The Capital Regional District executive team led by Chief Administrative Officer Ted Robbins will be at Monday's Committee of the Whole meeting, 1 PM at the Municipal Hall. They're in town to formally present the CRD's 2022 Annual Report and its highlights as captured in the slide deck included with tomorrow's agenda. (pp. 7-31).
As preparation, I'm assembling another collection of useful reference links on the subject at hand, most pulled directly from the vast depths of the CRD's website. I'm also following up on my CRD budget post from late 2019, by sharing, at page's end, the fiscal snapshot of service costs Sooke taxpayers will pay to our regional district this year. The chart is taken from Appendix J on page 2 of this March 15 CRD board agenda. It sits alongside similar summaries for the CRD's dozen other municipalities and the unincorporated Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring and Southern Gulf Islands electoral areas. [The resulting tax increase in Sooke is 0.8% for those of us with average assessed homes ($827k). Scroll down for a line-by-line guide to the items on the service-fee menu.]
All told, 16.6% of the bill you'll receive from the District at the end of this month will be forwarded to the CRD. Top perennial bite is for the operation, maintenance and strategic expansion of our recreation centre SEAPARC, to which nearly half of the requisition is dedicated. Our share of funding for regional parks, CRD legislative staff, emergency services (including fire dispatch and the CREST telecommunications system), animal bylaw services and the Sooke Region Museum are the other bigger-ticket needs that we, as a municipality, are grateful is handled by our parent district with its staff capacity and multi-jurisdictional delivery.
The first block of services at the top of the 2023 statement is financed by all households in the CRD. The second block lists "Sub-Regional" services that Sooke has opted into. We share costs for the museum with the JDF in a 70/30 split. Everyone in the region chips into the Capital Regional Hospital District and the long-term debt on various regional undertakings (which until recently had included SEAPARC, but that debt is now retired.)
(PS This entry, like them all, is a work in progress)
CRD Documents and Links
"The CRD offers a significant range of diverse services to its residents on a regional, sub- regional or local level. The choice of services is determined by the regional board but only with the support of the electors. Therefore, the breadth of services varies with each regional district according to its circumstances and local opinion. There are 27 regional districts in the province, ranging in size from the Stikine Region with about 740 residents to the Metro Vancouver Regional District with over 2.5 million residents. Regional Districts also serve in place of a Council where there is no municipality in areas called Electoral Areas. The CRD serves a local government role for the electoral areas of Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring Island and the Southern Gulf Islands."
CRD Governance
- Overview
- How decisions are made + procedures bylaw
- Public delegations
- About CRD
- Agendas and Minutes: CRD Board, Committees and Commissions
- Commission Handbook (2020)
- Best Practices Guide for Meetings (2022)
"The CRD is governed by three Boards – the Capital Regional District Board, the Capital Regional Hospital District Board and the Capital Region Housing Corporation Board. The CRD administration is led by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and a team of five General Managers that together comprise the Executive Leadership Team."
CRD Board 2022-2026: Chair Colin Plant, Vice-Chair Maja Tait
- board advocacy (including correspondence and quarterly updates from 2019 to present + 1Q 2023)
- consideration of a board code of conduct (Feb. 2023)
CRD Hospital District Board: Chair Kevin Murdoch, Mayor of Oak Bay
CRD Housing Corporation Board: Chair Zach De Vries, Councillor, District of Saanich
CRD Executive Leadership Team + Organization chart
- CAO Ted Robbins
- Chief Financial Officer Nelson Chan
- GM, Parks and Environmental Services Larisa Hutchison
- Acting GM, Integrated Water Services Ian Jesney
- GM, Planning and Protective Services Kevin Lorette
- GM, Corporate Services Kristin Morley
Five Year Financial Plan 2023-2028
CRD Board Priorities: 2023-2026
CRD Corporate Plan: 2023-2026
Library of Plans and Reports
Community Needs Summaries (2021)
CRD Bylaws
CRD Maps (includes individual regional parks and trails)
Public Engagement Portal
Current Initiatives
Current Capital Projects
Past Projects and Initiatives
About the Region - 439,950 residents (up 2.1% since 2021)
Juan de Fuca Service Delivery Area (map)
Regional Growth Strategy (2018)
"The Regional Growth Strategy includes integrated objectives, incorporating policies, targets, maps and guidelines that together express a program of joint action by the Capital Regional District and local municipalities to achieve the regional vision." It is reviewed every five years and legislatively requires a rewrite in 2038.
- RGS Indicators Report 2022
- Sooke RGS Context Statement + Revision documents (May 2022)
- "From the Ground Up" - Carine Green (2015)
- RGS FAQ (2016)
- "Growth Strategy Splits CRD" (Times Colonist, Feb. 2017)
- Mediation Outcomes (2017)
- Province of BC guide to regional growth strategies
- 2003 CRD RGS with amendments
- "CRD RGS 2003: Herding Cats on the Road to Sustainability" (University of Waterloo thesis)
RGS 2018-38 Objectives
~ Significantly reduce community-based greenhouse gas emissions
~ Keep urban settlement compact;
~ Protect the integrity of rural communities;
~ Protect, conserve and manage ecosystem health;
~ Deliver services consistent with RGS objectives;
~ Create safe and complete communities;
~ Improve housing affordability;
~ Increase transportation choice;
~ Strengthen the regional economy; and
~ Foster a resilient food and agriculture system.
Capital Region Housing Corporation
- Community Need Analysis: Affordable Housing
- CRD Role in housing
- Reaching Home and Regional Housing First Program Updates (March 2023)
- Regional Housing Affordability Strategy (2018)
- CRHC Annual Report 2022
- Reaching Home Program + FAQ
Capital Region Hospital District
- 10 Year Capital Plan: 2022-2032
Operates the Royal Jubilee, Saanich Peninsula, the Victoria General Hospital, Queen Alexandria and other medical centres. It's top capital expenses in future include a 306-bed long-term care facility at Royal Bay, redevelopment of Oak Bay Lodge and a $200m "restorative health centre" at a TBD location.
First Nations Relations
- Special Task Force on First Nations Relations Final Report (2018)
- Modern Treaties
- CRD Statement of Reconciliation
- Territorial Acknowledgement Guidelines
- Committee Terms of Reference
- Indigenous Employment Project + wise practices (April 2023)
- Indigenous Relations Operational Update (Sept. 2022)
- First Nations Communications Framework (April 2022)
- Ecological Asset Management Plan (Feb. 2022)
- Inclusive Governance and Decision Making + Honoraria policies (May, 2021)
- First Nation Relations Mandate Refresher (slide deck) + FN Inclusion in CRD Governance + Economic Development Partnership Model (Sept. 2020)
- Forum of All Councils (Nov. 2019 - CRD directors and First Nations joint session)
- FN Inclusion on CRD Standing Committees (Nov. 2019)
- Overview of Neighbouring First Nations + Archeology Policies & Procedures (Feb. 2019)
Climate Action
CRD Climate Action Service
(5 Full-Time Employees)
* Provide support to local governments in developing and implementing climate action plans and policies and execute regional programs. (i.e., Matt Greeno presentation to Sooke council re: Zero Carbon Step Code, Sept. 25, 2023)
* Catalyze action through partnerships with public and private sectors, non-governmental organizations and community organizations and increase public awareness of climate change issues.
* Liaise with senior levels of government on climate change-related programs, policies and legislation that impact the capital region.
* Provide scientific information, data and indicators related to local and regional GHG emissions and projected climate impacts.
* Support the CRD in fulfilling its corporate climate objectives and support execution of climate-related Board priorities.
- Climate Action Strategy (October 2021)
- CRD Board Advocacy Opportunities for Accelerated Climate Action (2019)
- Taking Action on Climate Change (2017)
- Corporate Climate Action Strategy (2016)
- Climate Action Inter-Municipal Working Group (featuring municipal staff)
- Climate Action Inter-Municipal Task Force (featuring councillor appointees)
+ Ann Baird report + 2009 Terms of Reference
- CRD request that all municipalities declare a climate emergency (2019)
- Climate Projections for the Capital Region (2017; update due in 2023)
- 2022 Climate Action Progress Report (presented April, 2023)
"Overall, in 2022, the CRD progressed on several climate action initiatives and identified where focused efforts need to be made or increased to achieve targeted actions and outcomes. The overall status for the 2022 year was calculated as ‘opportunity for improvement’, meaning 50-75% of the yearly target of actions were progressed as envisioned within the Strategy’s five-year action plan."
- Climate Action Community Need Summary (Sept. 2023; see item 4.3)• "Transportation mode shift targets: the Regional Transportation Plan established a mode share target of 42% for active transportation and transit combined for the region by 2038, based on 15% walking, 15% cycling and 12% transit.
- The Victoria Regional Transit Commission increased the transit mode share target to 15% in 2020, increasing the regional target to 45%.
- New public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure target: 770 public Level 2 EV charger ports and 132 Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) ports by 2030."
- 2022 Regional GHG Emissions Inventory (released Sept 2023)
- see Appendix B under item 4.4 for municipal breakdowns; Sooke on pp. 61-63
"The 2022 CRD inventory indicates that the capital region emitted approximately 1.86 million tonnes of CO2e. Carbon pollution in 2022 was 7% below the 2007 baseline and increased approximately 1% compared to the 2020 inventory. On a per capita basis, emissions have decreased by 25% since 2007."
Context:
- Annual global GHG emissions: 58 billion tonnes CO2e (World In Data + Brookings Institute)
- CO2 emissions of all countries: table (European Commission)
- Canada: 670 million tonnes (Federal government, 2020)
- British Columbia: 62 million tonnes (Province of BC 2021, -3% vs. 2007)
The CRD’s 2018 Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) targets a reduction in community GHG emissions of 61% by 2038.
High/lowlights:
- On-road regional transportation related emissions accounted for approximately 42% of all carbon pollution.
- EV uptake reduced emissions 12% from 2007 yet total increased approximately 11% over 2020, in part due to reduced traffic during pandemic
- Building heating GHGs dropped 7% below 2007, as a result of heating oil use reductions and the continued greening of the BC electricity grid
- Natural gas accounted for the majority of building carbon pollution in the region and rose 10% above 2020 levels.
- The province may release updates of its 2012 Community Energy and Emissions Inventories (CEEIs) for local governments later this year.
- Core communities have seen GHG reductions, i.e., Esquimalt (-22%), Oak Bay (-17%) and Victoria (-16%)
- Outside the core reductions are minimal, i.e., North Saanich (-2.4%), Colwood (-0.5%) and View Royal (+0.8%)
- CRD's fastest growing communities reflect GHG impacts of their population increases, i.e., Langford (+47.6%) and Sooke (+22.6%)
Sooke emissions: 64,405 tonnes of C02e in 2022
- + 22.6% since 2007 (when the benchmark starting point here was 51,194 tonnes)
- up from 55,790 tonnes in 2020
- Sooke per capita: 5.1 tonnes (2007) vs. 3.9 tonnes (2022)
- CRD overall: 5.7 tonnes (2007) vs. 4.2 tonnes (2022) per CRD resident
Leading sources of Sooke GHG emissions + % increase/decrease over 2007
On Road Transportation
- Passenger vehicles (gas & diesel) - 7,439 tonnes (-22%)
- Light trucks, vans, SUVs (gas & diesel) - 21,428 tonnes (+68%)
- Heavy-duty vehicles (gas & diesel) - 5,874 tonnes (+8%)
- Off-road transportation (incl. marine) - 5,138 tonnes (+26%)
Stationary Energy (Building Heating)
- Natural Gas (residential) - 3,593 tonnes CO2e (+450%)
- Natural Gas (commercial) - 1,804 tonnes (+119%)
- Electricity (residential) - 1,098 tonnes (-57%)
- Electricity (commercial) - 279 tonnes (-59%)
- Diesel (commercial) - 3,099 tonnes (+140%)
- Fuel Oil - 680 tonnes (-82%)
- Wood - 537 tonnes (-3%)
- Industrial process and product use - 4,943 tonnes (+137%)
TOTAL: 54,695 of full total in 2022
Not included in summaries:
Agriculture, Forestry & Other Land Uses
- Emissions sequestered in Sooke - 11,266 tonnes of CO2e (+13.2% since 2007)
- Emissions released through development in Sooke - 5,442 tonnes (-12.4%)
Earlier inventories:
- Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (2020)
- Municipal GHG Statistics (2020; see pg. 61 for Sooke numbers)
_________________________________________________________________________
Behaviour Change
- Climate Action Resources (for homes, schools, businesses)
- Climate Action To Go Kits (available through VIRL Sooke library)
Building Retrofits
- Home Energy Navigator Program (personalized help for home retrofits in collaboration with CityGreen Solutions; launched 2022) + case studies & resource library + register here
- Residential Energy Retrofit Program Business Case (2021)
Charge Your Ride program
- Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Roadmap (2021)
- EV and E-Bike Infrastructure Planning Guide (2018)
- Zero Emissions CRD Fleet Initiative (Jan. 2022)
- Motion unanimously approved at the April, 2023 Environmental Services Committee meeting: "That staff consider increasing the level of ambition in our climate action policies."
- Carbon Budgeting History (Feb. 2023)
- "CRD Board Rejects Central Saanich Request to Back Out of Climate Action Service" (Capital Daily, July 2022)
Regional Parks and Trails
"CRD Regional Parks protects and manages more than 13,300 hectares of natural areas in 33 regional parks and 4 regional trails on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands."
- Regional Parks Service Operating and Capital Budget 2024 (Sept. 2023)
- Parks and Trails Strategic Plan: 2022-2032
"Vision: We have an expanded and connected system of regional parks and regional trails that are rich in biodiversity, respect Indigenous cultural heritage and use, inspire stewardship, are resilient to change, and provide enjoyable outdoor recreation experiences." + engagement page + "what we heard" summary
- Preceded by: Regional Green/Blue Spaces Strategy (1997) + Strategic Plans for 2000-2012 and 2012-2022
- 2022 Regional Parks Strategic Update
- 2016 Regional Trails Management Plan (Galloping Goose pp. 19-22)
- Regional Trails Visitor Use Survey + Trail Widening Study (2019/20)
- Parks Visitor Use Surveys (2018/19)
- Land Acquisition policies
- New policy reports and documents (Sept. 2021) + Sustainable model for future acquisitions (April 2021)
"The CRD Board established a Land Acquisition Fund (LAF) in 2000 for the sole purpose of acquiring regional park land. The LAF was initially set at a rate of $10 per average residential household and has increased over time. In 2010, the LAF was renewed and an increase of $1 per year was approved.
In November 2019, the Board extended the LAF to 2029 at the rate of $20 per average residential household, with rates set to increase by $1 each year through 2025 to a maximum of $25 per average residential household. The LAF collected approximately $4 million in 2021 for regional park land acquisition.
The CRD's 2022 Financial Plan incorporates a new approach to land acquisition that leverages borrowing capacity to purchase land that would otherwise be unattainable on a pay-as-you-go savings model. This financing structure is anticipated to create a revenue stream that can be used to service up to $50 million of land purchases over 15 years, thereby leveraging a net increase in land values more than $100 million."
- CRD Land Acquisition Strategy 2020-21 (to be updated this year)
- Maps of Land Acquisitions 2000-2022
- Citified interview with CRD Real Estate Manager Stephen Henderson (2020)
- East Sooke Regional Park addition near Anderson Cove (Oct. 2022)
- Admiral's Forest purchase as Juan de Fuca Community Park (Sept. 2022)
- Kapoor Lands Acquistiion
- Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park addition (Dec. 2017)
- Pemberton Pools on Sooke River (May 2017)
* North of Jordan River townsite (2012)
- Sandcut Beach and other regional lands transferred from Western Forest Products (2012) + summary
- Sooke Potholes (CRD and The Land Conservancy partnership) (2007)
- Leech Watershed (sold by Timberwest to CRD) (2007)
- Sea To Sea Management Plan (Ayum Creek, Kapoor, Sea to Sea, Sooke Potholes) (2010)
- Mountain Biking Guidelines (2021)
- Mountain Biking Opportunities in Regional Parks (Nov. 2021): Report on relationship with South Island Mountain Biking Society (SIMBS) re: trails at Mount Work; progress on Sooke Bike Club trail maintenance at Mount Manuel Quimper; standardized mountain biking on-and-off trail signage; review of trail possibilities at Thetis Lake.
- Mountain Biking Advisory Committee Report (Dec. 2020) + committee minutes
- 2023 Parks Operational Update (May, 2023)
- Parks Capital Plan Update (March, 2023)
- Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Stats (Feb. 2022)
- Mosquito Management and Control Program + E&N Rail Trail + Conservation Strategy (Oct. 2021)
- Parks Service Level Review (June, 2021)
- Revenue Generation Strategy (Feb. 2021)
- Mapping Sunken Vessels (Oct. 2019) + Abandoned Boats Update (June 2019)
- Invasive Species Program Update (March 2019)
- Parks For All: Action Plan for Canada's Parks Community (2018)
- Todd Creek Trestle Closure (2017)
- Sooke Hills Wilderness Park Reserve re-open for limited public use (2017)
- Sooke motion: Galloping Goose Dog Management KM 49-55 (Oct. 2020)
- Compliance and Enforcement Program (2020)
- CRD dog management policies in District of Sooke (June 2020)
- Dog Management Policy Framework (Nov. 2019)
- Non-Migratory Canada Goose Management (July 2020)
- Draft Conservation Strategy Framework (2010)
- BC Biodiversity Report Card (Wilderness Committee, 2021)
Water Supply
"The CRD supplies bulk drinking water for residential, commercial, institutional, and agricultural uses to approximately 400,000 people throughout the Greater Victoria area by the Regional Water Supply (RWS) service. The RWS operates the watersheds, dams, reservoirs, treatment (disinfection) and transmission systems which supply municipal water systems at metered transfer points to each municipality and sub-regional water services. The CRD supplies water to sub-regional water services, including the Juan de Fuca Water Distribution Services, Saanich Peninsula Water Service, bulk water municipal customers, and eight First Nation communities."
- 20,550 hectares of CRD-owned, forested land in the Sooke, Goldstream and Leech watersheds.
- The area includes 11 dams and six reservoirs
Regional Water Supply Strategic Plan (2017)
Regional Water Supply Master Plan (2022)
Greater Victoria Drinking Water Quality Annual Report (2021)
Juan de Fuca Drinking Water Distribution System (map) + overview
Greater Victoria Sanitary Sewers (map)
East Sooke Water Supply Study - see pp. 19-95 of the January 3, 2023 JDF Water Distribution Commission agenda
Insights into how the area south from 17 Mile House to East Sooke Road might develop in the decades ahead. The report identifies four large parcels of land in this area on which developers envision placing 2700 homes. (see pg. 31).
"A water servicing study for the expansion of the Juan de Fuca Water Distribution System to unserviced areas experiencing water issues within the District of Sooke and East Sooke was undertaken. Consideration was made to expand service to properties based on existing zoning densities as well as future development and densification beyond current zoning to try and reduce the cost per connection. Results indicate that the expansion is administratively feasible but would require significant and costly infrastructure to service properties to current zoning. Any new required water servicing bylaws would need to be considered by the CRD Board for consistency with the Regional Growth Strategy."
From the Jan. 3, 2023 minutes: "Discussion ensued and staff stated that the report is presented for information in order to identify the feasibility and costs of expanding to those areas.
Staff responded to questions regarding:
• Costs and approvals processes if a developer wished to proceed.
* Other water systems and Improvement Districts processes.
* Well costs versus connection charges.
*Promotion of rainwater capture systems.
There is no recommendation, the report is for information only."
Transportation
- Regional Transportation Plan (2014)
- Regional Transportation Report Card (2021)
- South Island Transportation Strategy (2020)
- Transportation Priority Areas + Implementation Strategies
- Transportation Service Feasibility Study (2014)
- Governmental roles within Greater Victoria (infographic)
- Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan (2011) + Bikenomics in the Capital Region (2015)
Preliminary consideration for a regional transportation authority: See files on pg. 2 of Transportation Committee meeting agenda of May 17, 2023. <clip> "The CRD shares many of the same transportation goals as other metropolitan regions: Ease congestion during peak travel times, reduce emissions, and support higher rates of walking, cycling and transit use. Similarly, the CRD is not the only jurisdiction trying to integrate different transportation modes into a single planning framework, ensure the right authorities are in place and find dedicated funding to meet service levels."
Summer 2023: "Broadly engage local governments, BC Transit, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI), BC Ferries and the airport authority and analyze level of consensus of possible change."
- BC Transit Annual Report to the CRD (Sept. 2023, see item 3.2)
- Transit Future Plan Network development
- RapidBus implementation - Blink West Shore RapidBus Line launched in April, 2023
- 10 battery electric buses to be in service on Langford-Victoria routes
- committed to transitioning to a fully electric fleet by 2040
- Island Coastal Inter-Community Transportation Study (July 2023)
- "Transportation Act now allows the Province to acquire land for the purpose of building housing and community amenities to serve people near transit stations and bus exchanges."
2022 Origin Destination Household Travel Survey
(released Sept. 2023, see item 4.2 ... Appendix A is the final report based on household survey conducted between Sept. 28 and Dec. 17, 2022. The survey documents respondent travel patterns for an average 24-hour weekday.)
"* Goal 1: Reduce congestion in the morning and afternoon peak periods: People are taking fewer trips, with a 10% reduction in total trips in 2022 despite a 9% increase in population since 2017. This trend can be attributed to changing travel behaviours in the densely populated Core (Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay, Esquimalt and View Royal). However, trips within the Westshore (Langford, Colwood, Highlands, Metchosin and Sooke), and between the Westshore and the Core and the Saanich Peninsula (Central Saanich, Sidney and North Saanich), are slightly higher in 2022.
Trip volumes are also slightly down. People taking fewer trips throughout the day correspond to reductions in work and school commutes, as well as shopping, restaurant/bar, social activities and other activities that occur outside the commuter peaks. All these reductions are consistent with the lingering effects of pandemic activity shifts.
* Goal 2: Increase the number of people walking, cycling and taking transit: Mode share continues to trend in the right direction, with 29% of trips made by walking, cycling and transit use. This is up from the 2017 mode share of 26.6%. The regional mode share goal is 45%. As with trip volumes, mode share varies depending on where you live in the region.
* Goal 3: Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector: In addition to gains in mode share, the region is also showing gains in the number of EVs-only. The gain in EVs between 2017 and 2022 is significant from 1,900 to 11,900 vehicles. EVs now represent 4% of the region’s private vehicles, with hybrids at 3% and plug-in hybrids at 1%. Note that the numbers in the OD survey reflect the responses of surveyed households and may not correspond to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia’s vehicle population breakdown."
- Surveys are conducted every five years:
Household Travel Destination Survey (2017)
Household Travel Destination Survey (2002)
Sooke findings ...
297 surveys in Sooke … 4.6% sample of 6,400 households
2022 Sooke 24-hour analysis of local and regional trips
- 17,400 "internalized" trips within District of Sooke
- 10,000 trips elsewhere within the CRD
- 10,000 trips from CRD municipalities to Sooke
- 19,900 two-way total … representing 1.6% of total there-and-back trips in CRD
2017 Sooke 24-hour analysis
- 17,200 internalized trips within DOS
- 9,300 trips elsewhere in CRD
- 9,000 from other CRD municipalities to Sooke
- 18,300 two-way total … representing 1.3% of there-and-back trips in CRD
"Almost half the trips generated by residents of Sooke District and First Nations and Saanich East remain in the same district, at 48% and 46% respectively. Highlands, Juan de Fuca Electoral Area and First Nations and Metchosin and First Nation have the lowest internalization rates, at 3%, 7% and 12% respectively."
Waste and Recycling
- Solid Waste Management Plan (2021) + Public engagement report + What We've Heard
- Waste Composition Study (2022)
- Community Need Summary 2024 (see item 4.1)
CRD Goal: Solid-waste disposal rate of 250kg/CRD resident per year by 2030
2022 Actual: 410 kg/person
2023 Forecast: 375 kg/person
2024 Target: 350 kg/person
- "CRD Board Approves Plan Aimed At Cutting Waste by One-Third By 2030" (Black Press, May 2021)
- Hartland Landfill
- Waste diversion initiatives (ban on carpet, asphalt shingles, wood) + new tipping fees (April 2023)
- "Changes Coming to Hartland" (CTV, May 12, 2023)
- Hartland Renewable Gas Initiative + Landfill Gas Utilization (June, 2019)
- Options for Biosolids (April, 2023) + Monthly statistics
- Lafarge Cement options for biosolids and thermal waste (June 2022)
- Extended Producer Responsibility draft program (2023)
- Curbside Blue Box Recycling 2024 and Beyond (June 2022)
- Residential Curbside Recycling update (March 2022)
- Reducing Single-Use Plastic and Polystyrene Items (2019)
- Inter-Municipal Waste Diversion Working Group
- Solid Waste Advisory Committee home page
CRD Arts
- CRD Arts Commission
- Arts funding for qualified applicants based in CRD local governments that have signed up for the service (Sooke included as of 2019)
- Grant equity chart
- Video on arts grants options
- Strategic Plan development, 2024-2027 (see Appendix C at end of this Sept. 27, 2023 agenda)
- Arts organizations in the CRD
- 2020-23 Strategic Plan
- 2023 Operating Grant Recipients
- Database of funded recipients.
[Sooke grant recipients since joining the service in 2019: Sooke Fine Arts ($11k, 2020/21/22), Sooke Region Museum ($3k, 2021), Sooke Arts Council ($4k, 2020) and, in our first year with the service, Sooke Community Choir (2k), Sooke Folk Music Society ($2k), Sooke Festival Society ($1.5k), Harmony Project ($2k) and Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra ($5k).]
Regional Food and Agriculture
- Strategy (2017)
- CRFAIR (Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Round Table) + research/reports
- Foodlands Trust Business Case (2022)
- Regional Foodlands Access Program - Preliminary (2022)
- Foodlands Access Service (June, 2023 update; phased implementation of 10-15 plots of land for a five-year farmer training/incubation pilot program on ALR land within Bear Hill Regional Park; all municipalities will be canvassed re: interest in their own localized programs late this year; Sooke indicated support for the program when first conceived in 2019)
Planning and Development
- Development and Planning Advisory Committee
- CRD application to the UBCM Complete Communities Growth and Mobility Study grant stream to "inform decisions about zoning densification in areas that are well supported by transit and active transportation infrastructure." (June 2023)
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Now for a line by line breakdown of the items in the CRD 2023 requisition statement (screenshot below)
REGIONAL SERVICES
* Legislative and General Governance
* GIS and Geo-Spatial Referencing System - Maintenance and updating of the South Island basemap (with photography, streets, topography and other optional layers) and the CRD Community Map
* Community Health and Wellbeing
* Regional Parks and Trails - "There are 32 regional parks and four regional trails in the CRD system, comprising over 13,200 hectares of land. Regional parks contribute approximately 27% to the region’s network of protected natural areas." The Parks 2022-32 Strategic Plan was approved in late 2022.
* Climate Action and Adaptation - Climate Action Strategy (October 2021) + 2022 Climate Action Progress Report (presented April, 2023).
* Land Banking & Housing - Building a reserve fund to purchase land for future Regional Housing First Program affordable housing projects
* Regional Goose Management - "Recent population studies commissioned by the CRD have shown that the Canada goose population in the capital region doubles in size every four years. This growing population has resulted in increasing ecological, economic, and social impacts to public and private lands, estuaries, and wetlands. The CRD intends to establish a Regional Canada Goose Management Working Group to take a coordinated approach to outreach and education, development of an egg addling program, coordination of Provincial and Federal permits, and conducting strategic harvests. The working group will involve representatives from local government, First Nations, stewardship groups, and key stakeholders impacted by the large goose population." (March, 2023)
* Regional Planning Services - "The CRD provides information on and analysis of the region's population, development, land use, transportation, housing and employment trends. Developing, implementing, maintaining and updating a regional growth strategy supports regional sustainability and quality of life." + regional fact sheets
* Regional Emergency Support Program - Responsible for the Regional Emergency Management Partnership, which provides local planning for the CRD in collaboration with the BC Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness + 2022 Annual Report with details on the Capital Region Tsunami Information Portal and extreme heat planning + 2023-2027 Strategic Plan
* Hazardous Material Incident Response - "Hazmat spills may include chemical, radiation, biohazard, propane, oil and gas, flammable materials, industrial products and mixed waste. These may occur in transportation, industry, businesses and even homes, and may occur after an earthquake or flood ... Over 60 firefighters across the region are trained as Hazmat Response Technicians. The CRD provides a central store of specialized equipment, which is housed and maintained by the Central Saanich Fire Department."
* South Island 9-1-1/Police Dispatch Centre - "Operational costs for the two-storey, 1200-sq. meter post-disaster facility built and owned by the CRD and operated by E-Comm. Opened in 2019, it consolidates 911 call-answer and police dispatch services for central and southern Vancouver Island police", Sooke RCMP included.
* Regional CREST (Capital Region Emergency Service Telecommunications) Contribution - "CREST serves more than 50 first responder and public service agencies in the Capital Region -- fire, police and ambulance. Over 7.5 million calls per year go through the system, or one call every four seconds." + 2021 Annual Report
SUB-REGIONAL SERVICES
- Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee - Dedicated since 1966 to educating the Greater Victoria community about the juvenile justice system and advocating on behalf of regional front-line service providers. + CRD Commission Bylaw
- Traffic Safety Commission - "Reviews traffic safety in the capital region and makes recommendations through a committee to the CRD Board to help reduce or eliminate problems." Established in 1981. Current traffic safety programs and promotion of other programs includes Ready Step Roll Active Routes to Schools; Malahat safety (including advocacy for a point-to-point traffic camera pilot program); MOTI's Slow Down, Move Over campaign asking drivers to grant emergency vehicles safe passage; motorcycle safety; child-seat use; and distracted and impaired driving programs. It also recommends that municipalities start traffic safety commissions of their own.
- CRD Arts and Cultural Services - Grant support for non-profit art organizations based in municipalities that contribute to this service, namely Saanich, Victoria, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, View Royal, Highlands, Metchosin, Sooke and Southern Gulf Islands. + 2020-23 Strategic Plan + 2023 Operating Grant Recipients + Database of funded recipients. [Sooke grant recipients since joining the service in 2019: Sooke Fine Arts ($11k, 2020/21/22), Sooke Region Museum ($3k, 2021), Sooke Arts Council ($4k, 2020) and, in our first year with the service, Sooke Community Choir (2k), Sooke Folk Music Society ($2k), Sooke Festival Society ($1.5k), Harmony Project ($2k) and Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra ($5k).]
- Regional Housing Trust Fund - Contribution to the CRD's share of funding for affordable housing projects that are largely paid for by the provincial and federal governments under the Regional Housing First Program. [The new social housing complexes at Charters and Drennan are RHFP projects to be managed by the M'akola Housing Society. Drennan shoud be ready for occupany in late 2023/early 2024. The modular building at Charters/Throup built by NRB Modular Solutions has now welcomed occupants to one-third of its 75 units. Negotiations continue with BC Housing regarding occupancy details for the subsidized (13 units) and below-market units. [Monthly rental prices for one-bedrooms in both projects range from $1,035-$1,300; two-bedrooms rent from $1,300 to $1,775; and three-bedrooms are $2,055. M'akola selects tenants for the higher-end "near market" rentals. BC Housing uses its housing registry to identify tenants for the below-market units and it's working with the Sooke Shelter Society to fill the subsidized units.]
- Animal Care Services - "We offer high quality Animal Care and Control with caring and experienced staff trained to look after all domestic animals. Our mission is to provide services with integrity, impartiality and efficiency with the goal of obtaining voluntary compliance. Our goal is to return lost pets to their owners. If this is not possible animals are well cared for at our Animal Shelter, and if unclaimed, animals are found suitable adoption or foster homes. It is the responsibility of dog owners to be aware of and follow animal regulations in the CRD. Failure to do so may result in fines, impounding, or other penalties. Bylaws vary by municipality." + Sooke Bylaw #392
- Regional Growth Strategy - CRD staff to continue work on tracking RGS progress, with a scheduled five-year review expected this year.
- SEAPARC Leisure Complex - About the SEAPARC Commission + Agendas and minutes + 2015 Strategic Plan (public engagement for a new plan is set to begin this year) + weight room and fitness studio expansion + CRD Community Needs Study: Recreation (2022)
- Fire Dispatch - "The CRD provides emergency fire dispatch for Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring Island, Southern Gulf Islands, Metchosin, Sooke, Highlands and Langford. The service operates out of Langford Fire Hall #1 utilizing contracted Langford Fire Department staff. Back-up services for the fire dispatch are provided through the BCAS dispatch centre in Langford."
- Septage Disposal - "The CRD provides outreach and educational services to industrial, commercial and institutional owners and operators to help promote the proper management of liquid waste that cannot be legally discharged to the sanitary sewer or the stormwater collection system."
- Millstream Remediation - "Millstream Meadows is located approximately 10km north-northwest of Victoria in the District of Highlands. Millstream Meadows is a 32 acre site used as an unregulated landfill for septic discharge dating from approximately 1941 to closure in 1985. The site was privately owned from early 1941 until 1972. The Province acquired, owned and operated the site for a brief time in 1974, and then transferred ownership to the Capital Regional District (CRD) in 1984."
LOCAL
- Sooke Region Museum
- Strategic Plan (2015)
- Sooke Region Historical Society + Constitution
- Stormwater Quality Management
- Green Stormwater Infrastructure
- Design Guidelines for the Capital Region
OTHER
- Debt Servicing
- Capital Regional Hospital District
As preparation, I'm assembling another collection of useful reference links on the subject at hand, most pulled directly from the vast depths of the CRD's website. I'm also following up on my CRD budget post from late 2019, by sharing, at page's end, the fiscal snapshot of service costs Sooke taxpayers will pay to our regional district this year. The chart is taken from Appendix J on page 2 of this March 15 CRD board agenda. It sits alongside similar summaries for the CRD's dozen other municipalities and the unincorporated Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring and Southern Gulf Islands electoral areas. [The resulting tax increase in Sooke is 0.8% for those of us with average assessed homes ($827k). Scroll down for a line-by-line guide to the items on the service-fee menu.]
All told, 16.6% of the bill you'll receive from the District at the end of this month will be forwarded to the CRD. Top perennial bite is for the operation, maintenance and strategic expansion of our recreation centre SEAPARC, to which nearly half of the requisition is dedicated. Our share of funding for regional parks, CRD legislative staff, emergency services (including fire dispatch and the CREST telecommunications system), animal bylaw services and the Sooke Region Museum are the other bigger-ticket needs that we, as a municipality, are grateful is handled by our parent district with its staff capacity and multi-jurisdictional delivery.
The first block of services at the top of the 2023 statement is financed by all households in the CRD. The second block lists "Sub-Regional" services that Sooke has opted into. We share costs for the museum with the JDF in a 70/30 split. Everyone in the region chips into the Capital Regional Hospital District and the long-term debt on various regional undertakings (which until recently had included SEAPARC, but that debt is now retired.)
(PS This entry, like them all, is a work in progress)
CRD Documents and Links
"The CRD offers a significant range of diverse services to its residents on a regional, sub- regional or local level. The choice of services is determined by the regional board but only with the support of the electors. Therefore, the breadth of services varies with each regional district according to its circumstances and local opinion. There are 27 regional districts in the province, ranging in size from the Stikine Region with about 740 residents to the Metro Vancouver Regional District with over 2.5 million residents. Regional Districts also serve in place of a Council where there is no municipality in areas called Electoral Areas. The CRD serves a local government role for the electoral areas of Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring Island and the Southern Gulf Islands."
CRD Governance
- Overview
- How decisions are made + procedures bylaw
- Public delegations
- About CRD
- Agendas and Minutes: CRD Board, Committees and Commissions
- Commission Handbook (2020)
- Best Practices Guide for Meetings (2022)
"The CRD is governed by three Boards – the Capital Regional District Board, the Capital Regional Hospital District Board and the Capital Region Housing Corporation Board. The CRD administration is led by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and a team of five General Managers that together comprise the Executive Leadership Team."
CRD Board 2022-2026: Chair Colin Plant, Vice-Chair Maja Tait
- board advocacy (including correspondence and quarterly updates from 2019 to present + 1Q 2023)
- consideration of a board code of conduct (Feb. 2023)
CRD Hospital District Board: Chair Kevin Murdoch, Mayor of Oak Bay
CRD Housing Corporation Board: Chair Zach De Vries, Councillor, District of Saanich
CRD Executive Leadership Team + Organization chart
- CAO Ted Robbins
- Chief Financial Officer Nelson Chan
- GM, Parks and Environmental Services Larisa Hutchison
- Acting GM, Integrated Water Services Ian Jesney
- GM, Planning and Protective Services Kevin Lorette
- GM, Corporate Services Kristin Morley
Five Year Financial Plan 2023-2028
CRD Board Priorities: 2023-2026
CRD Corporate Plan: 2023-2026
Library of Plans and Reports
Community Needs Summaries (2021)
CRD Bylaws
CRD Maps (includes individual regional parks and trails)
Public Engagement Portal
Current Initiatives
Current Capital Projects
Past Projects and Initiatives
About the Region - 439,950 residents (up 2.1% since 2021)
Juan de Fuca Service Delivery Area (map)
Regional Growth Strategy (2018)
"The Regional Growth Strategy includes integrated objectives, incorporating policies, targets, maps and guidelines that together express a program of joint action by the Capital Regional District and local municipalities to achieve the regional vision." It is reviewed every five years and legislatively requires a rewrite in 2038.
- RGS Indicators Report 2022
- Sooke RGS Context Statement + Revision documents (May 2022)
- "From the Ground Up" - Carine Green (2015)
- RGS FAQ (2016)
- "Growth Strategy Splits CRD" (Times Colonist, Feb. 2017)
- Mediation Outcomes (2017)
- Province of BC guide to regional growth strategies
- 2003 CRD RGS with amendments
- "CRD RGS 2003: Herding Cats on the Road to Sustainability" (University of Waterloo thesis)
RGS 2018-38 Objectives
~ Significantly reduce community-based greenhouse gas emissions
~ Keep urban settlement compact;
~ Protect the integrity of rural communities;
~ Protect, conserve and manage ecosystem health;
~ Deliver services consistent with RGS objectives;
~ Create safe and complete communities;
~ Improve housing affordability;
~ Increase transportation choice;
~ Strengthen the regional economy; and
~ Foster a resilient food and agriculture system.
Capital Region Housing Corporation
- Community Need Analysis: Affordable Housing
- CRD Role in housing
- Reaching Home and Regional Housing First Program Updates (March 2023)
- Regional Housing Affordability Strategy (2018)
- CRHC Annual Report 2022
- Reaching Home Program + FAQ
Capital Region Hospital District
- 10 Year Capital Plan: 2022-2032
Operates the Royal Jubilee, Saanich Peninsula, the Victoria General Hospital, Queen Alexandria and other medical centres. It's top capital expenses in future include a 306-bed long-term care facility at Royal Bay, redevelopment of Oak Bay Lodge and a $200m "restorative health centre" at a TBD location.
First Nations Relations
- Special Task Force on First Nations Relations Final Report (2018)
- Modern Treaties
- CRD Statement of Reconciliation
- Territorial Acknowledgement Guidelines
- Committee Terms of Reference
- Indigenous Employment Project + wise practices (April 2023)
- Indigenous Relations Operational Update (Sept. 2022)
- First Nations Communications Framework (April 2022)
- Ecological Asset Management Plan (Feb. 2022)
- Inclusive Governance and Decision Making + Honoraria policies (May, 2021)
- First Nation Relations Mandate Refresher (slide deck) + FN Inclusion in CRD Governance + Economic Development Partnership Model (Sept. 2020)
- Forum of All Councils (Nov. 2019 - CRD directors and First Nations joint session)
- FN Inclusion on CRD Standing Committees (Nov. 2019)
- Overview of Neighbouring First Nations + Archeology Policies & Procedures (Feb. 2019)
Climate Action
CRD Climate Action Service
(5 Full-Time Employees)
* Provide support to local governments in developing and implementing climate action plans and policies and execute regional programs. (i.e., Matt Greeno presentation to Sooke council re: Zero Carbon Step Code, Sept. 25, 2023)
* Catalyze action through partnerships with public and private sectors, non-governmental organizations and community organizations and increase public awareness of climate change issues.
* Liaise with senior levels of government on climate change-related programs, policies and legislation that impact the capital region.
* Provide scientific information, data and indicators related to local and regional GHG emissions and projected climate impacts.
* Support the CRD in fulfilling its corporate climate objectives and support execution of climate-related Board priorities.
- Climate Action Strategy (October 2021)
- CRD Board Advocacy Opportunities for Accelerated Climate Action (2019)
- Taking Action on Climate Change (2017)
- Corporate Climate Action Strategy (2016)
- Climate Action Inter-Municipal Working Group (featuring municipal staff)
- Climate Action Inter-Municipal Task Force (featuring councillor appointees)
+ Ann Baird report + 2009 Terms of Reference
- CRD request that all municipalities declare a climate emergency (2019)
- Climate Projections for the Capital Region (2017; update due in 2023)
- 2022 Climate Action Progress Report (presented April, 2023)
"Overall, in 2022, the CRD progressed on several climate action initiatives and identified where focused efforts need to be made or increased to achieve targeted actions and outcomes. The overall status for the 2022 year was calculated as ‘opportunity for improvement’, meaning 50-75% of the yearly target of actions were progressed as envisioned within the Strategy’s five-year action plan."
- Climate Action Community Need Summary (Sept. 2023; see item 4.3)• "Transportation mode shift targets: the Regional Transportation Plan established a mode share target of 42% for active transportation and transit combined for the region by 2038, based on 15% walking, 15% cycling and 12% transit.
- The Victoria Regional Transit Commission increased the transit mode share target to 15% in 2020, increasing the regional target to 45%.
- New public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure target: 770 public Level 2 EV charger ports and 132 Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) ports by 2030."
- 2022 Regional GHG Emissions Inventory (released Sept 2023)
- see Appendix B under item 4.4 for municipal breakdowns; Sooke on pp. 61-63
"The 2022 CRD inventory indicates that the capital region emitted approximately 1.86 million tonnes of CO2e. Carbon pollution in 2022 was 7% below the 2007 baseline and increased approximately 1% compared to the 2020 inventory. On a per capita basis, emissions have decreased by 25% since 2007."
Context:
- Annual global GHG emissions: 58 billion tonnes CO2e (World In Data + Brookings Institute)
- CO2 emissions of all countries: table (European Commission)
- Canada: 670 million tonnes (Federal government, 2020)
- British Columbia: 62 million tonnes (Province of BC 2021, -3% vs. 2007)
The CRD’s 2018 Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) targets a reduction in community GHG emissions of 61% by 2038.
High/lowlights:
- On-road regional transportation related emissions accounted for approximately 42% of all carbon pollution.
- EV uptake reduced emissions 12% from 2007 yet total increased approximately 11% over 2020, in part due to reduced traffic during pandemic
- Building heating GHGs dropped 7% below 2007, as a result of heating oil use reductions and the continued greening of the BC electricity grid
- Natural gas accounted for the majority of building carbon pollution in the region and rose 10% above 2020 levels.
- The province may release updates of its 2012 Community Energy and Emissions Inventories (CEEIs) for local governments later this year.
- Core communities have seen GHG reductions, i.e., Esquimalt (-22%), Oak Bay (-17%) and Victoria (-16%)
- Outside the core reductions are minimal, i.e., North Saanich (-2.4%), Colwood (-0.5%) and View Royal (+0.8%)
- CRD's fastest growing communities reflect GHG impacts of their population increases, i.e., Langford (+47.6%) and Sooke (+22.6%)
Sooke emissions: 64,405 tonnes of C02e in 2022
- + 22.6% since 2007 (when the benchmark starting point here was 51,194 tonnes)
- up from 55,790 tonnes in 2020
- Sooke per capita: 5.1 tonnes (2007) vs. 3.9 tonnes (2022)
- CRD overall: 5.7 tonnes (2007) vs. 4.2 tonnes (2022) per CRD resident
Leading sources of Sooke GHG emissions + % increase/decrease over 2007
On Road Transportation
- Passenger vehicles (gas & diesel) - 7,439 tonnes (-22%)
- Light trucks, vans, SUVs (gas & diesel) - 21,428 tonnes (+68%)
- Heavy-duty vehicles (gas & diesel) - 5,874 tonnes (+8%)
- Off-road transportation (incl. marine) - 5,138 tonnes (+26%)
Stationary Energy (Building Heating)
- Natural Gas (residential) - 3,593 tonnes CO2e (+450%)
- Natural Gas (commercial) - 1,804 tonnes (+119%)
- Electricity (residential) - 1,098 tonnes (-57%)
- Electricity (commercial) - 279 tonnes (-59%)
- Diesel (commercial) - 3,099 tonnes (+140%)
- Fuel Oil - 680 tonnes (-82%)
- Wood - 537 tonnes (-3%)
- Industrial process and product use - 4,943 tonnes (+137%)
TOTAL: 54,695 of full total in 2022
Not included in summaries:
Agriculture, Forestry & Other Land Uses
- Emissions sequestered in Sooke - 11,266 tonnes of CO2e (+13.2% since 2007)
- Emissions released through development in Sooke - 5,442 tonnes (-12.4%)
Earlier inventories:
- Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (2020)
- Municipal GHG Statistics (2020; see pg. 61 for Sooke numbers)
_________________________________________________________________________
Behaviour Change
- Climate Action Resources (for homes, schools, businesses)
- Climate Action To Go Kits (available through VIRL Sooke library)
Building Retrofits
- Home Energy Navigator Program (personalized help for home retrofits in collaboration with CityGreen Solutions; launched 2022) + case studies & resource library + register here
- Residential Energy Retrofit Program Business Case (2021)
Charge Your Ride program
- Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Roadmap (2021)
- EV and E-Bike Infrastructure Planning Guide (2018)
- Zero Emissions CRD Fleet Initiative (Jan. 2022)
- Motion unanimously approved at the April, 2023 Environmental Services Committee meeting: "That staff consider increasing the level of ambition in our climate action policies."
- Carbon Budgeting History (Feb. 2023)
- "CRD Board Rejects Central Saanich Request to Back Out of Climate Action Service" (Capital Daily, July 2022)
Regional Parks and Trails
"CRD Regional Parks protects and manages more than 13,300 hectares of natural areas in 33 regional parks and 4 regional trails on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands."
- Regional Parks Service Operating and Capital Budget 2024 (Sept. 2023)
- Parks and Trails Strategic Plan: 2022-2032
"Vision: We have an expanded and connected system of regional parks and regional trails that are rich in biodiversity, respect Indigenous cultural heritage and use, inspire stewardship, are resilient to change, and provide enjoyable outdoor recreation experiences." + engagement page + "what we heard" summary
- Preceded by: Regional Green/Blue Spaces Strategy (1997) + Strategic Plans for 2000-2012 and 2012-2022
- 2022 Regional Parks Strategic Update
- 2016 Regional Trails Management Plan (Galloping Goose pp. 19-22)
- Regional Trails Visitor Use Survey + Trail Widening Study (2019/20)
- Parks Visitor Use Surveys (2018/19)
- Land Acquisition policies
- New policy reports and documents (Sept. 2021) + Sustainable model for future acquisitions (April 2021)
"The CRD Board established a Land Acquisition Fund (LAF) in 2000 for the sole purpose of acquiring regional park land. The LAF was initially set at a rate of $10 per average residential household and has increased over time. In 2010, the LAF was renewed and an increase of $1 per year was approved.
In November 2019, the Board extended the LAF to 2029 at the rate of $20 per average residential household, with rates set to increase by $1 each year through 2025 to a maximum of $25 per average residential household. The LAF collected approximately $4 million in 2021 for regional park land acquisition.
The CRD's 2022 Financial Plan incorporates a new approach to land acquisition that leverages borrowing capacity to purchase land that would otherwise be unattainable on a pay-as-you-go savings model. This financing structure is anticipated to create a revenue stream that can be used to service up to $50 million of land purchases over 15 years, thereby leveraging a net increase in land values more than $100 million."
- CRD Land Acquisition Strategy 2020-21 (to be updated this year)
- Maps of Land Acquisitions 2000-2022
- Citified interview with CRD Real Estate Manager Stephen Henderson (2020)
- East Sooke Regional Park addition near Anderson Cove (Oct. 2022)
- Admiral's Forest purchase as Juan de Fuca Community Park (Sept. 2022)
- Kapoor Lands Acquistiion
- Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park addition (Dec. 2017)
- Pemberton Pools on Sooke River (May 2017)
* North of Jordan River townsite (2012)
- Sandcut Beach and other regional lands transferred from Western Forest Products (2012) + summary
- Sooke Potholes (CRD and The Land Conservancy partnership) (2007)
- Leech Watershed (sold by Timberwest to CRD) (2007)
- Sea To Sea Management Plan (Ayum Creek, Kapoor, Sea to Sea, Sooke Potholes) (2010)
- Mountain Biking Guidelines (2021)
- Mountain Biking Opportunities in Regional Parks (Nov. 2021): Report on relationship with South Island Mountain Biking Society (SIMBS) re: trails at Mount Work; progress on Sooke Bike Club trail maintenance at Mount Manuel Quimper; standardized mountain biking on-and-off trail signage; review of trail possibilities at Thetis Lake.
- Mountain Biking Advisory Committee Report (Dec. 2020) + committee minutes
- 2023 Parks Operational Update (May, 2023)
- Parks Capital Plan Update (March, 2023)
- Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Stats (Feb. 2022)
- Mosquito Management and Control Program + E&N Rail Trail + Conservation Strategy (Oct. 2021)
- Parks Service Level Review (June, 2021)
- Revenue Generation Strategy (Feb. 2021)
- Mapping Sunken Vessels (Oct. 2019) + Abandoned Boats Update (June 2019)
- Invasive Species Program Update (March 2019)
- Parks For All: Action Plan for Canada's Parks Community (2018)
- Todd Creek Trestle Closure (2017)
- Sooke Hills Wilderness Park Reserve re-open for limited public use (2017)
- Sooke motion: Galloping Goose Dog Management KM 49-55 (Oct. 2020)
- Compliance and Enforcement Program (2020)
- CRD dog management policies in District of Sooke (June 2020)
- Dog Management Policy Framework (Nov. 2019)
- Non-Migratory Canada Goose Management (July 2020)
- Draft Conservation Strategy Framework (2010)
- BC Biodiversity Report Card (Wilderness Committee, 2021)
Water Supply
"The CRD supplies bulk drinking water for residential, commercial, institutional, and agricultural uses to approximately 400,000 people throughout the Greater Victoria area by the Regional Water Supply (RWS) service. The RWS operates the watersheds, dams, reservoirs, treatment (disinfection) and transmission systems which supply municipal water systems at metered transfer points to each municipality and sub-regional water services. The CRD supplies water to sub-regional water services, including the Juan de Fuca Water Distribution Services, Saanich Peninsula Water Service, bulk water municipal customers, and eight First Nation communities."
- 20,550 hectares of CRD-owned, forested land in the Sooke, Goldstream and Leech watersheds.
- The area includes 11 dams and six reservoirs
Regional Water Supply Strategic Plan (2017)
Regional Water Supply Master Plan (2022)
Greater Victoria Drinking Water Quality Annual Report (2021)
Juan de Fuca Drinking Water Distribution System (map) + overview
Greater Victoria Sanitary Sewers (map)
East Sooke Water Supply Study - see pp. 19-95 of the January 3, 2023 JDF Water Distribution Commission agenda
Insights into how the area south from 17 Mile House to East Sooke Road might develop in the decades ahead. The report identifies four large parcels of land in this area on which developers envision placing 2700 homes. (see pg. 31).
"A water servicing study for the expansion of the Juan de Fuca Water Distribution System to unserviced areas experiencing water issues within the District of Sooke and East Sooke was undertaken. Consideration was made to expand service to properties based on existing zoning densities as well as future development and densification beyond current zoning to try and reduce the cost per connection. Results indicate that the expansion is administratively feasible but would require significant and costly infrastructure to service properties to current zoning. Any new required water servicing bylaws would need to be considered by the CRD Board for consistency with the Regional Growth Strategy."
From the Jan. 3, 2023 minutes: "Discussion ensued and staff stated that the report is presented for information in order to identify the feasibility and costs of expanding to those areas.
Staff responded to questions regarding:
• Costs and approvals processes if a developer wished to proceed.
* Other water systems and Improvement Districts processes.
* Well costs versus connection charges.
*Promotion of rainwater capture systems.
There is no recommendation, the report is for information only."
Transportation
- Regional Transportation Plan (2014)
- Regional Transportation Report Card (2021)
- South Island Transportation Strategy (2020)
- Transportation Priority Areas + Implementation Strategies
- Transportation Service Feasibility Study (2014)
- Governmental roles within Greater Victoria (infographic)
- Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan (2011) + Bikenomics in the Capital Region (2015)
Preliminary consideration for a regional transportation authority: See files on pg. 2 of Transportation Committee meeting agenda of May 17, 2023. <clip> "The CRD shares many of the same transportation goals as other metropolitan regions: Ease congestion during peak travel times, reduce emissions, and support higher rates of walking, cycling and transit use. Similarly, the CRD is not the only jurisdiction trying to integrate different transportation modes into a single planning framework, ensure the right authorities are in place and find dedicated funding to meet service levels."
Summer 2023: "Broadly engage local governments, BC Transit, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI), BC Ferries and the airport authority and analyze level of consensus of possible change."
- BC Transit Annual Report to the CRD (Sept. 2023, see item 3.2)
- Transit Future Plan Network development
- RapidBus implementation - Blink West Shore RapidBus Line launched in April, 2023
- 10 battery electric buses to be in service on Langford-Victoria routes
- committed to transitioning to a fully electric fleet by 2040
- Island Coastal Inter-Community Transportation Study (July 2023)
- "Transportation Act now allows the Province to acquire land for the purpose of building housing and community amenities to serve people near transit stations and bus exchanges."
2022 Origin Destination Household Travel Survey
(released Sept. 2023, see item 4.2 ... Appendix A is the final report based on household survey conducted between Sept. 28 and Dec. 17, 2022. The survey documents respondent travel patterns for an average 24-hour weekday.)
"* Goal 1: Reduce congestion in the morning and afternoon peak periods: People are taking fewer trips, with a 10% reduction in total trips in 2022 despite a 9% increase in population since 2017. This trend can be attributed to changing travel behaviours in the densely populated Core (Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay, Esquimalt and View Royal). However, trips within the Westshore (Langford, Colwood, Highlands, Metchosin and Sooke), and between the Westshore and the Core and the Saanich Peninsula (Central Saanich, Sidney and North Saanich), are slightly higher in 2022.
Trip volumes are also slightly down. People taking fewer trips throughout the day correspond to reductions in work and school commutes, as well as shopping, restaurant/bar, social activities and other activities that occur outside the commuter peaks. All these reductions are consistent with the lingering effects of pandemic activity shifts.
* Goal 2: Increase the number of people walking, cycling and taking transit: Mode share continues to trend in the right direction, with 29% of trips made by walking, cycling and transit use. This is up from the 2017 mode share of 26.6%. The regional mode share goal is 45%. As with trip volumes, mode share varies depending on where you live in the region.
* Goal 3: Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector: In addition to gains in mode share, the region is also showing gains in the number of EVs-only. The gain in EVs between 2017 and 2022 is significant from 1,900 to 11,900 vehicles. EVs now represent 4% of the region’s private vehicles, with hybrids at 3% and plug-in hybrids at 1%. Note that the numbers in the OD survey reflect the responses of surveyed households and may not correspond to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia’s vehicle population breakdown."
- Surveys are conducted every five years:
Household Travel Destination Survey (2017)
Household Travel Destination Survey (2002)
Sooke findings ...
297 surveys in Sooke … 4.6% sample of 6,400 households
2022 Sooke 24-hour analysis of local and regional trips
- 17,400 "internalized" trips within District of Sooke
- 10,000 trips elsewhere within the CRD
- 10,000 trips from CRD municipalities to Sooke
- 19,900 two-way total … representing 1.6% of total there-and-back trips in CRD
2017 Sooke 24-hour analysis
- 17,200 internalized trips within DOS
- 9,300 trips elsewhere in CRD
- 9,000 from other CRD municipalities to Sooke
- 18,300 two-way total … representing 1.3% of there-and-back trips in CRD
"Almost half the trips generated by residents of Sooke District and First Nations and Saanich East remain in the same district, at 48% and 46% respectively. Highlands, Juan de Fuca Electoral Area and First Nations and Metchosin and First Nation have the lowest internalization rates, at 3%, 7% and 12% respectively."
Waste and Recycling
- Solid Waste Management Plan (2021) + Public engagement report + What We've Heard
- Waste Composition Study (2022)
- Community Need Summary 2024 (see item 4.1)
CRD Goal: Solid-waste disposal rate of 250kg/CRD resident per year by 2030
2022 Actual: 410 kg/person
2023 Forecast: 375 kg/person
2024 Target: 350 kg/person
- "CRD Board Approves Plan Aimed At Cutting Waste by One-Third By 2030" (Black Press, May 2021)
- Hartland Landfill
- Waste diversion initiatives (ban on carpet, asphalt shingles, wood) + new tipping fees (April 2023)
- "Changes Coming to Hartland" (CTV, May 12, 2023)
- Hartland Renewable Gas Initiative + Landfill Gas Utilization (June, 2019)
- Options for Biosolids (April, 2023) + Monthly statistics
- Lafarge Cement options for biosolids and thermal waste (June 2022)
- Extended Producer Responsibility draft program (2023)
- Curbside Blue Box Recycling 2024 and Beyond (June 2022)
- Residential Curbside Recycling update (March 2022)
- Reducing Single-Use Plastic and Polystyrene Items (2019)
- Inter-Municipal Waste Diversion Working Group
- Solid Waste Advisory Committee home page
CRD Arts
- CRD Arts Commission
- Arts funding for qualified applicants based in CRD local governments that have signed up for the service (Sooke included as of 2019)
- Grant equity chart
- Video on arts grants options
- Strategic Plan development, 2024-2027 (see Appendix C at end of this Sept. 27, 2023 agenda)
- Arts organizations in the CRD
- 2020-23 Strategic Plan
- 2023 Operating Grant Recipients
- Database of funded recipients.
[Sooke grant recipients since joining the service in 2019: Sooke Fine Arts ($11k, 2020/21/22), Sooke Region Museum ($3k, 2021), Sooke Arts Council ($4k, 2020) and, in our first year with the service, Sooke Community Choir (2k), Sooke Folk Music Society ($2k), Sooke Festival Society ($1.5k), Harmony Project ($2k) and Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra ($5k).]
Regional Food and Agriculture
- Strategy (2017)
- CRFAIR (Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Round Table) + research/reports
- Foodlands Trust Business Case (2022)
- Regional Foodlands Access Program - Preliminary (2022)
- Foodlands Access Service (June, 2023 update; phased implementation of 10-15 plots of land for a five-year farmer training/incubation pilot program on ALR land within Bear Hill Regional Park; all municipalities will be canvassed re: interest in their own localized programs late this year; Sooke indicated support for the program when first conceived in 2019)
Planning and Development
- Development and Planning Advisory Committee
- CRD application to the UBCM Complete Communities Growth and Mobility Study grant stream to "inform decisions about zoning densification in areas that are well supported by transit and active transportation infrastructure." (June 2023)
******************************************************************************************
Now for a line by line breakdown of the items in the CRD 2023 requisition statement (screenshot below)
REGIONAL SERVICES
* Legislative and General Governance
* GIS and Geo-Spatial Referencing System - Maintenance and updating of the South Island basemap (with photography, streets, topography and other optional layers) and the CRD Community Map
* Community Health and Wellbeing
* Regional Parks and Trails - "There are 32 regional parks and four regional trails in the CRD system, comprising over 13,200 hectares of land. Regional parks contribute approximately 27% to the region’s network of protected natural areas." The Parks 2022-32 Strategic Plan was approved in late 2022.
* Climate Action and Adaptation - Climate Action Strategy (October 2021) + 2022 Climate Action Progress Report (presented April, 2023).
* Land Banking & Housing - Building a reserve fund to purchase land for future Regional Housing First Program affordable housing projects
* Regional Goose Management - "Recent population studies commissioned by the CRD have shown that the Canada goose population in the capital region doubles in size every four years. This growing population has resulted in increasing ecological, economic, and social impacts to public and private lands, estuaries, and wetlands. The CRD intends to establish a Regional Canada Goose Management Working Group to take a coordinated approach to outreach and education, development of an egg addling program, coordination of Provincial and Federal permits, and conducting strategic harvests. The working group will involve representatives from local government, First Nations, stewardship groups, and key stakeholders impacted by the large goose population." (March, 2023)
* Regional Planning Services - "The CRD provides information on and analysis of the region's population, development, land use, transportation, housing and employment trends. Developing, implementing, maintaining and updating a regional growth strategy supports regional sustainability and quality of life." + regional fact sheets
* Regional Emergency Support Program - Responsible for the Regional Emergency Management Partnership, which provides local planning for the CRD in collaboration with the BC Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness + 2022 Annual Report with details on the Capital Region Tsunami Information Portal and extreme heat planning + 2023-2027 Strategic Plan
* Hazardous Material Incident Response - "Hazmat spills may include chemical, radiation, biohazard, propane, oil and gas, flammable materials, industrial products and mixed waste. These may occur in transportation, industry, businesses and even homes, and may occur after an earthquake or flood ... Over 60 firefighters across the region are trained as Hazmat Response Technicians. The CRD provides a central store of specialized equipment, which is housed and maintained by the Central Saanich Fire Department."
* South Island 9-1-1/Police Dispatch Centre - "Operational costs for the two-storey, 1200-sq. meter post-disaster facility built and owned by the CRD and operated by E-Comm. Opened in 2019, it consolidates 911 call-answer and police dispatch services for central and southern Vancouver Island police", Sooke RCMP included.
* Regional CREST (Capital Region Emergency Service Telecommunications) Contribution - "CREST serves more than 50 first responder and public service agencies in the Capital Region -- fire, police and ambulance. Over 7.5 million calls per year go through the system, or one call every four seconds." + 2021 Annual Report
SUB-REGIONAL SERVICES
- Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee - Dedicated since 1966 to educating the Greater Victoria community about the juvenile justice system and advocating on behalf of regional front-line service providers. + CRD Commission Bylaw
- Traffic Safety Commission - "Reviews traffic safety in the capital region and makes recommendations through a committee to the CRD Board to help reduce or eliminate problems." Established in 1981. Current traffic safety programs and promotion of other programs includes Ready Step Roll Active Routes to Schools; Malahat safety (including advocacy for a point-to-point traffic camera pilot program); MOTI's Slow Down, Move Over campaign asking drivers to grant emergency vehicles safe passage; motorcycle safety; child-seat use; and distracted and impaired driving programs. It also recommends that municipalities start traffic safety commissions of their own.
- CRD Arts and Cultural Services - Grant support for non-profit art organizations based in municipalities that contribute to this service, namely Saanich, Victoria, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, View Royal, Highlands, Metchosin, Sooke and Southern Gulf Islands. + 2020-23 Strategic Plan + 2023 Operating Grant Recipients + Database of funded recipients. [Sooke grant recipients since joining the service in 2019: Sooke Fine Arts ($11k, 2020/21/22), Sooke Region Museum ($3k, 2021), Sooke Arts Council ($4k, 2020) and, in our first year with the service, Sooke Community Choir (2k), Sooke Folk Music Society ($2k), Sooke Festival Society ($1.5k), Harmony Project ($2k) and Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra ($5k).]
- Regional Housing Trust Fund - Contribution to the CRD's share of funding for affordable housing projects that are largely paid for by the provincial and federal governments under the Regional Housing First Program. [The new social housing complexes at Charters and Drennan are RHFP projects to be managed by the M'akola Housing Society. Drennan shoud be ready for occupany in late 2023/early 2024. The modular building at Charters/Throup built by NRB Modular Solutions has now welcomed occupants to one-third of its 75 units. Negotiations continue with BC Housing regarding occupancy details for the subsidized (13 units) and below-market units. [Monthly rental prices for one-bedrooms in both projects range from $1,035-$1,300; two-bedrooms rent from $1,300 to $1,775; and three-bedrooms are $2,055. M'akola selects tenants for the higher-end "near market" rentals. BC Housing uses its housing registry to identify tenants for the below-market units and it's working with the Sooke Shelter Society to fill the subsidized units.]
- Animal Care Services - "We offer high quality Animal Care and Control with caring and experienced staff trained to look after all domestic animals. Our mission is to provide services with integrity, impartiality and efficiency with the goal of obtaining voluntary compliance. Our goal is to return lost pets to their owners. If this is not possible animals are well cared for at our Animal Shelter, and if unclaimed, animals are found suitable adoption or foster homes. It is the responsibility of dog owners to be aware of and follow animal regulations in the CRD. Failure to do so may result in fines, impounding, or other penalties. Bylaws vary by municipality." + Sooke Bylaw #392
- Regional Growth Strategy - CRD staff to continue work on tracking RGS progress, with a scheduled five-year review expected this year.
- SEAPARC Leisure Complex - About the SEAPARC Commission + Agendas and minutes + 2015 Strategic Plan (public engagement for a new plan is set to begin this year) + weight room and fitness studio expansion + CRD Community Needs Study: Recreation (2022)
- Fire Dispatch - "The CRD provides emergency fire dispatch for Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring Island, Southern Gulf Islands, Metchosin, Sooke, Highlands and Langford. The service operates out of Langford Fire Hall #1 utilizing contracted Langford Fire Department staff. Back-up services for the fire dispatch are provided through the BCAS dispatch centre in Langford."
- Septage Disposal - "The CRD provides outreach and educational services to industrial, commercial and institutional owners and operators to help promote the proper management of liquid waste that cannot be legally discharged to the sanitary sewer or the stormwater collection system."
- Millstream Remediation - "Millstream Meadows is located approximately 10km north-northwest of Victoria in the District of Highlands. Millstream Meadows is a 32 acre site used as an unregulated landfill for septic discharge dating from approximately 1941 to closure in 1985. The site was privately owned from early 1941 until 1972. The Province acquired, owned and operated the site for a brief time in 1974, and then transferred ownership to the Capital Regional District (CRD) in 1984."
LOCAL
- Sooke Region Museum
- Strategic Plan (2015)
- Sooke Region Historical Society + Constitution
- Stormwater Quality Management
- Green Stormwater Infrastructure
- Design Guidelines for the Capital Region
OTHER
- Debt Servicing
- Capital Regional Hospital District
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