Mayor Frank Leonard and Saanich Council are pleased to announce that Sharon Hvozdanski has been appointed as the District’s Director of Planning effective November 3, 2009. Ms. Hvozdanski was previously Saanich’s Manager of Special Projects. She has a Masters Degree in City Planning and Urban Design and over 18 years planning experience in Nanaimo and Saanich. She recently spearheaded the very successful Saanich Official Community Plan process. The previous Director of Planning Russ Fuoco retired at the end of September.

Mayor Frank Leonard has proclaimed Sunday, November 8, 2009 as Tree Appreciation Day in the Municipality of Saanich, marking the 15th anniversary of the event.

This year 150 native trees and 2,000 shrubs will be planted at Baxter Park (located along the Pat Bay Highway at the ends of Baxter and Judah Roads). The District of Saanich received a grant for this project through the Province of BC "Trees for Tomorrow" Program. Park on Baxter and Judah Roads – both access the park.

In addition, at Mount Douglas Park approximately 1,000 trees and shrubs will be planted on the disturbed areas of lower Douglas Creek. Planters should meet by the washrooms in the main parking lot. Contact Bob Bridgeman at rbridge@shaw.ca for further details on Mt. Douglas Park.

Planting times at both locations is 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. All are welcome!

Planting tools will be provided, but bring a shovel and gloves if you have them. Please remember to bring rain gear and boots since planting will occur rain or shine.

For further information contact Cathy Weston at 250-475-1775, extension 3506 or e mail to cathy.weston@saanich.ca

In order to maintain satisfactory water quality throughout the distribution system, water main flushing is scheduled to start September 21st to November 13th, 2009.

Business and other customers who wish advance notification of flushing in their immediate area are requested to call Waterworks at 250-475-5481 between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. Any discolouration is temporary and users are asked to minimize consumption if a change in water appearance is noticed. The District of Saanich accepts no liability for inconvenience or damages caused by water use during its flushing program.

Your cooperation and understanding are appreciated

At the August 17, 2009 Council meeting, Saanich Council will consider the following housekeeping amendment to Bylaw No. 8840:

• Adding Awards Presentations and Council Reports to Section 29 as items of business at regular Council meetings.

Copies of the bylaw amendment are available from Monday to Friday at the Legislative Division, Saanich Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue, between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm.

For further information please call the Legislative Division at 475 1775 or e-mail us at clerksec@saanich.ca. Council Procedure Bylaw No. 8840 is available on the Saanich website.

The District of Saanich is asking the public to be on the look-out for a particularly nasty new invader. Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), an invasive plant from Europe, has devastated forests in eastern Canada. Some call it the new purple loosestrife. It is also a new invader to British Columbia, first reported on Vancouver Island in 2004. There are now a total of seven sites identified in Saanich and at least one in Victoria. Officials are asking for public assistance to respond rapidly to avoid widespread infestation such as has happened in Ontario, where it is out-competing plants in natural areas and completely taking over the understorey.

Saanich Parks and Saanich Environmental Services are coordinating an “Early Detection Rapid Response” to garlic mustard. This involves responding to reports on public lands with trained staff to properly remove the plant, and notifying private landowners to remove the garlic mustard before it sets seed. They are requesting the assistance of the public to report any new sites and for volunteer efforts to help control and monitor current sites.

Saanich would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of volunteers in Mt. Douglas Park, the first identified and most impacted site in Saanich. Volunteers are now needed to continue this work and are urgently needed at three sites in Gordon Head, Layritz, Prospect Lake and Cordova Bay.

Garlic mustard flowers in April and May, and a single plant produces hundreds of seeds in June and July. Because it is self-pollinating; a single seed can start a new invasion. This noxious invader also produces a toxin around its roots that kills soil fungi that are vital to the growth of other plants, making it a deadly neighbour.

Saanich is working with other jurisdictions and the Coastal Invasive Plant Council to stop the spread of this species to other areas on Vancouver Island. Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to native ecosystems and biodiversity throughout the world. Invasive species can have severe ecological, economic and health impacts. Many species are inadvertently spread by humans and pets as well as escaping from gardens to natural areas. Controlling invasive species and their impacts requires partnerships throughout the community and neighbouring jurisdictions.

If you would like to find out more about garlic mustard and other new or particularly invasive species, visit Saanich’s website at http://www.saanich.ca/resident/environment/invasive.html.

To report garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) in Saanich, or to volunteer please contact: Saanich Environmental Services at 250-475-5471

To report garlic mustard in the City of Victoria, please contact: Victoria Parks at 250-361-0600.

For further information:
Darren Copley, Environmental Education Officer,
Saanich Planning Department
Phone: 250-475-5471
E-mail: Darren.copley@saanich.ca

The Municipality of Saanich is continuing to monitor and assess the risk posed to residents by the Swine Flu. As with any infectious disease, the following are recommended standard precautionary measures:

· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. When you cough, do so into your sleeve if possible.
· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
· Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
· If you get sick, stay home from school or work and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

To obtain up to date information and bulletins regarding the Swine Flu Influenza and severe respiratory illness (SRI), please click on the Vancouver Island Health Authority link below.
http://www.viha.ca