Frequently Asked Questions

I was wondering if you will be building any bike lanes in the Sechelt area?

An expansion of the Suncoaster Trail, with a section from Roberts Creek to the Airport, is planned for 2019, with Sechelt planning to invest $250,000 in this project.

There will also be expansions of the bike lane/multi-user trail on Trail Avenue in conjunction with road improvements in 2019. Cycling lanes are also being planned for in conjunction with road projects on Derby (2019) and Tyler Roads (2021).

As seniors on a fixed income we do not agree with an increase of our property taxes as the District is already seeing the 'on paper' increase in property assessments which is an increase in taxes.

Increases in property assessments do not mean the District will collect more property tax revenue. The total market increase in assessed property values from 2016 to 2017 is 24.76%. To accommodate this increase in assessed values, the District will reduce the tax rate by 24.76%. If the assessed value of a property increased by the average the tax bill for 2017 will be the same in 2017 as is was in 2016. If the property went up by more than the average, the tax bill will be higher. Conversely, if the increase was less than the average the tax bill will be lower.

Why are property owners who defer their property taxes unable to also defer property fees such as sewer and solid waste fees?

Property Tax deferral is a low interest loan program offered by the Provincial Government. The Province pays the municipal portion of the taxes for approved property owners until they sell or transfer the property to another owner, at which time the loan and accrued interest is collected. The Province does not include Property Fees in this program.

Who (on the District staff) is certified to conduct surveying?

District staff working in Engineering and GIS have the capabilities to do surveying work, except for legal surveys, which require BCLS certification.

Why does Public Works require new surveying equipment?

The new equipment will be used by the Engineering and other departments and is able to gather millimetre accurate measurements in all three directions. The purpose of the purchase  was to allow us to bring all manhole and pipe information to the UTM10 datum, allowing better record keeping and sanitary/storm sewer modeling of these networks. It will also increase the District's capability to complete in house designs for medium sized capital works, by no longer relying on hiring surveying companies for each project.

Why has Sechelt not pursued the sale of reclaimed water from the Water Resource Centre?

The District does not have a customer for the reclaimed water supply.  The District is exploring the licencing requirements for reuse of the reclaimed water.  The first re-use customer will likely be the District itself, reusing the water for approved purposes in our Parks. 

Does the District have other recently purchased surveying equipment?

The laser level purchased within the last two years is stored at the Publics Works yard and is used as required. This is only used to gain a low level elevation transfer, for work such as ground preparation or level transfer for culvert installation.

Does the 2017 capital budget set aside any funds for the Seawatch subdivision repair?

There is no allocation for this repair in the 2017 budget.  The District is in litigation on matters related to project and cannot comment further at this time. 

What will the District do with the extra 3 acres of land it owns at 5400 Dusty Road that is not needed for the Public Works Building? Will the District Subdivide or sell it? Is there an opportunity for social housing development at this site?

The District is currently using 2/3 of the property at 5400 Dusty Road for the existing Public Works operations and the planned new Operations Centre.  It is anticipated that the remaining 1/3 will be retained for storage and potential future expansion.  There is a BC Hydro right of way on a portion of the lot, which limits how it can be used.  If property is determined to be surplus to the District's future needs, disposal of the property could be considered. 

Why are 14% of the District's total administrative costs transferred to sewer users to supervise and support 7% of the staff?

Staff conducted a more detailed calculation taking into consideration the different proportion of wages and benefits, supplies and contractors and financing costs between the funds and allocating specific costs based on these differing proportions. We found that the amount to be allocated was very similar to the amount calculated simply by allocating all administrative costs based on the respective operating expenses of the funds. Consequently, as there is no significant difference between the results from performing the complex calculation and the simple calculation we have chosen to continue using the simple calculation.

Why are residents on sewer required to be the sole source of funding for the planned Liquid Waste Management Plan ($55,000)?

Staff will be recommending to Council that the costs for the Liquid Waste Management Plan be funded with property taxes rather than sewer levies as the plan will benefit all residents of the District not just those currently connected to the sewer system.

It has become apparent to many taxpayers, and myself over the past 3.5 years that the District of Sechelt as a Municipal government has lost its ability to provide the required level of services to ALL of the residents, taxpayers, and businesses within the current Municipal boundaries.

Thank you to this individual for forwarding these concerns and this information for Council's consideration.  There are no questions in the submission to be responded to.

The Draft Budget, and proposed tax increases, in addition to other fee increases re-enforce the financial difficulties the District of Sechelt is experiencing. The specific failures that are discussed amongst the electorate, and have been reported to the District of Sechelt staff at the Municipal hall include, but are not limited to the following;1) Public works- failure to maintain roads including but not limited to road repair, right of way maintenance including mowing, road clearing of ice, and snow, and dust control,2) Public works- failure to maintain drainage, failure to provide drainage, failure to clean, and maintain existing drainage ditches, 3) Administration- to include both current and former administration staff, including Directors, Corporate Officers, Records Coordinators, Administration staff on a regular basis fail to respond in a professional, accurate, and timely manner to communications addressed to them. It is reported, and experienced that in many cases no response is received. One of the key issues that continually arises is the 'errors and omissions' that occur in communications, and reports. It appears that District of Staff do not have the time to conduct the required 'due diligence' prior to authoring reports, letters to both the public, and / or the Council.

Thank you for forwarding these comments for Council's information and consideration.  There are no questions in this submission to be responded to. 

Specific areas, and in some cases, specific taxpayers, or members of the electorate within the District of Sechelt are provided very different levels of service, some receive a higher level of service, while others experience either a lower standard of service, or in some cases no service. I am requesting, after discussion with Advisors employed by the Provincial Government that the District of Sechelt Council request that the Provincial Government consider permitting the District of Sechelt to proceed with a 'Reduction of Municipal Area'. Specifically I am requesting that the District of Sechelt Council proceed with reducing the Municipal Boundary for the western area of West Sechelt in the area of upper Norwest Bay Road, and surrounding areas. It is possible other areas currently within the District of Sechelt will also request that the Reduction in Municipal area includes their respective area.It is well documented that the District of Sechelt provides little, and in some cases no support to the Taxpayers, and residents in the area of upper Norwest Bay Road. The BC Provincial Legislation is the Local Government Act, Part 2- Incorporation of Municipal and Regional Districts, Division 3- Municipal Boundary Changes, Subsection 13 Reduction of Municipal Area.

Thank you for forwarding these comments for Council's information and consideration.  There are no questions in this submission to be responded to.