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 November and December 2023 Council Meetings. To review all the topics discussed, click here to see the full agenda and webcast. To visit the City Council Meeting Dashboard click here.
December 14
PUBLIC HEARING: 1326 Pandora Avenue: Rezoning Application No. 00826 and Development Permit with Variances Application No. 000594
Following a Public Hearing, Council approved a Rezoning Application and Development Permit with Variances for 1326 Pandora Avenue.
Learn more about this application
Development Cost Charges (DCC) Review – Policy Direction
That Council:
1. Approve the following policy decisions for development cost charges
a. Maintain current approach of not waiving development cost charges for any classes of eligible developments, and direct staff to develop a grant program for the purpose of paying development cost charges for non-government not-for-profit non-market rental housing projects
b. Maintain current approach of not charging development cost charges on residential developments with fewer than four dwelling units
c. Maintain current exemption threshold for residential units of 29 m2 or less in area
d. Maintain the current exemption threshold of $50,000 of building permit value
2. Direct staff to engage the development community on the proposed rate changes
Council Member Motion: Call on Federal Government to Double Social Housing
Council called on the Federal Government to create and implement a coordinated plan with all three orders of government, including a blueprint to immediately and rapidly increase funding of deeply affordable housing, co-operative housing, supportive housing, seniors housing and student residences, double the relative share of non-market community housing, and asked the Mayor to share the resolution with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Council Member Motion: Fee Change to Short Term Rental Bylaws
Council set the non-principal resident operator fee to be $1,500.00. Starting May 1, 2024, these licenses will no longer be permitted by provincial law.
Council Member Motion: Pandora Boulevard Washroom
Council requested that the Mayor write to the Provincial Ministers of Housing, Social Development and Poverty Reduction, and Health, and to the leadership at BC Housing and Island Health, copying local medical health officers, to request that:
a. the province provide a temporary washroom on the 900 block of Pandora Avenue as an immediate solution to the challenges noted above, and
b. the province either staff the washroom or provide funding for a non-profit service provider organization to staff it.
Council Member Motion: Ongoing Support for the Mobile Youth Services Team (MYST)
Council requested Mayor Alto write to Mitzi Dean, Minister of Children and Family Development, Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, and Niki Sharma, Attorney General, to express support and ongoing funding, resources, and expansion for the Pacific Centre Family Services Association's Mobile Youth Services Team (MYST) and its Crime Reduction and Exploitation Diversion (CRED) program.
Council Member Motion: Budget Information
Council directed staff to report back on the impact and implications of the following potential budget adjustments, inclusions, or exclusions:
1. The current policy of capping annual property tax increases at no more than inflation plus one per cent be amended to cap annual property tax increases at no more than inflation.
2. Funding for the Alliance to End Homelessness in the Capital region to be discontinued after 2024, and identify the information needed from the Alliance to confirm the return on investment for the City of Victoria.
3. Adjust industrial property tax rates to levels comparable to non-industrial commercial rates.
4. increase the allocation to accelerate the addition of Indigenous place names on roads signs, and information plaques and kiosks at historical places throughout the city.
5. increase our commitment to public washroom facilities, including accessible facilities, in parks and at strategic locations in the downtown.
6. Create a nominal, cashless fee payment system for the city hall bike valet service (perhaps remaining free for under 12s?) or find other ways to make the service revenue-neutral or cut down the cost through other revenue sources.
7. Add to the regular budget $60,000 for each of the North Park Neighbourhood Association and the Downtown Residents’ Association budgets for their Executive Director(s) and other uses.
8. Add $100,000 to the Festival Investment Grant, to come from a minor property tax increase.
9. The "Local Street Rehabilitation" program, which should be at $5M, is set at $4.6M this year. Add $400,000 from a general property tax increase to help bring road paving/infrastructure back to sustainable levels and bring that budget to $5M per year.
10. A grant of approximately $30,000 to the Sanctuary Youth Centre from remaining strategic grant funds.
11. Increase the planting or replanting of trees on City property without further tax increases.
12. Eliminating the permissive tax exemptions for organizations identifying as religious organizations that do not have charitable status.
Council additionally directed staff to report back with information in response to the following budget-related questions:
1. Please summarize City expenditures to external operators delivering or supplementing City programs.
2. Why is the Finance department allocation going up by 11.56 per cent? Within that, parking services seems to be going up 12.54 per cent but parking revenue only 2.79 per cent - how to explain/compensate for the differential?
3. Please explain why the IT department budget is going up 17.69 per cent. Is there room for saving?
4. Please explain the increases in the People and Culture department. Before a one-time infusion of $125K, the increase is 20.96 per cent which appears to be a net of 17.48 per cent?
5. Please provide the 2023 user numbers for the bike valet, and the user numbers from the bike lane counters throughout the city.
6. If Council were to commence the annual tax increase specific for capital starting in 2024 rather than 2025 (at the full 3 per cent or a lesser number in 2024), and continued it until the same anticipated end date in 2030, how much could that reduce contributions in the years after 2024 while still achieving the same total amount?
Learn more about the Budget process.
December 7
Council Member Motion: Delegated Development Permit applications for Missing Middle Housing
Council directed staff to consider options for making public Missing Middle project proposals with relevant details.
Council Member Motion: BC Government Bills/Act concerning Land-use and housing development proposals
Council directed staff to report back within 12 months on the implications of the new provincial housing policies.
Council Highlights December 2023
Date
Type(s)
Council Highlights