Special Council Meeting/Committee of the Whole Highlights for Feb. 8/10

PROPOSAL STILL NEEDS "VETTING"

Despite a Special Council meeting to expedite the matter and best efforts of Council and the municipality, we were unable to move Dr. Sue McTaggart's application for a new vet clinic forward to public hearing. There are still some outstanding issues about which Dr. McTaggart was concerned so a motion was reluctantly made to refer the matter back to staff for further review. The trouble seems to be with the wording and intention of the draft bylaw, based on a number of questions posed by Dr. McTaggart and some Councilors. As you know, Dr. McTaggart applied to build and open a new vet clinic/hospital at 1700 McTavish. It has been a rather long haul for her and her supporters but only because there were issues with the property that necessitated greater review and oversight by her and by the municipality.

I have supported Dr. McTaggart's request from the beginning as have Mayor and Council. We have even created a new zone on her behalf that will enable her to realize her dream of a new vet clinic to better serve her patients and North Saanich. With the assistance of municipal staff, I hope to see Dr. McTaggart back before Council soon with all the issues addressed and resolved so that we can move this application to a public hearing. Stay tuned...


AND THEN THERE WERE SEVEN

Donald Luxton, well-known heritage consultant, presented to Council the latest Statements of Significance for North Saanich. Working closely with our Heritage Commission, Mr. Luxton summarized the latest seven sites identified as significant heritage or historical sites in the District. They are:

• Holt Property, 453 Wain Road

• Hodgson Residence, 11291 Ravenscroft Place

• Blaauw Pier, Madrona Drive

• Chalet Beach, Chalet Road

• Cy Hampson Park, Lochside Drive

• Gulf View Park, 8600 Block, East Saanich Road

• Patricia Bay Park, West Saanich Road

What makes North Saanich unique, as pointed out by Councilor Anny Scoones, is that these sites are not only buildings and structures but also places and locations. Mr. Luxton agreed that North Saanich has shown leadership in its heritage efforts by providing a "mix" of significant heritage/historical work leading to the identification of these areas. Two of the seven newest additions are private properties, applauded by Mr. Luxton for their willingness to be involved and appreciated by Mayor and Council for taking a step to safeguard the past for enjoyment in the future. I took the time, as the new Heritage Commission Liaison, to recognize the dedication of Heritage Commission members and staff administrative support provided by Lisa Coburn and planning support provided by Jessica Lam. I know that heritage in North Saanich is truly a shared endeavour between the public and the municipality.

Don't forget Heritage Week, February 15-21. Our Commission will have a display in the lobby of the Municipal Hall so please come and browse the past and if you are interested in volunteering on the Commission, please contact Chair Susan Banas for more information at 250-656-0781.


SECONDARY SUITES GET PRIMARY ATTENTION

In a report by consultant and planner Jon Munn, secondary suites continue to move ahead, albeit slowly, with a revised draft bylaw presented last night. I support this initiative but I am also aware that to implement it correctly requires careful planning, making sure that all the i's are dotted and all the t's are crossed. Mr. Munn has been hired to help the District plan for and implement a secondary suite pilot project and his help to date has been invaluable in my opinion. Council had a lengthy discussion about the report but finally adopted four basic requirements that Mr. Munn recommends be included in the bylaw, as follows:

• The lot size minimum remains at 800 m2 for properties participating in the pilot.

• No bed and breakfast accommodation will be permitted with a secondary suite.

• Primary household in a single family dwelling can occasionally have a boarder/lodger/roomer.

• No home occupations are permitted in either the single family dwelling and/or the secondary suite.

I also strongly support Mr. Munn's recommendation that evaluation methods and criteria for evaluating the project must be clearly defined and communicated to the public. I hope that the secondary suite project will be successful and that the community supports not only the pilot but the concept of implementing suites across the municipality after the pilot ends and is evaluated (provided it is a success).

One thing is certain -- I support a closely monitored and regulated pilot project that addresses community concerns as they arise and at the same time, makes secondary suites a viable option for those homeowners who apply to build or renovate for one. I also recognize that there are hundreds of suites that already exist in North Saanich and was told that nearly 45% of them are located in the Southeast Quadrant area (includes Dean Park). That was part of the reason we chose the SEQ as the pilot area, given that there are a number of them already there.

Finally, it was reassuring for me to learn last night that secondary suites in North Saanich will not in any way compromise the Regional Growth Strategy or our Official Community Plan. Tracy Corbett, CRD Senior Manager and Planner, states in part and in writing to the municipality, dated January 26, 2010, that "secondary suites within the municipality would be limited to locations that are serviced by sewer... that secondary suites are limited to residential areas located within the North Saanich Servicing Area (NSSA), as the District's Regional Context Statement does not provide for the extension of services beyond the NSSA... As such, no change to the current regional context statement would be required to implement the District's secondary suite proposal as outlined on the map entitled "Potential Secondary Suite Properties in the South East Quadrant of North Saanich."

For details about the proposal and the map, please visit the District's website below on the right.


TALE OF A TRAIL

In a report from Brian Robinson, Superintendent of Public Works for North Saanich, he recommends that the proposal for a trail from Texada Terrace to Kelset School and the Panorama Centre should only be considered as part of a future development in accordance with the Official Community Plan. As you may remember, there was a request for a trail so that children and others can safely navigate between the Texada subdivision and the school and Panorama. Unfortunately, people are cutting through the area now and going through private property. The property owner is naturally concerned about safety, liability and trespassing. At this time, it appears that providing public trail access is not possible and I supported Mr. Robinson's recommendation. Working with the community, private property owners, Kelset School and Panorama will produce future results but only after all partners agree that trail access is both desirable, needed and not impossible to build and maintain.

Firehall Referendum Gets Spring Vote

The District of North Saanich is gearing up for the Fire Hall referendum, with voting at the Municipal Hall scheduled for Saturday, March 20th. Advance polls have been scheduled for March 10th and 17th. Residents who may be leaving the area during this period will also have an opportunity to vote via a mail-in ballot.

This is a significant issue for North Saanich residents who value efficient, well equipped and well trained volunteer providers of Firefighting and Emergency Services. I support the improvement plan for the District's Firehall and I hope that the majority of North Saanich residents will too. Our volunteers are second to none in the region and what we as a municipality have budgeted for these Firehall improvements is reasonable compared with other jurisdictions. We are fortunate to have what I feel is an affordable but professional service that in the 2007 Ipsos-Reid poll of North Saanich residents, received the highest approval rating at about 82%.

Notices about voting will be appearing over the next 2-3 weeks in the Peninsula News Review so please take the time to gather information about this important initiative and please cast your vote. For more details, please visit the District of North Saanich website (link on the right-hand side of this blog) or call the Municipal Hall at 250-656-0781.

School Property Cannot Be Sold

SANSBURY SCHOOL PROPERTY CAN'T BE SOLD

I learned this week that local vacant school properties such as Sansbury and McTavish cannot be sold by the Saanich School District after all. As you know, the closure and sale of publicly owned school properties has been contentious throughout the Capital Region and elsewhere in the province.

My understanding is that School District #63 was recently notified by the Province that former school properties must remain public assets. In the case of the Sansbury School property, this comes as a bit of a surprise. You will recall that the municipality struck the Sansbury School Task Force a few years ago to address the community's concerns about the future of the property and its desire to preserve part of it as community green space. The Task Force was a partnership of community, School District and District of North Saanich representatives that worked hard over many months to develop a plan that would see a mix of housing and parkland on the nearly 5-acre site. The municipality and School District combined pooled their resources, with the School District donating some land for a park and the municipality expanding the park with proceeds from the sale of a municipally owned residential lot on Cresswell.

The Task Force was a success and an agreement was reached with the School District, pending confirmation by the Province that the property could be sold. Now it appears that the property will remain as it is, at least for the foreseeable future. School District #63 deserves a lot of credit for having made a commitment to the local community and to the District of North Saanich to work towards a mutually acceptable agreement about Sansbury's future. While the plan is now shelved because of the Provincial government's decision, I would like to thank everyone who was involved in the Task Force for working together in good faith on behalf of North Saanich and Southeast Quadrant residents and their families.

February 1, 2010 Council Highlights

Victoria Airport Authority (VAA) Presents 2009 Report to Nominators
North Saanich VAA Board member Chad Rintoul and CEO Richard Paquette were on hand to report out on activities for 2009. But first they recognized the valuable contribution outgoing VAA Board member and North Saanich nominee Peter Dolezal has made during his tenure on the Board. Mayor and Council agreed that Mr. Dolezal was a leader on the Board and deserved special recognition for his service to the community and to the VAA. Peter Dolezal's replacement, North Saanich resident Jim Crowley, was then introduced with the announcement that his appointment had just been confirmed by the VAA.

Mr. Rintoul and Mr. Paquette then provided an overview of airport activities related to:

• Passenger traffic (down by 1.1% compared to same period in 2008)
• Improved air service (twice daily service to San Francisco and new direct service to Hawaii)
• Ground transportation (new McTavish Road interchange project of $24M)
• Parking and roadway improvements
• Runway extension project (phased approach suggested)
• Environmental measures (Reay Creek clean-up, rainwater monitoring, etc.)
• Terminal building (opening of Eagles Landing observation lounge)
• Land development on Mills Road
• Community relations (VAA active in making donations and providing sponsorships through the United Way, opening a new North Saanich bike lane at north side of airport, etc.)
  

There will be no increases to the $10 Airport Improvement Fee, one of the lowest in Canada. No increase either in Aviation fees for 2010 and terminal building space rental rates remain unchanged from 2004.

I am pleased that the VAA and District of North Saanich have forged a strong working partnership during the last 13 years (since the Authority was created in 1997). Richard Paquette, Terry Stewart (Manager of Operations) and the VAA Board all work together to ensure that opportunities and challenges are addressed through public involvement and community consultation. North Saanich is also represented on the VAA's Noise and Environment Committee and there are other activities throughout the year in which local government is invited by the VAA to participate. All in all, I believe that the airport continues to be concerned about its impact on local communities and works hard to mitigate public concerns and resolve problems.

For more information about this report or the airport, please visit their website at www.victoriaairport.com


McTavish Road Interchange Posing Some Challenges for Residents
The District received letters of concern from local residents impacted by road closure and construction from the McTavish Rd. interchange project. Traffic concerns for residents on Lochside Dr. and concern about continued bus service on Canora near Summergate Village dominated the list. Council agreed to refer these concerns to the Ministry of Transportation and to the Community Liaison Task Force. We also monitor ongoing concerns and issues related to construction and traffic management through our Community Liaison Task Force, a group that I feel was a good decision to establish. For more information about construction and/or the Task Force, please contact community members Bob Williamson and Heather Gartshore or Councilor Liaison Peter Chandler. You can also visit the Ministry website, located on the right hand side of this blog.


Not All Southeast Quadrant Residents Favour Possible Road Closures if Vantreight Development Proceeds As Is
One SEQ resident expressed unhappiness with the District's consideration of possible road closure of Aldous Terrace if the Vantreight development proposal goes ahead as planned. The resident suggests that such a move by North Saanich would be "mean spirited" and "most inconvenient" for residents who drive south to Saanichton on a daily basis. While I appreciate the letter writer's viewpoint, to my knowledge, there would be majority support among concerned SEQ residents for possible closure of Aldous if it was deemed necessary as a traffic management and control measure. We have already had a delegation of SEQ residents attend Council on at least two occasions in the last year with concerns about speeding, safety and traffic volume on Amity and side streets. Adding more traffic to already busy streets will surely impact neighbourhoods and heighten existing concerns. Stay tuned...


District Services Receive High Level of Customer Satisfaction
Last year, staff created a customer satisfaction survey to learn how satisfied the public was with municipal services and reception and where improvements in service could be made. Council learned this week in a report from Charlene Nash, Executive Secretary/HR Assistant that to date, on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the highest rating), responses were consistently rated above 7, with 12 out of 20 responses at 10. In other words, staff are providing strong levels of service, with public feedback suggesting that District staff is performing well above average in all areas. Congratulations to staff for making such efforts and thanks to members of the public for participating in the survey.


Vet Clinic Still Clearing Hurdles
I voted with Council to support amendments to the draft bylaw permitting a new zone for a veterinary clinic planned for McTavish Road by well known local vet Dr. Sue McTaggart. Staff has been working with the applicant and with the District solicitor to address issues related to bylaw wording and definitions. Creating a new bylaw can be detailed and time-consuming but staff and Council are hopeful that outstanding concerns will be addressed at our next meeting on February 8, 2009, allowing the process to move to public hearing. I supported Council's intention of making the bylaw workable so that everyone is protected, including the applicant and her neighbours. It is clear to me that Dr. McTaggart provides a valuable community service to North Saanich and to the Peninsula generally and I recognize that she has great community support.


Council Votes to Help Local Soccer Association
I voted with Council to support an unanimous motion to help the Peninsula Soccer Association with the cost (about $2,000) of a development permit to build a new clubhouse. I understand that In 2006, the Association applied to build a clubhouse, paid the development permit fee but never proceeded with the project. Now, with new plans to build a clubhouse, they faced the prospect of paying another $2,000 fee to the municipality, consistent with the permitting process that dictates that fees previously paid for plans that lapse are not refundable. But Council voted unanimously to give special consideration to provide to the Association a Grant-in-Aid in the amount of the fee to demonstrate our support for local soccer.

CRD Reinforces Need for Regional Planning

A letter to the editor which I sent to the Times Colonist appears in the paper today, Tuesday, Feb. 2. Here it is in its entirety:

The CRD’s recent decision on the Vantreight density housing development proposed for a corner of their farm in Central Saanich deserves kudos. CRD planning staff understands the significance of regional planning through the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS).

Upholding the Strategy helps to save us from ourselves by curbing the voracious appetite of relentless development. Further, related to future food security and production, it reminds us that if development occurs unchecked, in just a few decades, we will face the harsh reality that “we can’t eat money.” Our communities care about local food production and food security, hence the need to protect agricultural and rural lands from “creeping sprawl.”

I believe that the RGS is not about interference in another municipality’s business, as some would suggest. It is about maintaining rural integrity for areas designated outside the urban containment boundary. The CRD, through the RGS, encourages regional cooperation and a vision of sustainability of shared resources such as water, forests, marine habitats, rural/agricultural lands, energy and waste management.

The RGS is an alliance of municipalities and unique communities planning “together” for the future of this region. If we circumvent the RGS and leave planning up to each individual municipality, then we are always just one election away from putting our rural and agricultural lands at risk.

Cairine Green
Councilor
District of North Saanich

CRD Committee Votes to Uphold Regional Growth Strategy

I attended, along with residents from North Saanich, Central Saanich and others from around the region, a meeting on January 27, 2010 of the CRD's Planning, Transportation and Protective Services Committee, of which most Mayors and selected Councilors are Directors. This is the standing committee that deals with regional planning issues, including those related to the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS), the strategy upon which municipalities base their Official Community Plans and Regional Context Statements, ensuring that they are all consistent.

This meeting was significant because we wanted to hear the Committee's decision on an agenda item referred by the Municipality of Central Saanich to the CRD for review -- the contentious and high profile Vantreight 89-unit hilltop housing development proposed for the Northwest corner of the Vantreight farm property.

As you may know, this development proposal has been in the news on and off for the past 2+ years, raising community concerns in both North and Central Saanich. My understanding is that it is also a hot topic at Central Saanich Council meetings and among community groups, because of concern about impacts of high density housing on farmland and implications for the newly minted Central Saanich Official Community Plan.

I also understand that while this development proposal was initially questioned by Central Saanich planning staff and the municipality's Advisory Planning Commission, the proposal continued to move ahead, survived an intervening municipal election in November 2008 and picked up new Council support from new Council members in 2009. Nevertheless, Central Saanich Council recently voted to send the proposal to the CRD for their review, perhaps because they suspected it might not meet the test for compliance with the RGS. If not, it would then require an amendment approved by the CRD Board, a process that can be lengthy, protracted and with uncertain outcomes. Just ask Highlands Mayor Jane Mendum.

The CRD staff report was clear -- the proposal as it stands, does not comply with the RGS and will require CRD Board approval for a change to the Regional Context Statement in Central Saanich's OCP. In my view, CRD staff deserve kudos for calling it like they saw it because it was obvious that the majority of speakers and Committee Directors saw it exactly the same way, based on their remarks and on the votes at the table.

Only one Committee Alternate Director voted against the CRD staff recommendation and that was Councilor John Garrison of Central Saanich. Speakers strongly in favour of the proposal were Central Saanich Councilor and realtor Ron Kubek, Ryan Vantreight and developer Merv Mawson (remember Cresswell Subdivision?). Other speakers against the development proposal included Vicky Husband of the Regional Planning Society, Nathalie and David Chambers of Madrona Farm and Farmers of the Future Society, Gordon O'Connor of the Dogwood Initiative, Ian Cameron of Residents and Ratepayers of Central Saanich Society, Ed Johnson of Farmlands Trust, Ethan Krindle of the U-Vic Environmental Law Centre and residents of Central and North Saanich.

Chaired by Mayor Graham Hill of View Royal, the Committee then debated the issue at length, with all but two members (Mayor Janet Evans of Sooke and Councilor Garrison) citing the need to uphold the RGS and protect the integrity of farmland. Mayor Alice Finall of North Saanich spoke articulately about a variety of reasons why she supported the CRD staff recommendation, specifically referring to the need to adhere to the RGS and to preserve precious farmland on the Saanich Peninsula.

In my opinion, the final vote was a victory not only for the RGS but also for a community grass roots' movement inspired in part by North Saanich resident Mrs. Hildegard Horie. Mrs. Horie has been "rallying the troops" for as long as the Vantreight proposal has been in the hopper. Mrs. Horie, with the support of her family and neighbours, has proved that effective political activism can start in someone's kitchen over a cup of coffee and grow to a community-wide movement with regional support.

It is clear to me that many Peninsula residents are committed to making a difference and shining a light on a development proposal that they believe will have a negative impact on their neighbourhoods, their communities and the region as a whole. Stay tuned...

Dunsmuir Lodge Update

This week's news release about the future of Dunsmuir Lodge was big news for all of us. I have since received calls and e-mails from some North Saanich residents asking what happens to Dunsmuir now, given that the Pauquachin First Nation is negotiating an agreement with U-Vic to possibly purchase the property. I have no further details about Pauquachin's agreement with the university, beyond what was reported in the press, but I am hopeful that this announcement signals a new and exciting future for the facility.

U-Vic has been consistently "mum" on its plans for the property since it announced the Dunsmuir Lodge closure over a year ago, despite Mayor Finall's repeated efforts in the last year to obtain further information about Dunsmuir's future. But I believe that this latest chapter in the Dunsmuir story could be positive for Peninsula Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities and for the Pauquachin First Nation specifically. Many of us on North Saanich Council and many North Saanich and Peninsula residents are hopeful too because Pauquachin Chief and Council indicate at this stage that they want to protect the property and habitat, which seems consistent with wider community goals to preserve its sensitive eco-systems.

This week's announcement also provides the District of North Saanich with another opportunity to work with its First Nations neighbours. After all, Mayor and Council are already involved in developing a Relationship Agreement with Pauquachin, similar to the Agreement we forged with Tseycum First Nation between 2005 and 2008. In my opinion, the District has a good relationship with our Pauquachin neighbours and recognizes, along with the general public, that the Dunsmuir lands and Mt. Newton have great historical, cultural and spiritual significance for Peninsula First Nations as a "sacred place," with a rich and powerful heritage. Stay tuned...

In All Kinds of Weather

Mayor Finall acknowledged publicly this week the tremendous effort made by North Saanich Public Works staff to clean up after the major wind storm that slammed our area on the weekend. Major wind fall plagued a number of locations throughout the municipality but staff were on the job bright and early making short work of tall trees that were either down or damaged. With wind gusting to speeds of 120kms off places such as Saturna Island, North Saanich also endured the storm's wrath, making the job of protecting and restoring areas of the municipality a challenge for our outside staff. Nevertheless, they responded and got the job done, much to the gratitude of Mayor, Council and many residents. A Big Thank You To North Saanich Public Works Staff!!

Home Is Where the Heritage Is

Between February 15 and 21, 2009, North Saanich is celebrating Heritage Week, with a display planned in the Municipal Hall front lobby, 1620 Mills Road. North Saanich's significant heritage sites and information, featured in a new pamphlet produced by our Heritage Advisory Commission in cooperation with technology staff, will be available, as will a series of displays showcasing photographs and other memorabilia that tell stories and share history about what makes heritage so important to all of us living in North Saanich and on the Peninsula. The Heritage Advisory Commission, now chaired by Susan Banas, has worked tirelessly for the past few years to bring forward the histories of peoples in North Saanich who helped to build a rich and colourful tapestry of activities, events and communities, beginning with First Nations.

Don't forget to help us celebrate Heritage Week by dropping into the Municipal Hall between February 15 and 21, 2010 during business hours to see the display and learn more about our local heritage and history. For additional information, please visit the District website (below on right hand side).


DON'T MISS THE BUS TO THE PENINSULA

I attended with Mayor Finall and other local government politicians and staff a transportation workshop held January 14, 2010 hosted by BC Transit. I have a special interest in local transportation issues and in BC Transit, given their failure to provide last year enhanced bus service up into Dean Park along Barrett Drive. You may recall that they announced the new service, publicized it but never implemented it. So I was attending this week's workshop to learn more about why the service seems stalled and where the Peninsula now fits into BC Transit's timetable for improvements and planning, given their recent priorities for the West Shore (Langford area).

Here are workshop highlights:

• Victoria represents roughly half of BC Transit's business and is the only region in which the company owns and operates buses.
• Victoria demonstrates strong ridership and leads any community of its size, with about 550 different traffic zones.
• Future transportation trends related to BC Transit's planning include managing energy risks, urbanization, aging demographic, connectivity between and among people, energy, economy, technology, climate change and regionalization.
• From 15% now to 25% in the future is the anticipated ridership increase for people over age 65.
• Funding BC Transit's budget in the Victoria area is derived from the province at approximately 31%, from customers at approximately 40% and from the local tax base at approximately 29%.

The workshop explored a variety of issues and questions related to meeting transportation needs in this area that touched on:

• Policy-making, particularly related to funding process
• Partnerships with business and local governments for joint planning
• Transition from random car travel to public transit
• Multiple service agreements
• Improved public awareness needed related to the Transit Commission and inclusion on the Commission of local Mayors as a suggestion
• Better marketing and promotion of public transit based on public safety, health, cost effectiveness, access and schedules that people can easily read and understand

The workshop also focused on an overview of BC Transit's Strategic Plan and the results of public consultation to date. It became clear that BC Transit's current priority is planning and enhancing services to the West Shore where the population has boomed during the past 5 years. When I asked when the focus might shift to transportation needs on the Saanich Peninsula, where the two largest transportation hubs exist (Victoria International Airport and BC Ferries), BC Transit senior staff indicated that 2010 and 2011 will see improvements to planning and services in the Peninsula region.

Volunteers Answer the Call

As you know, at this time every year, Mayor and Council recruit new volunteers to serve on a variety of municipal Commissions/Committees, on the Victoria Airport Authority Board and on the Peninsula Recreation Commission. I am pleased to report that again this year, a group of highly qualified and enthusiastic new and returning volunteers stepped up to the plate to serve our community. What is even more encouraging is the number of young people and new residents who responded to the call.

The volunteer demographic this year is good news for North Saanich! It seems that young families are indeed moving here, neighbourhoods are changing and student enrollment at Kelset School is up this year. These are all signs that North Saanich is an attractive destination for new residents and families who want to live in one of the safest communities in the province. Taxes are manageable (about the second lowest tax rate in the CRD), recreation is both diverse and accessible, rural and natural environments are some of the most pristine on Southern Vancouver Island and two major transportation hubs, Victoria International Airport and BC Ferries, are at our doorstep. With a new elementary school already open and a new middle school planned to open next year, it's clear to me that North Saanich is a vibrant active community that continues to draw people who want to escape the urban crush and raise their families in a community that offers unique amenities.

I am grateful to the many volunteers who have served and continue to serve on North Saanich Commissions and Committees. By the way, we still have two vacancies on the Heritage Advisory Commission and will be advertising shortly to fill these positions. If you would like more information about the Heritage Commission or are interested in applying, please contact Charlene Nash or Curt Kingsley at North Saanich Municipal Hall, 250-656-0781 or visit the North Saanich website (below on the right).

First Full Meeting for New Union of BC Municipalities Executive

As you know, UBCM is a provincial working body representing all municipalities and regional governments across the Province. Meeting in convention every year, UBCM brings together locally-elected representatives for purposes of adopting resolutions, networking, meeting with provincial government officials and attending working sessions and related meetings.

At every convention, a new UBCM Executive is elected by the membership, filling key positions of President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Third Vice-President and Past President. There are also positions that reflect the community diversity that is uniquely British Columbia. These positions represent Vancouver, Metro Vancouver, Small Communities, Electoral Areas, various Regional Associations (ours is the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities Chaired by Mayor Chris Causton of Oak Bay) and Directors at Large. The 2009/2010 Executive group is 19 strong, drawn from Mayors and Councilors around BC.

The November 2009 Executive meeting (a two-day session) was the first full meeting of the newly elected group, with highlights as follows:
•Appointments made to the provincial government's new Local Elections Task Force
•Process approved to develop recommendations related to industrial taxation, including establishing Advisory and Steering Committees
•Work plan approved for consultation related to amending the resolutions process
•Recommendations related to future fire services delivery reviewed
•Supported 2010 conferences on electoral area reform, benefits, regional districts and Chief Administrative Officer forum, environmental issues, local government leadership, RCMP contracting and First Nations
•Considered 2009 Convention resolutions referred to the Executive
•Confirmed Committee appointments
•Agreed to continue working with the provincial government on the farm assessment issue
•Agreed to monitor new Home Inspectors' licencing requirements
•Agreed to lobby provincial government on importance of local government involvement in HST implementation (especially related to hotel and resort room taxation)
•Agreed to consult with local governments on landfill gas capture regulation
•Agreed to monitor implementation of Controlled Alien Species regulation
•Agreed to monitor impact of province's new "Wood First" legislation and regulations

In addition, the following UBCM working Committees were confirmed for 2010:
•Resolutions
•Nominating
•Presidents Committee
•Community Safety
•Environment
•Healthy Communities
•First Nations Relations
•Community Economic Development
•Regional District Task Force

The UBCM Executive will meet again in January 2010 and later in the spring. For further information about UBCM, please visit their website or e-mail them at ubcm@civicnet.bc.ca

Making Meaning from Middle Ground - My View

It's the beginning of a new year and a new decade and for many of us, a time to also re-assess. In a recent conversation with a Council colleague from another municipality, we talked about our Council work and took some time to reflect on what it means to each of us. At the end of our discussion, my colleague asked the inevitable questions, "Do you find this work meaningful and do you think you make a positive difference?" I hesitated for a moment, thinking to myself that the work has meaning for me but perhaps not for others and, if I do feel I make a positive difference that probably depends on one's perspective. I shared these thoughts with my colleague who replied "Good answer and good luck."

These questions are ones that many of us ask ourselves from time to time. Whether it's about our personal or professional lives, about paid or volunteer work or about elected or appointed positions, we want to know that what we do has meaning for us and for those we serve and makes a difference to others. As a Municipal Councillor, I want to feel that I make a difference, no matter how small. I want to know that, somehow, what I do has shared meaning with my community and its residents. I also want to know that most of my decisions have positive results for others.

Working in a political environment, however, can make it more difficult to always identify positives and realize the meaning of the work. One can sometimes feel like the "meat in the sandwich," squeezed somewhere between the community, the bureaucracy and the politics; and, how tight this squeeze is usually depends on how high the stakes, how complex the issue, how responsive or reactive the community and on how the parties directly involved behave.

I have said before that I believe that the Council Chamber is where people and issues sometimes collide and wherever one happens to be standing at the time of the collision, defines the meaning for them. Put another way, depending on what side of the issue or decision you happen to be on generally defines the experience for you.

I think two other factors have a significant bearing on the meaning and outcome of this work -- sorting out the difference between the reality of what happened and the perception of what happened. If the decision is perceived as a "good" one, where the result is acceptable to all parties, then it's likely that the distance between reality and perception was relatively small. If the decision is perceived as a "poor" one, then it is likely that the distance between reality and perception was large, creating what I call an "understanding gap" between all the parties involved. Trying to find a way to bridge the middle distance between what is real and what is perceived (trying to reach middle ground or to close the gap) when you are dealing with a contentious issue, can be the greatest challenge facing decision-makers. But why?

Well, in my experience, there are often three sides to a situation or issue -- yours, mine and the truth (or facts). It's well researched that each of us sees a situation through our own "lens," hence the saying for the eternally optimistic, "seeing the world through rose-coloured glasses." Every one of us wears a pair of our own glasses that can blur or colour truth or reality based on previous experiences and beliefs. How we see the world around us may cause us to pre-judge, re-interpret or re-define a situation or issue, based on what we believe to be real or true. When someone says to me "Tell me the truth" I am tempted to reply, "But which truth do you want? Yours, mine or the truth?" Your experience and my experience can be totally distinct from one another, so that we each see a situation very differently.

When faced with an issue that requires a decision and a meaningful outcome, the challenge for the decision-maker, as I see it, is separating fact from fiction, getting to the heart of the issue, managing differences and making some sense out of everything. As an aside, when I hear the phrase "using common sense" I admit I have to chuckle. There is nothing "common" about common sense when making difficult decisions about people and issues -- people are complicated and unpredictable and the issues they present are often complex. No two people nor two issues are ever the same and I have learned the hard way that the only thing predictable about people is that they are not.

Specific to Council work, I believe a third factor also defines meaning for each party -- the inherent power and authority imbalance that exists between decision-makers and residents. In a quasi-judicial setting such as a Municipal Council, legislative power in British Columbia to make legal and binding decisions is vested with elected officials through the BC Elections Act, Local Government Act and Community Charter. It is accepted that decision-makers have "power over" others by virtue of their role and responsibilities; it is incumbent, therefore, on decision-makers to use his/her power and authority judiciously and to apply governing legislation, bylaws and policies to local government decision-making in a sensitive, respectful and thoughtful manner. In the case of municipal administration, while residents may not necessarily agree with the final staff or Council decision, it is vitally important to ensure that residents leave the Municipal Hall or Council Chamber feeling heard, understood and respected.

I believe that the recipe for making meaningful decisions that reflect fairness and balance seems to involve a real mix of ingredients -- the situation or context, dynamics, available information, individual perceptions, understanding, parties involved, history, behaviour, personal experiences, legislation and, last but not least, the politics. Then imagine the decision-making process as a kitchen blender, where all these ingredients are thrown together and whirled, tossed and blended to create from this incredible mix a certain "consistency." In the case of Council work, I strive for a "consistency" too, by making decisions that I believe reflect a "blend" of adequate public and staff information, administrative fairness and balance.

I remember once getting some helpful advice from a political mentor who explained the nub of Council work and how best to make meaning out of decision-making. She advised, "There will be many times when you will be trying to make ideal decisions from less than ideal circumstances, trying to find meaning from situations that may have none."

When reflecting on the real meaning of my Council work, it may well be found in how decisions are made rather than in the decisions themselves; regardless of the final decision or outcome, if you leave the North Saanich Council Chamber feeling heard, understood and respected, then for me, that may be the best meaning of all.

More News About Vantreight Development Proposal

A group of concerned North and Central Saanich citizens recently contacted me and asked that I post on this blog site contact information for them and a brief summary about their efforts. They are working to inform citizens about the proposed density housing development slated for the northwest corner of the Vantreight farm in Central Saanich (at the North Saanich/Central Saanich border). This development has been the subject of public controversy, given its potential impacts on adjacent neighbourhoods, the ALR and land use, the CRD Regional Growth Strategy and on local resources and infrastructure such as roads/traffic, water, waste disposal and energy consumption.

My understanding is that Central Saanich Council moved one step closer at their December 14 Council meeting and voted, among other things, to send the proposal to the CRD's Planning Department for its review. This could be significant to the future of the proposal in my view, given that if the development is found to contravene or compromise Central Saanich's Regional Context statement in its Official Community Plan, then the development proposal becomes the centerpiece in a wider discussion and approval process at the CRD Board table, under the provisions of the Regional Growth Strategy's (RGS) amending formula.

You may recall a similar situation in the Highlands about 2 years ago when a controversial application to provide municipal water to Bear Mountain Resort required an amendment because it contravened the Highlands' Official Community Plan's Regional Context Statement, requiring a referral for decision to the CRD Board. The Highlands decision became a galvanizing issue locally and regionally related to the RGS; I understand that to amend the RGS needs unanimous support of the CRD Board. The CRD Board ultimately turned down the Highlands application, the decision was appealed and mediation by the Province was attempted but failed.

North Saanich Mayor and Council have already forwarded a letter to Central Saanich Mayor and Council outlining our concerns about the proposal, given its extremely close proximity to North Saanich Southeast Quadrant neighbourhoods. To date, I understand that in addition to a variety of land use and environmental concerns, a planned road allowance into the development and lack of sufficient buffering could create significant noise and air pollution from traffic gaining access and egress right through Southeast Quadrant neighbourhoods. Naturally, North Saanich will make every effort to mitigate any impacts on its residents.

For more information about the concerned citizens group, please visit their blog site at http://saveourruralland.blogspot.com. For detailed information about the Vantreight development proposal, please visit the Central Saanich website at www.centralsaanich.ca

Go West To Find Best Municipal Accountability

In a recent article written for the Vancouver Sun, David Seymour, Senior Policy Analyst at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy and author of the Local Government Performance Index in 2009 (www.fcpp.org) suggests that if you are looking for the highest local government accountability it appears to be in the western Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. He states that "in my review of 75 municipalities across Canada, 6 out of the top 10 were from British Columbia (the rest were from Alberta)."

He points out that accountability and transparency are important principles for local governments, especially when you consider that municipalities are economically significant in Canada. Seymour writes that "taken together, Canada's municipalities represent a roughly $65 billion-per-year industry, or about $1 of every $20 in GDP. He goes on to cite that "at 5 per cent of GDP, a 20 per cent increase in the productivity of municipal government would add a full percentage point to the national wealth."

It also appears that from his observations and research, Seymour concludes that "perhaps the biggest difference between BC municipalities and others...is the quality of reporting that citizens can expect when it comes to finance and service performance...When it comes to questions of providing disclosure on the value of capital assets, whether those values are depreciated according to best practice asset management, definitions are given for the line items that money is spent on or those expenditure areas are associated with measured performance compared to numerical targets, municipal reporting is the best in the West."

He goes on to say that, as with other governments, municipal government is a "natural monopoly" since it is the single source of services. He suggests that "consumers, the people who pay taxes and user fees and use roads, garbage collection and recreational services, don't have the same level of choice in who provides these essential services as they would in a competitive market." Therefore, operating in this context makes it even more of an imperative, Seymour argues, for municipalities to "help residents understand what services are being provided and at what cost, with numerical performance targets and actual performance achievements that are linked to areas of expenditure."

I encourage you to visit the website noted above for more information and detail about the Seymour report.

What Do Canadians Value?

Royal Roads University recently announced the results of its Canadian National Values Assessment, conducted by the Todd Thomas Institute for Values-Based Leadership. The survey of 1,251 Canadians reveals "a widely shared set of personal values that emphasize relationships and qualities that contribute to social cohesion, such as honesty, family, and caring." Marilyn Taylor, PhD and Director of the Institute, goes on to say that survey results "also show a high level of agreement among Canadians that our culture is being compromised by a serious level of dysfunction in the form of social risks, economic vulnerability and institutional ineffectiveness."

Other indicators of dysfunction were "bureaucracy, unemployment, crime/violence, wasted resources, corruption, and uncertainty about the future." These results cut across gender, age, regions, public and private sectors and ethnicity. The survey also suggests that respondents are calling for a reduction of bureaucracy, better government accountability and a stronger social safety net. Asked to choose "ten values that they would like to see reflected in Canadian society, the highest responses went to accountability, caring for the elderly, affordable housing, effective health care, caring for the disadvantaged, concern for future generations, poverty reduction, employment opportunities, human rights and governmental effectiveness."

It wasn't all negative however; human rights, freedom of speech, law enforcement and quality of life were identified as significant strengths of our current national culture.

"The results of this assessment will be widely distributed so Canadian individuals, organizations and governments can use this information to help realize our desired future for Canada," said Taylor. It seems that values-based leadership is the mark of a new way of moving all of us toward a kinder, more effective and more responsible social system, one that truly serves Canadians no matter who they are or where they live, work or gather.

The Institute is also planning to facilitate public dialogue, provide subsequent national values assessments and support ongoing applied research on values and their relationship to communities and organizations. For more information about the survey and the Todd Thomas Institute for Values-Based Leadership, please visit (www.royalroads.ca/tti)

Affordable Housing as National Policy

I wanted to express my gratitude to Mayor Alice Finall who fulfilled my request and, on behalf of North Saanich Council, sent this week to the Federal Government a letter urging Parliament to support a private member's bill, Bill C-304, calling for a national affordable housing strategy.

Victoria City Councilor Charlayne Thornton-Joe, who Chairs the CRD's Regional Housing Corporation Board (of which I am a member) is leading the charge and canvassing member municipalities, Chambers of Commerce, public and private sector organizations and others to write Federal leaders and MPs with letters of support for this Bill, which will be voted on sometime after December 8, 2009. I understand that it has already passed first and second readings and only needs a third and final reading to be adopted.

For more information about Bill C-304, please visit publications@pwgsc.gc.ca or http://publications.gc.ca

If you are interested in supporting Bill C-304, please send a letter to that effect to MP Dean Allison, Chair of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA), as follows:

Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Person with Disabilities (HUMA)

House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6