Council accepted a clean audit showing $4.1 million in annual surplus, while the auditor stressed that most of the District’s accumulated surplus is already tied up in assets and reserves. The most contested decision was whether to ask voters about borrowing up to $5 million for a seniors-and-youth gathering place on Lot A; Council kept both the dollar limit and location in the question, then unanimously approved it. Council also directed staff to tighten election-sign rules, including rules for District colours, roadways and municipal property. The RCMP reported increases in several types of calls, including mischief, weapons complaints and youth-related files, and said a new school liaison officer is expected to help with early intervention.
Generated from the recording's captions and the official minutes.
Council amended the agenda to move Councillor Haldane’s notice of motion on detached suites to the next regular meeting. It also moved the Natori sister-city presentation to the end of the meeting.
Routine: adopt the meeting agenda with changes, moving Councillor Haldane’s notice of motion to the next regular meeting and moving the Natori item to after Council Verbal Reports.
Official wording: THAT the agenda for the April 27, 2026 Regular Meeting of Council be adopted as amended, deferring item 13.2 Notice of Motion brought forward by Councillor Haldane to the next Regular Meeting of Council and to move item 9.1 Natori to be new item 17, after Council Verbal reports.
Routine: adopt the minutes of the April 13 regular meeting and the April 20 Committee of the Whole meeting.
Official wording: THAT the following Council meeting minutes be adopted as presented:
April 13, 2026 - Regular
April 20, 2026 - Committee of the Whole
KPMG reported a clean, unqualified audit, with no material errors or outstanding audit matters. At year-end, the District had just under $20 million in financial assets, about $157 million in capital assets and $13.7 million in liabilities. The $4.1 million annual surplus was more than invested in capital work; of the $163 million accumulated surplus, about $155 million was in capital assets and $7.7 million in reserves, leaving roughly $30,000 in unrestricted operating surplus. Council accepted the draft statements.
Agreement
Councillors who commented described the statements and audit as strong work.
The auditor explained that accounting surplus is not simply spare cash: it represents amounts available for capital projects and savings.
The RCMP described its priorities as road safety, crime reduction, community engagement, officer wellness and reconciliation. In Sooke, quarterly mischief reports rose from 47 to 61 year over year, weapons complaints from 2 to 10, and calls involving youth under 18 also showed increases. The officer linked rising calls partly to population growth and more people coming to Sooke for services, while noting that greater staffing can also produce more proactive files. Council asked for future reports to include more historical context and be provided before meetings; the detachment said its school liaison position had been posted and would support early intervention with youth.
Agreement
Council thanked the detachment and supported continued road-safety work and early support for youth.
The Mayor favoured keeping the existing priorities for another year while new officers and programs get established.
Council adopted the consent agenda, which included correspondence, the Chief Administrative Officer’s report, a melanoma and skin cancer awareness proclamation, a sign variance for the McDonald’s drive-through at 108-6661 Sooke Road, and zoning amendments responding to provincial small-scale multi-unit housing rules. Three correspondence items were pulled for a later meeting. The variance permits two menu-board signs, up to 2.08 metres high, and directs staff to discuss voluntary pedestrian-safety improvements near the drive-through crossing. The zoning bylaw received its first three readings, subject to provincial transportation approval before final adoption.
Agreement
The consent items that remained on the agenda passed without opposition.
Adopt the listed consent-agenda items together: correspondence, the CAO report, the May skin-cancer awareness proclamation, a development variance permit for 108-6661 Sooke Road, and the small-scale multi-unit housing zoning amendment.
Official wording: THAT the following items on the Consent Agenda be adopted by consent:
8.2 Correspondence
8.3 Report of the Chief Administrative Officer
8.4 Proclamation - Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month May 2026
8.5 Development Variance Permit - 108-6661 Sooke Road
8.6 Bill 25 – Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing Response: Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 939 (600-116), 2026
Three letters were pulled from the consent agenda: Sooke budget input, a request to amend the Sooke Food Bank service agreement, and a request for permanent daylight-saving time. They were deferred to the next regular meeting. The official motions list also records a motion about receiving specified correspondence, but no separate result for that motion is audible in the transcript.
Carried 5 to 02026-164Item 8.2
Set aside three letters—for future discussion: budget input, a request to amend the Sooke Food Bank service agreement, and permanent daylight-saving time. Receive the other correspondence from April 9 to 22 for information.
Official wording: THAT the correspondence 4.D - Sooke Budget Input (Eric Boucher), 10.J - Request to amend Sooke Food Bank Service Agreement (Kim Kaldal) and 21.E - Permanent Daylight-Saving Time (City of Langford) be pulled for discussion at a future Regular Council meeting, and that the remaining correspondence from April 9 through April 22, 2026, be received for information.
The report was received through the consent agenda. The Chief Administrative Officer separately recognized the retiring senior bylaw officer, administrative support staff, the finance team’s work on the audit, and local volunteers.
Agreement
Council adopted the report by consent.
Carried 5 to 02026-165Item 8.31:25:33 Watch · Read
Routine: receive the Chief Administrative Officer’s report for information.
Official wording: THAT Council receive the Report of the Chief Administrative Officer for information.
By consent, Council approved a variance allowing the existing McDonald’s drive-through to have two menu-board signs rather than one, and a maximum sign height of 2.08 metres rather than 2.0 metres. Staff were also directed to discuss voluntary high-visibility pavement markings and advisory signs for pedestrians crossing the drive-through.
Agreement
The variance and direction to staff passed as part of the consent agenda.
Carried 5 to 02026-166Item 8.51:25:33 Watch · Read
Allow the McDonald’s drive-through at 108-6661 Sooke Road to have two menu-board signs instead of one, with a slightly higher maximum sign height. Also have staff discuss voluntary pedestrian-safety improvements near the drive-through crossing with the property owner.
Official wording: THAT Council authorize the issuance of Development Variance Permit PLN02557 (Attachment 1) for the property legally described as Lot C, Section 10, Sooke District, Plan VIP58444 (108-6661 Sooke Road), to vary Section 6.13.1 of Sign Regulation Bylaw No. 480, to increase the maximum allowed number of Menu Board Signs from one (1) to two (2) and the maximum height of a Menu Board Sign from 2.0 m to 2.08 m for the existing McDonald's restaurant drive-through.
AND THAT Council direct staff to engage the property owner/applicant regarding voluntary pedestrian safety improvements at and near the drive-through crossing area, including high-visibility pavement markings and advisory signage.
By consent, Council gave first, second and third readings to a zoning amendment responding to the provincial law on small-scale multi-unit housing. Final adoption depends on approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Transit.
Agreement
The three readings passed as part of the consent agenda.
Carried 5 to 02026-167Item 8.61:25:33 Watch · Read
Advance the zoning changes needed to respond to the province’s small-scale multi-unit housing legislation through three readings. The changes can only be finally adopted after provincial transportation ministry approval.
Official wording: THAT Council give first, second, and third reading to Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 939 (600-116), 2026, to amend Zoning Bylaw No. 600 to address Bill 25 – the Housing and Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing);
AND THAT final adoption of Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 939 (600-116), 2026, be subject to approval by the Ministry of Transportation and Transit.
Staff said Council had passed about 560 resolutions during its term and highlighted work on the Official Community Plan, tourism funding, expanded fire and police services, infrastructure investment, long-term asset reserves, a code of conduct and a redesigned community investment program. Staff said open resolutions would be brought back to Council before the October election, although new work could affect their timing.
Agreement
Councillors welcomed the overview and thanked staff for the work behind the resolutions.
Staff intended to report on open resolutions before the election.
Staff outlined the October election’s voting options, including advance, special and mail voting, and explained that curbside voting would be available for people unable to enter a voting place. Council discussed possible sign rules: reserving District colours, limiting signs on roadways to the election period, requiring removal within 24 hours, and prohibiting signs on municipal property. Council directed staff to draft bylaw amendments covering those points. A public speaker raised the need for clear election-sign timing, and another cautioned that wording about private-property signs should account for renters as well as owners.
Agreement
Council supported clarifying election-sign rules before the election.
Council wanted accessible voting options, including curbside voting, available.
Disagreement
Councillors differed on whether restrictions on the District’s five official colours might unfairly prevent candidates from reusing existing signs.
One councillor preferred 24-hour sign removal to align with provincial rules; another favoured keeping a longer grace period because signs can move or be missed.
Carried 5 to 02026-170Item 9.32:03:00 Watch · Read
Have staff prepare sign-rule changes for election periods that restrict use of District colours, set rules for signs on roadways but not private property, require signs to be removed within 24 hours, and ban signs on municipal property.
Official wording: THAT Council direct staff to proceed with amendments to the Sign Bylaw to:
include restrictions on the use of District colour palette;
establish rules for signage during election periods on roadways (excluding private property);
require removal of signs within 24 hours; and
prohibit signs on municipal property.
Staff explained that borrowing requires a bylaw, provincial review and an elector-approval process, and that holding a referendum alongside the October 17 election would add relatively little cost compared with holding one separately. Council focused on the proposed Sooke through-connector road: design was about 75–80% complete, but grant decisions were still unknown. Staff planned a further report in May with options, and Council discussed the short timeline for deciding whether to put a borrowing or opinion question on the ballot.
Agreement
Council needed more information on grant funding, costs and options before deciding what question, if any, should go to voters.
A further staff report was expected in May.
Disagreement
Councillors raised differing possibilities for a public vote, including a specific borrowing question, a broader opinion question, or no question, depending on grant information and the cost of the road.
Carried 5 to 02026-171Item 9.42:18:27 Watch · Read
Routine: receive the report on local-government borrowing and referendum rules for information.
Official wording: THAT Council receive this report for information.
13.1 Notice of Motion provided by Councillor Bateman
community services6 public speakers2:19:17 Watch · Read
Council debated asking voters in October whether the District should borrow up to $5 million for the Sooke Gathering Place, an intergenerational centre proposed for Lot A in the town centre. Supporters said the project has been in development for years, has raised nearly $294,000, and would provide a much-needed place for seniors and youth. A councillor proposed removing both the $5 million limit and the Lot A location; that amendment failed. Council then unanimously approved the original question and directed staff to report on the steps for putting it on the ballot and the taxpayer implications. The question is an opinion vote, not a binding borrowing approval.
Agreement
Councillors agreed that Sooke needs a gathering place serving seniors and youth.
Councillors agreed the public should have a chance to express its view on the project.
Disagreement
Some councillors wanted the question to specify up to $5 million and Lot A, arguing that voters and potential funders need a clear proposal.
A councillor argued for removing the amount and location to avoid locking in a cost or site before the project is fully defined.
Carried 5 to 02026-173Item 13.12:46:40 Watch · Read
Put a question on the October 2026 ballot asking voters whether the District should borrow up to $5 million to build and operate the Sooke Gathering Place on Lot A in the town centre. Also have staff report on what is needed to put the question on the ballot and the tax implications at current borrowing rates.
Official wording: WHEREAS 82.9% of District of Sooke voters on November 15, 2014 were in favour of developing local multi-use community centre facilities serving seniors and youth;
AND WHEREAS the District and the Sooke Region Communities Health Network have worked extensively on plans to establish the Sooke Gathering Place multi-generational centre on Lot A in the town centre;
AND WHEREAS the community has responded strongly to multiple fundraising efforts in recent years that have raised $293,979 to date towards construction of the Sooke Gathering Place;
AND WHEREAS this funding falls substantially short of the TBD amount that will be required;
THEREFORE be it resolved that the District of Sooke provide voters with an opportunity to respond to the following question in October 2026:
In your opinion, should the District borrow up to $5 million to construct and operationalize the Sooke Gathering Place intergenerational centre on Lot A in the town centre?
YES NO
AND FURTHER, THAT Council direct staff to report on the Sooke Gathering Place intergenerational centre on Lot A in the town centre, including the steps required for inclusion of this question on the October ballot and the taxpayer implications based on current Municipal Finance Authority rates.
Council received an update on efforts to press the province for pedestrian-safety improvements along Highway 14. A councillor cited planned crosswalks near Sencot’en Elementary and requests for flashing lights and crossings at other locations, including John Muir Elementary, Maple Avenue South, Ed MacGregor Park, Daniels Market and Drennan Street. Staff said the new director of operations had raised the issue with provincial transportation staff.
Agreement
Council and staff supported continuing to advocate for pedestrian-safety improvements with the province.
Carried 5 to 02026-174Item 14.12:48:23 Watch · Read
Routine: receive the pedestrian-safety correspondence for information.
Official wording: THAT Council receive correspondence for information.
A councillor asked whether the residents who wrote about the Royop development still had access to their property. Staff explained that a change from a full road right-of-way to a pedestrian connection had been missed in the plans, potentially blocking the property’s only access. After the Ministry of Transportation and Transit rejected a proposed roundabout, the access design changed; Royop representatives had since agreed to preserve the residents’ access. Council received the correspondence.
Agreement
Staff acknowledged the access issue and said it would be preserved in the revised plans.
Carried 5 to 02026-175Item 14.22:54:18 Watch · Read
Routine: receive the correspondence about Royop plan concerns for information.
Official wording: THAT Council receive correspondence for information.
Moved to the end of the meeting, the Mayor presented a report on her visit to Sooke’s sister city, Natori, in northeastern Japan, and displayed the signed agreement and gifts exchanged. She described the long-standing relationship, including student visits, and Natori’s recovery after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. She said travel costs were paid personally and showed how Natori had reserved space in a local pavilion for Sooke products.