During the Jan. 16 council meeting, staff was requested to set up a meeting with ABcann Medicinal Inc., a national supplier of medicinal marijuana.
The company's letter to council stated ABcann delivers "high quality, lab-tested, organically grown medicinal marijuana from a safe and secure production facility to all approved patients in Canada."
It also said the company works with federal, provincial and municipal governments as well as educational institutions and law enforcement agencies when setting up shop.
ABcann asked council to write a letter saying they would support a site in Sechelt.
Councillors were intrigued by the request and wanted to know more.
Coun. Tom Lamb said it might be a good idea to meet the ABcann people in person before penning a letter.
"I think we've already got a pretty high majority of marijuana grow ops on the Sunshine Coast per capita," he said. "If something like this is there, I would love to see it come, if it brings great jobs and opportunities for the Coast. But I think it might be an idea to ask them to come and visit us."
All were in support of having members of ABcann visit Sechelt to explain their operation more fully.
Exercise equipment
Council will look at workout stations for adults and seniors in public places during the 2013 budget preparations.
Council voted Wed-nesday night that the stations should be part of budget considerations.
The stations could include pads for stretching and fixed exercise equipment at Mission Point Park, Rotary Friendship Park or somewhere along the Davis Bay boulevard.
Composting
Council endorsed a three-year pilot composting incentive program that will be subject to annual review.
The incentive program hopes to see more people purchase composters through a rebate program and then use them to cut down on garbage being sent to the landfill.
Council agreed to partner with the Sunshine Coast Regional District to provide the education component, to include $12,750 in the 2013 budget for the initiative and to have staff apply for Union of B.C. Municipalities gas tax funding to support half the program in year one.
Library expansion
The Sechelt Library wants to expand, and council will to investigate the option of changing the library/municipal building with them.
On Wednesday council resolved to have the "chief of innovation and growth and library board meet to collaborate and determine space requirements for the district and the library, taking into account future staffing, council chambers and the library's needs."
Airport
Sechelt is moving along in its quest to further develop the airport in Wilson Creek.
On Wednesday, council voted to get a cost estimate for a comprehensive survey on all existing airport properties and investigate locating more businesses at the airstrip.
Those businesses will have to be airport related, however.
"Part of the deal with the feds is that it has to have an airport auxiliary component to it, so it's all in the definition of auxiliary use and how much of the actual business is airport related," Coun. Chris Moore said.
Council also decided to enter into an agreement with Earnscliffe Strategy Group BC to develop a public affairs plan to improve the likelihood of securing provincial support for the airport redevelopment.
The fee for that work will be $21,000 plus taxes for three months, an in camera decision released at the meeting stated.
Arts grant
Council endorsed a grant application by the Sechelt Arts Festival producer that would provide significant funding to the arts festival. They also endorsed the partnership between the arts festival and the Sunshine Coast Arts Council.
The Arts Council plans to submit a separate grant application for the same festival this year.
Contract extended
Council agreed to extend the contract for services with acting corporate officer Gerry van der Wolf on a month-to-month basis while they continue looking for a permanent corporate officer.
They have been without a permanent senior staffer in the position since May 30, 2012.
Loan
Council released an in-camera item that said they will provide a loan of $15,000 to Sechelt Recreation Service Ltd. to cover administration expenses.
Money for study
Also released from in-camera was a decision to use $30,000 from the economic development budget to pay for a Trail Bay feasibility study.
