DISTRICT OF SECHELT

MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING

Wednesday, October 23, 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 D. Inkster, 
• Mayor J. Henderson, 
• Councillor D. Bell, 
• Councillor B. Rowe, 
• and Councillor A. Shepherd 

ABSENT:

• Councillor D. McLauchlan 
• and Councillor A. Toth 

STAFF:

• Chief Administrative Officer A. Yeates, 
• Director of Planning and Development A. Allen, 
• Director of Financial Services and Information Technology D. Douglas, 
• Director of Engineering and Operations M. Lee, 
• Director of Corporate and Community Services L. Roberts, 
• Corporate Officer K. Poulsen, 
• and Deputy Corporate Officer T. Forster 

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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 3:00 pm and asked for declarations of conflict. There were none.

3.

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

• Recommendation No. 1

  That the October 23, 2024 Committee of the Whole Meeting Agenda be adopted.

  CARRIED

4.

DELEGATIONS & PROCLAMATIONS

4.1

Sunshine Coast Affordable Housing Society & Regional Housing Coordinator

Sunshine Coast Affordable Housing Society (SCAHS) representatives Kelly Foley, Sunshine Coast Housing Coordinator, and Kim Darwin, SCAHS President, provided the Committee with an update on the current status of the Society's priorities and asked that the District of Sechelt consider funding a portion of the $150,000 that is needed to establish a paid position for an executive director and administrative support for SCAHS. SCAHS asked that the District of Sechelt, Town of Gibsons and Sunshine Coast Regional District consider sharing this cost.

In response to questions, the following topics were discussed:

• Intent to convert single family residential homes into multi-family residential homes.
• Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) to identify, support and promote seniors aging in place.
• Focus on climate resiliency and adaptation for new or renovated buildings.
• The Rental Protection Fund provides initial funding for rental subsidies, then supports AHS to find permanent solutions that renters can transition to.

• Recommendation No. 2

  That consideration for funding for the Sunshine Coast Affordable Housing Society be included in the District of Sechelt 2025 budget deliberations.

  CARRIED

4.2

Sunshine Coast Chamber of Commerce

Sunshine Coast Chamber of Commerce representatives Gaetan Royer, Chair, and Ed Pednaud, Transition Executive Director, presented the Committee with an update of the merger of Sunshine Coast Chambers into a regional group, and provided a 2024-2026 Strategic Plan.

Four requests made by the Sunshine Coast Chamber of Commerce:

1. That local governments help the Chamber of Commerce connect with new & existing business owners in their respective areas.
2. That a joint fund totaling $6,500 be provided by local governments to implement a regional database called GrowthZone.
3. That representatives of the District of Sechelt attend preliminary planning sessions with the objective of developing an "Invest in Sunshine Coast Forum".
4. That a Sunshine Coast Collaboration Task Force be established, comprising of representatives from the District of Sechelt, the Town of Gibsons, the Sunshine Coast Regional District, and the Sunshine Coast Chamber of Commerce to explore harmonized initiatives.

• Recommendation No. 3

  That the District of Sechelt's share of the $6,500 funding request to implement a regional database called GrowthZone be included in the District of Sechelt 2025 budget deliberations.

  CARRIED

5.

BUSINESS ITEMS

5.1

District of Sechelt 2024 Third Quarter Report

In response to questions from Committee, the following topics were discussed:

• Housing Accelerator Fund application response timeline;
• Status of the Septage Master Plan;
• Feedback from the Sunshine Coast Community Forest regarding the Sunshine Coast Community Forest Legacy Fund;
• Sewer line debris and blockages;
• Water Resource Centre Compliance Reporting and recent odour issues;
• Response timeline for Freedom of Information Requests submitted in Q3.

Staff were recognized and commended for their effort in conducting a weekly cleanup of the area occupied by the unhoused.

6.

CORRESPONDENCE

6.1

District of Sechelt 2024 Audit Service Plan - FOR INFORMATION

• Recommendation No. 4

  That the District of Sechelt 2024 Audit Service Plan be received.

  CARRIED

6.2

District of Sechelt 2024 Audit Engagement Letter - FOR INFORMATION

• Recommendation No. 5

  That the District of Sechelt 2024 Audit Engagement Letter be received.

  CARRIED

7.

ADJOURNMENT

• Recommendation No. 6

  That the October 23, 2024 Committee of the Whole meeting be adjourned at 3:55 pm.

  CARRIED