MY NEWS PAGE

This page is dedicated to news stories that will keep you informed of my efforts to achieve the goals that I have set. Below is a summary of articles that I have been involved in. The bolded script within the articles are my comments.
If you click on the underlined title you will be transported to the complete article.

Letters to the editor - October 1, 2008, Councillor slams Saanich park plan, Councillor Vicki Sanders urges residents to participate in Saanich’s vision (Re: Municipal candidates beef up council’s strength, Letters, Aug. 27)

Royal Oak schoolhouse site plans approved, By Roszan Holmen, - Saanich News December 16 2008

Nearly three years after Saanich's decision to sell the land at 4525 West Saanich Rd., council has approved a 46-unit condo on the site.

Councillors passed the motion five votes to three, after a second public hearing Dec. 9 to discuss rezoning the land from public assembly to commercial-apartment.

Once again, the issue packed council chambers, with nearly 30 people speaking out against the loss of green space and the use of the heritage Royal Oak schoolhouse, which sits on the property.

Since the last public hearing in September, Mike Geric Construction (the company that won the bid to develop the property in 2006) reduced its building plans from 50 to 46 units. Company owner Ed Geric committed to reserving nine units for rental and to donate $37,000 to Saanich's Housing Trust Fund.

Geric also axed plans for commercial sites on the first floor in order to reduce the project's parking requirements.

The decision displeased Judy Brownoff, who said a mixed-use property would best serve the growing community's needs.

"The site is part of the Royal Oak village area, it needed some people space (to mingle)," said Brownoff. "You've got all that density of his ... there's no place for people to walk out for an evening beer or a cup of coffee."

She, along with Vicki Sanders and Vic Derman, voted against the proposal.

Council also approved Geric's plans to move the schoolhouse closer to the front sidewalk, restore it, and lease it as office space.

END

Uptown divides council, By Roszan Holmen – Saanich News, December 11, 2008

A change of plans at one of the region's largest construction projects has some people wondering if the new Saanich council has gone soft on developers.

On Monday, the grumbling was audible as neighbours of the Town & Country shopping centre filed out of municipal hall. Council had just agreed to a request from the developers of Uptown to reduce parking spaces while allowing extra commercial space.

Uptown is the name of the new village-style mall being built to replace the current centre.

Council heard the contentious application during its first meeting after the Nov. 15 civic election. The matter neatly divided councillors into the same two camps that campaigned together as unofficial slates during the election.

On one side, some councillors and many of the most vocal residents wanted Saanich to demand more amenities from the developer before approving the request.

"We need to start to capture a share of what must be done for the redevelopment of this area," said Coun. Vic Derman. "We need to work with (the applicant) to find out how we can get a fair contribution to that respect. We owe it to our citizens."

Council had already given Morguard a break on 900 parking stalls, before the additional 866 spots were forgiven Monday. Derman estimated the value of the variance permit at about $20 million.  A portion of that money should fund amenities such as shuttle buses to alleviate traffic and parking congestion, he argued.  Neighbours who took the mic at the meeting agreed.

Councillors Judy Brownoff, Vicki Sanders and Dean Murdock supported Derman's motion to table the application until a better plan for the community can be negotiated.  The motion failed, however, as remaining council members disagreed.

Leonard moved to ratify the development permit amendment.  The motion passed 5-4 with councillors Wergeland, Brice, Hunter and Gerrard voting in step with Leonard.

END

Saanich councillors disagree over water board, By Roszan Holmen – Saanich News, December 09, 2008.

On Monday night, controversy erupted as Saanich council sought to appoint five members to the regional water supply commission.  Unlike the Capital Regional District’s directors, chosen by voters in a non-binding ballot, water commissioners are invited by the mayor.  At issue on Monday were the points assigned to the five members chosen – Paul Gerrard, Dean Murdock, Vic Derman, Vicki Sanders and Wayne Hunter.  

As Saanich’s population grows, the municipality is awarded more weight at the water board table. This extra weight is calculated through a point system.  Mayor Frank Leonard advised that Saanich’s extra two points be awarded to Derman and Hunter. That means their votes would count for more than other members when the board decides on budgetary items.

Sanders objected, arguing for a policy to determine the allocation of points, such as one based on seniority, rather than leaving it to the mayor’s discretion.

Based on seniority, Sanders would be awarded the extra point over Hunter. Although both are second-term councillors, Sanders got more votes in last month’s election.

On Tuesday, Hunter conceded the extra vote to Sanders though he disagreed with the need for a set policy.

“It should be the prerogative of council,” said Hunter. “When I’m running a council, I want to make sure I’m sending the best people with the best experience. If that person got the lowest number of votes, it doesn’t matter to me.”

END

Council leary of reaping lake's heating potential, By Roszan Holmen – Saanich News, December 8, 2008.

Before any more geothermal loops are approved on Saanich lakes, the municipality wants proof the loops won't inadvertently heat the lakes' water.

Last month, the province approved an application by property-owner Gordon Porritt to install a geothermal loop, which capitalizes on the earth's relatively stable temperature to heat or cool a house. Many environmentalists applaud the system for requiring little energy to run.

Normally, the technology is looped into a well or the ocean. Very few have been tested in lakes.

"In researching this there was no documentation on what kind of cumulative damage there could be," said Coun. Vicki Sanders in council chambers last Monday night (Nov. 24).

As chair of Saanich's environmental advisory committee, she moved that council ask the province not approve any new applications until more information is available.

Porritt plans to build a home on Prospect Lake and wants to install a geothermal loop, which works by circulating liquid through piping that runs from the lake bottom to the house.

His system will only be used during winter months, to alleviate concerns of heating the lake in summer.

Still, the community responded by filing an objection to the Ministry of Environment with concerns future system could heat the lake, causing blue-green algae and invasive frogs to flourish.

The Ministry of Environment dismisses these fears that the loop could heat the water.

"There's a low energy transfer," said Greg Kockx, operational program manager with the ministry, in September.

"They don't know that ... because they don't have that information," objected Sanders. "Even if the heat increase isn't significant at what point do we (draw the line on thermal emissions)?"

Council unanimously approved the motion with no discussion.

END

What lies beneath -- the hidden threat of buried oil tanks, By Roszan Holmen – Saanich News,, December 2, 2008.

Underground oil tanks cause costly leaks to property owners every year

Leaking roofs and busted furnaces -- costly liabilities homeowners dread. But beneath the surface lurks another threat potentially every bit as expensive.

Decommissioned underground oil tanks abound and, if not properly drained, could be slowly contaminating the soil.

One family in Glanford learned a hard lesson recently when they were slapped with a bill for more than $20,000 to clean municipal land. Added to the cost was the environmental consultant hired to clean contaminated soil and remove the tank, discovered in the family's front yard.

It all started when a pedestrian noticed oil bubbling out of a storm sewer outfall two blocks away.

Using a metal detector, Corey Hughes of Victoria Oil Tank Services pinpointed the offending tank to 563 Judah St.  When family on Judah moved into their subdivision built in 1975, they didn't know the land previously housed a greenhouse heated from an underground tank.

"It's just a very difficult situation," said Doyle. "They're in a situation where they ... didn't directly cause this and yet they are the property owners now."

In April 2007, Saanich published a guide to help homeowners protect themselves from oil tanks, at the request of Coun. Vicki Sanders, chair of the environmental advisory committee.

People often aren't aware of the need to ask about oil tanks when they buy a house, said Sanders at the time of the web release.

And she should know.  She's removed a tank on her own lot and that of her father. Thankfully, a soil test confirmed no contamination surrounding either but her neighbour wasn't so lucky. When the elderly lady sold her home, a test revealed substantial contamination coming from a tank used by a previous owner.  "It was a horrendous cost," Sanders recalled. "She was very upset."

Did you know?

People stopped burying home heating oil tanks in the early 1960s as natural gas became an alternative and above-ground tanks became legal.  Records of their whereabouts are kept by the local fire department. Saanich and Oak Bay are the only municipalities that don't require that tanks be removed. Instead, they can be professionally cleaned, filled with sand and left underground.

END

Saanich won't rush electric cars, By Roszan Holmen – Saanich News, November 29, 2008

Saanich is looking to permit electric cars but not without getting input from a number of concerned groups.  “If we want to move in this direction, we want to make sure we have a total discussion,” said Coun. Susan Brice.  Brice, who also chairs the Capital Regional District’s Environment Committee, pushed the region to adopt a model bylaw that all municipalities could adopt.

CRD completed the bylaw Nov. 12. The regulation encourages all core-area communities to allow zero-emissions vehicles (commonly known as electric cars) on streets with a maximum speed limit of 50 km/h. The bylaw also recommends only allowing the vehicles to drive in the right-hand lane, except for passing.

At Monday night’s council meeting, Brice moved that Saanich adopt the model bylaw after it goes to committee of the whole. The motion received unanimous support.

Many stakeholders have concerns, pointed out Coun. Vicki Sanders, who co-chairs Saanich’s Advisory Traffic Committee.  Oak Bay did very little research before becoming the first municipality in Canada to legalize electric cars, Sanders said of comments at the last ATC meeting. Oak Bay passed its bylaw in August.  Transport Canada and B.C. police chiefs both have safety concerns about the electric vehicles, she pointed out.  “These vehicles...are not comparable to a regular vehicle,” Sanders said. “They were designed to be used in specific situations such as gated communities, almost similar to a golf cart ... We need a report from our solicitor on our liabilities should we approve to have them.”

Coun. Judy Brownoff requested input from ICBC and the provincial government, that has jurisdiction over many of the roads in Saanich.

Coun. Vic Derman, who in July moved that Saanich staff research the feasibility of electric cars, asked that they present its recommendations to committee of the whole.

Oak Bay, Esquimalt and Colwood have all legalized electric cars.

END

Cities share Saanich priorities: some follow Saanich resolutions on graffiti, resource recovery, battery recycling and pesticides, By Roszan Holmen - Saanich News  Published: October 03, 2008 

Municipalities across the province jumped on board the Saanich train during the Union of British Columbia Municipalities' annual convention.

During last week's three-day event, Several councillors - including Vicki Sanders, - brought forward similar and contentious resolutions on cosmetic pesticides.

"There's lots of people that don't want to be told what they can and cannot do," Sanders said.

While she recommended reducing the number of pesticides available for public consumption, municipalities resolved to lobby the B.C. government for a complete ban.

Some worried the legislation would drive consumers across the border, but a majority voted in favour.

Saanich stopped using cosmetic pesticides last year.

Sanders' other resolution to provide a convenient way to dispose of batteries was also carried.

The provincial government will respond to all the carried resolutions in the spring.

END

Councillor slams Saanich park plan

Re: Park plan meeting disintegrates into traffic debate, Saanich News, Sept. 24

Saanich News headlines on July 30 “Collisions fuel residents’ frustration with accident-prone Sayward Road” and on August 8 “Safety solutions sought for dicey Sayward Curve” raised public awareness of traffic concerns at what can only be described as the most convoluted road configuration in Saanich. 

It is unbelievable that a park plan is being proposed that would introduce a 69 space parking lot with two access/egresses onto Fowler Road further complicating the Fowler/Sayward/Hunt Roads combination. 

It appeared that parks’ planning has taken place in isolation of traffic planning.  This summer I met on site with residents for a brainstorming session to identify the issues and look at some simple solutions.  I heard stories of squealing tires, signs and fences being knocked over and the fear of letting children play in the front yard.  From the grassroots many ideas evolved including a traffic circle and the recommendation of the Cordova Bay Community Association for a “T” intersection. 

As co-chair of Saanich’s Advisory Traffic Committee, I presented the residents concerns and potential solutions to our most recent meeting.  The ATC is a technical committee that looks at traffic counts, reported accidents and a warrant system that classifies Saanich intersections by priority. 

Although there was agreement that the road configuration is difficult only small solutions including updated signage, reflective “cats eyes” and improved street lighting were supported.  Counts, reports and warrants, although valuable technical information, is small comfort to residents feeling unsafe and victimized.  There is no doubt accidents can be attributed to driver error but that does not address the potential for a tragedy.  

As recent as Friday, Sept. 26, at 2 p.m. a car lost control and crashed in virtually the same location as in July.  Fortunately absent were pedestrians, and horse and bicycle traffic that frequent this area.  The Fowler/Sayward/Hunt Road combination needs to be seriously addressed before it is the site of a serious tragedy.  This must take place before a park with two accesses and 69 parking spaces is thrown into the mix.

Vicki Sanders

Saanich Councillor

Re: Municipal candidates beef up council’s strength, Letters, Aug. 27

I appreciate fellow councillor Leif Wergeland’s comments in the August 27 News regarding feedback on Saanich’s OCP (Official Community Plan). This opens up the discussion of the valuable role played by Saanich’s advisory committees. It’s also an opportunity to clarify the correct names and mandates of the committees mentioned.

Saanich revamped their advisory committee’s mandates and structure in 2005. The former Planning and Transportation Committee was replaced by PTED (Planning, Transportation and Economic Development) Advisory Committee. The broader mandate was created to include the emergent economic issues in Saanich.

In 2007, in response to the ever growing global concerns of climate change, Saanich created JACCC (Joint Advisory Committee on Climate Change). This committee’s mandate brings together the expertise of the members of the EAC (Environmental Advisory Committee), which I chair, and PTED (Planning Transportation and Economic Development). Two issues discussed at JACCC have been Saanich’s Climate Change and Energy Action Plan (CCEAP) and Saanich’s Carbon Calculator. I co-chair JACCC with councillor Wergeland. Saanich does not have a Joint Planning and Environmental Committee. Saanich’s advisory committees play a valuable role in the development of Saanich. These committees are made up of members of the community.

I appreciate the importance that Saanich places on its residents and that it keeps its role current in our ever changing world. I feel it is important for residents to know how they can participate in being part of Saanich’s vision.

In the fall, Saanich invites residents to apply to be a member on a variety of advisory committees. These committees cover many topics such as culture, parks and cycling.

Vicki Sanders

Saanich Councillor

Boasting wide sidewalks, shelters and bike lanes, the Royal Oak transit exchange officially opened for better bus business on Tuesday.

Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Gary Lunn attended the morning ribbon cutting, which coincided with a previously announced increase in bus service.

"Public transit helps to reduce transit congestion in cities, it helps to cut commute times and is key to ensuring vibrant, sustainable communities," Lunn said.

The region will see a seven-per-cent increase in service, a goal delayed by the late shipment of 16 new double-decker buses from Britain. Some routes will be cancelled until the buses arrival next month.

Most of the service expansion will focus on early morning and late evening routes on the Saanich Peninsula.

Bus traffic at the Royal Oak Exchange, at the corner of Royal Oak and Elk Lake drives, will increase from 550 bus routes per day to 760.

Ida Chong said the upgrades will allow the exchange to connect the entire region.

"This hub will ensure that people can connect to the University of Victoria, Royal Roads, up to the Peninsula, to Cordova Bay and down to the hub of Victoria," Chong said. "By this expansion, I understand that we will be increasing ridership, as well, by 37 pr cent by the year 2012, and that's a huge increase."

The improvements cost $3.2 million, of which the federal government contributed $2.4 million from its gas tax fund. The province and the municipality each contributed the remainder.

Bike lanes, bike racks and washroom facilities have also been installed, noted Saanich councillor Judy Brownoff, also the chair of the bicycle and pedestrian committee.

"We actually expect that that's what people will do," Brownoff said. "They'll bike here and lock their bike up and then take (the bus)."

Brownoff isn't convinced, however, that the ridership targets set by the province are realistic.

"To get to there, you have to have enough infrastructure ... If people have to wait for two buses to go by, they won't take the bus," Brownoff said. "We did a 10-year study at the CRD of transportation and transit hasn't gone up to what we were expecting, yet."

With gas prices at record highs this summer, however, B.C. Transit recorded a roughly nine-per-cent jump in ridership in the region from last summer.

Saanich councillor Vicky Sanders says she's pleased with the Royal Oak improvements but says the region's transit strategy has to be more visionary.

"Greater Victoria didn't get much of the money doled out," she said of the billions committed to public transit in the federal budget, announced late February.

While Vancouver and Montreal received money to implement light rail, Victoria's allocated budget wasn't sufficient to consider such alternatives.

"There's no sex appeal on buses (which is) how you get ridership up," Sanders said. "Light rail transit would have that sex appeal."

Paul Butterfield, engineering technician for Saanich, said the statistics don’t indicate the section of road presents much of a problem. Since 1996, there have been eight accidents (three reported by police and five by ICBC) at the Sayward-Fowler curve. He admitted, however, that the statistic doesn’t account for all the screeching tires, something nearby residents say is a big problem.

In 2007, Saanich police logged nine collisions along Sayward. Five happened at the crest of hill in winter and were weather-related, said Sgt. John Price.

Adding to the road’s problems, Sanders said, is the fact that many drivers turn onto Sayward from the highway travelling too quickly and continue at speeds not suitable for a residential area. Falling under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation, the highway has been earmarked for an interchange onto Sayward Road.

For now, however, Sanders is looking for simpler solutions to help slow traffic heading into the troublesome curve.

“It’s amazing how neighbours can come up with solutions on signage and can point out to people who don’t drive the road all the time what they see as ways to make it simpler.”

"We're tyring to be as green as possible and we're looking at some innovative ways of doing it," Sparanese said. "From our trial project last year on Maplewood, our preliminary observations and results we've seen have been fairly positive."

Warm mix has less greenhouse gas emissions than hot mix because it's cooler. The warm stuff reaches a temperature of 100-120 C, in comparison to hot mix, which reaches 140-160 C.

Less energy is required to heat it and less oil is used in the heating, Howells said. It also takes less time to pave, easing the time of congestion traditionally caused by road work.

"With hot mix you have to let it cool down to a certain temperature, then roll it, then compact it," he said. Warm mix doesn't require cooling time before compacting.

The lower temperature also poses less risk to paving crews, Howells added.

Saanich's director of engineering, Colin Doyle, says if things go smoothly with the Arbutus Road paving, there's a possibility of making warm mix the product of choice for road construction in the municipality.

"Obviously there are some significant environmental benefits and, from the worker health benefits perspective, we like their product as well," Doyle said.

Warm mix, which is relatively new to the North American paving market (last year's pilot on Maplewood was B.C.'s first warm mix application) costs more than hot mix, but Doyle expects to see prices drop eventually.

"We're anticipating, like any new technology or product, as it gets better and better, costs come down."

He called the price, which neither Saanich nor Capital City Paving would disclose, was "a reasonable premium given the benefits."

Arbutus Road, between Hobbs and Finnerty, was paved with warm mix Wednesday, July 30 and Thursday, July 31.

A proposal to create a new zone designed to discourage the school district from selling off unwanted property was shot down by council Monday night.

Coun. Vic Derman put forth a motion that staff work on a new school-only zone that would be applied to existing public schools. That way, when schools are sold, Saanich would have more control over the fate of that property, Derman said.

"What I’ve done here is prepare a number of recommendations that would address the issues with (the current zoning for schools)," he said at council's July 21 meeting. "If the school district wanted to sell school land they’d have to come to council for a substantive change."

The seven other councillors and Mayor Frank Leonard weren't prepared to take such a major step. Coun. Leif Wergeland made a motion to refer Derman's recommendations to school districts 61 and 63 to further consider the change, rather than passing the recommendations.

"(We have had) very little consultation on this issue," Wergeland said. "We could lose that relationship (with the school district) really quickly. Let's do what Saanich does best and that’s consult before we act."

Derman doesn't agree with the referral.

"What are they going to say?" he said of the school districts. "'We don't want you to do this because it's going to make it harder to sell school lands.'"

Coun. Vicki Sanders agreed with the control Derman's recommendations would give Saanich, but voted for the referral.

"We are in the land-use business. The school district is in the education business," she said.

MaryLynne Rimer, chair of the school district 63 board of education, said school boards are already required by the provincial government to consult with municipal governments before selling school lands, and doesn't see Derman's proposed new zone causing trouble.

"If you're going to make some changes like that and it will affect our ability to sell land,

we would like (council) to consult with us about that," Rimer said. "We just need to have the conversation."

Derman's recommendations come after the controversial sale and rezoning of the land under the former Fairburn elementary school in Gordon Head. The Fairburn lands were sold by the Greater Victoria School District to Mamic Developments in 2003. Council approved a rezoning in late May of this year to allow Mamic to build homes on the land. Dozens of neighbours pleaded with council and wrote letters opposing the rezoning.

Currently, all public schools in Saanich are zoned for assembly, which also includes churches, day cares and similar functions. Derman said the assembly zone leaves the community at risk for losing all green space on the land when there's a sale.

"This would ensure the public at large got the opportunity to speak about it where otherwise they don't," he said.

Derman doesn't agree with the referral.

"What are they going to say?" he said of the school districts. "'We don't want you to do this because it's going to make it harder to sell school lands.'"

Coun. Vicki Sanders agreed with the control Derman's recommendations would give Saanich, but voted for the referral.

"We are in the land-use business. The school district is in the education business," she said.

MaryLynne Rimer, chair of the school district 63 board of education, said school boards are already required by the provincial government to consult with municipal governments before selling school lands, and doesn't see Derman's proposed new zone causing trouble.

"If you're going to make some changes like that and it will affect our ability to sell land,

we would like (council) to consult with us about that," Rimer said. "We just need to have the conversation."

Derman's recommendations come after the controversial sale and rezoning of the land under the former Fairburn elementary school in Gordon Head. The Fairburn lands were sold by the Greater Victoria School District to Mamic Developments in 2003. Council approved a rezoning in late May of this year to allow Mamic to build homes on the land. Dozens of neighbours pleaded with council and wrote letters opposing the rezoning.

Currently, all public schools in Saanich are zoned for assembly, which also includes churches, day cares and similar functions. Derman said the assembly zone leaves the community at risk for losing all green space on the land when there's a sale.

"This would ensure the public at large got the opportunity to speak about it where otherwise they don't," he said.

Saanich is heading into a game of musical chairs with voters in control of the music.

At least 10 people are vying for eight spots on Saanich council, and two are in the race for the single mayor's seat.

Incumbent councillors Susan Brice, Judy Brownoff, Vic Derman, Vicki Sanders and Leif Wergeland will have their names on the ballot when voters head to polling stations across Nov. 15.

Coun. Jackie Ngai said she will decide whether to run for re-election at the end of September. Add to the mix a handful of council-hopefuls -- Patrick Chénier, Deborah Dickson, Paul Gerrard, Dean Murdock and Lana Popham -- and voters look to have a number of options this year.

Mayor Frank Leonard long ago announced he will seek re-election. In June, the Saanich News learned Harald Wolf will challenge Leonard, a fixture in local politics for more than two decades.

Current councillor Bob Gillespie will not run in the 2008 municipal election.

Following an apathetic 19 per cent voter turnout at the 2005 elections, the newly formed Saanich Civic League is canvassing residents to get out on election day and make their mark.

"Municipal is the level of governance that most directly affects our daily lives, in ways far more significant than mere  potholes and paving," said Sher Morgan, chair of the Civic League. " Municipal is also  the level where one person's  vote has the most impact, proportionally much more weight than in a federal or provincial election."

Especially, Morgan said, in the case of the 2005 election. With so few voters, each single vote carried more weight than in previous elections.

In addition, the municipal election acts as a regional one. Five Saanich councillors will be appointed to seats on the Capital Regional District board.

"Saanich has five of 23 CRD seats, more than any other municipality, which gives us, as  Saanich residents,  tremendous opportunity to influence the future of this region through whom we choose to elect locally," Morgan said.

While several council and mayoral hopefuls have declared their intent to run in the election, the candidacy period hasn't officially started.

The race begins in earnest after Tuesday, Sept. 30. To get on the ballot, each candidate must provide at least 10 nomination forms. They're available starting Sept. 2 from Legislative Services at Saanich municipal hall. That candidacy period ends Friday, Oct. 10 at 4 p.m.

"I talked to volunteers on two different days," said Terry Prentice, chair of Silver Threads' Meals on Wheels Committee. "They're sad. They meet with these people every day when they deliver a meal. They're concerned about what these people are going to do."

The costs of fuel and food contributed to the demise of Meals on Wheels, Prentice said. The company that prepares the food can't keep up. In May, Meals on Wheels increased its price to $7 a meal, up from $6.75 – a small jump Prentice said he didn't want to see happen.

To make it work, "We'd have to go up at least a dollar a meal," Prentice said. Then, factor in fuel compensation for volunteers and "we'd have to go up at least another dollar a meal to cover the cost."

"There's no way these people are going to afford $9," he said of the program's clients. "We can't afford it, we just had to accept it."

Some seniors, however, say the cancellation of Meals on Wheels won't be so tragic.

Dennis Kershaw, aged "over 80," said he's already started looking into other meal-delivery options.

"We'll manage somehow," he said of himself and his wife. Other options, such as Better Meals and Chef on the Run, might cost slightly more, Kershaw said, but he'll get by.

Both Kershaw and 83-year-old Margaret Green say they'll miss the daily contact with Meals on Wheels volunteers.

"They're always on time and the volunteers that bring them are so nice," Green said. "And the meals are really good."

After using Meals on Wheels for more than five years, Green isn't sure where she'll go from here for food.

"Oh, I don't know yet," she said of her alternatives. "They're going to give me a list of options."

Saanich Councillor. Vicki Sanders, council's liaison with the Saanich Silver Threads board, is more concerned.  "It is unbelievable," she said.

Part of the reason why it's no longer viable to maintain the program is the lack of users. The 275 Greater Victoria seniors using Meals on Wheels is at least 50 meals short of what the food producer needed.

"The whole demographic of seniors has changed so much now," Sanders said. "When it came down to it, it was no longer viable. Seniors have the opportunity to go into seniors housing or housing that provides meals and that's an option that's relatively new."

Saanich with an average housing cost in excess of $500,000 faces the challenge of attracting people and, once here, having them remain. Housing affordability, uppermost in people’s minds these days, is not about being able to afford to live in the Uplands. It is about people spending more than 30 per cent of their income on food and shelter.

The Camosun Community Association recently brought together a panel representing Saanich, the region and the community. The impetus was Saanich’s draft official community plan, which suggests housing affordability options: granny suites, flex suites and secondary suites.

The community association wondered how these housing options, particularly secondary suites, would fit in their neighbourhood. Would it create neighbourhoods with a greater diversity of ages or alter the character of the neighbourhoods or create greater problems of parking and traffic? Would aging homeowners be able to stay in their homes while confronted with the need for care and the increasing costs of living?

By providing a “nanny suite” or mortgage helper would young people be able to become homeowners? Would this provide safe accommodation for the increasing needs of UVic and Camosun students?

The community association felt the answers for their community could be found in testing the options and encouraged Saanich to accelerate the concept of a community pilot project to test secondary suites.

Tired of waiting for Saanich council to act, the Camosun Community Association is taking secondary suites into its own hands, said association director Al Lubkowski.

In response to a community survey indicating about 75 per cent of residents support secondary suites, Saanich is now considering them (on a phased in or pilot area basis) in its Official Community Plan draft.

Lubkowski wants his neighbourhood picked as the testing ground, and he’s taking the matter to a vote at the next community meeting on April 17.

“It’s really an opportunity to get people together under one roof to discuss this issue out in the open,” said Lubkowski. “It’s happened elsewhere and for some reason, it hasn’t happened here.”

As the demand for housing reaches a fever pitch, secondary suites are top of mind across the Capital Regional District. On Monday, after the News press deadline, Oak Bay council was scheduled to respond to a recommendation by that municipality’s climate change task force in favour of secondary suites.

Lubkowski’s own interest in the issue was sparked years ago when his neighbour created a triplex out of a single-family home.

Illegal suites pit neighbour against neighbour and encourage home renovations to go underground where they may not comply with safety standards, said the retired community planner.

The key is to regulate, not just legalize, he said. The word legalize conjures up the idea of a free ride where no rules apply, he explained adding the conditions for approval should be onerous to ensure neighbourhoods keep their single-family ambiance.

While Lubkowski is anxious to get the ball rolling, he fears Saanich’s draft plan falls short of what’s needed.

“The policy is great, but it doesn’t go far enough,” he said. “It’s too namby-pamby. It’s got to have a timeline and it’s got to be more direct. Even if (the draft plan) passes it still doesn’t mean there will be any movement to implement it.”

Brenda McBain, a social planner who helped create the provincial guide to secondary suites, agreed. Well over 50 per cent of B.C. municipalities have already legalized them.

“Saanich is very far behind in just now contemplating that it might be possible on a trial basis,” McBain said. “The new community plan seems to be overly cautious if you really want to move in that direction.”

But Coun. Vicki Sanders said the wording in Saanich’s community plan is excellent. “It’s not an easy issue (and) if they put it any firmer or more definite, you’d probably have a backlash from the people who don’t want it.”

The opposition is mainly unsightly premises and parking, Sanders said.

Her own neighbour has a suite and adds six cars to the block.

“We’re all fed up,” she said, adding suites aren’t appropriate everywhere and the issue needs to be addressed. “It isn’t a simple blanket solution.”

If the Camosun community volunteers to be the pilot neighbourhood, Sanders said the municipality will seriously consider their request.

“They’re possibly not the only neighbourhood interested, but they’re probably be the first one to formally bring that forward.”

Sanders and McBain will be among the speakers at the Thursday night meeting, which takes place at 7 p.m. at Fisher 100, Camosun College, Lansdowne campus.

The arts committee’s funding (the amount hasn’t been worked out yet) would be directed at all types of artists, from painters to sculptors to filmmakers and actors.

Paul Scrivener, executive director of the Victoria-based Community Arts Council, said he’d like to see that money put toward space to exhibit local artists’ work.

“In terms of funding, the city and the municipalities certainly lack facilities,” Scrivener said. “We (would like to give more) visibility to community artists as well as emerging artists.”

The council represents more than 900 artists in Victoria, Saanich, Esquimalt and Oak Bay.

“A lot of (current funding) goes toward more professional artists, but what we’re finding on the grassroots level is there’s thousands of people who participate.”

Seven municipalities in the region will contribute to the funding pot when it’s set up sometime this year, Sanders said.

Currently, the CRD’s arts budget for promoting regional arts is just shy of $2 million.

“We haven’t ironed out the details, but the concept’s there,” Sanders said. “Nothing coming out of the CRD is happening overnight.

“There’s been rumblings out in the (arts) community that nothing’s happening, (but) Saanich is encouraging these community artists. This is a first step for this program to take place.”

Homeowners expected to pay additional $79

Saanich council and staff were in especially chipper moods Tuesday night, tossing jokes around council chambers and chatting more than usual.

“Is there a red and black theme tonight?” asked Coun. Vicki Sanders, referring to five other councillors who wore one or both colours that evening. “I didn’t get the memo.”

Before hunkering down to business to discuss the 2008 budget for the District of Saanich, Coun. Susan Brice laughed as she wrapped a black shawl over her head and shoulders and around her face to ward off whatever virus had inflicted Sanders and Coun. Vic Derman, who sit on either side of Brice.

Mayor Frank Leonard was still in stitches as he presented an award to Saanich’s finance department for preparing an above-average financial report last year. The award came from the Government Finance Officers Association.

The chuckles and banter died off as director of finance Paul Murray pulled out the 2008-2012 financial plan draft document to announce Saanich homeowners could see a small increase to their tax bill for 2008.

An average increase of $79 could be applied to property tax bills – 4.94 per cent above the average 2007 bill.

She’s had the five-and-a-half-foot-high basement lifted to an inhabitable height, repainted the exterior, replaced the windows, exposed the fir floors and revamped an old light fixture she remembers from her childhood.

Though the renos are coming along, Sanders declined to wager a guess on when the work might wrap up.

Sanders’ house is on Saanich’s Heritage Register. It’s a document originally compiled in 1991 to include 280 heritage buildings. At that time, property owners had no say over whether or not their building was put on the registery.

It was updated for the first time in 2006 to add another 56 houses and other structures.

Sanders hopes more heritage houses will be preserved and restored as time goes on.

“People have to realize if they want to do heritage, they have to be prepared,” she said, citing unexpected costs and other setbacks. Still, for Sanders, the end will justify the means.

“I’ll look back on it and say it’s been worth it.”

Saanich moves forward with more energy efficiency and climate actions for 2008. This includes development of the Saanich Climate Change and Energy Action plan, the corporate Environmental Management System and promotion of energy efficiency and energy audits and retrofits in the community.

The draft Official Community Plan will include pro-energy-efficiency development guidelines. A web-based carbon calculator, designed for Saanich business and residents along with a payment engine to allow for voluntary contributions to the Saanich Carbon Neutral Reserve Fund, will be developed.

Saanich adopted the private sector green building policy in 2007. The policy encourages builders to "build green" by providing incentives such as green building permit rebates and an energy-adviser system with City Green.

Saanich leads by example. An anti-idling policy and signage was implemented for all municipal sites. Six Honda hybrids replaced six standard vehicles. The E-Fleet program was initiated. The Saanich Carbon Neutral Reserve Fund Bylaw was passed to offset annual emissions of greenhouse gases by municipal operations for new greenhouse-gas mitigation projects.

Saanich contributed staffing resources and advice to the Provincial Green Building Code, signed the B.C. Climate Action Charter and supported the Capital Regional District's Community Energy Plan.

The District of Saanich had the vision in 1985 to adopt its first energy conservation policy. This vision and commitment to energy efficiency and climate action will continue to lead Saanich toward a sustainable future.

Saanich’s mayor, councillors weigh in on predictions for the new year.

They may not have crystal balls, but they’re certainly trying to predict the future of Saanich.

The municipality’s mayor and councillors have a major role to play in Saanich’s new year.

Topping their list of issues to deal with in 2008 are the Capital Regional District’s proposed sewage treatment plant, affordable housing and effective development, especially when it comes to transportation.

Councillor Vicki Sanders

Sanders, as chair of the Environmental Advisory Committee points to the completion of the Urban Forest Strategy as an important point in 2008 to raise residents’ awareness of the importance of forest land in urban Saanich.

Sanders hopes to see seniors able to get around more efficiently in Saanich in the next year, with future improvements being done to sidewalks.

“I would also like to see greater communication to encourage residents to become actively involved in developing the future vision for Saanich,” she said.

Saanich is one of 10 municipalities in the province participating in the "Turning it off" program.

A $5,000 draw -- one is held during the contest in each municipality -- for a home energy renovation package was won by Steve Holmes. His name was drawn last week.

© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007

Turn up to Win Reno By Amy Dove News staff, Jul 04 2007

Iconic local festivities are offering a lot more than strawberries this year.

Along with the regular attractions, people at the Saanich Strawberry Festival, July 8 can enter to win a $5,000 energy efficient home makeover from BC Hydro.

The draw is part of the BC Hydro Turn It Off challenge running from June to August. Saanich is one of four municipalities doing an enhanced version of the program that includes residents and local businesses. To help people conserve energy, BC Hydro volunteers are handing out low-energy light bulbs to 3,500 homes in the porch light project. Businesses are also being offered energy audits and tips on saving power.

Starting in July, Saanich will offer “30 Tips for 30 Days.” Residents can check online for energy saving advice and offer up their own suggestions, said Coun. Vicki Sanders. The details haven’t been set yet, but weekly draws and prizes for tip suggestions are being planned, she added.

More than 60 municipalities, including Victoria and Oak Bay, are taking part in the regular Turn It Off challenge this summer. The municipality that conserves the most power wins a power smart upgrade to one of their buildings.

THE WINNERS, By Amy Dove, News staff, Jun 13 2007

The winning roster of the Saanich environmental awards is as diverse as the ecological needs of the community.

From clearing invasive species to good business practices in construction and farming, nine individuals and groups were honoured this year. Picking who deserved to win from more than 20 nominees was the challenge, said Coun. Vicki Sanders who chairs the environment committee.

“There are a lot of wonderful people in Saanich doing a lot of wonderful work,” she said.

Winners were selected based on their contribution and the longevity of their work, as well as how the community benefits. It’s not the size of the project, but rather how many people are gaining from it that matters, Sanders said.

For best business winners, Saanich Organics, the number of people who access the local produce disturbers is growing as fast as the organic lettuce in the fields. People are really starting to see the value in local farming, said co-owner Heather Stretch.

“Cheap produce is never cheap produce,” Stretch said. Someone, somewhere is paying for it, she added.

“When it is so far away it’s easy to ignore that decision to disrespect the planet or people somewhere.”

Along with Stretch, Rachel Fisher and Robin Tunnicliffe bought Saanich Organics six years ago. With two English and one anthropology degrees, the women are proving farming is a viable option – no matter what their background. The choice to farm was easy – even if the learning process can be rough, Fisher said.

“It’s about values and lifestyle choices.”

The Saanich environmental awards were presented Monday, June 11.

Community groups are hungry for money – calling for a potential overhaul of a matching grant program in Saanich.
Grants applications came under fire Monday night as councillors questioned how far eligibility should extend for the $12,000 available.

“The direction of this (grant) has moved away from its intent,” said Coun. Vicki Sanders in reference to certain applications, like the $1,000 grant for the Victoria Shakespeare Society.
Like the name suggests, the society isn’t based in Saanich. The money was originally meant to help small non-profit groups in Saanich who might not otherwise be eligible for funding, Sanders noted. In the society’s case, the Saanich connection lies in the group’s summer production at Camosun College’s Lansdowne campus.

The community association supported the grant, explained Coun. Susan Brice, chair of Healthy Saanich.
Councillors questioned if the request could open the door to other organizations outside of Saanich who should be finding funding elsewhere.
That isn’t really a problem, Brice noted, since applications can be denied. Each application must be supported by a Saanich community association and provide matching funds.
Support aside, who should actually be doing the proposed work is another factor.
“We are building a new library, why aren’t we putting kids furniture in it?” Coun. Leif Wergeland questioned of the $2,000 grant for the Gorge Tillicum Association to furnish the space. Funding to install a bench from two community associations may be the responsibility of the parks department, he added.
Council approved the eight grants this year on one condition – the Saanich Committee Association Network will review the criteria and recommend any changes back to council.

There’s little need to draw attention to yourself when you’re ahead of the pack, said Saanich Counc. Vicki Sanders. “You don’t have to when you’re a leader,” she said about a new feature on Saanich’s website that details how environmental polices have evolved since 1985.

In 1994, Saanich was the first municipality on Vancouver Island to establish an Environmental Services Section to respond to climate change. From the main Saanich.ca website, the link titled Climate Change leads to a stepped graph next to an image of the earth as seen from space.

The page went live on Mar. 27 and had 1,221 hits as of Tuesday afternoon. “I like the way they’ve done it in steps rather than as a list,” said Sanders, who chairs Saanich’s Environmental Advisory Committee.

Each step lists a year and the name of an environmental initiative. Clicking on a step leads to a more detailed description of the policy. For example, the first step leads to a 1985 document outlining Saanich’s policy on clean air and energy efficiency initiatives. The steps don’t include every Saanich policy on the environment but they do allow people to appreciate just how long the municipality has been taking a progressive role on climate change.

Structures allowed to rot off heritage registry, advocates say. If Saanich is to preserve local history, the municipality needs to become more proactive about maintaining heritage buildings, advocates said.

For the second time in five months, Saanich councillors have approved the removal of a registered heritage building from the official registry at the property owners request.

As a result, Mount View high school is slated for deconstruction – something some believe has already taken place through neglect.

“This building is in terrible condition and has been in my humble option been demolished by neglect,” said Neil Wilton, Saanich Heritage Foundation vice president. You don’t need a permit to do that, he added.
Letting buildings rot under protection defeats the point of the registry, said Coun. Vicki Sanders.

Developments like the new Town and Country shopping centre are the reason Frank Leonard said he wanted to become mayor of Saanich.

"I want a municipality to respond to the opportunity for this kind of investment and not be a municipality dominated by 'for lease' signs," Leonard said yesterday, after Saanich council voted in favour of the $150-million-plus development.

The outdated Town and Country mall will be demolished in stages, starting with the bowling alley beginning in March or April. The shopping centre will be replaced over the next four years with 600,000 square feet of open-air retail replicating a downtown, with sidewalks, bikeways and extensive landscaping. Another 300,000 square feet of residential property is also planned, although it has not yet been applied for.

It's the first of its type in Canada and if done right, could be a prototype for urban development across the nation, say those watching the project. But some residents say more could have been done to make it a transportation hub for the region, and others suggested more was being done for Wal-Mart -- the anchor tenant in the new centre -- than Saanich.

Similar to many other strip malls, Town and Country is tired and showing its age.

When it was built in 1961, it sat at the edge of Saanich, nearly six and a half hectares of asphalt with a strip of stores in the middle.

But the region and society have changed: That land is too valuable to use simply for a strip mall, and people are looking for less reliance on vehicles with areas where they can live, work, shop and have nearby entertainment.

The regional growth strategy also identifies the site as an area for a major centre, given its location on Douglas Street bordered by the major arteries of Saanich Road and Blanshard Street. To make the best use of valuable and scarce urban land, higher density is needed.

That dovetailing of needs saw council vote unanimously in favour of Morguard Investment Ltd.'s proposal. There is room for improvement in some areas, said several councillors, but overall they said it was a good development on an important site that needs refurbishing.

And Leonard and several councillors challenged the developer to make it better, and to come back to council if variances are needed for landmark buildings.

Coun. Vicki Sanders said she hopes the developer works hard to get diverse tenants in the centre, and makes sure it is senior-friendly for an aging population. "It's the gateway to the region, and it needs to be done right."

Rather than wait for the mall to deteriorate, Leonard said, the municipality worked with Morguard on their proposal, and gave them an answer on it within five months.

Panels from our past.

A series of massive illustrating Saanich’s history will be unveiled Monday evening at the municipal hall. The Saanich Centennial Heritage Exhibition features 15 panels that use text and archival photos to create “spectacular, colourful and informative representation of our municipality’s rich heritage.”
The exhibit was the brainchild of Saanich coun. Vic Derman.
The panels were developed by MUZE creative with help from curator Kerri Ward, Saanich archives and the Arts, Heritage and Culture Committee.
Themes illustrated on the panels include Saanich’s beginnings, economic engines and people and places.
The unveiling ceremony gets underway at 5:30 p.m. on May 8 and the exhibit is at the municipal hall until the end of May.
The panels will then move around to recreation centres and other public venues throughout the year.

"She'll probably perform well. She's definitely done the due diligence and the hard work."

They know each other from their years on different community associations and the network of Saanich groups. He's president of the Gorge-Tillicum Community Association.

"Together we probably attended every council meeting over the last six years," he said.

Her childhood home is included in the new list.

Her home was built by accountant Albert Ernest and his wife Muriel, a secretary with the CPR catering department.

Sanders' parents, Stan and Margaret Wright, moved into the home in the fifties. At the time the property was a holly farm. Sander's family continued to farm holly into the sixties. The bushes are still there and although nobody maintains them, the Big Barn Market on McKenzie Avenue still harvests and sells the crops at Christmas.

Sanders says her family is steeped with local history. Her mother is one of countless descendants of Quebecer Alexander Wilson, who visited Victoria when delivering gold for the Bank of British North America that would come on ships from Britain via the Panama Canal. He settled and established a hard ware firm downtown.

Her father was also a well-known Saanich figure. He was born in 1906 on at the Work Point Barracks and grew up on Signal Hill. He was a print aficionado and established Stan V. Wright Ltd., a newspaper and magazine distributor with a warehouse across from the Crystal Pool.

"My father loved books. He read 7 newspapers every day up until his death in 95th year," said Sanders.

Her father also loved and owned hundreds of books on local houses and people, so it is especially fitting that his home will be included in the new Saanich Heritage Structure and Inventories, said Sanders.

A more surprising entry to the inventory is 2989 Baynes Road.

Built in 1969-70, it's not what you'd normally call a heritage home. Made of naturally stained wood and glass, The main room has a flat roof over a glass petagonal.

Two larger sections of the house loom above the room. They are paneled with diagonally angled wood siding, which the Heritage Inventory describes as "blending with the natural surrounding northwest coast landscape." In other words, it screams seventies.

The building was chosen because of its famous architect, Alan Hodgson and because it demonstrates a style of the time. Hodgson also designed the Education and Music Building at the University of Victoria, The McPherson Playhouse and the restoration of the British Columbia Legislative Building. It is not inconceivable that future residents of Saanich will view Hodgson they way they now view turn-of-the-century architect Francis Rattenbury, who designed many of the buildings in today's Inner Harbour.