Victoria meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Victoria council agendas packed with housing bylaws, tenant protections, and parking reforms

Victoria City Council and its committees have a full slate of agenda items from late July covering housing agreements, rezoning applications, tenant protection rules, and parking regulation reforms. All meetings listed below are agenda-only — minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions are confirmed. Items were scheduled for consideration, not final action.

Housing agreements and rezoning (July 23 Council)

Council was scheduled to consider first, second, and third readings of two housing agreement bylaws. Bylaw No. 26-061 covers sites at 2501–2699 Blanshard Street, 825/841 Hillside Avenue, 2500–12684 Dowler Place, and 900 Kings Road. Bylaw No. 26-059 applies to 1101 Yates Street.

The agenda also included a rezoning application (No. 00880) and development permit with variances (No. 000645) for 741 Fisgard Street, an appointment of bylaw officers, and a council member motion to confirm the Framework Agreement S.5 Police Funding. A motion to close part of the meeting under Community Charter Section 90 was also listed.

Committee of the Whole: derelict buildings, cooling requirements, employment land (July 23)

The Committee of the Whole agenda included a council member motion requesting a staff report on enforcement tools against derelict buildings, neglected properties, and vacant commercial spaces. A verbal staff report on strategies to require cooling systems (26°C maximum) in rental buildings was also scheduled.

Staff were set to present a report on economic and employment land solutions, with proposed policy updates to support hotel development and diverse employment space. VicPD Chief Constable Fiona Wilson was listed for a presentation. No decisions were recorded on the agenda.

Public hearing on off-street parking and mobility (July 23 Special Council)

A special council meeting included a public hearing on amendment bylaws for off-street mobility regulations. Council was scheduled to consider proposed adoption of Bylaw No. 26-021, No. 26-022, and No. 26-023, which would amend the Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Zoning Bylaw 2018, and the Land Use Procedures Bylaw.

A proposal to delegate parking regulation variances to the Director of Planning and Development was on the agenda. The Victoria Urban Food Table was scheduled to present a Food Systems Report, and a request to address council regarding rezoning solutions for REZ00859, REZ00896, REZ00867, and REZ00855 was also listed.

Tenant protections and tax exemptions (July 30 Committee of the Whole)

The committee agenda included a review of Tenant Protection Bylaw compensation requirements, with a jurisdictional comparison and an assessment of options for increasing compensation while maintaining redevelopment feasibility. Staff reports on permissive tax exemptions for non-profit organizations for 2027–2028 were also scheduled.

Council member motions on the agenda covered advocacy for continued operating subsidies for M'akola Housing, a request for staff review of a Fair Wages Policy, and a motion to establish a By Name List for the unsheltered homeless population.

Chatham/Herald rezoning and industrial zones (July 30 Council)

Council was scheduled to consider first three readings of Bylaw No. 26-056, a rezoning at 517–537 Chatham Street and 530–536 Herald Street for a new infill rental development with a public park and walkways.

Also on the agenda: first three readings of Housing Agreement Bylaw No. 26-063 for 2612–2628 Richmond Road; first three readings and adoption of the Modernized Industrial Zones Bylaw (No. 26-060); and adoption of rezoning and housing agreement bylaws (No. 26-036 and No. 26-059) for 1101 Yates Street. Unfinished business included a Victoria Housing Reserve Fund application at 611 Speed Avenue from the Midtown Affordable Housing Society. A closed session for labour, law enforcement, and intergovernmental matters was scheduled.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Minutes from the July 23 and July 30 meetings have not yet been published; residents should check the City of Victoria website for confirmed outcomes.

Victoria council agendas packed with housing, parking, and safety items; no minutes published yet

Victoria City Council and its Committee of the Whole held four meetings between July 9 and July 16, but minutes have not yet been published for any of them. That means no outcomes — votes, approvals, or rejections — can be confirmed from the available record. What follows is a summary of what was on the agendas, with decisions pending until minutes are released.

Recent meetings: what was on the table

July 9 — Committee of the Whole. The committee was scheduled to consider two rezoning applications: 741 Fisgard Street, where staff recommended approval to permit residential uses, and 235 Russell Street, where staff recommended declining a six-storey residential building. A council member motion to confirm police funding under the Framework Agreement in future budgets was also listed, along with the appointment of five bylaw officers.

July 9 — Council. Council was set to vote on bylaws modernizing off-street parking regulations (Nos. 26-021, 26-022, and 26-023), a rezoning and housing agreement for a six-storey mixed-use rental building at 1905 Fort Street, and a development variance permit for Telus Ocean signage at 749 Douglas Street. Also on the agenda: a rezoning and development permit for 1908 Foul Bay Road (Jubilee South), a recommendation for The Cannabis Room at 1545 Fort Street, and discussion of the Victoria-Saanich amalgamation.

July 16 — Committee of the Whole. A single item was listed: an update on the Community Safety & Wellbeing Implementation Program. The agenda noted a scheduled lunch recess from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

July 16 — Council. Council was scheduled to consider adoption of Bylaw No. 26-052, a housing agreement for rental housing at 1933 Davie Street. Other items included Development Variance Permit No. 00298 for 933 Douglas Street, a Market Rental Building Revitalization Tax Exemption pilot project update, and a Patio Bylaw fee update.

Why these items matter

Several agenda items touch on housing supply and affordability — including rental buildings, housing agreements, and rezonings — which directly affect how many homes are built and at what cost. Parking regulation changes could alter what developers must provide and what residents pay for. Police funding and community safety items bear on the city budget and public services. Because minutes are not yet available, residents should watch for the published record to see how council actually voted.

Coming up — July 23

Three meetings are scheduled for Thursday, July 23:

• **Committee of the Whole (9:30 a.m.):** Staff report on enforcement tools for derelict buildings, neglected properties, and vacant commercial spaces; a verbal report on strategies to require cooling (26°C maximum) in rental buildings; a report on economic and employment land solutions with proposed policy updates for hotel development and diverse employment space; and a presentation by VicPD Chief Constable Fiona Wilson.

• **Special Council — Public Hearing:** A public hearing on bylaws amending off-street parking and mobility regulations (Bylaw Nos. 26-021, 26-022, and 26-023), including a proposal to delegate parking regulation variances to the Director of Planning and Development. A presentation by the Victoria Urban Food Table on a Food Systems Report is also listed, along with a request to address council regarding rezoning solutions for REZ00859, REZ00896, REZ00867, and REZ00855.

• **Council (to follow COTW):** First, second, and third readings of Bylaw No. 26-061 (housing agreement for 2501–2699 Blanshard Street, 825/841 Hillside Avenue, 2500–2684 Dowler Place, and 900 Kings Road) and Bylaw No. 26-059 (housing agreement for 1101 Yates Street). Also listed: the 741 Fisgard Street rezoning and development permit, appointment of bylaw officers, a motion confirming Framework Agreement S.5 police funding, and a motion to close part of the meeting under Community Charter Section 90.

All July 23 items are agendas only; no decisions have been recorded yet.

Victoria council agendas packed with housing, policing and safe consumption site discussions

Victoria City Council and its Committee of the Whole held back-to-back meetings on July 2 and July 9, but minutes have not yet been published for any of the sessions. The agendas — all marked as agenda-only with no recorded outcomes — covered a wide range of land-use, housing, and public safety matters. What follows is a summary of what was scheduled for discussion; no decisions can be confirmed until minutes are released.

Safe consumption site and police funding on the table

On July 2, the Committee of the Whole was set to discuss a council member motion requesting the mayor write to Island Health and the Minister of Health to cease operations of The Harbour safe consumption site. No vote tally is available.

On July 9, the Committee of the Whole agenda included a council member motion to confirm police funding in future budgets under the Framework Agreement, as well as a proposal to appoint five bylaw officers. Outcomes are not yet recorded.

Rezoning applications advance through committee

The July 9 Committee of the Whole agenda listed two rezoning applications with opposing staff recommendations:

• **741 Fisgard Street** — rezoning to allow residential uses, with staff recommending approval.
• **235 Russell Street** — rezoning for a six-storey residential building, with staff recommending decline.

No vote results have been published.

Housing and development permits dominate council agendas

The July 2 Council agenda included Development Permit with Variances Application No. 01142 for 2839 and 2845 Cedar Hill Road (the Oaklands property), the 2025 annual review of the Victoria Housing Strategy, and adoption of Amendment Bylaw No. 26-054 regarding Development Cost Charges.

The July 9 Council agenda was heavier still, with several housing-related items:

• Rezoning and housing agreement for **1905 Fort Street**, a six-storey mixed-use rental building.
• Rezoning and development permit for **1908 Foul Bay Road** (Jubilee South).
• Bylaws Nos. 26-021, 26-022, and 26-023 to modernize off-street parking regulations.
• A recommendation regarding **The Cannabis Room** at 1545 Fort Street.
• A development variance permit for Telus Ocean signage at 749 Douglas Street.

None of these items have confirmed outcomes.

Patio fees, tax exemptions, and signage variances

The July 2 Committee of the Whole also included an update on the Market Rental Revitalization Tax Exemption pilot program with recommended adjustments, direction on patio bylaw fee increases after a two-year freeze, and a development variance permit for signage at 933 Douglas Street recommended for approval.

Coming up

Thursday, July 16 — Committee of the Whole will receive a presentation on the Community Safety & Wellbeing Implementation Program. A lunch recess is scheduled from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Thursday, July 16 — Council (to follow COTW) will consider adoption of Bylaw No. 26-052 regarding a housing agreement for rental housing at 1933 Davie Street, Development Variance Permit No. 00298 for 933 Douglas Street, a Market Rental Building Revitalization Tax Exemption pilot project update, and a patio bylaw fee update.

Residents should note that all July 2 and July 9 items remain unconfirmed until meeting minutes are published. Check the City of Victoria's official meeting portal for updated minutes and agendas.

Victoria council agendas packed with rezoning, zoning reforms, and consumption site debate; no minutes published yet

Victoria City Council and its Committee of the Whole held four meetings between June 25 and July 2, but minutes have not yet been published for any of them. That means no votes, dollar amounts, or outcomes from those sessions are available in the public record at this time. What follows is a summary of what was on the agendas, with a look ahead to the next round of meetings on July 9.

What was on the table June 25

The Committee of the Whole agenda included a rezoning and development permit application for a six-storey residential rental building at 1908 Foul Bay Road, a licensing application for The Cannabis Room at 1545 Fort Street, and Phase Two of the Zoning Bylaw Modernization focused on light and heavy industrial zones. Members were also scheduled to discuss a potential Victoria–Saanich amalgamation ballot question for the 2026 General Local Elections and a motion to advocate for better provincial property tax deferral terms for seniors.

The Council meeting that followed was set to vote on Amendment to Development Cost Charges Bylaw No. 26-054, which included an inflation increase to development fees. Also on the agenda: a recommendation for Altitude Cannabis at 1010 Cook Street, a community garden pilot project on the Johnson St Parkade rooftop, a Council Member Motion on 28 Bastion Square, the Zoning Bylaw Modernization Phase Two discussion, and the 2025 annual report. A closed session was listed for land, legal, labour, and intergovernmental matters.

What was on the table July 2

The Committee of the Whole agenda included a council member motion requesting the mayor write to Island Health and the Minister of Health to cease operations of The Harbour safe consumption site. Also listed: an update on the Market Rental Revitalization Tax Exemption pilot program with recommended adjustments, a decision on scheduled patio licensing fee increases after a two-year freeze, and a development variance permit for signage at 933 Douglas Street recommended for approval.

The Council meeting that followed was set to review Development Permit with Variances Application No. 01142 for 2839 and 2845 Cedar Hill Road in Oaklands, the Victoria Housing Strategy Annual Review 2025, and adoption of Amendment Bylaw No. 26-054 regarding Development Cost Charges.

Why no outcomes yet

All four recent meetings are listed as "agenda only (minutes not yet published)." Without minutes, there is no official record of how council voted on any item, whether amendments were made, or whether any matter was deferred. Readers should check the City of Victoria's official meeting page for minutes as they become available.

Coming up — July 9

Two meetings are scheduled for July 9.

The Committee of the Whole will consider two rezoning applications: 741 Fisgard Street, recommended for approval to permit residential uses, and 235 Russell Street, recommended for decline for a six-storey residential building. A council member motion to confirm police funding in future budgets under the Framework Agreement is also on the agenda, along with the appointment of five bylaw officers.

The Council meeting to follow will consider bylaws to modernize off-street parking regulations (Nos. 26-021, 26-022, 26-023), a rezoning and development permit for 1908 Foul Bay Road in Jubilee South, a recommendation for The Cannabis Room at 1545 Fort Street, a rezoning and housing agreement for a six-storey mixed-use rental building at 1905 Fort Street, and a development variance permit for Telus Ocean signage at 749 Douglas Street. The Victoria–Saanich amalgamation discussion is also listed.

Victoria council weighs development fee hike, rental project and safe consumption site request

Victoria City Council held a series of meetings in late June and early July with agendas touching on development fees, housing, a safe consumption site and a potential amalgamation ballot question.

Development cost charges bylaw amendment

During the June 25 council session, members were scheduled to vote on amending the Development Cost Charges Bylaw (No. 26-054). The proposed change would introduce an inflation-based increase to the fees the city collects from developers to help fund infrastructure. The same bylaw was set for adoption at the July 2 council meeting. Minutes from both sessions were not yet available.

Residential rental building on Foul Bay Road

The June 25 Committee of the Whole agenda included a rezoning and development permit application for a six-storey residential rental building at 1908 Foul Bay Road. No outcome was reported as minutes have not been published.

Harbour safe consumption site motion

At the July 2 Committee of the Whole, councillors were asked to discuss a motion that would direct the mayor to write to Island Health and the provincial minister of health requesting the closure of The Harbour safe consumption site. The item appeared alongside an update on the Market Rental Revitalization Tax Exemption pilot program, where staff recommended adjustments. The committee also reviewed a decision on scheduled patio licensing fee increases after a two-year freeze and a development variance permit for signage at 933 Douglas Street.

Other June 25 agenda items

The June 25 Committee of the Whole also examined:

• A licensing application for The Cannabis Room at 1545 Fort Street.
• Phase two of the Zoning Bylaw Modernization, targeting light and heavy industrial zones.
• A discussion on placing a Victoria-Saanich amalgamation question on the 2026 general local elections ballot.
• A motion to advocate for improved provincial property tax deferral terms for seniors.

Following that meeting, the full council agenda included a cannabis shop recommendation for 1010 Cook Street (Altitude Cannabis), a community garden pilot project on the Johnson Street Parkade rooftop, a council member motion regarding 28 Bastion Square, and the 2025 annual report.

July 2 council agenda

The July 2 council meeting, held after the committee session, was scheduled to deal with a development permit with variances for 2839 and 2845 Cedar Hill Road (Oaklands property), the 2025 annual review of the Victoria Housing Strategy, and adoption of the development cost charges amendment bylaw.

Coming up

No government meetings were listed for the next 14 days as of July 5.