As Oak Bay council warms up for the first council meeting after August hiatus tonight. Here’s a little breakdown of what you can expect.
First will be the public hearing session at 6:30 p.m., focusing on a bylaw that will designate a residential building at 2608 Cavendish Avenue as a Protected Municipal Heritage Site. Specifically, discussions will revolve around the D.E. Smith and Eleanor Parfitt Smith Bungalow, built in 1938 and designed Percy Leonard Jones, one of Victoria’s preeminent architects. The home is said to have a classic storybook style, reminiscent of an English cottage. The goal is to now add this piece of the past to Oak Bay’s list of protected historical buildings.
The official council meeting starts at 7 p.m., kicking off with the proposal of showcasing the Telus Future Home adjacent to Oak Bay village on Hampshire Road. The Home reportedly showcases current technology and allows attendees to experience this technology “first hand.” This agenda item will discuss the Home’s impact on local parking, public access and the business improvement area.
Next on the agenda is the Henderson Recreation Centre roof replacement and potential contract award to the lowest-bidder, Alpha Roofing and Cladding Inc. The item will also look at the request to approve additional funds of $40,000 from the Capital Works Reserve to complete the project.
Discussions will resume on the proposed purchase of new surveying equipment for Oak Bay’s Engineering Services program, which has reportedly struggled with “unreliable” equipment that will have a “negative impact” on its engineering operations. The equipment in question is a data collector and a GPS receiver, with a cost of $35,000 that could to come out of the Capital Works Reserve. Council and staff will discuss the options.
Council will also present an updated report on the removal of derelict boats littering Oak Bay’s shores, which involves continuous clean-up efforts by the Oak Bay Marine Group, Royal Victoria Yacht Club and Dead Boat Society. An immediate clean-up effort is anticipated to cost approximately $20,000. Two options will be put on the table, of either requesting a secondary report for more information, or directing staff to proceed with the assessment of derelict vessels in Cadboro and Oak Bay, as well as create an application for their subsequent removal.
Stay tuned for more info on these items by following stories and updates on oakbaynews.com and following the Oak Bay News page on Facebook.