverables and initiatives. Following this update, Council directed staff to report back on:

  • 2022 budget process on options and implications of installing a play feature in the downtown
  • budget implications in 2022 for the development and implementation of anti-racism training for all city staff, beginning with Council and senior management
  • hiring of consultants for the anti-racism training, at the T2 report
  • implications in the 2022 budget of creating an internship program at the City for under-represented populations      

Learn More about this Report                                        

Options for Processing Kitchen Scraps Originating in Victoria
Council has directed staff to continue hauling kitchen scraps to existing composting facilities on Southern Vancouver Island, and to continue to work with the CRD to monitor opportunities for regional organics processing with enhanced environmental benefits. Staff will report back to Council on the progress of these discussions in 2022.

Future Housing Needs and Gaps in Official Community Plan Capacity
Council received a report on Victoria’s future housing needs and gaps in Official Community Plan (OCP) capacity which will inform future City policy initiatives.The City will:

  • update Phase 2 of Village and Corridor Planning to include Oaklands, the eastern portion of the Hillside Avenue Corridor and the Shelbourne Street Corridor (areas originally approved for Phase 3), in addition to the planned process for Stadacona Village, Oak Bay Ave Village, Jubilee Village and related corridors (areas originally approved for Phase 2).
  • update Phase 3 of Village and Corridor Planning to consider additional opportunities to add capacity along the Fairfield Road Corridor and the Skinner Street Corridor in addition to the planned process for the James Bay area (originally approved for Phase 3).

Staff will report back to Council with a proposed comprehensive planning process for the Douglas Street Corridor as part of the Official Community Plan Annual Review 2022 (the 10-year review that will be reported to Council in 2023).

2022 Draft Budget Update
Council has directed staff to develop a draft 2022 Financial Plan for Council’s consideration in October 2021 that:

  • Provides for continued services and service levels
  • Provides options for mitigation strategies that build on those used in 2020 and 2021 that could achieve a lower tax increase including:
    • Vacancy management
    • Travel, conference and training budget savings
    • Capital budget property tax funding reallocation to operating budget
    • Use of remaining Restart Grant (if UBCM grant application for Strengthening Communities is successful)

In addition, staff willreport back on the implications of adding the Our Place funding request for storage and extended hours as part of the annual budget.

North Park Neighbourhood Association Funding Request for Use of Royal Athletic
Council has awarded a $9,985.22 grant to the North Park Neighborhood Association (NPNA) to fund the cost of hosting programs and events at Royal Athletic Park in 2021 and encourages the NPNA to engage with the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society, the Intercultural Association, and the Muslim Association Mosque.

July 15

PUBLIC HEARING: 701 Tyee Road – Development Permit with Variance Application
Following a Public Hearing, Council voted to approve a Development Permit with Variance for 701 Tyee Road. This application will allow for phase 3 construction of the Railyards development.

PUBLIC HEARING: 324/328 Cook Street and 1044, 1048 and 1052/1054 Pendergast Street – Rezoning Application and Development Permit with Variance
Following a Public Hearing, Council voted to approve a Rezoning Application and Development Permit with Variance for 324/328 Cook Street and 1044, 1048 and 1052/1054 Pendergast Street. This application will allow for construction of a four-storey, mixed-use building with ground-floor commercial uses and residential units above.

July 22 

Beacon Hill Park Vehicle Access
Council has directed staff to reopen Bridge Way from Arbutus Way to Heywood Way in Beacon Hill Park that was closed due to the pandemic. Staff will work with the disability community to appropriately provide equitable access to facilities and amenities in Beacon Hill Park while reducing the impacts of motor vehicle traffic on all park users, including people with disabilities. Council will ensure any future closures adhere to the British Columbia Human Rights Legislation. Council will also consider an allocation in the 2022 Financial Plan to contract external experts to support the city in providing accessibility for people with mobility impairments in Beacon Hill Park while reducing the impacts of motor vehicle traffic on park users.

Council Member Motion - Funding for the protection of the Kings Road Community Nature Green Space
The City will providea donation of $250,000 to Saanich for the preservation of the King’s Road Community Nature Sanctuary subject to:

  • The District of Oak Bay making a contribution of at least $60,000
  • Preservation of the entire 2.2 hectare parcel
  • A plaque or other appropriate measure recognizing the City’s contribution on behalf of its residents
  • Registering a covenant on title to ensure that the parcel remains green space in perpetuity
  • An agreement, that would require repayment of the grant (adjusted for inflation) if the land is used for a purpose other than publicly accessible community green space
  • That Council request that Saanich consider whether to incorporate Bowker Creek or an Indigenous place name into a permanent name for this green space

Council will consider an additional donation of up to $150,000 as part of the 2022 budget deliberations.

Council Member Motion: Making Permanent Victoria's Street Patio Policy
Council has directed staff toidentify processes for facilitating permanent closures of travel lanes and/or full roadways to facilitate increased public space and/or zones for permitted commercial use, beginning with the 1300 Block on Gladstone from Fernwood Street to Stanley Avenue as a pilot program with measures to ensure accessibility for people with mobility impairments. Staff will report back to update and extend the current Business Recovery from Pandemic Bylaw (#20-072) prior to October 31, 2021 with measures to ensure accessibility for people with mobility impairments.

Agreement with Island Health for Administering COVID-19 Vaccination
Council approved an agreement with Island Health for the provision of clinical and non-clinical support by City of Victoria Firefighters at the COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics established in Greater Victoria.

July 29

PUBLIC HEARING: 546 and 566-658 Yates Street – Rezoning Application
Following a Public Hearing, Council voted to approve a Rezoning Application for 546 and 566-568 Yates Street. This application will allow for the use of storefront cannabis retailer at 566-568 Yates Street and remove the use of Storefront Cannabis Retailer from 546 Yates Street.

Council Member Motion: Emancipation Day
The Mayor, on behalf of Council, will write to the Government of Canada to call for Emancipation Day on August 1 to be recognized as a national holiday.