Council Meeting — February 3, 2026
February 3, 2026 · 09:30 am–12:18 pm
Summary
Vancouver City Council regular meeting held on February 3, 2026, chaired by Mayor Ken Sim.
- Meeting opened with a Black History Month proclamation; Mayor Sim shared a personal story about a racially restrictive property deed, and Councillor Montague spoke about colonial roots in Trinidad and Tobago; the proclamation was accepted by Cuban-born Vancouver artist Yai Amel Lopez Zaudivar.
- Council approved an in-camera (closed) session for later in the week.
- Minutes from four previous meetings (two public hearings and two council meetings in January 2026) were adopted without corrections.
- A large consent agenda was adopted, covering one communication item (changes to the 2026 meeting schedule), three reports (disaster resilience funding, social housing funding, and a housing lease extension), and 18 rezoning referral reports sending proposed developments to public hearings.
- Report 1 (Healthy City Strategy 2026) was presented in full, with councillors asking detailed questions about metrics, equity, aging, active living, parks, and the toxic drug crisis; carried unanimously.
- Referral Report 1 (City of Vancouver Official Development Plan) was referred to public hearing; staff confirmed additional social media outreach would be used given the citywide scope.
- Referral Report 5 (gaming expansion at 3965 Smyth Street) was referred to public hearing after councillors confirmed a comprehensive public consultation process had been completed.
- Referral Report 16 (25-storey hotel rezoning at 2028–2038 Barclay Street) was referred to public hearing; councillors heard that a prior open house was cancelled due to serious safety threats, and that the project proceeds under the 2025 Hotel Development Policy rather than the West End Plan.
- 31 bylaws were enacted, formalizing previous public hearing decisions.
- Three administrative motions were approved: miscellaneous land use amendments, Rupert/Renfrew Station Area Plan zoning changes, and Downtown Eastside amendments to accelerate SRO replacement and increase social housing (the last passed with three councillors opposed).
- Councillors filed eight notices of motion for the February 25 Standing Committee meeting, covering topics including FIFA public safety, reversing the supportive housing moratorium, public safety infrastructure, remote work policy, bylaw officer interactions, $10/day childcare, ICE enforcement at the World Cup, and truck routes in East Vancouver.
- New business included approval of leaves of absence requests.
- Inquiries raised included traffic safety at Main/Kingsway, the Trans-Canada Trail closure in northeast Vancouver, Railtown planning, Hornby Street vehicle incursions, Hastings bus lane changes, vape shop proliferation, and a status update on the Vancouver Whitecaps stadium negotiations.
- Mayor Sim acknowledged the passing of Japanese-Canadian community leader Laura Kumi Saimoto.
Attendance
Present: Ken Sim, Sarah Kirby-Yung, Lisa Dominato, Rebecca Bligh, Pete Fry, Brian Montague, Mike Klassen, Peter Meiszner, Lenny Zhou, Sean Orr, Lucy Maloney
Motions
In-Camera Meeting Authorization
Carried- Council was asked to authorize an in-camera (closed to the public) meeting later in the week, as permitted under the Vancouver Charter.
- No debate was recorded; the reasons and legal authority were listed in the agenda package.
- Moved by Councillor Dominiado, seconded by Councillor Classen.
- Carried unanimously.
Adoption of Minutes - Public Hearing January 13, 2026
Carried- Council was asked to formally adopt the minutes of the Public Hearing held January 13, 2026.
- No corrections were put forward by any councillor.
- Moved by Councillor Kirby Young, seconded by Councillor Dominiado.
- Carried unanimously.
Adoption of Minutes - Public Hearing January 15, 2026
Carried- Council was asked to formally adopt the minutes of the Public Hearing held January 15, 2026.
- No corrections were put forward by any councillor.
- Moved by Councillor Meisner, seconded by Councillor Classen.
- Carried unanimously.
Adoption of Minutes - Council Meeting January 20, 2026
Carried- Council was asked to formally adopt the minutes of the Council Meeting held January 20, 2026.
- No corrections were put forward by any councillor.
- Moved by Councillor Classen, seconded by Councillor Johl.
- Carried unanimously.
Adoption of Minutes - Council Meeting following Standing Committee on Policy and Strategic Priorities January 21, 2026
Carried- Council was asked to formally adopt the minutes of the Council Meeting following the Standing Committee on Policy and Strategic Priorities held January 21, 2026.
- No corrections were put forward by any councillor.
- Moved by Councillor Classen, seconded by Councillor Kirby Young.
- Carried unanimously.
Adoption of Consent Agenda Items - Communication 1, Reports 2-4, Referral Reports 2-4, 6-15, 17-21
Carried- A large block of items was grouped for adoption without individual debate: one communication (2026 meeting schedule changes), three staff reports (disaster resilience funding application; housing accelerator funding for social housing at 3122 SE Marine Drive; non-market housing lease extension with Vancouver Resource Society at 4096 Carolina Street), and 18 rezoning referral reports sending proposed developments to public hearings across the city.
- Referral Reports 1, 5, and 16 were held out for procedural questions by individual councillors and dealt with separately.
- No conflicts of interest were declared.
- Moved by Councillor Dominiado, seconded by Councillor Classen.
- Carried unanimously.
Report 1 - Healthy City Strategy 2026 Framework and Implementation Update
Carried- Council considered updating Vancouver's Healthy City Strategy — the city's overarching social development and health framework, first adopted in 2014 — with a refreshed set of 12 goals organized around social determinants of health (housing, food, safety, active living, belonging, etc.).
- Staff from Arts, Culture and Community Services and a medical health officer from Vancouver Coastal Health presented the refresh, noting it builds on existing work programs rather than creating new spending, and proposes an annual reporting cycle to track progress.
- Councillors asked detailed questions about measurable targets (noting the new version is less prescriptive than the 2014 strategy), the role of parks and recreation, equity for vulnerable populations, the toxic drug crisis, the impact of budget cuts on implementation, and how the strategy will inform the upcoming capital plan and social grants program.
- A speaker from the Vancouver Food Policy Council supported the update and the annual reporting cycle; a representative from the Partnership for Healthy Cities (New York) noted Vancouver is internationally recognized for its data-driven public health approach.
- No councillor spoke in opposition; the strategy was described as a framework for aligning and prioritizing existing city work, not a mandate for new expenditure.
- Moved by Councillor Kirby Young, seconded by Councillor Classen; carried unanimously.
Referral Report 1 - City of Vancouver Official Development Plan
Carried- Council was asked to refer a draft City of Vancouver Official Development Plan (ODP) — the city's first — to a public hearing for community input and a formal decision.
- Councillor Dominiado asked whether the public hearing process would differ from a standard rezoning hearing (it will not) and whether additional outreach would be done given the citywide scope (yes — social media and the Shape Your City webpage will be used).
- No conflicts of interest were declared and no substantive debate took place; the referral is an administrative step before the public hearing.
- Moved by Councillor Dominiado, seconded by Councillor Johl; carried unanimously.
Referral Report 5 - CD-1-519 Text Amendment and Gaming Control Act Approval, 3965 Smyth Street
Carried- Council was asked to refer a text amendment for an existing CD-1 zoning at 3965 Smyth Street, which also requires approval under the Gaming Control Act, to a public hearing — effectively allowing a gaming-related use to be considered at that site.
- Councillor Orr noted that the city's gaming moratorium requires "comprehensive public consultation" before expanding gambling, and asked staff whether that threshold had been met.
- Staff confirmed they conducted standard public notification, received 37 written submissions, notified all municipalities and First Nations within 5 km (no responses), and consulted VPD, Vancouver Coastal Health, and other stakeholders — and considered this comprehensive.
- No further debate; the referral sends the matter to a public hearing where the substantive decision will be made.
- Moved by Councillor Johl, seconded by Councillor Classen; carried unanimously with Councillor Bly recorded as absent.
Extension of Meeting to Complete Business
Carried- As the meeting was running close to the planned 5 p.m. recess time (ahead of a 6 p.m. public hearing), council voted to extend the meeting to complete remaining business.
- Moved by Councillor Dominiado, seconded by Councillor Kirby Young.
- Carried unanimously.
Referral Report 16 - CD-1 Rezoning 2028-2038 Barclay Street
CarriedBylaws 1-31 Enactment
CarriedAdministrative Motion 1 - Miscellaneous Amendments to Various Land Use Documents
CarriedAdministrative Motion 2 - Rupert and Renfrew Station Area Plan Implementation - City-Initiated Amendments to Zoning and Development Bylaw and Building Bylaw
CarriedAdministrative Motion 3 - Downtown Eastside Housing Implementation - Amendments to FC-1 District and Downtown Eastside Oppenheimer District ODP to Accelerate SRO Replacement and Increase Social Housing
CarriedNew Business - Requests for Leaves of Absence
CarriedAdjournment
CarriedSource
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
COMMUNICATIONS
1. Changes to the 2026 Council Meetings Schedule
REPORTS
1. Healthy City Strategy: 2026 Framework and Implementation Update
2. Funding Application to Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding Program
3. Housing Accelerator Funding for the Development of Social Housing at 3122 SE Marine Drive
4. Non-Market Housing Lease Extension with Vancouver Resource Society for 4096 Carolina Street
REFERRAL REPORTS
1. City of Vancouver Official Development Plan
2. CD-1 Rezoning: (i) 1030-1070 East Hastings Street, (ii) 1115-1127 East Hastings Street & 360 Glen Drive and (iii) 1168-1182 East Hastings Street
3. CD-1 Rezoning: 1470-1476 West Broadway
4. CD-1 Rezoning: 466-476 West 27th Avenue
5. CD-1 (519) Text Amendment and Gaming Control Act Approval: 39-65 Smithe Street
6. CD-1 Rezoning: 2268-2294 West 3rd Avenue and 1902-1912 Vine Street
7. CD-1 (899) Text Amendment: 3360-3384 Vanness Avenue and 3347 Clive Avenue
8. CD-1 (893) Text Amendment: 325-343 West 41st Avenue and 5696 Alberta Street
9. CD-1 (878) Text Amendment: 357-475 West 41st Avenue
10. CD-1 Rezoning: 453-461 East 10th Avenue and 2536-2542 Guelph Street
11. CD-1 Rezoning: 2202-2212 West 10th Avenue and 2221 Marstrand Avenue
12. CD-1 Rezoning: 2219-2285 Cambie Street
13. CD-1 (915) Text Amendment: 450-496 Prior Street, 550 Malkin Avenue and 1002 Station
14. CD-1 Rezoning: 441 East Pender Street
15. CD-1 Amendment: CD-1 (566) East Fraser Lands Town Square Precinct: 3575 Sawmill Crescent and CD-1 (567) East Fraser Lands Waterfront Precinct: 8711 River District Crossing and 3522 East Kent Avenue South
16. CD-1 Rezoning: 2028-2038 Barclay Street
17. CD-1 Rezoning: 3295-3333 Commercial Drive
18. CD-1 Rezoning: 3553-3563 East Hastings Street
19. CD-1 Rezoning: 4911-5255 Heather Street, 637-657 West 37th Avenue, and 620-689 West 35th Avenue (Heather Lands)
20. CD-1 (843) Text Amendment: 888 West Broadway (Formerly 878-898 West Broadway)
21. CD-1 Rezoning: 816-860 West 13th Avenue and 2915-2925 Willow Street
BY-LAWS
ADMINISTRATIVE MOTIONS
1. Miscellaneous Amendments – Various Land Use Documents
2. Rupert and Renfrew Station Area Plan Implementation – City-Initiated Amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law and Building By-law
3. Downtown Eastside Housing Implementation – Amendments to the FC-1 District in the Zoning and Development By-law and the Downtown Eastside/Oppenheimer District Official Development Plan (DEOD ODP) By-law to Accelerate SRO Replacement and Increase Social Housing