Staff, members of the Community Advisory Committee and the general public wonder what is to be the fate of the Victoria Branch of the BC SPCA?

On January 16, 2004 the following document was signed, http://www.city.victoria.bc.ca/common/pdfs/spca_order.pdf , and a subsequent news release was put out by the BC SPCA and the City of Victoria: http://www.city.victoria.bc.ca/cityhall/pressroom_rel_040116a.shtml .
However, on June 26, 2004 the Board of Directors of the BCSPCA met and the matter was discussed with decidedly a different approach:

4.1 Victoria Shelter & Building Committee
It was reported that a meeting was held with the Mayor of Victoria on June 8, 2004. The Mayor has asked for written confirmation of how the Society is addressing the 16 provisions in the agreement with the City. It was noted that the City seems quite satisfied with the Society’s progress, but wants a status report in writing.

Gail Peterson noted that the assumption in the agreement is that there will be a new shelter built and that noise abatement issues are only a temporary solution. She noted that there was an implicit promise by the Society’s lawyer to the City that a new shelter would be built at no cost to BC SPCA with the required funding being raised through a capital campaign.

The President noted that at no time has the Board of Directors passed a motion authorizing the construction of a new facility and that furthermore no such specific motion has even been requested of the Board.

The President further noted that the agreement with the City of Victoria is open to interpretation and there had been a misunderstanding between the City and the Society’s board of directors. She noted that the board had given the former President approval to negotiate an agreement with the City and to sit on the Victoria Shelter Design & Building Committee and deal with the noise abatement issue, to the approved funding of $200,000. Any other activities would need to be submitted for consideration by the board prior to any approval being given and would need to include a business case for doing so, including budgets for any proposed capital and ongoing operating expenditures. It was clarified that the former President did not have board authority to make promises or commitments to a new building.

Red Lawrence noted that time was of the essence to reach agreement with the City of Victoria before the shelter would be closed due to noise complaints. He indicated that it was hoped that soundproofing would be completed to the City’s satisfaction and that, if not, any further development of the property would be subject to the board’s approval.

It was also noted that the board had previously established a process for any new facilities development and that copies should be provided to the new directors.

The CEO advised that the Victoria Shelter Design and Building Committee had been tasked with looking at all the options for the facility and to come back to the board with recommendations and a budget to implement the various recommendations. He clarified that the Committee reports to the Society’s board, not to the City.

Moved/Seconded/CARRIED that the CEO prepare a letter to the Committee on behalf of the board to clarify the issues, specifically what Phase I involves and what the Society’s commitment is to the City of Victoria. The letter will include timelines and parameters of the Committee’s work, and that it is to submit a report to the Board prior to the board’s next meeting.

It was also suggested that parameters be set for the former President to clarify that his position has no authority or power and no role in media relations on behalf of the Society.

Nadine Gourkow suggested that a dog behavioural management program be considered in conjunction with the Victoria Shelter Committee’s recommendations.