Council Briefs

meeting of the District of Sooke council on Feb. 13, the following items on the agenda were dealt with:

Public Hearing

Proposed release of covenant EV120480 for 1528 and 1529 Whiffin Spit Road, Sooke Harbour House.

The owners of the Sooke Harbour House were seeking a release from a covenant that restricted the number of events they could hold each year. The covenant was placed on the property in 2003 when a parking lot was built to accommodate guests at the inn.

During the public input session a number of local residents and neighbours to the Sooke Harbour House came forward to object to the removal of the covenant stating their quality of life would be affected. Six letters were also received which stated opposition to the move. In general they all said the same thing, in writing and vocally that the events at the Sooke Harbour House were noisy and did not end at the prescribed time of 11 p.m. resulting in calls to bylaw enforcement and the RCMP.

Terry Slater who lives on Whiffin Spit Road said, “it is brutal,” and stated, “don’t fall for this old, ‘it’s good for business,’ it’s an old line that’s just a little bit tired.”

Another spoke of drunken karaoke nights, others stated they were subjected to “dripping water torture” from a low-intensity throbbing sound. The neighbours who wrote in all stated they wanted peace and quiet and the events taking place at the Harbour House made that impossible.

After listening to those who spoke out, Mayor Wendal Milne stated that it was a decision they couldn’t take lightly and he was not comfortable proceeding or making a decision tonight.

The item will come back before council once the owners and the district can get together to try and come up with a mutual agreement suitable to all.

Councillor Rick Kasper said the covenant was “flawed in the first place.”

Bylaws

Council adopted Bylaw No. 516, Sooke Core Sewer Specified Area Amendment Bylaw. Council gave first, second and third reading to Bylaw No. 517, Revenue Anticipation Borrowing Bylaw, 2012. The bylaw is intended to provide the ability to borrow up to $1 million to meet current expenditures. There is no intention to draw upon this line of credit.

Reports

Council adopted the 2012 Corporate Priorities, which will be included in the 2012 budget. The Capital Priorities include the Grant Road Connector — Church Road/Throup intersection and associated sidewalks; Hwy 14 roundabout, downtown street-scape improvements and other necessary infrastructure upgrades (sewer). Recommended 2012 priorities include fiscal responsibility, improving the downtown and community planning.

A Burning Regulation Review Committee will be established with Councillor Herb Haldane as the council representative. A call out will be made for three residents to sit on the committee.

Council reviewed and received a report on Water Supply for Fire Fighting. Discussion ensued on sprinkler systems in new developments which were in rural areas.

Homeowners not living in areas serviced by CRD Water are dependent on wells and onsite water storage to meet firefighting requirements. Rural homes are generally further from the fire hall, have steep driveways and poor road conditions and could be susceptible to wildfire interface fires. With this in mind council is being asked to look at covenants to be registered on title requiring sprinkler in any new houses.

Several residents came forth and said that the cost of a sprinkler system was excessive ($10,000) and it did not lower insurance rates.

John Brohman stated that he was not in favour of sprinklers and there was a CRD requirement to supply water for fire flows.

“Keep the pressure on the CRD water board, they should supply water to all areas,” said Brohman.

Others stated it was a very costly process and Coun. Kerrie Reay said, “I’m not sure this is a road we should be going down.”

Fire Chief Steven Sorensen said in many cases they were looking at a 20-30 minutes response time to get to a rural site.

“We are not asking for a blanket sprinkler bylaw,” said Sorensen. The item was reviewed and received by council.

The Protective Services Committee, which was established in 2008,  has been dissolved and the fire chief and the RCMP are being asked instead to hold quarterly public meetings. The first meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 7, 2012. Coun. Reay will act as council liaison and chair.

Conferences

Council members will be attending the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Community Conference in Ucluelet from April 13-15; FCM in Saskatoon, from June 1-4; and the Union of BC Municipalities Conference in Victoria, Sept. 24-28.

The total cost for 2012 conferences would be $14,277 plus travel. Councillors, where they can, will share rooms.

The Finance and Administration Committee will direct staff to prepare a two-year tender for road maintenance with provision of monthly reporting for works and services completed. This tender will be advertised.