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Clay courts a hot potato Kyle Slavin News staff
Saanich parks staff has taken an unusually noncommittal position on a proposed clay court tennis facility behind Cedar Hill Recreation Centre by not giving council firm direction on approving or rejecting the proposal. In a report to council, Gary Darrah, manager of park planning and design, acknowledged the proposal “presents both benefits and challenges for the community.” As a result, two different recommendations were given – one approving and one rejecting, leaving it up to the mayor and councillors to weigh the information for themselves. Typically staff makes a recommendation one way or the other. Mayor Frank Leonard says the department chose to stay neutral so it doesn’t appear to be favouring one side or the other on a proposal that has an impact on land managed by that department. “This is not a proposal from our staff. It’s important it’s seen as a proposal from the (clay court) society and staff have facilitated it,” he said. “It’s unfortunate (staff have) been criticized for that.” Saanich is holding special committee of the whole meeting on the clay court proposal at the Garth Homer Centre, 7:30 p.m. on Thursday night. PleASe See: Courts, Page A7
Kyle Wells/News staff
Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard plugs in one of the district’s electric vehicles at a charging station outside municipal hall, with sustainability co-ordinator Mark Boysen. The district is being recognized for its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Cutting emissions, cutting costs Saanich squeezes savings from all corers of its operations Kyle Wells News staff
When Saanich says it’s taking a look at its environmental footprint, that means from the largest building to the lowliest coffee maker. Even replacing an ancient bev-
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erage machine at municipal hall, which kept water at a rolling boil all day, has reduced that building’s power consumption by about one per cent. “It was an energy pig,” said Mayor Frank Leonard. “And we would have never noticed that unless the organization looked at the carbon footprint of everything we do. We’re quite proud.” For the past 18 years Saanich has been a part of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program. Earlier this year the federation
recognized Saanich for achieving the fifth and final milestone of PCP, a level achieved by only eight communities in Canada. In total, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) for the district have gone down 14 per cent since 2007, a feat which sees it well on its way to the goal of 50 per cent by 2020. Sustainability co-ordinator Mark Boysen said it will not be a problem coming through on the promise. “I haven’t heard of that goal in too many other municipalities yet, when it comes to opera-
tions, so I think it’s very ambitious,” he said. The district has reduced its gasoline consumption by 29 per cent, primarily by switching fleet vehicles for higher-efficiency diesel models and a few electric vehicles. The use of heating oil in district facilities has also gone down 52 per cent since 2007, a reduction of 14,700 litres per year. Propane use has gone down by 23 per cent. PleASe See: Modern lights, Page A6
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