Connect North Saanich: Summer 2020 - District of North ...
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Connect North Saanich: Summer 2020
Municipal Hall: 1620 Mills Road,North Saanich, BC V8L 5S9 | admin@northsaanich.ca | northsaanich.ca
250-656-0781 | @northsaanichdistrict | @northsaanich
The 2020 Budget process was more being considered and the survey to
challenging this year with varied gather your feedback.
opinions about future impacts of
The District’s volunteer
the pandemic. Council reduced
commissions, committees and
the municipal tax increase by half
boards started meeting in June
to 1.4%. We also extended late
by combining physical separation
payment deadlines for residents
in Council chambers with online
and businesses and set aside
participation. Other than in-person
additional contingency funds.
public participation, the District has
This newsletter provides an in- been able to hold Council meetings
depth look at projects that Council in person largely as a result of the
has prioritized in its strategic plan, size of our renovated chamber.
including a review of the Tree
And finally, Council would like to
Protection Bylaw in response to
extend sincere thanks to District
resident concerns about loss of
staff for the work they have
trees and a review of the Official
undertaken during this crisis.
Community Plan (OCP). The OCP
Outside staff worked alternating
review will allow residents to peer
shifts, and fifty percent of inside
into the next two decades and
staff worked remotely during the
Spring 2020 – a season we won’t Municipal hall opened for tax and help shape our future. Sidney and
first two months. They were able
soon forget. The COVID-19 utility payments on June 1, and we Central Saanich are also proceeding
to effectively carry out District
Pandemic has made us all have seen a steady flow of residents with a review of their respective
business including processing
rethink how we interact with one paying in person. Please pay online OCPs, and work is underway to take
a higher than average number
another, how we transact with if you can. a coordinated Peninsula approach.
of building permit requests,
business (local and otherwise), the Outdoor burning and access to development applications
Economic and business activity
importance of personal hygiene the green waste facility were the and bylaw complaints. Please
has been significantly impacted by
and essential services, and how all most pressing issues from March communicate your appreciation
the crisis. The Saanich Peninsula
levels of government work together to May. The facility re-opened for when you have the opportunity.
Chamber of Commerce, the Sidney
in a crisis. a full week in mid-May to
Emergency Operations Centre,
We should be proud of how the and the South Island Prosperity alleviate built up demand.
South Island and Vancouver Island Partnership Economic Recovery Council is considering
overall has responded to this Task Force are all playing an changes to outdoor
all-consuming crisis. We must not important role as businesses try burning and green waste
become complacent as we emerge to adapt, remain solvent, and look before the burning season
from Phase 2 of the Provincial Restart toward a new future. this fall. Read more in the
Plan and cautiously enter Phase 3. newsletter about options
Engagement Portal
Why are we doing this now?
Stay informed, get involved!
The District’s Strategic Plan 2020 provides a
roadmap for what the District hopes to accomplish
over the next three years. It identifies key projects
What’s it about? that will help shape the community. Many of
Connectnorthsaanich.ca is a new website for those projects need your input to move forward.
District projects and initiatives, known as an
engagement portal. The portal is designed to How to use it?
make it easy for you to get information and give Visit connectnorthsaanich.ca and spend some
feedback about the big projects underway. Each time exploring the variety of projects. After
project is laid out in a consistent manner to make reviewing a project on the portal, you should
it easy for you to navigate. The portal has a mix of be able to tell what the project is all about, the
tools that the District may use to gather feedback current status of the project and the timeline connectnorthsaanich.ca
including surveys, online forums, polls, mapping for the project. You may also be able to provide
tools and subscriptions to project updates. feedback on the project if it is in active engagement.
1
Active Transportation Plan
How do you walk, ride and roll in North Saanich?
What’s it about? exist to make it easier to walk
The Active Transportation Plan will and cycle in North Saanich. Get
identify how to improve roads and involved by visiting the Active
trails to make it safer and more Transportation Network page on
comfortable for people to walk and connectnorthsaanich.ca and:
cycle in North Saanich. • Sign-up for project updates
• Complete the survey
Why are we doing
this now? Next Steps
To provide the community with more The survey closes on August 17,
transportation choices and support 2020. We will summarize your
the overall health of North Saanich, feedback and make it available for
now and into the future. your review.
Get Involved
We need your help to understand
what challenges and opportunities
Outdoor Burning & Green Waste
Let’s work together to find solutions.
voice their concerns and help shape
the solutions. We have developed
a survey to allow the community
to provide their input. The survey
results will help Council consider
options for the outdoor burning
rules and green waste drop-off
services.
Current Status
We have launched a
connectnorthsaanich.ca webpage
that includes a survey and
information and resources about
what’s currently allowed, changes to
provincial rules, recommendations
from health authorities and more.
Get Involved
Complete the online survey by
August 17, 2020. The results will be
provided to Council in September
2020 along with options for
changing the rules for outdoor
What’s it about? health conditions. Island Health issue. We want to make sure that
burning and green waste services.
The District is considering what is encouraging municipalities to everyone has an opportunity to
increase restriction of outdoor
changes to make to the outdoor
burning based on these health
burning rules and expanding green
concerns. There is also a growing
waste services to provide other
awareness that outdoor burning
options for managing waste.
contributes to the emission of
There is a growing concern about greenhouse gases.
the impact of outdoor burning on
air quality and, in turn, the impact Why are we doing
of poor air quality on human this now?
health, particularly for vulnerable
We know that many people in North
individuals including children, the
Saanich feel strongly about this
elderly and people with pre-existing
2
Official Community Plan Review
What will North Saanich look like in 20 years?
What’s it about? Current Status
The Official Community Plan (OCP) guides decisions on planning and land The District is currently seeking a qualified consultant team to lead the
use management. The new OCP will create a long term vision for the future project. While it may not be possible to get together in groups for some
of North Saanich for the next 20 years. It will provide guidance for growth time, the project plan will identify creative alternatives to in-person
and change in the District including identifying where new housing should engagement.
be accommodated, where new businesses should be located, how we move
around North Saanich and how we respond to climate change. What do you think?
In order to build a vision for the next 20 years, we will need to hear from
Why are we doing this now? you. Residents and business owners and other key stakeholders all have a
The current OCP, adopted in 2007, is due for a review and update. role to play in shaping the plan. Sign-up at connectnorthsaanich.ca to receive
the latest updates and find out about opportunities to provide your feedback.
Timeline
The review will take approximately two years to complete, but may take
longer to ensure that everyone has a chance to get involved.
Drainage Master Plan
Good stewardship requires careful planning.
What’s it about? Why are we doing
The Drainage Master Plan will this now?
guide the District’s stewardship This work is being done as part of
of its storm drainage system. the overall asset management of
The plan will include a review of the District.
the Tseycum Creek watershed,
and an assessment of the overall Current Status
replacement, operations and Check connectnorthsaanich.ca for
maintenance costs for the District’s project information and updates.
drainage system.
projects and initiatives. The District planned on not allowed, we want to know how we can make
holding a workshop in spring 2020 to develop sure that nobody is excluded in our planning.
the framework. Due to the pandemic and the
Send an email to connect@northsaanich.ca with
restrictions on gatherings, the District has
your thoughts about engagement. Here’s a few
postponed the workshop.
questions to help you:
What’s it about? How can we stay connected? • Which District projects interest you most?
The District is planning on developing an In the meantime, please help us with planning • How do you like to provide feedback on topics
engagement framework to guide meaningful engagement on all our projects. We would like that are important to you?
public engagement on its projects and initiatives. to know what you want for engagement both • Do you like to complete surveys, participate
It will provide guidance on how to better during and after the pandemic. As we move in on-line forums or do you prefer
towards using more online tools, particularly in-person events?
communicate with the public and establish
a District standard for public participation in while in-person gatherings are discouraged or
3
Flavour Trails
By Flavour Trails Organizers
It’s Happening! up on each venue’s hours and offerings,
Summer is arriving, and many North deciding on their route.
Saanichers are wondering...is Flavour Trails Each participating venue is featured in their
happening this year? As the typical festival own short “Meet Your Maker” digital profile
weekend is already a dispersed and multi- for the Flavour trails website and social
location event, we were able to explore media. This filming is now underway, with
options that support the mandate of six venues already filmed.
Flavour Trails while maintaining COVID-19
protocols and keeping people safe. We How can I learn more?
are delighted to announce a ‘reimagined Our revamped website is ready to launch
Flavour Trails’ for launch in early July—just in early July, when you can tour the route,
around the corner! watch the videos, and plan your summer
of Flavour Trails. In the meantime, make
What makes Flavour sure to subscribe to our mailing list
Trails different this year? through the website to receive our updates:
‘Not a Flavour Trails weekend, but a Flavour flavourtrails.com
Trails season’
Imagine a season-long, self-guided Flavour
Trail route that invites the public to explore
North Saanich country roads and visit
venues that offer up the best flavours of
the region and season. The public can bike,
walk, or drive, and decide who and where
they will visit. A regularly updated website,
designed for mobile as well as desktop
viewing, allows the public to “virtually tour”
the Flavour Trail as they go...watching
digital stories of each farm/venue, reading
Tree Protection Bylaw Review
What’s it about?
The District is reviewing the tree protection
bylaw which regulates the cutting,
removal or damaging of trees on private
property and defines what a protected
tree is. The review will include establishing
requirements for replacing protected trees.
Why are we doing this
now?
The bylaw was adopted in 2002 and has
not been substantially updated since then.
Current Status
The District is currently seeking a qualified
consultant team to lead the project.
Get Involved
Sign-up at connectnorthsaanich.ca to
receive the latest updates and find out
about opportunities to get involved.
4You can also read
