Council Meeting

Good evening, View Royal, and welcome to the council meeting for Tuesday, July 7th, 2025.

We would like to acknowledge the Kosapsam and Songhees nations for their long-standing and traditional relationship to the land and uh also our close neighbors.

Uh this evening we'll hear from the public during the public participation and the question period portions of the agenda.

Um there is an item on here that is an OCP amendment.

If you've read the agenda, you will find that uh the amendment is mainly to pull us in compliance with the uh federal housing legislation.

Part of the agenda item is to um is to for us to move permission per staff to organize a public hearing.

Um so if you've got comments on that, uh you're free to well and welcome to present them tonight but i would urge you to hold off to the public hearing therefore council can be informed uh along other people's opinions for it uh to provide comments virtually during the public participation period or to ask a question or questions during the question period you will see a qr code or a url on the live webcast you can see it on the screen here uh and uh or the town's website just under the link for why uh live webcast scan the qr code or type in the URL and through the form that pops up, type in your comment or question to be read aloud at the appropriate time by a member of the webcast team.

And you will need to provide your name and just your street name, not your number.

If you are speaking in council chambers, same rules apply.

So public participation comments are limited to five minutes for each speaker and must be related to an item on the agenda.

Questions are more open and can be on any question to council and is limited to two minutes each.

Meeting will be recorded by participating in the webcast.

You are consenting to being recorded, and the recording will be available on the town've got a consent agenda colleagues this evening.

So we can pull any of those items out that we would like.

And I would probably start that show and uh pull out item.

And that would be item 10A.

Uh because I noticed the uh author is in here and probably wants to speak to it.

So 10A will become 11A.

Is there any other thing on the consent agenda that we would like to pull out that people would want to speak to?

Council Rogers.

Item D, Chilco traffic.

Item D, Chilco traffic.

Okay, so that would become uh 11B.

Okay, anything else any other errors or omissions that uh colleagues would like to address in the agenda can i get a motion to uh approve the agenda please move by counselor brown second by counselor rogers all those in favor any opposed seeing none opposed motion carries and i think that brings us quickly to public participation period uh is there any member of the audience that would like to address council on any item on the agenda.

Please.

Here we go.

Uh thank you, your worship.

Uh counselors, uh staff.

Uh my name is Terry Hoff, West Urban Developments.

My address 111-2036, South Island Highway, Camber River, British Columbia.

Thank you very much for the opportunity.

I just want to just uh give you a quick synopsis of our the development at Nine Erskine Lane that's before you.

Uh this development, uh 336 units.

It started in July of 2022.

Uh challenging development uh uh of that magnitude.

Um I'm i'm i'm very, very, very pleased with uh its final outcome.

It wasn't with its without challenges, obviously, uh, to build four buildings in that magnitude in in the location uh rocky environment uh uh two level underground parkade uh lots of uh lots of challenges with the topography but overall uh it's an asset that we're very proud probably the nicest one will nicest development will likely ever ever be challenged on so the outcome of it is is uh is very very very good um a few highlights of the project uh obviously the uh double underground parquet dog walks uh dog uh run area, um uh bike share, uh street improvements, lighting, the uh bike path to the galloping goose, uh beautiful looking buildings, um 34 affordable units, uh three bedroom units in this building, which are incredibly sought after for families.

We have a lot of young families and children that are living on the site.

We have a bike share, community garden, uh tasteful landscaping, um, just uh an incredible location.

Certainly we're very appreciative of the support that we had from Mayor and Council during the rezoning uh took a couple of years before we started that.

And I've been it's been very near and dear to my heart, this development.

I knocked on four hundred and thirty-four doors personally during the rezoning um period of the developments, and uh and then right through to construction and now we've got what I consider to be an absolute asset for the uh city of View Royal.

It's uh a pretty spectacular development very very been very well received.

Uh certainly uh staff in View Royal has been outstanding and their support of the project as we you know walked through some of the challenges and the nuances of the development site.

Certainly we had a huge appreciation for the neighborhood for their cooperation and their um support as well as their patience while we developed the challenging one road, one way in, one way out with you know, think about all the materials that had to come through on that development site on a daily basis.

The, you know, the the the brand new intersection, uh, the uh is uh it was pretty good.

Obviously there was a lot of challenge there initially it was supposed to be a roundabout so a lot of time and energy spent designing a roundabout and in the end of the day engineering wise it just wouldn't fit so we went with the lighted intersection um I think it actually turned out turned out really quite well all things considered with the intersection there.

I spend a lot of time in Victoria as we have other developments and I work down here a few days a week and I'm out there a lot and I watch the traffic coming and going and by all accounts it it's uh it's looking you know like like it's having a fairly minimal impact to their residents in the neighborhood.

Certainly we haven't heard uh any negative feedback from residents on Erskine and I know a lot of them personally because I spent a lot of time talking to them during the process.

Before you in our handouts uh I've highlighted the highlights there are some a few variances that were development permit variants that we're requesting so we can get final occupancy and then this project is a hundred percent complete and uh we'll continue to uh to manage the asset and continue to uh to uh enjoy the development in its current state and um happy to answer any questions.

I have my colleague here, uh Matthew Fitzgerald, the director of planning at West Urban Developments.

Any planning related questions, we're happy to answer them.

And uh just wanted to say thank you to council and mayor and the planning staff for the support on this is the largest multifamily development site on Vancouver Island.

And uh a lot of people said, well, Terry, that's an awfully big challenge that you're that you're taking on in View Royal, but we uh we completed it.

If you think about it, we went through the worst economic uh development time in the history of development in the last 15 years because this project happened and the economics of the day changed so drastically.

It was right when the Bank of Canada started increasing interest rates, seven interest rate hikes during a project of this magnitude.

So you can imagine the impact that that would have on a development of this magnitude because those uh can that's construction financing is you know is is tied to to interest rates.

So as those rates go up, it made it made it a much more uh expensive building.

And uh, but we still got four buildings completed in in three years, and the blasting and the uh the civil work and the frontage improvements.

Uh when I walk there now, and I'm I'm I'd look at it and and I I I just want to say thanks.

We couldn't have done it without you, and I'm really very, very proud of what we were able to accomplish.

It's an asset to be royal.

So thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Hoff very much.

Because this is uh under uh petition and delegation.

I think we limit our comments here, but what we'd like to be able to do, Mr.

Hoff, is invite you back at the time of the variants.

We've uh we can uh we'll receive your um your document that you did provide.

Thanks for that to give us an overview.

We'll also, if I understand, be dealing with the variants separately uh with staff.

But I th I I encouraged Mr.

Hoff to come and kind of highlight as well as send in um uh kind of a photo documentation of what we've achieved because often council is involved in uh approving a project, but once it's approved, we don't hear back from the status of the project uh or and be able to see those things fulfilled.

I had the opportunity to walk through uh the lane uh piece as well as the uh graveled access to the uh hospital and uh yeah it was good to see young families uh and all your three bedrooms are full now right oh yeah the three bedrooms are are very sought after there were first units to go and I didn't mention the uh the uh the thanks for helping get approval from this uh CR Capital Regional District for us to be able to to top dress that walkway there it's I watch people walking through there every day now there's no tripping hazards it's fenced and it's you know it's a very safe and of course we have a lot of residents living in the building that work in uh in the hospital in very various capacities, and you watch them walking to work every day, coming home for lunch, and then of course you've got a lot of the neighborhood that like to use it as a pathway to walk their pets and so on and so forth.

And so it's uh it's just it's a nice safe walking area to get to the hospital now.

And I think council, you would we sent in the the glossary that had some explanations and some pictures, but uh absolutely when when it hits council's next agenda, myself and Matthew will both be here as participants to answer any questions that staff or council may have with regards to the the variants that are will be before you.

Excellent.

Thanks, uh Mr.

Hoff.

I'm I'm not gonna allow questions right now, uh Mr.

Rogers.

Uh no, I'm not gonna allow questions right now.

Uh and then we'll they'll they're gonna come back and uh do a presentation because that would be uh changing our procedure.

But thank you, Mr.

Ross.

Thank you.

I'll send you an email.

Okay.

Is there anybody else in the chamber that would like to address counsel?

Seeing nobody, Carl, we got anybody that has mailed a uh anything in.

Mayor Tobias, no uh messages.

Okay, thank you.

Uh I think this uh brings us down to bylaws, uh parks and public places.

I think uh Ivan, is that you?

Or no, this is uh Chief Hurst.

Um so what we've got is a bylaw for adoption.

It's already been presented if you're going to be able to do adoption.

Second, uh any other discussion?

No questions.

Questions?

Okay, all those in favor.

Any opposed?

Seeing none opposed, motion carries.

It's a little bit after the line, but just in general for these, like if we just could be just a quick what it's about, because sometimes the community doesn't know and we just pass it and just looks a little funny.

Appreciate that.

So uh item B, municipal ticket information bylaw six four three and a bylaw to amend uh the municipal ticket information.

Move adoption.

Is that enough of an explanation or do you want more, Council Matson?

J just a comment.

Council Mattson's point is actually is right on and it would be very helpful for the for the public and I suppose the council to have a summary uh we had to ask for this in the past as a as a matter of routine so I think we should reinst reinstitute uh that uh courtesy to the public no agree uh staff do you want to help us out with a little uh bit of a brief on that or uh the I can read this out uh it deletes schedule three in its entirety and substitutes an amend schedule three.

Um, and I think what we're looking for is the purpose, and I believe it was to update it.

Am I correct?

Yes.

Okay.

Councilor Brown.

Yeah, well, this is typically a housekeeping item when you're dealing with the amendment to the ticketing bylaw.

So any bylaw that has a uh schedule of offenses and and fines, uh, it's a matter of cleaning them up from time to time.

So really it's a housekeeping item.

My only comment is it's just the important thing about the parks is we provide access for campers for some parks, but not for the rest of them.

And that's probably the most important thing about about this.

About the bylaw itself.

Yeah.

Agree, Councillor Ratson.

Councillor Rogers.

Yes, and you know, I I take uh Councilor Brown's point.

Um, in this particular instance, however, um bylaw one zero nine four is directly tied to bylaw 1095.

And so um while it may be housekeeping, uh the correlation is is germane to the public and I think again it it's just a matter of courtesy to uh inform.

Agreed.

So we had a mover and a secondary don't think we've voted for that one.

All those in favor.

Any opposed seeing none opposed uh motion carries and uh tax exemption bylaws um number one one five seven and this is for adoption and uh specifically this lists properties that are nonprofit uh or sorry for the island corridor foundation uh parcels of land within view royal that had previously been tax exempt that uh it was up for renewal so we've got moved by councillor rogers seconded by counselor lemon any comments discussion all those in favor uh by law 1157 is adopted and fees and charges bylaw nine five eight and that was last updated I see in 2016.

And uh these are fees and changes to the bylaw amendment for sewer user fees.

Just checking, Steve.

Did you want to add a little summary on that and what it was and why we're doing it?

Thank you, Mayor.

I can introduce this.

Uh members of council, Stephen Vella, Director of Finance.

A bylaw amendment is before you to adopt sewer user fee rates for 2025.

Staff's recommendation results in an overall increase to the average user of 6.19% or $26.

This user fee covers the operating costs of both the town of Uroyal and regional districts sewer infrastructure.

As stated in the report, the CRD's cost component increased 8.73%, while the town saw an increase of 5.2 percent in its cost of operations for 2025.

The transfer to sewer capital reserved for asset management accounts for about 2.5% of the 5.2.

So costs relating to core operations of the town escalated a little over 2.5%.

That is all I have.

Any questions for staff?

I think I would understand is are the total sewer costs that residents pay are uh 460 some odd dollars for both the town and the CRD.

Uh through the mayor, the total average uh will end up being 443.

Yes, that's combined.

Okay.

My other question is um a number of years ago we twinned the I think what we call the Esquimalt trunk and it sounds like we're going to be putting another sewer line in um because that's getting over capacity.

I'm just wondering if that's the case and and how would that be paid for in terms of um and what would the impact be?

Um yeah Mayor Tobias we that wouldn't be a town project as a C or D project I haven't heard of any updates on that just yet.

There was talk about that in terms of uh increasing capacity, but uh we have regular conversation with the C Ur D and it's not in the near horizon.

Okay, thank you.

And my one last question is the sewage treatment plant that's included in the CRD's $260 in terms of cost of you all, or is that an additional charge somewhere?

That is part of this.

Right.

That's it.

Thank you very much.

Any other questions?

Comments?

Uh I think we had a mover and a seconder for that.

All those in favor?

Any opposed?

Seeing none opposed, uh, that carries and fees and uh charges by law, and that's uh for the uh again for the sanitary, but uh this is for the actual first, second, and third reading.

First, second, and third.

Second.

Any other comments, discussion?

Seeing none, all those in favor.

Seeing none opposed, that motion carries.

Any opposed?

And uh that brings us down to official community uh plan amendment by law.

Just uh I'll try not to uh mess this up, uh Elna.

So firstly, we're going to um uh move first to second reading if it's uh acceptable, and then uh the first and second reading to um to uh have uh a public hearing on it.

Right.

So we need to bring it to second reading in order to have the public hearing, so that's what this is about.

Sterling, go ahead thank you mayor toias i do have a short presentation i'll just wait for it to load and then uh we can carry on thanks Carl uh so yeah to the tonight the purpose of this uh PowerPoint and uh presentation uh and report rather is to introduce the Fisher Community Plan amendment bylaw 1156 2025 uh for first and second reading.

Mayor Tobias, as you said, it is the uh the second item uh under uh under this uh council item and um the purpose of this is to ensure alignment with the town's five and 20-year housing need calculated in 2024 interim housing needs report and provide housing policies that address each of the six classes of housing need identified in the housing needs report by December 31st of 2025.

Next slide, please.

The proposed amendments that are included in this bylaw are as follows.

So the first amendment is to replace the residential and large lot residential land use designations and create a new land use designation, small scale multi-unit housing or SMA.

The second is to establish a new hospital transit oriented area land use designation uh within 200 meters of the town's identified transit oriented area on hospital way, and this would be to allow mixed-use office and apartment buildings up to 10 stories and uh up to 3.5 FSR.

Uh it is also to establish a new neighborhood village land use designation within the TOA to allow mixed use commercial and apartment buildings up to six stories and 2.5 FSR.

There are uh amendments that also include uh updates to any relevant policies or new policies, and that includes revision to an existing uh housing policy, HS 1.9, uh titled Innovative Approaches, and the amendment included the addition of shelters for persons experiencing homelessness and housing for those at risk of homelessness.

The uh second amendment to a policy was, or rather, a new policy was for the addition of HS 1.1.12 non-market units.

And this was to support the development of non-market housing for lower income populations through collaborative efforts with agencies and governments.

A new housing needs requirement subsection was added, and this was to detail the town's 20-year housing requirement between 2021 and 2041.

And then finally, a policy that was added that was not required for uh the housing legislation uh deadline was uh land use policy uh 4.14 mixed commercial development.

This was added to the land use and urban design section, and this was to encourage uh new developments, four stories and greater to have uh either commercial space or public use space on the ground floor.

And this was um uh discussed previously with councils as something uh to be included as part of this amendment bylaw.

Next slide, please.

The map on screen is the proposed land use designation map.

It's included in the amendment bylaw that was attached to the report.

The areas shown in yellow are those that are now uh or proposed to be designated uh small-scale multi-unit residential uh housing and um they were previously uh residential large lot residential the uh zoom in uh shown in the circle there shows the area um around the hospital uh transit oriented area uh designations and it includes the hospital transit oriented area designation and the uh neighborhood village uh land use designation the land use designations that were previously in that area included uh community facility that would have been for Victoria General Hospital uh mixed residential uh for properties that would have been uh in uh in and around Erskine Lane and um residential or large lot residential that would have been assigned um to uh single family dwellings.

The at the previous meeting uh when this bylaw was first introduced for uh the committee's review uh September 9th committee the whole meeting staff uh had had a couple questions from the committee and I just wanted to follow up and provide some clarification.

Um there was a question on the improving the the intent or the purpose of the the amendment bylaw so the um purpose section of the amendment bylaw has been updated and staff have provided a bit more clarity in terms of how this connects to the housing legislation, specifically bills 44 and 47.

And then uh there was a question on whether the new road therapeutic recovery community facility was uh captured in the housing target order or the housing needs uh requirement.

I had a conversation with the housing target branch and the planning and land use management branch at the province and both branches confirmed that the facility would not be included in the uh in the count.

Their reasoning was just that this is a uh their their counts look specifically for permanent housing and that's more of a transitionary um it's not really yeah considered housing.

A couple other notes uh I'll make mention of is that when this bylaw was uh shared with uh the committee, um staff uh failed to realize that there was a couple things missing.

So I did want to bring to attention uh that there are a couple things that have been changed since the uh committee saw this on September the 9th.

None of this impacts the uh the the bylaw.

Um this we these were more kind of uh clerical uh fixes that staff noticed um for consistency.

So it's capitalization of some words, and um there was actually uh a bit of a descriptor for the uh land use policy uh table that's shown in the amendment bylaw that was missing uh language that would connect it to the uh land use schedule, the the map that's shown on the screen.

So uh a bit of a clerical uh miss, but we caught it in time before the uh bylaw was presented for uh consideration of readings.

Next slide, please.

The uh timeline for the adoption of this bylaw is uh hopefully um we're looking at doing a public hearing um in November and then final adoption uh likely scheduled for November or um early December.

This is coinciding with the ongoing um uh official community plan review and update.

Um so council may recall that later this month we'll be launching engagement on the western Gateway Corridor.

Um, and in November we'll be doing uh OCP policy review so general policy review for the remainder of the um the uh OCP be looking at getting a first draft of the OCP in March of 2026 and then um uh adoption going forward in uh September 2026.

Next slide please staff's recommendation is that the official community plan bylaw uh number 811 2011 amendment bylaw number 1156 2025 be introduced and given first and second reading and that a public hearing uh be scheduled.

Thank you, Council.

Thank you.

Now's the time for questions.

Council rogers.

Yeah, um I don't know.

Um I'm suddenly I'm terribly confused.

Um, you know, it um it's if I recalled, um we had um you know areas uh like um you know there was large lots or one R 1A.

And um I thought that they were um going to four units, except if they were on a rapid, uh not rapid, but a frequent bus service, then they would be um to six.

So it seemed from my recollection was that there were two colors, one being yellow, generally, where they weren't not uh adjacent to a frequent bus service.

And then there was those that were free next to a frequent bus service, and they would be uh up to six.

Can you help me with that?

Through the mayor.

Uh all of that's been addressed through a zoning bylaw.

Our zoning bylaw uh has a schedule, schedule a E, believe I believe.

And uh the differentiation there, Mr.

Uh Councillor Rogers rather, is that um yes, the there are specific areas where there would be prescribed transit stops and you'd have up to six units that would be covered within um a the schedule and a um uh a specific requirement would need to be met in terms of the distance and the uh the type of dwellings that you could have.

Um this is purely land use, so all that's going to be said in the the land use designation uh as attached to the staff report would be that up to six units could be built.

Um obviously that would be subject to the zoning bylaw though.

So nothing's changed.

We're just ensuring consistency between the zoning bylaw and the the land use bylaw.

So let me see if I get this right.

Um we're these are the general uh OCP designation, but in the further fine print, then uh the distinctions will be made that you know something that's way far away from best stop is four units.

So why don't we just make it simpler and and you know help people out and and provide the two colors um so that when they look at the map they know that they won't be up to six it just you know breeds confusion and and uh anxiety if uh if we you know leave it as it is could we help uh the public out and let them know maybe at the public hearing that might be a point to make at the hearing um but um you know if I'm coming to this I'm sweating bullets because I think my my uh all my neighbors around me are going to be going to six and did you want to make a comment?

Yeah, thank you.

Um, so through through the mayor, um council um may wish to note that the OCP is more of a high level document and um all the four to six like three to six units, that's all small scale multi unit housing.

Um sort of the the more prescriptive approach is more handled in the zoning bylaw.

So if you read the definition of small scale multi unit, not definition, the land use designation um description, it says up to six units.

And so it doesn't mean that every single unit um lot in the town will have six units, it says up to six units, and then we defer to the zoning bylaw.

If we have to add, if some other um bus stops in View Royal become frequent transit, then what that means is that we would have to do a subsequent update to the OCP by changing the color.

So it is actually quite an onerous process.

So staff's recommendation would be to keep it as one land use designation, small-scale multi-unit housing, which allows up to six units.

It's not an outright six units, and then it's further refined in and prescribed in the zoning bylaw.

That is the appropriate approach for this.

Will we be sharing that with the public so that uh you know at the at the public hearing that we can help uh anticipate the anxiety and and uh note that for when uh the hearing happens?

Um through the mayor, yes, um, we can clarify that in the staff presentation at the public hearing thank you i do have another question but i'll so similarly um we have two different shades of purple uh in the um um bill 47 hospital there's a hospital transit zone deep purple and um then there's the maybe the move the neighborhood village which i see encompasses a lot of the stone ridge um um neighborhood and um yeah uh parts on the other side of the highway so what what i see a dotted line and um is that dotted line so everything you know because within the dotted line you have both the the two colors so I'm surprised that there's two colors within the dotted line um you know of um i i is it because of what uh properties are being touched yes through the mayor the this came directly from the province so there's two uh tiers or or areas that have been specified uh zero to two hundred meters and two hundred and one meters to four hundred meters the uh distance is as Azurko flies from the um the the transit stop, and that location was also provided uh by the province and also BC transit.

So the the differentiation of colors is just to show the the two different line designations and it coincides with what was uh provided by the province.

Okay, thank you.

That helps and and again there might be that question from number 14 Erskin Lane.

Move staff recommendation.

All those in favor.

Any opposed?

Seeing none opposed, motion carries.

So the staff recommendation is that uh uh that um a public bearing uh be scheduled in accordance with the province, and uh all of this is coming primarily through uh the bills.

Um for the next one that a bylaw to amend the official community plan number 811 to introduce new housing legislation, it sounds like it's uh the same, but we're actually moving this to first and second reading in order to have the public hearing.

Um so any questions or comments on that?

I did have a a question, and and this is one I assume I'm I'm knowing the answer, but for in our housing needs, it's got extreme core housing need and persons experience home homelessness as sort of units that are somehow supposed to magically be developed throughout this process.

But I I guess my question to staff is unless the province, the CRD or a nonprofit take this on is there I don't see any way any of those would ever be built because I don't see developers building them unless we require them as part of say uh multifamily units that some be for low cost housing or something.

So am I missing something in there and are there any penalties to the town if we don't achieve some of these objectives for my understanding we're creating the designation for not creating that on a map somewhere right now.

Am I saying that right, Leah?

It's more of a needs that needs study and and what the impact is.

But through through the mayor, um, that is correct.

Um, so counselor councillor Mattson uh noted that um these are housing needs that have been um uh calculated as part of our housing needs assessment.

In terms of um penalties, I'm not aware of any penalties, and um council is correct that in order for the town to deliver this type of housing would like will require um higher level of um government um funding and investment.

Thanks.

With that, I'll move first and second.

Second.

Thank you.

So this is just to create the designations for those things, not placing them necessarily for land use at this time.

It's just to create them and then later on, uh, if we should find them, then we could draw from the OCP and uh designate those areas if that was negotiated, correct?

Uh correct.

We're not uh we're not designating where um certain types of housing will be located.

Okay, it's uh moved to first and second.

Any other comments, questions?

I think we're ready to move it.

All those in favor of the movement for the uh first and second reading for bylaw 1156.

Any opposed?

Seeing none opposed, motion carries.

Uh thank you.

Down to uh mayor's report.

Um, I'm going to skip that and just get down to uh I think we've got petitions and delegations, but Elna, did I miss something?

Yes, so we're gonna need to have a motion pass to set the public hearing date for November the 4th, please.

Right.

Um, can I get a mover and a seconder to designate November 4th as the date for the public hearing, please?

Moved by councilor Lemon, seconded by Councillor Brown.

All those in favor?

Any opposed?

Seeing none opposed.

Motion carries.

Thanks for your prompt.

I'll let I get everything signed off for the OCP stuff.

No, good, good.

Uh Mayor's report.

Uh, I will pass and defer uh for uh being expedient and uh I'll know we have no petitions and delegations.

No.

Uh then we'll move to 7A consideration of late 2025 grant and aid request.

Um I'll move staff recommendation that council considerate well approve at 2025 grant and aid application from the construction foundation of BC in the amount uh five thousand dollars.

Yeah, moved in seconded uh any discussion questions?

Yes, a question.

Uh we'll go for uh Councilor McKenzie first and then Councillor Brown.

I guess it it's not really a question, but I had voted against it at the last meeting because I was uh under the impression that there had to be an exceptional circumstance for us to consider uh grant and aid after March.

But in reading the policy, it doesn't seem to really be specified that that's what it has to be.

And and therefore I'll be changing my vote tonight.

But uh again, it just reiterates I think our grant and aid policy needs to be reviewed.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor McKenzie, Councilor Brown.

Yeah, kudos to Mr.

Manhouse's presentation.

I thought it was excellent.

Um well needed, well deserved.

I think uh with all the building that's going on, it's it's very important for the uh health and safety of all the people on the construction sites, their mental and physical health.

Thank you, Councillor Brown.

Yeah, the only qu uh comment I have on this is that uh each year council receives a number of requests that are legitimate.

And uh I think we've um come up with some criteria that isn't in the policy, like uh really focused on the town, that uh if there's other venues they could apply for funding, like if it's more of a regional thing, they would apply to CRD.

Um there are so many good causes.

There's a daily proclamation of some cause or another.

So uh this would take um balance, and it's certainly top of my mind.

Um, and and just related to it, I will comment that around some construction areas, all you see is drug paraphernalia.

And it's not from folks coming there afterwards.

It's from people that are uh going through and and and doing construction.

So having uh you know prioritize this issue right easily supportable for me.

So we got uh a mover in a seconder uh I don't think we need to motivate but uh you're a mover in a seconder welcome to motivate uh okay all those in favor any opposed being none opposed and so that grant and aid request uh for the construction foundation um uh has uh passed for the grants and aid for this year.

Uh Ivan, you've got a sidewalk extension request on item 7B for Kennard Street.

Thank you, Mary Tobias.

Ivan the Young Director of Engineering.

Um this report and request is to close a gap in the sidewalk network.

The uh four Helmkins small scale multi unit housing development will be installing a sidewalk.

And in doing so, there will be about a 12 to 13 meter gap between their new sidewalk and the adjacent sidewalk uh at the at the corner of Camden and Canard.

So just looking at the lay of the land and how parking is there at this time with right angle parking happening.

Uh staff felt that it is or staff recommend that the pedestrian realm be better formalized to avoid uh conflicts of vehicles.

So um the quote that we receive or the estimate to extend the sidewalks is around fifteen thousand dollars, and that's for a concrete sidewalk, uh which the staff believe to be a good investment.

Um the recommendation is to use community many contribution funds, which uh this cost would barely put a dent into that reserve.

Um, I think it's like 0.5 percent of the budget or something like that.

Uh so um the report is here before you happy to take any questions.

There are alternatives the council may wish to consider.

One is not to do anything, the other one is to instead of putting a uh concrete sidewalk in, is to um put a uh a like an asphalt sidewalk that could stand the test of time until um that small parcel that is currently gapped develops, and then they can pay uh for the concrete sidewalk at that time.

But that's it um happy to take any questions thank you mayor any questions for Ivan uh counselor Roger no comment I just want to move staff's recommendations sure yeah yeah uh so uh councillor Rogers uh mover we got a seconder second seconded by councillor mattson if there's no further comments uh you can comment or motivate your choice um just good catch from staff and I think it's it's very reasonable to do so yeah given some of the other costs of sidewalk this actually is reasonable for cement sidewalk given some of the other cost staff is provided and putting asphalt in there would look silly.

Um so anyways and they think it's a good expenditure of funds.

So uh Ivan, just a question as they're pouring for that uh new development, they're just gonna continue the pour.

Uh is that right?

And then charge us the that is correct.

Yeah, makes makes perfect sense to me.

Uh so we've got a mover and a seconder, uh both been motivated.

All those in favor?

Any opposed?

No uh opposition.

Motion carries unanimously.

Thanks, Ivan.

Uh and I think that uh we have no business arising from previous minutes, but we do have some correspondence.

Uh one of those uh is uh now we can do this.

Uh does somebody want to speak to A and B or do they want to move together?

Or let's deal with A first then.

Yeah, okay.

It's everybody's uh read on the uh uh trap concerns about uh Helmkin Road and Burnside Road.

Uh so that is an email uh dated September 15th.

Um I have uh I do have a recommendation I what that um staff do a presentation at petition or at uh committee of the whole on how that intersection will work once the aspire is built, because I can't quite recollect it.

So anyways, uh so that anyways, that's my motion that they provide a provide an overview of how the traffic is gonna work once the aspire is built for that intersection.

Okay uh I I think we can uh we can ask that there's a number of things there wanna just uh and I'll and I'll come back to yours uh staff would recommend uh as well as a petition the district of Sanich because they actually own that light am I saying that correct Ivan yes Mary Tobias that's correct they they own and operate the light um we will be working with them as part of our transition master plan we will be bringing that up uh and also conversely I think they're working on some traffic related items as well.

So on a staff level, certainly we we will be coordinating.

However, um it would be beneficial if someone higher up could also okay.

And just to continue on the staff recommendation, uh you know, is to look at that intersection through the master plan as well as to improve levels of service uh due to impacts uh for uh View Royal and Senate residents within the vicinity.

Um but uh uh Ivan, is that possible for uh Councilor Manson's request of the next council of the whole, we do a brief presentation for um uh just situational awareness there?

Uh yeah, Mayor Tbice, we certainly can.

The the short answer I can give you right now is that uh the the impact assessment at the time has basically stated that the aspire development wouldn't really put a dent into the traffic impact quite simply because saturation is right is already saturated.

Um but that said uh the anticipated works at the helmkin walk is intersection would help the fact that they were required to contribute some monies to the town to help with that and so staff will actually be providing a subsequent report to council specifically on that intersection which will include that aspire um but that said to the staff should council wish to still uh uh hear from staff regarding um impacts as a result as a result of aspire we can certainly do that but the answer before you right now is basically what I'll I'll be um I'll be proposing or stating at at the future council.

Thank you.

Uh so notwithstanding I'd still like the the the presentation the members of the committee or members of the community would be interested because they've had expressed concerns plus at the same meeting I think it'd be staff could advise the committee or members of the community how they can participate and sort of getting information or in the um survey that's going to happen to provide their concerns and their suggestions in terms of how they think things should be fixed.

So it'd be good opportunity for just basically this is what's happening, this is what the impact will be and then ask the staff or ask the community for the recommendations.

Okay, we've got a mover.

Do we have a seconder for that?

Second for Councillor Lemon.

Is there any comments directly related to that motion?

Councilor Rogers?

Yeah, I'm I'm trying to I we can I'm not quite sure what um what would be achieved the um you know you want to get more information from from where and you know is this the uh the traffic analysis of that intersection uh that uh the aspire had done back in the day is that what you're suggesting or we do a new traffic study so so part of that is to answer yes what was what were we told many years ago.

But the other more simple question, which I'll ask at the meeting is how large will the left learn left lane turn be into uh I guess burnside to get to the aspire.

And what will it be impact on the cars trying to go forward?

If you have a runway of maybe four or five cars and there's six or seven trying to get through, it just sounds like you know, from my perspective, nothing will get through.

But I but but that's why I want staff to tell me where I'm wrong and how it's gonna work.

Just uh I I think it makes sense, uh Councillor Mattson, that you're just trying like that was a long time ago since that came before council.

Many of us new to council didn't see that report.

Um, so I I don't think it's a bad idea to refresh it.

And that construction on that project started before the last election, it's still not complete, right?

So give you some idea how long it took to blast and drill that.

So that that's probably lost in in the time.

So I I would support the fact that we refresh our memories and uh for those of us who didn't have a memory um that that we be informed about it.

Councilor Rogers.

Thank you.

Um certainly uh I don't know what um um what the finished product will look like in terms of um um the aspira residents uh having egress left turns and and so forth on on um you know on burnside so you're right I I that would be useful to know how how their um activities in and out will uh impact the the traffic on that road the staff's recommendation is um adjustments and hand enhancements to the intersection I think if I heard it it was the with respect to the signal that they own they do not own the intersection they own the signal so are we is staff right recommending that there's specific amendments to the signal or that uh they should be making uh grand broad changes to that intersection which also includes free royal landscape Mayor Tobias, yeah, I can answer that quickly.

There's a symbiotic relationship between traffic signals and leaning.

Um basically the town shouldn't be adjusting the landing without uh unknowing what can be done with the signals.

So the the recommendation to petition the to council should be a start, and then from there there'll be a triple down as to um what the signals can do and as and what the laning will need to do as a result, which would be the town's purview.

Question staff, is does it cost money to change the the signal?

Uh Mayor Tobias, yes it does.

Yeah.

I wonder if um you know with the the DCCs and and uh contributions from the ASPIR that since the Aspire seems to be the cause, uh generic aside from traffic from Callwood and West Shore.

Um, I wonder if uh in good faith then um VUO should be contributing to um any signalization changes, uh, given that it's uh obviously having an impact as it's our residents that are complaining.

Um yeah, Mayor Tobias, certainly an in uh uh an interesting idea.

Uh staff would recommend going through the motions of the transportation master plan because that master plan will redo the intersection counts.

Much information would be uh very relevant to council, knowing that the discussions were about that the Spire uh transportation impact assessment may be outdated or several years old.

So uh before we spend money on uh an interim or an option that may or may not work, it may be worth taking a look at the bigger picture and uh looking at uh what uh a better idea through the engagement process of what people think is an issue or what they know is an issue, and then it will allow our consultants to come up with options for council to choose to study.

Thank you, Councillor Rogers.

Um, I'd like to propose that we've got a motion.

Do we pass the motion for the last meeting?

We had a first and second, or right?

I don't think we voted.

Yeah, I hadn't had a vote yet.

So let's vote on that.

That's to have staff make a presentation at our next council of the whole.

Uh, all those in favor.

Any opposed?

Seeing none opposed, I'd like to propose another motion because our in discussions with our MLA about West Shore traffic in general, uh she had gone to the Minister of Transportation, and the Minister of Transportation said he wasn't aware that the West Shore had a traffic problem.

So given that what I would request is council's support on a letter reminding uh the minister that we do have a challenge with her traffic on the West Shore and that I have the other West Shore mayors sign that off.

That was uh actually when I had Jen go through our archives there was one put forward uh by the previous council, I think in 2020, and that went to the Minister of Transport.

But I guess their record keeping is somewhat challenged.

So we'd be delighted to remind the minister uh that there is an issue here.

Uh and uh uh good news on our side, our MP uh travels frequently and has to negotiate work and daycare on the West Shore, as does our MLA.

Uh so they're acutely aware of uh of trying to juggle traffic uh on there.

Another thing that I was not aware of that I found out about West Shore traffic is everybody is cognizant of the new uh what's the the uh no the skywalk uh on top of the Malahat.

Uh they uh the cruise ships would love to visit it, right?

They can't get a contract for a bus to deliver the people on time and take them back to the cruise ship because of traffic.

So that's how it's impacting local businesses.

Um so uh with that, uh so if uh I've got a mover and a seconder for uh us uh for to task me with writing uh the Minister of Transport.

Uh mover and uh seconder Councilor McKenzie.

All those in favor?

Any opposed?

Seeing none opposed, motion carries.

Thank you very much for that.

You could have taken train up there, too.

You could have you could have taken a train there at one time.

Uh there's no question about that.

So I think that uh handles that.

And I think, Counselor Lemon, you wanted to pull out item B.

Uh no, well, we're still on correspondence, so we'll deal with those separately.

So item B is um Halloween decorating contest that you wanted to discuss.

I don't think I did.

Okay, you are making moves.

Uh so I think the the email was uh about uh kind of uh let's have it less as a popularity contest and more about uh people judging it.

Uh and I know Councillor McKenzie and Councilor Lemon, you were uh had a hand in that.

And I think last year was the first one we tried where people voted in, but then it becomes more of a popularity.

So is there any discussion around that?

Um, if I may, sure.

Um I I the the writer is suggesting that council um go around and look at the judge the nominees and certainly if if that's council's will i'd be very happy to do that could be fine comment councillor makenzie and then counselor matten so i do uh like the way that it currently is which is that um it would be the public that votes and decides one of the reasons is that not so much with the Halloween one but with the Christmas one for instance every year it uh we do have some people who are really good and it's always you know spectacular.

Um, but we do like to make sure that the prizes do get around and it's not always the same people winning.

So um last year and the year before they for the Halloween one, it was actually nice to see that there was a difference in the winners.

Uh additionally, I kind of like the idea that it it forces people to talk to their neighbors to say, hey, vote for me, and it increases the awareness of the contest.

So um for those reasons, but I'm also happy to to hear other people's thoughts on it.

Counselor Matzell and Councillor Rogers.

Yeah, I I would agree with both my colleagues.

I think we should have actually two contests, one of them most popular by residents, and the other is council's choice.

Councillor's choice.

I think that's a great idea.

Uh Councillor Rogers.

And I'll pick up on Councillor McKenzie's point.

Um maybe another refinement to uh the process is separating and voting on the the ones new to that year.

New to 2025 and and um and so they get it to have a separate category.

Council.

So whatever we do we should be consistent I think with the Christmas light up and and the spring um viewer oil in bloom competition.

Could somebody package their will into a motion?

Yeah I'll I'll try and we'll get to feed.

I think we should have two mo two contests or one one contest, two two sections.

One most popular, that's the vote by the public, and the other is council's choice.

You have second.

I'll second that.

Moving a amendment.

Yes, you uh you should move it now, and we'll deal with that first.

Uh yeah, and I would amend that um uh there also be two separate uh categories, the the ones that are have you know been from previous years, and another category for um the ones entering new that year, provided that there's more than one.

Could that be dealt with in the same thing?

Would that be the counselor's choice thing to to sort of be still the public and still it would be the same the voting the public and the counselors you know but it would also allow a greater um diversity.

Okay do you have a seconder for that seconder for the amendment no okay did uh so we got a mover seconder so we'll have one that's a popular choice and one that's uh counselor um driven and uh I say we uh uh I I would like to amend that we uh have counselor lemon and Councilor McKenzie um judge those things for the Halloween contest to amend that resolution.

Do I have a second or for that?

I would have three members.

I would I would suggest three members of council.

Three members?

So did are you volunteering for the third member of Councilor Rogers?

Okay, there we go.

Uh so that that is the amendment.

Uh so councilor Rogers Lemon and McKenzie will judge the Halloween contest.

We could even make that for Christmas in the best of bloom as well.

Yeah.

All those in favor?

Any opposed?

Seeing none opposed, motion carries.

Uh so we're into the consent agenda now, and we can uh I I we had pulled out uh 10A, which is now 11A, but let's vote on the consent agenda.

And uh to remind me, counselor Lemon, you wanted another one pulled out.

Which one was that?

Or Counselor Rogers, yes.

Which one was it that you want?

D.

D.

Okay, so we're gonna move uh uh A and D to become 11 A and B.

Um can I get a mover in a second or to move the consent agenda with the exception of those two?

So moved.

Moved by Counselor uh Matson, seconded by Councilor Lemon.

All those in favor?

Any opposed?

Um motion carries unanimously.

Uh so uh what I'd like to do with this, and Councilor Rogers will allow you an opportunity to ask your question, is uh uh do something unusual.

And uh Mr.

Hoff and your associate, can you go to the podium and answer any questions that council might have?

Uh particularly for uh the correspondence update.

Unfortunately, we'll have to deal with your variants later when staff brings it uh there.

But any questions at all that that you have about that development?

Uh I was kind of uh uh you know entertaining a bunch of questions from staff, didn't know all the answers myself, but now that we have Mr.

Hoff uh in the room on the what did you say it was the largest multifamily development on Vancouver Island?

Is that a quotable?

Okay, okay okay because you said it, all right uh so questions counselor matts we'll start with you actually what I wanted to do was and and I don't know if it needs to be a motion but uh the some of the things listed here like the uh 34 affordable units uh lots of three bedroom apartments the bike share program on site one year free bus passes what they've done with the playground community gardens the outdoor dog run shared amenity space I think these are things that should all be in all of our multifamily projects and so what I wanted to do is have that sort of this information especially related to the amenities to put in it sent over to the OCP committee so they can consider that in their deliberations.

Because I just think that's something that should be we've done a great job, and I think that's something we should consider in in all of our projects.

So your motion is to have some of the uh the amenity list that was uh provided for, obviously worked out by council, uh passed to uh uh the OCP committee for input with the question uh should these amenities be um uh included in other developments of like size?

Uh do you have a second second it, okay?

Yeah, we might not get everything, but some of those things, right?

Uh, but something and you want the OCP committee to provide us feedback to council about whether we think that's a good idea or not.

Okay.

Yes, plus it just gives them the good news that this is what can happen.

Uh any further discussion on it, Councilor Brown?

No, it's a great idea.

I think it's uh yeah, it'd be awesome to have that in the OCP.

Great idea, Councilor Mattson.

Thank you.

All those in favor?

Any opposed?

Seeing none opposed, motion carries.

Councillor Rogers, you had a question.

Yes, uh, thank you.

Um thank you.

Very good report and and um very encouraging indeed.

And I uh Councilor Match's got a good point.

Um are you folks building number seven as well?

Right, okay.

Okay, so uh you'll be able to add one to another one to the list.

So um one of the the interesting things is uh with all that on a dead end street, um would it be advantageous that there be a another access from Hospital Way?

Can I can address that one?

Um yeah, I mean there it would definitely improve uh traffic if there was another access point.

Um there isn't, however, and there's no opportunity to extend one.

I guess when other properties um like the large Barcelona Hospital Way, and I think five earths can developed, there's the opportunity to take uh land.

You could extend the road from there, but uh as of now, there there's no no opportunity.

Yeah, you wouldn't, you would certainly would think so with um you know it would we be changing the OCP as as per the province's uh demands on Bill 47 and and uh transmission demand management, whatever.

Um, so yeah, that would that uh would be very conducive.

Um the other thing is um uh, and I'm sorry, I haven't been down there, but with um all the individuals, the the number of bikes that are gonna come from number nine, number seven, is improving the access to the galloping goose uh so it's much safer um for pedestrians and residents.

Um any thoughts on that?

Yeah, of course.

Um, so as part of the frontage improvements for excuse me, for nine Earth skin, um, there was a bike lane and share was added, and then uh as part of the the next uh project we're involved in, which is seven or skin, uh similar frontage improvements will be will be made.

So uh through those two developments, it does improve the connectivity for bikes traveling down Earth Skin to the galloping goose.

Yes, uh, and hopefully that'll be well coordinated with staff and the CRD that have a stake in that um efficiency and safety.

Um next question with respect to um uh the hospital trail, um, you know, fabulous.

And but I had the impressions also that uh lighting might be applied to the trail for the improved safety of those that are using it uh desk, particularly uh uh women, children, seniors, the like.

Any thoughts or abilities to do so?

Yeah, well, so uh the it's important to to recognize that the uh the pathway there is on top of actually CRD property.

It's not our property.

Um so any sort of improvements to to that have to be uh uh approved by CRD um through the through the development of the Ninerskin property we did improve the surfacing it was very jagged before rocks were able to add the gravel surfacing but um uh as of now and and to to my knowledge um maybe staff can comment more um uh CRD has been reluctant to allow you know lighting or anything like that to be uh to be uh extended over the water line maybe we can twist our arm I thank you and my my last question is um or point was um uh when you were speaking of uh the road improvements um uh particularly at the intersection there was a comment about having bidirectional bike lanes i wasn't quite you know uh your definition in the report and mine are different i think are you saying that directional uh there are bike lanes in both directions on uh one uh on the both sides of the road or are you saying bidirectional on just one side of the road yeah the the latter that's that's what we're saying bidirectional on one side of the road y oh I I guess it it should say that there's eventually there will be uh bi-directional so the first phase has been has been implemented with our developments and then as subsequent properties on the other side uh develop the second lane going the other way where the bike uh bike lane would be would be installed sorry i'm quite confused by that you're talking about erskine lane yeah and so the the bike lane going up and suggesting that that would be widened so there'd be um bikes going up and down one side of the road uh no not suggesting that i'm saying as part of our project the the first part was uh implemented so one direction was implemented and then as uh subsequent development when it occurs on the other side that's when the bike lane on the other side of erskine lane would be implemented.

Oh, okay, one on each side.

All right.

That'll be interesting to see if we can achieve that.

Yeah, particularly the need for the sidewalk.

Thank you very much.

Uh I've got one and then I'll go to councilor Mattson.

Uh for occupancy and your rate of uptake right now.

Have you found uh like how how many you've got now uh three buildings open?

Four?

All four.

All four buildings open.

About uh uh uh uh total out of the four, what what would you say your uh vacancy rate is or how how much you uh occupied right now?

Yeah, uh well right now, uh I guess as of last week, um of the 336 units, uh 260 were occupied.

And and they all do have uh occupancy, so they're all available for rent.

So that number is increasing daily, and uh we should reach full occupancy here uh pretty shortly.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Councilor Matson.

Um basically just have an occupancy question.

Yeah, you took my question.

So I'm just wondering which ones are the hardest to rent, since and and I gather they'll all you think they'll all be rented soon anyway, but I'm just curious.

Yeah, I think um you know it it very much depends on the the with the floor and stuff like that.

But we found that the one bedrooms have been uh the uh lightest uptake so far, whereas the uh the three bedrooms, two bedrooms have been much more popular.

Just one more question.

Just for for our benefit in the future, uh economic wise, uh I you can see you get more units, but uh for the ability to rent etc is would would you do better financially if you had more three-bedroom units and you know you'd have to drop a number of uh single bedroom units too.

I'm just wondering how that would work in terms of uh financially.

If you had a building full of three bedroom units, it sounds as if you'd have them all rented, but yeah, I mean that that's a complex question because the three bedrooms are larger, so they're more expensive to build.

Um there's there's many other factors there.

Uh generally we like a unit mix because it appear appeals to a wider uh demographic.

Um so three bedrooms are very popular, but um you can also you know make too have too many of them, uh just just like any other unit.

Counselor Rogers?

Yeah.

Sorry, one more question.

Do you have any sense for the demographics?

Um uh those you know how far they live to um live and work.

Uh no, I I don't think we have that data readily available, but uh certainly we could make that available to council if we if our uh property management has that uh has that readily available.

It would be interesting, particularly with the hospital.

Thank you.

Thank you, uh Mr.

Ha.

Uh it was great to uh to get some debrief back on some of the things that council had approved previously and an update and uh since your occupancy permits have been issued, and uh we'll have you on the agenda again for your variances.

So thank you for showing up tonight and thank you for the presentation.

Thanks a lot.

And thank you very much.

Uh we appreciate the opportunity.

Thank you.

I think that brings us down to now 11D or 11B, which is uh an email that you wanted to touch on, Councilor Rogers.

Uh yes, thank you.

Um and appreciate the staff's um um giving some information there.

Um, but I really do appreciate the uh the anxieties and frustrations of um uh the residents on in Choco and particularly in the back end.

And I I I see the um uh the residents um Ms.

Buchanan's um point about fairness.

If we've got speed humps um up and down the first road, the main road that we had, um, and not on the back road, um it um uh the the traffic is still um problematic and the flows are problematic and and um and I think if if I understand the traffic calming policy was that um uh the the neighborhoods could petition for a speed hump.

So um I'm just wondering um and and relying on on police is um is not gonna happen.

There's there n I can't see any officers sitting and and uh giving out tickets to this.

So I think um we created the problem.

We should provide the solutions.

We should hear and address the the concerns about uh um speed and safety and congestion counselor rogers counselor mattson yes I I'm not a big fan of speed humps I think Chicanes do a lot better job at slowing traffic down but um more to the point on these individuals or who's who've written in uh I think we should advise them of the traffic study that we're currently doing and how they can again just the same way as the people on burnside how they can provide in input uh and recommendations and in terms of how to fix it and let let them know what's wrong.

So I think we need to do a better job of well I don't know if we haven't started yet but we should work hard to advise the public that there's they will have their opportunity to provide comments on the study or through the uh survey that's coming up and public meetings.

Councilor Madsen any other comments?

Yes please Councilor Rogers.

I sorry Council Council Madison you're referring to the transportation master plan this is done.

This neighborhood is fixed.

Their the transportation master plan has nothing to do with anticipating um any new traffic their problems exist today.

Their safety issues exist today.

And um for us to, I know we can't.

It would be meaningless.

No, if um I think we should be uh conducting a survey of the residents um and hearing um from a variety of uh people on in that neighborhood about ideas of how they can um move safely.

Maybe we should be removing traffic from one side of the road.

But this is this is a congested road, and and for us to dodge the bullet by waiting for a transportation master plan that has it nothing to do with this particular neighborhood issue.

Um, I think we need to think about this twice.

So are you proposing a motion, Councilor Rogers?

I mean, uh I think we need to get to get more to a point to um either advocate, have uh them join with others to sign a petition uh to to get so many uh on on it in order to what's our current policy now, Ivan, on uh on humps.

Uh thank you, Mayor Tobias.

Yeah, there's a um the traffic climbing policy is it is quite in depth and it based on the policy of the data used um it used best practices and data to drive whether or not traffic calming should be incorporated or not.

Um, you know, there's always an engine department will always get comments about speeds and the perceived speeds, whether they're 40, 50, or 60.

So, you know, it's our job to make sure that uh we understand what the actual speeds are out there.

So the policy in in the traffic calling policy basically creates an 85th percentile.

What is the 85th percentile speed?

And if it's over that threshold of five or ten kilometers an hour over the universal or posted speed limit, then you can move it up to a stage two, which can you can start.

We would be going to council about options of what we could do, speed humps, chickenes, etc.

But looking at the um the speed data that we generated last year and the year before, it didn't meet that threshold.

So as much as I appreciate or we appreciate the speeds and um indicated in that email, uh, the 85th percentile did not meet that target.

That said, um, because uh the combination of uh what we've heard in the neighborhood plus um just overall observations, we're doing another count right now.

So the the the October 7th email that um that the emailer has sent to us today they asked the question of that we took the speed readers down why are we doing that and the reason why is probably because the our speed analysis has been completed and now the next the next job for us to do is to determine what the 85th percentile speed is there.

If it doesn't meet that then we generally would not uh undergo traffic calming if it does go above it then we can accelerate to stage two or stage three and at that point we would be going forward to council with respect to what um what kind of uh measures we can do because there's already two speed humps there um it's our general policy that we we need the approval or at least um confirmation from the emergency services that they're okay with that because every speed hump that is created can reduce emergency service times up to 20 seconds um it's district of standards website does something does that's provide some great metrics on that so uh we would be looking at other measures if there was going to be something um that was to be done there thanks Ivan uh so councilor rogers did you have a motion um pardon me said damien yeah so for the transportation master plan is my understanding it's an opportunity for residents through the surveys to outline to staff what their concerns are about traffic in their community, whether it's been built up or or other so that they have an opportunity to advise on their concerns as well as provide recommendations, irrespective of how old the community is or how you know how well developed that uh the road structure is.

Yeah, Mayor Tobias, uh Council Madison's 100% correct there.

Uh the the survey that's going to be coming out will there will be a mapping tool which will allow residents to pinpoint where they think issues are and around the community, and that will help drive the conversation of what we can do in the short term and the long term, regardless and irrespective of how new or old municipalities are.

Um, you know, I I don't want to give examples or anything like that, but you know, a new community can get traffic calming measures or um some uh quick build tweaks here and there.

Uh and you know, when it comes to more communities that are developing building, that's when you'd see them more permanent.

But uh uh Counselor Matson's correct that you know we uh that is is quite echoed all as to who we listen to.

Go to Councillor Quelwich.

Uh thank you.

Uh actually wanted to follow up on a comment about potential public safety uh law enforcement in the area.

And I know in the past we have made requests through our public safety chair here for the RCMP traffic safety unit to attend to that area.

It's very common for residents to look for guidance from elected officials on traffic issues in their area, and I think it's well within our wheelhouse to communicate with the RCMP to ask them to do some light enforcement there.

Perhaps it'll assist Director Liang as well with some of his findings.

Councillor Ma uh Rogers.

Yeah, I I'd like to have this um uh go to the committee of the whole.

Um we had a a traffic issue on Stormont.

We didn't need a transportation master plan, we didn't need the officers, we put in a chicane.

And it's worked.

It has um uh been, I think, very effective in in um yeah, for the residents, and we've made the decision.

And we acted.

Now I I think we would be more beneficial for us to understand this in a more complete way with a map and and hear from um residents beyond this one resident.

But it's um I I and I can't really believe that an officer is gonna fit there.

Rogers, is there a motion?

Yeah, I move that um the matter be discussed in uh more fully uh the next committee of the whole.

Seconder.

Councilor Mattson second.

Uh all those in favor.

Any opposed?

Councilor McKenzie and Councillor Lemon opposed.

Um, so the motion passes.

So the issue of Chilco traffic uh to be added on the agenda, Elna, for the next uh committee of the whole.

Uh just to point up for clarification and actually supporting councillor Rogers' wishes to take action now, to quote you.

Um, would it be fair to for Councillor Brown to communicate with the RCMP in the meantime?

Are we in agreement of that?

Okay.

Okay, okay.

One of uh related one of my concerns is there isn't a subdivision in View Royal that doesn't have an issue with speeding or traffic concerns right now.

There's not one, right?

And my greater concern is Chilco is a closed loop ecosystem, isn't it?

One way in, one way out.

So chances are it is your neighbors that are speeding.

Nobody else.

It might be an odd delivery driver from Uber coming in, but it's your neighbors that are doing it.

So I would before we think about a solution for speed humps or chicanes, I think some community education might be also a good place to start for endangerment as opposed to other stuff we put up.

There are other areas that are through fairs, like uh the one on Storm Mount that you mentioned that are a good candidate for that because they're not residents or transient through that.

But Chilco and and other areas, uh like Stone Ridge is another example.

Anybody going to Stone Ridge uh likely lives in Stone Ridge, right?

Uh Councilor Brown.

Yeah, I'll contact acting superintendent uh Rose uh to utilize the Speedwatch program because that's uh volunteers that go out and um they're always looking for uh key areas to to target target.

So yeah, I think it's pretty easy to do.

So I'll I'll get a hold of him tomorrow.

And just to add on to Councilor Brown, that program is quite a soft approach as well.

So it typically doesn't involve uh a monetary fine, it's usually a letter with a a war a warning first.

So it's uh it's a great approach, as uh Merita Bayas said, and neighbors uh communicating with neighbors.

And they're also looking for volunteers, I understand.

So you want to volunteer for the speed watch, there's opportunities for you to do that.

So, unless there's anything else on that one, we can uh uh um consider it uh agenda item 11 closed question period for anybody in the audience first that would like to ask counsel a question on anything, doesn't even have to be on the agenda.

Going once, twice, three times.

Carl, we got anybody uh in the cloud that has sent us a uh a message.

Mayor Tobias no messages this evening.

Okay, uh I I missed this, uh Elna, and I'm gonna apologize for taking some academic liberty with the uh agenda, but item 15 and 16 should be reversed because item 15 is we're closing, we're coming up with a resolution, and then we got a rising report.

So I think the rising report should go before the closed, right?

Uh we can recess the meeting now, and then we can come back and pass that motion if you'd like.

Or if you'd like, you can pass it now.

That's yeah, let's do that.

Well, it's the the um the uh rising report, right?

That's right.

It's already passed, so we're just letting folks know.

Uh so uh this is a rising report from a closed meeting.

So the West Shore RCMP detachment expansion project that we're working on and have been working on for the past couple of years.

Um uh so on July 22nd at a special in-camera meeting, Councilor Rogers moved and seconded by Councillor Mattson, the uh uh funding passed to extend the expenditure for the uh IPD process that is being validated now and due in December, and that validates the total cost of the of the RCMP project, and that's funded from the police capitalization reserve.

Um and that they would amend the financial plan uh accordingly.

More information available on the RCMP detachment expansion project is available on the town's website that is also hosted for Blankford and Collins.

Uh so if you want to more information about that, then this council can answer any questions or uh go to the website first.

And if that generates some more, feel free to reach out.

So that's the rising report and uh the closed meeting resolution.

Now that there's a need to have a meeting closed to the public uh and persons other than the immediate members of council, officers, and employees of the town and those identified in section 912 of the community charter shall be excluded on the basis of section 91, which is employee relations.

So thanks for coming out, folks that's the most important news all night we need to vote on that last motion need a vote on that last motion me need to vote on the last motion uh that was that was a rising report no no the the notice oh or the yeah uh moved by councillor uh mattson second by councilor makenzie all those in favor uh and uh can i get somebody to move adjournment please so moved moved by counselor mattson, second by counselor brown.

Uh all those in favor, adjournment.