The District of Sechelt gave its support in principle last week to joining a Coast-wide economic development alliance, but they still plan to hire their own economic development officer (EDO) to oversee Sechelt specific projects.
Councillors debated the merits of hiring a local EDO during their July 27 committee of the whole meeting. The debate came after councillors gave support in principle to a memorandum of understanding for the Coast-wide initiative, brought forward in a report by chief administrative officer Rob Bremner.
"It's a great report, and it's been a long time coming. I think the Sunshine Coast has grown up enough that it can now work together on economic development. I would hope so. So I'm really excited to see this go forward," said Coun. Ann Kershaw.
Sechelt is the first municipality to give approval in principle to the Coast-wide economic development alliance that hopes to garner support from Gibsons, the Sunshine Coast Regional District and the Sechelt Indian Band.
Once set up, the alliance would hire a regional EDO at an estimated cost of about $200,000.
While all seemed supportive of the regional approach, it was also suggested that Sechelt will need a consultant EDO in the future to work on projects specific to Sechelt that may not fit within the regional model.
"The Coast-wide initiative is not going to stop us from doing things locally," Bremner said. "We're still going to have to have those support mechanisms in place locally to help people locate here or help those who are currently here."
To that end, council looked at a motion that called for a consultant EDO to work on a contract basis with Sechelt's economic development advisory board on projects deemed worthy by the board and council.
The motion also called for that EDO to produce a 90-day economic development action plan based on, but not limited to, the recommendations of the Warner report, which outlines specific investment attraction strategies for Sechelt.
Most seemed supportive of the idea, but some were concerned about duplication of work.
"By and large I think that with this one we should opt for the regional approach and put all of our eggs in that one basket," said Coun. Fred Taylor. "I think that is going to show better dividends in the long run with relationship building and with economic development than if we had these two approaches going. I'm not sure they're going to work, they'll have different masters, it doesn't always work."
But if only one approach was going to get council support, Coun. Warren Allan wanted to see Sechelt's EDO plan come to fruition.
"At the end of the day, if I have to pick and choose, I have to go with the Warner report. If we chose to simply move forward with the recommendations from the Warner report, we all benefit," Allan said.
Kershaw noted some of the recommendations from the Warner report could be better implemented through a regional model.
"The Warner report has to be done partly regional if you want to save money. The airport could be done regionally, so we wouldn't have to pay the whole price," she said. "But in the Warner report, there are a lot of things that can be done by Sechelt only. That's why the blended approach is good because we'll go regional on certain projects that are regionally beneficial, and some things will benefit Sechelt alone. Sometimes you have to water your own garden as well as watering your neighbour's garden."
Taylor took exception to that comment.
"If this passes, there will be two economic developers paid at the same time for some period on the Coast," said Taylor. "I take exception to the idea that we have our garden and the neighbour's garden. The concept of regional economic development is that there's only one garden. We all have it and we all water the one garden."
Coun. Alice Janisch was also against the idea of having two economic development plans on the table at the same time.
"I don't think we need two. I think we should fish or cut bait," she said.
Other councillors were concerned about the cost for a local EDO, with Coun. Keith Thirkell saying he was uncomfortable that there was no dollar figure attached to the motion to hire a Sechelt EDO.
"I think its important for council to know these considerations need to go to a budget discussion, in most cases. That's where they have to go in order to determine what the budget would be," said Mayor Darren Inkster.
When the vote was called, all but Taylor and Janisch were supportive of the Sechelt EDO option.
The motion is expected to come back to the second regular Sechelt council meeting in September (as they are on break for August) for formal adoption, and some financial information should be presented at that time.
