MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING HELD JULY 15, 2025

MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING

HELD ON TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2025

VIEW ROYAL MUNICIPAL OFFICE – COUNCIL CHAMBERS

PRESENT WERE: Mayor Tobias Councillor Brown Councillor Kowalewich Councillor Lemon Councillor Mattson Councillor MacKenzie Councillor Rogers

PRESENT ALSO: S. Sommerville, Chief Administrative Officer E. Bolster, Director of Corporate Administration I. Leung, Director of Engineering S. Vella, Director of Finance S. Scory, Senior Planner L. Curtis, Community Planner 9 members of the public 0 members of the press

1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Tobias called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

THAT the agenda be amended to move items 10 b) and d) to items 11 a) - b); AND THAT the agenda be approved as amended. CARRIED

3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD

a) C. McDougald, addressed Council in support of the Spasticity Research and Awareness Society’s grant-in-aid request. b) D. Frewing, addressed Council regarding the Urban Forest Strategy and the need to preserve mature existing trees.

4. BYLAWS

5. MAYOR’S REPORT

The Mayor reported that the Capital Regional District (CRD) Board recently approved a new regional arts service that includes the Southern Gulf Islands. He also noted that the CRD is purchasing land from Kapoor Lumber Company to expand the Sooke Lake Reservoir’s watershed.

In addition, the Mayor met with the Member of Parliament, S. McLean to discuss potential strategies for updating Island Rail to meet infrastructure demands and accommodate growth. He further mentioned an upcoming meeting hosted by the Esquimalt Nation, with representatives from the CRD, Esquimalt and View Royal, to discuss the E&N railway and the broader use of the Island Rail Corridor.

6. PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS

a) J. Devonshire and R. Caldwell, View Royal Climate Coalition, Re: Adaptation and Mitigation for a Resilient View Royal

Mr. Caldwell and Ms. Devonshire addressed Council with requests to advance adaptation and mitigation efforts for a resilient View Royal.

Council and Ms. Devonshire then discussed clean construction, and FortisBC operating fee paid to the Town.

7. STAFF REPORTS

a) Official Community Plan Review Update – Draft Vision Survey

1. Report dated July 7, 2025 from the Senior Planner

The Senior Planner gave a summary of the report to Council.

Council and staff discussed the draft vision statement and goals as presented in the Draft Vision Survey.

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Lemon

C-111-25 THAT Draft Vision Statement Option 3 in the Draft Vision Survey be amended to replace the reference of “easy driving distance” with “driving distance” and add “public transit”. CARRIED

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Lemon

C-112-25 THAT references to “2050” in each of the Draft Vision Statement options in the Draft Vision Survey be removed and add statements such as “continuously evolving, striving, flourishing, or thriving”. CARRIED

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Lemon

C-113-25 THAT a text box for comments after each of the draft Vision Statements and Goals be included in the Draft Vision Survey. CARRIED

MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor Brown

C-114-25 THAT staff publish the amended “Vision Survey” as attached to the report dated July 7, 2025 from the Senior Planner titled “Official Community Plan Review and Update – Draft Vision Survey”;

AND THAT staff initiate engagement on the “Vision Survey” in the summer of 2025. CARRIED

b) Parks and Trails Master Plan Grant Opportunity

1. Report dated July 7, 2025 from the Community Planner

The Community Planner gave a summary of the report to Council.

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Lemon

C-115-25 THAT staff be authorized to apply for the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Strategic Priorities Fund 2025 grant to support the Town’s Parks and Trails Master Plan as identified in the 2025-2029 Financial Plan;

AND THAT the proposed activities and any potential cost overruns be supported, and overall grant management be provided. CARRIED

c) UBCM Grant Application – Admirals Road Improvements

1. Report dated July 9, 2025 from the Director of Engineering

The Director of Engineering gave a summary of the report to Council.

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Lemon

C-116-25 THAT staff be authorized to apply for the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Strategic Priorities Fund (Capital Infrastructure Stream) to support the Admirals Road Active Transportation Improvements Project as identified in the 2025-2029 Financial Plan. CARRIED

d) Transportation Master Plan Update Recommendation of Award

1. Report dated July 8, 2025 from the Director of Engineering

The Director of Engineering gave a review of the report to Council.

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Mattson

C-117-25 THAT the Transportation Master Plan Project N-105 be awarded to Bunt and Associates Engineering Ltd. in the amount of $199,284 net of GST. CARRIED

e) Consideration of Two Remaining 2025 Grants-in-Aid

1. Report dated July 9, 2025 from the Chief Administrative Officer

The Chief Administrative Officer reviewed the report for Council.

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor MacKenzie

THAT a grant-in-aid in the amount of $1,000 be provided to the Spasticity Research and Awareness Society in support of 2-3 documentary viewing events in View Royal. DEFEATED Mayor Tobias and Councillors Brown, Kowalewich and Lemon opposed

MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich

C-118-25 THAT a one-time grant-in-aid in the amount of $5,000 be provided to the Spasticity Research and Awareness Society to support 2-3 documentary viewing events held in View Royal, utilizing a View Royal based caterer. CARRIED Councillors MacKenzie, Mattson and Rogers opposed

MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor Brown

C-119-25 THAT a grant-in-aid in the amount of $1,500 be provided to the Wear2Start Society in support of the Care4You program;

AND THAT the Wear2Start Society collaborate with Our Place Society to deliver the Care4You program to clients at the New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Community. CARRIED Councillors Mattson and Rogers opposed

f) Appointment

1. Appointment of Bylaw Enforcement Officer and Business Licence Inspector

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Brown

THAT the previous appointment of Brad Cameron to the position of Bylaw Enforcement Officer and Business Licence Inspector be hereby rescinded;

AND THAT Robert Carrie be appointed as Bylaw Enforcement Officer and Business Licence Inspector. CARRIED

8. BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES

9. CORRESPONDENCE

a) Letter dated June 16, 2025 from Chief R. Sam, Songhees Nation, Re: Sponsorship Opportunities for the 2025 South Island Powwow on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Mattson

C-120-25 THAT the Town advise Songhees First Nation that the Town is pleased to support the South Island Powwow on September 30, 2025 as a Community Supporter level sponsor in the amount of $2,500 funded from the grant-in-aid account. CARRIED

b) Email dated June 16, 2025 from Councillor Mattson, Re: Western Gateway OCP Housing and Population Projections

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Brown

C-121-25 THAT the email dated June 16, 2025 from Councillor Mattson, which contains D. Wilson’s work on the Western Gateway OCP Housing and Population Projections, be incorporated into future Western Gateway OCP deliberations as the type of information Council requires;

AND THAT the email be referred to the Official Community Plan Review Advisory Committee. CARRIED

c) Letter dated January 7, 2025 from Supt. T. Preston, West Shore RCMP, Re: Annual Request for West Shore Detachment - Community Initiatives/Employee Funding 2025

MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Mattson

C-122-25 THAT the Town provide $10,592 from the Grant-in-Aid account to the West Shore RCMP Detachment for community initiatives/employee funding. CARRIED

10. CONSENT AGENDA

a) Minutes of the Council meeting held July 2, 2025

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

THAT the minutes of the Council meeting held July 2, 2025 be adopted as presented. CARRIED

b) Letter dated July 3, 2025 from C. Gilpin, Manager, CRD Arts and Culture, Re: Capital Regional District Arts and Culture Support Service

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

THAT the letter dated July 3, 2025 from C. Gilpin, Manager, CRD Arts and Culture, Re; Capital Regional District Arts and Culture Support Service be received. CARRIED

c) Letter dated June 30, 2025 from T. Novak, Film Commissioner, Vancouver Island South Film Commission, Re: Thank you for Continued Support

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

THAT the letter dated June 30, 2025 from T. Novak, Film Commissioner, Vancouver Island South Film Commission, Re; Thank you for Continued Support be received. CARRIED

d) 2025 May Progress Report – West Shore Regional Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan dated July 10, 2025 from G. Brown, CAO, West Shore Parks and Recreation

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

THAT the 2025 May Progress Report – West Shore Regional Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan dated July 10, 2025 from G. Brown, CAO, West Shore Parks and Recreation be received. CARRIED

e) From the July 8, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting:

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

C-123-25 THAT all funds related to the Official Community Plan Review and Update be funded from the Growing Communities Fund. CARRIED

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

C-124-25 THAT an additional $90,000 from the Growing Communities Fund be allocated to the 2025 budget for the Official Community Plan review and update (Non-Core Project N-025) to enable staff to carry on with Phase 1 and begin substantial work on Phase 2 of the Official Community Plan update;

AND THAT the 2025-2029 Financial Plan be amended accordingly. CARRIED

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

C-125-25 THAT the 2025-2026 Official Community Plan update include a policy statement that new development four-storeys or greater should incorporate commercial or public use space. CARRIED

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

C-126-25 THAT the report dated July 3, 2025 from the Chief Administrative Officer titled “Ongoing Review of 2026 Capital Project and Non-Core Project Summaries” be tabled to the September 9, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting. CARRIED

11. CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA

a) Email dated June 30, 2025 from A. Roberts, Re: High Truck Volume on View Royal Avenue

Council and staff discussed concerns with trucks using alternate routes in contravention of the Town’s Truck Route Bylaw.

MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor Mattson

THAT the email dated June 30, 2025 from A. Roberts, Re; High Truck Volume on View Royal Avenue be received. CARRIED

b) Letter dated July 10, 2025 from P. Nursey, CEO, Destination Greater Victoria, Re: Thank you for Joining Destination Greater Victoria

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Mattson

C-127-25 THAT Councillor Rogers be appointed to the Destination Greater Victoria’s Transportation and Destination Management Committee. CARRIED

12. NEW BUSINESS

13. QUESTION PERIOD

14. MOTIONS & NOTICES OF MOTION

15. CLOSED MEETING RESOLUTION

16. RISING REPORT

a) Consideration of Corporate Officer Position

1. From the July 2, 2025 In-Camera meeting:

MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Mattson

THAT Elena Bolster be appointed as Director of Corporate Administration and the statutory officer position of Corporate Officer effective July 3, 2025.

17. ADJOURNMENT

MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Mattson

THAT this meeting now adjourn. Time: 8:06 p.m. CARRIED

MAYOR CORPORATE OFFICER