Council considered replacing the Brule Drive culvert system and heard WorkLink’s case for property-tax relief as it prepares to lose its WorkBC contract after March 31, 2027. The culvert tender was described as the lowest complete bid, and staff said cost was the main evaluation factor after checking references. WorkLink said the change puts about $728,000 in revenue at risk, but it plans to keep its Sooke facility open for youth programs, community use and new partnerships. Councillors discussed whether a proposed tax exemption should last one year or through 2030; several supported the longer term, while one raised concern about committing roughly $48,000 over four years.
Generated from the recording's captions and the agenda (minutes not yet published by the council).
Staff described a project to remove and replace the existing dual culvert system so stormwater can continue to drain through the area. The agenda recommendation was to award the contract to Lubec Construction Ltd. for $105,621.58, excluding GST. A councillor asked how the District weighed factors in its purchasing policy beyond price. Staff said this project was assessed mainly on cost, schedule and past performance, with references also checked, and noted the work was already in the financial plan and came in below budget.
Agreement
Councillors who commented described the tender as straightforward and expressed confidence in staff’s due diligence.
Staff said the recommended bid was the lowest complete bid and the main deciding factor was cost.
5.2 Permissive Tax Exemption Application from WorkLink
WorkLink’s two presenters said its WorkBC contract ends March 31, 2027, and the organization was not invited to the next procurement stage. They said WorkBC accounts for most of its operating revenue, with a projected shortfall of about $728,000, but WorkLink intends to keep its Sooke facility open and build a smaller, more diversified service model. Existing and planned work includes federally funded youth programming, a possible BladeRunners pilot, public access to computers and printing, community-partner use of the building, and Shoreline Business Services with the District and Sooke Chamber. The presenters put the requested municipal tax relief at about $12,000 a year. Councillors asked about the funding loss, the future of provincial employment services in Sooke, other grants and partnerships, the building’s users and ownership, and the length of the exemption. Staff said the draft amendment would run to 2030 with annual confirmation, while a one-year exemption would require a separate bylaw. Councillors voiced support for the community services and accessible space, but one questioned committing to four years given residents’ tax concerns.
Agreement
Councillors recognized WorkLink’s local services and the value of its Sooke facility as shared community space.
There was support for maintaining employment and community services in Sooke, although the future provider of WorkBC services had not yet been announced.
Disagreement
A councillor favoured limiting the exemption to one year, citing the four-year commitment and its potential $48,000 total cost; other councillors said a longer term was reasonable and would provide stability during the transition.
Decisions
Sooke has not published the minutes for this meeting yet. Councils post minutes only after a later meeting adopts them, usually two to six weeks afterwards. We check weekly. We last checked Fri, Oct 2, 2026. Votes and decisions are taken only from the official minutes, so this section fills in once Sooke publishes them. Anything above about motions comes from the recording and is preliminary.