PERIOD REPORT
DATE: May 25, 2026 Report No. ADM-26-026
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: Dan Horan, Chief Administrative Officer
SUBJECT:TITLECAO - 2026 First Period Report
Body
The following is a report on the activities pertaining to the CAO’s office from January 1, 2026 to April 30, 2026.
I. DIVISION ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
The CAO’s focus during this reporting period has been on two key areas:
• supporting Council’s 2026-2030 budget deliberations
• preparing for Council orientation, strategic planning and the development of Council priorities for 2026-2030
The attached draft Council Priorities Plan reflects the current status of all projects and initiatives meant to address Council’s strategic areas of focus throughout the 2022-2026 term. The CAO will walk through the attached presentation at the Special Committee of the Whole; the presentation represents a quick way to note any changes to the Council Priorities Plan since the last update in January 2026. Staff invite questions from Council and make the following recommendations:
• That staff be directed by Committee resolution to make any proposed changes, additions or deletions to the Council Priorities Plan; and
• That the Council Priorities Plan be endorsed by resolution for approval by Council and publication to the Township’s website.
The 2022-2026 Council Priorities Plan represents a significant body of work; the plan itself was ambitious from the start, representing a program of activity that was expected to stretch the organization to deliver more than should be expected based on its current size and resources. The Township of Esquimalt continues to punch far above its weight class.
The Council Priorities Plan and the process that supports it demonstrated its value as a tool to focus everyone on achieving Council’s desired outcomes. The process also demonstrated an ability to adapt as circumstances, both external and internal, changed throughout the term. In 2023, Bill 44 was adopted by the Province and required municipalities to change their zoning bylaws and Official Community Plans to accommodate small-scale multi-unit housing throughout the Township. These legislative requirements significantly changed the Council Priorities Plan early in the term, particularly for the Development Services department. Council also completed a mid-term refresh in 2024, identifying and then ultimately adopting several new initiatives or projects into the Council Priorities Plan. These new initiatives were also heavily focussed on community building and development.
An assessment of the Council Priorities Plan at this stage of the Council term shows that a large portion of the projects or initiatives contained in the plan are completed or are scheduled to be completed before the end of this Council term. This represents a significant effort by staff and Council to deliver on the ambitious plan first adopted in 2023.
Though Council and staff should be extremely proud of the Council Priorities Plan and what has been achieved, it is important to recognize some key desired outcomes are not likely to be delivered before the end of this Council term. Unless otherwise directed, these resolutions will remain on the books and will inform the development of the Council Priorities Plan for 2026-2030:
• 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 February 9, 2026, from the Special Joint Council and Advisory Planning Commission: “Direct staff to look at options for changes to the committee structure and terms of reference to reflect concerns raised by APC members and Council and come back to APC and then Council with recommendations.”
• 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.
Council recently approved the initiative to review Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing policy in Esquimalt in an expedited way; this new project, combined with the ongoing commitments related to housing and community development, mean that there is no capacity to make progress on ACC/DCCs nor APC changes before the end of this term of Council.
Staff intend to bring forward the project backgrounders for benchmarking analysis (revenue and operating budget/service delivery) as well as the brief on efficiency/effectiveness in July, 2026.