Regular Council

Summary

Meeting was called to order by the Mayor.

Summary

Territorial acknowledgement was read.

Summary

Meeting conduct rules were read by the Corporate Officer.

Summary

Council approved the meeting agenda as amended to add additional public participation for Bylaw No. 2218.

Motions (1)

Summary

A presentation and short video regarding Woodlands Park was provided; tenant liaison James Ridge presented an update.

Location

Summary

Members of the public spoke for and against the Park Dedication Bylaw, raising concerns about process, transparency, accessibility and costs.

Who spoke (17)

• Lisa FoxallMixed · Woodlands Park purchase
  Supports the park purchase but urges greater cost transparency and keeping the mobile homes to avoid displacing seniors.
• P HamiltonAsks · Park accessibility
  Asks council to delay adopting the bylaw until plans address accessibility, inclusion, and adaptive features for people with disabilities.
• A residentConcerned · Woodlands Park purchase
  Criticizes the purchase process for lacking transparency and public consultation, particularly with mobile-home residents.
• A resident (Langford)Concerned · Resident relocation
  Calls for a transparent process that builds confidence among taxpayers and addresses the displacement of residents.
• W BowersConcerned · Woodlands Park purchase
  Questions council’s transparency and warns that the purchase and related costs could erode residents’ trust.
• S. PlankSupports · Woodlands Park purchase
  Supports the purchase as a needed downtown green space and praises the city’s approach to supporting current residents.
• Chris Foxwall (Players Drive)Mixed · Costs and resident relocation
  Requests clearer total-cost estimates, guaranteed housing options for displaced residents, and more time for public discussion.
• Joel LankbirdAsks · Environmental and remediation costs
  Asks whether environmental and tree-management studies were completed and urges council to account for unit-remediation costs.
• David A. LottAsks · Purchase transparency
  Asks whether council members had prior relationships with the park owners and whether other purchases are planned.
• Rebecca McClureSupports · Woodlands Park purchase
  Supports the purchase, appreciates the owners’ decision to sell to the city, and thanks the city for supporting tenants.
• B ElizabethSupports · Resident relocation
  Thanks the city for planning to help current residents find new housing during the transition.
• S. RossanderConcerned · Property valuation
  Questions the property valuation and requests an independent assessment, more transparency, and answers to submitted questions.
• S. SeifertMixed · Woodlands Park purchase
  Supports city parks but urges council to slow the process, improve transparency, and give residents a meaningful say.
• Andrew EllenSupports · Woodlands Park purchase
  Supports the purchase as a valuable, walkable urban park and considers the relocation terms fair.
• Charles BodyAsks · Park planning and relocation
  Urges council to plan for washrooms and remediation costs and prioritize relocation of mobile homes that may soon lose value.
• T SunshineSupports · Woodlands Park purchase
  Supports preserving the property as parkland and praises the city’s plan for current residents.
• A residentConcerned · Park transition and costs
  Asks for a transition timeline, development-cost estimates, and details about the expertise behind the acquisition plan.

Summarized from the meeting video. Names use checked registry spellings; unconfirmed names appear as “A resident”.

Motions (1)

Summary

Public speakers addressed specific agenda items including the school text amendment and GVPL/WSPRS budgets.

Who spoke (5)

• Fraser Johnson (Langford)Supports · Speedway site school-use amendment
  Supports allowing a school at the Speedway site to help address the shortage of school space north of the highway.
• R. McClureSupports · GVPL budget
  Urges council to approve the Greater Victoria Public Library’s 2025 operating budget and five-year financial plan.
• Rossander (Langford)Asks · West Shore Parks and Recreation budget
  Urges council to examine West Shore Parks and Recreation’s surplus and consider applying successful practices at West Hills Aquatic Center.
• Fleming (Langford)Concerned · Speedway site school-use amendment
  Requests an explanation for not requiring a traffic impact study, given anticipated school traffic during already congested rush hours.
• Lisa FoxallSupports · Speedway site school-use amendment
  Supports allowing a school at the site, citing the need for additional space at Millstream and Lakewood schools.

Summarized from the meeting video. Names use checked registry spellings; unconfirmed names appear as “A resident”.

Summary

Council adopted the minutes from the Special Council meetings of December 16, 2024 (12:30 pm and 7:00 pm).

Motions (1)

Documents (1)

Summary

No items were removed from the Consent Agenda.

Summary

Council moved into a closed session under s.90(1)(c) and (i) of the Community Charter to consider labour relations and solicitor-client privileged advice.

Motions (1)

Summary

Council reported that a member of the public has been banned from in-person attendance at Council meetings for a three-month period.

Motions (1)

Summary

Council adjourned the meeting.

Motions (1)