Different departments at the District of Sooke provided quarterly reports from January to March, 2012.
Sooke Fire Department
Fire Chief Steve Sorensen reports that the department currently has five full time members, 31 volunteer firefighters and six in public education for a total of 42 members. There are five applications on file.
The fire department will be taking on a cadet firefighter training program. Presentations were made to all Grade 10 students with the idea of taking on students as volunteer firefighter cadets. The first class began on April 13 with four students. They attend training sessions every second Friday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Call volumes are down slightly from 2011 for the same time. There is a sizeable drop in the number of chimney fires, false alarms and motor vehicle crashes.
The department responded to: five structure fires (three were mutual aid); four chimney fires; one brush fire; eight motor vehicle incidents; one rescue; 10 hazardous conditions; 13 public assists; 13 alarm bells; 90 first responder incidents and 49 burning complaints.
The department completed 120 inspections and there were two 1 EOC activations. Volunteers with the Sooke Emergency Program put in 337 volunteer hours for the first quarter.
Planning Department
Staff was busy preparing reports on Secondary and Small Suites, background research on the Sooke Agricultural Plan and making a presentation on the district’s new zoning bylaw to southern Vancouver Island planners.
The district collected a total of $8,635 in permit, public hearing and application fees which represents a 12 per cent increase over the same quarter last year. There were 15 applications submitted.
The Approving Office approved 34 new lots in five fee simple subdivision plans, two new subdivision applications were received. It was noted that interest in developing in the community is on the upswing.
Engineering reports officially opening the public boat launch; final design work on the first phase of the Grant Road Connector and the Highway14/Waterview Street roundabout is underway; The Townsend Road intersection and cross walk realignment is complete and road work on Maple Avenue from Grant Road to Highway 14 will be completed as weather permits.
Parks and Environmental Services reports they are working to complete 75 per cent design drawing for the Sooke River Pedestrian Crossing at Soule Road. They completed the design of the revitalization of Pineridge Park and 50 metres of trail; installed one bear resistant garbage receptacle at the public boat launch; responded to seven hazardous tree enquiries and 22 miscellaneous park and environment calls; they issued one highway use and park use permit. The department planted spring colour and 38 street trees to the urban forest at Laura’s Lane, Church Hill Meadows, Stoneridge Estates and Mariners Village.
Building Department
The department reports slightly lower building permit fee activity early in the year but a significant increase in March.
From January to March the department issued 33 residential permits; 23 other (decks, commercial, woodstoves, suites, etc.) creating a total of 30 new units for a revenue figure of $109,625.86 down $14,904 from 2011.