The District of Sooke will not compete in this yearB次元官网网址檚 Communities in Bloom (CIB) competition.
Despite the programB次元官网网址檚 success in Sooke B次元官网网址� the town has won the competitionB次元官网网址檚 top provincial honour six times in the last nine years B次元官网网址� CIB puts a strain on district resources.
B次元官网网址淩etaining this five-bloom status requires a significant amount of staff time from administration, corporate services, communications, and parks and environmental services to plan and host the event,B次元官网网址� a staff report to district council stated. B次元官网网址淚n 2019, we worked with a consultant to develop the profile books and albums, but that process also required staff input to advise of the local government contributions to each of the CIB categories.B次元官网网址�
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Sooke council pulled back on its commitment to CIB last year when it registered in the non-competitive Friends category.
Mayor Maja Tait said while CIB is a valuable program for the municipality, it is unfair to put additional pressure on staff with two major facilities B次元官网网址搕he SEAPARC multi-sport box and PondB次元官网网址檚 Park dog park B次元官网网址� opening this year, as well as ongoing challenges related to the COVID pandemic.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a year to pause for applause and acknowledge the work that has taken place,B次元官网网址� she said.
Staff gave council three options to consider for this yearB次元官网网址檚 competition: identify a community organization willing to assume the duties related to CIB and support it with a grant; direct staff to allocate time to host the event, or not to participate.
Several councillors favoured launching a committee for next yearB次元官网网址檚 program. The deadline for the 2022 program registration is March 13, with judging taking place in mid-July.
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editor@sookenewsmirror.com
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