Transcript: Council Meeting - 25 May 2026

Well, excuse me. Welcome everyone to the meeting of Monday, May 25th, 2026, uh, District of Mosen Council meeting. Uh, councelor Shukin, you have a territorial acknowledgement. Yeah. Very simply, I just want to acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Co Salish people and especially the territory of our near neighbors, the Chanu First Nation and also the SA First Nation. Thank you, Marilyn. Thank you. Okay. Agend um council members, we have the agenda before us. I was just told 30 seconds ago, we've got a notice, a motion, and also the supplemental new business supplemental information. With that are those additions I will take a motion to approve. Moved by councelor Schukan, second by councelor Donaldson. All in favor? Oppose. No one oppose. Let's move on to presentations. We're pleased to have the Mosen International Summer School of the Arts or what we always call MISA. Uh, presenting by Jill Allen, um, executive director of Machosen International Summer School of the Arts.

Oh, thank you very much. Um, as as Mayor Little just told you, my name is Jill Allen and u, I'm an artist as well as the executive director for Machosen International Summer School of the Arts. It sounds like many of you may be familiar with our program already, which I'm glad to hear. Um, thank you very much for allowing me to speak Mar Little and counselors. Um, Machosen International Summer School of the Arts or MISA is a wonderful arts summer program that operates here in Machosen on Lesser Pearson College campus. Uh we have uh for the past three years operated at a different location, but we're very happy to be returning to Mitchosen this year and Lester Pearson, which is our our home base. We feel like it's a homecoming. Uh registrations are open for the program. Uh it takes place between July 18th and 31st this year. Um there are of course accommodations on campus and meals are included in the fees. Um, as you probably know, it's a beautiful location and we're very uh grateful to be operating in the territory of the

Shanuk people um and on the campus of Pearson where we have always found a very wonderful warm welcome. MISA was established in 1984 by Robin Hopper, Fleming Jorgensson, Rona Murray, Cheryl Samuel, uh, Carol Savaston, and the first program started out with five classes and 53 students, and it's grown from then, uh, to be a larger program. This year we have more than 30 workshops, and we're hoping for between 200 and 300 students. Some of the programming we offer is in two-dimensional arts such as what you see on the screen uh before you. Uh drawing, oil, acrylic and water painting, watercolor painting and pastels. Um one of the cornerstone uh subjects of Mosen International School of the Arts is ceramics. Uh so we have many wonderful ceramics programs happening this summer and we also offer programs in fiber arts uh bookmaking and writing. We have two writing classes happening this this summer as well.

Uh one of the things that Miss is really famous for is the intimate settings of the classrooms. We have small class sizes of 12 students and many of our students return year and year again uh expecting to see old friends and and enjoy the camaraderie they found in a supportive creative community. This is one of the ceramics classes with Gordon Hutchkins. Um, in the past we've had atmospheric kils that we can fire uh outside using gas and salt and soda, different materials that make different atmospheres in the in the kils. Uh, and those are sought after classes because it's unusual to find those kinds of facilities. Um, we've had to dismantle our kiln and we'll be working towards rebuilding it in the future.

And these are just some examples of people interacting in the wonderful space at Pearson College. So most of our programming is private for the students that are registered in the classes, but we do have a couple of public events that happen during the course of the workshops. Uh, one of them is gumbo night, uh, where the public is invited to come and for the purchase of a ticket, you receive a handmade ceramic bowl and dinner, uh, in the beautiful setting of Pearson College. So, we'd like you all to know that you're welcome to join us for that event. We hope to see you there. We're also having a gala event where we have a it's for fundraising. We have a silent auction and um, just a big celebration this year. The theme is homecoming. So, we're hoping that people will dress up in their tuxedos and and glad rags and and uh grad dresses and come out and help us in celebrate being back at Pearson.

Um, and we're also uh actively recruiting volunteers to help us with our programming this summer and we would love to welcome people from the local Mosen community to come out. We need um some volunteers that have art experience that can work as technicians and we would ask those volunteers to stay with us on campus for the duration of the program. But we do also need uh volunteers to come for shorter times as well. And that's where we're hoping we can find folks from the local community to help out with checking guests into the uh their accommodations and helping to set up and clean up after the program. and also to um run the events and uh the store that we keep open during the program.

Thank you very much for allowing me to speak and I hope that uh we might meet on the campus and please help us to spread the word. Um I have some flyers and posters if anyone's interested with me and thank you very much for letting me speak today. Would you entertain some questions in comments? Okay. Uh thank you uh council. Somebody may have questions. Well, welcome back. Uh we're happy to have you here. We're very proud of of Misa here in in Machos and so welcome home to where you belong. Council membership. Oh. Um thank you Miss Ellen for through you Mayor Little. Thank you Miss Allen for coming to share this information. Um quick kind of range of how many students you will put through during the course of the program. Right now we have about 175 registered. So we're hoping to have more than 200 by the time of the of the workshops, but in the past they've had up to 400 students and we have capacity

for 404 students in our programs this year. So fingers crossed we'll get more than 200. But thank you Council Dolson through the chair. How how far away do students travel to come to MISA? We actually have a student coming from New Zealand this year. Um it's not uncommon for us to have a number of students from the United States. One of our instructors is coming from Mississippi. So we do have people coming from farfield and we have uh students from from Ontario and the prairie provinces as well. So and lots of locals from the island. Lots of locals. Yeah. Thank you. Anybody else? Nope. I have friends that regularly attend Misa. They plan their holidays around it and they've made uh pen pels all around the world.

So, it's it's great. Particularly the ceramics, the painting mixed media fiber. Yeah. Yeah. Well, there's long uh long-standing roots in the neighbor in the in the community. Uh it's been going for about 40 years. So, we're actually calling this our unofficial 40th anniversary because we had to close for a couple years for CO. So, but originally we were founded in 1984. So, yeah. Anybody else have any comments? No. Okay. Thank you very much. Thanks for coming tonight. Okay. Next, we have public participation. Should you wish to speak at the microphone, you have four minutes. There's a light on the table that will go green as soon as you go ahead. As soon as you start speaking and then it will go to yellow when you have 30 seconds left and red when the time is up. if you could state your name and your street.

Good evening, Carol Voit, Gemini Drive. I'm here tonight as a Machosen resident, a taxpayer, and a representative about 300 members of Machosen Pickle Ball Club. I received an email last week I wish to bring to your attention and to the attention of taxpayers. Without preamble, explanation, or context, this email began. It is with regret that I am sending this email to inform you that we will no longer be bookings at the school beyond the hours of Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. This change will take effect as of July 1st, 2026. Wow. This suggests the district staff appear to be making decisions for their own operational convenience rather than on behalf of the community they supposedly serve. I would like to know if MPC was the sole recipient of this directive or if a similar email was sent to all renters of the school property. Does this mean MCA's Christmas market is canled? Does this mean what about CIRC's vaccination clinic, APRM talks, drive-wise, jiu-jitsu, emergency medical

training, or any other weekend and evening programs? Who approved this abrupt change in policy? Why can users of the community hall, the community house, and MKA all have access to community buildings after regular business hours, but Mitchosen Pickleball Club cannot? This directive came as an enormous surprise to me, as did the proposal of bylaw 7:15 at the January 12th council meeting. proposed bylaw 17 brought forth by district staff that they advocated a gym rental increase that if in gym rental fee increase that if implemented would have effectively increased our fees by 39% overnight. Neither last week nor in January was prior discussion with affected parties stopped any explanation provided for this sudden policy change. No underlying problem was identified or communicated and there was no opportunity for input into or consideration of potential solutions to whatever this perceived problem might have been. The perceived problem, if one even exists, remains a mystery. I am deeply troubled that the lack of consultation with and a general disregard for volunteers seems to be

evolving into a norm for this administration. Should this latest directive be implemented, it will result in the reduction of pickle ball bookings of more than 20 hours per week throughout most of the year. This would not only be an enormous loss to our community, it will also be an expensive decision for taxpayers. If implemented, this new policy will cost the district and therefore taxpayers a minimum of $18,000 annually in lost income. Until now, income from MPC's rentals have been providing a meaningful contribution to cost recovery for the school property and cost recovery is important to taxpayers. In January, the administration was seeking abruptly to increase rental fees in attempt to increase rental income.

Five months later, the same as his administration has become indifferent to losing significant rental income, more than twice the amount, by the way, by limiting the community's access to the school. Can you please explain this? I am an unpaid volunteer doing an enormous amount of work to enable our community to recreate, socialize, learn, and play at home. This is work that paid administrative or contract staff would otherwise need to take on. I would like to hear what each one of you have to say about this latest policy directive communicated by district staff. Thank you. Very little. Um, I'm going to just say uh this is the first I've heard of this and I wonder if we could find the appropriate moment to get clarity from staff as to what might happen or what has happened.

Let's get through public participation and then we'll we'll give staff an opportunity to speak. Okay. Okay. Next in public participation Red means it's on. Okay. I just lost a minute, didn't I? Um, yeah. I wish to speak in support of the dark sky community designation proposal tonight. I'm responding to a submission that came as part of the supplemental board package. I'd like to address the points made in order for those that have it there. The first point is lighting policy covers public and private lighting. That's quite true. uh the reason that this is done is so that we have harmonization. The implication that's been made in the document is that somehow this is a enforced thing. All private participation is voluntary and in fact having that kind of thing in place is mostly limited to businesses and institutions.

With that regard, I'm hopeful that Pierce College will come on board. They've already some of the staff there's indicated they're very interested in it. If we do not get the support of volunteers willing to sign up for this, our application may fail because that's one of the things that we have to do. Second point, public lighting must comply within five years. Quite true, but we've already done that. So, it's a moot point. Not sure why it was in there. All private lighting must be brought into compliance within 10 years. The implication being again that somehow this is a regulation. Not true. It only applies if you sign up to the program as a volunteer in which case they have done this. So you have 10 years to comply. So that's done so that you will wind up um spreading your costs out over a longer period of time. You won't get any volunteers if you can't afford it. It's just as simple as that.

Um, and if the deadline isn't met, it doesn't affect the person, the entity that's doing it. Only affects our designation whether we may keep it or not. Technical requirements uh must apply communitywide. There's a point there. Well, yes, that's true. The technical requirements uh everybody signs up to the same standard. So, it's uniform across the board. requirements meet the Canadian guidelines for outdoor lighting, seagull, which coincidentally is the basis for Machosen's existing dark sky policy, the one we have the plaque on the wall for. Okay, so again, we're not really doing anything. Um, seagull is such a standard now it's it's considered to be the current architectural best practice. So, new construction almost always meets it anyways. So, anybody being building something is going to be compliant. I have a son who is an architect and his comment was, "Well, that's a no-brainer." So, number five, there was a statement in the document that said Machos must enact and enforce a bylaw forcing residents and businesses to comply with the lighting policy. Patently false. Nowhere

in the guidelines, and I have copies of it if anybody's interested in it, is that statement made. And since the rest of the document is based on that false premise, I'm not going to talk about it. Just leave it at that. Purpose of this application is simple. It's to provide leadership for the residents and the chosen to make good decisions about outdoor lighting. We provide leadership by signing up as a designate. We get resources and materials. We provide that to the community and they make the decision as to what they want to do. So anyone who's suggesting otherwise is not really telling the whole story. So as I said, anybody who would like to see the guidelines, I have copies and please contact me offline. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Hi uh Ven Mitchell, Whitty Beach Road Mosen. I was actually going to speak on one topic, but I'll speak on two. Um, one, I certainly hope the issues that Carol have raised, which I think are new to you, are addressed. I think all of us can agree that the Machosen School is an incredibly vibrant center all weekend long, and it's a wonderful place where people can gather. And I I hope there's just a major misunderstanding. I actually wanted to speak to the dark sky and to really thank you mayor and council for putting forward and endorsing this process that we can become members of the dark sky community. Um I took a quick glance at some of the concerns raised in the pink sheet. I think Mr. White has addressed them. This isn't a a thing we're going to bylaw our way into at all. This is about education, people understanding the value. And you know, I think many people don't realize that more than twothirds of the animals that we have in our community are nocturnal.

80% of migratory birds travel in the dark. Insect activity increases by night. Our livestock thrive on nocturnal cycles. Farmers don't want artificial light unless we're doing something specific with chickens or or or etc. So, but there is something magical about Machosen and the dark skies that have existed in Machosen. It's a gift we bring to ourselves in our community, but also to those around us. And it's I think this the dark sky international movement is a wonderful movement. And what we're really signing on to is a commitment for education. And here um you know I know there's uh this is more applied to management and leadership but I think it applies in this situation too which is the three U's are people unaware are they unable or are they unwilling and I believe that in the case that we have in Machosen many newcomers and I noticed on our last call that I was only able to watch the video but a speaker noted that one of her neighbors has put up cafe style lights. Well, I believe that many people will come to understand

that actually that's not the right thing to do for wildlife for your neighbors. Um, so I believe in the unaware. I believe in the unable and we can certainly through this process and the resources that are accorded to us really help people figure out what they need for motion center lights or or whatever they might choose for their livestock for their home for their business security etc. And then there's the unwilling. And I believe that's actually a very small proportion of Mosen. But we're not about regulation here. I think this is truly a movement about education, about celebrating what's already in Machosen. That's magical. And I I really want to uh just commend council uh mayor and council for really taking this forward because I think it's a a long-term process, but a really super one that's contributing to the future. So, thank you.

Thank you. Does anybody wish to speak at the microphone? Sarah Anthony Mosen Road. uh did want to speak about the dark skies um initiative in terms of the fact that on the um uh health communities committee and I think when this came forward it was something we all thought was interesting and were happy to look into it. where we did get to kind of a stop was that it wasn't really clear on whether or not it would be just educational or um or there would be enforcement. And I think we were all very against if it was enforcement issues. We saw saw a lot of problems. I mean, we were all in this room of be uh a couple months ago when everybody was absolutely losing their minds because of the possibility of of uh bylaws on restricting sound. So, I think we can all kind of see how that might go with people, even if it's a perceived fear and not necessarily a true one. I think maybe what I'm maybe

trying to say is I think we we do need to have this more clarified. number one. And number two, if even if it is just um educational, I think going about it in a way that's maybe kind of slow and educational before actually even going jumping right into it might be a good idea just to not have that kind of reaction again where everybody is sort of fully aware of the scenario and not just having a fear-based response because the information isn't fully there and clear. Thank you. Thank you. Does anybody wish to speak to the microphone? Okay. Um, I'm just going to ask our Thanks, Petty. Ask our staff. Uh, Mr.

Creek or Mr. Payet was wondering if you could respond to Miss Voit's uh comments that she made at at the microphone. U Mr. Payet. Sure. Through the chair. Um we love pickle ball and the business and activity. No doubt about it. We want to help. Um the problem we're running into is um the risk the higher risks uh in the facility. Um weekends and nights we don't have any staff there direct staff on site and um we're finding uh doors are left open and people are in the building. We don't know who's there. Um so we have to contain this somehow. Um I'm happy to work with Carol Maybe we can work on some kind of agreement, a higher level agreement where they take accountability during that time. I'm not sure. But our concern is uh our our risk is getting up there with that facility and um with activities and high risk activities, we have to be pretty careful. So that's it.

Okay. Uh I don't want to open this up to debate right at this moment because we haven't launched into uh our council uh agenda. Does council want to discuss this right now? It's a this is an operational issue with our staff. This hasn't come to the council table. I didn't wasn't even aware of this. Um I think it's best that we leave this to our CEO. That's his job. We define policy bylaw and um that is in his department. That's what I would councelor Shuken. Okay. Um well said, Mayor Little. I wonder if a motion is in order. Um just to request that I'm going to cut you off for a moment.

Um as I explained previously, motions on the fly are not good for governance. They're not good for this table. We often get into trouble when we have motions on the fly. So, I'll caution you before you begin. Sure. Um, that said, I wonder if a motion is I I I do hear what you're saying, Marittle. Um, a motion just to um direct CEO to engage in the chosen pickle ball club to um work out a solution as possible. just to to what CO I'll interrupt you there uh because the CEO has already indicated in front of the public and on the video that he's willing to work with Miss Voy. I don't think a motion from this council to direct the CEO to do his job is not useful.

Fair enough. I was wondering if that would be an order. So, it was a question. So, okay. Yeah. Um I do want to thank Mr. Payet though for uh reaching out and yeah it would be good to come up with a solution as we're able to. So yeah remember solutions did come to this table. Uh there was an ask for money for a coordinator position and and because of our fiscal uh reality that wasn't palatable at the table. So what Mr. Pota said is that what we really need is somebody on site. Um and we don't have that. We don't we have staff that are here Monday to Friday. Okay.

Okay, council gray. Yeah, I'm just taken aback by the um the presentation. I think it important that we communicate well and if um the CEO can get on this fairly quickly, that would be help. As I see I think I heard earlier um instructions were taken by we're not going to let we're not going to weigh in on what how he does his job and I don't know what his schedule is. He is not completed speaking. Thank you. Excuse me. I've completed speaking. Thank you. Okay, let's let the CO does do his job. He's committed to speak with uh and work with uh the person that was at the microphone. Let's let him do that. Okay.

So, uh that's it for uh public participation. We're going to move on to on your iPads. We're at uh page 11 uh May 4th. 2026 regular council meeting. This is for adoption. Uh move adoption of the May 4th council minutes. Council meeting minutes. Okay. This is moved by councelor Shupen, seconded by councelor Donaldson. Anything else? My There we go. Okay. So for the those of us that's using our iPads, it's going to go a bit little bit slow. Okay, I'll call the question. All in favor? Opposed? Carried. Thank you. Receipt of the minutes. We have the receipt of committee of the whole meeting May 11th, 2026. Could I have a motion to receive? Moved by council councelor Gray, second by councelor Zolson. All in favor? Opposed? And carried. Thank you. The business arising right off the bat. Oh, actually, sorry.

Uh, we're going to move on to the mayor's update before we do our business. So, as many of you know, I provide a written update every month at one meeting and a verbal update at the other. I've been extremely busy as you can see. Um, I won't go won't read all of this, but some of the highlights was or were uh the Ching Ming Festival and their background of the Chinese labor corps. um the non-combat combatan regime regiment in the first world war. Uh this was a grave sweeping or looking after the graves uh initiative. It was really really interesting. This was on the grounds at William Head. Um and this was organized by members of the Chinese community. uh Mary Lindsay who's a member of the uh citizens advisory board at the prison as I as am I and I was uh invited just to give introductory remarks and welcome to Mosen really interesting.

Okay. Uh second of all, as you all know, this is National Access Ability Week. Um and th it this starts on Sunday, uh the last Sunday in May, and this is for May 31st to June 6. We're celebrating um accessibility, ability, uh recognition of different uh diversities. And this week's um motto is building a strong accessible Canada. So this is a Canadianwide celebration. Um in addition, very timely the Capital West Accessibility Advisory Committee which we belong to has published uh their report and the link is provided um at uh on the council agendas as well as on the website. It looks wonderful. You remember we saw a draft of that earlier on I think in 2024 2023 and so this is an update of that so please read it uh it's what we asked for we pay for the service and they're providing that legislative piece remember when the provincial government brought down the regulation regarding accessibility there was three asks a portal an accessibility plan and uh a committee and we ful fulfilled all our

all our obligations to the province as well. This is a live document so it will be continually updated regarding the CRD. A lot's happening there. I've provided links for all of you because I know some of you are very interested in the invasive species list as well as the CRD's climate strategy as well as the greater Victoria water conservation plan and the water supply master plan updates. Those are all public documents and um there's links provided here as well. I thought what was interesting um that came up at the Wandafuca at the electoral areas uh meeting and this was the soil removal bylaws. You might want to take a a look at that and and see if there's anything that's applicable uh to Machosen.

I also attended an elder lunch uh a Shanu elders lunch. This was also at William Head Institution at the Salmon House. This was uh hosted by William Head Institution, the elders um on behalf of the residents there um who identify as First Nations. And it really was a remarkable event. Uh they had smudging and um what is it called? Cedar bow touching. Cedar bow um I've got it in here somewhere. Brushing. Brushing. That's the word. Yeah. An incredible event. And I think uh they the residents there uh of first nations origin felt really supported. There were elders from as far away as a houseit um off to Pino up there and in um Kawichin. So it was a really remarkable event.

And then uh Katie Nelson um who's here um had a talk at the Mosen talking walk on May 15th and she outlined the history, the challenges and the successes of the volunteers that are restoring our Gary Oak Meadow out here next to the municipal hall in honor of councelor Marley Mil. So congratulations to all the volunteers. Congratulations to uh Katie on on her talk and her walk. Um lots of information there. I've provided the the website. There's also past articles in the news regarding that. Um some of which I've written and counselor's update from the last term when this was in my portfolio. Okay. Uh the village initiative, remember we had the village initiative um at this council table. uh the village initiative they gave a presentation um it's an umbrella organization of over 70 organizations working together to better support the health and well-being of children family and youth um in the fast growing community of Westshore souk region that includes us a business case was brought forward by the village municipal leaders advisory team which

I'm a part of this was at the helm was uh co mayor Doug Kobayashi as well as Scott Goodmanson, Ken Williams, uh, counselor Jeff Baitman from Souk, David Grove from Cwood, as well as, uh, Souk School Superintendent Paul Black, as well as Island Health. So, it's quite a a leadership team. Um, I'm pleased to say that um, municipalities across the West Shore and SUP are now considering investing in a new regional coordinator position. So, this is going ahead and I also understand there was a press release today and um although we've decided at this council table not to support it, there are members of the community that have of our community that have donated on our behalf at that.

So, we will be made whole. Um our our uh portion will be paid by volunteers in the community. So, I think that's marvelous and that I'm hoping that we can have this on our website. uh just the uh the press release or we can um pump it out on our social media. I'll send you the press release. It went out uh this morning. And as a reminder, census 2026. I talk about talked about this last month. Please fill out your 2026 census of population. I did receive a few calls from people saying that they've been encouraged not to send it in. um that's gets along. But besides that, they want to get us below that 5,000 level. I think uh we're long past that. And I would I would really encourage you not to break the law. I would really encourage you to look at the statistics act and um please complete the census.

It's it's helpful for all levels of government including us here at the district we chosen. So, that with that, that concludes my mayor's update. Now, let's just go. And for those of you who haven't been paying attention, we've moved from a paper form to a um uh electronic form for all of our agendas. A little bit clunky. That's why we have to go a bit slow. Next, we've got uh the business arising 7A. This is recommendation from the May 11th committee of the whole dark sky designation. I'm just going to pause there because I just want to remind everybody that we had significant and lengthy discussion about this uh at the committee the whole which is very appropriate. We have committee the whole and committee meetings because that's where the act of debate is and and then we bring it we give that a week or two of sober second thought. anything new, any new information, we don't want to reiterate or relitigate uh your points uh that is brought to the council meeting and this is the meeting to

ratify what was discussed at the committee the whole unless you have something that is new information. So I'm going to be not very tolerant with uh rehashing everything uh through an hour and a half or two hours. Uh but if you have new information or new thoughts, uh those can be entertained. So um we've got these recommendations. Shall we begin the discussion? Councelor Gray, I'll make the motion that council apply for Dark Sky International, Dark Sky Community Designation, and that council direct the application to be prepared by members of MIAS working with Dark Sky International for submission to council for approval and that the district pay the onetime $250 application fee from the 2026 Mias budget.

Yeah. Councilor, uh, let me uh Are you seconding the motion? Okay, this is moved by councelor Gray, seconded by council Donaldson. Go ahead, councelor Gray. As you mentioned, we discussed this quite fully at our last meeting of the committee of the whole. Um, we have some correspondence today and we've heard from public participation, different views, but as explained earlier, this is about education, not regulation, and we would like to proceed. Thank you, councelor Dolison. Those would be my sentiments as well. If there's um something that's damning that we need to retract then I guess we would have known by now. Uh so certainly education is is place to go through if this turns into be something more than that. We will certainly learn about it very quickly. Okay. Councelor Shuk.

Yeah. And I'm prepared to support the motion as well. I I suspect there are some outstanding issues in terms of getting into the depth of becoming a dark sky community. Um I did look up one community's bylaw and it actually seemed to be you know fairly rigorous. Uh but at the same time we pay the application fee that is not compelling us to adopt a bylaw or especially to enforce. So I agree with what my colleagues have said about the the crux the the the driver for all of this being education and thank you to Mr. White for further clarifying that. So I am prepared to to support this as well.

Okay. Thank you. And I'm also prepared to support it but I have a question for councelor Gray. Was there ever any attempt to speak to the members of the healthy communities who discussed this healthy communities committee who discussed this originally? Did the chair meet with the the chair of MIAS meet with the chair of healthy communities? Did the council liaison reach out to uh the other members of the healthy communities? Um we discussed this at our last meeting and I have no new information to provide. Okay. Yeah, I think that's where uh I think some of the misinformation has come from. I think a a healthy discussion with the chairs since it had been discussed at both um I think it would have been respectful to the healthy communities and to helped avoid some of the misinformation. Um but for reasons that were discussed not only at the podium but also the other night I would be prepared to follow this particular because it's the education and as you remember I I was looking

through all the documents and I asked the question is this going to be a bylaw? This is not going to be a bylaw. It is going to be a policy. So we already have on the wall here even a designation that this is of the dark sky. So, this is a continuation of that and as Mr. White said, it's it's uh additional information to give everybody the opportunity to make informed decisions for the sentimentality of the community. I'm going to ask um CEO Payet to weigh in. Thank you through the chair. Um I I think the dark sky um concept is amazing from a chosen for sure. Um people can research Jasper National Park and see some of the benefits of that kind of designation um and the kind of um effect it has on people um as far as you know community will be involved. I really respect Ted White and his can do attitude on this.

Um I can understand the perspectives of the different committees. Um and we we can't not recognize that uh there would be concern in the community. If you read through the website of the dark skies, it does talk about bylaws and does talk about wild disease and it does kind of have that kind of language in their literature. And so we can't deny that there would be some community concern, not concern, that sort of questioning. And so in that in that kind of light, um the council is to proceed, which it sounds like you're going to, um I would like to work fairly closely with Ted just to make sure that we're getting the right message out to the community.

So we don't, you know, come to a point where someone comes to the podium and, you know, says we didn't know anything about this, so let's just uh let's just um you know, do it right the first time. And I'm I'm happy to work with Ted as he does his research just to make sure we're on on the same path. Yeah, thank you. I met with Mr. White for an hour today regarding his concerns and how he was going to proceed and I appreciate that those comments and uh yeah, applaud uh Mr. White in incredibly. Okay, so it looks like we're ready to vote. I'll call the question.

All in favor? That's unanimous. Thank you. Moving along to recommendations. Uh this is uh 7 7B. This is recommendations from the March or sorry May 11th committee of the whole Royal Roads University student research. Councelor Shukin. Thank you Mayor Little. I would just uh move that council direct staff to coordinate next steps with Royal Roads University to facilitate student research research projects in the buffer lab. So moved. Okay. This is moved by council Schukan, seconded by council gray. Do you want to comment? Council Schugan. Um just really quickly u I I think the students are are going to be self-contained, self-motivated and ideally very little trouble and there will be no cost to the district unless we hear otherwise in terms of a specific proposal that might come to us. So great initiatives all around and I suspect we'll have a lot to learn from them too.

So okay, councelor Gray, I support the motion. Yep. And most importantly, Railroads University has insurance for their students and faculty that will be there. Seeing no other comment, I'll call the question. All in favor? There's that's unanimous as well. Let's move along to recommendations from the May 11th committee of the whole buffer land title review park dedication and section 219 covenant. This is 7C on your council agenda. Councelor Shukett. Um, thank you, Mayor Little. I wish to move that council receive the findings of the reviewed review of the registered charges affecting the buffer land as outlined in the report. And I'm sorry to question to Can we do this all as one motion? Okay. Sorry. and that council authorized the mayor and CEO to execute the formsy release to discharge and release historic covenants x2189 and egle 432 and expired DP notations FB 466 313 and FB 466314 from the buffer land legally described as law a section 93 the chosen district plan uh ep 69605

and section 9496 and 108 8 and that council authorized the mayor and CEO to execute form C release to discharge storm water easement and covenant CA5867519 and 520 from the buffer land legally describes lot A section 93 machosen district plan 605 section 9496 and 108 oh my goodness there's more and that council authorized the release to discharge stormwater covenant FB B586 modified by CB 393 from lots 1 to 34 sections 93 to 94. Machosen plan 5710 from lot D section 9394 M chosen plan 960 and that council directs and that council receive the staff report and finally that council direct staff to bring forward the park dedication bylaw for first, second, and third readings and the section 219 covenant for execution following completion of the reg registered charge releases authorized by council. So moved. Thank you.

Moved by councelor Schukan, seconded by councelor Donaldson. Brief motivation. Again, thanks to the planner, thanks to sorry, planners Johnson and to staff as well for bringing this forward to us. Okay, councelor Dolman. No, I I agree as well. uh stuff put a lot of time and energy into this and I followed through step by step with the Bufferland working group and the current volunteers and councelor Shukin on this. So I really appreciate it coming to this point. It's been a long road. Okay. Anybody else wish to speak? Nope. I'll call the question. All in favor? That's unanimous as well. Thank you. and we'll move along to D which is recommendations from the May 11th 2026 committee the whole fireh hall project options review is anybody okay go ahead I will move that council direct the CEO to engage with the proposed volunteer fire hall technical team that council direct the CIO to report back to council with recommendations on a qualified firm to conduct a fire service needs analysis that will inform form decisions about

the future of the fireh hall as soon as possible. So this is moved by councelor Donaldson, seconded by councelor Schukan. Council Donaldson, go ahead. Uh I don't have anything to motivate as I expect that our um CIO will um do his due diligence and keep us informed. Shuk, same as well. Thank you. Okay. Uh staff um anybody wish to speak through the chair. Sorry. Go ahead. Um, on this motion, uh, if I could, uh, ask council what council's expectations would be, uh, in the needs review, um, to help me with, uh, developing a scope of work for the project. Okay. And, um, Okay. So, you heard uh, the request from the CEO. We're talking about the needs analysis. Go ahead.

So the question that I believe is lingering in the community is whether we are building the right size of fireh hall are are we overbuilding? Are we building a Taj Mahal when we talk about option 1 A? But even if we don't go with option 1 A, what is it? what is the type of building we need? So the needs analysis is intended from my perspective to look at and we did cover some of this at the last meeting. So what are our call volumes? What what's the equipment that we have right now? Is that is it adequate to what the needs are? When are we scheduled to um replace the equipment? Uh what are our shared service agreements like? Um, again, we talked about a I I I forget the term um a fire service review, but I think there's part of that to be done, but the key thing is directed to the building.

Are we building sorry, is the building that we will look ahead to the future going to serve our needs? That's the question that I see this answering. Now, again, what we're asking Mr. Payatt to bring and I'm I'm sure that Chief Rodon is going to be um informing Mr. Payet as well is a recommendation on on um who the service provider could be. So some of this is going to get fleshed out, but uh to me the key question is the building itself. So anybody else wish weigh in? Councelor N. Yes. I just like to add that um for a community that isn't projected to grow too much the next 20 years as we learned from our planner that we build within our needs for that purpose but also what budget are we actually going to um do we have a budget or are we going to have to borrow and that sort of thing. So are we building within our needs budgetary wise or are we going to have to go into debts? I'm hoping that that'll once we

understand what the needs are um that that is seems to be paramount and is at the forefront from our constituents. It's something that keeps coming back as to with the affordability. Okay. Anybody else uh give another person an opportunity and I'll come back to you councelor Gray? Yeah. and through the chair to the CEO. I think there's a possibility too of good discussion with their proposed volunteer technical team as it was one of the issues that they identified to look at. So I expect they'll be able to help out with that. Okay. Uh thank you. I was scribbleing some notes here. Um thank you for that.

Um I agree with councelor Shukin regarding the timeline. That's that's very helpful. Uh the the fire service review. Um and uh council Donaldson regarding how we're growing that although we're not developing there are suites. So there people will be added to these suites. Uh we're encouraging people to have the uh detached or attached suites for their families. That's an increase in populations. Hence coming back to census need to fill out the census forms. Um so we we already know that as well as at your finance committees uh our uh CFO Creek has laid out those uh options. So if we go back to that uh perhaps I'll get uh Mr. Creek to resend his report outlining different options. Whether we get the grant uh that we've applied for we'll we'll hear soon uh we're told uh sometime before October hopefully. uh whether we got the grant um and what we have available in our reserves, what we have in the um in all of this reserves and all of the finances that we have a uh available to

us. So, Mr. Creep will send that to all of council, but it was it is a public document. Um but I also think we need to review uh the feasibility study that's already been provided to us. So, we've already contracted with JDA architects. So, I think that would be a good starting point because they've laid it out in that um fireh hall feasibility study. Um I think we should also uh review where the project is today and give um and and um review it where it is today. gather more hard data regarding what what is needed on the current uh performance and the uh resource allocation and of course define the future needs of the fireh hall um objectives milestones given are how we are going to grow a little bit we're not a development community but we are going to grow little bits um and probably get a handle on those gaps gaps uh that were analyzed or identified. I think that is was a common theme about the gaps. Um create um some sort of action plan um as

well. What else did I put down here? Oh, and then um some action plan and then coming back and looping back to those gaps uh to provide um specific tasks to identify those gaps. I hope I'm clear. Y yeah. Um and uh let's see that that I think that was it for me. Okay. Councilor Gray for a second time. Yeah. I just want to emphasize that the um the discussion we had at our last meeting was not about the um building itself in terms of whether or not um it needs to be replaced but rather the issue of identifying community needs. So when we have in the motion a conduct a fire service needs analysis, we were talking about what does the community need out of the fire department and then what does that mean in terms of the size and nature of the building. Councelor Fuken. Um I think well put by councelor Gray.

Um two other things at the risk of kitchen sinking here. Um, one of the things to consider is the environmental, sorry, we have a lot of trees in Machosen and as we look ahead, climate change and extreme weather events are going to be a big feature in our lives. So, where does that fit in? And also, um, I think the community has become a big fan of medical calls that the fire department helps us with. So if we're to continue with that, what does that mean in terms of space, capacity needs, etc., etc. So again, just back to what councelor Gray was saying in terms of community needs, those I think are two big ones to give consideration to.

Yeah. And I think this is timely because now our fire chief has been with us what, uh, 13 weeks or so. He's got uh his boots firmly planted at the fire department and he's looking all around and meeting with all of our regional partners and the prison and Pearson College and all of the regional partners that we have mutual aid with and so I think he will have uh valuable information for for the CAO and and he'll probably comment in the future when we discuss this again. Yeah. Okay, that's great. So I will uh leave it there and then I'll call the question or is that okay? Yep. Everybody's spoken.

Call the question. All in favor? That's unanimous. Amazing. Okay. Let's move along to recommendations from the May 11th committee. Little I'm sorry to jump in. Um I have received regarding um the next item on the agenda. I've received some information uh since May 11th when we've advanced this and uh with the benefit excuse me with the benefit of some guidance I feel that it is advisable to recuse myself on this matter to avoid any perception of bias or conflict. So I'm going to step out of the room and let you folks talk. So we're on 7E. Okay. We'll just wait for councelor Shukin to recuse himself.

That's great. Okay. So, there's three members at the table. Uh, we've got the um Okay, we got a recommendation here. Would you like me to read it in or if you want to? I'll move that council direct staff to review and implement appropriate traffic calming measures that are suitable to the narrow sections of Leon Road, Barrow Road, including the potential of speed bumps, speed reductions, signage, line painting, and other appropriate measures. Okay, this is moved by Council Grace, seconded by Council Dson. Would you like to motivate on that? Yeah, we learned at um our last meeting and through correspondence that there's been uh difficulties with excuse me, heavy traffic on this part of Leon Road, concerns about safety and road damage.

And um this seems like a good response to look at the different sorts of things that might be the right measure to take here to improve safety and um improve the situation along that road there for all users. Thank you, Kson. Yeah, I would I would agree with that. This is not the first time in history we've had an problem in the area, but it seems to have really increased and certainly impact impactful in a negative way on on the neighbors. So, uh safety for everybody, including the uh vehicles driving through the area. And thank you. I'll I'll note at our last mayor's tea, uh we had talked about this issue and uh someone had brought up the idea of weight restrictions on roads. So I think that would also be included in this uh appropriate measures to investigate. Okay, let's call the question. All in favor? That's unanimous. If I could get councelor Shuken back in the room. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. Uh, welcome back, Councelor Schukan. So, we've got next uh item number nine, reports for information on page 57 of your agenda package. We have the road resurfacing program award of contract. Uh we've got a report. Oh, go ahead. Uh Mayor Little, I would move that the 2026 road resurfacing program be awarded to the low bidder island ashalt in the amount of $749,4585 including GST. Okay, that's moved by councelor Schukan. Do I have a senator? I'll second that from for discussion. Uh, did you want to motivate on that? I'll just say that um the process has been un moved along and we knew about the roads earlier on and uh I don't I I've been to see several of them um and we should move along with resurfacing.

Okay. Okay. And um since I second it, I'll Okay, go ahead. I'll I'll The chair always speaks last. Go ahead. Yeah, I actually just had a question for the CEO through yourself. Absolutely. Um I just wondered if we had past experience with the recommended contract firm and the second question was are there any significant um differences between the bids and the deliverables? I didn't see them myself, but I wasn't the one reviewing. Okay, I'll ask the CEO. CEO PA, would you like to comment on this? Certainly through the chair, not a lot of differences. Um, the procurement process is very clear and concise out there and we get two companies typically every year. Um, and they get exactly the information, exactly the same site meetings, exactly the same dialogue so that we don't run into any procurement problems. And um there's just two companies and over the past I'm to my understanding over the past many years um we've worked with both of them but depending on the on the on the best fit.

Thank you. Thank thank you. Okay. Uh so we have a motion on the floor. Councelor Donisonson, did you wish to weigh in? Uh no. Thank you. Okay. Okay. Motion on the floor. I'll call the question. All in favor oppose. That's unanimous. Thank you.

Okay. If you move to your iPad to uh page 57 uh reports for information, we have the district mosen public communication report statistics April 2026. Could I go ahead councelor? I'll move that um the April 2026 District of Machosen public communication report statistics be received for information. Okay. Moved by councelor Gray, second by councelor Schukan. All in favor? Opposed? Carried. Now we've got the district mosen building inspection department report as we receive this often. This is the April edition. Uh could I have a motion for information? C moved by council Donaldson, seconded by both of you. Uh councelor. All in favor? Oppose? Carried. And then next we have uh C the Westshore RCMP 2026 quarter 1 report. This is on page 61 of your agenda. Just get to that.

Okay. Has everybody got that? I think the it's slow at uh regenerate. Has everybody got that? Okay, everybody's got it on there. Okay. Any comments regarding the Westshore RCMP first quarter report? Go ahead. Yeah, I found it quite interesting to go through and it may be that residents would like to see it as well. One thing that's a little bit um not exactly complicated but but makes interesting reading the numbers are so small. The small differences change the percentages wildly, but thankfully we have um low crime problems it seems in Machosen. So that's very good. I did see the one death in road accidents. I wonder if do we know was that along Souk Road?

If you could repeat the question along Souk Road. I wonder there was one death in traffic accidents and I wonder was that along Souk Road? Yes. Thank you. I think so. Uh there was one death. Uh yes. Nodding from staff. Yes. Uh yeah, I get your point about the percentages and the percentage change. That's the same with tax lifts. If you give the percentage alone, it looks huge, but dealing with actual numbers. And they've got the actual numbers in the bars um in terms of file breakdown. So that was useful for me as well as well as the file type comparisons. I thought that was very useful. Um we are paying for the service. This is the citizens of Machosen are paying paying dearly. we don't have a choice. We we uh of course uh when we go over 5,000 in population, we're responsible for 70% of our placing costs. Um and I do appreciate that they're not only in our community, but we receive these reports as well as the new superintendent has committed to attending at least two meetings a year.

So that's wonderful. Okay. Are you happy to make the motion? Yes, sure. that the Westshore RCMP quarter 1 report be received for information. Okay. And this is uh a motion from councelor Gray, seconded by councelor Donaldson. Anything else? This is on the website on the agenda so all the citizens can see this this report. Okay, I'll call the question. All in favor? That's unanimous. Thank you. Okay. Number 10, correspondence. And this is for information. We have a letter back. Oh, I'm sorry. Awfully sorry. I missed the D the finan Thank you, councelor. D financial report. This is the force first quarter 2026 on page 75. of your council agenda. Uh did you want to introduce it or Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Uh Mr. Creek.

Thank you, Mayor and Council. Uh through the chair. So this is our first quarter of 2026 comparing against the budget that you had just recently approved uh for 2026 through 2030. Uh so a quick summary since it's the first quarter um most of these items are consistent with expectations. Uh most of the variances come down to timing uh related to annual insurance, our software updates, memberships, uh and then we've got a few delayed billings from CRD and RCMP and then not really any of our capital projects have started. Uh you just approve the roads. So that's our big one for the year. um main issues to consider monitoring for the rest of the year, RCMP contract policing costs, uh the lovely FOI related consulting fees that we have to pay, uh and road cleaning costs. Um but right now, we're not expecting anything significant uh by a year end.

So for revenue, uh it was pretty slow as expected in the first quarter, about 37% of total budget. Uh, property taxes are actually going to be in the mail this week, so look for that. Uh, don't forget to claim your homeowner grant. There's always deferral. You can find more information on our website or the back of your tax notice. Uh, the main two topics to talk about for revenue is building per revenue. Uh, so that was about 73% of projected revenue for the first quarter. Um, staff will keep monitoring that. There's a number of different projects that will be completed that were started last year. We're recognized a lot of revenue for that. And then also with the spring and summer weather finally improving, uh should be more construction happening.

School revenue uh just ahead of schedule by 1% uh thanks to a new rental agreement with the wellness collective. Uh expenses. Um so we'll just break this down by kind of department. Uh so council wages currently under budget uh because of the resignation from councelor Sher Yep in January. Um our dues are higher as mentioned because of timing. So paid annual fees for UBCM and AVIC at the start of the year. Uh this will balance out by the end of the year. Uh and then our consulting is a little over budget because of some legal costs in February. For administration, um as mentioned during the budgeting, uh our FOI requests, uh quite high in the first quarter. Uh so we're currently over budget by 13,200.

Uh we're going to end up offsetting this with our legal and consulting reserve to pay for the overage. Our software licenses over budget 45,000 to 12,000. Again, due to timing recognize it all have to pay it in January, February, but it's good for the rest of the year. Uh and then the computer upgrades have been completed for administration of the fire department. Uh shows over budget, but again just timing once the year runs out it'll be uh balanced out. uh remaining accounts in line with expectations our fire department and EOC. So wages are higher than uh budgeted right now uh because of some payouts with the previous fire chief along with some increase to temporary work to help in fill in administrative duties while there's transition to the new fire chief. Uh but the main things to look out for are the firefighting equipment and first responder equipment um for the second quarter as overage for the first quarter was 5,500. Um couple of these expenses should just be oneoff so could

even out by the end of the year but something we'll just be monitoring for policing. Um so for the first quarter of 2026 we were build for 3.5 officers versus the budget of five. Um that stayed consistent for the rest of the year. district would end up saving $310,000. Um, right now the current budget calls for a reduction in our reserve of $425,000. So, uh, that if we ended up saving 310, we could reduce that reserve draw down by 73%. Uh, and which can help be pay for costs in the future. Uh, and then we also, well, we have not received our bill for civilian staffing or rent in 2026 coming from Langford. Uh, so right now we only show ecom and that won't mail from DRCMP.

Should hopefully receive it in the next little bit. When I emailed their manager, she was just getting back from vacation. So hopefully everything will be cleared up soon. For bylaw, uh, this was under budget by 21,000. Most of this just relates to the CRD uh, not billing us uh, for the first quarter of the year until April. Uh, but it did average out to about $6,800 a month versus our budget of 3,400. So, it's quite a bit over. Um, so hopefully it won't be that bad for the rest of the year. We'll see how it goes. Building inspection, not a whole lot going on in there. So, just under budget by 3,300. Uh, everything should be fine there.

Planning department, we've got consulting fees. They're over budget by uh quite a bit, but 16,200 relates to our GIS mapping updates. So, just getting everything caught up in that department. Uh, we should have some new maps here quite shortly. just met with um our consultant last week who got everything ready. Um address is being trained to staff on how to do that and then we should have new maps that are easily used on our website hopefully within next month. Public works uh so bridges are over budget due to a bunch of repair work on Hillman and Fleshro bridges. Uh hopefully these expenses even out as uh staff haven't really done anything with the bridges since and they're focused more on road work and preparation for the capital projects in the summer. Uh signs are also over budget. That's due to a lot of cleaning that's done near the end of winter. Should also even out over the year road cleaning is been a big problem in the first quarter. Uh we're $11,000 over budget uh due to a

significant increase in illegal dumping along roadsides and ditches. Then sanding and salting. It's also over budget by 13,000. But again, comes down to timing. We've spread it over the 12 months. Should be no sanding or salting for the next eight months. Um Parson wreck everything's tracking nothing, no material variances noted there. And then we've got a list of the capital projects. So the roads uh tender is closed. Just had received approval from council this evening uh of where that goes. So hopefully they'll be starting that sometime in late June, maybe July. New World Culver, still awaiting the final engineering. Um so far, no no major costs have been um incurred for that project. The Baltic water station, uh CRD should be construction, starting construction shortly. Um ideally, we're looking at the end of May, July for the completion of that project. Uh more notice will be indicated to public uh once that's being wrapped up. the fireh hall. Uh we don't have a project manager approved. There's been no capital spending on this project. So we're also

again council meeting tonight uh decision for that. So we'll see what the CEO does. Our light duty firet truck uh we received three quotes and that is expected to be delivered sometime in July to be get it out and everything else. So looking good there. And then engine number six uh looks we'll be end up deferring that to 2027. It's unlikely to have any spend in 2026 unless fire chief gets a little more things off his plate and he can focus on that. But we'll just leave it in budget for 2027 going forward. Overall um based on first quarter results, not looking like we'll need to do any budget amendments right now. Uh but we'll keep monitoring any variances that pop up and we'll come back with the second quarter report in July once all the figures been posted.

Uh, and then I guess do we have any questions? Thank you, Mr. Creek. Do we have any questions at the table? Gray. Yeah, maybe one comment, one question. And one is that FOI budget. FOI budget. That's a a stubborn number, isn't it? It sort of sticks there. My question though was the bulk water station and Mr. Creek through the chair. It may not be the right person to ask, but as I recall, it was going to be either on William Head Road or in Lombard. And I wonder where it ended up um being situated with regard to the CRDs. Look at it through there. Uh so it's going to be located on William Head, pretty close to Lombard though.

Thank you. Any other questions? Councelor Gray. Well, maybe I'll just say thanks so much for the comprehensive report, Mr. Creek. There's no comments from the finance chair. No, I think Mr. Creek has us in good hands. He's keeping track of things and I appreciate the honesty in here telling us where we do have some overages and he's going to take be mindful of tracking those and reporting back to us the next term. Yeah, thank you. Next quarter rather. Yeah, exceptional work. Uh thank you uh CFO Creek and thank you to staff. Okay, I'm just having a little bit of problem with um we're going to just take a pause if I can get the deputy corporate officer to help me with reloading. Um it keeps booting me out. If you could come here, can we just take a five minute pause and we'll be back and don't go anywhere. Five minute pause.

Yeah, thank you everybody. Just let me check with staff. Are we good to go or we're good to go? Okay. I apologize for that. Uh trying to work with the internet and the technology. Okay. Um so we've just done the uh financial report. Did we call the question on uh receiving that that the No, actually we need a motion that the 2026 first quarter financial report be received for information and that the correspondence be read received for information. Council Donaldson so moved. Moved by council Donaldson seconded by councelor Gray. Comments all in favor? Opposed? Carried. Thank you. Next we have correspondence for information on 127 of your uh computer. We have uh honorable Randy Neil, Minister of Water, Land Resource Stewardship, a response to one with the nature application and ESUK. We got the minister's response as well as my original letter.

Uh does anybody want to comment on that? the letter uh that was dated uh May 6. Okay, councelor Greg. Well, thank you very much for your letter, Mayor Little. I think it expressed the views quite well of what we discussed at council. Thank you. Yeah, well done. The um I'm wondering about the response from Minister Randy Neil. It seems there's a process they go through and and that sounds great and we've got her input in there. But she uh Randine notes, "Should the district of Machosen be interested in the addition of this parcel to East Souk Park in the future, I encourage you to discuss the matter with the CRD who has jurisdiction over East Souk Park and must make an application to the province of park inclusion is to be considered.

Is that something that you could take up with the CRD as your role in vice chair or is it something we write a letter about? What what would you recommend there little? You know, I can do either. I think it's it's always better to put it in writing. Since they've already seen this, I'm sure uh the the letter is a public document now because it was on the agenda. I would think that uh a motion from this council um asking me to engage the CRD include all of the correspondence uh that we are encouraging the CRD to um for the addition of this parcel uh to the East Suit Park in the future. I think that would be great. Um and I would entertain a motion to that effect.

Moved by council Schukan, seconded by council Donaldson. Um, anybody else want to talk about that? I think it's a great idea. I wonder if we should write the motion down for staff. That motion on the fly question we were raising earlier might be just helpful. Right. Okay. So, well, that's sort of implied in the letter. I don't think staff would be really surprised if we wouldn't have this motion. Um uh we're we're we are going to receive it and we're going to write a letter. Council asks uh the mayor to write a letter to the CRD who has jurisdiction over Isu Park. for potential addition to the uh parcel to EC Park.

This is regarding the uh crown land uh as discussed and the uh we could include all the land act files 1415 403 and the others in that notice or in that uh motion. Is that clear to everybody? So that we're talking about just so everybody's clear this is the application uh that was submitted by one with nature corporation for use of the crown land adjacent to East Suit Park. So what council is asking me to do is write a letter to the CRD. I'll also follow that obviously with a conversation uh suggesting that the CRD may want to add this parcel to the East Souk Regional Park. I was just wondering is that clear to staff and and have I confused things that council asked the mayor to write a letter to the CRD who has jurisdiction. Um, if I can just uh say um as that council asks the mayor uh to write a letter to the CRD who has jurisdiction over East Souk Regional Park

uh that they consider adding the crowned application submitted by one with Nature Core. The land act files 1415 403 141. I I didn't hear her. I'm sorry. Oh, yeah. We're just going to call a recess. Uh we've got problems with the technology. Just five minutes again. Sorry.

Okay, thank you. We're just going to resume after our five minute break. We've got the technology worked out. I'm just going to repeat the notice of or the motion coming from this letter that council asks the mayor to write a letter to the CRD who has jur jurisdiction over East Soup Park to considering consider adding crownland applications land act file 141543141 5404 and 1415322 to East Suit Park. Does that capture everything? Okay. I think so. And I the one point that I it would be the CRD would do this I expect but and the province but consultation with First Nations I don't think is needed in the motion but I think it'll be something that will be discussed at the provincial and CRD levels if it proceeds.

Yeah. which would be good news. That you're right, that's not necessary because one of our strategic priorities is um outreach consultation with First Nations before any parcels of land are bought or sold. So that that is a given at this point. And so this is a motion. Uh this was moved by Council Schukan, seconded by Council Donaldson. Anybody else want to speak to it? Nope. I'll call the question. All in favor? Thank you. That's unanimous and thanks for your patience on that. The next item we have for correspondence for information, we have a letter from Honorable Steven McKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons response to concerns regarding excessively bright headlights. We've got the letter that I wrote as well as the minister's response. Council Schukan, I think this was an issue that you brought up on behalf of one of our citizens. I think it was Mr. White uh um uh Eric White that brought this forward at a council meeting. Did you want to speak to this?

Yeah, just very quickly. So, thank you, Mr. White, for bringing this up and for the the great letter you wrote and and there's a lot of work in here that you've done, Mayor Little, on the whole package. So, thank you. Um, what I take from this letter is that they're aware of the problem. They're looking into it and there is maybe a change coming in the future. Um, that's big thing I guess I get out of it. But, uh, it's great they've, um, written back. So, not every day you get a letter from the Minister of Transportation. Yeah. Pretty timely as well. It was March March or something. Yeah. Um, what did everybody else think to the letter?

any um it looks like they're they're aware of the file. They're working on potential solutions. They've no doubt received other correspondence regarding bright lights in particular bright headlights u affecting not only people but uh wildlife and birds. Anything else? Well, I might say I didn't get a sense of urgency with the letter and yet I think it may well be an urgent problem in terms of people's uh safety at night in vehicles and pedestrians. But um I appreciate that we've got a response and as you say, people are paying attention. You know, sometimes we do re receive responses and it's thank you for your inquiry um signed minister. This is a three-page letter outlining uh what has been done, what they're doing in terms of recent recalls um as well as um their um amendments to the CMBBSS 108. Uh so I thought it was a good letter um urgency. I think it was fact-based uh what what they've been doing, what has been done, what they're looking forward to in the future. Okay, with that I'll take a motion to receive.

Moved by council Schukan, seconded by councel Donaldson. All in favor? Opposed? Carried. Next we have a correspondence for information. This is UBCM provincial response to 2025 resolutions. So this is a response. So just to give the community an idea, this was a resolution that came from this table on uh Canadian geese. We took it to UBCM uh spoke to that. Others spoke to this as well and this is the response that we got back from UBCM shephered it to the province. The province has given it back to UBCM and they've given us a copy. Uh, council Donaldson said, "Did you wish to uh speak about the letter?"

Yeah, I um I was mildly disappointed because they've kind of punted it back to us to manage which we are doing. Um, CRD is being proactively working with uh uh uh the goose um group as well as there is a CRD goose working group which one of our residents has been appointed to and one of the members of PAC is always also on that which is the peninsula agriculture advisory commission. Uh so they're reporting back to us uh regularly of things that are taking place um in managing the goose population. And just a note to um everyone here in the room as well as our public uh viewing, there will be a bolt uh coming up in June. And um I'm I'm hoping that staff will put this on the um website again. We did this last year and that's the time where we do we take uh count count heads of of geese or because they're not flying at that point when they're molting and it goes for I

think it's a few days. Um so those are those are the numbers that um these groups are looking at to be able to manage the population. um doesn't appear that because they are protected as in under the wildlife act. There's not a lot that it sounds like that uh the province is going to do. But that was my interpretation may have missed it. Uh mostly this has come up a few times through UBC resolutions, but I'm really pleased that we actually got a response. I don't recall with other resolutions that we have. So that's that's a real um bonus. appreciating the uh feedback at least.

Yeah, thanks for the comments. Anybody else wish to comment? You know, I I did anticipate a more exuberant response uh from the Ministry of Environment. Um however uh the CRD does have u a um program in place and they are doing things like rattling eggs. Not doing anything to the goose itself which is protected but rattling the eggs so that they prevent the eggs from hatching um as well. And so I am hoping that the ministry works with other levels of government because as council Donaldson has pointed out many times many of the farmers both here in Machosen but also on the peninsula have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars due to Canadian geese. I can't remember the number uh council Donaldson perhaps you do of the the Mitchell farm they had lost in one day it was 78,000 or something. It was really really very sad. Um so I think there are measures uh that can be taken place. Okay. No other comments. Okay. Uh take a motion to receive council DS.

Yeah. Uh move to receive the information. Thank you. Okay. Seconded by council Schukan. All in favor? That's unanimous. Okay. Uh next we have the Victoria Family Court and Use Justice Committee annual report. Okay. Uh, as you know, this is very personal to me. I'm chair of the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee, a small but mighty committee, a delegated CRD commission with the uh goals to educate and advocate. So we educate on behalf of the regional partners that sit at our table, educate them on what is needed uh regarding the service providers that provide the services for boots on the ground as well as we advocate for the service rep service providers. And what we are our mission is to support family and youth who are coming in contact with the justice system or are in contact with the justice system. So it's an absolute dynamic uh committee representation from all over the region as you've noted since you've read the report I'm sure and um every year we have a a 2025 annual report. We're always looking for

volunteers. There are CRD appointments uh to this uh committee, small but mighty, and we do really good work. So, if you're interested in social justice, if you're interested, if you got a a background in um uh the justice system, lawyers, uh um people that work in penitentiies, please put your name forward. Uh social workers, um anybody that wishes to volunteer, you can volunteer through the CRD. Anybody have any questions about the beautiful annual report? It was a very interesting report. I I read it cover to cover. Okay. Um I just had a couple of questions. So I'm really appreciative that um the there were several grants shared over some um integral groups helping u various different youth um sectors of our communities. Um and we know earlier this year that we did lose some of the um is it missed um uh groups. So that altered some things and probably created a little bit of a gap. Maybe not. Maybe they've got some other services. But nevertheless, uh the fact that you kept

on going and had I I see that uh the meetings were reduced to like quarterly or is that right? Yeah. Just four months. It was to preserve capacity of staff and we were trying to condense it. We actually increased it. We went small then we've added a few meetings uh but certainly not as many uh meetings that we had before. Right. Yeah. So the the other question I had was I noticed that there was mention of open house but I didn't get a Oh yeah. a clear idea of when or what that was really all about. It is on uh oh I should know that. I'm sorry. It is on uh July 12th at the city of Victoria. No, sorry, June 12th at the city of Victoria. I'm just moving to that document so that I get the date right. It's sorry, it's Tuesday, June 2nd. You should know that. Uh 1 to 4.

That's in the City of Victoria Anti Chamber. Everybody's welcome. Um, we're going to have an introduction by youth that are involved with the you Victoria Youth Empowerment Society. Yes. Uh, we funded them through our not funded them, we gave them a grant through the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice. So, all the service providers are invited to attend. It's it's really fabulous. If you've got some time, you're more than welcome to to join us. Great. Thank you. And regarding MIST, uh, we continually advocate. So this is the mobile youth services team. The counselor uh coordinates with the police officer and they go about there was one team um that was doing a regional uh approach. Westshore RCMP. Uh the last superintendent had decided to switch it up and provide sort of a a a missed team for the Westshore. Caused a lot of friction um and a lot of gaps uh because as you know youth don't stay in one municipality. They move throughout the region and that's why it was a mobile youth services team. What we needed was

two teams not two separate uh teams. So we continue to advocate for them as well as we continue to advocate for the service providers. Yeah. Okay. If you haven't read the report, you could read it tonight. Okay. Thank you. I'll take a motion to receive. Move by councelor Schukan, seconded by councils. Okay. Next we have uh Y. Oh, I'm sorry. Called the question. All in favor? Opposed? Carried. Next we have Dean Murdoch, the mayor of District of Sanage, BC Local Government Climate Action Program Funding Continuation. Councelor Gray, did you wish to speak to this? It's on page 169. Sure. I think the letter that we got from um Mayor Murdoch makes very good sense. He's talking about the question of the um loss of this grant, the local government action, the climate action plan grants. And I'm wondering if we should um step up and send a letter ourselves.

What does council think? What uh that would be another letter? You know, I do appreciate when motions are come forward. Um, I write these letters myself with the exception. Council Schukan, when he has a a motion, he helps me, gives me points. Um, if you want me to write the letter, it'd be great if you gave me some verbiage. I'll write the letter, but I'll include what you think are the salient features. What's the will of the council? Would you like to send a similar letter? Hello. Yes, that would be a great idea. Okay. Simply because there's so much downloading from provincial government for us to take care of all these things and then we start doing it and then they take funding away and we're we're you know our taxpayers are then having to pay quite a bit.

Okay. And there are some really good uh reports coming out of the GHDs in various communities uh whether it be Westwood Parks and Recreation or um Morurdoch has mentioned here their experiences and that sort of thing. So we're all following what we were set up to do and be nice if we had some support. And so just uh if you don't have it up on your iPad, uh Councelor Gray, I'll help you here. So the they uh the ask is to uh that the pro province confirm their commitment to consistent continuous LGCAP funding. Um and we look forward to future collaboration and um climate action and preparedness. Does that in a nutshell capture what you are thinking?

Yes, that's exactly it. And um I think it makes good sense to send a letter. Okay. Okay. Uh so remind me where we are. There was a motion or no motion. There was motion by councelor Gray, seconded by councel Donaldson. Is that right? Yep. Okay. Anybody else want to comment on the letter? I'll call the question. All in favor? Opposed? Carried. Okay. Yep. Okay. Next, we have uh a letter from uh somebody who I didn't know but attended the mayor's tea. I thought that was really nice, very very nice of her to actually write in. Uh we don't often get these kind of letters, but it is really nice. I think it's brief so we can we can repeat it if that's okay. I wanted to say this is from uh Melanie um on the 15th of May. I wanted to say I enjoyed the last get together with the mayor and the community to get to know her better and see what our community has in common. It's incredibly helpful to residents and homeowners to see the transparency of our council members and

I thought it was good way it was a good way to bring goodwill back. I believe going forward this should be offered regularly. Inviting people to the table in honesty and respect is a much needed pro proactive step towards goodwill. Thank you Melanie. Uh that was received on May 15th. So thank you Melanie for your compliments. That was she was at the last mayor's tea. I I've never met her before. So it was great that we're bringing out citizens from all over the community. She has come to a couple of meetings recently and I bumped into her at the mighty grao on the weekend and and had seen this in the package and I um thanked her for sharing it and encourage her to keep coming back to meetings and that the mayor's teams have been growing monthly this whole term. So three and a half years something new for her. So she's looking forward to attending the next one.

Yeah. And I also did mention to her at the meeting that um I'm here all the time. So, if you want to talk to me one-on-one, I I realize sometimes in a a group dynamics people don't like that, but they're welcome to make an appointment with me as well. Mayor Little, can I just ask, can we confirm the date for the next mayor's team? It's the second Tuesday of the month. Second Tuesday. So, it'll be the second Tuesday of June. I'm going to ask Miss Barnes, do you know which day that is? the ninth n. Okay. So, I'm happy to move that the correspondence be received for information.

Thank you. Uh moved by councelor Gray, seconded by council Donaldson. All in favor? Thank you. That's unanimous as well. Uh bylaws number 11. On page 175 of your council agenda, we have the bufferland reserve fund bylaw 2026 number 714. We have a report and a recommendation here. Uh is it council um Schukan? Do you wish to speak to this or are we going to ask staff? Council Donaldson. Uh, I'm going to make the motion that council adopt the district of Mosen Bufferland Reserve Fund bylaw 2026 number 714. Okay. This is moved by council Donaldson, seconded by councelor Shupin. You wish to speak to it? Yes. I'm just um really pleased that again that we've um um put this forward uh some time ago and staff have helped us uh shepherd it to this point. Um this is to help support the proposals and the work of the properland working group and the various entities various entities uh since then of being able to identify what we need

to keep this green space um in a manner that um can be used for education enjoyment um this sort of thing. There will be some expenses and citing the fact that we are getting some funds from the uh agreement of the land swap um the industrial park we do get a percentage and so some of those fun those funds always gone into general uh revenue. So just um probably is going to happen in a similar fashion, but we now actually have a reserve specific to uh this um piece of acreage that is uh integral to uh our community and a result of the historic land swap.

Okay. Councelor Shukin, thank you. Yeah, I'll just say that I I think the next steps with the buffer land in terms of planning and making it a park are going to be some of the most interesting land planning, land use planning um exercises I think Machos's ever gone through and key thing is a lot of the work is going to be done by volunteers. That's what the outlook is right now. Mosen does not have a parks department as we well know. So the fact that we have a a a committed set of funds that will be accessible over the years I think is a real positive in terms of doing this well. So okay I'm just going to ask our deputy corporate officer Miss Miss Hansen, can you remind us where we are in the first second uh reading regarding um this bylaw?

Yes. So, at the previous council meeting, council gave first three readings of the bylaw and now the bylaw is just being considered for adoption. Okay. Yeah. Okay, that's great. Go ahead. Um, have you given the Yes, you've given the motion. You seconded. Any other comments? Call the question. All in favor? Post? You want to post? We've got a record in unan unanimity this evening. Okay. And then other business. There's no other business, but there is uh two notice of motions. Uh councelor Gray, you had a notice of motion. Yes, I do. So, the notice of motion reads that council request the CAO prepare a report on the status of the Westshore RCMP building project and that the report include an analysis of financial impacts to the district, whether as part owner, as an or as an ongoing tenant.

Thank you. Thank you. So that's a notice of motion but doesn't require a seconder. So this will be considered at the next council meeting. Um okay. And the second notice, a motion is um uh to ask staff to bring back a report on hiring a lead consultant to steer the fireh hall project and to re-engage the fireh hall steering committee to discuss the concept of a project lead consult consultant. Okay. Would you do you want me to read that again? They the staff have it. Would you like me to read it for you again? This is Mayor Little. This is your notice of motion. Okay, great.

Can I just ask why you wouldn't just put it on the agenda as the as the chair? Um because it was something that uh came up as we were reading um through the documents again regarding the technical team. um today I thought you know I think this is the time that we should engage and actually I I shouldn't be motivating on it because this is a notice of motion doesn't require a secondary and it doesn't require or is it the motivation is not a part of the notice of motion I wasn't suggesting motivation I was asking about process thank you as the process similar to what you you've got a notice of motion doesn't require notification doesn't require there a seconder. It will be discussed in the next meeting. So will this notice motion. Okay, we're clear.

Yes. My question was as chair, can't you just put it on the agenda? Well, I would have if I had considered it last Thursday with my mayor's report. Uh but I didn't put it right on the agenda. Yeah. Last Thursday when it was published. Okay. So, we've got uh time for question period. Uh we've got uh 20 minutes maximum uh for questions. Does anybody from the public want to ask uh any questions? Eric White, Chosen Road. Um, I keep hearing the fireh hall. They keep people keep using uh the the Taj Mahal as a somewhat derogatory term towards our fire hall, but I was wondering because the Taj Mahal was built in 1653.

So, we're talking a building that stood for almost 400 years and sees 400 or 4 million visitors a year. significant wear and tear. Um, why are we not considering or or what is the consideration of the time span for the next time we have to talk about building a firewall? Are we talking about a 25-y year renovation? Are we talking about a a new build that lasts a hundred years? I'm not sure. I've heard what are parameters for the needs of how long this is supposed to last. I'd like to curious when what our parameters are. Okay. Um who would like to start off on this? As I remember the JDA report um talked about building not only for our current needs but our future needs beyond uh 25 years. We're not talking for centuries uh but uh 25 years uh 50 years. Perhaps uh the CEO would like to comment on the timeline and I think this is an important part of of of this whole process and it's an important point. So thank you for asking the question. Go ahead CA.

Yeah, through the chair um if I recall the JDA uh feasibility study um discussed uh new build and the length of the new build being 50 to 60 years of um time for a new build. Um can't remember if that's actually in the report or was in the deliberations. Um but that being said, in a needs review, um it'll be part of a needs review. um as far as community needs go. So, that's a good question. Did you want to ask a follow-up question or that was what you were interested in? Good question, Mr. Lamb. Lamb Hackmore Drive. Um my question is around the um new RGMP building. Um was chosen given the option of taking an equity position in that building.

Uh was uh was Mosen ever given the option to acquire a part ownership of the building is what you're asking. equity position perhaps the CEO uh Mr. Pay could you comment on the chair? Um, coincidentally, this came up today somewhere in one of my discussions. I don't know why. Um, my initial thought was the the the timeline of the RCMP detachment new build goes back like quite a number of years. Um, and if there were discussions about Mitchosen being involved in some kind of equity, um, we're not aware, but it doesn't mean it didn't take place because it's been a number of years. No, I understand. But if the comment saying that you're not aware of the district have been had discussions around an equity taking an equity position that that's kind of um scary the fact that there were or there weren't discussions and we're not sure where where we were on it. So I guess um maybe I can clarify. So I think the

the project it uh there was discussions around 2017 I think 2019. So that was 2017 was so that's two terms ago. Um I wasn't at the table. The CEO wasn't in his position at the time. Um we could look for uh some information regarding that. But I I recall um the former mayor stating quite emphatically that we were going to be renters in that building. And to me um when I think about $13 million that they are going to be spending on that building, we really don't have the capacity. I think and certainly from uh the financial reports that our CFO um have has given to us, I don't see us having the financial capacity to be an owner. I would rather be a a renter and the rents are not determined by the that it has been said by uh Callwood, Langford and View Royal.

The rents are determined by the province. I'm told it's it's not uh from those three groups. So um they those three groups themselves, those three municipalities themselves, they don't have the funds to build that building. So the CRD is involved. They're going to be holding the 103 or so million dollar loan, right? They'll be carrying that loan until the loan is paid off. So they the CRD will be owners of that building until the loan is paid off and then it will be transferred to the three municipalities. And so you could imagine uh we've had discussions here about a a loan of $6 million for the fireh hall and and the community erupted because of that debt.

I can't imagine what kind of debt we would have to incur uh to become an owner. But uh the uh we haven't asked our CFO uh to comment on that or to crunch the numbers uh regarding um see we're dealing with some unknowns here. We don't know what the future rent will be. What we do know is they're going to spend at least 103 million on it. We don't know what the future rents of course the rents will increase. Everybody's rent increases. uh did you have a specific worry or concern? No, I just the the question is when you look at the exist existing equity interests of the three owners now you've got um Langford that has 50 some percent and then you got V Royal that's down in the teens. So there is a wide range of ownership within that party of three.

Sure. So the question comes back ultimately the chosen is going to get charged the corresponding rent so that those equity owners now I know it'll be dictated by CRD for the the initial term presumably but they're still going to get a return on their money that they've invested in this facility. So again it it kind of raises the question what if any analysis and it sounds like it was something that was decided sometime before the existing administration and staff as well. So yeah, and I I think what we have to also consider is not only the building um but also maintenance ongoing. Um and so any co-owner would be responsible for the maintenance.

Well, and and that's that I would argue is going to come through in the rents. Yep. As well. So to say that's all going to fall back to the owners, I I don't believe that. No, it will be it'll be cost shared. So we are um if we were to own the building it would be based on population. So but Lanford has the biggest contribution to that. They've got the biggest population. Yeah. And that uh Highlands at 2500 were at 5,000. Their uh contribution to the Westshore RCMP if they wanted to own it, I suspect, I don't know, we haven't had that conversation, would be proportional to their population, as is their um the province pays uh and the feds pay their 70% in Highlands and they pay 30%. We're the opposite because we're over 5,000.

We pay 70% of our poling costs as well as the accommodations and the rent. Um, but it's not just the purchase of the building. It is ongoing. Um, and there is the liability as well. Remember, if there's uh something that happens at the building, uh the people that will be uh brought to court or sued uh would be the co-owners, not the renters. Uh, and that's that is an important consideration of any municipal or government building. Um, I haven't done the numbers. If you asking me if I've done the numbers, I haven't. No. And and I guess that's my point. It appears that we haven't done the numbers. I'm questioning why.

Why? Why? Why? Well, why have we not done the numbers? I I meet with the the mayors of the west shore uh once a month and souk and of view royal sometimes the township of not once have they ever asked do you want to be an owner um I I will ask uh perhaps uh CEO Payet did you want to comment or um Mr. Creek. Thank you. Yeah, thanks through the chair. Um, so for council, um, we receive rent invoices from from the province. We have from oh, from Langford. Um, and we've reached out to to understand where, you know, what the multipliers are for the past rents. And um don't we're not expecting the mathematics to change um based on a capital project. Um that would be odd that my opinion that um any kind of capital project um would change the multipliers for a rental factor, but I guess we'll find out soon enough. Um if that's the case and we weren't made aware of, I would be very concerned with that. So let's see what happens.

Okay. But at this point, we've committed to take a renter position rather than an equity position. Correct. So, at at this point, we weren't given the option. This council, the CEO, CFO, they've never entered any into any discussion negotiation regarding co-ownership of the building. That's that's exist with the existing administration or any previous administration previous administrations at the district m chosen. Yes. I don't know the answer to that question. Well, again I'm I'm asking that not have been prudent and if it was prudent then there should be information available on that analysis. Okay. I suspect there wasn't an analysis done. I'm going to ask the deputy corporate officer in her memory. Does she remember any kind of report or ask or letter coming to the district? I um I don't have that information, Mayor Little. And um I would just say that the procedure bylaw says that question period is um it's not a back and forth.

Um, your council council or the chair should just be directing the public member to the appropriate department for answers. Thank you for the reminder. I'm going to um ask if you could have a conversation with uh the CEO. Okay. Thank you. So that you can have a conversation with the CFO. Okay. Thank you, Councelor Gray. I just want to point out I wasn't jumping in because we I have a notice of motion coming up on just this topic and taking your advice earlier chose not to speak but a lot of things have been said today and I think people maybe look forward to the next meeting and we'll talk about it again and I'll be involved in that discussion as well. Thank you.

And this was your notice of motion this evening to do with the RCMP police building cost ownership and renter. How we got in the situation we're in today. What situation that we're in today are you referring to? I think I'll take your earlier advice and we'll talk about it when the motion comes up. Thank you. Okay. That's a bit inflammatory, but okay. Um, anybody else wish to ask questions at the question period? No. Okay. I'll take a motion to adjurnn. Moved by councelor Shuken, seconded by councelor Donaldson. All in favor? Post carried. Thank you everybody.