June 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.

June 3

Council Member Motion: Support for Housing Outreach Pilot Project
Council has authorized a one-time grant of $60,000 to the Quadra Village Community Centre and partner agencies for the Housing Outreach Pilot Project, funded from the 2021 contingency, ensuring access to this service for newcomers, Indigenous, Black, Asian and other persons of colour.

Appointments of Council members as Alternates to the CRD Water Supply Commission
Councillor Potts has been appointed as the 1st alternate, Councillor Andrew as the 2nd alternate, and Councillor Alto as the 3rd alternate to the CRD Water Supply Commission.

June 10

PUBLIC HEARING: 1210 Topaz Avenue – Development Variance Permit
Following a Public Hearing, Council voted to approve a Development Variance Permit for 1210 Topaz Avenue. This application will allow for additions to a non-conforming public building (Sikh Temple) and a one-stall parking variance.

PUBLIC HEARING: 1177-1185 Fort Street and 1043-1045 Linden Avenue – Rezoning Application and Development Permit with Variances
Following a Public Hearing, Council voted to approve a Rezoning Application and Development Permit with Variances for 1177-1185 Fort Street and 1043-1045 Linden Avenue. This application will permit the current uses following the termination of its Land Use Contract.

PUBLIC HEARING: 415 and 435 Michigan Street – Rezoning Application and Development Permit with Variances
Following a Public Hearing, Council voted to approve a Rezoning Application and Development Permit with Variances for 415/435 Michigan Street. This application will allow for construction of 24 ground-orientated residential units.

Council Member Motion – Permissive Tax Exemptions of Parking Lots, Existing Properties
The exemption for the parking lot portion of all properties subject to a permissive tax exemption will be reduced by 20 per cent each year over a five-year period, beginning in 2023, where surface parking lots are 50 per cent or more of the total property area.

Council Member Motion - Canada Day 2021
The City of Victoria will put on hold plans for the virtual Canada Day celebration this year. Staff will work with the Songhees and Esquimalt Chiefs, the City family and the long-standing Lekwungen participants in the City’s Canada Day celebrations to explore the use of the hour-long TV broadcast as an educational opportunity to be broadcast by September 6, 2021. The City will potentially draw on the footage of the Reconciliation Dialogues and on any contributions the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations may wish to make, including words from the Chiefs, songs and dances by the Lekwungen Dancers.

Council Member Motion: Universal No-Cost Prescription Contraception
The Mayor will write to the Premier, Minister of Health, and local MLAs, calling on the government to adopt universal no-cost prescription contraception that covers an expansive range of options without delay, to improve public health in an equitable and cost-effective way.

Council Member Motion: Response to the Province - Resolution on Land Value Taxation
The Mayor will write to the province commenting on the Province’s response to a resolution on land value taxation. The response will indicate that separate rates on land and improvements would allow “unfairly” high tax rates on undeveloped or underdeveloped land. The purpose of differential rates is precisely to impose relatively higher rates on such underdeveloped land, in order to encourage development and to avoid land being held as vacant buildings, as surface parking lots, or other low-intensity uses. Like other cities, Victoria has at times suffered from land being held in such uses. While development of such properties will not actually reduce property taxes, it will certainly reduce taxes relative to the income from the property.

June 17

Council Member Motion - Release and Monitoring of Repeat Offenders Living in the Community While Awaiting Disposition of Charges
Mayor Helps, on behalf of Council, will write to David Eby (Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing), Josie Osborne (Minister of Municipal Affairs), Mike Farnworth (Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General) and Capital Region District municipal Councils, to express the City of Victoria’s concern that those charged with violent or serious offences are being released on a “promise to appear” or released from the court prematurely. The letter will further ask the provincial government to find ways to keep such individuals in custody until charge disposition or until an informed determination of their potential risk to public safety can be made, and/or to provide sufficient funds for policing, for community safety and social support to assist with and support these individuals while they are living in the community while awaiting disposition.

Council Member Motion - Beacon Hill Park Sheltering
Council has directed staff to bring forward amendments to the Parks Regulation Bylaw to add Beacon Hill Park to the list of parks prohibited for overnight sheltering for a two year period from the date of bylaw adoption. Staff will report back to Council with any additional considerations to those outlined in this report with respect to the condition of Beacon Hill Park and plans for remediation, and with any additional advice or recommendations staff have with respect to overnight sheltering in City parks, and report back to Council in May 2023 with an update on the progress of park remediation so that Council can determine whether to extend the prohibition on sheltering in Beacon Hill Park beyond the initial two-year period.

Victoria Housing Reserve Fund - 1419 Mallek Crescent (Kiwanis Village Society of Victoria)
Council has approved a grant from the Victoria Housing Reserve Fund to the Kiwanis Village Society of Victoria in the amount of $305,000 to assist in the construction of a four-storey 78-unit housing project at 1419 Mallek Crescent. The housing units will be rentals for a period of 60 years for seniors (55+) with median income, with 36 studio units, 40 one-bedroom units, and 2 two-bedroom units.

Council Member Motion: Union of BC Municipalities Resolution - Provincial Support for TRC, MMIWG2S and UNDRIP Recommendations
Council has endorsed a resolution that will be forwarded to the UBCM and member local governments requesting the UBCM call on the Province of British Columbia to provide support and equitable access to funding for trauma-informed, Indigenous-led education, training, and policy guidance for local governments and associated law enforcement and emergency services to implement municipal-specific recommendations from the TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission), MMIWG2S (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women; Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls; and Missing and Murdered Women, Girls and 2-Spirit People), and UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People).

Council Member Motion: UBCM Resolution – Inclusion of Allied Health Workers
Council endorsed a resolution and will forward copies to the UBCM and member local governments requesting that the Province expand access to and funding for allied health professionals, particularly mental health counselling specialties, and physical/ occupational therapy related specialties, through expansion of team-based care through not-for-profit delivery including community health centres, available to all BC residents regardless of their immigration status and income, throughout the province, and that the Province increase support and funding for Peer Navigators as part of the BC Mental Health and Addictions Strategy.

June 24

PUBLIC HEARING: 2440 and 2448 Richmond Road – Rezoning Application and Development Permit with Variances
Following a Public Hearing, Council voted to approve a Rezoning Application and Development Permit with Variances for 2440 and 2448 Richmond Road. This application will allow for construction of two new three-storey multi-unit residential buildings (one on each lot).

PUBLIC HEARING: 2740 and 2742 Fifth Street – Rezoning Application and Development Variance Permit
Following a Public Hearing, Council voted to approve a Rezoning Application and Development Variance Permit for 2740 and 2742 Fifth Street. This application will allow for construction of a new single family dwelling in the rear yard of the existing duplex.

PUBLIC HEARING: 819-823 and 825/827 Fort Street – Development Permit with Variance
Following a Public Hearing, Council voted to approve a Development Permit with Variance for 819-823 and 825/827 Fort Street. This application will allow for changes to the previously-approved plans with a parking variance.

PUBLIC HEARING: 900-912 Vancouver Street and 930-990 Burdett Avenue – Development Permit with Variance
Following a Public Hearing, Council voted to approve a Development Permit with Variance for 900-912 Vancouver Street and 930-990 Burdett Avenue. This application will allow for construction to build a classroom building.

2020 Annual Report
Council received the City’s 2020 Annual Report, an overview of the major achievements and significant projects completed during the past year, as well as detailed financial statements.

Council Member Motion: Reconsideration of Council Motion on Development Permit with Variance Application for 1475 Fort Street
Council will refer a proposal back to staff to work with the applicant to reduce the size of the building footprint in order to retain as many trees as practicable, and consider increasing the setbacks to lessen the impact and to further secure privacy for adjacent neighbours while still creating a viable rental housing project.