Council Meeting
July 16, 2026 · 02:00 pm
Official documents unavailable. The agenda page has not been published yet. Check back closer to the meeting date. Try the agenda URL.
Summary
- 2027–2030 Capital Plan: Council debated and approved a $3.5 billion capital investment plan with an additional $100 million in in-kind amenities. Key allocations include $400 million for community centre renewal or rebuilds, $989 million for water and sewer infrastructure, $703 million for streets, and significant funding for parks, fire halls, and public safety. Several amendments were adopted during debate (see motions below).
- Public speakers included representatives from the Vancouver Police Board (supporting the $68.2 million public safety component), Park Board commissioners (requesting changes to recreation facility priorities), and community members advocating for the Marpole and Sunset pools, Renfrew Community Centre, Kitsilano Pool rehabilitation, indoor aquatic capacity, and ice rink renewal.
- Key tensions: The Park Board's approved capital priorities (centred on Hastings, Kensington, and Renfrew community centres) differed from the city's listed priorities (five centres including Dunbar, Carisdale, and others). Commissioners and community speakers asked Council to defer to Park Board jurisdiction on facility prioritization; Council debated but did not fully align the lists.
- Bylaw 37 enacted following capital plan approval.
- Special meeting on July 22 cancelled and replaced with an extended reserve block; reconvened meeting scheduled for July 21 at 9:30 a.m. to complete remaining agenda items.
Motions
Traffic Signal Amendment — 53rd & Main
53rd Avenue and Main Street, Vancouver Carried Details
- Amends the capital plan to direct staff to prioritize investigation and installation of a traffic signal or pedestrian crossing improvement at 53rd Avenue and Main Street.
- Rationale: the new Sunset Senior Centre has opened nearby, significantly increasing pedestrian traffic, particularly seniors and people with mobility challenges, crossing a busy arterial with no signal or marked crosswalk.
- Engineering confirmed hundreds of signal requests are queued citywide; this amendment signals Council's priority for this specific location given the changed conditions.
- MLA Sunita Dheer's advocacy and multiple councillor meetings with engineering staff were noted as background.
Kitsilano Pool / Renfrew / Joint Facilities Amendment (Orr)
Carried Details
- Amends the capital plan in three parts: (1) commits to a program of Kitsilano Pool rehabilitation (not merely planning) with a report back as part of the 2027–2030 midterm capital update; (2) adds Renfrew Community Centre to the list of centres for renewal; (3) directs REFM to intensify efforts with the Ministry of Education and BC Housing to advance jointly operated facilities including Britannia, West End, Raycam, Thunderbird, and Strathcona.
- Park Board commissioners had requested all three items; staff confirmed options analysis for Kits Pool is complete, with a $40 million rehabilitation option identified that could extend pool life 15–20 years.
- Debate centred on whether adding Renfrew (estimated $90–120 million rebuild) was realistic within the funding envelope; supporters cited the Rupert-Renfrew area plan's explicit commitment to renewing Renfrew Park Community Centre and the centre's high-growth catchment.
- An earlier version of the amendment was withdrawn and revised; the clause striking Renfrew from the list was voted on separately and defeated, keeping Renfrew on the renewal list.
- The Kitsilano Pool and provincial advocacy clauses passed; the Renfrew inclusion passed over opposition from some ABC-aligned councillors who argued the envelope could not accommodate a sixth centre.
Means Prevention Fencing — Granville Bridge
Granville Street Bridge, Vancouver Carried Details
- Amends the capital plan to include an uncosted line item for means prevention fencing on the Granville Street Bridge, consistent with a June 2026 Council direction.
- Directs staff to report back with a costed capital adjustment recommendation once conceptual design work is complete (anticipated end of 2027).
- Clarifies for the public that this work is already underway: an RFP has closed, a consultant selected, and $600,000 set aside for conceptual design in this plan.
50-Metre Indoor Pool Planning Amendment
Carried Details
- Amends the capital plan to direct staff to expedite planning for a year-round 50-metre indoor swimming and diving pool suitable for training, competition, and water polo.
- Goal is to ensure siting, consultation, and design decisions are advanced in this plan period so construction can be included in the 2031–2034 capital plan.
- Council sought legal advice on whether this language improperly bound a future council; legal confirmed it does not, as any future council can revisit the direction.
- Context: Vancouver has no competition-grade 50-metre indoor pool; the rebuilt Vancouver Aquatic Centre (targeted 2030) will not fill this gap. Park Board commissioners noted they are already advancing feasibility analysis for a co-located 50-metre pool and rink at Hastings or Kensington.
Fire Halls Seismic and HVAC Amendment
Defeated Details
- Proposed adding funding to accelerate seismic upgrades and HVAC replacement at additional fire halls beyond the two addressed in the capital plan.
- Mover noted that of 19 fire halls, seven are considered higher seismic risk; only four will be substantially addressed across this and the previous plan. Approximately 12 halls require HVAC upgrades at roughly $2.5 million each.
- Opponents argued the plan already provides for two new or upgraded fire halls (including a new four-bay Fire Hall No. 2 on Alexander Street) and that the overall investment trajectory is appropriate, with further halls addressed progressively in future plans.
Road Safety Signals and Active Transport Amendment
Defeated Details
- Proposed increasing funding for traffic signals, traffic calming, and active transportation infrastructure, with a mid-term review of the active transport funding envelope.
- Mover noted the plan funds only 16 new signals over four years, which would not address all locations with fatality history or the existing signal queue; previous plan included supplemental signal funding through development.
- Cited ICBC data projecting approximately 72 road deaths and 30,000 injuries in Vancouver over the next capital plan period.
- Opponents noted the plan already triples road and sidewalk funding to over $100 million, and that adding $15 million requires cutting elsewhere.
City Buildings Seismic Upgrade Amendment
Defeated Details
- Proposed adding $1 million to the city buildings seismic upgrade program to accelerate upgrades beyond the five buildings currently contemplated.
- Mover argued many public facilities remain seismically vulnerable and that delay increases both risk and long-term cost.
Sidewalk and Park Accessibility Amendment
Defeated Details
- Proposed directing staff to report back at the 2028 midterm update on opportunities to accelerate sidewalk rehabilitation and accessibility improvements to park buildings and infrastructure, with potential funding reallocation.
- Mover noted sidewalk condition directly affects whether seniors and people with disabilities can leave their homes safely; the plan's 30 kilometres of sidewalk rehabilitation and two to four park accessibility sites were characterized as insufficient.
- A supporter noted the relevance to the Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee's priorities and potential liability reduction for the city.
- Opponents noted the plan already includes $104 million for roads and sidewalks.
Approve 2027–2030 Capital Plan
Carried Details
- Approves the full 2027–2030 Capital Plan as amended, authorizing approximately $3.5 billion in city-led capital investment plus $100 million in in-kind amenities.
- Plan doubles the infrastructure levy from 1% to 2% annually, projected to reduce the infrastructure deficit timeline from 40 years to 20 years.
- Major allocations: $989 million for water/sewer/drainage; $703 million for streets (including 134 km of roads, 30 km of sidewalks, Granville and Cambie bridge rehabilitation); $400 million for community centre renewal; $496 million for parks and recreation; $68.2 million for police; new fire halls and seismic upgrades; Marpole and Sunset outdoor pools; planning for Kitsilano Pool and a 50-metre indoor pool; six new public plazas.
- Speakers from the Vancouver Police Board and Park Board both expressed general support while noting specific concerns or requests.
- Passed unanimously with all members present.
Enact Bylaw 37
Carried Details
- Enacts Bylaw 37, contingent on Council's approval of the capital plan (Report 3).
Vote matrix
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Kirby-Yung🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lisa Dominato🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Pete Fry🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Brian Montague🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Peter Meiszner🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lenny Zhou🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Sean Orr🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lucy Maloney🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Rebecca Bligh🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |