Let’s have an open and transparent process about your golf course’s future

Saanich councillors want more input on Cedar Hill golf course
By Kyle Slavin – Saanich News February 02, 2012

A quartet of Saanich councillors want to better engage the public on the future of the Cedar Hill golf course.

Judy Brownoff, Vic Derman, Dean Murdock and Vicki Sanders are expected Monday to ask for a facilitated public engagement process to formally gather input on the floundering course.

“I don’t think we should’ve ever gone in to do what we’re doing without asking,” Brownoff said, referring to the January in-camera decision to close the restaurant. “We haven’t done any public process on this.”

Brownoff said that the whole community, not just the golfers, should be consulted on any decisions made on the course’s future.

“We should be respectful to the greater community that uses the Cedar Hill recreational precinct – the golf course, the recreational centre, the trail system – and ask them.”

Though much of the conversation of late has surrounded the restaurant’s closure, Brownoff says it’s unlikely that decision will be reversed.

Murdock says there are misunderstandings about council’s closed-door decision, adding that the discussion surrounding it was very long.

“There’s an impression created that this was something that was unanimously supported … and without getting into details, that was not my view of how that meeting transpired,” he said.

The decision on the restaurant, which sparked the public outcry, was made in-camera because there were confidential personnel issues to discuss.

Monday’s recommendation from the group of councillors will be during a public meeting, held at 7:30 p.m. at Saanich municipal hall (770 Vernon Ave.).