A new public art gallery, road accesses, swim floats and more were among the dozens of community association requests District of Sechelt council got its first peek at as 2025 budget discussions started last month.
At the special Committee of the Whole meeting held Dec. 18, Beverley Smith, DOS manager of financial services, told council the budget was being presented in “buckets” and in graph form, rather than the lists traditionally used.
The first item discussed at the three-hour meeting was community association requests, which were divided by projects staff recommended or left for council to consider. Staff excluded requests already being handled by other government bodies, such as the Ministry of Transportation and Transit.
There is much more information available about the association requests and the budget in general in a 135-page staff report.
No council decisions were made at the meeting –– those are to come as budget discussions continue this month.
Davis Bay/Wilson Creek/Selma Park Community Association
Staff recommended: Sidewalk installation on Bay Road, which will be considered as a priority for grant applications in the next five years. Pier maintenance — Public Works will put out a request for quotes.
Left to be considered by council: Repair and/or replacement of the Davis Bay swim float, which was not recommended by staff due to risk management and cost.
East Porpoise Bay Community Association
Staff recommended: Kontiki Road access. Staff are waiting for approval from shíshálh Nation, which is in charge of an archeological review of the project.
Left to be considered by council: Weather station/ Davis Equipment. Staff will evaluate the condition of the weather station installed at district hall. Also, left to be considered is a request for bike and pedestrian trail from Dusty Road to Porpoise Bay Provincial Park.
Sandy Hook Community Association
Staff recommended: Reallocation of money from a picnic shelter to playground at Tot Park. Drainage project pending archeological investigation.
Left to be considered by council: Beach cleanup and float replacement. Staff suggested it could attempt to remove some of the boats from the site via the water.
Sechelt Downtown Business Association
Staff has already provided a motion to proceed with a grant application for the Waterfront Boulevard Improvement Project.
Left to be considered by council: Downtown Beautification Grant or public activity funding.
Sechelt Village Community Association
Staff recommended: Updating 2008 Sechelt Urban Forest Plan and Medusa Street sidewalk ramp.
Left to be considered by council: New Sechelt Art Gallery. Staff recommends this needs to be part of a larger conversation with the Sunshine Coast Arts Council, which owns and operates the current gallery, situated on land leased from DOS.
Sunshine Heights Owners and Residents Association
Staff recommended: DOS walking trails support.
Tillicum Bay Neighbourhood Association
Staff recommended: Beach access — ROW. Not currently in the five-year capital plan, but in 2025 staff will look at the feasibility of creating a walking trail. If it proves to be feasible, it could be included in the 2026 budget.
Left to be considered by council: Tillicum Bay Road/Naylor Street connection, road drainage and ditch grading, and Grey Creek pedestrian crossing.
West Sechelt Community Association
Staff recommended: Repair of potholes on Hill and Dale roads, children’s playground equipment for parks.
Left to be considered by council: Pavilions or pergolas in parks.
