Saanich Forecast For 2008...

By Erin Cardone - Saanich News - January 11, 2008


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.

Here are the mayor’s and councillors’ wishes and predictions for 2008:

Mayor Frank Leonard

The mayor has his sights set on transit for the coming year.

As a member of the transit committee, Leonard says transit has been left on the back burner the past year, but “this time I’m determined. I’m not letting up on this one,” Leonard says.

He’s also interested in working with the planning department on a “model of sustainability” for the municipality, dealing with how to plan the growth of local communities effectively for years to come.

Councillor Susan Brice

Brice wants to see Saanich stand out in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, with local swimmer Kelly Stefanyshyn winning a gold medal.

As far as her interests for the community, she hopes to see serious work done to integrate Saanich with the proposal to make designated bus lanes down Douglas Street.

“It’ll be disruptive, but in the long run, it will help commuters,” Brice said.

Councillor Judy Brownoff

“Saanich voters will elect three fresh new faces to Saanich council to enable our community members to be more inspired to develop a shared vision for the future of Saanich,” Brownoff predicted, referring to the municipal election coming up in November.

She added she wishes to see the Vancouver Island Health Authority scrap its “one-size-fits-all” model for seniors’ care and believes a final decision could be made on the plans for a sewage treatment plant for the Capital region by the end of the year.

Councillor Vic Derman

Derman plans to maintain his focus on an all-encompassing development plan for 2008, as well as push environmentally friendly building recommendations.

“Almost every issue we’re facing is a problem with a lack of real long-term planning,” Derman said, adding housing and transportation were top priorities. “That would be my No. 1 goal by far.”

Derman also wants to see Saanich densify in a smart, attractive way in 2008.

Councillor Bob Gillespie

Affordable housing tops Gillespie’s reasons for existence on Saanich council.

“This is where you get your sharp boot on and really start booting (for affordable housing) because we’ve got to see some action this year,” Gillespie said.

He sees Royal Oak and Cedar Hill as prime locations for pumping in affordable housing in the next year.

Gillespie has also recently met with Rich Coleman, provincial minister responsible for housing, to ask that money from the property transfer tax be put back into subsidizing housing for low-income families.

Councillor Wayne Hunter

Adding more housing is Hunter’s top priority, specifically “a range of housing” to serve the whole community.

“Number two is trying to enhance our sidewalk program to see if we can cover off some of the wishes there,” Hunter added.

“And traffic,” he said. “That’s a bugaboo the whole of North America is in.”

He wishes to see busing and other modes of public transportation become a main means of travel if Saanich makes improvements to its current system in the course of this year.

Councillor Jackie Ngai

Ngai is wishing for a balance in 2008, between the local government’s needs and the wishes of the community.

“Every time we have an open house, all we have is neighbours saying, ‘We don’t like (development) because it causes too much traffic.’ But they are the cause of traffic as well.” she said.

“We have to let them know that if we put less in their neighbourhood, it’s just going to come from somewhere else.”

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.

Councillor Leif Wergeland

Echoing Gillespie’s desires for more affordable housing in Saanich, Wergeland said he’s looking to the revised Official Community Plan to spell out ways to address the affordable housing shortage.

“We spend a lot of time talking about it, but over the next two, three, four months, as a community and as council, we need to start to address it,” he said.

Wergeland also hopes to hear a final decision this year coming from the provincial government concerning the sewage treatment plant.

Wergeland says he can see progress on the plant moving ahead because “there’s no turning back. We’re too far into it.”

ecardone@saanichnews.com