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[0:02]
Thank you. Good evening everyone. This
[0:05]
is a regular meeting of council Monday,
[0:07]
May 26, 2025 with a call to order at
[0:10]
7:00
[0:11]
precisely. And I look to councelor Stock
[0:14]
for the uh territorial acknowledgement.
[0:19]
Thank you, chair. Uh we acknowledge uh
[0:23]
that with respect the Wasanic people on
[0:26]
whose traditional territory the district
[0:29]
stands today and the Wasanic people
[0:32]
whose territorial
[0:34]
uh and historical relationships I should
[0:37]
say with this territory continues to
[0:39]
this day. Thank you very much. Thank you
[0:42]
chair. Thank you. Thank you. We'll move
[0:44]
on to item three which is introduction
[0:46]
of late items. Are there any late
[0:48]
items? Before we through the chair,
[0:51]
before we go into the late items, should
[0:53]
I move the agenda issue? No, the agenda
[0:56]
is after late it. Okay. Um, yes, there
[0:59]
are two late items 8 AI and 8 A2. So
[1:04]
that instead of three
[1:08]
um except sorry, what about the items
[1:11]
that you wish to move that's coming the
[1:15]
agenda.
[1:17]
So I've changed the order of uh what's
[1:20]
in the late items. So late item number 8
[1:24]
AI remains as is. The second item item
[1:27]
number 8 A3 should become 8 A2.
[1:32]
Okay.
[1:34]
And 8 A1 V.
[1:38]
Oh no. Which one is 1 B? This is all one
[1:42]
A.
[1:47]
So you move 8 A1 remains as it is. Yes.
[1:51]
Which is the variance report. Yes. And 8
[1:57]
A 3 in here moves to 8
[2:02]
A2 8
[2:04]
A2 and the agenda items move around. Now
[2:09]
what about the OCP? That's coming that
[2:11]
will become B which is where it's two
[2:14]
rather than
[2:17]
three. Can I do the agenda report moving
[2:21]
of it because that will clarify which
[2:25]
items are moving here because there is a
[2:28]
it says 8A3 which should actually be
[2:30]
8A2.
[2:34]
Okay. We we've got a late item which is
[2:37]
a move was a movement of three items on
[2:40]
the current agenda.
[2:43]
Okay.
[2:45]
Um two in the report.
[2:48]
Are there three reports?
[2:53]
Hold on.
[2:55]
Uh yeah, sure. Uh it's through the
[2:57]
mayor. So I my understanding is there's
[2:59]
two late items and there are items of
[3:01]
correspondence pertaining to two agenda
[3:02]
items and so the the the second item was
[3:06]
in your package was numbered incorrectly
[3:08]
item number 8 a three it was numbered
[3:11]
and it would then be number two at this
[3:13]
point because council is just simply
[3:15]
dealing with the addition of late items.
[3:18]
Yeah. Is that okay? Yes. Okay staff. You
[3:21]
got that? Okay. Thank you.
[3:25]
And uh just just a confirmation on
[3:28]
uh late items 8A an inclusion to item
[3:32]
8A1 and item 8
[3:35]
A3. Um there will be a separate motion
[3:38]
when we get to those particular agenda
[3:41]
items. Okay. Thank you. So I look for
[3:45]
approval of the agend agenda with late
[3:46]
items included stock. Sorry chair. Now I
[3:50]
would like to move some items from the
[3:52]
agenda.
[3:54]
Okay, let's go back. Okay, so u if we
[3:57]
can move item for with regards to the
[4:00]
staff report item 8 um 8 A1 remains as
[4:06]
is. That's the variance application. The
[4:09]
OCP which is currently 8 A 6 moves to 8
[4:17]
A2. Then the third item uh the foot hub
[4:20]
which is currently numbered as 8
[4:23]
A54 moves to 8
[4:27]
A3. Um the current item of ECOM 911
[4:31]
which is labeled as 8 A5 moves to 8 A4.
[4:38]
um of the fireworks which is currently
[4:41]
lab labeled as 8 A3 moves to 8
[4:45]
A5 and the final final one the
[4:48]
loneliness survey which is 8 A2 moves to
[4:51]
8 A6
[4:54]
okay that's what I was trying to
[4:57]
get sorry
[5:01]
council oh council
[5:04]
Clint Sorry.
[5:08]
Yes. Thank you. If you can hear me, I'd
[5:09]
also like to make an agenda item uh
[5:12]
change from item
[5:15]
11B. Move to item 10 10 C.
[5:23]
Okay.
[5:35]
Okay. Then obviously before we can uh
[5:37]
move forward on those we'd have to do a
[5:39]
motion. Perhaps if I split the motion
[5:41]
into two uh we do the motion that's
[5:42]
based on what councelor Sanjief has
[5:45]
required and again I won't get councelor
[5:48]
Sanjief to to repeat them but staff has
[5:50]
got them. Thank you very much. So I look
[5:52]
for a motion to move those items only.
[5:56]
Councelor Stock seconded councelor
[5:58]
Mconi. Those in favor of moving those
[6:01]
items
[6:02]
only. Uh motion carries. Sorry. Um
[6:06]
Council Clint, is that a yay or a nay?
[6:13]
That's
[6:14]
um that's in support of the motion.
[6:16]
Thank you very much. So it carried
[6:18]
unanimously. Now we move on to the
[6:20]
second motion which is a motion with
[6:22]
regard to councelor mccllintok uh with
[6:24]
regard to the the movement and again
[6:26]
staff has got the uh moving the
[6:29]
11 B.
[6:32]
Do we have a motion?
[6:36]
Well, that was my motion. Uh, chair
[6:39]
moving it from 11.
[6:43]
Okay. Thank you. Do we have a second?
[6:48]
Okay. Second for discussion. Um, I'm not
[6:51]
sure we want any discussion, but is
[6:52]
there any discussion? Council Clint,
[6:55]
would you wish to motivate for it? Well,
[6:57]
I can certainly support it. Um I don't
[6:58]
know why the uh why council would not uh
[7:01]
support moving it um into the
[7:04]
correspondence so this council can have
[7:06]
a wholesome discussion
[7:08]
um with the correspondence. It's uh very
[7:11]
valid. It's point it's timely. It's in
[7:14]
uh connection with uh matters that are
[7:16]
on the council table today and uh for
[7:18]
the future of the district. Um, I really
[7:21]
can't imagine why council would object
[7:24]
to moving an item so that we can have a
[7:28]
wholesome discussion, but uh, it kind of
[7:31]
stands on its own. Thank you. Anyone
[7:34]
else wish to
[7:36]
comment? No comment. Uh, those in favor
[7:38]
of the
[7:42]
motion. Okay. Those
[7:44]
opposed? Motion fails. 4 42 with council
[7:49]
sorry with councelor Marshall councelor
[7:51]
Sanjief mayor Jones and councelor mcconi
[7:55]
in
[7:56]
opposition so now I look for an approval
[7:59]
of the agenda based on the approved
[8:03]
motion
[8:04]
items councelor Marshall second
[8:07]
councelor Sanjief any comments no
[8:10]
comments those in favor
[8:13]
uh passes unanimous thank you very much.
[8:16]
Now we look at item five which is public
[8:18]
participation period. We have a number
[8:20]
of people from the public here. Before
[8:22]
you get up I want to ask the question.
[8:23]
You've already answered it but would you
[8:26]
please put your hand up those that wish
[8:27]
to speak at the public
[8:29]
participation. Okay. I just want to
[8:31]
check the numbers see if 20 minutes is
[8:33]
enough. Thank you very much. So before
[8:34]
you get up I have to make a statement
[8:37]
unfortunately if I can find
[8:39]
it. So it's rules of procedure. Uh
[8:43]
persons wishing to address council must
[8:45]
state their full name and municipality
[8:48]
of residents for identification and also
[8:50]
the topic involved. Questions and
[8:52]
comments must be on topics which are not
[8:54]
normally dealt with by municipal staff
[8:56]
as a matter of routine. Questions and
[8:59]
comments must be addressed through the
[9:00]
chair and answers given likewise.
[9:03]
Debates with or questions of individual
[9:05]
council members will not be allowed. No
[9:08]
commitments shall be made by the chair
[9:10]
in replying to a question. Matters which
[9:13]
may require action of the council shall
[9:16]
be referred to a future meeting of the
[9:18]
council. Each speaker during public
[9:20]
participation period must use respectful
[9:23]
language and refrain from making
[9:24]
offensive
[9:26]
gestures, excuse me, or signs and is
[9:29]
limited to speak in for three minutes
[9:31]
unless authorized by the chair to speak
[9:33]
for a longer period of time. And last
[9:36]
item, 20 minutes will be allotted for
[9:38]
the public participation period unless
[9:41]
extended by vote of the
[9:44]
council. So the first person wish to
[9:47]
come forward.
[9:53]
Good evening, mayor, council, and
[9:55]
district staff. Uh thank you for the
[9:58]
opportunity to speak. My name is Jim
[9:59]
Wolford and my wife and I live in uh and
[10:03]
work in North Sanage. Um this is just
[10:06]
not our home. It's our community and we
[10:09]
know it's quite well and we care deeply
[10:11]
about policies that uphold the values
[10:13]
and vision outlined in the upcoming uh
[10:16]
official community plan. Uh my wife and
[10:19]
I believe that developing a short-term
[10:21]
rental policy guided by the provincial
[10:23]
short-term rental um accommodation act
[10:26]
that was passed in 2023 offers a
[10:30]
reasonable and responsible effective
[10:32]
framework to make to meet several of our
[10:36]
OCP uh goals. uh a well-crafted policy
[10:39]
can strike the right balance by
[10:42]
supporting local economic activity,
[10:44]
encouraging innovative housing
[10:47]
solutions, and helping address
[10:48]
affordable home ownership. And I'll give
[10:50]
an example. There's many seniors who
[10:53]
wish to age in place in North Sanage and
[10:56]
by leveraging their homes for additional
[10:59]
income is one example of the OCP looking
[11:02]
for innovative ways to raise income. The
[11:06]
legis the legislation
[11:08]
uh of the uh provincial short-term
[11:10]
rental accommodation act uh is aimed to
[11:13]
strike a balance protecting long-term
[11:17]
housing challenges by limiting the
[11:19]
short-term rentals to principal
[11:22]
residents. The registry provides
[11:25]
transparency. It provides accountability
[11:28]
and enforcement, which is so important,
[11:31]
ensuring only legal listings remain on
[11:33]
the platform.
[11:35]
As hosts, my wife and I have welcomed on
[11:38]
a personal note uh many visiting
[11:40]
professionals that work in the uh uh
[11:45]
health care that provide support for
[11:48]
work people in North
[11:49]
Sanage. Uh they are essential
[11:52]
contributors to our region and they rely
[11:54]
on a safe regulated accommodation within
[11:58]
the community of North Sanage. By
[12:00]
establishing clear and thoughtful
[12:01]
guidelines, the district can preserve
[12:04]
neighborhood character while also
[12:07]
allowing short-term rentals to
[12:08]
contribute positively, economically,
[12:11]
socially, and
[12:13]
sustainably. And thank you for your time
[12:16]
and your commitment to a balanced
[12:18]
community focused approach to housing in
[12:20]
North Sage. Thank you.
[12:26]
Next person wish to come forward.
[12:35]
My name is Kathy Leehy and I'm getting
[12:37]
up on behalf of myself and my partner
[12:39]
Gary Hartwig. Uh we live in Nor Sanich
[12:42]
and we're agenda item which has been
[12:44]
referred to a lot of times here. Um 8 I
[12:47]
think 1A or we are asking for a variance
[12:51]
on our property and we just wanted to
[12:53]
let you know that we're here if you have
[12:54]
any questions for us. Okay. Thank you.
[12:57]
Thank you.
[13:06]
Good evening, council. I am David Tonkan
[13:08]
and I live on Lanzen Road. I'm on the
[13:11]
public record from last week uh
[13:14]
discussing the marine uh the marine and
[13:18]
foreshore areas in the OCP.
[13:21]
Um, I just wanted to say that after uh
[13:25]
we I had an opportunity to address you
[13:28]
last week that uh Feliche did reach out
[13:32]
and we had a wholesome conversation much
[13:35]
of which is uh in the uh next draft that
[13:39]
you will see of the OCP. It is um
[13:43]
extremely gratifying to be heard and to
[13:46]
be able to participate in the OCP
[13:48]
process. Um so I wanted to say thank you
[13:51]
for that and thank you Feliche. Um we
[13:55]
also have uh invited uh members of
[13:58]
council that would like to come to our
[13:59]
AGM. Uh that is still open to you to
[14:02]
come along. Um the the draft is is still
[14:06]
a draft even though uh you'll take it to
[14:08]
first reading or at May uh today. So um
[14:12]
there are some changes that we are still
[14:14]
looking for but I just wanted to say
[14:16]
thank you very much for listening. Thank
[14:18]
you.
[14:26]
Good evening, mayor, council, and staff.
[14:29]
My name is Julie Thorson. I'm here with
[14:31]
my husband, John Christensen, along with
[14:34]
other residents who operate short-term
[14:36]
rentals here in North Sanich. We um
[14:39]
issued a letter dated May 23rd, which is
[14:42]
on this evening's agenda, as well as a
[14:45]
informative report on short-term rentals
[14:47]
in North Sanich a few weeks back. I'll
[14:50]
make this very short, I promise. So, in
[14:53]
light of the many changes that you've
[14:54]
made to the OCP draft, particularly
[14:57]
section 5.4.19 4.19 on temporary
[15:01]
accommodations. Excuse me. It's
[15:03]
important our concerns be voiced in
[15:05]
person here tonight. As highlighted in
[15:08]
my letter, the landscape of vacation
[15:10]
rentals has changed significantly in the
[15:13]
past decade. It is a diverse model made
[15:16]
up mostly of self-contained
[15:18]
units. Our review of online platforms
[15:21]
found 58 listings listed on the
[15:24]
provincial registry. There are three
[15:27]
room only BNBs as per bylaw 1349. I have
[15:31]
to remember all these bylaws. Nine are
[15:34]
full houses. Some offer both rooms and
[15:36]
suites within that dwelling. 46 were
[15:40]
operated in secondary suites, guest
[15:43]
cottages and carriage houses. Those with
[15:47]
occupancy permits could not be validated
[15:50]
but would be further reducing these
[15:52]
numbers. So, we don't know how many have
[15:54]
valid occupancy permits. Losing these
[15:58]
small communityrooted short-term rentals
[16:00]
would be a loss for the entire
[16:03]
community. It will not add significant
[16:05]
numbers to long-term housing, but it
[16:08]
will remove a vital source of income to
[16:11]
enable seniors and families to remain on
[16:14]
their rural properties.
[16:16]
Many hosts, for many hosts, monthly teny
[16:20]
revenues will not begin to cover their
[16:22]
rising property and retirement costs.
[16:25]
This is the issue for my husband and I
[16:27]
in
[16:28]
particular. Thoughtful regulation and a
[16:31]
fair licensing policy is needed once the
[16:34]
OCP is
[16:35]
finalized. In the interimm, a policy
[16:38]
could be put in place without burdening
[16:42]
staff or creating new bylaws and
[16:45]
enforcement
[16:46]
measures. Short-term rental operators
[16:48]
would simply need to meet two basic
[16:52]
requirements, a provincial short-term
[16:54]
rental registry number and a valid
[16:57]
occupancy permit from the district. Once
[17:01]
the OCP is finalized, a more
[17:03]
comprehensive framework such as Sydney's
[17:06]
could be developed down the road. Thank
[17:09]
you so much for your time. Thank you.
[17:15]
Do we have anyone else else that wishes
[17:17]
to speak? I'm seeing no one. Oh, yep.
[17:26]
Good evening, council, mayor, and staff.
[17:29]
Um, my name is Doug Noctal and I live on
[17:32]
North Savage Road and I'm part of the
[17:34]
short-term rental group of people here
[17:36]
tonight to say that uh the short-term
[17:39]
rental has been kind of a lifeline for
[17:41]
my wife and me as well. Has allowed her
[17:43]
to have a job that allows her to stay at
[17:45]
home cuz she's been having some issues.
[17:47]
So, it's been very important to her and
[17:50]
uh as part of the community, we've part
[17:53]
of the reason that we've done it is we
[17:55]
want to be part of the sharing
[17:56]
community. we've opened up our house to
[17:57]
people and guests and they all ask us,
[18:00]
"Why would you open up your house cuz
[18:02]
it's beautiful?" And we said, "Well,
[18:04]
haven't you ever driven in a nice
[18:05]
neighborhood and wanted to know what it
[18:07]
would be wondered like to know what it
[18:09]
to live there?" And they said, "Well,
[18:11]
absolutely. We drive through all these
[18:13]
beautiful neighborhoods. We never get a
[18:14]
chance to see them." We said, "Well, we
[18:15]
wanted to give you that opportunity."
[18:18]
and the smiles and the gratefulness that
[18:20]
we've gotten from the people who've
[18:22]
stayed, especially the medical staff
[18:24]
during CO who came and stayed. They were
[18:27]
coming in tired and run down and we had
[18:30]
a nurse from Calgary who was on the
[18:32]
front line of CO and she came and there
[18:34]
was no life in her and she stayed for 8
[18:36]
days and went back and basically hugged
[18:39]
us and said, "Thank you. You've given me
[18:40]
my life back." So the value of
[18:43]
short-term rental is there for people
[18:46]
who are looking for places to to uh
[18:50]
escape the daily life and to refocus and
[18:54]
rebuild their mental fortitude. So we've
[18:57]
seen so much of that from our
[18:59]
perspective. So I thank you for your
[19:01]
time and for the work that you guys do.
[19:03]
Thank you.
[19:09]
Is there anyone else that wishes to
[19:10]
speak?
[19:17]
Good evening, staff and council. I'm uh
[19:20]
Hans Kman and I live here in North
[19:21]
Senate. I'm here with my wife tonight,
[19:23]
Emma Domen. And uh we're also part of
[19:26]
the short rental short-term rental
[19:30]
uh group. And uh we believe that
[19:34]
short-term rentals have been around for
[19:36]
so long now that they're an integral
[19:38]
part of a community, having been
[19:40]
existence for well over a decade
[19:42]
already. And uh we would encourage
[19:45]
council and staff to explore further the
[19:48]
possibility of what they bring to our
[19:49]
district in terms of housing diversity
[19:52]
and flexibility. Thank you. Thank you.
[19:59]
And anyone else wishes to speak? I'm
[20:03]
seeing no one rising. So I'll call the
[20:05]
closure to the public participation
[20:08]
period and we'll move right on to
[20:12]
adoption of minutes. Any additions,
[20:14]
deletions, errors, council, I look at
[20:17]
Jack. No. No. I look for a motion based
[20:21]
on Thank you, Councelor Marshall. Second
[20:23]
councelor Sanjie.
[20:26]
Uh, I move that council adopt the
[20:27]
minutes to the special meeting of
[20:29]
council held May 12th, 2025. Thank you.
[20:33]
Any
[20:34]
comments? No comments? Those in
[20:37]
favor? Unanimous. Thank you. We move on
[20:40]
to item seven, which is petitions,
[20:41]
delegations, and presentations. And this
[20:44]
presentation by Mary Winssper Center.
[21:18]
Thank you. That's
[21:20]
fine. Good evening, mayor, council,
[21:23]
staff. I'm pleased to have this
[21:25]
opportunity to be here to update council
[21:27]
on our last year's operations for the
[21:30]
year 2024. I would like to first
[21:32]
introduce our board members that are
[21:33]
here this evening. We've got uh Sheila
[21:36]
Fay, Ryan Traford, Patrick Brown, Dell
[21:39]
Elgma, um Linda Pendre, and Maya
[21:43]
Pollson. And also one of our stellar
[21:46]
volunteers just happened to be here,
[21:47]
Shirley Moner. So, thanks Shirley.
[21:51]
Uh I would venture that there are very
[21:53]
few people who live in this community
[21:58]
uh
[22:00]
there who have not stepped foot in our
[22:03]
facility at the Mary Winspair Center. I
[22:06]
daily have so much appreciation for the
[22:08]
visionaries who work tirelessly to see
[22:10]
the center realized. the financial
[22:13]
benefit of the visitors we attract is
[22:15]
huge and one of the projects that I want
[22:18]
to be able to work on this year is to
[22:20]
measure that impact. So, um we are
[22:22]
looking at developing some metrics and I
[22:24]
hope that next year I'll have those
[22:26]
statistics to present because I think
[22:28]
that it's really important to
[22:30]
um to be able to measure those kinds of
[22:33]
things and and see what it is that uh
[22:36]
our operation is contributing to the
[22:38]
community.
[22:42]
I wanted to mention first off the good
[22:45]
news that we received in March that our
[22:46]
charitable statuses were reinstated for
[22:49]
both the Sanich Peninsula Memorial Park
[22:51]
Society and the Mary Winspair Center
[22:52]
Foundation. For those of us that or
[22:55]
those of you who've been following along
[22:56]
with us on this journey, it was
[22:59]
arduous. Um it really took a patient
[23:02]
village, a legal team, and an age to
[23:05]
accomplish.
[23:06]
So, um I appreciate just the patience
[23:10]
that the community and our board and
[23:13]
volunteers really everyone um showed
[23:16]
while we went through this
[23:19]
process. Uh I'm not going to go through
[23:22]
all these statistics, but I did want to
[23:24]
point out that in 23 and 24, we had some
[23:27]
pretty good years.
[23:29]
Um we are anticipating a netneutral
[23:32]
result for 2025 given uh the kind of
[23:36]
uncertain economic climate. We're really
[23:38]
not sure how um the economy is going to
[23:42]
impact people's willingness to spend
[23:44]
money on going to shows and that kind of
[23:46]
thing. Uh so I don't know that we can
[23:50]
anticipate seeing anything like that net
[23:53]
cash gain for
[23:56]
2025. That particular gain for 2024 of
[24:00]
the
[24:01]
449778 will be funneled into funding our
[24:04]
capital upgrades. I'll talk a little
[24:05]
more about that uh as I proceed here,
[24:08]
but um there are a lot there's a lot
[24:12]
that needs to be done in that respect.
[24:14]
and then anything that's remaining will
[24:16]
be set up as a
[24:18]
reserve for our theater. We continue to
[24:21]
see soldout audiences at many of our
[24:23]
events and we're excited to continue
[24:25]
building audiences for some more diverse
[24:28]
programming and offering additional
[24:30]
support for artists who might not
[24:31]
otherwise have opportunities to perform
[24:33]
in the area. We are reinstating our
[24:36]
bursery program that gives financial
[24:38]
support to children who are not able to
[24:39]
afford to see shows or register for
[24:41]
programs. Um, we're really proud of that
[24:44]
program. It's been a while since we've
[24:45]
been able to offer it, but our
[24:47]
foundation board is working on changing
[24:49]
some of the regulations that we've had
[24:52]
in place and we're hoping to be able to
[24:54]
launch that fairly soon so that families
[24:56]
who are have a little bit less
[24:59]
um are able to participate in some of
[25:03]
the offerings that we have both for
[25:05]
programming and for
[25:06]
shows. It was another busy year for
[25:09]
conferences and rentals in our building.
[25:11]
2025 is shaping up to be even busier
[25:14]
with more weddings and dance
[25:16]
competitions. Uh we end we did kind of a
[25:21]
check just to see of all of the rentals
[25:23]
that we had to turn down and we expect
[25:26]
that we could expand by 20% at the very
[25:30]
least to accommodate the additional
[25:33]
requests that we get for space rentals.
[25:36]
It's a busy place.
[25:38]
Uh, I did want to mention a couple of
[25:41]
things about Blue Heron Park. We're
[25:42]
continuing to seek partners to assist us
[25:45]
with park maintenance and potentially
[25:47]
add to the activities that are possible
[25:49]
in the park. Ideally, we would
[25:51]
appreciate support from the district's
[25:53]
park staff to help us with maintenance.
[25:56]
Our staff make weekly visits to walk the
[25:58]
trails and make sure it's safe and that
[26:00]
we don't have any unhoused camping or
[26:02]
having fires or leaving garbage. We do
[26:05]
rely heavily on our park neighbors and
[26:07]
trail users to bring issues to our
[26:09]
attention. We don't have um resources
[26:12]
either financial or personnel that can
[26:15]
spend a lot of time in the park. So, we
[26:18]
do really um rely on our neighbors to
[26:21]
let us know when there are things that
[26:22]
we need to be attending
[26:26]
to. And a little bit about our building
[26:28]
at the Mary Windspear Center. Most of
[26:30]
the mechanical systems and well really
[26:32]
everything in the building um are from
[26:35]
the original construction in
[26:37]
2001. Over the years some things have
[26:40]
failed and have not been replaced. So
[26:42]
beginning with some of the most
[26:44]
important our facility staff have begun
[26:46]
catching up with those repairs. We're
[26:48]
very fortunate that we've got a
[26:50]
facilities manager right now with a lot
[26:52]
of skills. So, he's been uh able to take
[26:54]
care of a lot of those things, and we
[26:55]
haven't had to call into the contracts
[26:57]
that we would have had to in the
[27:00]
past. Beyond general repairs, there are
[27:03]
several important items in need of
[27:05]
replacement, the roof and the HVAC
[27:08]
system being the most critical. We will
[27:10]
be considering a fundraising campaign to
[27:12]
assist with that project as preliminary
[27:14]
costs are estimated at a million
[27:16]
dollars.
[27:19]
uh readerboard. For those of you that
[27:20]
remember the reader board that used to
[27:22]
be the digital signage that was up in
[27:24]
the um tower, that is a project that's
[27:28]
still very high on our priority list. We
[27:30]
have found that retrofitting that space
[27:32]
in the tower is going to be a high-cost
[27:34]
endeavor. So, we are looking at some
[27:36]
other options that might give us more
[27:38]
flexibility and
[27:40]
visibility. Um so, there will be more
[27:43]
information about that forthcoming.
[27:46]
I did want to mention that we actually
[27:48]
have more than one window that needs to
[27:50]
be replaced in the future. So, um, yeah,
[27:54]
and that's about it. I'm really happy to
[27:56]
answer any questions if anyone has
[27:58]
questions. Thank you, council.
[28:02]
Questions? Councelor Stock, you are
[28:04]
already is on.
[28:07]
No, I just think that uh we we are very
[28:11]
fortunate as the communities here on the
[28:14]
peninsula to have the Mary Windspear
[28:16]
Center and the Memorial Park Society and
[28:19]
the board is amazing the number of
[28:22]
volunteer hours and Denny is
[28:25]
also she's the one really uh along with
[28:29]
the board but mainly Denny who got our
[28:31]
our charitable status back and that was
[28:34]
so difficult really really a very hard
[28:38]
uh arduous uh process. So I think uh
[28:43]
that you know we're very very lucky to
[28:46]
have Mary Windspear center and that we
[28:49]
do uh I know there's a lot of things a
[28:52]
lot of capital projects that we're you
[28:55]
know need to do plus the park
[28:57]
maintenance is very difficult uh because
[28:59]
it it is a large park and uh lots of
[29:03]
people use it. So anyway, I and also the
[29:07]
Peninsula Singers. We have sold out
[29:10]
shows. I have to I have to do a plug for
[29:13]
our Peninsula
[29:15]
singers and our Christmas show is coming
[29:18]
up.
[29:20]
Pull the mic on that one.
[29:23]
Anyway, thank you, Denny, and thank you
[29:25]
to the Memorial Park Society board
[29:27]
because, as I say, without you, we
[29:30]
wouldn't have all the arts and culture
[29:33]
and entertainment we have. Thank you.
[29:36]
Thank you, Council
[29:38]
St.
[29:39]
Council. Excuse me, I'm losing my voice.
[29:42]
Council Clint, do you have anything to
[29:44]
add because we don't see you on the
[29:45]
screen?
[29:51]
No, nothing to add, mayor. Thank you for
[29:53]
asking. Thank you, councelor. Further
[29:56]
questions?
[30:00]
Nope. She's leaving.
[30:17]
Oh, we cleared the room
[30:21]
again. Okay. Um, now we move on to item
[30:25]
eight. I got to make sure that I'm not
[30:27]
jumping
[30:29]
anything. Yes, we move on to item eight,
[30:32]
which is reports. And the first item is
[30:34]
A, which is a staff report on
[30:36]
development various permit, DVP. And
[30:39]
before we ask staff to comment, I'll
[30:42]
stand up the motion so that we can put
[30:44]
these two emails
[30:46]
uh on record so that they can be
[30:48]
discussed. So the motion is is that um
[30:51]
that we receive uh email May 22, sorry,
[30:57]
from the town of Sydney with subject
[30:59]
line DVP application 9140 Creswell Road
[31:03]
and second email dated May 25th, 2025
[31:07]
from B. Jones and E. Jones with subject
[31:09]
line regular. Do I have a seconder? Um I
[31:12]
saw councelor Marshall first. Any
[31:18]
comments? Any comments? No comments?
[31:20]
Those in
[31:21]
favor? Unanimous. So now we move on to
[31:25]
the main item which is staff. Anything
[31:27]
to add?
[31:30]
Thank you through the chair. Um just uh
[31:34]
the only thing I'll add is that the um
[31:36]
the owner is has been and the applicant
[31:39]
have been working with staff to bring
[31:41]
the property into compliance. Uh and uh
[31:45]
this issue came about uh when we do our
[31:47]
property check for uh for other things
[31:50]
on the property. Um they've already got
[31:52]
uh uh some approvals and this is one
[31:56]
that ended up coming up in the process.
[31:59]
So, uh, staff is recommending, uh,
[32:01]
approval on this variance. Thank you.
[32:03]
Thank you, council.
[32:09]
Questions? Not seeing any
[32:12]
questions. So, based on the fact I see
[32:14]
no questions, I look for a motion.
[32:17]
Council council me seconded. Councelor
[32:19]
Sanjief. Council Makoni. Uh, thank you,
[32:22]
chair. I'll make the recommendation that
[32:24]
one council approve the issuance of
[32:26]
development variance permit DVP
[32:32]
2025-0249140 Creswell Road attached to
[32:35]
staff report number
[32:37]
PCS-25-011 as attached one varying the
[32:40]
following section of the zoning bylaw
[32:42]
number 1255 section A very zoning bylaw
[32:46]
number 1255 section 501.3.4
[32:50]
4 C3 to relax a minimum required
[32:53]
interior sideyard setback brackets east
[32:55]
side for one existing accessory
[32:57]
structure in the RA3 zone from 7.6 m
[33:01]
bracket 25 ft to 5.7 m brackets 19.3 ft
[33:07]
for the purpose of permitting the
[33:08]
existing deck structure. Thank you. Um
[33:12]
before we go for a vote any questions?
[33:15]
No questions. the those in
[33:18]
favor unanimous. Thank
[33:21]
you. Now we move on to the next item.
[33:24]
Instead of using the number, I'll go by
[33:26]
title. And um the next item is the
[33:28]
official community plan review. And
[33:32]
again, because we've got laid items on
[33:34]
this, I will stand up the motion so it
[33:36]
can be discussed on the floor. And uh my
[33:39]
motion is to
[33:41]
receive letter
[33:43]
dated whoop sorry letter dated May 20,
[33:48]
2025 from D. Josephson with subject line
[33:50]
support for short-term rentals and
[33:52]
opposition to draft number two of the
[33:55]
OCP. Email dated May 22nd, 2025 from D.
[33:59]
Gregory with subject line support a
[34:02]
balanced approach to short-term rentals
[34:03]
in North Sanich.
[34:05]
Letter dated May 22, 2025 from C Kerr
[34:09]
with subject line support for
[34:10]
responsible short-term rentals in North
[34:12]
Sanage. And item last item is letter
[34:15]
letter dated May 23rd, 2025 from Jay
[34:18]
Thorson and and Jay Christensen with
[34:21]
subject line in support of short-term
[34:23]
rentals OCP draft 3. Do I have a second?
[34:28]
Councelor Sanjief. Um any
[34:33]
comments? I see no comments. Those in
[34:37]
favor? Unanimous. So now we move to the
[34:40]
actual item. So again,
[34:43]
staff. Thank you through the chair. Uh
[34:47]
thank you, mayor and council. Uh this is
[34:51]
um uh a draft of an OCP that is finally
[34:54]
coming to uh council uh in the form of a
[34:58]
bylaw uh for first reading.
[35:01]
Uh it has been a long time coming. Um it
[35:05]
follows up uh previous uh meeting by
[35:08]
council uh and another open house that
[35:11]
was uh conducted on May the 14th and we
[35:15]
in which we had a lot of um a lot of
[35:17]
input uh and planning staff have
[35:21]
received
[35:23]
uh as I as as Mary has noted in the
[35:25]
report a robust amount of public uh
[35:29]
input uh between the last council
[35:32]
meeting and this one And so, uh,
[35:35]
planning staff have been very busy, uh,
[35:37]
meeting internally, uh, making
[35:40]
clarifications in the document, updating
[35:42]
the document. Um, we have included a
[35:45]
redline version and a complete version
[35:47]
for council this evening. Uh, both have
[35:50]
been added to the, um, uh, municipal
[35:53]
website for people to see so they can
[35:55]
track the changes. Um, and it is, uh,
[35:59]
the first reading in a four reading
[36:01]
process. Uh the second reading will come
[36:04]
later on in June in the second week of
[36:06]
June on the 9th. Uh we'd like to bring
[36:09]
the bylaw back uh to second reading. But
[36:12]
in the meantime, this uh first reading
[36:14]
will give us authorization uh to uh do
[36:17]
our referrals uh take this um uh OCP to
[36:22]
our uh lawyers for review uh as well as
[36:25]
get uh more input uh from the community
[36:28]
as well. Um Mary has been extremely busy
[36:32]
uh
[36:33]
condensing uh a lot of information down
[36:36]
um to an OCP concentrate which you have
[36:40]
in front of you tonight. Um she's going
[36:42]
to go through uh a number of the
[36:44]
updates, a number of the changes uh try
[36:47]
she'll try to be brief because it is uh
[36:50]
um there has been a lot of information
[36:52]
uh collected and then um we'll be here
[36:56]
as staff to answer any questions that
[36:57]
council may have. Thank you.
[37:01]
Thank you, Feliche, and through the
[37:02]
chair. Good evening, everybody. Hope
[37:04]
everyone's doing well tonight. Um,
[37:06]
right, as Feliche said, we um did
[37:09]
receive quite a few people to come to
[37:11]
our open house and um on May 14th where
[37:14]
we heard from about 35 people, I think,
[37:16]
were in attendance. And we've received
[37:18]
quite a few written responses,
[37:19]
obviously, many on the short-term
[37:21]
rentals. Um and we also spoke with our
[37:24]
committees and committee members outside
[37:26]
of um the committee to some degree as
[37:28]
well and we've had input from various
[37:31]
district staff. So, you know, I I'd say
[37:33]
it's like continuous refinement here a
[37:35]
little bit. Um but I would say in
[37:37]
general I would there's about three
[37:39]
areas that we've been hearing more
[37:40]
strongly than um others. One is around
[37:42]
the short-term rental policy which
[37:44]
you've heard a little bit about tonight.
[37:46]
Um another is around just the densities
[37:48]
around McTavish area. And then I would
[37:50]
say the the third main kind of um like
[37:54]
sort of area of concentration if you
[37:55]
will of input was around the marine
[37:57]
policy. So you'll see some of the red
[37:59]
line reflects some of that. But that
[38:02]
wasn't the only there was there were
[38:03]
other comments and I'll go through a
[38:05]
little bit more but in general there was
[38:06]
comments just for clarity as well or
[38:08]
reinforcing certain points adding a
[38:10]
little bit more here or there. That's
[38:11]
where you might see some things um added
[38:13]
in the red line. Um I guess the
[38:17]
um the main thing sorry the other thing
[38:20]
the other major area of of input was
[38:22]
around in from the southeast quadrant
[38:24]
and that desire for um smaller uh lots
[38:28]
minimum lot sizes in relation to
[38:29]
subdivision. Um so I'll just go through
[38:32]
each sort of section that had that what
[38:34]
the main input was and and sort of how
[38:36]
we handled it. You've also had that in
[38:37]
your staff report but I'll just sort of
[38:39]
put that in uh for now. And so yes, so
[38:42]
the first one was reducing minimum lot
[38:44]
size to 0.25 acres in the southeast
[38:46]
quadrant. And I think last time we had a
[38:49]
motion that that where that was
[38:50]
defeated. So uh you will not see that uh
[38:52]
in this in this draft. Also some desire
[38:56]
to talk a little bit about increasing
[38:57]
density specifically in the in that new
[39:00]
designation which is the um fund
[39:02]
planning term attached ground oriented
[39:05]
residential designation also sort of
[39:07]
known as town homes and that sort of
[39:09]
thing. Um so we have recommended a
[39:12]
couple of edits to that one one where we
[39:14]
where we're keeping basically the um
[39:16]
existing uh dwelling units per acre etc.
[39:20]
But adding some of degree of flexibility
[39:23]
where we might be able to where council
[39:25]
might be able to increase the density
[39:27]
according to certain conditions and we
[39:28]
have inserted what those conditions
[39:30]
would be in a general sense in terms of
[39:32]
amenity provisions and site conditions
[39:35]
being preserved. thinking here about uh
[39:37]
cover tree tree canopy and trying to
[39:39]
balance that kind of um the the
[39:41]
interests. So just to give you a sense
[39:43]
of that um and this would be addressed
[39:45]
in the zoning by a lot of this more
[39:46]
specifics
[39:48]
um but we didn't make changes to the
[39:50]
number of
[39:51]
stories. Okay, thank you. Um and then
[39:54]
some uh you know edits for clarity
[39:57]
generally in that land use section. So
[39:58]
that's section four. Then going uh to uh
[40:01]
the clim environment and climate change
[40:03]
section. Um just some more explicit
[40:06]
making more explicit some of the implied
[40:07]
concepts in there. There was emphasis on
[40:09]
trees importance in in a wild uh climate
[40:12]
as well as um wanting to really see we
[40:14]
talked a lot about ecosystem integrity
[40:16]
but also the wildlife um being
[40:19]
prevalent. We had some comments around
[40:21]
fire um uh internally and carbon
[40:23]
accounting there. So we generally tried
[40:25]
to reflect those edits where we could
[40:27]
and uh yeah sim similarly for the
[40:31]
general development policies there's um
[40:33]
you know just again that reinforcing of
[40:35]
the the um wildlife water harvesting. So
[40:38]
there were some concepts with that
[40:40]
that's concepts that were already in
[40:41]
there but we just sort of reinforced
[40:42]
some of those and I would say the same
[40:45]
about from agriculture
[40:47]
um specifically there was one um just
[40:50]
some discussions around size of the
[40:52]
residential farm farm plate um as well
[40:56]
as um uh sustainable food production
[40:59]
including the marine environment.
[41:02]
And then when it comes to the short-term
[41:04]
rentals, um I think generally if I were
[41:07]
to summarize, I think and I think it
[41:09]
it's reflected here from the comments we
[41:11]
received is just a desire really to
[41:14]
reflect what the provincial um
[41:16]
legislation states. Uh and so we what
[41:20]
we've done is we've really tried to
[41:23]
maybe not get as specific in the OCP but
[41:26]
really used the OCP because it is that
[41:28]
general overarching policy do document
[41:31]
to really try to say uh you know that
[41:33]
emphasize that balance between what
[41:36]
we're what decisions are supposed to do
[41:38]
is balance that need for the h local
[41:40]
housing with the economic benefits that
[41:42]
have been cited. um and that we are
[41:45]
going to look to develop a more specific
[41:47]
policy uh to come basically. So that
[41:51]
that's where we've gone. We've we've um
[41:53]
and I think that that sort of echoes
[41:55]
quite a bit about what what people are
[41:56]
saying. Uh yeah, the specifics will come
[41:59]
later and we'll hear more and we'll be
[42:01]
able to um understand a little bit more
[42:03]
about how other local governments are
[42:05]
threading the needle on this very
[42:06]
important topic um because of course all
[42:10]
interests are so valid. So, uh, that's
[42:12]
what we've done with that one. Um, when
[42:15]
it comes to the commercial and
[42:17]
industrial, we really, we heard quite
[42:19]
strongly from the marinas about liabs
[42:21]
being permitted on in marina areas. So,
[42:23]
we we have added that edit. Um and
[42:27]
then yeah, a few more again making a
[42:31]
little bit more clarity and explicit
[42:32]
around some of the implied comments um
[42:35]
concepts in the parks, recreation and
[42:36]
culture specifically talking about kayak
[42:39]
launches and this sort of thing where it
[42:41]
may have already been implied in our
[42:43]
minds but to make some things explicit.
[42:47]
Um when it comes to other land use,
[42:53]
um just that recognition that BC fairies
[42:57]
and the airport and other uh federal
[42:59]
lands play such a key employment and
[43:01]
public transportation hub. And so that
[43:03]
was um important for us to just
[43:05]
reiterate that. In the infrastructure um
[43:09]
section, we made some changes around um
[43:11]
connecting water supply supply more
[43:13]
explicitly to fire flow requirements and
[43:16]
um in the marine and freshwater section,
[43:19]
we've uh tried to really um tie the
[43:23]
balancing of the foreshore development
[43:25]
sorry again strive to find a balance
[43:28]
between foreshore development and
[43:30]
environmental and visual sort of values
[43:32]
that are held dear by so many residents.
[43:35]
we've heard over the engagement um and
[43:37]
we will be looking to improve the
[43:39]
clarity of that and the intentions in
[43:42]
the implementation so in the zoning um
[43:45]
that will come later. Uh and then we
[43:48]
also removed some of the references to
[43:50]
the 2100 or all of them actually to the
[43:53]
2100 reference in relation to the high
[43:55]
water water mark again in the
[43:57]
anticipation that we'll be looking at
[43:58]
this more closely with the sea level
[44:01]
rise um flood control bylaw that's
[44:03]
anticipated to be done. Um I think
[44:07]
mostly the the other development permit
[44:10]
areas again just edits for clarity. The
[44:13]
de development permit area maps we did
[44:16]
um make some uh edits uh where we could
[44:20]
show that this we the we where we were
[44:22]
able to confirm that some of these
[44:24]
streams were actually non-fish bearing
[44:26]
and so we've removed those from the map
[44:28]
and there's more work to be done uh you
[44:30]
know as we as we go forward. Um, and so
[44:32]
we've also, I think, added some detail
[44:34]
around some of the the research that we
[44:36]
want to do moving forward to make these
[44:38]
these maps even more precise.
[44:42]
Um, I think the only note on schedule B,
[44:45]
which is the one that's the the land use
[44:47]
designations uh was we were we updated
[44:49]
one parcel from community uh to
[44:51]
community use from a split designation
[44:54]
of agricultural and rural and that was
[44:56]
uh to accommodate the I think broad and
[44:57]
gun club is the name of it. Yeah.
[45:00]
So I think that's that's the details and
[45:02]
um happy to accept any questions or
[45:04]
comments um as always. Okay. Thank you.
[45:08]
Thank
[45:09]
you. Councelor Stock is ready. Okay.
[45:12]
Councelor Stock.
[45:14]
All right. Uh thank you chair. Uh well
[45:17]
my question relates to the short-term
[45:19]
rentals. So, I think that what I've
[45:22]
gleaned from May uh Miss Startzer's uh
[45:26]
comments is that there'll be sort of a
[45:29]
general outline in the OCB because it is
[45:32]
a a broad policy document and there'll
[45:35]
be a policy later
[45:37]
on specifically related to short-term
[45:41]
rentals uh that will be enacted pursuant
[45:45]
to the OCP and the bylaw. And am I
[45:49]
correct in that
[45:51]
interpretation just because I know
[45:53]
probably other Yeah. people in the
[45:56]
audience may have also want that type of
[46:00]
clarification. Thank you chair and thank
[46:02]
you staff. Yeah. Yeah. Through the
[46:04]
chair. Absolutely. That's our intention
[46:06]
is to state the broad intention which is
[46:08]
that that we will be balancing those
[46:11]
very important interests both local
[46:13]
housing as well as and that should be
[46:15]
the intention of council going forward.
[46:17]
Right. And so this is the that's the
[46:19]
long-term thinking broad like oversight
[46:21]
policy that will be set here. And then
[46:23]
we we talk about uh by developing a more
[46:28]
specific policy. And that is our exact
[46:30]
intention is to be able to develop that
[46:32]
more specific policy when we can do a
[46:33]
little bit more engagement and a little
[46:34]
bit more research to really understand
[46:37]
there's there's there's there's soup to
[46:38]
nuts of what local governments are doing
[46:40]
out there to thread this needle for
[46:41]
themselves and we want to take a little
[46:43]
bit more time to also do that.
[46:47]
Um for the in the
[46:50]
interm regulation that is in place and
[46:52]
that regulation would be intended to
[46:54]
stay until we replace it with uh policy
[46:58]
and other so so so it's sort of status
[47:01]
quo as is with this being the
[47:03]
overarching currently in you could
[47:05]
almost say that our you know we need to
[47:08]
look at what the status quo is but this
[47:10]
OCP policy today maybe is trying to do
[47:13]
that uh will fit under that if that's
[47:16]
I'm I'm not sure I'm explaining myself
[47:17]
very clearly, but basically it's broad
[47:19]
enough that it can accommodate for what
[47:21]
we have, but we'll be looking at more
[47:22]
specifically.
[47:25]
Okay. Thank you uh very much. Okay. No
[47:27]
follow. Thank you chair and thank you uh
[47:30]
Miss St. Okay. Thank you council
[47:32]
councelor Marshall. So my uh thank you
[47:35]
just through you chair to staff. My
[47:36]
question is along the same lines as what
[47:38]
councelor Stockton and I know that
[47:39]
you've just answered it but I just want
[47:41]
to make it clear.
[47:42]
Um, so I understand that policy will be
[47:45]
coming, but I believe that part of the
[47:47]
change that we have incorporated is that
[47:49]
high level view of balancing the
[47:51]
economic benefit of short-term rentals
[47:53]
with housing. So we have that currently
[47:56]
changed now in this OCP draft. So that
[47:58]
is the direction to council when we
[48:00]
consider decision-m here. It's not
[48:02]
specifically just housing needs. It's
[48:04]
our economic benefit for our short-term
[48:05]
rentals. Do I have that correct? Okay.
[48:08]
Thank you. Thank
[48:10]
you. Counc.
[48:13]
Yes. Thank you. I I just thought of
[48:15]
something else. I know that with regard
[48:17]
to it's not really a question short
[48:20]
comment with regard to short-term
[48:22]
rentals also many of them aren't
[48:23]
suitable for long-term accommodation and
[48:26]
I've experienced that myself and also
[48:30]
having neighbors and friends who have
[48:33]
short-term rentals in North Sanage and
[48:36]
really I can't see anyone you know want
[48:40]
it wouldn't be appropriate to or that
[48:43]
comfortable for like a long-term term
[48:46]
say a year lease or something. Uh and so
[48:50]
I think that's part of the balance too
[48:52]
which houses or carriage houses or
[48:55]
suites uh have the appropriate
[48:58]
accommodation for longer term housing in
[49:02]
instead of just short-term rentals.
[49:04]
Thank you very much. Thank you council.
[49:06]
Further
[49:08]
questions? Nope. Um I'll bring up a
[49:10]
couple of questions. One, I'll just
[49:12]
comment on the
[49:13]
um I call them the BMBBS, the short-term
[49:16]
rentals. Um based on the fact that the
[49:18]
OCP is just an overarching document, I
[49:22]
assume that
[49:23]
the the short-term rental owners will
[49:26]
have another opportunity to talk to
[49:27]
staff and that's during the process of
[49:29]
producing the policy. So, I just want to
[49:33]
make sure that they they're aware that
[49:35]
that's going to happen. Absolutely.
[49:37]
Yeah. through the absolutely that that
[49:39]
is the intention I think you know just
[49:41]
recognizing we need to hear from a few
[49:43]
more people specifically on this issue
[49:44]
issue well as many people who want to
[49:46]
speak about it to us so uh before I go
[49:49]
Thank you very much before I go to my
[49:50]
next question I'll go to councelor
[49:52]
mccllintok
[49:55]
yes thank you mayor uh through you staff
[49:58]
uh would you say that the our OCP is
[50:01]
being
[50:03]
um is following the guidelines of the
[50:04]
province as opposed to being made in
[50:06]
North Sanage
[50:07]
to um creating a a policy in relation to
[50:11]
short-term rentals that um would be
[50:13]
unique to us. I know that we have to
[50:15]
bear all things in mind, but um as
[50:17]
councelor Stock already mentioned, there
[50:19]
are many short-term rentals that uh
[50:21]
would not be suitable for a long-term
[50:23]
lease type arrangement. And um the year
[50:26]
is getting on, summer's coming. Is there
[50:30]
anything we can offer those short-term
[50:31]
rental people um at this time to um to
[50:35]
encourage them to that they're that
[50:37]
they're um their business is not at
[50:40]
risk?
[50:41]
And I have another question as well.
[50:46]
Staff, do you want do you have a
[50:48]
response? I mean, at this point, like we
[50:51]
have our rules. So, I guess that that's
[50:54]
the that that's like if you know,
[50:57]
assuming everyone's good with what our
[50:59]
rules are right now, then there's no
[51:01]
one's businesses at risk at this point.
[51:03]
I mean, I think what we'll need to do is
[51:05]
we're allowed to be more restrictive.
[51:07]
That is what we're allowed to do. Um, in
[51:09]
terms of attending to long-term housing
[51:12]
needs. Sorry, I should have said through
[51:13]
the chair. um uh you know and so that
[51:16]
we're not we're not allowed to be more
[51:19]
uh open with our policies, right? So at
[51:20]
a minimum it would be what the
[51:22]
provincial policy is. People can know
[51:24]
that as a bound um and there may be some
[51:27]
interest for council and um staff's
[51:29]
recommendation
[51:31]
around creating these variations that
[51:34]
we're allowed to kind of do that make it
[51:36]
slightly more restrictive. For example,
[51:38]
currently it's we define short-term
[51:40]
rentals as under um 30 days and uh
[51:44]
whereas the province defines as it as
[51:46]
under 90 days. So that's an example, you
[51:49]
know, where where we would be allowed to
[51:51]
do something like this. There's other
[51:53]
ways you can uh limit them or not decide
[51:56]
to in terms of principal residence only,
[51:58]
secondary suite, uh
[52:01]
cottage. So I think I think what we're
[52:03]
saying is the rules are what they are. I
[52:05]
don't know if that's helpful to people
[52:07]
uh that that feel comfortable with that.
[52:10]
And then it definitely won't be um any
[52:12]
less restrictive than what the province
[52:14]
has. Uh and then we're going to have to
[52:15]
find that balance um between the the
[52:18]
long-term housing. And so I maybe Flee
[52:20]
you have more to add. Before I go back
[52:22]
to council, just a comment on that bas
[52:25]
basically it's status quo right now.
[52:28]
That's right. And
[52:30]
if staff were to come and with a more
[52:33]
restrictive policy, council would have
[52:36]
the opportunity to vote on it and more
[52:39]
importantly the public would have an
[52:42]
opportunity to speak on it. Okay. Thank
[52:44]
you. Um council k you have another
[52:46]
question or you want wish to follow up.
[53:00]
Thank you. Sorry about that. I'm um I
[53:02]
missed I missed the click on the button.
[53:06]
Um my question is because we're talking
[53:09]
about housing on the OCP, I have to
[53:12]
refer to a letter that was sent
[53:15]
by Minister Khan. Uh
[53:18]
he council I know that sorry council
[53:21]
mccllintok that that's that's for
[53:23]
information only. That's not for
[53:25]
discussion. There was a motion on it.
[53:27]
No, no. There was a motion not to move
[53:29]
it, but we can we can talk about
[53:31]
whatever is on the agenda. I would just
[53:33]
the matter that's on the agenda.
[53:38]
Uh through your some clarification from
[53:40]
procedures if you like, but this is a
[53:42]
matter that was brought to our attention
[53:44]
in council. I asked to move it uh so we
[53:47]
could talk about it within council, but
[53:49]
because it was brought to my attention
[53:51]
in in the agenda, I can't turn a blind
[53:54]
eye.
[53:56]
And staff, if I'm out of order, then let
[53:59]
me
[54:00]
know. Mayor, I mean, as chair, that's
[54:03]
your call to make. Um, my understanding
[54:05]
of the convention of this council in
[54:06]
relation to the items that are received
[54:08]
for information only is that that's what
[54:10]
happens with them. and and in in this
[54:12]
particular instance, there was a motion
[54:14]
that failed to bring that letter forward
[54:15]
for discussion. So, um again, I believe
[54:18]
you would be within uh your uh rounds of
[54:21]
appropriateness to to disqualify that
[54:24]
conversation at this point. Okay. Thank
[54:26]
you.
[54:27]
Or if I'm clear, were to ignore
[54:29]
information that's in the agenda, I'd
[54:32]
have to challenge the chair's decision
[54:34]
on that.
[54:38]
That's that's fine. And do you wish to
[54:39]
motion motivate why you want to
[54:41]
challenge the chair's position? And do
[54:42]
you wish to do it as a point of order or
[54:45]
just a challenge? Well, I'd like to
[54:47]
challenge and uh and put it to council
[54:49]
to see if they continue to uh um ignore
[54:52]
information that's on council as far as
[54:54]
bringing it into the public realm. Um
[54:57]
because it is there, because it's on the
[54:59]
agenda, we are at liberty to talk about
[55:01]
anything on the agenda, no matter what.
[55:05]
So whether or not I talk about it now or
[55:07]
whether or not it goes in the
[55:08]
correspondence is irrelevant. It's
[55:11]
information that's been provided to
[55:13]
us and I would and again I would
[55:16]
challenge that. Okay. Thank you. Uh
[55:19]
staff
[55:20]
um mayor. So through you then that would
[55:22]
be uh you would immediately put that
[55:24]
question of the challenge of your
[55:26]
decision to the council for a vote. Yes.
[55:29]
Agreed. Okay. Do we need a motion and
[55:31]
second on it or just a just a mo just a
[55:33]
vote?
[55:35]
It's just a vote. Thank you very much.
[55:38]
Okay. Thank you. Um again, based on
[55:40]
advice advice from staff, we have a
[55:42]
challenge of of the mayor's position
[55:44]
that that um it's a a motion earlier
[55:49]
that it was for information only. Um
[55:52]
there is a challenge of that. So the
[55:53]
vote is those in favor of council
[55:55]
mccllinto please raise your
[55:57]
hands. Those
[56:01]
opposed it fails. uh the six of us 51
[56:06]
with councelor Marshall, councelor
[56:07]
Sanjief me Jones, councelor Mconi and
[56:11]
councelor stock in
[56:14]
opposition. Thank you. So we move on to
[56:18]
any further
[56:20]
questions. Um okay, I'll move forward
[56:23]
and sorry.
[56:27]
Oh, sorry, didn't see you. uh through
[56:29]
the chair just following up uh with
[56:31]
councelor uh mccllintok's uh question
[56:34]
and uh uh m Mary stoer's very balanced
[56:38]
answer um which is good uh there there's
[56:42]
the enforcement part as well and uh
[56:45]
right now um just to reiterate that we
[56:49]
only act uh in terms of complaints uh
[56:52]
from the public uh and in terms of
[56:55]
consultation with uh short-term rental
[56:58]
um uh group, we would um we would invite
[57:03]
their um their input um and and and make
[57:07]
sure that they're not feeling like uh
[57:09]
they're going to be we're taking names
[57:11]
and and and and faces at meetings uh for
[57:15]
enforcement. Uh we want to hear from
[57:17]
them. So uh that's how we would uh treat
[57:20]
that engagement as collaborative. So
[57:23]
just wanted to add that. Thank you very
[57:25]
much, council. Further questions?
[57:28]
Councelor Marshall? Uh, I just have one
[57:31]
question. It's a really simple question.
[57:32]
Uh, page
[57:33]
375, the last bullet point there. When
[57:37]
we're talking about housing and
[57:38]
community, it just says requiring a
[57:40]
minimum 10% of total of any proposed
[57:42]
Bearland or strata single family
[57:43]
residential subdivisions are affordable
[57:45]
housing lots as defined by the North
[57:47]
Sanich dot dot dot. I think it's
[57:50]
probably the housing needs assessment,
[57:51]
but I'm not sure because there's
[57:52]
something missing there. So, can we just
[57:54]
clarify what that document is? Thank
[57:56]
you.
[58:01]
I I would agree with that. There's
[58:03]
definitely something behind those dots.
[58:05]
So, uh that would be it. You are
[58:08]
correct.
[58:10]
Thank you. Further questions. I'll put
[58:13]
up a a question. It's on one of my
[58:16]
favorite topics. Uh staff, would you
[58:18]
wish to comment on any housing on the
[58:21]
airport?
[58:25]
Uh yes uh thank you uh through the
[58:28]
chair. Uh just to follow up uh with uh
[58:32]
Mary's comments as well. Uh we have
[58:34]
included we have included um policy in
[58:38]
the OCP that uh that reflects um
[58:43]
um suggestions andor um requirements uh
[58:49]
for the airport. uh in terms of um
[58:54]
uh contributing to solving our our
[58:56]
housing issues uh here in North Sanage.
[59:00]
Uh there is some general policy in the
[59:02]
OCP right now. Um staff have gone over
[59:06]
uh the airport in in quite a bit of
[59:09]
detail.
[59:10]
Um it is a very complex
[59:14]
uh issue dealing with
[59:16]
multi-jurisdictional entities in North
[59:18]
Sanage. um not just the airport and
[59:21]
federal government but with the province
[59:23]
and and the ferry terminal and we've met
[59:25]
with both parties uh and we've got input
[59:28]
from both parties uh with regard to um
[59:31]
uh um getting feedback. So we have some
[59:36]
um uh some information uh that's in the
[59:40]
latter part of the OCP in terms of
[59:42]
general policy but that is all that we
[59:44]
have uh put in so far.
[59:49]
Um, a question arising out of that, um,
[59:51]
have you, unless it's an inc camera
[59:53]
issue, have you received any legal
[59:55]
opinions with regard to whether or not
[59:57]
the airport can or cannot build housing
[1:00:00]
on the the pro on their
[1:00:02]
land? But remember, if it's if it's an
[1:00:04]
inc camera issue, just say, yeah. Um,
[1:00:08]
yes. Uh we have and uh uh our um our
[1:00:15]
legal opinion has been yes uh we can
[1:00:18]
include information like that in the OCP
[1:00:21]
as other communities have started doing
[1:00:23]
that throughout the province. Uh so um
[1:00:26]
we've been given some examples of that.
[1:00:28]
So, uh yeah, that that is um that that
[1:00:33]
is one of the things that I needed to
[1:00:35]
get some pre preliminary confirmation on
[1:00:37]
as we build this OCP because it is very
[1:00:40]
very important and the airport is uh a
[1:00:42]
very important partner in our community.
[1:00:47]
Okay, another question arising out of
[1:00:49]
that. Would staff consider putting a DP
[1:00:51]
on the airport in the OCP?
[1:00:58]
uh through the
[1:01:02]
chair. Yes, I think we would consider
[1:01:05]
that if it was um a motion from council.
[1:01:10]
uh we would uh do some investigation on
[1:01:13]
um what kind of controls or influence we
[1:01:18]
could have with regard to form and
[1:01:21]
character through the LGA
[1:01:24]
uh on the uh federal property on the
[1:01:27]
airport based on that legal opinion.
[1:01:30]
Thank you. Okay. Ju just a comment. I'm
[1:01:32]
not going to be doing a motion tonight,
[1:01:34]
but you may see a
[1:01:36]
motion at a future council meeting. Uh,
[1:01:40]
so any further questions or questions
[1:01:41]
arising out of discussion? Sorry, before
[1:01:43]
I do that, um, staff, good evening,
[1:01:46]
mayor and council and to the chair. Um
[1:01:48]
just wanted to clarify on the previous
[1:01:50]
comment about um page
[1:01:52]
375 the uh um councelor Marshall's
[1:01:55]
question and the clarity about what was
[1:01:58]
missing in that and with that bullet
[1:02:00]
under after the housing needs report.
[1:02:04]
Um I I'll have to go figure out what
[1:02:08]
what's missing through the chair if
[1:02:09]
that's okay. I think I think it was too
[1:02:12]
but I don't have it right in front of
[1:02:13]
me. Apologies. I thought I just didn't
[1:02:14]
hear it and we were going to that could
[1:02:16]
have been an amendment for for this for
[1:02:17]
tonight but we can also do that at a pre
[1:02:20]
at a at a subsequent meeting. So thank
[1:02:23]
you and councelor Sanji. Thank you chair
[1:02:27]
to the chair. Um thank you first of all
[1:02:29]
for the report that is in front of us.
[1:02:33]
Um I think it's quite a good document
[1:02:36]
that we have have and it's seen that
[1:02:40]
it's uh quite devote uh dedicated
[1:02:43]
towards agriculture and environment
[1:02:45]
policy which is wonderful to see. Um my
[1:02:49]
question is with regards to page 393
[1:02:52]
there is a table on page 393 table B and
[1:02:57]
on page 394 there is another table as
[1:03:00]
well. Uh in terms of the housing
[1:03:03]
targets, the two of them have a total of
[1:03:07]
different numbers. One is
[1:03:10]
2,493, the other one is
[1:03:14]
2,694. Just wanted to know, one of them
[1:03:17]
refers to a report from
[1:03:21]
uh the district's 2020 housing needs
[1:03:23]
report, which is already 5 years old. Um
[1:03:27]
is it still relevant to have it here?
[1:03:31]
uh through the chair. So um that
[1:03:34]
first table
[1:03:39]
B. So that table is the inter is the the
[1:03:44]
required number of housing units for the
[1:03:46]
interterm housing needs report using the
[1:03:48]
provincial methodology the updated one
[1:03:51]
that we are required to do. So that was
[1:03:52]
their most recent one that came before
[1:03:54]
you maybe was it in the fall. Um the
[1:03:58]
second table uh is actually our
[1:04:02]
anticipated well basically the number of
[1:04:07]
um units from the new designations that
[1:04:11]
are contained in the
[1:04:13]
OCP with the only exception being that
[1:04:16]
there are many more accessory dwelling
[1:04:18]
units that would be feasible. This this
[1:04:20]
column for accessory residential
[1:04:22]
dwellings is what we think will
[1:04:24]
transpire which is about 20 per year.
[1:04:27]
Whereas the other ones talks about how
[1:04:29]
many units could be contained in the new
[1:04:32]
designations of multif family, the new
[1:04:35]
designation of attached ground oriented
[1:04:37]
and then uh the exist the the um
[1:04:41]
possible new single family lots. So it
[1:04:44]
one was provided by our inume housing
[1:04:47]
needs report following the current
[1:04:49]
provincial methodology and the other is
[1:04:51]
the representation of the units just to
[1:04:53]
recap that are now currently designated
[1:04:56]
with that one exception of the uh
[1:04:58]
accessory dwelling.
[1:05:01]
Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank
[1:05:03]
you council. Further questions?
[1:05:06]
No further questions then I look for a
[1:05:09]
motion based on staff recommendation
[1:05:13]
and council second to councelor Sanjief.
[1:05:16]
Council kunky. Thank you chair. I'd like
[1:05:19]
to make the recommendation that council
[1:05:20]
give first reading to the revised north
[1:05:22]
senate proposed north senate official
[1:05:24]
community plan bylaw number 1587 bracket
[1:05:29]
2025 attached as appendix A of staff
[1:05:32]
report PCS-25-013.
[1:05:36]
Thank you. Any further questions?
[1:05:41]
Since it's a reading, are we supposed to
[1:05:43]
read the whole document as part of the
[1:05:45]
council? Sorry.
[1:05:48]
Nice try. We'll be here until tomorrow
[1:05:52]
morning. Okay, put me off. So, any
[1:05:55]
further questions? No further questions.
[1:05:57]
Those in
[1:05:58]
favor? Those opposed?
[1:06:00]
Motion carries 51 with the council in
[1:06:07]
opposition. Now we move on to the next
[1:06:10]
item and staff tell me which is next
[1:06:13]
item by name.
[1:06:15]
Mr. Mayor, it's the food hub. Food hub.
[1:06:18]
Thank
[1:06:19]
you. I will find it. So question. Okay.
[1:06:24]
So staff, anything to
[1:06:27]
add? Nope. We'll just wait for people to
[1:06:29]
leave.
[1:06:34]
It's okay. Mary leaving.
[1:06:44]
[Laughter]
[1:06:56]
[Laughter]
[1:07:02]
just by
[1:07:12]
[Laughter]
[1:07:15]
Okay, stop.
[1:07:19]
Yes. Uh, I believe Barb Bob Barb is
[1:07:21]
joining us on the screen here and I
[1:07:23]
believe Barb is going to speak to this
[1:07:25]
um tonight.
[1:07:37]
Bob, anything you want to comment?
[1:07:39]
You're muted right now.
[1:07:47]
Sorry, I've got unstable internet here.
[1:07:48]
No, I've got um the staff report before
[1:07:51]
you um really lays out uh quite well um
[1:07:54]
uh the information that we've
[1:07:55]
accumulated to date uh with a number of
[1:07:58]
our recommendations and uh given my
[1:08:00]
internet access here, I'll uh I'll let
[1:08:02]
Ben uh director of infrastructure add to
[1:08:06]
it if he feels uh anything else needed
[1:08:08]
to uh to be added to the report. Thank
[1:08:10]
you. Thank you, Ben.
[1:08:13]
Thank you, Mayor and Council.
[1:08:15]
Um yes, just that what a what um what a
[1:08:19]
what a wonderful opportunity to discuss
[1:08:22]
um um and oftent times the devil's in
[1:08:26]
the details. Um there is quite a bit of
[1:08:28]
information that Barb's provided in the
[1:08:30]
report and uh we're happy I'm happy to
[1:08:33]
to answer further questions and also um
[1:08:37]
provide further information for any
[1:08:38]
discussion that might happen here.
[1:08:41]
Thank you. Okay, council council
[1:08:43]
Marshall.
[1:08:46]
Okay, I'll start us off uh through you
[1:08:48]
chair of staff. First of all, thank you
[1:08:49]
very much um for the report. Uh I think
[1:08:53]
like our acting CEO has said it's um
[1:08:55]
very thorough. So I appreciate all the
[1:08:56]
information. I appreciate the
[1:08:57]
information that you shared from Central
[1:08:59]
Sanich's feasibility study and sanit's
[1:09:02]
feasibility study from those
[1:09:03]
consultants. Um I've also been involved
[1:09:06]
as many of us have with the community
[1:09:08]
engagement through the agricultural and
[1:09:09]
food security committees. the uh mayor's
[1:09:12]
working groups when we talked about
[1:09:14]
agriculture and had um many different
[1:09:16]
sessions with communities and with the
[1:09:18]
farmers and um producers in the in the
[1:09:20]
community. So I myself um although I
[1:09:23]
appreciate the opportunity for another
[1:09:24]
feasibility study, I myself will not
[1:09:27]
support that. Um I think we've had
[1:09:30]
plenty of engagement with the community.
[1:09:32]
I think we can uh speak specifically to
[1:09:34]
farmers and producers if we feel we need
[1:09:36]
a bit more information from them. Um but
[1:09:38]
myself, I think we have plenty of
[1:09:39]
information here. I know that we've had
[1:09:41]
presentations from um groups that
[1:09:44]
actually currently have food hubs.
[1:09:45]
They've come to the agricultural
[1:09:47]
committee and other committees have been
[1:09:49]
invited to go to those locations as
[1:09:51]
well. Um so I I'll just start us off on
[1:09:53]
on that. But um I'm happy with the
[1:09:55]
report other than I I won't support
[1:09:57]
another feasibility study. Thank you.
[1:10:01]
Council
[1:10:08]
questions Sanjief. Thank you, chair. Um,
[1:10:11]
I'm going
[1:10:12]
to motivate towards an different motion
[1:10:17]
or recommendation. Speak into the mic,
[1:10:19]
please. Sure. Thank
[1:10:21]
[Laughter]
[1:10:24]
you. So, um, first of all, thank you for
[1:10:27]
the report. Uh, it's taken almost a year
[1:10:29]
to get it to the this particular rubrics
[1:10:33]
to be formed. Uh thanks to the members
[1:10:36]
of the agriculture and food security
[1:10:38]
advisory committee to staff Barb Ben and
[1:10:40]
Stephanie without fail the generous
[1:10:43]
proposal of donation by Greg and Diane
[1:10:47]
uh for moving this project forward.
[1:10:49]
That's my first uh thank you to
[1:10:51]
everyone. What I would like to see if
[1:10:54]
possible is that in conjunction with the
[1:10:57]
agriculture advisory committee develop
[1:10:59]
the survey questions for the food hub in
[1:11:01]
preparation for the start of the North
[1:11:03]
Sanage farmers market on June 7th which
[1:11:07]
is taking place very soon. uh that would
[1:11:10]
act as a precursor to engaging
[1:11:12]
interviews with farmers uh where there
[1:11:15]
is an active ongoing farming on ALR land
[1:11:18]
and as was mentioned by councelor
[1:11:20]
Marshall we have already engaged the
[1:11:23]
farmers in different platforms there has
[1:11:26]
been the mock pack where the farmers
[1:11:28]
were engaged with there was a specific
[1:11:30]
event that took place where there were
[1:11:33]
over uh for 62 people attended that
[1:11:36]
event 42 of them were farmer farmers and
[1:11:40]
they all had expressed a strong support
[1:11:44]
and need for a food hub. So I think
[1:11:47]
keeping that in mind I don't I agree
[1:11:50]
that we don't need to do another
[1:11:51]
physibility study. There is enough data
[1:11:54]
already out there that we can embark on.
[1:11:57]
So that's my first comment and I would
[1:12:00]
conquer that we don't need to do another
[1:12:03]
physibility study. I'll stop for now and
[1:12:05]
then see if anyone has got something
[1:12:07]
else to say. Uh, council.
[1:12:14]
Yes, thank you. Uh, through your staff,
[1:12:15]
I just have a few questions, please.
[1:12:19]
Um, we talk about small and medium-sized
[1:12:23]
agricultural producers.
[1:12:26]
Um, do we have an do we have an estimate
[1:12:29]
on how many um how many we've talked to
[1:12:31]
or how many fall into that category in
[1:12:33]
the district of North Sage and how many
[1:12:35]
have uh come forward and expressed an
[1:12:38]
interest in this type of thing. Uh
[1:12:40]
staff, do you know the numbers?
[1:12:44]
Sure, I can speak to that.
[1:12:46]
Um thank you councelor and through the
[1:12:48]
chair.
[1:12:49]
Um that's a great question and something
[1:12:52]
that staff focused in on right away. So
[1:12:54]
if you read through the the uh the uh
[1:12:56]
the phase one um criteria in the in the
[1:12:59]
in the donor document and the generous
[1:13:01]
donor document it does envision a
[1:13:03]
certain size of farmer where the service
[1:13:05]
would be
[1:13:07]
um most valuable most used and it spoke
[1:13:10]
to a small to mediumsiz farm with 10
[1:13:12]
acres or less. So we were curious and as
[1:13:14]
presented in the report how many of
[1:13:16]
those farmers are here? Um so that's
[1:13:18]
part of um I know I know the reluctance
[1:13:20]
with the with the full blown feasibility
[1:13:23]
study. I can understand that very much.
[1:13:25]
Um staff are ultimately here to support
[1:13:27]
mayor and council's decisions. But that
[1:13:29]
was one of the questions that staff had
[1:13:31]
about of those 105 I think there's 125
[1:13:34]
folios with 105
[1:13:39]
um that are less than 10 acres. Um so so
[1:13:43]
that would be something that could be
[1:13:45]
determined about how many of those
[1:13:47]
property owners um are specifically
[1:13:49]
interested in the service. So yes, sorry
[1:13:51]
long-winded question, councelor Clint.
[1:13:54]
We believe there's about 105 folios that
[1:13:57]
would fit in that
[1:14:01]
category. Council mint, do you have a
[1:14:03]
follow-up question? Sorry. Yes.
[1:14:13]
Um, you're on mute.
[1:14:16]
Yes, I am. I'm sorry about that, Chair.
[1:14:19]
Uh, thank you, Mr. Martin, for that.
[1:14:21]
The, uh, so we have approximately
[1:14:23]
105 businesses that might be might show
[1:14:27]
an interest in this. The um, population
[1:14:31]
in the district of North Sanage is over
[1:14:33]
12,000. Are those 12,000 people, how
[1:14:36]
have they been um, how have they been
[1:14:38]
solicited? and how um have they has it
[1:14:40]
been made very clear as to what this
[1:14:42]
would end up costing them to support
[1:14:46]
um um this particular um enterprise of a
[1:14:50]
food hub. Um contrary to the other
[1:14:54]
counselors, I don't believe that we do
[1:14:56]
that we have enough information
[1:14:58]
especially before me today. Um and I
[1:15:01]
again I'm I'm very careful about what I
[1:15:03]
refer to on in this agenda as to what I
[1:15:05]
can talk about but uh what I uh what I
[1:15:08]
see on this particular agenda item I
[1:15:10]
don't see enough to make you satisfied
[1:15:12]
that uh this is the the approach to go
[1:15:14]
especially with the enormous cost. So um
[1:15:18]
we what has been done as far as the um
[1:15:21]
to reaching out to the general community
[1:15:23]
the taxpayers of this community support
[1:15:25]
this
[1:15:28]
stuff. Thank you uh councelor mccllintok
[1:15:31]
and to the chair.
[1:15:34]
Um there's a lot in that question and
[1:15:36]
perhaps I can start with offering uh
[1:15:38]
Barb's knowledge just about um there has
[1:15:42]
been um adjacent feasibility studies
[1:15:45]
that are quite comprehensive that were
[1:15:47]
reviewed by staff and in terms of the
[1:15:49]
cost that that's to be determined cost
[1:15:52]
and cost benefit. Um Barb has done some
[1:15:56]
um high level um analysis on that. Barb,
[1:16:00]
are you able to provide a bit of
[1:16:03]
information about that?
[1:16:07]
Yeah, I think there's a, you know, I I
[1:16:09]
took the reports um that Central Sanage
[1:16:11]
and Sanage did on their feasibility and
[1:16:13]
tried to extrapolate that into uh what
[1:16:16]
we know of the North Sanage farmers and
[1:16:18]
there's a lot of assumptions in those
[1:16:20]
reports and I don't know that those
[1:16:22]
resumptions uh translate over to North
[1:16:25]
Sanage. Um, so I, you know, it it
[1:16:28]
doesn't paint a very pretty picture, but
[1:16:29]
I wouldn't rely on that 100%. Um, and I
[1:16:32]
wouldn't put that in front of council
[1:16:34]
for them to base their decision on it,
[1:16:35]
which is, um, why I think we need a
[1:16:38]
feasibility study uh, a needs analysis
[1:16:41]
to really understand what the farmers of
[1:16:44]
North Sanich um, are interested uh, in
[1:16:47]
uh, in terms of a food hub um, you know,
[1:16:50]
um, service that could be offered by the
[1:16:52]
district.
[1:16:55]
Thank you, staff. I don't know if that's
[1:16:57]
helpful or not, but that's okay. That's
[1:16:59]
what I have at the moment,
[1:17:01]
staff.
[1:17:03]
Um, yeah, thank you. Thanks, Barb. Um
[1:17:08]
um perhaps I'll um just um and through
[1:17:12]
the chair, perhaps I'll just respond to
[1:17:15]
some further questions from council.
[1:17:17]
What I'm hearing is that there's a
[1:17:18]
desire for some level of a needs
[1:17:20]
analysis and that was in inferred to
[1:17:23]
from councelor Shiva Stava about a
[1:17:25]
survey um that survey could possibly be
[1:17:28]
expanded to some capacity to capture
[1:17:30]
some of these folio users and I'm
[1:17:33]
hearing about a project plan and a
[1:17:34]
timeline that are of interest. So I'm
[1:17:36]
I'm I'm here to listen more to to the
[1:17:39]
mayor and council discussion. Thank you,
[1:17:42]
councelor Sanji, councelor Scott, then
[1:17:44]
councelor Marshall
[1:17:46]
through the chair. Uh just uh I'm
[1:17:48]
looking at stats from 2021 and some of
[1:17:51]
the data that was been acquired by South
[1:17:54]
Vancouver Island Farmers Association.
[1:17:57]
There are 41 farms that were registered
[1:18:01]
by with CRA under 10 acres. uh for of
[1:18:05]
the 41 that were under 10 acres when the
[1:18:09]
mock pack uh had a farmers engagement we
[1:18:13]
had 19 farms being represented at that
[1:18:16]
point of which majority of them were in
[1:18:19]
favor of having a food hub. So that's
[1:18:21]
just one part that I wanted to make make
[1:18:24]
a point on. Thank you. Thank you
[1:18:27]
councelor Stark. Uh yes, thank you chair
[1:18:29]
through you uh to staff and and just
[1:18:33]
general comment as well. I think that
[1:18:36]
what this Thank you very much for the
[1:18:38]
report. It's I think it's really uh well
[1:18:41]
done and I I like all the information
[1:18:44]
from the central Sanich uh uh study as
[1:18:48]
well as Sanich's study. But I think the
[1:18:51]
reason that staff is recommending to us
[1:18:54]
that there needs to be maybe one other
[1:18:58]
sort of link in the chain here is that
[1:19:02]
Central Sanage's study didn't result in
[1:19:04]
a food hub. That's one. Two, there have
[1:19:08]
been other studies and there's now two
[1:19:10]
food hubs in the CRD. Right. So then
[1:19:14]
three, I think what you're saying and I
[1:19:17]
may I just want to clarify that through
[1:19:19]
the charitative stuff is that three then
[1:19:22]
is okay, what do our farmers need and
[1:19:25]
want because we haven't I mean I don't
[1:19:30]
think we've really determined that and
[1:19:31]
there are two food hubs. Central San's
[1:19:34]
study didn't result in a food hub. May
[1:19:37]
you know do we need to get together with
[1:19:39]
Central Sanage for instance? I think
[1:19:42]
that's maybe what Ms. Webster is
[1:19:44]
speaking about to have one that would
[1:19:47]
benefit both farming communities who are
[1:19:50]
both both Central Sanche and North Sanch
[1:19:52]
have large quite large farming
[1:19:54]
communities. Now, I know there may be a
[1:19:56]
time um uh sort of that we're under some
[1:20:01]
type of a time uh exigency, but I I
[1:20:06]
just, you know, I'm not against doing
[1:20:08]
further analysis, but I do agree with
[1:20:10]
Council and Marshall that we have had a
[1:20:12]
lot of analysis, but I think that what
[1:20:14]
you're saying I got on page three of
[1:20:18]
your report, which is page 125 in our in
[1:20:21]
our binder, uh which talks about what
[1:20:25]
I've just said. One, two, and three. So,
[1:20:27]
I I'm kind of not um not quite decided
[1:20:32]
what we need to do and I know we do have
[1:20:35]
the funding at least to begin or to
[1:20:38]
commence from the gift proposal. So,
[1:20:41]
thank you very much, chair. Thank you.
[1:20:43]
Thank you, Council Marshall. Uh yeah,
[1:20:46]
just a couple things I guess to add to
[1:20:47]
that. Um, just as a bit of background, I
[1:20:49]
might have my math incorrect, but uh, I
[1:20:52]
think in this district, we've been
[1:20:54]
talking about a food hub for 15 years if
[1:20:56]
I don't have that incorrect. I know
[1:20:58]
we've been speaking about it for at
[1:20:59]
least five. So, this is not a new idea.
[1:21:01]
Certainly not something that a number of
[1:21:03]
people that are non-farmers came up with
[1:21:04]
and thought we needed to do. So, I think
[1:21:07]
we are aware it is something uh that we
[1:21:09]
need in the district. Certainly from all
[1:21:11]
the engagement that we have done, I like
[1:21:12]
the idea of doing a further survey to
[1:21:14]
kind of identify additional needs. I
[1:21:16]
also do want to point out and again
[1:21:18]
thank you very much to the donor for
[1:21:20]
donating that the money to do this. This
[1:21:22]
is also someone who is a farmer, right?
[1:21:24]
He's a farmer in this district and that
[1:21:26]
is his background. So I I'm going to
[1:21:28]
have some faith that he has spoken to
[1:21:30]
the community members. I know he has and
[1:21:32]
other farmers and producers and
[1:21:33]
understands this is something that is
[1:21:35]
required and needed. So we are getting
[1:21:37]
that from a reputable source as well
[1:21:40]
that has that knowledge. I like the
[1:21:42]
survey idea certainly to find out the
[1:21:43]
needs and and just to be clear in sort
[1:21:46]
of what councelor Stock was saying is
[1:21:49]
for me when I read feasibility study um
[1:21:51]
as a consultant hiring a consultant to
[1:21:53]
do a full feasibility study I am not
[1:21:55]
going to support I don't think that is
[1:21:56]
what we need. I could understand finding
[1:21:58]
further needs for farmers and certainly
[1:22:00]
the costing piece of it. So I but I
[1:22:02]
would I would hope and have faith that
[1:22:05]
our staff would be able to come up with
[1:22:07]
what is the cost of servicing a food hub
[1:22:10]
that's a thousand square feet which is
[1:22:11]
sort of what we're talking about for the
[1:22:12]
first phase. So I don't I I certainly
[1:22:14]
agree that we need that information but
[1:22:16]
I don't count that as a full feasibility
[1:22:18]
study. So I would support more
[1:22:20]
information around farmers needs from a
[1:22:22]
survey and also that costing piece of
[1:22:26]
it council further questions.
[1:22:30]
No questions.
[1:22:33]
Oh, it's councelor stock. Councelor
[1:22:36]
Sanji, do you want You go ahead. All
[1:22:39]
right. No, I was just going to say yes.
[1:22:41]
I I concur with what councelor Marshall
[1:22:44]
says. I I but I do think that that's
[1:22:48]
what we're what it's not a full
[1:22:50]
feasibility study but something where we
[1:22:52]
need to know what the needs are what the
[1:22:55]
costs would be for the thousand square
[1:22:57]
foot uh one to begin with and and also
[1:23:02]
you know what um what exactly are the
[1:23:07]
benefits uh for farmers. I mean, I know
[1:23:10]
we all we we have been speaking about it
[1:23:12]
a long time and I kind of understand
[1:23:16]
what some of the benefits are, but I
[1:23:18]
think maybe we need to have that
[1:23:21]
information as well. And I think we have
[1:23:24]
it. It's not something that's it's got
[1:23:26]
to be somewhere from all the work we've
[1:23:28]
done. And uh it it's just kind of more
[1:23:33]
uh direct information so that people can
[1:23:35]
understand if we're going to do this,
[1:23:38]
here's the cost, here's what it does,
[1:23:40]
here's what how many farmers support it.
[1:23:44]
And I think that's what maybe Miss
[1:23:46]
Webster wants to comment, but I think
[1:23:48]
that's what she means and what staff
[1:23:50]
means when they're asking us to do a bit
[1:23:53]
further analysis. Thank you,
[1:23:57]
staff. Um staff, do you want to speak
[1:23:59]
before I go to council?
[1:24:02]
Okay, council.
[1:24:04]
Yes. Thank you. Um first of all, I'd
[1:24:07]
like to caution council. Let's not be
[1:24:09]
tempted by the gift make a wrong
[1:24:12]
decision and burden our
[1:24:14]
taxpayers for years to
[1:24:17]
come. Okay. We only have to look as far
[1:24:19]
as the financial drain of sand down to
[1:24:22]
see how quickly our money can be drained
[1:24:23]
away.
[1:24:25]
when we're talking about an exclusive
[1:24:28]
group and I fully support agriculture.
[1:24:30]
So don't get me wrong in in in the way
[1:24:32]
I'm expressing this. I do support
[1:24:34]
agriculture completely.
[1:24:36]
However, if if our only survey group is
[1:24:40]
the
[1:24:40]
choir, then we're going to get answers
[1:24:42]
that are helpful to the
[1:24:44]
choir. We have to this has this has to
[1:24:47]
be more broad-based. It's 12,000 people
[1:24:50]
that I'm thinking about, not the 100 um
[1:24:53]
and so on um farmers that that could be
[1:24:57]
affected by this. And who wouldn't want
[1:24:59]
to say if the district is going to fund
[1:25:01]
a food hub, I'm all for it because I'm
[1:25:04]
in the business of
[1:25:06]
farming. What about those other 12,000
[1:25:09]
people? Let's not forget those. Let's
[1:25:11]
and again, let's not be tempted by this
[1:25:13]
gift that we have to act quickly.
[1:25:17]
Thank you. Okay. Councelor Sanjief
[1:25:23]
I've lost all my train of thought.
[1:25:26]
Um I I think we getting
[1:25:32]
here acting on a lot of caution rather
[1:25:36]
than being pragmatic about what the
[1:25:39]
needs of the community is. And it has
[1:25:41]
been pointed out by councelor Marshall
[1:25:44]
and has been pointed out by several
[1:25:46]
other former members who have served on
[1:25:49]
agriculture commissions uh committees
[1:25:51]
who have written the subliminal articles
[1:25:54]
on the agriculture in the district that
[1:25:57]
have all expressed that there is a
[1:26:00]
critical need for a food herb or and a
[1:26:03]
requirement in the area. There is a need
[1:26:06]
for storage. There is need for
[1:26:09]
processing that has been amplified over
[1:26:13]
and over again. What another survey what
[1:26:16]
the physibility study will do or whether
[1:26:19]
we go and approach 12,500 people. I'm
[1:26:23]
can at least assume that everybody eats
[1:26:26]
food. That's the first assumption that
[1:26:28]
we've got to make. Uh there might be
[1:26:30]
those who survive on sunlight which is
[1:26:32]
great for them. But the reality is that
[1:26:36]
this is a critical need. There's just
[1:26:38]
been an article or news article that
[1:26:40]
occurred on May 24th, just two days ago,
[1:26:44]
which talks about food insecurity is
[1:26:46]
rising in Canada with nearly 10 million
[1:26:49]
people, including many children worried
[1:26:51]
about running out of food. This is a
[1:26:54]
necessity that is coming to light.
[1:26:56]
Having a food hub which does storage and
[1:26:59]
in over time may go into processing is a
[1:27:03]
critical need. I think this is a a time
[1:27:06]
for us to make bold decisions and
[1:27:08]
decisions that
[1:27:10]
are two studies have already shown that
[1:27:13]
there is a need for a food hub. for
[1:27:16]
whatever reason, for land or what have
[1:27:18]
you, the two districts have not been
[1:27:21]
able to um go ahead with the process. We
[1:27:26]
have had several presentations to the
[1:27:29]
advisory committee to mock committees
[1:27:32]
that have all shown that there is a
[1:27:34]
critical need for it. I would certainly
[1:27:37]
like to make a proposal if uh not yet.
[1:27:40]
Not yet. Okay. So, okay, that's good.
[1:27:44]
Then I just want to go back to the point
[1:27:46]
of the needs uh survey. I'm looking for
[1:27:49]
what I'm proposing in terms of the
[1:27:51]
survey is a very simple one as to what
[1:27:54]
activities the current farmers would
[1:27:56]
require. Is it storage? Is it
[1:27:58]
processing? Is it uh repurposing of the
[1:28:02]
product? Will they actually use the
[1:28:04]
facility or not? at the North Sanage
[1:28:07]
farmers market every Sunday starting uh
[1:28:10]
next Sunday Saturday onwards we will
[1:28:14]
have access to farmers that we can
[1:28:16]
easily approach and get answers to. So
[1:28:19]
this is not a lengthy process that we
[1:28:21]
need to go into. So it's a simple survey
[1:28:25]
to get if there is a food hover around
[1:28:28]
would they use it what kind of
[1:28:30]
processing do they need simple as that
[1:28:33]
draws the line then we go on to the next
[1:28:36]
stage which is getting uh working
[1:28:39]
towards the phase one that's right thank
[1:28:41]
you ma'am before any further questions
[1:28:45]
comments I'll give a a comment um what
[1:28:50]
I'm looking at plain and simply is is
[1:28:53]
Is a food hub and needed? I don't know.
[1:28:56]
There's a lot of work to be done, a lot
[1:28:58]
of governance to be done to find out if
[1:29:00]
a food hub is required. What we're
[1:29:02]
looking at here is the first phase of a
[1:29:05]
number of phases. And the first phase is
[1:29:09]
do the local farmers actually need
[1:29:12]
storage and cooling. That's
[1:29:15]
it. If we find that the numbers make
[1:29:19]
sense to do a th00and square feet and we
[1:29:22]
move forward on it and there's uptake of
[1:29:25]
the service we can then look at phase
[1:29:28]
two which is to expand that service I
[1:29:31]
would anticipate but that by the time we
[1:29:33]
get to a food hub and it's a pure guess
[1:29:35]
because I'm not a farmer I'm just
[1:29:37]
looking at this and saying by the time
[1:29:39]
the district and we got to look after
[1:29:41]
the shareholders as count shareholders
[1:29:43]
my
[1:29:44]
apologies the residents of of North
[1:29:47]
Sanich so that we don't provide a white
[1:29:50]
elephant for them and by doing this in a
[1:29:53]
reasoned stage
[1:29:55]
process I think we can finally get to
[1:29:57]
having a food hub here without undue
[1:30:00]
risk to our
[1:30:02]
taxpayers. So next now councelor Sanjep
[1:30:06]
did you wish to put a
[1:30:09]
motion? Sure. Sorry before that any
[1:30:11]
matter any sorry any comments questions
[1:30:14]
arising out of what I've said? Nope.
[1:30:17]
Okay. Councelor Sanjief.
[1:30:20]
Thank you chair. Uh hold your breath. I
[1:30:22]
hope I get it as
[1:30:24]
a in conjunction that the council direct
[1:30:27]
staff in conjunction with the
[1:30:29]
agriculture food security advisory
[1:30:31]
committee developed the survey questions
[1:30:33]
for the food hub in preparation for the
[1:30:36]
start of the north sanage farmers market
[1:30:38]
on June 7th
[1:30:40]
2025. This would act as a precursor to
[1:30:43]
engaging interviewing farmers where
[1:30:45]
there is an active ongoing farming on
[1:30:47]
ALRA land. Following the June 7th survey
[1:30:51]
2025, if required, modify the survey
[1:30:54]
questions are posted on the district's
[1:30:56]
website and mailed to all registered ALR
[1:31:00]
folios. That's number one. Number two,
[1:31:04]
direct staff to determine the cost of
[1:31:06]
servicing the
[1:31:08]
92.903 square meters. Um, for
[1:31:12]
conversion, it's 1,000 square ft of food
[1:31:15]
hub for cold storage as phase one. The
[1:31:18]
report to be brought to the agriculture
[1:31:20]
food security advisory committee at the
[1:31:23]
July 9th meeting to be later on
[1:31:26]
submitted to the council's July 14th
[1:31:29]
report. Thank you. Um, is there a motion
[1:31:32]
with regard to coming forward with
[1:31:34]
servicing of Yes, that's what it is to
[1:31:37]
get the cost of servicing. Oh, okay.
[1:31:39]
Thank you. Sorry, I missed it. Yeah. Uh,
[1:31:41]
before I I asked for a second staff.
[1:31:47]
Yes. Thank you. Thank you, councelor,
[1:31:50]
for that for that motion. Um uh clearly
[1:31:53]
there's a there's a there's motivation
[1:31:55]
from mayor and council to to to continue
[1:31:58]
developing this and I I I agree that
[1:32:01]
there perhaps there can be a project
[1:32:03]
plan and timeline
[1:32:05]
uh initiative also a formalization of a
[1:32:08]
needs analysis initiative um balancing
[1:32:11]
the risk as the mayor mayor and fully
[1:32:14]
understanding the costs going forward.
[1:32:17]
Um there is a there is a staff without
[1:32:20]
getting into more trouble or into it
[1:32:22]
further. There would be a staff
[1:32:24]
obligation with that's tied to your
[1:32:27]
motion counselor. So we we we would need
[1:32:29]
to be able to understand our current
[1:32:31]
portfolio and what would have to be
[1:32:32]
shifted or removed to try and service
[1:32:35]
this motion. Um so that's one thing that
[1:32:37]
comes to mind.
[1:32:39]
Um and then some of the other things in
[1:32:42]
terms of executing on some of this um
[1:32:45]
there are a lot of variables and
[1:32:46]
assumptions that would have to be made.
[1:32:48]
Um but those are some of the details
[1:32:50]
that we could work through going
[1:32:52]
forward.
[1:32:55]
Okay. Um did you wish to add to the mo
[1:32:58]
motion with regard to the estimates as
[1:33:00]
being a class A, B, C or
[1:33:03]
D? Staff, what do you prefer coming
[1:33:05]
forward with? Exact. Um, if I may, um,
[1:33:08]
through the chair, trying to specify the
[1:33:11]
accuracy of an estimate at this point
[1:33:14]
when you really don't know where the
[1:33:15]
site's going to be and site and
[1:33:17]
servicing costs are largely dependent on
[1:33:19]
the site. Again, it's a there's a there
[1:33:22]
are quite a few variables still. Um, I
[1:33:25]
guess we could anchor back to the scope
[1:33:27]
itself was quite well defined in the
[1:33:29]
gift proposal. So, that's a real benefit
[1:33:31]
and that scope is expandable. Um um but
[1:33:36]
I think that for the level of the level
[1:33:38]
of estimate that would be required which
[1:33:40]
which really would be an in indication
[1:33:42]
in nature for the decision makers we
[1:33:44]
would have enough information for that.
[1:33:47]
Okay. Okay. Any before we go for the
[1:33:51]
second because there was some comments
[1:33:53]
in between. Do we have a
[1:33:55]
second council Marshall? Do you wish to
[1:33:59]
motivate further or should we just for
[1:34:01]
general comments? General. Okay. Any
[1:34:03]
further
[1:34:06]
comments? Uh, no further com. Uh,
[1:34:09]
Councilman Kent. Okay. Yes. I thought
[1:34:11]
there was something
[1:34:13]
coming. No, I I saw a little white hand.
[1:34:16]
I thought there's a yellow one
[1:34:19]
coming. Uh, you're on mute.
[1:34:24]
I My comments were thank you very much
[1:34:26]
for recognizing the chair. Um, I was a
[1:34:28]
little slow on the button. Uh as far as
[1:34:31]
the uh proposal by or this motion is
[1:34:34]
concerned, would it be um form of a
[1:34:37]
number of survey type questions or what
[1:34:39]
are we going to give staff to move
[1:34:41]
forward on this? If we are asking
[1:34:44]
questions, I think a critical question
[1:34:46]
might be if we're going out to the
[1:34:49]
agricultural
[1:34:51]
community, what would they be prepared
[1:34:53]
to contribute to the cost of the food?
[1:34:57]
uh if if we're if we're um brainstorming
[1:35:00]
for for questions for a particular
[1:35:02]
survey if that's where we're going.
[1:35:03]
Thank you.
[1:35:07]
Anyone have a comment?
[1:35:10]
Oh, sorry staff. Uh thank you counselor.
[1:35:13]
And if I may just um inter um offer I
[1:35:18]
with my review limited review of the
[1:35:20]
central sanage feasibility study um that
[1:35:23]
their summary is quite clear about a
[1:35:26]
lease rate and so obviously if we were
[1:35:29]
to engage um with some farm operators
[1:35:32]
we'd have to understand their need and
[1:35:34]
their willingness to rent that space at
[1:35:37]
that unit rate. And so that so that and
[1:35:40]
that is really critical. Um and uh in
[1:35:43]
the financials of this service um
[1:35:46]
there's also other some interesting
[1:35:48]
information about the five initial
[1:35:49]
5-year projections.
[1:35:52]
Um it it is going to be a subsidized
[1:35:54]
service and I think everyone's aware of
[1:35:56]
that and that's and that would be okay
[1:35:58]
as long as we're aware of that level. we
[1:36:00]
just aren't we don't understand to what
[1:36:02]
level that would be and that was and
[1:36:05]
that's some of staff's reluctance um
[1:36:07]
with any new service that's being
[1:36:08]
considered whether it's this or
[1:36:12]
um garbage service or any other thing
[1:36:17]
so if I may comment there where I stand
[1:36:20]
on this I think it's worth worthwhile
[1:36:23]
going forward the motion as it stands
[1:36:24]
right now because when we're looking at
[1:36:26]
with regard
[1:36:28]
to dollars per square foot and
[1:36:30]
particularly what type of model would be
[1:36:32]
used to operate the thousand square ft.
[1:36:35]
That would be after we received this
[1:36:37]
basic information and that would be by
[1:36:40]
separate
[1:36:41]
motion. So it's just a
[1:36:44]
comment. Uh so we have a motion on the
[1:36:47]
floor. Are there any other comments,
[1:36:50]
questions? Council stock. Yes. Thank
[1:36:53]
you, chair. Um, is is this motion then
[1:36:57]
relating only to the first memo, the one
[1:37:01]
that I had referred to on the food hub
[1:37:03]
preliminary feas feasibility update or
[1:37:06]
is it also relating to the second memo
[1:37:11]
which is the preliminary feasibility
[1:37:13]
study
[1:37:14]
which talks about options and a
[1:37:17]
nonprofit enterprise model and
[1:37:20]
for-profit enterprise model. I'm just
[1:37:23]
wondering if it's related to everything
[1:37:26]
about the food hub. If if I may, what I
[1:37:29]
believe and councelor Sanjie can
[1:37:30]
certainly tell me if I'm wrong with
[1:37:32]
this. We're simply looking at the basics
[1:37:34]
of the thousand square ft. When we look
[1:37:37]
at the models that you're looking at
[1:37:38]
there, yes, it does apply to a full food
[1:37:41]
hub and at some point which is in the
[1:37:44]
very near future after staff comes back
[1:37:46]
to us with regard to this motion. That's
[1:37:49]
the questions that will then be part put
[1:37:52]
to staff in the sense of council would
[1:37:55]
decide okay look at this model or this
[1:37:57]
model or this model we wouldn't we don't
[1:37:59]
have to do it at this
[1:38:01]
point my understanding that's correct
[1:38:04]
chair so so right now it's just limited
[1:38:08]
to the phase one of it it's not looking
[1:38:10]
at the different models that are being
[1:38:12]
projected and in any case the staff
[1:38:14]
report is the recommendation are only on
[1:38:18]
page
[1:38:19]
23. The rest are as attachment
[1:38:23]
supplementing the report.
[1:38:28]
Does that help counselor stock?
[1:38:31]
Thank you, chair. Yes. Uh I see. Okay.
[1:38:36]
Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Any further
[1:38:39]
questions? I see no further questions. I
[1:38:42]
look for a motion. Those in
[1:38:45]
favor? Those opposed?
[1:38:48]
Council Stock, I don't see a hand. That
[1:38:51]
means you're in favor.
[1:38:53]
Yes. Okay. Thank you. Uh the motion
[1:38:57]
carries. Uh 51 with council mcclentok in
[1:39:01]
opposition and good discussion guys. I
[1:39:03]
thank
[1:39:05]
you. Uh, the next one I believe is a
[1:39:07]
decom
[1:39:09]
[Applause]
[1:39:14]
stuff. E1.
[1:39:18]
Yeah, that's I'm assuming. I just want
[1:39:19]
to make
[1:39:21]
sure. Okay. ECOM
[1:39:25]
next. Thank
[1:39:28]
you. So, this is ECOM 911 dispatch
[1:39:31]
service agreement. Uh, staff, any
[1:39:34]
comments?
[1:39:36]
What do you mean no? You've been sitting
[1:39:37]
there for three hours and you're going
[1:39:39]
to say no.
[1:39:42]
This wasn't my report. I can Steve can
[1:39:46]
start and I can follow up. Let me just
[1:39:47]
find the report. Just give me one
[1:39:48]
second. Oh, thank you.
[1:39:52]
Uh through the chair. So, um I don't
[1:39:55]
even have it in front of me because I
[1:39:57]
didn't realize I was going to report on
[1:39:58]
this.
[1:40:00]
Um so this is a interimm agreement um
[1:40:05]
for dispatch services through ECOM 911
[1:40:09]
just to get us through to the end of the
[1:40:10]
year I believe and then we can have
[1:40:13]
further discussions on uh future costs
[1:40:16]
and where we're going with this as I
[1:40:18]
understand it. Oh look there it is.
[1:40:22]
I'm I'm back now and I can continue on
[1:40:25]
Steve unless you want to continue
[1:40:27]
um through the chair. So
[1:40:30]
um so there has been some discuss
[1:40:33]
previous discussions um with this
[1:40:35]
agreement. Um so now it's now it's here
[1:40:38]
at the regular council meeting to to um
[1:40:41]
to staff seeking direction as to execute
[1:40:44]
the interimm agreement which will
[1:40:46]
provide service services from April 1st
[1:40:48]
through to the end of the year. Um, and
[1:40:50]
there's also um a recommendation to
[1:40:53]
engage staff to to further negotiations
[1:40:56]
um beyond for services beyond 2025. Um,
[1:41:00]
I know there's a lot of questions about
[1:41:02]
this um and uh I'll be able to hopefully
[1:41:06]
answer most of them as they come. Okay.
[1:41:09]
Thank you, council. Questions?
[1:41:13]
Council Marshall?
[1:41:15]
Uh, thank you, Chair. Yep. I'll start us
[1:41:17]
off. I have a few questions and a few
[1:41:19]
things to say on this particular item.
[1:41:22]
Um, first of all, I think what we've
[1:41:24]
asked as council previously, I believe
[1:41:27]
has not been answered and I think that's
[1:41:29]
alluded to in the report. So, I'm going
[1:41:31]
to ask it again just to make sure that
[1:41:32]
I'm I'm correct that we don't actually
[1:41:34]
have the answers to. Um, so a question
[1:41:36]
that's been asked many times is the fact
[1:41:38]
that we now as municipality have to pay
[1:41:40]
for this, but there are municipalities
[1:41:42]
in this province that don't pay for
[1:41:43]
ecom. and we've never really been given
[1:41:45]
the actual answers as to why. So, I'm
[1:41:47]
just curious if we if we know that. Um,
[1:41:50]
we'll start with there and then I'll ask
[1:41:52]
the other ones as well. So, I'll give
[1:41:53]
you a chance to answer. Oh, yeah. Go
[1:41:56]
ahead.
[1:41:58]
Thank you, counselor, to the chair. My
[1:42:00]
understanding and obviously I haven't
[1:42:02]
been following this this uh this file in
[1:42:04]
my portfolio directly, however, is that
[1:42:06]
there are those questions are shared by
[1:42:08]
other member municipalities and they
[1:42:10]
haven't been full um fulsomely answered.
[1:42:14]
Okay, thank you. And then I don't think
[1:42:16]
we have any clarity on how the fees are
[1:42:19]
actually calculated. I know there's a
[1:42:20]
statement talking about authorized
[1:42:21]
strength, but I don't think we actually
[1:42:23]
have clarity on how the formula has been
[1:42:26]
utilized.
[1:42:28]
Um again to the chair, um I with upon
[1:42:31]
review of the report, it does speak to
[1:42:33]
that there isn't any further detail on
[1:42:36]
the breakdown of the individual services
[1:42:38]
based on size or capacity. And I could
[1:42:41]
maybe look to look to my counterpart if
[1:42:43]
there is if I've missed anything. Yeah,
[1:42:46]
I'm not aware how it's it's broken down
[1:42:48]
at this time. So,
[1:42:51]
okay. Thank you. Um and then and and um
[1:42:57]
you'll have to excuse my ignorance on
[1:42:58]
this one. So, maybe somebody can help me
[1:43:00]
out a little bit, but when I look at the
[1:43:02]
report, uh it makes reference to RCMP,
[1:43:04]
authorized strains policing, dispatch
[1:43:06]
policing. So, we do if you call 911 and
[1:43:10]
it's a 911 emergency call, it's going to
[1:43:13]
go to a call taker. They're going to ask
[1:43:14]
you if it's police, fire, ambulance.
[1:43:15]
Fire is going to go to Siri, fire,
[1:43:17]
dispatch to pay for ambulance is going
[1:43:19]
to go to BCHS. Police is going to go to
[1:43:21]
police call taker. Um, but we have to
[1:43:24]
pay for that original call taker to
[1:43:26]
route those calls. And I don't see
[1:43:28]
anything in this about how much that
[1:43:30]
costs or if that those costs are
[1:43:32]
included. So, I don't know if we have
[1:43:33]
any more clarity on on that or perhaps I
[1:43:35]
have that incorrect.
[1:43:38]
Um, I'll I'll I'll I'll start and then
[1:43:40]
Steve can perhaps correct me into the
[1:43:41]
chair. It's my understanding that that
[1:43:43]
that the N Ecom 911 currently will is a
[1:43:46]
emergency call answer
[1:43:48]
um provider and a police dispatch
[1:43:51]
service.
[1:43:54]
And so yeah, so thank you for the
[1:43:56]
question previous to to the meeting, but
[1:43:58]
yeah. Okay. Thank you. So after all of
[1:44:00]
that very painful exchange, I guess what
[1:44:02]
I'll say is that none of us really have
[1:44:03]
no idea what the fee structure is or
[1:44:06]
what it is we are paying for because
[1:44:07]
those answers those questions have not
[1:44:09]
been answered. So we can see even by
[1:44:10]
this discussion that we're not really
[1:44:12]
100% sure what we are what we're paying
[1:44:15]
for. Um so I will be very honest this
[1:44:18]
topic um we've talked about as a council
[1:44:20]
many times. Many other municipalities
[1:44:22]
have talked about it as well and they
[1:44:23]
have a concern with the cost. ECOM uh
[1:44:27]
keeps going up astronomically year after
[1:44:29]
year. This year the provincial
[1:44:30]
government ceasing to fund it for our
[1:44:32]
residents in North Sanage and now we
[1:44:34]
have to figure out that how that
[1:44:36]
shortfall lands on us and how we're
[1:44:38]
actually going to fund it. This is
[1:44:39]
something that does keep me up at night.
[1:44:41]
Um I get very concerned when I have to
[1:44:44]
sit here and make a decision without
[1:44:46]
information that's required to make that
[1:44:47]
decision. I take the responsibility that
[1:44:51]
the residents have given me by electing
[1:44:53]
me here very seriously and I'm being
[1:44:55]
asked to make a decision on something
[1:44:57]
where I can't get information that I
[1:44:59]
need to make a responsible and prudent
[1:45:01]
decision. That's very concerning to me
[1:45:03]
and that's not our staff's fault. They
[1:45:05]
have worked tirelessly to try to get
[1:45:07]
answers to
[1:45:08]
this. We've asked a variety of
[1:45:10]
questions. We're trying to get an
[1:45:11]
in-depth understanding of funding
[1:45:13]
formulas, why the costs have increased,
[1:45:14]
and what future expenses can be
[1:45:16]
expected. We do not have a transparent
[1:45:18]
collaborative process that is allowing
[1:45:20]
us to do
[1:45:21]
that. In addition to that, we have also
[1:45:24]
been told now that basically we have to
[1:45:27]
vote yes on this. Otherwise, we have no
[1:45:30]
911 service to our residents. And then
[1:45:32]
we are also told that we would be held
[1:45:34]
personally responsible, not as
[1:45:35]
counselors, but as people. So,
[1:45:37]
personally responsible for our
[1:45:38]
decisions. I have grave concerns about
[1:45:41]
both of those comments. that's putting
[1:45:44]
undue duress and coercion on us to make
[1:45:46]
a decision as a council. And um I'm
[1:45:50]
going to do something that I don't do on
[1:45:51]
principle. I really don't believe in it.
[1:45:53]
Um but I'm not really sure why we're
[1:45:55]
here because we've basically been told
[1:45:57]
the answer needs to be yes. Um and I
[1:45:59]
cannot make a consionable responsible
[1:46:01]
decision based on all the information I
[1:46:04]
have and being told this is what I have
[1:46:05]
to do. Vote yes for it. People don't
[1:46:07]
have 911 service or you're held
[1:46:09]
responsible. Uh so I am actually going
[1:46:12]
to abstain from the vote which on
[1:46:13]
principle I don't do but I cannot vote
[1:46:16]
yes or no on this without the required
[1:46:18]
information I need to be responsible to
[1:46:21]
the citizens who elected me.
[1:46:26]
Uh can council mccllintok you did have
[1:46:29]
your hand up earlier.
[1:46:32]
Nope.
[1:46:35]
Uh yes, I did uh chair and thank you
[1:46:38]
very much for recognizing me. Um uh
[1:46:42]
thank you for your position, Miss uh
[1:46:43]
Councelor Marshall. Uh it's very
[1:46:45]
principled. However, if you do have
[1:46:47]
seen, of course, you know, you have to
[1:46:48]
leave the room uh when the vote comes.
[1:46:50]
Now, I'm of the same opinion as uh
[1:46:52]
council Marshall that
[1:46:55]
um there's too many unknowns here and
[1:46:58]
and anybody on council and anybody in
[1:47:00]
the district knows I'm very um concerned
[1:47:03]
when it comes to spending taxpayers
[1:47:04]
money. So, I will not be abstaining from
[1:47:07]
the vote. However, I know that under
[1:47:08]
pressure that um something has to be
[1:47:10]
done here this evening. My question um
[1:47:13]
is to fire. Um we're still how much are
[1:47:16]
we paying to Siri on top of all this? Uh
[1:47:20]
three through you to staff
[1:47:23]
staff.
[1:47:25]
I don't have those numbers with me. I
[1:47:27]
don't know if Barb could help, but
[1:47:35]
Sorry, I know I don't have that number
[1:47:36]
in front of me. It's um I Yeah, I don't
[1:47:40]
have that at my fingertips. Okay. And
[1:47:42]
what I'm getting at is we still have to
[1:47:44]
pay it on top of this as well. That that
[1:47:46]
hasn't gone away as far as our fire
[1:47:48]
response is concerned. Um, point taken,
[1:47:51]
Council Marshall. Um, and thank you for
[1:47:53]
bringing up the points that you did.
[1:47:55]
Thank you, Council Stock.
[1:47:58]
Uh, yes. Thank you very much, Chair. Uh
[1:48:01]
I've been at um many of the meetings
[1:48:04]
with all council representatives from
[1:48:07]
the CRD and is a very difficult issue as
[1:48:11]
councelor Marshall has expressed
[1:48:14]
but I uh feel that uh given our choices
[1:48:20]
which are really not very good that I'm
[1:48:23]
going to vote uh yes because otherwise
[1:48:27]
people won't have we will not have 911.
[1:48:30]
won and I remember that's um my father
[1:48:34]
said that during the war the second
[1:48:36]
world war which he was in that sometimes
[1:48:39]
you have to hold your nose and think of
[1:48:42]
Canada and in this case I guess I'll be
[1:48:45]
holding my nose and thinking of North
[1:48:47]
Sanage and the people uh in our uh uh
[1:48:54]
community and uh I don't like being put
[1:48:57]
in this position either but I really I
[1:49:00]
don't after being at all the meetings uh
[1:49:03]
I can honestly tell you and I think
[1:49:05]
mayor you also were at many of them we
[1:49:08]
didn't get answers at the mayoral level
[1:49:11]
uh either when I was representing the
[1:49:13]
mayor or when the mayor was there as the
[1:49:16]
mayor and so I think it's not just our
[1:49:20]
issue as council council here but it's a
[1:49:23]
pro provincewide issue and one where the
[1:49:27]
communities are saying we don't
[1:49:29]
understand all all all the communities
[1:49:32]
and we don't understand why we're being
[1:49:35]
assessed all this and we don't really
[1:49:37]
want to pay it but they've got us over a
[1:49:40]
barrel which is another uh uh expression
[1:49:45]
my father used to use. So
[1:49:48]
I I am going to vote for this because I
[1:49:52]
think we have to. Thank you.
[1:49:56]
Thank you, Councilman McConi.
[1:49:59]
Uh, thank you, chair, and first off, uh,
[1:50:01]
through the chair to staff a question.
[1:50:04]
Um, we had, um, previous, I believe,
[1:50:06]
asked for some legal clarification as to
[1:50:09]
whether or not the statement made by the
[1:50:11]
province is that we chose not to sign
[1:50:12]
this document, we would be held
[1:50:14]
personally responsible. Has that legal
[1:50:17]
advice been provided to staff? Thank
[1:50:19]
you.
[1:50:21]
Thank you for the question and through
[1:50:22]
the chair. Um that was that was um
[1:50:26]
earlier um that was considered earlier
[1:50:28]
today as well. Um and so I did review
[1:50:30]
some of the previous council minutes and
[1:50:32]
camera as well and there was no motion
[1:50:35]
to that I could find to engage in that
[1:50:38]
legal review. So unfortunately with my
[1:50:40]
knowledge I have tonight I can't I can't
[1:50:42]
tell you if that was pursued but I don't
[1:50:44]
think it was.
[1:50:47]
Um thank you for that um Mr. Martin. So
[1:50:50]
um appreciate the comments. Um, I echo a
[1:50:53]
lot of concerns um from Councelor
[1:50:55]
Marshall. I'm incredibly frustrated with
[1:50:58]
the process to date and the agreement
[1:51:00]
that's before us. Um, as councelor
[1:51:03]
Marshall said, we've been told that if
[1:51:04]
we don't sign this, we don't have 911
[1:51:07]
and also the fact that we as counselors
[1:51:10]
will be personally liable for that
[1:51:11]
decision. So, in other words, we're
[1:51:13]
being threatened and coerced into
[1:51:15]
signing this agreement. and I feel like
[1:51:17]
I've got a gun held to my head and that
[1:51:20]
my rights to governor are being taken
[1:51:21]
away from me. Sign it or
[1:51:24]
else. You've answered that we have not,
[1:51:26]
to your knowledge, been given legal
[1:51:28]
advice. So, I have nothing to base the
[1:51:30]
suggestions made um as to whether or not
[1:51:33]
if we do not sign this, we would be
[1:51:35]
personally liable. Um and I really feel
[1:51:37]
that we're being backed into a corner at
[1:51:40]
the expense of our taxpayers. So, when I
[1:51:42]
was elected, I did sign an oath of
[1:51:44]
office. I take it very very seriously
[1:51:46]
and I cannot in good conscience allow
[1:51:48]
myself to be held hostage in this manner
[1:51:51]
and as a result I cannot vote in favor
[1:51:53]
of the stack recommendation to execute
[1:51:55]
this agreement. Thank you. Thank you.
[1:51:58]
Any further
[1:52:00]
comments? Okay. Based on the temperature
[1:52:04]
I'm seeing in the room, I would suggest
[1:52:07]
that we break this down
[1:52:10]
into four
[1:52:13]
motions. Okay. Sorry. Before I bring
[1:52:16]
that forward, staff, sorry, sorry to
[1:52:18]
interrupt, mayor and through the chair,
[1:52:20]
just a reminder that for any counselors
[1:52:22]
that are choosing to abstain, I believe
[1:52:24]
uh procedurally they do have to leave
[1:52:27]
the prior to the vote. Is that correct?
[1:52:29]
I didn't hear that. Sorry. If for any
[1:52:32]
counselors that are wishing to abstain
[1:52:33]
from the vote prior to the vote, they'll
[1:52:35]
have to um exit the exit the room.
[1:52:38]
Sorry. Sorry, council. Do you understand
[1:52:40]
that? Yeah, that would be me because I
[1:52:42]
said I was going to abstain. Um so yeah,
[1:52:44]
I definitely will once I uh hear what
[1:52:46]
the motion is then then I'll leave the
[1:52:48]
room. Yes, thank you. Thank you for the
[1:52:49]
reminder. Thank you. What I would
[1:52:51]
suggest that we have um again separate
[1:52:54]
motions and they for them and we go with
[1:52:56]
with item one um authorize the mayor and
[1:52:58]
CEO to execute the agreement. So there
[1:53:00]
would be a vote on that. Then item two
[1:53:02]
would be as said here um direct staff to
[1:53:05]
engage in
[1:53:06]
negotiations and number three direct
[1:53:08]
staff to explore altering dispatch
[1:53:09]
services models. And I would add the
[1:53:12]
fourth motion or suggest fourth motion
[1:53:15]
that um that staff provide legal advice
[1:53:18]
and report back to uh council ASAP.
[1:53:25]
Council Marshall. Uh so if this works
[1:53:28]
and and through you chair to staff. So
[1:53:30]
if motion two, three, and four, if we
[1:53:32]
could do those first. Yep. And the first
[1:53:34]
motion last and then I will uh recuse
[1:53:36]
myself for that motion. Thank you.
[1:53:38]
Correct.
[1:53:40]
So I can either do the motion. Sorry,
[1:53:42]
councelor stock before we do them. Or do
[1:53:44]
you want to wish to do Oh, you're go No,
[1:53:46]
I was just going to make the motion, but
[1:53:47]
Okay. Can you start with motion two
[1:53:48]
first then, please?
[1:53:51]
Certainly. Okay. Uh so I'd like to make
[1:53:55]
uh the first part of the staff
[1:53:57]
recommendation. direct staff to engage
[1:53:59]
in negotiations with ECOM and partner
[1:54:02]
municipalities to develop a long-term
[1:54:05]
agreement for services beyond 2025.
[1:54:08]
Okay, thank you. Uh do we have a
[1:54:12]
second? Councelor Marshall, any
[1:54:15]
comments? Councelor Sanjief through the
[1:54:18]
chair. Uh this is a service agreement
[1:54:20]
that we are seeking. Normally there is a
[1:54:23]
tender put out whenever we seeking a
[1:54:25]
service from any type of service. There
[1:54:29]
has been no tender put out to say who
[1:54:32]
else is competing for this particular
[1:54:34]
service until we have an option like
[1:54:37]
that. I find it difficult to vote for
[1:54:40]
this particular motion unless we are
[1:54:42]
asking the staff to find out who are the
[1:54:44]
other service provider or putting in it
[1:54:47]
a whatever it's called expression of
[1:54:50]
interest towards providing services to
[1:54:53]
the uh to the district. Uh I if I may
[1:54:57]
comment if I may um what I'm
[1:54:59]
anticipating is that um the next I next
[1:55:02]
motion which is to direct staff to
[1:55:04]
explore to dispatch service models might
[1:55:06]
fit into the criteria that you're
[1:55:08]
bringing forward or do
[1:55:10]
you does that change your thoughts in
[1:55:13]
any way? Um as it stands if we are
[1:55:18]
already giving a go ahead to a single
[1:55:20]
process single bidder to the service.
[1:55:24]
This is no different to what we just
[1:55:27]
went through some meetings ago. Okay.
[1:55:29]
So, okay. Just bring it forward. Council
[1:55:32]
councelor Stark. Uh, yes. Uh, thank you,
[1:55:34]
chair. I just wanted to state that there
[1:55:36]
isn't another provider. That's the
[1:55:38]
issue. There's been no uh other per
[1:55:42]
company or person or group of companies
[1:55:46]
or anything come forward. And so, the
[1:55:49]
province is also over a barrel for the
[1:55:52]
everybody is. And um uh this is why this
[1:55:56]
says you know to execute an agreement
[1:55:59]
with ecom. So in my view uh you know I
[1:56:04]
agree with that that there should be
[1:56:06]
some more providers there should be an
[1:56:08]
RFP. That's how we normally do things in
[1:56:11]
government but in this case it's not
[1:56:13]
possible or feasible.
[1:56:16]
Council Marshall. Uh so I would just
[1:56:19]
have to clarify. like I'd have to to
[1:56:20]
look into that, but I believe the North
[1:56:22]
Island does have a different uh dispatch
[1:56:24]
service.
[1:56:27]
Yeah.
[1:56:29]
Okay. Any further questions? So, we have
[1:56:32]
a a motion on the floor which is
[1:56:35]
seconded that we direct staff to engage
[1:56:36]
in negotiations with ECOM and partner
[1:56:39]
municipalities to develop a long-term
[1:56:41]
agreement for service beyond 2025 and
[1:56:43]
further. Those in favor of that
[1:56:48]
motion? Those opposed. The motion
[1:56:51]
carries 42 with councelor Sanjie and
[1:56:54]
councelor McConi in opposition. Um
[1:56:56]
council councelor stop would you like to
[1:56:58]
do which is now item three which is
[1:57:00]
direct staff to explore. Yes. Thank
[1:57:03]
sorry. Thank you chair. Um I would like
[1:57:06]
to make staff recommendation number
[1:57:08]
three to direct staff to explore alter
[1:57:11]
alternative dispatch service models.
[1:57:15]
Thank you. Second council Sanjief. Um
[1:57:20]
comments. No comments. Then we'll look
[1:57:23]
for a motion based
[1:57:25]
on direct staff to explore alternate
[1:57:27]
dispatch service models. Those in favor?
[1:57:32]
Any opposed? Nobody opposed? Okay. Thank
[1:57:35]
you. It's unanimous. Sorry, I lost track
[1:57:37]
of the hands. It was unanimous.
[1:57:41]
Terrible. Yeah.
[1:57:42]
Um the third the third motion if you go
[1:57:46]
go with which is the motion to staff to
[1:57:50]
seek legal advice and report back to
[1:57:52]
council ASAP.
[1:57:56]
Um yes. Okay. Then the next motion uh
[1:58:00]
would be and it's not part of the staff
[1:58:02]
recommendation
[1:58:04]
uh to seek legal advice on on this issue
[1:58:07]
on this matter. Yes. on this matter and
[1:58:11]
report back to uh to council. Okay,
[1:58:14]
before I go for a second, councelor
[1:58:16]
McCunki,
[1:58:17]
uh sorry for that, councelor Stock, I
[1:58:20]
think perhaps um councelor Marshall may
[1:58:23]
be outside for the wrong motion. Yeah,
[1:58:26]
that's a good point.
[1:58:31]
She was last seen running to Sage.
[1:58:37]
You You were in a You were in a rush.
[1:58:40]
left too early. Legal advice. Is that
[1:58:41]
what we're voting on? Well, we're So,
[1:58:44]
there's a motion. The motion on the
[1:58:46]
floor. The motion on the floor, just for
[1:58:49]
clarification now, is that um we direct
[1:58:53]
staff to seek legal advice on this
[1:58:56]
matter and report back to council.
[1:58:59]
Do we have a
[1:59:00]
second council makoni? Any comments? And
[1:59:05]
those in
[1:59:07]
favor? Unanimous.
[1:59:09]
Now we come to the fourth item which is
[1:59:11]
authorize the mayor and CEO to execute
[1:59:14]
an agreement and
[1:59:15]
councelor Marshall exits. I have a
[1:59:19]
question if I may through the chair. If
[1:59:22]
you had two additional three people
[1:59:25]
abstaining what happens then? There
[1:59:27]
would be no quorum and the council
[1:59:29]
meeting would end. No there be no it has
[1:59:34]
to be in chambers.
[1:59:37]
I wouldn't recommend we do that. We need
[1:59:41]
something. Nice thought.
[1:59:46]
Does the meeting end or does this
[1:59:48]
particular item end? The meeting would
[1:59:50]
end. That would be Yeah, that would be
[1:59:52]
the end of the council meeting. Okay.
[1:59:54]
So, that's a good way to finish the
[1:59:56]
meeting early.
[1:59:58]
Yeah. But you you're uh the OCP has gone
[2:00:01]
through, the food has gone through.
[2:00:08]
But your loneliness one hasn't gone
[2:00:10]
through yet.
[2:00:12]
I'm part of the lonely
[2:00:15]
and poor Miles has been here all night
[2:00:18]
waiting for the loneliness one.
[2:00:22]
Um
[2:00:23]
okay number one. Okay. So what what
[2:00:27]
we're looking for is a motion based on
[2:00:29]
um authorize the mayor and CEO to
[2:00:31]
execute an
[2:00:32]
agreement dot dot dot. Do you wish to
[2:00:35]
make the motion? Yes.
[2:00:39]
Um, so then I'm going back to the staff
[2:00:42]
recommendation number one. Authorize the
[2:00:45]
mayor and the CAO to execute an
[2:00:48]
agreement with ECOM 911 for dispatch
[2:00:52]
services as proposed in the staff report
[2:00:56]
CS 25 017.
[2:01:00]
Thank you. Do we have a second?
[2:01:06]
Um well I'll sec I'll second for
[2:01:10]
discussion. So again any further
[2:01:13]
discussion Sanjie through the chair. Um
[2:01:16]
I actually find that it's sad that an
[2:01:21]
essential service like 911 has gone this
[2:01:24]
route. To me, this is a service that's
[2:01:27]
no different than a root service that
[2:01:29]
comes into play or a health service or
[2:01:34]
protection. And
[2:01:36]
to be subjected to an system where we
[2:01:42]
have no choice and there is no options
[2:01:47]
given to us. I just find it in total
[2:01:51]
undemocratic princip uh
[2:01:55]
scenario. So in all consciousness given
[2:01:59]
the mandate given to us by the residents
[2:02:02]
to be fiscally responsible to be
[2:02:05]
diligent in what we are approving and
[2:02:08]
not approving. As much as I see the
[2:02:11]
merit of having a 911 service, the way
[2:02:15]
this is being imposed on to us with a
[2:02:18]
myriads of hidden cost that we have no
[2:02:22]
clue about, I will be reluctant in uh
[2:02:26]
say um saying yes to this motion. Thank
[2:02:29]
you. Any further comments?
[2:02:33]
So, so we have a motion on the floor
[2:02:35]
based on to authorize the mayor and CEO
[2:02:38]
to execute an agreement with ECOM 911
[2:02:40]
for dispatch services as proposed in
[2:02:43]
staff report. Sorry, I'm just repeating
[2:02:46]
it because this I I want to be no error
[2:02:48]
in the vote of what we're voting
[2:02:51]
on as proposed in staff report
[2:02:56]
CS25017. That's the motion on the floor.
[2:02:58]
Uh,
[2:03:01]
councelor Stock, you have further
[2:03:03]
comments. Uh, thank you, Chair. Yes. All
[2:03:05]
I what I wanted to say is that
[2:03:09]
this part that we're voting on now is
[2:03:12]
for the period April 1st to December
[2:03:15]
31st, 2025. And and um I I think that
[2:03:21]
even though you know I agree with what
[2:03:23]
everyone said that sometimes in
[2:03:27]
governance you have to be
[2:03:29]
practical in practicum and you have to
[2:03:33]
think about the fact that it's just for
[2:03:36]
the last part of this year and we should
[2:03:39]
be able to and the province is trying to
[2:03:41]
get things sorted out. Many other
[2:03:44]
municipalities besides us are trying to
[2:03:47]
get things sorted out and you know we're
[2:03:50]
if we say no to this then we're going to
[2:03:54]
make a very complicated we're going to
[2:03:57]
create an extremely complex
[2:03:59]
and kind of frightening situation in my
[2:04:03]
view and I I don't think that's what we
[2:04:06]
should be doing as counselors. You can
[2:04:08]
we can have our principles and that's
[2:04:10]
true. I have the same principles but I
[2:04:13]
think that you have to think about the
[2:04:15]
reality of the situation. It's for a
[2:04:17]
short well in government anyway short
[2:04:20]
term. Thank you. Thank
[2:04:23]
you Sanjief through the chair. Um,
[2:04:26]
again, this is one of those amounts that
[2:04:29]
there was a conscious effort made by
[2:04:32]
councelor McConi and myself to defer
[2:04:35]
this payment from a reserve fund that
[2:04:39]
would have allowed us to continue this
[2:04:41]
particular service which would have also
[2:04:43]
impact saved our taxpayers money which
[2:04:47]
was extremely denied by the council and
[2:04:50]
that was a vote that was taken. That's
[2:04:52]
perfectly fine. I'm not going to
[2:04:54]
question that. But in all honesty, the
[2:04:57]
amount that is being reflected. So it's
[2:05:00]
talking about an agreement from April to
[2:05:02]
December. We are about to be in June. We
[2:05:07]
have already spent two months. So who
[2:05:09]
has been covering for the 911 for the
[2:05:11]
last 2 months. So that's question uh we
[2:05:15]
have no answer to that. So are we now
[2:05:18]
paying retrospect and are we signing a
[2:05:21]
document in retrospect? Uh when how can
[2:05:25]
we sign a document that's going in
[2:05:27]
retrospect? Either it's an amount that
[2:05:29]
starts from June June 1st onwards or it
[2:05:33]
doesn't
[2:05:36]
any further comments. Uh, chair, I
[2:05:39]
haven't I I'm quite sure it will be in,
[2:05:44]
you know, backwards in in in retro as
[2:05:47]
well, but I don't know that. I mean, I'm
[2:05:49]
just following what this memo says,
[2:05:52]
unless staff can I mean, have we already
[2:05:55]
paid April and May? I don't know.
[2:05:59]
I'm just following.
[2:06:02]
Staff, any comment?
[2:06:05]
Thank you. um and through the chair all
[2:06:07]
I can offer is that it's an essential
[2:06:09]
service um and there is an indication
[2:06:11]
that each of these executed contracts
[2:06:14]
amongst all the jurisdictions are going
[2:06:15]
to work through the next available
[2:06:17]
council meeting. So I think that there
[2:06:19]
is an indic that's the expectation is is
[2:06:22]
what I would assume. So I and it would
[2:06:24]
just simply be um I believe that in the
[2:06:27]
report body of the report it talks about
[2:06:28]
receiving an invoice sometime after
[2:06:30]
April 1st. Um, and I don't believe we
[2:06:33]
have yet received that, but I I could
[2:06:35]
confirm with council and get back to you
[2:06:38]
later. Council, we have a motion on the
[2:06:41]
floor that's been seconded. So, I'll
[2:06:43]
call for a vote. Uh, those in favor of
[2:06:45]
the
[2:06:48]
motion. Those
[2:06:50]
opposed? Motion carries 32 with
[2:06:54]
councelor McConi and councelor Sanjie in
[2:06:59]
opposition. And guys, I think we all
[2:07:02]
feel the same about this
[2:07:07]
one. And now I believe I'm looking at my
[2:07:14]
list. It looks as if it's fireworks
[2:07:15]
next. Which one are we? It's fireworks
[2:07:19]
next. That's why I'm doing
[2:07:21]
I think we had the fireworks. Oh, so you
[2:07:28]
Oh my goodness. Okay.
[2:07:31]
Uh thank you through the chair. So um
[2:07:34]
it's just some amendments to your
[2:07:36]
existing fireworks uh
[2:07:38]
bylaw. Uh the body of the the bylaw has
[2:07:42]
not actually changed. Um there's just
[2:07:45]
been a couple of amendments.
[2:07:47]
one in keeping with what uh the town of
[2:07:50]
Sydney did in um environmental
[2:07:53]
protection areas with a a buffer around
[2:07:56]
um uh these environmentally sensitive
[2:07:58]
areas. Um so no fireworks to be
[2:08:01]
discharged here um exactly the same as
[2:08:04]
Sydney did. And then uh while we were in
[2:08:08]
the midst of that uh Nav Cam uh came
[2:08:11]
before us and asked if we could include
[2:08:14]
uh areas in and around the airports um
[2:08:17]
runways, takeoff and approach areas.
[2:08:19]
Apparently they think fireworks in these
[2:08:21]
areas is bad. I can't disagree with
[2:08:24]
that. Um so that's that's really all
[2:08:27]
we're looking for here is just to
[2:08:29]
support those amendments. Okay. Thank
[2:08:32]
you.
[2:08:35]
I'll give a cheeky comment. Can Can we
[2:08:38]
tie Can we tie approval of that into
[2:08:40]
They'll put housing.
[2:08:44]
I'm not asking for an answer.
[2:08:48]
Um, okay. Councelor Marshall, just for
[2:08:51]
you, chair to staff, the request by
[2:08:55]
YJ,
[2:08:56]
is is that actually municipal
[2:08:59]
jurisdiction or would that be federal
[2:09:01]
juris jurisdiction to enforce?
[2:09:04]
the the areas is in the municipality and
[2:09:08]
it's not prohibiting it. It's just you
[2:09:10]
have to con contact the airport if
[2:09:13]
you're within those areas um to get
[2:09:16]
their permission. So you could say like
[2:09:18]
at 8:00 I want to do this and they'll
[2:09:20]
say okay you're fine there's no flight
[2:09:22]
at that time or they'll say no wait till
[2:09:24]
9:00 something like that.
[2:09:28]
Okay. Council stock. I was going to make
[2:09:32]
the uh staff
[2:09:34]
recommendation, but I'm if anybody um um
[2:09:39]
Okay, if you do the recommendation and
[2:09:40]
before we do a second, I'll check to see
[2:09:42]
if there's any other comments. Oh, sure.
[2:09:44]
Just just in case there's a
[2:09:46]
change, a different motion. Do you want
[2:09:49]
to make a motion?
[2:09:51]
I think Sanji councelor Sanji has
[2:09:54]
questions first. Okay. Thank you.
[2:09:57]
through the chair uh some questions and
[2:10:01]
um as much as I enjoy fireworks, we now
[2:10:04]
know that there are alternate systems
[2:10:07]
that are in place uh that are being used
[2:10:10]
elsewhere like drones um that 5,000
[2:10:14]
drones have launched with all the funky
[2:10:17]
um colors and the rest. Yes, it may not
[2:10:20]
produce the noise and the uh fumes that
[2:10:24]
are associated with fireworks.
[2:10:28]
So my question first
[2:10:30]
is is there any municipality or district
[2:10:34]
in BC that has a complete ban on
[2:10:36]
fireworks?
[2:10:40]
Yes.
[2:10:41]
Thank you. So nothing stops us from
[2:10:45]
executing a complete ban of fireworks if
[2:10:48]
you choose that. Yes. Second part. What
[2:10:51]
is the penalty should somebody violate
[2:10:53]
the fireworks uh ban or restricted
[2:10:59]
areas? I think I answered it's in your
[2:11:02]
bylaw. It's uh upon conviction. Um I
[2:11:08]
think Ben I gave you the answers
[2:11:13]
there. Hello Mayor and council again. uh
[2:11:16]
the um the violation under section
[2:11:19]
11.3 is not less than $100 and not more
[2:11:22]
than $10,000 or
[2:11:24]
imprisonment. And if I may continue uh
[2:11:28]
through the chair, has there been ever a
[2:11:31]
violation successful
[2:11:34]
violation charges brought against an
[2:11:37]
individual in the district or in the CR
[2:11:40]
that we are aware of for for illegal
[2:11:43]
firework? Correct. Yes. Yeah. I I don't
[2:11:45]
have that information. Not that I'm
[2:11:46]
aware of at this time. I don't have that
[2:11:48]
information. Okay. Thank you. May I
[2:11:51]
continue? The 200 meter buffer zone uh
[2:11:54]
that's uh being imposed by Sydney, is
[2:11:57]
that based on noise pollution? Is that
[2:12:00]
based on air drifting of particles or
[2:12:03]
what or is it based on light pollution?
[2:12:06]
Do we have any answers on that?
[2:12:10]
I couldn't answer that question. that
[2:12:12]
was done before I was part of
[2:12:16]
this. Sorry I'm asking all those
[2:12:19]
questions but I feel because there is
[2:12:21]
the other option of creating a 100 m a
[2:12:24]
1,000 m uh buffer zone for that and if
[2:12:29]
we did that next to all environmental
[2:12:31]
areas then beautiful North Sanage will
[2:12:34]
not have any fireworks. So
[2:12:39]
thank you counselor and through the
[2:12:40]
chair. If I may add I was upon my review
[2:12:43]
of um the staff report. I I was I did
[2:12:47]
get um I did pay attention to that this
[2:12:51]
is in response to a letter from the town
[2:12:52]
of Sydney asking us to conform with
[2:12:54]
their
[2:12:55]
regulations. Um and it was further
[2:12:59]
um and council gave staff that direction
[2:13:02]
to execute that. So that's that is why
[2:13:05]
that these values they now align with
[2:13:08]
Sydney. Um just today earlier today I
[2:13:11]
believe Bob Perk provided some
[2:13:12]
correspondents to the district thanking
[2:13:13]
us for um making this change um to
[2:13:18]
further protect these environmentally
[2:13:19]
sensitive areas. Um in my discussions
[2:13:22]
with Steve just becoming familiar with
[2:13:23]
this part of the portfolio he did advise
[2:13:26]
that um over the summertime due to
[2:13:28]
firebounds there's very li if any
[2:13:30]
fireworks permits being provided
[2:13:31]
anyways. Um, and it it is concentrated
[2:13:34]
largely around Halloween. Um, and even
[2:13:37]
with the the bylaw, there would likely
[2:13:40]
be some fireworks used regardless. And
[2:13:42]
so to have a practical balanced bylaw,
[2:13:45]
there is some merit to that. Um, that's
[2:13:47]
enforceable. Um, so hopefully that's
[2:13:50]
helpful information with your continued
[2:13:53]
continued questions. Thank you. And if I
[2:13:57]
may just to the fellow counselors, I
[2:14:00]
would prefer seeing a 1,000 meter buffer
[2:14:03]
zone. We know that wildlife knows no
[2:14:07]
boundary in that respect. They are
[2:14:09]
whether it's in Sydney or North Sanish,
[2:14:11]
whether we do a 200 m or 500
[2:14:15]
or,000 mters. I feel if you want to
[2:14:18]
create an environment that is safe for
[2:14:20]
the wildlife or even migratory birds um
[2:14:24]
if you look at just pollution drifting
[2:14:27]
through um we have the airport around we
[2:14:29]
have uh purple monitors around which
[2:14:33]
picks pollutants that are several
[2:14:36]
kilometers away. So in terms of that I
[2:14:40]
feel the better it's better to be on a
[2:14:43]
safer side by having higher numbers of
[2:14:46]
buffers than smaller numbers. So for
[2:14:50]
that reason I would recommend that if
[2:14:52]
there as we go through this to have a
[2:14:55]
th00and mters as a buffer zone and I'll
[2:14:59]
stop for now and then see this in case
[2:15:01]
there's anybody
[2:15:03]
else. Council Marshall. Uh just one
[2:15:07]
question through you chair to staff.
[2:15:09]
When I look at schedule H, I'm just
[2:15:11]
looking at the map, but I think YJ
[2:15:13]
provided it's a little bit difficult to
[2:15:15]
tell with some of those boundaries. So I
[2:15:16]
just want to confirm. Have they included
[2:15:18]
SACUM in this? It's a bit hard to tell
[2:15:21]
um in this particular drawing.
[2:15:24]
We wouldn't have any jurisdiction on
[2:15:26]
First Nations land.
[2:15:28]
Thanks. That's that's why I was asking
[2:15:30]
because it looks like this drawing
[2:15:31]
incorporates First Nations. So, I'm
[2:15:33]
going to assume that um it wasn't meant
[2:15:35]
to if it does. Okay. Thank you. Thank
[2:15:37]
you, council. Further questions? Council
[2:15:40]
me.
[2:15:42]
Uh thank you, chair, and through the
[2:15:43]
chair to staff. And in regards to
[2:15:45]
schedule H, um which I assume is an area
[2:15:48]
surrounding their flight path because it
[2:15:50]
extends into Sydney.
[2:15:55]
Um worst case
[2:15:57]
scenario, what would happen for someone
[2:16:00]
if they did not uh for example when in
[2:16:03]
the area here that's designated schedule
[2:16:05]
8 that they did not reach out to the
[2:16:07]
control tower and bylaw enforcement was
[2:16:10]
engaged? How how is
[2:16:13]
that work into the big picture here?
[2:16:15]
That's what I'm thinking. It's federal
[2:16:16]
lands, you got an entity, and then are
[2:16:19]
we going to be doing the bylaw
[2:16:21]
enforcement on it? If if it's on airport
[2:16:23]
land, we wouldn't be doing it. It's only
[2:16:25]
in municipal land outside of the
[2:16:27]
airport. Yeah. And there is no provision
[2:16:32]
in place right now. So, I can't say what
[2:16:35]
would happen because this is brand new.
[2:16:39]
Thank you for that.
[2:16:41]
Um, I did note that in the Sydney
[2:16:44]
fireworks bylaw, they did not
[2:16:46]
incorporate the airport lands in there.
[2:16:48]
I granted ours as a larger part. So, I'd
[2:16:51]
be much happier not seeing it in there
[2:16:53]
and supporting the wildlife buffer zone,
[2:16:54]
but that's just my my opinion on it.
[2:16:56]
This came after Sydney had enacted their
[2:16:59]
bylaw. So, their bylaw was already in
[2:17:01]
place before this in this document was
[2:17:03]
received from NAVCAN. Oh, okay. Do you
[2:17:06]
know if then through the chair do you
[2:17:07]
know if that document has gone to Sydney
[2:17:10]
for their consideration as well? I do
[2:17:11]
not know but we can look into that.
[2:17:13]
Okay. Thank you. Appreciate that.
[2:17:16]
Okay. Council questions look for a
[2:17:20]
motion based on
[2:17:22]
recommendation. Council stock.
[2:17:26]
Uh thank you chair. Uh yes. I'd like to
[2:17:30]
make the staff recommendation that
[2:17:32]
council give first, second, and third
[2:17:34]
readings to North Sonage Fireworks
[2:17:36]
Regulation bylaw number
[2:17:39]
1148 amendment bylaw number 1571 bracket
[2:17:44]
2025 closed bracket to include buffer
[2:17:47]
zones around the designated established
[2:17:50]
environmentally sensitive areas brackets
[2:17:54]
ESA of Chalet Creek SAM bracket Shaw B
[2:17:59]
Harbor, Robert's Bay, Sikum Creek, 1010
[2:18:04]
Creek, Kohl's Bay, and Kelset
[2:18:08]
uh brackets Ray Creek, and to establish
[2:18:10]
a buffer zone around flight paths to and
[2:18:14]
from the Victoria airport brackets
[2:18:17]
YJ as outlined in staff report ES25004.
[2:18:25]
Thank you. Do we have a second?
[2:18:31]
I'm sorry I was going to but if you put
[2:18:33]
your hand up I assume for discussion.
[2:18:36]
Okay. Thank you councelor Marshall
[2:18:38]
seconded. Um any further comments
[2:18:41]
questions? Councelor Sanji. Thank you
[2:18:43]
chair. If the council is amendable to it
[2:18:47]
I would like to see if the buffer zone
[2:18:49]
can be increased to instead of 200 m to
[2:18:53]
a,000 m. Um to do that you'd have to do
[2:18:56]
a separate motion. There'd be a second
[2:18:58]
motion. Then there'd be a vote on that
[2:19:00]
and then we come back to the main
[2:19:01]
motion. Okay. So my if I may to the
[2:19:05]
motion that the buffer zone be increased
[2:19:08]
from 200 m to 1,000 m. Okay. Uh stop. Is
[2:19:12]
that motion acceptable? Yes. That would
[2:19:15]
be considered an amendment to the main
[2:19:17]
motion. Thank you very much. Uh, do you
[2:19:19]
have a
[2:19:22]
second? Council me Cony second it. Uh,
[2:19:26]
comments, questions on the amendment to
[2:19:28]
the
[2:19:30]
motion. The no comments. I look for a
[2:19:33]
vote. Those in favor of the amendment to
[2:19:35]
the
[2:19:36]
motion. Those
[2:19:39]
opposed? Motion fails. 42 with councelor
[2:19:43]
stock. Council council Jones. Close
[2:19:46]
enough. C.
[2:19:49]
Council Clint, councelor Marshall in
[2:19:52]
opposition.
[2:19:55]
That's right. It's getting late. Now we
[2:19:58]
come back to the main motion. Um based
[2:20:02]
on councelor Stock's main motion, um any
[2:20:05]
further
[2:20:06]
comments, council makoni.
[2:20:09]
Uh thank you, chair. Um I completely
[2:20:11]
support the uh buffer zone in the
[2:20:13]
environmentally sensitive areas and as
[2:20:15]
you can see I I supported a larger area
[2:20:18]
in fact and maybe even next steps or
[2:20:20]
maybe we are going to be having to look
[2:20:21]
at down the road a complete fireworks
[2:20:23]
ban because times are changing and we
[2:20:25]
have many critters in North Sanage that
[2:20:27]
live outside of buffer zones and that
[2:20:29]
includes family pets etc. So um I won't
[2:20:32]
be voting for it simply because of the
[2:20:34]
airport and
[2:20:35]
um that's my stance. So thank you. Thank
[2:20:38]
you. Okay. Any further comments,
[2:20:40]
questions? None. Uh those in favor of
[2:20:42]
the main
[2:20:44]
motion? Those
[2:20:46]
opposed? Motion carries. 42 with Council
[2:20:49]
Manki, Council Sanjie in opposition.
[2:20:52]
Okay. Thank
[2:20:53]
you. So, I guess now we get to
[2:20:56]
loneliness and isolation survey results.
[2:21:00]
As mayor up here, I quickly get I I do
[2:21:04]
feel
[2:21:10]
lonely. So, so, uh, staff, anything to
[2:21:13]
add?
[2:21:16]
I'm here for you, Mayor
[2:21:20]
Jones. Uh, good evening, members of
[2:21:22]
council. I'm Miles Dalton, manager of
[2:21:24]
communications and engagement here at
[2:21:25]
the district. Uh today I'm presenting
[2:21:27]
the results of the district's loneliness
[2:21:29]
and isolation survey which council
[2:21:31]
directed staff to undertake last fall.
[2:21:34]
Purpose of the survey was to establish a
[2:21:36]
baseline understanding of how feelings
[2:21:39]
of loneliness and social isolation are
[2:21:41]
affecting our residents, especially
[2:21:43]
given that more than half of North
[2:21:45]
Sanich's population is over the age of
[2:21:48]
55. We received 108 responses primarily
[2:21:52]
from older adults. The findings offer
[2:21:54]
valuable insight. While the majority
[2:21:57]
reported rarely feeling isolated, a
[2:21:59]
significant portion still experiences
[2:22:01]
loneliness at least some of the time.
[2:22:04]
The results also show strong community
[2:22:06]
interest in participating in future
[2:22:08]
discussions about the development of a
[2:22:11]
community gathering space. So today, I'm
[2:22:14]
seeking your feedback on the survey
[2:22:16]
results and your thoughts on whether the
[2:22:18]
findings support further exploration of
[2:22:20]
a gathering center for North Sanich.
[2:22:22]
Thank you.
[2:22:26]
Thank you. Thank you. Council
[2:22:30]
questions. Any
[2:22:34]
questions?
[2:22:36]
Nope. Then I look for a motion based
[2:22:40]
on Oh, I sorry I put away the
[2:22:44]
motion. Um I look at a motion based on
[2:22:47]
the staff
[2:22:49]
recommendation. Do we have a motion?
[2:22:59]
I'll make
[2:23:05]
um I didn't see any other hands up, so
[2:23:07]
go ahead.
[2:23:09]
All right. Um thank you, chair. Um
[2:23:12]
recommendation that council receive the
[2:23:15]
loneliness and isolation survey results
[2:23:19]
outlined in staff report number CS
[2:23:24]
2516 and provide feedback on the survey
[2:23:28]
results and the need for a community
[2:23:31]
gathering center. Okay. Thank you. Do we
[2:23:33]
have a second
[2:23:35]
it council Marshall?
[2:23:39]
I'll second it. But I also just have a
[2:23:40]
question about the motion. Y um so
[2:23:43]
certainly uh receiving the survey, the
[2:23:46]
report I think is obviously great. Uh
[2:23:49]
providing feedback. So I'm curious if
[2:23:51]
like we're we're now making motion
[2:23:53]
saying we're going to provide feedback,
[2:23:54]
but we haven't asked haven't done that
[2:23:56]
yet. So perhaps my suggestion be that if
[2:23:58]
that's going to be the motion then can
[2:24:00]
we provide feedback via email to to Mr.
[2:24:03]
Dolphin or to to other staff? Would that
[2:24:05]
work through you chair to staff? Are you
[2:24:08]
talking of a of a new motion just on
[2:24:10]
that aspect of it? Uh no, I'm just I'm
[2:24:13]
wondering if we are going to provide
[2:24:14]
feedback. That is the request to staff.
[2:24:16]
If it works uh for staff, if we provide
[2:24:19]
that after if this motion goes through,
[2:24:21]
we provide that by an email at a later
[2:24:23]
later date if that works. Okay. Just
[2:24:24]
want to make sure. Thank you. Any other
[2:24:27]
comments? Council Sanjief through the
[2:24:31]
chair. Oh, thank you for the report. I
[2:24:34]
think this was sent to the healthy
[2:24:36]
living for discussion and because of
[2:24:40]
time the discussion wasn't wholesome if
[2:24:43]
I understand correctly it might be
[2:24:46]
useful to have a wholesome discussion
[2:24:49]
based on analysis of the data and not
[2:24:52]
just not in addition to the results that
[2:24:56]
are presented. Um I think that this is a
[2:24:59]
critical need we have is well
[2:25:03]
established through the NIA and uh the
[2:25:07]
seniors
[2:25:08]
uh care systems that's available that
[2:25:13]
loneliness is becoming an epidemic and
[2:25:18]
it needs to be addressed. We have had uh
[2:25:21]
quite a
[2:25:22]
significant the respondents who have
[2:25:26]
said that they do feel lonely for an
[2:25:29]
analysis would require to look at all
[2:25:32]
the different questions and figure out
[2:25:35]
based on either a rating system what
[2:25:39]
exact impact is. So for that reason I
[2:25:43]
think it would be useful to send it back
[2:25:44]
to the healthy living for a wholesome
[2:25:47]
discussion on it.
[2:25:51]
Okay. Right now the
[2:25:53]
motion
[2:25:54]
is based on direction to staff. If it
[2:25:58]
has to be sent if now we also want it to
[2:26:01]
be sent uh to one of the committees, we
[2:26:04]
may have to make a motion for it to be
[2:26:06]
sent which would be an amendment to
[2:26:09]
councelor stocks.
[2:26:14]
Yes. And that and chair would councelor
[2:26:18]
Sanjie Shastava like to make that
[2:26:21]
amendment. I I like to do friendly
[2:26:23]
amendments but staff doesn't like that.
[2:26:28]
I think
[2:26:31]
okay sorry before we do this councelor
[2:26:34]
McKento.
[2:26:39]
Yes. Thank you. Um I think the results
[2:26:41]
are um are fairly
[2:26:44]
understandable. The one question I have
[2:26:46]
is
[2:26:47]
um and the need for a community
[2:26:50]
gathering center. Um who answers that
[2:26:53]
question. Um and and that's where I'm
[2:26:56]
clear about the motion. However, I think
[2:27:00]
councilor shava
[2:27:02]
um in his in his
[2:27:07]
um
[2:27:08]
eagerness
[2:27:11]
to
[2:27:13]
have corroboration that there's a
[2:27:16]
problem which might be a world
[2:27:21]
issue is not a problem here in North
[2:27:23]
Sanage. And I think to um to continue on
[2:27:26]
this line, he talks about a critical
[2:27:28]
need. This survey has clearly not said
[2:27:30]
that there's a critical need. Maybe his
[2:27:33]
um his world um
[2:27:37]
um vision of things is there's a
[2:27:39]
critical need and there might be some in
[2:27:41]
some areas. However, nothing has come
[2:27:43]
before council that says this is
[2:27:44]
critical um to this area.
[2:27:47]
Um, so it's almost like we want the
[2:27:51]
results of a survey to match why we have
[2:27:54]
the survey. Unfortunately, that's not
[2:27:57]
the case here. So, I'm not prepared to
[2:27:59]
um expend any more staff time or council
[2:28:02]
time on this matter.
[2:28:05]
Thank you. Um, further comments?
[2:28:13]
Thank you, chair. Um, I wasn't going to
[2:28:16]
go there, but now since councelor
[2:28:18]
Mcccleintochuk has asked a question, uh,
[2:28:21]
here is what the actual answers would
[2:28:23]
come through. If you were to look at a
[2:28:27]
proper statistical survey done and
[2:28:30]
analysis based on just the results that
[2:28:33]
we got, we have a at least of the 92
[2:28:39]
online 95 online surveys that were done.
[2:28:42]
You have more than half of them
[2:28:46]
expressing a getting a score of greater
[2:28:49]
than six which indicates that loneliness
[2:28:53]
is being experienced by quite a few of
[2:28:55]
the residents. One of them has actually
[2:28:59]
gone to have a severe issue on
[2:29:02]
loneliness and social isolation five
[2:29:05]
with a getting a score of 10. So if you
[2:29:08]
were to do a proper statistical
[2:29:10]
analysis, you would find that it is an
[2:29:12]
issue. In addition to that, if you look
[2:29:15]
at the number of people who have
[2:29:18]
actually conducted the surveys as
[2:29:20]
opposed to any other survey that has
[2:29:22]
occurred on in the district's website,
[2:29:26]
uh there is almost
[2:29:28]
37% that have had a traction of
[2:29:32]
conversion from going visiting the
[2:29:35]
website and actually attempting the
[2:29:38]
survey. that itself is an indication
[2:29:41]
that there is a need and people identify
[2:29:44]
with that issue. So it is not how what
[2:29:48]
world I live in. It is a reality that
[2:29:50]
Canada is experiencing. Yes, it even
[2:29:54]
whether there is 20% or 40%, it is some
[2:29:57]
a number that has to be addressed. we
[2:30:00]
are getting closer and closer with the
[2:30:02]
age the demographics changing which
[2:30:05]
means that we need to address it before
[2:30:07]
it becomes an endemic issue. So that
[2:30:11]
would be my comment with regards to
[2:30:13]
where my eagerness for the survey was.
[2:30:16]
Uh just to give you an idea, I've got
[2:30:18]
some numbers from the staff. In terms of
[2:30:21]
the conversion, there is 37% that
[2:30:24]
actually answered the survey while 28%
[2:30:28]
did the sub submission with regards to
[2:30:30]
budget responses. Uh Tetlo and Deep Cove
[2:30:33]
traffic calming only 26 and 27% did
[2:30:38]
that. So this was identified as an
[2:30:41]
interest for a majority of the
[2:30:43]
residents. Thank you. Thank you.
[2:30:47]
Now you going to do a motion.
[2:30:50]
Now it's quiet. Oh, sorry. Council Mint.
[2:31:00]
Yes, thank you for that. And it
[2:31:01]
certainly wasn't an attack on you, uh,
[2:31:04]
councelor Shiva Saba. Um,
[2:31:07]
however, when I was elected as a
[2:31:09]
counselor over the past three terms, I
[2:31:12]
was elected to do the business of the
[2:31:14]
district of North Sage, which includes a
[2:31:17]
number of things. Um, entering into the
[2:31:20]
healthc care business, I think we're
[2:31:22]
overextending our our
[2:31:25]
um what we were elected to do. It's
[2:31:28]
interesting to know, but um and these
[2:31:31]
surveys could certainly be given to the
[2:31:33]
people in charge of health care in the
[2:31:35]
province. Um however um I don't believe
[2:31:38]
that it's um the reason that we were
[2:31:41]
elected as councils. We probably have
[2:31:43]
different differing opinions on that
[2:31:45]
thing.
[2:31:49]
Thank you. Thank you, Council Mint. Any
[2:31:51]
further questions? No further questions
[2:31:53]
there. Do we have another motion on the
[2:31:55]
floor or do we vote on the motion as
[2:31:57]
done by councelor Stark?
[2:32:00]
Councelor Marshall. Oh, sorry. Go ahead,
[2:32:02]
councelor. Do are you going to make the
[2:32:03]
amendment? Go ahead.
[2:32:06]
I I just like to make the amendment to
[2:32:08]
the main motion that we also send it
[2:32:09]
back to the healthy living committee. We
[2:32:11]
did have limited time to discuss it and
[2:32:12]
I know there was a a comment made from a
[2:32:15]
number of people about um feedback they
[2:32:17]
received around privacy concerns because
[2:32:19]
there was a requirement to register.
[2:32:21]
They weren't anonymous. So that was some
[2:32:23]
of the feedback we got. So I I'll make
[2:32:25]
the amendment to send it back to the
[2:32:26]
healthy living committee. Thank you. Do
[2:32:28]
you have a second council sanjief? Uh
[2:32:31]
any comments on the amendment to the
[2:32:33]
main motion? No comments. Those in
[2:32:36]
favor? Those
[2:32:38]
opposed? Motion carries 51 with
[2:32:40]
councelor McClend in
[2:32:42]
opposition. Now we move back to the main
[2:32:45]
motion. Are there any further comments
[2:32:46]
before we do a vote on the main
[2:32:49]
motion? Nope. Those in favor of the main
[2:32:53]
motion, those
[2:32:55]
opposed carries 51 with Council Mckento
[2:32:58]
in opposition. Thank
[2:33:02]
you. I think we're through the majority
[2:33:04]
of it,
[2:33:06]
folks. So, next we move and unless staff
[2:33:09]
tells me otherwise, we move to item 8B,
[2:33:12]
which is council leison reports. Staff,
[2:33:15]
am I correct? Thank you very much. Um,
[2:33:18]
there's only one consolation report. is
[2:33:20]
by council me. Council me, anything you
[2:33:23]
wish to add?
[2:33:25]
Uh, thank you, chair. Nothing to add.
[2:33:27]
I'd just like to make the recommendation
[2:33:28]
that the council leaison report dated
[2:33:30]
May 7th, 2025 from myself regarding the
[2:33:33]
Greater Victoria Labor Relations
[2:33:35]
Association, GVL, be received for
[2:33:38]
information. Thank you. Seconded,
[2:33:40]
Council Stock. Any comments? No
[2:33:42]
comments. Those in
[2:33:45]
favor? Well, thank you.
[2:33:48]
Unanimous. Thank you. Now we move on to
[2:33:50]
item C which is committee reports and um
[2:33:53]
I'll be looking for a consent resolution
[2:33:55]
here. But before I go to the consent
[2:33:56]
resolution because there's one, two,
[2:33:58]
three, four, five, five different
[2:33:59]
people. Anyone have any anything to add
[2:34:02]
or should we go directly into the
[2:34:03]
consent resolution? I'm seeing nothing.
[2:34:05]
Look for a motion based on the consent
[2:34:08]
resolution. Council Marshall. Uh that
[2:34:12]
council receive the following items for
[2:34:13]
information. Draft minutes of the
[2:34:15]
community planning advisory committee
[2:34:16]
meeting held May 6, 2025. Draft minutes
[2:34:19]
of the Agriculture and Food Security
[2:34:20]
Advisory Committee meeting held May 7,
[2:34:23]
2025. Draft minutes of the Healthy
[2:34:26]
Community Living Advisory Committee
[2:34:27]
meeting held May 8th, 2025. Draft
[2:34:30]
minutes of the Peninsula and Area
[2:34:31]
Agricultural Commission meeting held May
[2:34:33]
8, 2025. And draft minutes of the
[2:34:35]
committee the whole meeting held May
[2:34:36]
12th, 2025. Thank you.
[2:34:39]
Seconded, Council Sanjief. Any comments?
[2:34:43]
Nope. No comments. Those in
[2:34:45]
favor? Unanimous. Uh the next one is one
[2:34:48]
of the what I consider to be good
[2:34:50]
business, nice business. Um it it's a
[2:34:53]
motion um which is from councelor
[2:34:56]
Marshall, councelor Sanjie and I'll look
[2:34:57]
to councelor Marshall and councelor
[2:34:59]
Sanjie. Do you wish to add anything?
[2:35:03]
Uh I really don't have an awful lot to
[2:35:05]
add. There's background there in the
[2:35:06]
notice of motion and then um just
[2:35:08]
information around why I'm bringing it
[2:35:09]
forward. It was uh um Miss Lavender and
[2:35:12]
Miss Balin who originally sent an email
[2:35:14]
to council asking that we recognize the
[2:35:17]
sunset riding club in our heritage week.
[2:35:19]
So this is just an addition to that to
[2:35:21]
formalize the recognition of the
[2:35:23]
contribution of that very important club
[2:35:25]
to North Sanage. Um I know myself I um
[2:35:28]
when I first moved here I uh was just
[2:35:30]
impressed with the trail system. I use
[2:35:32]
it every day and I'm appreciative of the
[2:35:34]
fact that it is our volunteers time,
[2:35:36]
resources and energy that went into
[2:35:38]
allowing me to use those. So this is
[2:35:39]
just recognition of the incredible
[2:35:42]
citizens that we have here in our our
[2:35:44]
district. So thank you. Thank you. I
[2:35:46]
look for a second council. Councelor
[2:35:48]
Sanjie, council Marshall, you wish to
[2:35:50]
motivate.
[2:35:53]
I don't think I have anything else to
[2:35:55]
say. Thank you then. So you've done it.
[2:35:59]
Okay. Um any comments, questions?
[2:36:03]
Council stock. Yes. Thank you, Chair.
[2:36:05]
just wanted to say that uh I know that
[2:36:08]
this is a very welldeserved recognition.
[2:36:12]
I've known um both uh parties uh
[2:36:16]
mentioned in the uh in the recognition
[2:36:19]
and appreciation
[2:36:21]
motion since probably
[2:36:24]
2010 or maybe earlier. I'm not sure. and
[2:36:28]
I know how much work they've done in the
[2:36:31]
community uh not only for the the the
[2:36:36]
uh Sunset Riding Club but also many
[2:36:40]
other activities like the farm market
[2:36:42]
and etc. So, you know, it's really welld
[2:36:46]
deserved. Thank you. Thank you. Any
[2:36:48]
further comments, questions? No. No.
[2:36:52]
Nope. No. Uh we'll go for a vote. Those
[2:36:55]
those in
[2:36:57]
favor
[2:36:58]
unanimous. Thank
[2:37:00]
you. We move to item 10 which
[2:37:03]
is I can't pronounce the name
[2:37:06]
unfortunately. I'll rely on someone else
[2:37:08]
but if we look at item 10
[2:37:13]
um I believe it's the it says powow but
[2:37:17]
is that a pot latch? Sorry. Pow.
[2:37:20]
Okay. So before we look for well I look
[2:37:23]
for comments on comments or questions on
[2:37:26]
first staff there anything to add.
[2:37:30]
Um thank you chair. Um nothing really to
[2:37:32]
add. Um we did do some there was some
[2:37:34]
discussion about our member
[2:37:35]
municipalities past past contributions
[2:37:38]
and uh we learned that um central Sanche
[2:37:42]
in the years past provided $2,000 that
[2:37:44]
and I believe that was wellreceived and
[2:37:47]
I believe Sydney provided a slightly
[2:37:48]
larger sum as well last year. 3500. So
[2:37:52]
if that's helpful to Mayor Council, I I
[2:37:56]
Yeah, thank you because I was not
[2:37:58]
looking forward to bringing that
[2:37:59]
[Laughter]
[2:38:02]
up. So um so there as I said, Sydney and
[2:38:07]
and Central Sanage um 3500 and 2,000
[2:38:10]
respectfully and I assume there's going
[2:38:12]
to be a motion that will give a dollar
[2:38:14]
value if it's approval in that. So
[2:38:19]
council questions, comments or even a
[2:38:22]
motion? Just a question first uh if I
[2:38:25]
may through the chair to staff. Has the
[2:38:28]
district provided funding to them
[2:38:30]
before? And if so to what amount
[2:38:37]
um thank you for the question. We don't
[2:38:40]
um we don't believe so, but we'd have to
[2:38:42]
confirm with you. I'm not sure if if it
[2:38:45]
wasn't requested previously. Um, and I'd
[2:38:49]
have to I'd have to I can report back.
[2:38:56]
Any further
[2:38:57]
questions? They're not. Um, we don't
[2:39:00]
know. It's so we have to pick a number
[2:39:02]
if the vote is to provide
[2:39:06]
funding. Councelor Sandre through the
[2:39:09]
chair. I would like to make a motion if
[2:39:11]
uh that's okay to provide a funding of
[2:39:14]
$5,000 through the indigenous uh fund
[2:39:17]
that we the district has. Uh there is
[2:39:21]
always a fund allocated towards
[2:39:23]
indigenous relationship. So use that
[2:39:26]
fund to provide $5,000 towards the
[2:39:29]
power.
[2:39:32]
Council stock you have a question. Oh, I
[2:39:33]
just Yes, chair. I just had a question.
[2:39:37]
Uh, was that 500 or 5,000? 5,000.
[2:39:41]
Oh, I
[2:39:43]
think Well, I I don't mind. I think we
[2:39:46]
should probably provide something, but I
[2:39:49]
don't $5,000 seems like a very large
[2:39:52]
sum to me. I mean, we haven't even given
[2:39:56]
some of our regular um, you know, grants
[2:40:00]
and aid um, uh, uh, groups that much
[2:40:05]
money. We we whittleled them all down in
[2:40:08]
our grants and aid meeting. So I I I I
[2:40:11]
don't know how to gauge what's a correct
[2:40:15]
amount, but I think that's a lot.
[2:40:22]
Council before I come to staff, council.
[2:40:26]
Yes. Thank you very much. I think that
[2:40:28]
uh 5,000 is um I I wouldn't agree with
[2:40:32]
5,000. Um I think the maximum in this
[2:40:35]
instance um bearing in mind the
[2:40:38]
contributions from central Sanich which
[2:40:41]
also has two um two communities in their
[2:40:44]
municipality of $2,000. I think that
[2:40:47]
would be a very generous um donation by
[2:40:50]
this district for the uh for the
[2:40:53]
event. Okay. Thank you. Um what I would
[2:40:57]
suggest is perhaps we do a temperature
[2:40:59]
check. I think everyone's in agreement
[2:41:00]
that there should be some funding to
[2:41:02]
them. Um so the question becomes is
[2:41:05]
we've got some councelor Sanjie is
[2:41:06]
saying you know 5,000.
[2:41:09]
May I ask a question? Uh could I ask
[2:41:12]
Barb what amount is allocated towards
[2:41:14]
the indigenous relationships.
[2:41:21]
We've got um the I believe it's 15,000
[2:41:25]
uh for indigenous relations that's
[2:41:28]
available. We also have uh funding
[2:41:30]
through the community events sort of
[2:41:31]
line item. Um and those those amounts
[2:41:34]
range from 1,500 to 2,000 just going
[2:41:37]
based on history of of uh asks that
[2:41:40]
we've had in the past from other
[2:41:41]
organizations that did not come through
[2:41:43]
grants and aid.
[2:41:47]
Council Marshall. Um can I just clarify
[2:41:50]
Central and Sydney's contribution? I
[2:41:52]
thought one of them was 3500
[2:41:56]
through the chair. Thank you. Yes. So,
[2:41:58]
Central Sanage was 2,000 and Town of
[2:42:02]
Sydney was 3,500.
[2:42:06]
That was last year. That was last year.
[2:42:08]
Sorry. Through the
[2:42:13]
So, again, I think we we've got a
[2:42:15]
consensus that we should provide some
[2:42:17]
funding staff. Um, yeah, if if helpful,
[2:42:21]
I can offer that. Um, so staff just
[2:42:23]
reviewed this correspondence
[2:42:25]
specifically in this as this morning.
[2:42:27]
um and we thought it would be um
[2:42:29]
relevant to inquire about our member
[2:42:31]
municipalities contribution. And then we
[2:42:33]
did have some informal discussion about
[2:42:37]
um previous uh and other funders
[2:42:40]
agencies that we fund etc. Um and so we
[2:42:44]
did provide we thought this information
[2:42:45]
would be helpful for mayor and council
[2:42:46]
to try and gauge um a value.
[2:42:50]
Okay. Thank you. If if I give a comment
[2:42:53]
comment first is um one of the thing
[2:42:56]
what I'm concerned about if we did
[2:42:57]
$5,000 and the other two communities did
[2:43:00]
again 2,000 and
[2:43:02]
3,500 that that would put us out of line
[2:43:06]
and would then create perhaps a
[2:43:08]
precedence uh for other municipalities
[2:43:11]
to try and match us which I we wouldn't
[2:43:12]
want them to do but also it would put
[2:43:15]
pressure on perhaps some other
[2:43:18]
indigenous nations which I'm not averse
[2:43:21]
to. I believe you know just a comment um
[2:43:24]
myself I would look and say okay I can
[2:43:26]
understand the 5,000 um based on what
[2:43:29]
was given last year I would consider
[2:43:31]
giving it halfway
[2:43:33]
between which is or even 3,000
[2:43:36]
um but that's just my temperature.
[2:43:41]
Um, so
[2:43:44]
again, it's I I'm open. I'd like to get
[2:43:48]
a consensus on it with regard to the
[2:43:50]
amount
[2:43:53]
staff. No, sorry. Okay.
[2:43:58]
I'll go with council mani first. Uh,
[2:44:02]
thank you, chair, and and and I'll just
[2:44:04]
make a comment. I I do believe last year
[2:44:06]
we did contribute to the South Island
[2:44:08]
Pow-Wow and I think that was a
[2:44:10]
contribution of $5,000. I know this is a
[2:44:12]
different event, I believe. So, but my
[2:44:15]
memory does fail me sometimes, so
[2:44:16]
perhaps Barb could check on that.
[2:44:19]
Um, I appreciate what councelor Sanjiv
[2:44:22]
is bringing forward. Just a thought, we
[2:44:25]
have two nations as does the Sanro
[2:44:27]
Sanich. Maybe we match that. I don't
[2:44:30]
know. That's just my thought. a match in
[2:44:32]
the sense of $3,500.
[2:44:35]
$3,500. $3,500. Yeah. Okay.
[2:44:39]
I could accept that. Um, so right now we
[2:44:42]
have council mint looking at 2,000.
[2:44:44]
Councilor Stock perhaps at 2,000. Yeah.
[2:44:47]
Council Marshall, do you have a number?
[2:44:49]
3500.
[2:44:51]
Yeah. Uh, could we look to council
[2:44:53]
mccllintok and perhaps councelor stock
[2:44:55]
to to bring their number up to that
[2:44:57]
3500? I know Sanjie is not happy with
[2:45:00]
35. Who wants the five
[2:45:02]
through the chair? We're looking at an
[2:45:04]
inflation amount that has taken place
[2:45:06]
from last year. And the irony is that we
[2:45:09]
do have funds for the First Nation
[2:45:13]
relations. That amount every year we
[2:45:15]
allocate $15,000 for such events. It has
[2:45:19]
not been in use last I think last year
[2:45:22]
it was used a part of it. I see no
[2:45:25]
reason why it cannot be used. Now with
[2:45:28]
regards to other districts being able to
[2:45:30]
match that or not that is up to them to
[2:45:32]
make a decision. This is for us to make
[2:45:34]
a decision whether we would like to
[2:45:36]
contribute towards this activity or not.
[2:45:38]
I think we should but again I'll leave
[2:45:41]
it to the council. But are you prepared
[2:45:42]
to come down 1500 if councelor McKin
[2:45:45]
Clark and councelor stock prepared to
[2:45:46]
come up by 1500? $4,549.50.
[2:45:53]
I was just uh chair. Thank you. Just a
[2:45:56]
short comment. I councelor McConi
[2:45:59]
reminded me that we might get another
[2:46:02]
request for funding that South Island
[2:46:05]
Pow-Wow and it is a big event. So, we
[2:46:08]
would have to give them that event as
[2:46:10]
well at le probably what we gave them
[2:46:13]
last year. Uh you said it was 5,000 and
[2:46:16]
I think you're right. So then I you know
[2:46:20]
what if we get another request again? I
[2:46:22]
I just think we should be careful
[2:46:25]
because 15,000 doesn't go that far if we
[2:46:28]
give five for the South Island Powow,
[2:46:31]
which we probably will get a request
[2:46:33]
for. Um, and yeah, so I'm I'm thinking,
[2:46:38]
you know, I was thinking between two two
[2:46:41]
and 3,000. Move it up. Come on.
[2:46:46]
I wasn't really thinking 3500, but it's
[2:46:50]
compromise.
[2:46:53]
I know. Well, I do compromise a lot.
[2:46:57]
Yeah. Council McKento.
[2:47:01]
Yes. Thank you.
[2:47:02]
Um I still think that uh $2,000 is a is
[2:47:07]
a generous contribution. These numbers
[2:47:10]
that were that were just pulling out of
[2:47:12]
the atmosphere um
[2:47:15]
5,3500 it's they seem to be so random.
[2:47:17]
They're not based on anything except
[2:47:19]
giving money away. Um I know when we
[2:47:22]
give to other organizations, sometimes
[2:47:25]
we want a um uh not an audit, but we
[2:47:29]
least we at least want to know where the
[2:47:31]
money's being spent. Now, if we're just
[2:47:35]
um writing a blank check, I've got no
[2:47:37]
problem with writing a $2,000 blank
[2:47:39]
check. I don't I do have a problem
[2:47:42]
writing a $5,000 blank check with no
[2:47:44]
accountability. So, um, rather than get
[2:47:47]
into that area, I'd be happy to stay.
[2:47:53]
Okay. Sorry, staff. I'm reluctant to
[2:47:56]
offer another yet another option for
[2:47:58]
consideration. Um, I
[2:48:01]
um it is possible that we could respond
[2:48:02]
to them saying we that there is interest
[2:48:04]
to fund them and u inquiring about the
[2:48:07]
level of funding they're seeking. Okay.
[2:48:09]
and and and or discuss with member
[2:48:11]
municipalities and I think we would be
[2:48:13]
able to come back at the June 23rd if we
[2:48:16]
reach out following the meeting we might
[2:48:17]
be able to get better information for
[2:48:18]
council
[2:48:22]
oh sorry
[2:48:25]
council Sanjief what do you think that
[2:48:27]
we based on what staff suggestion
[2:48:31]
I'm just looking a document from uh Octo
[2:48:35]
September 30th 2023
[2:48:37]
uh marking the ation for truth and
[2:48:39]
reconciliation and the council approve a
[2:48:42]
5,000 donation to the power which
[2:48:44]
matched the district's previous
[2:48:46]
contribution from 2022. So 5,000 this is
[2:48:50]
on our district's website is not and
[2:48:52]
these are from minutes of the
[2:48:55]
um August 23rd uh 2023 meeting. So this
[2:49:00]
is something that we have done $5,000.
[2:49:04]
So I see no rationale
[2:49:06]
for the south island but this is a
[2:49:08]
different one. It makes no difference.
[2:49:10]
Uh whoever has come first we offering it
[2:49:12]
to them. So we have a power. This is the
[2:49:15]
first time that uh
[2:49:18]
um sip has reached out and I think we
[2:49:21]
should contribute to 5,000. Thank you.
[2:49:26]
Okay. We have a motion that's not
[2:49:27]
seconded right now on on the floor for
[2:49:30]
for 5,000. Um, obviously we're having
[2:49:34]
a I've not seen any other motion.
[2:49:38]
Chair, I just wanted through you chair
[2:49:40]
to staff. I I like their idea because
[2:49:43]
then we'll know, you know, exactly what
[2:49:45]
we're dealing with. I I I just feel that
[2:49:48]
we're we are kind of grabbing numbers
[2:49:50]
and I want to make sure we have enough
[2:49:53]
for the South Island POW because that is
[2:49:55]
going to it is a huge event and uh and
[2:49:59]
we do we have often or very often
[2:50:03]
contributed at least $5,000. So, I I
[2:50:08]
just want to I don't want to not give
[2:50:10]
enough, but I think if staff finds out
[2:50:13]
the information, then we'll be more
[2:50:15]
informed as to what we're providing.
[2:50:18]
Thank you, chair. Thank you. We got a
[2:50:22]
choice. Right now, there's a motion on
[2:50:23]
the floor. Again, not seconded. Um, if
[2:50:26]
we get a second motion on the floor with
[2:50:27]
a diff that's different, then we have to
[2:50:30]
consider that as well. So right now I
[2:50:33]
will ask for a seconder based on the
[2:50:36]
main the motion that councelor Sanjie
[2:50:38]
has put forward. Do we have a seconder?
[2:50:42]
Okay, councelor mccllintok sorry
[2:50:45]
councelor mcconi. I was looking at Jack
[2:50:47]
to see what he was
[2:50:49]
doing for any questions. Uh so we have a
[2:50:53]
motion. We have a second. Is there any
[2:50:55]
further discussion on it or is there a
[2:50:57]
motion a second motion?
[2:51:02]
I'll make a second motion that we
[2:51:04]
provide um this group with uh
[2:51:12]
$3,000 $3500.
[2:51:15]
I'd second 3500, but we have a question
[2:51:18]
from from Council Mint first.
[2:51:21]
We need you for supporting this. Yes,
[2:51:23]
thank you. I I'm I'm not about to make
[2:51:26]
I'm I think we have a motion on the on
[2:51:28]
the floor that we have to vote on first
[2:51:29]
and this is a amendment I believe.
[2:51:31]
However, I um I am encouraged by the uh
[2:51:34]
by Mr.
[2:51:36]
Martin's suggestion that we take this
[2:51:39]
back to the to the uh the letter writer
[2:51:43]
and see what it is um and see what it is
[2:51:46]
they're uh they may be looking for.
[2:51:48]
Perhaps we can get a little bit
[2:51:49]
enlightenment as far as um from the
[2:51:52]
community. um rather than us telling
[2:51:56]
them what's best for them, perhaps they
[2:51:58]
can tell us what's best for them.
[2:52:02]
Uh well, right now we have an
[2:52:04]
amended motion from councelor Stock.
[2:52:07]
It's not seconded yet.
[2:52:10]
Um so we got to look at this right now.
[2:52:13]
Is there a second or
[2:52:15]
counselor councelor Stock's
[2:52:18]
motion? I'll motion I'll second it for
[2:52:21]
discussion.
[2:52:24]
Um now the question becomes is amendment
[2:52:28]
of a potential
[2:52:30]
amendment. So
[2:52:34]
we should just vote on councelor
[2:52:37]
Sanchie's motion. We can um we'd have to
[2:52:41]
withdraw. Um and I would certainly be
[2:52:44]
prepared to withdraw. So you I'll
[2:52:46]
withdraw my my amendment to councelor
[2:52:48]
Sanjie's motion. I'll withdraw my
[2:52:50]
motion. Okay. Staff. Okay. Uh so now we
[2:52:53]
just have the one motion on the floor
[2:52:55]
which is councelor Sanjie. Uh any
[2:52:57]
further comments? Councelor Marshall.
[2:53:00]
Uh yeah. So I I definitely think we do
[2:53:02]
need to support them. I appreciate
[2:53:04]
staff's comment to go back and ask what
[2:53:06]
it is that they are looking for. Um so
[2:53:08]
I'm willing to support that because it
[2:53:10]
also might give us more information as
[2:53:11]
to what it's going to go towards. It's
[2:53:12]
not that I'm not going to support the
[2:53:14]
$5,000. Um I I think we have $15,000 in
[2:53:17]
the indigenous fund, 5,000 and 5,000 for
[2:53:19]
the South Island. POW still leaves us
[2:53:21]
five. Um, but I'm not prepared to vote
[2:53:25]
for the 5,000. Not because I disagree
[2:53:26]
with 5,000, but I think we do need to go
[2:53:28]
back to um, uh, R and K. Samson first.
[2:53:33]
Okay. Then we need a second motion.
[2:53:38]
Um, because Council Mckento brought up
[2:53:41]
this aspect of it, but he didn't put
[2:53:43]
didn't put a motion. So, we haven't
[2:53:44]
taken a vote on the first motion yet or
[2:53:46]
the the only motion that's on the floor.
[2:53:48]
So is that a motion?
[2:53:52]
Um, sure. I will make the motion to
[2:53:53]
receive the email dated May 12th, 2025
[2:53:56]
from R. Samson and Kane Samson with
[2:53:58]
subject line request for support 30th
[2:54:01]
annual intertribal pow-ow July 25th
[2:54:03]
27th, 2025 with Santa school board uh
[2:54:06]
field and further direct staff to um
[2:54:10]
contact R Samson and K Samson and
[2:54:12]
request the amount that they're looking
[2:54:14]
for and details as to what it will be
[2:54:16]
used for. Okay. Thank you.
[2:54:18]
Seconded councelor Stark. Any further
[2:54:21]
comments? Councelor Mcccleintoch.
[2:54:26]
Thank you, chair. I was just going to
[2:54:27]
second that.
[2:54:30]
Okay. It's already been seconded, but
[2:54:32]
thanks for doing it.
[2:54:35]
Second. One last thing. Thor, I we can
[2:54:37]
I'm just going to add a date to that.
[2:54:38]
So, we'll have the report back for our
[2:54:40]
June 23rd uh regular meeting because I
[2:54:43]
just want to make sure we're not going
[2:54:44]
to meet the dead. We're not going to um
[2:54:46]
miss a deadline that they need it for.
[2:54:48]
Is that okay? June 7th. Oh, June 7th.
[2:54:50]
Sorry. So, have a back for June 7th
[2:54:53]
regular council meeting.
[2:54:57]
Mr. Mayor, if I if I might just
[2:54:59]
procedurally, so you've got an
[2:55:00]
undisposed motion first, which is the
[2:55:03]
$5,000 contribution. Um, based on
[2:55:06]
whether or not council supports what
[2:55:08]
what the the secondary motion was,
[2:55:11]
council could postpone consideration of
[2:55:14]
the original motion as opposed to
[2:55:16]
defeating it and and have that come back
[2:55:18]
on the 23rd with staff's report. Okay.
[2:55:22]
So, we need a motion to postpone. Okay.
[2:55:26]
Um, Council Sanji, you prepare to put up
[2:55:28]
a motion to propo postpone?
[2:55:38]
I would be reluctant to do it because I
[2:55:42]
think we keep on arguing on small
[2:55:45]
amounts and every time it involves First
[2:55:48]
Nations there is always dragging the
[2:55:51]
feet that takes place. This is a a there
[2:55:55]
is an allocated funds for such
[2:55:58]
activities and I see no reason that the
[2:56:01]
district cannot use those funds for this
[2:56:04]
purpose. Okay. Thank you. Okay.
[2:56:08]
Unfortunately, if I may, uh, chair, I
[2:56:10]
think we're reaching 10:00 if we need to
[2:56:12]
continue for this. I was going to bring
[2:56:14]
it up. Um,
[2:56:17]
we've I'm looking for a motion to extend
[2:56:19]
by 15 minutes. I'll make a motion. Okay.
[2:56:22]
Second by 15 minutes
[2:56:24]
seconded council Sanjie any comments
[2:56:28]
those in
[2:56:29]
favor those
[2:56:31]
opposed it's copied 51 with council
[2:56:35]
mccllin talk in opposition okay this
[2:56:37]
let's keep uh keep going so I'm looking
[2:56:39]
now for a motion based on um I've
[2:56:43]
forgotten what the motion is but based
[2:56:45]
on going staff going back and asking
[2:56:47]
basically
[2:56:49]
how is oh do no um do you want me to
[2:56:52]
vote on that.
[2:56:56]
Yes. I mean, I think that you're Oh,
[2:56:57]
that's the motion to the second the
[2:56:59]
second the Yeah, but I'm looking for a
[2:57:01]
motion. Sorry. Motion to postpone,
[2:57:04]
but he said he didn't want to. Yeah, but
[2:57:07]
that was I was giving him the
[2:57:08]
opportunity to do it. It doesn't stop
[2:57:09]
any other counselor from putting it up
[2:57:11]
as as a
[2:57:15]
chair. Okay. I'll make a motion to
[2:57:17]
postpone councelor Sanjie's motion with
[2:57:21]
regard to
[2:57:23]
$5,000 to the requester uh to the June
[2:57:27]
3r sorry June 23rd meeting June 9th the
[2:57:32]
next council meeting is June 9th
[2:57:34]
okay sorry to the June 9th meeting of
[2:57:38]
regular meeting of council okay need a
[2:57:42]
second do we have a
[2:57:45]
Second. No. And I can council Clint
[2:57:49]
second. Okay. Either of you wish to
[2:57:51]
motivate further.
[2:57:53]
Well, I think you know it's a it's a
[2:57:56]
good idea because then we can consider
[2:57:58]
his motion on that date along with the
[2:58:02]
the uh information which staff probably
[2:58:06]
will have received by then. And so we
[2:58:09]
can then decide, you know, as a council,
[2:58:12]
as a an entity, as a team, what it is.
[2:58:16]
Um should we go with councelor Sanjie's
[2:58:19]
motion or should we go with a different
[2:58:21]
amount? Uh because of what staff has
[2:58:24]
found out. Thank you. Thank
[2:58:28]
you. So we have a motion. We have a
[2:58:30]
second. Any further
[2:58:32]
comments? Okay. We have a motion on the
[2:58:35]
floor to
[2:58:36]
postpone. Uh those in
[2:58:40]
favor? Those opposed?
[2:58:43]
It's 33. So the motion fails.
[2:58:47]
So now we only have one motion that's on
[2:58:49]
the floor right now, which is the
[2:58:52]
$5,000. And again, do we have a sec a
[2:58:57]
motion? Councelor Marshall?
[2:59:02]
Yep, I'll second it. I'll also just add
[2:59:03]
that I do appreciate that I did say
[2:59:05]
originally yes, let's postpone
[2:59:06]
consideration to staff, but uh I am
[2:59:09]
reconsidering that and I appreciate what
[2:59:11]
councelor Sanjie have said. We do have
[2:59:13]
$15,000 in there. We give 5,000
[2:59:15]
historically to the South Island
[2:59:17]
Pow-Wow. It doesn't make sense to me
[2:59:19]
that we would give less to this organiz
[2:59:21]
to to this pow-wow. So, um I will be
[2:59:24]
voting for the 5,000. Okay, no problem.
[2:59:26]
So, we have a motion on the floor with
[2:59:28]
that's council council Sanji $5,000 is
[2:59:31]
seconded. Any further comments? No
[2:59:33]
further comments. Those in
[2:59:35]
favor? Those
[2:59:38]
opposed? Motion carries 42 with
[2:59:40]
councelor Stock and councelor Mckento in
[2:59:48]
opposition. And now we move on to letter
[2:59:52]
dated May 20, 2025 from Miss Dolman.
[2:59:56]
Sorry to keep you waiting.
[3:00:02]
Um staff, anything to add?
[3:00:07]
Uh thank you to the chair. Just to thank
[3:00:09]
um Miss Dolman for the letter. We've
[3:00:11]
already received it into our intake for
[3:00:13]
the Tatlo engagement and
[3:00:17]
um yeah, just to thank her for the
[3:00:19]
comments. Thank you. Council, anything
[3:00:22]
to add?
[3:00:25]
It's just a received right now.
[3:00:28]
Um, so if we got no comments, um, I'm
[3:00:32]
look for a motion to receive. And if
[3:00:34]
there's anything different, you're going
[3:00:35]
to give direction. I'll need a motion
[3:00:37]
for that.
[3:00:40]
I'll make the staff recommendation that
[3:00:42]
council receive uh, Ms. uh, Dolman's
[3:00:46]
letter dated May 20th,
[3:00:48]
2025 regarding traffic calming and
[3:00:51]
further to direct staff. I don't know
[3:00:54]
what we want to direct staff to do. It
[3:00:57]
can be just to receive. Okay. Just
[3:00:59]
receive the letter then number one.
[3:01:04]
And before I look for a second, any
[3:01:06]
questions? Nope. Council of Mongi.
[3:01:10]
Uh, thank you, Chair, and through the
[3:01:12]
chair to staff, I just want to confirm
[3:01:14]
that uh, Mr. Martin, you did say that
[3:01:17]
Miss Dolman's letter had been received
[3:01:19]
and that it was going to be included
[3:01:21]
into the Tatlo road um traffic study for
[3:01:25]
for reference consideration, etc. Okay.
[3:01:28]
So, we really don't need to do much
[3:01:32]
more, I don't think. So, don't need to
[3:01:32]
run through. So, it's just now just to
[3:01:34]
receive receive it. Okay. So, we have a
[3:01:37]
second council Sanjief. Any further
[3:01:41]
comments? No further comments. Those in
[3:01:44]
favor?
[3:01:47]
unanimous. Now we move on to item 11,
[3:01:50]
which is for information and look for a
[3:01:51]
consent resolution from items A to F.
[3:01:55]
Don't give up, guys. I need a consent
[3:01:57]
resolution and I'm looking to my right.
[3:01:59]
Right, I'll do that. Uh recommendation
[3:02:02]
that the council the correspondence for
[3:02:04]
council's information. Sorry, where am
[3:02:06]
I? That's okay. Um,
[3:02:09]
is it okay just just to do the consent
[3:02:12]
resolution without stating all of items
[3:02:15]
A to F? Okay. So, it's consent. So, the
[3:02:18]
motion is just a consent resolution
[3:02:20]
items A to F. Recommendation that the
[3:02:23]
council correspondence for council's
[3:02:25]
information on May 26, 2025. No, no, no,
[3:02:28]
no. Where am I? No. Oh, sorry. The
[3:02:31]
council receive all correspondence from
[3:02:34]
A2F for information. Correct. Okay.
[3:02:38]
Seconded comes the
[3:02:43]
marshall. I told you guys if you don't
[3:02:45]
put your hands up quick enough, you're
[3:02:46]
going to be army volunteers.
[3:02:50]
Yeah, she's put her hand up
[3:02:53]
enough. Uh, any comments? No comments?
[3:02:56]
Those in favor? Unanimous. There is no
[3:02:59]
horizon report. I look for a motion for
[3:03:00]
adjournment. Councelor Stark. Yes. Thank
[3:03:03]
you. Seconded. Move adjourn. Oh,
[3:03:06]
seconded. Councelor Marshall. Um, excuse
[3:03:10]
me, Mayor. I voted against that.
[3:03:13]
Sorry. I voted against the unanimous uh
[3:03:16]
or the um motion
[3:03:20]
against the last
[3:03:25]
the consent resolution. Oh, I'm I'm
[3:03:27]
sorry. You voted against it. That's
[3:03:29]
correct. Oh, I'm my apologies. I didn't
[3:03:30]
I didn't notice. Did we even take a
[3:03:32]
vote? Yep. Oh, okay. So it is carried 51
[3:03:36]
with councelor mckintok in opposition
[3:03:39]
and council mcka thanks for pointing
[3:03:41]
that that out. So there is no rising
[3:03:43]
report. We got a motion ready for
[3:03:44]
adjournment. We got a seconder marshall.
[3:03:48]
Those in
[3:03:49]
favor unanimous. That one always seems
[3:03:52]
to get a unanimous. I don't know why
[3:03:56]
I wanted to watch milk