DISTRICT OF SECHELT

MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING

Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at 3:00 P.m. - 4:00 P.m.

Community Meeting Room

1st Floor, 5797 Cowrie St., Sechelt

and Via Zoom Online Meeting Platform

PRESENT:

• Councillor A. Shepherd (Chair), 
• Mayor J. Henderson, 
• Councillor D. Bell, 
• Councillor D. Inkster, 
• Councillor D. McLauchlan, 
• Councillor B. Rowe, 
• and Councillor A. Toth 

STAFF:

• Chief Administrative Officer A. Yeates, 
• Director of Engineering and Operations K. Dhillon, 
• Director of Financial Services and Information Technology D. Douglas, 
• Director of Corporate and Community Services L. Roberts, 
• Corporate Officer K. Poulsen, 
• and Executive Assistant J. Doherty (Recording Secretary) 

---

1.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Chair acknowledged their gratitude for living on the traditional lands of the shíshálh Nation. 

2.

CALL TO ORDER AND DECLARATION OF CONFLICT

The Chair called the Committee of the Whole Meeting to order at 3:01 PM and asked for declarations of conflict. There were none.

3.

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

• Recommendation No. 1

  That the June 12, 2024 Committee of the Whole Meeting Agenda be adopted.

  CARRIED

4.

DELEGATIONS & PROCLAMATIONS

4.1

Sue Big Oil, Dawn Allen

Dawn Allen of the Sue Big Oil movement and Andrew Gage, legal counsel for West Coast Environmental Law, provided an overview of the Sue Big Oil initiative.

In response to questions from Council, the delegation noted:

• The campaign targets fossil fuel companies, not just oil companies.
• The amount of money they are asking for is intended to cover the initial cost of the class action, assuming enough municipalities are able to support the campaign (500,000 people).

• Recommendation No. 2

  That the District of Sechelt support the Sue Big Oil Campaign and pledge 1$ per resident as a campaign contribution.

  CARRIED

  OPPOSED: Mayor Henderson and Councillor Shepherd

  
  

5.

BUSINESS ITEMS

5.1

Sechelt Legion 140 Financial Assistance Options for Frontage Contribution Costs

Staff reviewed frontage improvement requirements for other non-profit organizations in Sechelt and noted that  no others have been exempted from frontage improvements. 

• Recommendation No. 3

  That the Sechelt Legion Branch 140 be offered a grant of $50,000 and be required to reimburse the District of Sechelt the remaining amount owed for frontage contributions, $78,440, over a 10 year period, interest free.

  CARRIED

  OPPOSED: Councillor Shepherd

  
  

5.2

Sunshine Coast Community Services Request for Funding

Staff noted a policy could be drafted for the Legacy Fund to provide the Community with equal opportunities to access it.

In response to questions, staff confirmed:

• Permissive Tax Exemption on a $34M new build would be  approximately $85,000 at the current tax rates.  
• Municipalities can not commit to a liability longer than 5 years without an AAP process.

• Recommendation No. 4

  That the decision on the request from the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society for $1,000,000 to be donated from the District of Sechelt be deferred with a report to come back to Council no later than July 31st, 2024, providing additional input from the Sunshine Coast Community Forest and noting any policy implications.

  CARRIED

  OPPOSED: Councillor Bell, Inkster and McLauchlan

  
  

6.

ADJOURNMENT

• Recommendation No. 5

  That the June 12, 2024 Committee of the Whole meeting be adjourned at 4:26 pm.

  CARRIED