Despite the pandemic, development remained “extremely strong,” said planning and development director Andrew Allen at the Feb. 24 committee-of-the-whole meeting where projects were presented.
As a result, he said, “key policy projects” were left behind, including the ongoing zoning bylaw rewrite.
To make up the difference, the work plan for 2021 is “exceptionally large” and “admittedly more than we can do this year,” he said.
He said the zoning bylaw is being written “as we speak” and should be in front of council within the second quarter of 2021.
Allen also hinted at the possibility of developing a separate short-term rental bylaw rather than folding it in with zoning.
“What we hear a lot is that people want us to regulate [not just] land use but the behaviour of operators or guests.” If the district takes that route, it would “potentially be a bylaw unto its own.”
The department is also looking to initiate an Official Community Plan review by the end of 2021.
Development applications on the horizon include a “potential rental” on Ebbtide Street, hotels at Blue Ocean Golf Course and Vanta Pacific, Evolve Development in Wilson Creek, Silverstone Heights Phase 3 and new buildings at the Trail Bay Centre mall.
Revenues from the building inspection department have been budgeted at $50,000 more than last year’s $200,000, reflecting increased development.
To tackle the workload, Allen requested a development planner who can take on smaller developments and provide frontline service.
He also asked for a clerical technical position and casual building official, and suggested bringing in a manager of long-range planning in the future, and a possible third bylaw officer in 2023.
Sechelt Mayor Darnelda Siegers said the community has pushed for a short-term rental bylaw, and noted the enforcement officer request.
If a bylaw is established, “we’re going to need that support,” she said, adding other communities that put short-term rental bylaws in place cover the cost of more staff needed for enforcement.
So far, the preliminary budget includes an added part-time clerical position.
Siegers said of the workload, “to put it mildly, it’s big,” and that policy work is “critical.”
As for engineering and operations, director Kirn Dhillon noted the longest list of priorities falls in the category of wastewater.
Heading into 2021 he hopes to explore whether Sechelt should keep its Liquid Waste Management Plan and look at grants for asset management and other studies for the Water Resource Centre (WRC).
Also in the works is the construction of a chemical storage facility for the WRC and site selection and design work for a municipal RV sani-station.
During his presentation, Dhillon flagged the WRC as one of the biggest users of drinking water, and has made exploring “ways to reduce drinking water usage” a priority.
The department also is looking at a Wakefield lift station replacement, studying the extent of infiltration and inflows of the sewer collection system, and a request for proposal for a Dusty Road septage facility and the feasibility of relocating it.
On the roads side, plans are in the works for a Transportation Master Plan, and based on talks with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, the district intends to coordinate a project that would see a sidewalk added to a section of Highway 101 between Bay Road and Pier 17 in Davis Bay.
The department is also aiming to complete the Wharf Avenue Improvement Project in 2021.
Sechelt Inlet Road could also see improved ditches to prevent shoulder erosion.
For parks, a natural amphitheatre is planned for Hackett Park, and the Ebbtide Dog Park will be “up and running as soon as possible. No later than summer,” said Dhillon.
They are also looking at “graffiti proofing treatment” for washrooms and other facilities, “because that has become a problem recently,” Dhillon said.
Phase 2 of the Sunscoaster Trail is slated for completion by the end of the year.
To cover off the work, Dhillon requested an assortment of positions, including an asset management/GIS technician as a top priority to document the condition of the district’s infrastructure. Two summer engineer students, primarily funded by grants, were also on the request list.
A part-time wastewater labourer, a casual wastewater operator and for the parks department an arborist and a parks maintenance person were requested, too, as well as a summer student, also mostly grant funded.
An equipment operator was requested for public works.
“It’s a fair amount of asks for this year, but that’s what we need to maintain current levels of service,” and work on other priorities, said Dhillon.
Heading into 2022, he said he hopes to see an additional project manager come on board to advance grant-funded projects. “Nearly $30 million in grants [are] out there that are pending,” he said.
Financial services director David Douglas included a new engineering position in the budget as well as professional development for 2021, increasing the engineering department’s costs to $1,195,961 from $1,070,719 in 2020.
Revenue in the 2021 budget increased by $60,000 to $105,450 due to development.
Douglas said increases to the solid waste service level has translated to a transfer from reserves of $183,942 to make up for the difference in revenues collected to cover those increases that began last fall, and an increase to garbage fees would be needed to cover the full year of increased service.
