The best place to find information about recent Council decisions is by viewing Council videos and reading the associated agendas, minutes, reports and plans. You'll find all the details at www.colwood.ca/Meetings.

The highlights linked below present an overview of selected items to help residents pinpoint issues that are important to them and dig deeper into the details.

Please refer to the meeting minutes for full details. In the event that there is a discrepancy between documents, the minutes prevail. We encourage you to stay informed about decisions that affect your community.

April 14, 2020 Council Meeting Highlights

Watch video of the April 14, 2020 Council Meeting

• CRD Regional Growth Strategy: Council accepted the Regional Growth Strategy Amendment proposed by CRD Bylaw No. 4328. Read the report
   
• New City Committees: Council approved terms of reference for the Finance and Governance; Economic Prosperity; and Transportation Committees. Read the report
   
• West Shore Parks & Recreation Society: Councillor Parkinson was appointed as Director and Councillor Jantzen as Alternate Director to serve on the Board of Directors of West Shore Parks and Recreation Society for a term ending December 6, 2021. Read the report
   

April 27, 2020 Council Meeting Highlights

Watch video of the April 27, 2020 Council Meeting

• Waterfront Coastal Process Committee Membership: The terms of reference for the Waterfront Coastal Processes Committee were amended to include Parks Canada representative, Michelle Holmes and Royal Roads University representative, Dr. Chris Ling. 
   
• Off-Street Parking Standards for Royal Bay and Royal Beach: Council approved adding off-street parking standards to the draft Land Use Bylaw amendment for the Commons. Read the report
  • The number of parking spaces a development is required to provide is based on the number bedrooms in each multi-family dwelling (for example, one parking space for each 1-bedroom unit, 1.5 parking spaces for each 3-bedroom unit). For commercial properties the number of parking spaces is based on square footage.
  • Parking reductions may be considered when a parking study confirms certain conditions, for example a nearby frequent transit network, or a shared parking arrangement.
  • They also asked staff to bring back a scoping report exploring pay parking options.
     
• Mobile Food Vending Pilot: Council directed staff to advertise a request for proposals for mobile food vendors to participate in a mobile food vending pilot program at the Lagoon Beach during the summer season. This is separate from the special Beach Food events the City offers, as it would provide the vendor a License of Occupation for a 3 year term. Read the report
   
• Business tax rate review:  Council directed staff to return with a 5-year phased program beginning in 2020 to reduce Colwood's Business Tax Rate multiplier to 3.67; as well as Light Industrial and Recreation tax rates that are at, or below, the average for the region.
   
• Adjustments to the 2020-2024 Financial Plan for COVID-19 Relief: Council deferred the 1% transfer to the infrastructure replacement plan for 2020; approved a zero percent tax increase for 2020; and delayed several service level increases including communications staff increase, career firefighter increase, and filling building officer and planner vacancies. They also deferred enhancement of GIS services and the new road infrastructure capital program.
   
• Police budget maintained: Council maintained the addition of one RCMP Constable for 2020 to be funded from the RCMP Operating Reserve Fund.