MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING - FEBRUARY 20, 2024

MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING

HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2024

VIEW ROYAL MUNICIPAL OFFICE – COUNCIL CHAMBERS

PRESENT WERE: Mayor Tobias Councillor Brown – via Microsoft Teams Councillor Kowalewich Councillor Lemon Councillor MacKenzie Councillor Mattson – via Microsoft Teams Councillor Rogers

PRESENT ALSO: S. Sommerville, Chief Administrative Officer S. Jones, Director of Corporate Administration/Deputy CAO L. Taylor, Director of Development Services D. Christenson, Director of Finance and Technology I. Leung, Director of Engineering P. Hurst, Director of Protective Services S. Vella, Director of Finance E. Bolster, Deputy Corporate Officer

9 members of the public 0 members of the press

1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Tobias called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOVED BY: Councillor MacKenzie SECONDED: Councillor Lemon

THAT the agenda be amended to include items 9.2 a) and 11. a);

AND THAT the agenda be approved as amended. CARRIED

3. MINUTES, RECEIPT & ADOPTION OF

a) Minutes of the Council meeting held February 6, 2024

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Mattson

THAT the minutes of the Council meeting held February 6, 2024 be adopted as presented. CARRIED

4. MAYOR’S REPORT

5. PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS

a) M. Sawa and S. Khair, Greater Victoria Public Library, Re: Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL) 2024 Budget and Five Year Financial Plan

Ms. Khair thanked Councillor Lemon for her contributions to the GVPL Board and Council for the opportunity to present the GVPL 2024 budget.

Ms. Sawa described the GVPL services and presented the 2024 GVPL budget and five-year financial plan.

Council and Ms. Sawa discussed the GVPL services and five-year financial plan specifically:

• funding sources, including Provincial grants;
• supplies, services, and usage rates;
• removal of late fees;
• inventory and digital resources;
• renovations at the Central Branch; and
• the upcoming library card campaign.

b) G. Webber, Re: Upgrading the E&N for Intercity Rail

Mr. Webber gave a presentation to Council regarding his proposal to upgrade the E&N Rail to accommodate intercity rail.

Council and Mr. Webber discussed:

• advocating for an intercity rail line;
• engagement with other municipalities and First Nations; and
• cost.

6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD

7. BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES

8. REPORTS

8.1 STAFF REPORTS

8.2 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE RESOLUTIONS

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich

C-23-24 THAT a report regarding fire safety in the McKenzie Lake area be prepared. CARRIED

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich

C-24-24 THAT the “Change Name and Focus of Island Highway” proposal be referred to staff to assess: a.) changing the name of Island Highway to Craigflower Road from Admirals Road to the Thetis Interchange, b.) reducing the speed limit from 50 km/hr to 40 km/hr; and c.) converting the northeast corner of the Island Highway/Helmcken Road intersection from a “soft” to a “hard” corner. CARRIED

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich

C-25-24 THAT the Trans-Canada Highway design from McKenzie Avenue to the View Royal Casino, and transportation reports from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and BC Transit with respect to the RapidBus Project be obtained and provided to Council;

AND THAT the request to review sound attenuation throughout the Town for the bus-on-shoulder project be forwarded to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. CARRIED

The Mayor reminded Council that standing committees are for focused issues and, as set out in the Community Charter, appointments to such are the prerogative of the Mayor.

Councillor MacKenzie noted there is a need for inclusivity and diversity on all committees and documenting guiding principles to that end may be useful.

MOVED BY: Councillor MacKenzie SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich

THAT staff develop best practices to assist with the selection of all committee members to ensure a diverse representation of neighbourhoods, demographics, and perspectives. DEFEATED Mayor Tobias and Councillors Brown, Kowalewich, Lemon, Mattson and Rogers opposed

8.3 OTHER REPORTS

a) Minutes of the West Shore Parks and Recreation Society Board of Directors meeting held January 11, 2024

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich

THAT the minutes of the West Shore Parks and Recreation Society Board of Directors meeting held January 11, 2024 be received. CARRIED

9 CORRESPONDENCE

9.1 FOR ACTION

9.2 FOR INFORMATION

a) Email dated February 19, 2024 from the View Royal Climate Coalition, Re: Revise Active Transportation Plan and Town’s Road Designs

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Lemon

THAT the email dated February 19, 2024 from the View Royal Climate Coalition, Re: Revise Active Transportation Plan and Town’s Road Designs be received for information. CARRIED

10. BYLAWS

11. NEW BUSINESS

a) Development Cost Charge Review – Councillor Rogers

Councillor Rogers requested that a development cost charge bylaw review be included as a placeholder in a future financial plan.

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Mattson

C-26-24 THAT a development cost charge bylaw review be included in the five-year financial plan in a year that staff recommends. CARRIED

b) Greater Victoria Public Library 2024 Budget and Five-Year Financial Plan

MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

C-27-24 THAT the 2024 Greater Victoria Public Library Budget and Five-Year Financial Plan be approved. CARRIED

12. QUESTION PERIOD

13. MOTIONS & NOTICES OF MOTION

a) Revise Active Transportation Plan and the Town’s Road Designs – Councillor Rogers

Councillor Rogers discussed his concerns with the costs to implement the Active Transportation Network Plan (ATNP) initiatives and its focus on cycling. He stated he feels there needs to be further research and discussion.

The Director of Engineering noted that the ATNP provides high-level guidance and is not intended to predetermine project design. Staff will present Council with design options for ATNP projects approved in the financial plan.

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich

C-28-24 THAT the Active Transportation Network Plan and Town’s road designs be brought forward to a future Committee of the Whole meeting to discuss bi-directional bicycle lanes, multi use paths, and concrete cycling barriers. CARRIED Councillors Lemon, MacKenzie and Mattson opposed

MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

THAT this meeting now recess at 8:43 p.m. CARRIED

The Mayor called the meeting to order at 9:20 p.m.

PRESENT WERE: Mayor Tobias Councillor Brown – via Microsoft Teams Councillor Kowalewich Councillor Lemon Councillor MacKenzie Councillor Rogers

REGRETS: Councillor Mattson

PRESENT ALSO: S. Sommerville, Chief Administrative Officer S. Jones, Director of Corporate Administration/Deputy CAO L. Taylor, Director of Development Services D. Christenson, Director of Finance and Technology E. Bolster, Deputy Corporate Officer

14. CLOSED MEETING RESOLUTION

MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich

THAT there is a need to have a meeting closed to the public and persons other than the immediate members of Council, officers and employees of the Town, and those identified under Section 91 (2) of the Community Charter shall be excluded on the basis of Section 90 (1)(c) – human resources. CARRIED

16. RISING REPORT

17. TERMINATION

MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor MacKenzie

THAT this meeting now terminate. Time: 9:21 p.m. CARRIED

MAYOR

CORPORATE OFFICER