Here are the SPN Takeaways from the Special Council Meeting held on August 29, 2016 in the Council Chambers at the Sooke Municipal building. More detailed information might come later, when we review the video and audio files.

Delegation: Sponsorship Request

Nicky Logins. The Sooke Family Resource Society is reintroducing the Sooke Fun Run and Ride, which will co-incide with the Wadams Market on September 24. A request was made for $300, which was granted by Sooke Council. The funds would come from the Marketing and Advertising portion of the budget.

Delegation: Regulation of Marijuana Dispensaries

Ekatrina Karassev put forward a request that the District of Sooke regulate dispensaries in Sooke, and gave a presentation on what other local municipalities were doing. Council noted that the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) annual meeting was upcoming, and that it was on their radar.

Public Input:

• Gail Hall: Requested by whom and why a Special Meeting was called. Mayor Tait responded she had called it because September would only have one meeting due to the UBCM. Hall was opposed to Bylaw 468 on the agenda.
• Ellen Lewers: Also objected to Bylaw 468. She asked if Cameron, identified as as Morwenna Holdings Ltd, was hired as a consultant or as an acting, hands on fire chief. CAO responded that he was hired as a temporary fire chief, and would make himself available if he needed to be on a site.

Public Hearing:

Only one of the two public hearings scheduled for this evening took place. The hearing for the KidsQuest application (Bylaw 647) was cancelled. After a conversation about the existing greenhouses on the property, the hearing for Bylaw 638 (SOCLA) was closed and the Bylaw was carried.

Bylaws:

The proposed Bylaw No. 468, which was to address inefficiencies in the Development Permits, did not receive first reading. The bylaw proposed that development permits with under 25 units did not need to go before council. Staff noted it was essentially a revival of an old bylaw (305) that according to some councillors was rescinded in 2012. Council had concerns that the proposed changes would result in a loss of input from those with adjacent properties. Tait said, “When council is removed the public is as well.” Without a Land Use plan or committee currently in place, staff would not have clear directives on what the elected officials (and consequently the voters) wanted. Tait suggested fixing the backlog might be remedied with a hire. Staff was requested to reconsider inefficiencies by way of streamlining processes.

Reports Requiring Action:

• MIABC Associate Member Coverage for Morweena Holdings was approved.

Reports for Information:

• Delinquent Property Taxes on Mobile Homes: The report was received.
• CRD Update: Councillor Rick Kasper officially passed the Director’s job back to Tait. Bev Berger rescinded her temporary role as the alternate, which was, by way of motion, given back to Kasper.
• Mayor and Council Updates: Logins noted that two recent events, the Sooke Harbourside Festival and the 3-on-3 basketball tourney, were both organized and attended predominantly by Sooke youth under 25.