A monthly meetup with the mayor is an easy and more relaxed way to get the community involved in local governance. Most months since she took office, Metchosin Mayor Marie-Terese Little has met with constituents in council chambers over coffee, tea and cookies to talk about whatever theyB次元官网网址檙e keen on.

B次元官网网址淲e instituted this right at the turn of election as soon as we were sworn in,B次元官网网址� said Little, a council member since 2018 who earned the mayorB次元官网网址檚 seat in 2022. B次元官网网址淪ome people donB次元官网网址檛 feel comfortable coming to the microphone so this just allows them this opportunity to interact with the mayor and acting mayor.B次元官网网址�

Whether itB次元官网网址檚 bylaw questions or bigger ticket items such as the planned new fire hall or the significant jump in policing costs, all subjects are on the table.

Policing continues to be one issue residents grapple with since Metchosin has been on the hook for covering the costs since April 1, 2022. The district covers 70 per cent of its policing costs after the 2021 census showed the population at 5,067, surpassing the 5,000 threshold. The remainder is paid by the federal government. But itB次元官网网址檚 an issue that comes up every year.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hugeB次元官网网址� and then all of the ancillary costs that come with that,B次元官网网址� Little said, noting dispatch and Vancouver Island Major Crimes Unit are added costs.

Those are the questions that come up, and the crowd can vary from a dozen residents to three dozen.

Little also brings regional answers to the table as the mayor serves on the Capital Regional District Board (as vice chair); CRD Hospital Board; CRD Housing Corporation; Greater Victoria Labour Relations Board; Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee; TeB次元官网网址檓exw Treaty Advisory Committee and Victoria Regional Transit Commission.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 come to these meetings with an agenda or a topic,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a good way of communicating and keeping a pulse on the community.B次元官网网址�

The next Coffee with the Mayor is Nov. 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Metchosin council chambers at 4450 Happy Valley Rd.