The sharpest dispute was over the Throup Road/Phillips Road connector: councillors rejected both buying land for a 25-metre route and asking voters a non-binding question about the project, leaving its future to the next council. Sooke Soccer Club warned that a field-rental increase from about $16,600 to $52,000 could price families out and put the club at risk; council took no decision on its request that night. Council approved a first step toward updated short-term-rental rules and told staff to bring forward a wastewater utility bylaw. BC Transit outlined a 25-year regional plan, including better airport links and possible express service for Sooke, but the draft still needs further review.
Generated from the recording's captions and the official minutes.
Residents praised the 2025 annual report’s clear presentation but also questioned municipal spending, staffing, climate initiatives, and how budget feedback affects property taxes. Two speakers urged safer walking and cycling features on the Throup Road connector: one preferred a 20-metre design and another supported the full 25-metre buildout. A resident raised concerns about a permissive tax exemption for M'akola, and a speaker also praised Sooke Soccer Club and its financial transparency.
Disagreement
Speakers differed on the connector’s scale: one favoured a 20-metre compromise, while another supported a 25-metre design for safety and future use.
Some speakers praised the annual report’s transparency; others argued the District should cut spending and reconsider the scope of municipal activities.
7.1 BC Transit Draft Victoria Regional Transit Plan - Update
BC Transit presented a draft 25-year plan built around faster, more frequent and better-connected service. The plan includes rapid-transit proposals, regional express service that could limit stops or passenger pick-ups on routes such as the 61, and possible app-booked service in lower-density areas. The presenter said Sooke has about 15-minute peak service on the 61 when combined with the 65, and that a change to the 65 has improved service near the Irwinwood and Helgesen area. A one-seat ride between downtown Victoria and the airport is part of the peninsula rapid-transit concept; a smaller first step is for the 72 to serve the airport on some early and late trips starting in September. The draft goes to the transit commission in July, with a final version targeted for September.
Agreement
Council and the presenter agreed that transit reliability, rider comfort and transit priority on roads need attention.
The presenter said local governments can seek highway-stop improvements through the Ministry of Transportation and Transit’s Minor Betterments program, which can provide up to $100,000 per project.
Disagreement
A councillor questioned whether high-occupancy vehicles should be allowed in bus lanes; the presenter cautioned that shared use can slow buses and pointed to mixed results elsewhere.
A councillor called for double-decker buses to return to Sooke; the presenter said new buses are expected but could not promise where they would be deployed.
8.1 Sooke Soccer Club - Field Rentals
community services2 public speakers1:09:11 Watch · Read
The soccer club asked the District for help after its annual field rent rose from about $16,600 to $52,000, a 214% increase due in January. The club has about 450 members, including 350 children, and said the new charge could force another roughly $100 increase per player on top of changes already made to registration fees. It said it had paid $50,000 toward replacement field lights last year, has no written agreement setting out responsibilities and fees, and has about $40,000 in the bank, including a $25,000 guaranteed investment certificate. The club proposed a service agreement with the field operators, an annual grant of about $36,000, or a District-owned facility. Council made no decision on those requests during the delegation; a councillor later gave notice of a motion for discussion at the July 13 meeting.
Agreement
The club and a councillor recognized that the proposed increase would create a difficult financial burden and could affect registration.
The club said it would welcome a written agreement clarifying roles, responsibilities and user fees.
Disagreement
The club disputed the view that its past rent was simply an unsustainably low subsidy, arguing that it should not bear unexpected infrastructure costs as well as the sharp rent increase.
A resident on a disability pension said property-tax increases were difficult to manage on a fixed income. They argued that a single low-income resident can face the same tax bill as a couple with a higher combined pension income, and suggested lower council salaries, fewer council seats and a tax category for single low-income residents. They also proposed moving the District office to the elementary school site and relocating the school. Council did not debate or decide on these proposals during the delegation.
Council approved the consent agenda unanimously. It included correspondence, the Chief Administrative Officer’s report and Land Use and Development Committee minutes, as well as the first steps on updated short-term-rental rules and a direction to bring forward a wastewater utility bylaw.
Carried 6 to 02026-239Item 9.11:18:52 Watch · Read
Routine: approve the listed consent agenda items together, without separate discussion.
Official wording: THAT the following items on the Consent Agenda be adopted by consent:
9.2 Correspondence
9.3 Report of the Chief Administrative Officer
9.4 Draft Land Use and Development Committee Minutes
9.5 Short-Term Rental Accommodation Modernization: Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 947 (600-120), 2026
9.6 Wastewater Bylaw
Council gave the zoning amendment its first two readings through the consent agenda and directed staff to schedule a public hearing. The bylaw is intended to modernize the District’s regulation of short-term rentals. The transcript records the consent vote but not a separate declaration on the public-hearing direction.
Carried 6 to 02026-242Item 9.51:18:52 Watch · Read
Advance the proposed updates to Sooke’s short-term rental rules through the first two readings, and have staff schedule a public hearing so the public can comment.
Official wording: THAT Council give First and Second Reading to Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 947 (600-120), 2026, to amend Zoning Bylaw No. 600 to modernize Sooke’s regulation of Short-Term Rental Accommodations.
AND THAT Council direct staff to schedule a Public Hearing for Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 947 (600-120), 2026.
Council directed staff, through the consent agenda, to bring forward the proposed wastewater utility bylaw. The change is linked to the expiry of the sewer parcel tax later in the year and would establish a sewer utility billing mechanism.
Carried 6 to 02026-243Item 9.61:18:52 Watch · Read
Have staff bring the proposed wastewater utility bylaw to Council for consideration.
Official wording: THAT Council instruct staff to bring forward the proposed wastewater utility bylaw.
transportation2 public speakers1:19:38 Watch · Read
Staff compared four right-of-way and construction options for the connector, including a 25-metre corridor and narrower 20-metre and 15.2-metre versions. The wider design would provide room for walking and cycling, utilities and future road capacity; staff estimated that acquiring the remaining land could cost about $700,000, with most needed from the Capital Regional District and a smaller portion from private owners. Staff warned that widening a narrower route later could cost many millions more. Councillors raised concerns about the steep site, retaining walls, uncertain traffic counts based largely on 2018 data, the roundabout’s cost and safety, and the project’s tax burden. Council unanimously received the report, then defeated a motion to negotiate for the land based on a 25-metre route. It also defeated a proposal to ask voters a non-binding question about continuing the project in October. The next council will decide whether to take the work further.
Agreement
Councillors agreed the project has unresolved questions about land, costs, funding and the preferred road design.
The staff member said negotiations would not commit the District to a purchase; any acquisition and budget decisions would return to council.
Disagreement
Some councillors supported seeking the full 25-metre right-of-way to preserve future options; others opposed further work before the next council or wanted more certainty about the Capital Regional District land.
Councillors disagreed on whether a non-binding public vote would provide useful direction without a confirmed price and funding plan.
The staff member described a roundabout as a safer, more flexible option; a councillor pressed for a less costly signalized intersection, while another warned that a T-intersection would be unsafe and cause traffic backups.
Carried 6 to 02026-244Item 10.12:36:03 Watch · Read
Routine: receive the road connection project report for information.
Official wording: THAT Council receive the Throup Road/Phillips Road Connection Project report for information.
Authorize staff to negotiate with private property owners about acquiring the land segments needed for the connector, using a 25-metre road design.
Official wording: THAT Council directs staff to negotiate with the necessary private property owners for the acquisition of various land parcel segments needed to complete the Throup Road/Phillips Road Connector based on the approved cross-section of 25m.
Have staff prepare a report on holding a non-binding community vote on October 17, 2026, about whether to continue the road connector project.
Official wording: THAT Council directs staff to bring forward a report on a non-binding plebiscite regarding continuation of the Throup Road/Phillips Road Connector project for community opinion to be expressed on October 17, 2026.
Staff presented the District’s annual report, a legally required account of its operations, achievements and finances. The report noted 75% overall satisfaction in the annual survey and that 74% of respondents rated quality of life as good or excellent; roads, transport and congestion remained concerns. It also reported 1,580 fire calls, about 62% medical, and 5,259 police calls for service, an 18% increase over 2024. Council praised the report’s clarity and approved sending it to the Government Finance Officers Association for financial-reporting consideration.
Agreement
Councillors praised the report’s detail, readability and transparency.
Staff welcomed feedback to improve future reports.
Disagreement
Public speakers questioned spending choices and the scope of some municipal programs, while others praised the report’s content and presentation.
Carried 6 to 02026-245Item 10.23:11:15 Watch · Read
Receive the District’s 2025 annual report and have staff submit it for consideration for a Government Finance Officers Association financial reporting award.
Official wording: THAT Council receive the District of Sooke’s 2025 Annual Report for information;
AND THAT Council direct staff to submit the 2025 Annual Report to the Government Finance Officers Association for Financial Reporting consideration.
Council approved submission of the District’s 2025 Statement of Financial Information to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and authorized the Mayor and Director of Financial Services to sign its approval form. The filing is a statutory requirement.
Carried 6 to 02026-246Item 10.33:12:08 Watch · Read
Receive the 2025 financial information report, approve sending it to the provincial ministry, and authorize the Mayor and finance director to sign its approval form.
Official wording: THAT Council receive the 2025 Statement of Financial Information Report for information; and
THAT Council approve submission of the District of Sooke 2025 Statement of Financial Information to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs; and
THAT Council authorize the Mayor and Director of Financial Services to sign the Statement of Financial Information approval form.
Council reviewed requests for meetings at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention. A councillor sought an additional meeting about food-waste and grocery expiry-date issues. Council added the Ministry of Agriculture to the list of ministries to approach, then approved the report and meeting requests as amended. The chair asked councillors to send staff brief notes explaining the purpose of each requested meeting.
Agreement
Council agreed to add the Ministry of Agriculture to the meeting-request list.
The chair asked councillors to provide staff with clear advocacy points for their requested meetings.
Carried 6 to 02026-247Item 10.43:17:41 Watch · Read
Receive the convention report and have staff arrange to seek a meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture.
Official wording: THAT Council receive this report for information.
AND THAT Council instruct staff to seek meetings with the following Ministries:
Ministry of Agriculture
Two notices were set for discussion at the July 13 meeting. One would ask the District to discuss new service agreements with the Sooke Community Association for Fred Mil Park and Art Morris Park, with user-group rate increases kept to a reasonable minimum. The other would reserve the remaining land on Lot A for a public plaza and the Gathering Place, with associated parking, for up to five years.
14.1 Referendum Cost and Back-Up Plan (Dave Saunders)
After the earlier debate on the Throup Road connector and a possible public vote, the councillor who had pulled this correspondence said there was nothing further to discuss. Council received it for information.
Carried 6 to 02026-251Item 14.13:23:20 Watch · Read
Routine: receive the correspondence about referendum costs and a back-up plan for information.
Official wording: THAT Council receive this correspondence for information.
Council amended the proposed response to the correspondence and agreed to add the submission to the July 13 agenda alongside the staff report on a Gathering Place plebiscite.
Instead of simply receiving the letter, add the May 25 submission from SRCHN President Nicky Logins to the July 13 agenda alongside the staff report on the Gathering Place plebiscite.
Official wording: Motion amended to remove 'Council receive for information' and change to 'the submission dated May 25, 2026 from SRCHN President Nicky Logins be added to the July 13 Council agenda in association with the Gathering Place plebiscite staff report.'
Carried 6 to 02026-252Item 14.23:24:08 Watch · Read
Add the May 25 submission from SRCHN President Nicky Logins to the July 13 agenda alongside the staff report on the Gathering Place plebiscite.
Official wording: THAT the submission dated May 25, 2026 from SRCHN President Nicky Logins be added to the July 13 Council agenda in association with the Gathering Place plebiscite staff report.
A councillor said the positive letter was worth sharing in a formal council meeting and noted that families registering for sports may benefit from the program. Council received the correspondence for information.
Carried 6 to 02025-253Item 14.33:24:59 Watch · Read
Routine: receive the Kidsport Greater Victoria thank-you letter for information.
Official wording: THAT Council receive this correspondence for information.
A councillor asked the District to make the Capital Regional District’s annual report easier to find through the District website. Staff agreed to look at sharing its news release or a link. Council received the correspondence for information.
Agreement
Staff agreed to look at making the report easier to access from the District website.
Carried 6 to 02026-254Item 14.43:26:38 Watch · Read
Routine: receive the CRD 2025 annual report correspondence for information.
Official wording: THAT Council receive this correspondence for information.
A councillor proposed asking staff to bring the travel and expense policy to council for discussion, with an eye to possible savings on local conferences. The amendment was defeated; council then received the correspondence for information. The chair said the next council could decide whether to change the policy.
Agreement
Council agreed to receive the correspondence for information.
Disagreement
One councillor sought a staff review of possible conference savings; the chair and several councillors preferred to leave any policy changes to the next council.
Carried 6 to 02026-255Item 14.53:32:20 Watch · Read
Routine: receive the correspondence about conference attendance costs for information.
Official wording: THAT Council receive this correspondence for information.
Replace the proposal to receive the letter for information with a direction for staff to bring the Travel and Expense Policy to Council for consideration.
Official wording: Amendment to remove the 'receive this correspondence for information' and replace with direct staff to bring the Travel and Expense Policy to Council for consideration.'
Routine: adopt the minutes of the June 8 Regular Council meeting and the June 15 Committee of the Whole meeting.
Official wording: THAT the following Council meeting minutes be adopted as presented:
June 8, 2026 - Regular
June 15, 2026 - Committee of the Whole