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 October 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.
October 26
PUBLIC HEARING: 182 Wilson Street: Rezoning Application No. 00847
Following a Public Hearing, Council voted to approve a Rezoning Application for 182 Wilson Street.
Learn more about this application
Rental Housing Incentives
Council directed staff to:
1. Prepare a Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw to incentivize the inclusion of units affordable to median income households in new market rate rental developments and to encourage additional investment in non-market rental housing projects.
2. Report back on the results of the Revitalization Tax Exemption program after one year of the Revitalization Tax Exemption Program Bylaw being in effect for rental housing projects.
3. Consider a 100% reduction in Development Cost Charges for non-market rental housing projects through the Development Cost Charge Program Review.
4. Update the Victoria Housing Reserve Fund Guidelines to align with senior government programs, remove the maximum grant cap, increase up front grant payments, support larger family friendly units and equity deserving groups, and fund below-market housing units as described in the report.
5. Prepare a Rental Housing Policy and Incentives Handbook, as described in the report.
Council Member Motion: Municipal Election Reform Request to Government of BC
Council called on the Government of British Columbia to:
1. Provide municipal election canvassers with the same access to multifamily buildings enjoyed by provincial and federal election canvassers.
2. To work with local governments to modernize the use of campaign signs in public spaces enhance other modes of informing citizens of municipal elections or provide municipal governments with funding to do so.
3. Do more to achieve a higher voter participation rate in municipal elections by young adults and renters, who have been underrepresented at the polls.
4. Provide the same tax credits to municipal election donors as provided to provincial and federal election donors.
October 19
Council Member Motion: Continued Actions on Unsheltered Homelessness
Council direct staff to:
1. Work in collaboration with the province to create seasonal shelters throughout the region which would operate annually from approximately November 1st until March 31st.
2. Allocate, at the discretion of the City Manager, a portion of available funds set aside for homelessness in the 2023 budget towards extending the contract of the Parks Relocation Coordinators to continue their work in all parks.
Patio Bylaw Regulation Report Back
Council direct staff to bring forward amendments to the Patio Regulation Bylaw (#23-052) as described in this report:
1. Report back at a future date with a proposal that would allow for the provision of “seasonal” patios on unpaved boulevards by January 31, 2026.
2. Negotiate and enter into Agreements to hardscape unpaved boulevards, at the applicant’s expense, with provisions to protect critical root zones, with those businesses who held a Build Back Victoria Permit for a temporary patio on an unpaved boulevard under the Business Recovery from Pandemic Bylaw (20-072) on March 30, 2023 with terms satisfactory to the Director of Parks, Recreation, & Facilities, Director of Engineering & Public Works, and the City Solicitor.
October 12
PUBLIC HEARING: 419 and 421 Stannard Avenue: Rezoning Application No. 00787 and Development Permit with Variances No. 000603
Following a Public Hearing, Council voted to approve a Rezoning Application and Development Permit with Variances for 419 and 421 Stannard Avenue.
Learn more about this application
Council Member Motion: Enabling an Affordable Downtown Community Arts Hub
Council provided the non-profit arts organization running the arts hub a grant of $390,000 to be paid out of 2024 and 2025 budgets and directed staff to investigate and report back on options for securing an affordable long-term community arts hub, such as the one at 780 Blanshard Street.