PERIOD REPORT
DATE: September 28, 2026 Report No. ADM-26-048
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: Dan Horan, Chief Administrative Officer
SUBJECT:TITLECAO - 2026 Second Period Report
Body
The following is a report on the activities pertaining to the CAO’s office from May 1, 2026 to August 30, 2026.
I. DIVISION ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
The CAO’s priorities during this period were as follows:
• Finish this term of Council strong and deliver on staff’s commitments for the current Council Priorities Plan
• Deliver an effective election process
• Prepare to deliver a solid orientation/onboarding for the new Council
Since 2012, Esquimalt has organized and hosted regional orientation sessions for elected officials and senior staff. Esquimalt will continue this practice, hosting two evenings of orientation shortly after the election. The Councils and senior staff of the 13 municipalities and the Regional District have already registered to attend the sessions. The two sessions provide an early opportunity to build relationships and create a common understanding of municipal governance.
Preparations for Esquimalt Council’s onboarding and orientation continue into October, as staff work to develop a program that maximizes the new Council’s opportunities to hit the ground running.
As noted in the May period report, the 2022-2026 Council Priorities Plan was a significant and ambitious body of work. It has been an essential tool to help staff focus on Council’s desired outcomes while remaining adaptable to changing circumstances, including major changes to Provincial housing legislation and Council’s new initiatives introduced in the 2024 mid-term refresh.
Nearly all the projects and initiatives in the plan have been completed or have reached the expected milestones at this stage of Council’s term. This reflects a notable effort by Council and staff, particularly given the scale of the plan and the Township’s available resources.
As also noted in May, some projects or initiatives could not be completed before the end of this Council term. The following resolutions will remain on the books and will inform development of the 2026-2030 Council Priorities Plan:
• From January 26, 2026: “That Council direct staff to prepare an impact assessment outlining detailed project scope, costs, processes, timelines, staff resources, and risks associated with proceeding with Development Cost Charges (DCCs) and Amenity Cost Charges (ACCs) bylaws.”
• From March 2, 2026: “That Council:
o Direct staff to prepare a project backgrounder/impact assessment to initiate a 3rd party benchmarking analysis for revenue.
o Direct staff to prepare a project backgrounder/impact assessment to initiate a 3rd party benchmarking analysis for operating budget/service delivery; and,
o Direct staff to brief Council on staff’s potential initiatives on efficiency/effectiveness prior to development of Council’s 2026-2030 strategic plan.
In the last period report, the CAO committed to bring forward project backgrounders for the benchmarking analyses and efficiency/effectiveness brief in July 2026. The CAO’s unexpected medical leave in late May and June has delayed this work. Work is ongoing and the reports to Council will be carried forward for review in the development of the 2026-2030 Council Priorities Plan.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Council Priorities Plan - Updated