Final ReportTransition Sooke

Open Space Meeting

Sooke Harbour House, Oct. 18, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Facilitators: Christiana and Tony St-Pierre

Transition Sooke core team: Darren Alexander, Blake Barton, Jeff Bateman, Yves Bourdeau, Sofie Hagens, Stephen Hindrichs, Andrew

Moore, Tony St-Pierre, Michael Tacon and Mark Ziegler.

What is an Open Space Workshop?

“A highly democratic framework for enabling any group of people to create their own program of discussions on almost any theme without much preparation. They are particularly useful for dealing with general policy issues; for generating enthusiasm and for dealing with urgent issues needing quick action.”

The Community Planning Handbook, 2006

Key Elements of Open Space

A theme or “guiding question” is determined that should be of passionate interest to potential participants.

The agenda and workshops are determined and self-managed by the participants.

Each workshop develops a list of actions and determines who should take them.

Guiding Question for TS Open Space

“In a spirit of cooperation and self-reliance, the people of Sooke have successfully established lives, overcome hardships and responded to

change for more than 160 years. (And the people of T’Sou-ke have done so for much

longer). Within this tradition, how can we elect and support a council that will transform current

and future challenges into opportunities?”

Morning Sessions

i) Energy independence and collaboration with the T’Sou-ke Nation;

ii) Council/community relationship (structure, communications, integrity);

iii) Emergency response services.

iv) Quality of life (beautification, trails and parks, infrastructure);

Afternoon Sessions

v) health, education and social services;

vi) jobs and environment;

vi) local food economy;

Recommendations from workshop on: Energy independence and collaboration with the

T’Sou-ke Nation

“Seven-generation thinking” and working with the T'Souke Nation is essential to Sooke's greener future.

Developing working groups focussing of sustainability issues that would include City councillors, city staff, youth, First Nation representatives and local talent.

Regional planning and collaboration is required.

Council needs to actively promote green energy projects like Solar CRD, a “Sooke green building tour” and pre-wiring for solar water heaters.

Recommendations from workshop on: Council/community relationship (structure,

communications, integrity) Better access to Council meetings and a better

understanding of through podcasts of meetings, a more informative District of Sooke website with easier access to documents and meeting summaries and possibly radio station.

Inner workings of Council (roles and responsibilities of Mayor, Councils, Committees, staff) to be better understood by community at large; semiannual open houses to explain operations?

More and better opportunities to consult with members of Council committees, advisory planning committees and municipal staff prior to Council meetings

Recommendations from workshop on:Emergency Response Services

Develop an effective community emergency plan.

Council liaison required for Sooke branch of BC Emergency Social Services.

Coordinate ESS activities with other local groups.

Identify tsunami zones … street signs to include elevations.

Increase current allocation of $5,000 per year for personnel, supplies, training and equipment such as:

ham radio operators and hand helds ($50 each) a centrally located alarm warning system (siren) a paid ESS position

Recommendations from workshop on:Quality of life (beautification, trails and parks,

infrastructure) We need a unified vision with community input: Citizens need

to be familiar with Sooke’s Official Community Plan and push for it to be honoured.

Develop a parks plan with public consultation, and a clear understanding of the costs involve with the intent of enhancing ocean views, creeks, parks and trails and creating a Trails Master Plan in collaboration East Sooke and Otter Point.

Street beautification, which includes plantings, trees, lighting, watering capability, sidewalks etc. Choose the right trees to reduce erosion and ensure the selection of trees is sustainable.

Work with the province to get bike lanes on Highway 14.

Encourage multi-use zoning so that people can live and work in their homes.

Directional signs for residents and visitors.

Enhance tourism with better parking spaces and generally make Sooke more tourist friendly.

A minimum standard for posters and billboarding.

A central gathering place (i.e., village plaza).

Recommendations from workshop on:Health, Education and Social Services

Health: District of Sooke must understand Sooke’s primary health care issues and then more effectively be our voice at Island Health and other authorities.

Council and Staff would benefit from better connections with local community groups. Councillors must take initiative to understand community issues and attend meetings but at same time, community groups must ensure that council delegates are given regular updates, reminders and invitations.

Community Place for youth/elder mentoring programs, business and arts projects: have a plan that is “shovel ready” to implement as funding opportunities arise.

Health, Education and Social Services (continued)

Education: More continuing education and adult learning opportunities are essential in Sooke perhaps by building on EMCS's work withe Camosun College or by attracting a post-secondary satellite campus.

Improving Volunteer Coordination: Municipal funding (in whole or part) for a paid position to manage the Sooke Region Volunteer Centre.

Recommendations from workshop on:Jobs and the Environment

Creation of Quality, Well-Paid Jobs through:

Tourism

Eldercare

Telecommuting

Plugging retail leakage

Encouraging local hiring

Training opportunities for existing local jobs

Expansion of co-op enterprises

Reduction of Environmental Footprint through:

Council adopting principles of sustainability including support for local job creation and environmental footprint reduction. These principles should be linked to and incorporated into OCP.

Council should create sub-committee on jobs, energy and transportation.

Secure bike lock-up near Sooke Park n Ride. Plastics use could be reduced if Council were to liaise with

local merchants to reduce, eliminate availability of plastic bags for purchased items

Recommendations from workshop on:Food Security, Sustainability & Local Food Economy

Create a Sooke Region Food Security Advisory Committee representing the following groups: Sooke Food CHI, Sooke Farmers Club, Sooke Farmland Trust Society, Sooke Country Market, Sooke Fall Fair, children’s garden club. Sooke Garden Club, local restaurants and Transition Sooke’s permaculture/permablitz working group.

Source and secure funding for a Food Security Coordinator for the Sooke region to be the link between this Advisory Committee and the District of Sooke.

Sooke needs a voice on Juan de Fuca Electoral District’s agricultural advisory committee.

Recurring Themes Advisory committees, task forces and

community groups and staff need to be able to work with council and provide council with the information and feedback it needs to make the best decisions for Sooke.

The OCP is a living document representing our vision for the community and should always inform the direction of council.