Council recognized retiring crossing guard Sarah Ferrier’s 33 years at Saseenos Elementary and Otter Point Fire Chief John McCrea’s 31 years of service. The most contested decision was a new housing amenity contribution policy: after a 3–2 vote lowered several proposed per-unit charges, Council adopted the policy, which is due for review after a year. Council also amended a sign bylaw so election signs on highways can go up at the start of the official campaign period, rather than the earlier pre-campaign period, and gave the amended bylaw three readings. Other decisions included adopting two bylaws, asking staff to report on meeting audio-visual improvements, and approving $5,000 for the All Sooke Day Family Picnic.
Generated from the recording's captions and the official minutes.
Council publicly thanked the Saseenos Elementary crossing guard for 33 years helping generations of students and families cross Highway 14. She could not attend; the District planned to send her a token of appreciation and a recording of the remarks.
Council recognized Otter Point Fire Chief John McCrea as he prepares to retire on July 3 after 31 years with the department. The chair also welcomed incoming Chief Ben Patterson and noted the value of cooperation among the Sooke, Otter Point, Metchosin and East Sooke fire departments.
Council approved the meeting agenda as presented.
Routine: adopt the agenda for this meeting as presented.
Council amended the May 25 minutes to add “right of way acquisition” to the discussion summary for the Throup Road/Phillips Road connection item. A councillor said the minutes should reflect the unresolved need to secure right-of-way, including land acquisition from the Capital Regional District.
Routine: adopt the Council meeting minutes with an added phrase clarifying the discussion summary about the Throup Road/Phillips Road connection project.
Four members of the public spoke. A resident objected to election signs appearing months before the campaign period and to banning signs on District land. Another speaker criticized the cost and effect of housing contributions, questioned road spending and infrastructure capacity, and raised other local issues. A Sooke Builders Association representative said the proposed housing charges could deter multi-family projects; a resident supported adopting the housing policy while calling for regular review.
Council approved the remaining consent agenda items. Several correspondence entries were pulled for later discussion, including referendum costs, Gathering Place costs and a Capital Regional District report.
Routine: approve the correspondence and the Chief Administrative Officer's report through the consent agenda.
Council received the correspondence assigned to the consent agenda for information. Some letters were pulled from consent for discussion at a later meeting, including correspondence about referendum costs and the Gathering Place.
Set six correspondence items aside for discussion at the next regular meeting; receive the rest of the correspondence from May 20 to June 3 for information.
The Chief Administrative Officer said there was nothing to report. Council received the report for information through the consent agenda.
Routine: receive the Chief Administrative Officer's report for information.
Staff said Council had already endorsed resolutions on manufactured homes and food waste and requested ministerial meetings. The resolutions, with supporting material, were due to the Union of BC Municipalities by June 15, 2026. A councillor asked staff to add a meeting with the Minister of Environment.
Council adopted a policy to collect cash contributions for affordable housing when qualifying residential rezonings proceed. The staff proposal used a land-value increase approach for developments over 100 homes and set flat charges for developments of 5–99 homes; the original rates included $3,000 per apartment, mixed-use or townhouse unit, $4,000 per single-detached unit and $1,000 per purpose-built rental unit. After debate, Council lowered apartments, mixed-use and townhouses to $2,000 per unit and single-detached subdivisions to $3,000; purpose-built rentals remained at $1,000. The policy includes a review after one year. Supporters said it would provide a clearer, more predictable way to build a housing fund; opponents argued the proposed charges could add to development costs and weaken Sooke’s ability to attract housing. The debate also covered exemptions, land-value estimates, development costs and the District’s existing reserve, which held about $750,000.
Change the proposed housing amenity contributions to $2,000 per apartment, mixed-use, or townhouse unit; $3,000 per unit in single-detached subdivisions; and $1,000 per purpose-built rental unit.
Adopt the housing contribution policy with the revised per-unit amounts: $2,000 for apartments, mixed-use and townhouses; $3,000 for single-detached subdivisions; and $1,000 for purpose-built rentals.
Council adopted the zoning amendment bylaw.
Adopt the zoning change for the property addressed in this bylaw.
Council adopted the sewer-use amendment bylaw.
Adopt the amendment to the rules governing sewer use.
Council amended the bylaw to remove “pre-” from a provision governing election signs on highways. The change means signs may be placed at the start of the official campaign period, September 19, 2026, rather than the earlier pre-campaign period, which begins July 20. Council then gave the amended bylaw three readings. Discussion also covered sign removal, use of District branding and existing restrictions on advertising in parks. A public speaker urged Council to set a clear start date and keep public spaces available for campaign signs; councillors differed over the fairness of the earlier start and the importance of campaign freedoms.
Remove the word “pre-” from the election-sign rule in section 3.3, so the rule no longer refers to a pre-campaign period.
Advance the sign bylaw through three readings with the change removing “pre-” from section 3.3.
Council directed staff to report on options for improving audio and video for people watching meetings. The sponsor said remote viewers can miss comments when councillors do not use their microphones and hoped the report would help a future Council consider improvements. Members noted staff capacity may delay action.
Ask staff to report on ways to improve the sound and video experience for people attending or watching District meetings.
The mayor said the item had already been dealt with earlier in the meeting and asked for it to be removed.
Council received the committee’s annual report for information. A councillor described its work supporting youth-serving non-profits and keeping young people out of the justice system. The councillor raised concern that federal funding for the Mobile Youth Services Team would end on September 30 and said the committee planned to invite the provincial minister and local Members of Parliament to hear from team members.
Receive the Victoria Family Court and Justice Committee's annual report for information.
A councillor discussed uncertainty about whether the provincial Local Government Climate Action Program would continue. The District receives about $140,000 annually; the current budget assigns $285,000 from the program to rainwater and storm-management work, including repairs on Brownsey Boulevard.
Council approved a $5,000 contribution to the Sooke Community Association for the All Sooke Day Family Picnic. The funding uses $1,000 from the sponsorship account and $4,000 from contingency. Councillors noted the event supports family activities and community life; one also asked to see a budget for the event.
Provide $5,000 toward the Sooke Community Association's All Sooke Day Family Picnic: $1,000 from the Sponsorship account and $4,000 from the Council Contingency fund.
Council adjourned the meeting.
Routine: end the June 8, 2026 regular Council meeting.
All 15 decisions from the minutes appear under the agenda items above.