Council Report:Home
Council Meeting: October 23, 2017
A number of residents provided information to Council Members during the 20 minutes that Council allocates for Public Participation.
Residents requested that this important item be placed on the next Committee of the Whole agenda and asked for a meeting with staff.
Council responded that “protocol” dictates that the first step is for a staff report, and then perhaps, a Council decision to prioritize foreshore
degradation protection will be addressed in the next 2018 priority session.
Note: The concerns expressed were fully explained in a letter that had previously been submitted to Council. However the letter was not
provided to the public in the meeting agenda.
The problem with Council’s reasoning is our foreshore development permit area (DPA) zones, which include all of Oak Bay’s foreshore, was adopted to protect our foreshore and stop these harmful practices. If Official Community Plan (OCP) development permit area objectives and requirements are not being followed, and if the current OCP Hazard Conditions DPA area is not extensive enough, then this must be corrected immediately, not delayed. As indicated by residents the damage is ongoing.
Note: Meetings concerning development applications occur very quickly: most development approvals certainly do.
After all, all of Oak Bay is in the Douglas-fir Biogeoclimatic Zone and, according to a recent development, environmental plan report this zone is considered the most at risk in BC. The CRD also considers this zone to be environmentally in jeopardy by urban development, due to excessive tree cutting, increased traffic and additional impervious surfaces that prevent drainage (e.g. roads, driveways, parking areas etc). Also Oak Bay's waterfront is part of the oldest Migratory Bird Sanctuary on the Pacific Coast of Canada having been established in 1923.
Councilor Croft spoke about the delay of public notice and information about developments. He explained other Communities use their website to provide an information system that alerts residents and provides information about new development applications at an early stage. This had been suggested by Councillor Zhelka at a previous Council meeting but had not been acted on.
In others news:
Council was informed by Councillor Murdoch that the quarterly Council Priorities Report omitted a previously prioritized item to set policy and guidelines for the District’s Reserve funds – scheduled to be completed by December 2015. Earlier in this Council term a resident had campaigned to have our reserve funds identified. This was successful and accomplished in 2016. The resident then requested policy be developed based on good accounting practice and Provincial Legislation. Although prioritized by Council as an objective, it has not been accomplished. Councillor Murdoch enquired about the timeline for completion given the long delay. He enquired whether reserve fund policy would be completed by next spring, April 2018. This would be in time for the Annual Budget Estimates Committee Meetings. He was informed by staff that reserve fund policies would not be completed, however “in a perfect world, they would be”. Obviously not in Oak Bay.
It had been hoped that the new Deputy Director of Finance position, and the hiring of this additional administration staff member would expedite developing these financial management rules. Rules that would prevent Councils from spending Reserve Fund dollars to pay for unnecessary budget over-expenditures or to redirect reserve funds to pay for their development priorities.
Collection of taxes for specific Reserve Fund purposes should not be redirected to other purposes. Exceptions can be made in the case of “unforeseen” emergencies: however this does not mean that our reserve funding should be used as a Council slush fund. Most Councils have operational contingency funds to cover budget overruns.
Please see letter, Oak Bay News October 27, 2017 (attachment #1). It provides a wealth of information - especially about the required updating of the Official Community Plan (OCP). This should have been a Council priority now we have a new mandatory 2016 census. The 2014 OCP was based on information in the outdated 2011 Federal “voluntary” census. That census has been discredited and criticized for being inaccurate. It is considered the worst Canadian census in history. The only reliable census information at the time of the OCP was the mandatory 2006 Census.
Appendix # 1
Is Oak Bay’s Official Community Plan relevant?
Council meetings resumed in September with a variety of agenda topics. A common element that surfaces too often is the lack of timely information to support decisions. Whether its bike lanes or daycare, residents frequently voice concerns that data is not up to date. Too often the response is that, despite outdated bylaws, policies or reports, a decision follows the vision of the Official Community Plan. But the OCP is also out of date.
Adopted in 2014, Oak Bay’s Official Community Plan was based on 2011 Census information. Utilities and services information is from a 2009 report. Affordable housing targets are not achievable according to the 2017 Capitol Region (McClanaghan) report. Official Community Plan (OCP) monitoring and review indicators have not been started, nor has an appendix been attached to reference changes in Local Government Act clauses, or other changes or amendments to the OCP. Page 3 of the OCP states, ‘An OCP that reflects the community therefore must be a “living document” that is amended from time to time.’ Council, however, neglects the commitment to that objective.
If updated an Official Community Plan is a valuable resource, if not it’s only a tool of convenience to justify decisions without qualitative or quantitative evaluation.
Esther Paterson,
Resident, Oak Bay
*******Please help us continue to provide you with information about Community concerns and Council decisions and actions. Oak Bay Watch members also help community groups with their specific development concerns. Donate to Oak Bay Watch - even $5 or $10 dollars provides expenses for door- to- door handouts and helps us maintain our website. Oak Bay Watch is committed to ensuring the Community gets the full range of information on budget, governance and all key development issues – a well informed opinion cannot be made without this.
(Please use Donate Button at bottom of oakbaywatch.com Home Page)
Keep informed please sign up for our newsletter – bottom of Newsletter Menu Item.
Council Meeting: October 23, 2017
A number of residents provided information to Council Members during the 20 minutes that Council allocates for Public Participation.
- Several residents expressed their concerns regarding the degradation of Oak Bay’s foreshore areas. There have been a number of recent examples of Serious harmful impacts. Some of these involved new developments, resulting in the destabilization of adjacent foreshore properties and the protected foreshore areas.
Residents requested that this important item be placed on the next Committee of the Whole agenda and asked for a meeting with staff.
Council responded that “protocol” dictates that the first step is for a staff report, and then perhaps, a Council decision to prioritize foreshore
degradation protection will be addressed in the next 2018 priority session.
Note: The concerns expressed were fully explained in a letter that had previously been submitted to Council. However the letter was not
provided to the public in the meeting agenda.
The problem with Council’s reasoning is our foreshore development permit area (DPA) zones, which include all of Oak Bay’s foreshore, was adopted to protect our foreshore and stop these harmful practices. If Official Community Plan (OCP) development permit area objectives and requirements are not being followed, and if the current OCP Hazard Conditions DPA area is not extensive enough, then this must be corrected immediately, not delayed. As indicated by residents the damage is ongoing.
Note: Meetings concerning development applications occur very quickly: most development approvals certainly do.
After all, all of Oak Bay is in the Douglas-fir Biogeoclimatic Zone and, according to a recent development, environmental plan report this zone is considered the most at risk in BC. The CRD also considers this zone to be environmentally in jeopardy by urban development, due to excessive tree cutting, increased traffic and additional impervious surfaces that prevent drainage (e.g. roads, driveways, parking areas etc). Also Oak Bay's waterfront is part of the oldest Migratory Bird Sanctuary on the Pacific Coast of Canada having been established in 1923.
- During this session an ex mayor of Oak Bay addressed the issue of Council’s development process. She spoke during her allotted three minutes about an extensive multi–functional development being proposed by the United Church on Granite. Her concern was Council’s having staff meet with developers to thrash out details, often months before the public was informed. This usually results in the public’s being denied timely consultation and only made aware of the developments at an advanced stage. She also pointed out this seeming urgency in the Council approval stage was in contrast to a long standing neighbourhood request to address an ever increasing volume of traffic on Granite: this has been ignored by Council.
Councilor Croft spoke about the delay of public notice and information about developments. He explained other Communities use their website to provide an information system that alerts residents and provides information about new development applications at an early stage. This had been suggested by Councillor Zhelka at a previous Council meeting but had not been acted on.
In others news:
Council was informed by Councillor Murdoch that the quarterly Council Priorities Report omitted a previously prioritized item to set policy and guidelines for the District’s Reserve funds – scheduled to be completed by December 2015. Earlier in this Council term a resident had campaigned to have our reserve funds identified. This was successful and accomplished in 2016. The resident then requested policy be developed based on good accounting practice and Provincial Legislation. Although prioritized by Council as an objective, it has not been accomplished. Councillor Murdoch enquired about the timeline for completion given the long delay. He enquired whether reserve fund policy would be completed by next spring, April 2018. This would be in time for the Annual Budget Estimates Committee Meetings. He was informed by staff that reserve fund policies would not be completed, however “in a perfect world, they would be”. Obviously not in Oak Bay.
It had been hoped that the new Deputy Director of Finance position, and the hiring of this additional administration staff member would expedite developing these financial management rules. Rules that would prevent Councils from spending Reserve Fund dollars to pay for unnecessary budget over-expenditures or to redirect reserve funds to pay for their development priorities.
Collection of taxes for specific Reserve Fund purposes should not be redirected to other purposes. Exceptions can be made in the case of “unforeseen” emergencies: however this does not mean that our reserve funding should be used as a Council slush fund. Most Councils have operational contingency funds to cover budget overruns.
Please see letter, Oak Bay News October 27, 2017 (attachment #1). It provides a wealth of information - especially about the required updating of the Official Community Plan (OCP). This should have been a Council priority now we have a new mandatory 2016 census. The 2014 OCP was based on information in the outdated 2011 Federal “voluntary” census. That census has been discredited and criticized for being inaccurate. It is considered the worst Canadian census in history. The only reliable census information at the time of the OCP was the mandatory 2006 Census.
Appendix # 1
Is Oak Bay’s Official Community Plan relevant?
Council meetings resumed in September with a variety of agenda topics. A common element that surfaces too often is the lack of timely information to support decisions. Whether its bike lanes or daycare, residents frequently voice concerns that data is not up to date. Too often the response is that, despite outdated bylaws, policies or reports, a decision follows the vision of the Official Community Plan. But the OCP is also out of date.
Adopted in 2014, Oak Bay’s Official Community Plan was based on 2011 Census information. Utilities and services information is from a 2009 report. Affordable housing targets are not achievable according to the 2017 Capitol Region (McClanaghan) report. Official Community Plan (OCP) monitoring and review indicators have not been started, nor has an appendix been attached to reference changes in Local Government Act clauses, or other changes or amendments to the OCP. Page 3 of the OCP states, ‘An OCP that reflects the community therefore must be a “living document” that is amended from time to time.’ Council, however, neglects the commitment to that objective.
If updated an Official Community Plan is a valuable resource, if not it’s only a tool of convenience to justify decisions without qualitative or quantitative evaluation.
Esther Paterson,
Resident, Oak Bay
*******Please help us continue to provide you with information about Community concerns and Council decisions and actions. Oak Bay Watch members also help community groups with their specific development concerns. Donate to Oak Bay Watch - even $5 or $10 dollars provides expenses for door- to- door handouts and helps us maintain our website. Oak Bay Watch is committed to ensuring the Community gets the full range of information on budget, governance and all key development issues – a well informed opinion cannot be made without this.
(Please use Donate Button at bottom of oakbaywatch.com Home Page)
Keep informed please sign up for our newsletter – bottom of Newsletter Menu Item.