[0:04] start this meeting. For those in
attendance and online, please be aware
[0:07] that our meetings are recorded for
public viewing placed on a publicly
[0:10] available website.
And we will call the meeting to order.
[0:16] And we want to acknowledge that we are
on the unseated First Nations land
[0:20] territory.
>> And I move we approve the agenda.
[0:26] Second.
All those in favor?
[0:30] I
[0:34] » I adopt and I move we adopt the minutes
of the June 23rd regular meeting.
[0:41] » No.
>> No.
[0:43] » I
[0:47] » Yeah. Do you want the meeting?
>> No.
[0:50] » We need the whole meeting.
>> Okay. Indigo the hold meeting
[0:55] » held on Tuesday
June the 9th 2026
[1:01] that
[1:10] » okay delegation subitions
>> all those in favor
[1:16] » I
[1:20] delegation of petitions and Vincent and
Gabriel no Coner. Um
[1:25] 10 minutes.
>> Yeah, I practiced so
[1:29] [laughter]
Okay. Uh so I disagreed.
[1:33] » Yeah.
>> Okay. So, dear mayor and members of
[1:36] council, my name is Angie Vincent and
together with my business partner,
[1:39] Adrien O' Conor, we are the owners of
two locally operated businesses in Zels,
[1:44] Real Obsession Sport Fishing and the
Zvel Fuel Station. We are writing to
[1:49] respectfully request that council
consider supporting the regulated use of
[1:53] fully electric golf carts within the
village of Sabalis and where necessary
[1:57] advocate on behalf of our community to
the Ministry of Transportation and
[2:01] Transit to explore options that would
permit their use.
[2:04] Let's start with a bit of background for
you. In mid June of this year, we were
[2:09] advised by local authorities that
concerns had been raised regarding the
[2:13] operation of our golf carts within the
village. As a result, we discontinued
[2:17] their use and have returned to relying
on conventional vehicles for guest
[2:21] transportation, operational task, and
day-to-day errands. While we understand
[2:25] the importance of ensuring public safety
and regulatory compliance, this change
[2:29] has highlighted how valuable electric
golf carts have become, [clears throat]
[2:34] not only to our businesses, but also to
many members of the community. We
[2:38] respectfully ask council to consider the
broader benefits that a regulated golf
[2:42] cart program could provide. Why electric
golf carts would benefit develops and
[2:48] surrounding communities.
Reason number one, accessibility and
[2:52] inclusion. Our primary reason for using
golf carts has always been
[2:56] accessibility. Many of our guests are
seniors or individuals with mobility
[3:00] challenges who find it difficult to
climb into large pickup trucks or walk
[3:04] long distances. Every year we welcome
guests who rely on these carts for safe
[3:09] transportation, including a returning
guest who is legally blind that visits
[3:13] twice each summer and another who uses a
wheelchair. Golf carts allow us to
[3:18] transport these individuals safely,
comfortably, and with dignity while
[3:22] reducing physical strain on both our
guests and our staff. As one of the core
[3:27] protections in our Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms includes affirmative
[3:31] action, which permits for certain laws
or programs aimed at providing the
[3:35] situation of disadvantaged individuals
or groups.
[3:40] A community that supports accessible
transportation is a community that is
[3:43] welcoming to everyone. Reason number
two, improve safety and reduce traffic
[3:49] congestion. Golf carts are smaller,
slower, and considerably more
[3:53] maneuverable than full-size trucks. Our
businesses make numerous trips each day
[3:58] between real obsession main lodge, the
Zabalis lodge, the fuel station, and the
[4:03] docks. These routes frequently pass
through areas already occupied by
[4:07] conventional and commercial trucks such
as the one servicing Habitat's fish
[4:11] processing facility located next door to
fuel stations. This area can become
[4:15] quite congested with both businesses are
in full operation mode. By replacing
[4:20] short local trips with compact electric
golf carts, reduces congestion, requires
[4:24] less parking space, and allows
commercial traffic to move more
[4:27] efficiently and safely. Rather than
increasing safety concerns, we believe
[4:32] appropriately regulated golf cart use
can improve overall traffic flow in the
[4:37] village core.
Reason number three, environmental
[4:42] stewardship. Electric golf carts produce
zero emissions and operate quietly. Not
[4:48] only do they reduce unnecessary truck
use for short distance travel and
[4:51] contributes to lower fuel consumption
bills, but they also decrease greenhouse
[4:56] gas emissions and significantly reduces
vehicle noise on our quiet streets. A
[5:01] Canadian field study reported greenhouse
gas emissions approximately 75% lower
[5:06] than comparable gasoline golf carts,
which we could assume translates to
[5:09] gasoline powered vehicles in general,
such as ATVs, cars, trucks, etc. As many
[5:15] residents know, our workday often begins
before dawn and can end after dusk.
[5:20] Electric carts would reduce engine
noise, creating a quieter environment
[5:24] for neighboring homes. With an ATV or
side by side, generating noise level of
[5:29] 85 to 105 dB. An electric golf cart
generates a noise level of 50 to 60 dB.
[5:34] A difference of 10 dB is roughly
perceived as twice as loud to the human
[5:38] ear.
Reason number four, economic benefits.
[5:43] Electric golf carts are considerably
less expensive to purchase, reduces
[5:47] household fuel costs along with lower
maintenance costs than conventional
[5:51] vehicles. Allowing their use would
reduce operating costs for businesses
[5:55] while also creating an affordable
transportation option for residents,
[5:58] seniors, and lower income households who
only require short distance travel
[6:02] within the village.
Our final reason number five, tourism
[6:07] and community character. The bellis has
built its reputation as a welcoming,
[6:12] peaceful, and unique coastal community.
Our real obsession team assists guests
[6:17] with trips to the local store as well as
for a community restaurant that develops
[6:21] in. Our land-based guests, the
non-fishers, always loved town tours by
[6:26] a golf cart. Communities throughout
North America have successfully
[6:30] incorporated regulated golf cart
programs to improve mobility while
[6:33] enhancing their tourism appeal. The most
notable examples of Canadian
[6:37] municipalities permitting golf carts on
public roadways under regulated
[6:42] provincial pilot projects are Silven
Lake Alberta, Peely Island, Ontario, and
[6:47] the Village of Chase, BC, plus others.
Electric golf carts complement the
[6:52] relaxed atmosphere of our village,
making it easier for residents and
[6:55] visitors to travel and explore our local
businesses while encouraging greater
[7:00] interaction among residents and guests
alike. Communities that encourage golf
[7:04] cur transportation often develop a
distinctive identity.
[7:09] Our request, we respectfully ask council
to one, consider supporting the
[7:15] regulated use of electric golf carts
within the village of Zalos. Two,
[7:20] explore the development of a local bylaw
or pilot program establishing safe
[7:25] operating standards. And three, advocate
to the Ministry of Transportation and
[7:31] Transit for regulatory options that
would allow communities such as the
[7:34] Balos to implement golf cart use legally
and safely. We are not requesting
[7:40] unrestricted access to public roadways.
Rather, we are asking that council
[7:44] explore practical, responsible solutions
that balance public safety with
[7:48] accessibility, environmental
sustainability, and the needs of our
[7:52] community. We would welcome the
opportunity to meet with council to
[7:55] discuss this matter further and work
collaboratively towards a solution that
[7:59] benefits all residents. Thank you for
your time and consideration and service
[8:04] to the community.
>> Thank you.
[8:15] » Questions?
[8:21] » Yes.
Thanks for your presentation. Very well
[8:26] done. Um,
I have no problem agreeing with most of
[8:33] it. The problem I have is for us to be
able to bring the bylaw in so we can use
[8:40] them is going to take our staff a lot of
time. Yes, I could read this off for
[8:47] just a sec.
Okay, we got permit procedures,
[8:52] inspection requirements, route mapping,
signage installation, enforcement
[8:56] protocols, and ongoing administration
costs.
[9:02] Plus, we can't do anything until we get
a hold of the department in Victoria.
[9:10] And I don't think we'll be able to do
that till next spring. I don't think
[9:15] there's a
instant fix here.
[9:19] » Oh, I I didn't expect that by any means.
We were able to get one of the golf
[9:24] carts registered uh for the road. But is
there
[9:29] any would would it the regulate like
keeping up on the regulations? Would it
[9:32] be the responsibility of the village or
would it be the responsibility of the
[9:38] local authorities?
>> If I may, I'm going to dump this off to
[9:42] our
because
[9:46] » about that one.
>> He knows how the requirements come and
[9:51] what to expect.
>> Yes. Okay.
[9:54] » Yes. It would uh it would have to go
through a bylaw. Um we would have to
[9:58] dedicate roadways and we would be the
ones administering the permits, you
[10:03] know, upon um proof of, you know,
meeting all of the the regulations. And
[10:09] do you think like the permit costs would
not be beneficial for making money for
[10:13] the village for with having people even
coming to
[10:19] um they'd have to have a permit right to
operate within the zone. Do you think
[10:23] that would be something that could
possibly make the village money?
[10:28] » I I would say it depends on
>> depends on the permit amount. Yeah.
[10:31] » Yeah. And and obviously council
direction like we've only just touched
[10:34] the service. I totally and like I was
looking up a lot of these pilot
[10:39] projects. They have it just for summer
months like when tourism are high and
[10:43] then it ends. Um and there's I don't
know there's green initiatives maybe you
[10:48] know just maybe reaching out there might
be some type of money for greener
[10:54] initiative taking on for the village
itself that could be funded in that
[10:59] direction.
I uh I think there's like a lot of merit
[11:03] in this and I think it's an excellent
concept for a community of this size
[11:09] without hardly any roadway at all. And
uh I mean look at Hutton shaking his
[11:14] head. We got a we got an electric golf
cart for public works now, right? And
[11:19] that was the concept behind it like
exactly what you're talking about. So,
[11:24] so, uh, I think we should do everything
we could we can to to push this forward
[11:29] and and and get it to be real, you know,
just like we did in the past with uh
[11:36] with our ATBs, right?
>> At that point, we did think there was
[11:41] going to be a trail coming through here,
which is different, but but uh
[11:45] everything about it is good. So,
[11:51] » Mayor Coburn.
[11:56] » Hello. Hello.
>> Hey, give me a sec here to connect. Um,
[12:02] uh, thank you for coming in. Thank you
for presenting to us and, um, giving a
[12:07] little bit more clarity on it and, um,
especially that accessibility piece is
[12:11] is really important, I feel. Um I also
want to commend you for getting the one
[12:17] that you have uh the golf cart that you
have insured and taking that those steps
[12:23] and initiating that. So thank you for
doing that. Um really appreciate that
[12:27] that is a first step that you could do.
Um I agree with um it not being a you
[12:33] know immediate thing or anything like
that. And I also think that we need to
[12:36] direct staff to uh connect with the RCMP
because it is a a public road. It will
[12:43] be under the motor vehicle act. So uh
that's just my two cents. I made some
[12:48] comments earlier. So I'll stop there.
>> Yes. My neighbor.
[12:54] » Yes. Go ahead. Councelor De.
>> Yes. Mr. Rod,
[13:01] I live right next to you. I see those
golf carts back forth, back forth.
[13:07] They're generally not a problem.
Sometimes they are a problem when the
[13:14] kids load five onto a cart because
that's not safe.
[13:19] That's not a big deal. I can see after
this issue here,
[13:25] there's only two people in a cart.
Everybody's being nice and safe. That's
[13:29] great. I have no issues with that. I
think it's a good idea.
[13:35] All I can say is it's going to take time
for us to do anything that works for
[13:40] you.
>> Yeah.
[13:42] » And uh they're quieter, they're better
for the environment, and uh
[13:49] 504 Reno Street has no issues.
>> There shouldn't be 51. No, they're show
[13:55] I was just thinking when the heck was
there five adults.
[13:57] » Well, hey, you were a kid once, too,
weren't you?
[14:00] » No, but you're right. You're 100%.
>> They're not meant to be used unless
[14:04] anybody's working and it's they're not
for staff to use outside of work
[14:09] purposes. Yeah, like you said,
everybody.
[14:11] » Yeah. Thanks.
>> No, I just had to throw that in so I
[14:14] didn't sound too sick.
[laughter]
[14:19] » Thank you. Are we getting
[14:24] » the other behind
the pitch?
[14:29] » We do have the other two in works of
getting registered, but they're more
[14:33] difficult because they were bought from
a private golf course. So, they were
[14:36] never previously registered.
>> So, there's a bunch of loopholes and
[14:40] paperwork we're working on that we won't
get them. I doubt we'll get them up in
[14:45] the summer. Uh but we're trying.
Thank you.
[14:58] » Do we have to move her seat of that?
>> No.
[15:04] » No.
>> No. Okay. Moving on.
[15:06] » Yes. Moving on.
>> Okay.
[15:10] Dallas Volunteer Fire Department monthly
operations report.
[15:13] » No.
[15:16] Oh,
[15:20] » this is right. The send placement
project
[15:46] Do we receive the report or no? Yeah,
>> just for information only for
[15:52] discussion.
>> For discussion. Yes,
[15:53] » discussions. Okay. So there is uh
recommendations on page 7 of 29.
[16:13] So I'll go ahead and move that
addressment
[16:18] of a waterfront center concept based on
natural rock mon design oriented towards
[16:26] the inlet and to investigate a site
layout that retain that retains the
[16:30] existing juniper bush where practical
well ensuring accessibility and
[16:36] ceremonial functionality. and further
that staff uh explore opportunities to
[16:41] incorporate local and indigenous
commemorative elements to the final
[16:46] decision and that staff seek external
funding to support the existing budget
[16:51] to ensure higher funding. I second my
motion.
[17:00] » Comments.
>> Any discussion?
[17:02] » Comments. Any discussion?
>> No.
[17:05] » Discuss the question.
>> Okay, that's good.
[17:08] » All those in favor?
>> I
[17:15] the battle design survey.
Any accept that or is that just for
[17:21] information? No, it's uh again there's
recommendations this time on page 13 to
[17:27] 29. What staff is looking for is uh is
after council review of the conceptual
[17:34] drawings and the uh the plan outlines
are any recommended changes um any
[17:42] recommended additions or subtractions.
um and ultimately uh approval to move to
[17:49] the next step um which would uh
um to bring forward a work plan and and
[17:57] a budget for council to consider
>> something like recommendation.
[18:05] » I would you go back up.
>> Oh Julie, sorry if I had a coin. Go
[18:12] ahead.
you see.
[18:15] » I was just wondering
if because the next step is a work plan
[18:21] and budget
if there would be any opportunity to do
[18:26] any public consultation on this. Um the
reason is is just the parking those
[18:32] kinds of things. I'd like to know how
much parking people think they need.
[18:36] Right now in one of the concept designs
we've got 13.
[18:41] Oh, I can't see it. Where is it?
>> 13. And the other one we've got 10. And
[18:47] I just don't Yeah, I made my comments on
the uh email that I sent out that should
[18:54] have been distributed. Uh I I really
think we should go to public so we
[18:58] understand what they want before I mean
if they want to park there that kind of
[19:03] defeats some of the purpose of a park or
maybe we'd have to move the park over
[19:06] towards uh 146 McQuina. I'm just
wondering how Yeah. to get some feedback
[19:12] on this.
[19:20] » Uh I'd like to move that uh staff be
directed to bring Florida work plan and
[19:24] cost associated with the proposed
upgrades as outlined in the attached
[19:28] drawings to council including budget
sources and work that can be for be
[19:32] performed in house.
Second
[19:38] » discussion.
[19:43] » Personally, I like design number one,
[19:52] but I'm also very happy we've got to
this point. This is awesome.
[20:06] any preference for you?
>> Uh just to move forward a bit.
[20:11] » Yeah. Yeah. I don't think either one
[clears throat]
[20:14] I don't think uh it'll make a big
difference.
[20:17] We can get it organized and working
properly for the community. That's where
[20:21] I'm at.
>> I agree.
[20:25] » All those in favor? Hi. Hi.
>> Can I Oh, sorry.
[20:31] I still had comments. That's okay.
>> Did I hear a comment or
[20:37] » We're going to need to give staff there.
We're going to need to give staff an
[20:41] answer whether it's one, two, or
something different so that they can
[20:44] come forward with a work plan at a bud.
[20:49] And also that was a question through to
staff is how can we reach out to the
[20:53] public to get some public uh ask or uh
public information on this
[21:00] » through the uh the chair to Mayor
Cobborn um first with council direction
[21:06] um to do so. Um, and then we could do
surveys much like we did with the
[21:10] Senate.
[21:19] » I would love to do that just so uh I'm
wondering if there is like uh need for
[21:26] children's play area like how people how
people envision it. It it'll be a public
[21:31] park. It'll be their park. So
[21:36] I can make a subsequent afterwards
[21:41] » you've got a question on the table. So
[21:46] » that's the the motion question.
>> Oh
[21:49] » yeah. Gman.
>> All in favor?
[21:54] » I
[21:58] opposed.
>> Opposed.
[22:04] » So, I'll make that motion that we go to
a public survey and discuss options for
[22:09] option one. I forget which page that is.
uh and just get some public feedback on
[22:15] uh preferences of uh children's
activities, seating places, things like
[22:21] that.
[22:25] » You second.
>> Yeah. Seconds
[22:32] in favor.
>> I'll just Sorry.
[22:35] » Uh [clears throat] I I agree with what
Mayor Coin said about uh similar survey
[22:40] to the Senate Taft. I think that was
appropriate. Thank you.
[22:48] » All those in favor?
>> I
[23:03] just speak to CAO for a sec.
Do you want some instruction on
[23:11] sending out information as per the
Senate effect for this parking or do we
[23:17] give you some direction at a later date?
Um through the the chair um is council's
[23:24] prerogative to direct staff how how you
wish. Um we can we can work with the
[23:30] information that uh that we have or if
there's further information you would
[23:34] like to provide. Um it would be uh it
would be beneficial to uh to to hone in
[23:40] that direction so that uh um we can
define.
[23:46] Okay. Thanks.
I move that we direct council
[23:52] at a later meeting
on how to advertise this and get public
[23:58] input before we go too far.
>> I'll second that. Yeah. Okay.
[24:06] » Discussion.
[24:10] All in favor? I
>> go ahead, Mayor Coburn.
[24:16] » Yeah. And I almost think that we could
do that via email if there was a want or
[24:24] a need to move forward on this. Um, you
know, some of the questions I was
[24:30] wondering is about uh need for covered
area. Does there need to be one in both
[24:34] of those areas between
146 and uh Rosa Island or or just one?
[24:42] Is there a need for any kind of small
play equipment? Uh just some super basic
[24:47] questions. We're going to do it anyways,
but if there's any specifics that people
[24:51] were thinking they would like.
So, I mean I I will I will agree with
[24:56] the motion, but it's almost something we
could do over email.
[25:00] Okay.
>> Thank you. All those in favor
[25:14] of the question period. Was that where
we're at?
[25:16] » Um did I miss something?
>> It depends if you want to further
[25:20] discuss the uh um request for the
community golf ball cart use. Um because
[25:25] we've got real objections letter.
>> Yeah.
[25:28] » And then the staff reports. Um so uh um
up to council whether you want to have
[25:34] that discussion.
It's next on the agenda.
[25:39] » I feel we
discuss what we need to
[25:42] » Yeah. Same here.
>> Okay. So do we receive the
[25:46] correspondence?
>> No need to. Okay.
[25:51] » So then it goes to public health
question period.
[25:56] » Oh yeah. I I also live opposite um a lot
of where the um activity is at the start
[26:02] house and between real obsession. I am
very very happy that there's
[26:09] um electric golf carts being used
because when it's vehicles it's like you
[26:14] know early in the morning I don't hear
anything you know if the golf carts are
[26:19] being used but if trucks are being used
you know it's it's it's noisy and
[26:24] disruptive but the golf carts are just a
blessing as far as I'm concerned and
[26:30] looking in the future when I'm getting
older maybe I'd like to go around town
[26:33] on the
It might have a little bit easier,
[26:39] » especially if you open the golf course,
right?
[26:53] » Oh, it's down now.
>> Sorry, my time has passed. I'm not
[26:57] interrupting public question period.
That was from the previous one. It's
[27:00] good.
>> My apologies.
[27:04] Anyone else for
[27:10] Walton? I live in this town and I'm I'm
kind of uh on board with the idea of
[27:15] using the golf carts. They can move
people around, not take up a lot of
[27:18] space or
parking becomes an issue at times and
[27:23] something small is kind of a blessing.
Uh, and when it comes to the center,
[27:28] they talk about having other things
around it like, you know, a cover or
[27:32] whatever.
I've been across Canada and I've seen
[27:37] lots of sun caps, but I've never seen
anything to take away the importance and
[27:42] the remembrance of having a senap. It
stands alone in my brain. Thank you.
[27:56] That's it.
>> You can kick them out. No,
[27:59] » we have a regular
call.
[28:06] » I move we adjourn now.
[28:12] » Do you need me to come back to a
different meeting?