Actions Belonging to a Plan (View 1029)

Carry out a needs assessment through to 2040 and design a commercial/institutional charging network strategy.

Support a pilot fleet electrification program with a commercial/institutional partner.

Review and integrate contractual requirements for municipal services to require lower emissions vehicles, increasing over time; Commit to electrifying the Township's fleet of light-duty vehicles. Update purchasing policy to buy used vehicles if no low-carbon options are available or cost effective.

Leverage grant opportunities to install an annually increasing number of public EV charging stations at key locations throughout the community. Collaborate with other local governments on a regional charging network strategy. Identify gaps in the charging network and install new level 2 stations at strategic locations.

Incentivize or require all new homes to be EV-ready including single family houses, townhouses, and apartments. (new EV bylaw adopted in 2021)

Work with or seek professional guidance to work with stratas and property management companies on navigating the process to retrofit existing parking stalls with EV charging equipment.

Educate builders and developers on EV charging requirements though open houses and workshops. Partner with other organizations to host engagement events such as test-drives and ride-alongs.

Adjust speed limits to enable low-speed EVs on select streets. Provide perks to EV drivers such as priority parking. Collaborate with private sector fleet operators and others to find innovative ways to encourage ride hailing, taxi operators and other fleet operators to switch to EV's, such as by providing EV-only car share stalls and on-street charging for car share and ride-hailing.

Educate building owners about how to make their home or business more
energy efficient and the benefits of doing so at time of building permit.
Help building owners to understand the rebates and incentives available
through programs such as Better Homes and Better Buildings BC.
Explore a building permit rebate program focused on energy efficiency
retrofits. Explore financing options to assist homeowners with implementation of
energy retrofits. Increase the use of energy labelling and benchmarking.

Identify and remove barriers to heat pump installation, including streamlining permitting processes, optimizing noise regulations, and restructuring permit fees.
Increase rebate top-ups for Provincial air source heat pump incentives through Bring it Home 4 the Climate.

Establish a 10-year program for a community-wide marketing campaign to encourage building envelope improvements, electrification or other low carbon fuel sources.

Educate renovators and realtors on energy efficiency and low carbon choices for space and water heating.

Opt-in to Provincial carbon metrics for new buildings when they become available.

Promote existing Clean BC new construction incentives and provide additional incentives to subsidize costs of working with an Energy Advisor and/or mid-construction testing. Encourage the use of energy labelling and benchmarking.

Collaborate across the region to provide relevant training to the building industry and realtors.

Apply OPC policies, development permit guidelines and zoning bylaws that focus development in complete, compact centres and transit-oriented corridors.

The Active Transportation Network Strategy identifies gaps in the network. Implement supportive policies such as a Complete Streets Policy and updated Subdivision Servicing Bylaw and others to increase AAA infrastructure. Develop a parking strategy for public parking, including pay parking in key areas to encourage other travel modes. Update the Parking Bylaw to ensure that parking supply does not outstrip demand.

Implement the Active Transportation Network Strategy by continuously improving active transportation infrastructure, including reconfiguring existing streets, and building safe and convenient active transportation paths to connect all neighbourhoods

Connect with community members to learn about their active transportation needs. Dedicate staff time for promotion and education around active transportation.

Beginning with a car free day on a key street 1 day a year, progress to more frequent car free days on a variety of streets. This may lead to a permanent establishment of a car free zone in the Town Centre.

Understand when and where on-demand services are most useful and remove policy barriers and update bylaws. Host awareness events for e-bikes (and other forms of micro mobility) and work with vendors. Work with car sharing and ride hailing providers to expand programs and transition to electric fleets.

Promote transit ridership by offering free transit days and celebrating new routes. Ultimately explore universal free or reduced transit with transit providers.

Work with BC Transit and neighbouring communities to progressively transition transit to zero emissions vehicles (e.g., electric)

Partner with CRD to evaluate local opportunities to enhance organic handling and diversion.

Review the Integrated Resource Management Plan and public engagement results to determine a way forward regarding the potential gasification plant.

A zero-waste outreach program may include community-led composting projects, school programs, participation in Provincial “Love Food Hate Waste” campaign and education around source-separation requirements.

Adopt the Checkout Bag Regulation Bylaw. In the future, expand the bylaw to include regulation of other single-use plastics. Develop guidelines for zerowaste large public events led by Esquimalt.