Melissa Worth

 

Section 1   (Motive, personal interests and potential conflicts of interest.)
Please tell us why you are running? What community clubs or organizations do you belong to/ or
support? How have you been involved in the community? Do you think any of these could put you in a conflict of interest position and how will you handle it? 

 

Response:
I am running for Qualicum Beach Town Council because I care about our community and want to
contribute to its future. I believe we need thoughtful and accountable decision-makers who listen to residents, respect taxpayers, and protect the character of our town while planning responsibly for the future.

My professional career has given me extensive experience in leadership, healthcare, technology, and working within complex organizations. I also participate in provincial and Western Canadian councils through my work, giving me experience in collaborating across organizations. I hope to bring that experience to Council, along with a willingness to listen, ask questions, and work collaboratively. My community involvement has been more informal than through long-term membership in local organizations, and I have contributed where I can.
I take conflicts of interest seriously. If a matter arises where I have a direct or indirect conflict, I will disclose it and follow the applicable legislation and Town policies This includes recusing myself from discussion or voting when required. My commitment is to be transparent and act in the best interests of Qualicum Beach residents.

 

Section 2 (Skill set and preparedness)
What specific experience/skills do you bring to the role? How have you prepared yourself for the role so that you can be effective from day one? How much time do you expect to devote to the role? If you are juggling family or job commitments how will you manage those obligations?

 

Response:
The skills I would bring to Council include governance, strategic planning, financial and risk awareness, problem solving, and the ability to work through complex issues with different perspectives. My experience has taught me to ask good (and tough) questions, understand the information behind a decision, and balance competing priorities while keeping the broader objective in focus. I have also continued to prepare for this role through my Master of Health Administration studies, leadership development, and by learning more about Qualicum Beach’s finances, infrastructure, planning, development and current issues. I have been doing my homework because I want to come to Council prepared to ask informed questions and contribute thoughtfully from day one.
I understand that serving on Council is a significant commitment. I am prepared to devote the time required for meetings, preparation, community engagement and Council business. I will manage my professional and personal commitments through advanced planning, scheduling and communication with my employer and family. I would not seek the position if I was not prepared to make the necessary commitment.

 

Section 3   (Financial acumen )
Do you feel you currently have sufficient financial understanding to provide meaningful input and
assessment in the town's approximate $40 million dollar annual budget? If elected, what steps would you take to put the town in a firmer financial footing? What specific municipal spending areas would you reduce, maintain or increase? If the town received a $1 million dollar grant (without matching funds required) to use in any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?

Response:
Yes. I believe I have sufficient financial understanding to provide meaningful input to the Town’s budget, while also recognizing that Council’s role is governance and oversight, not replacing the expertise of municipal staff. I would focus on maintaining the Town’s current core services and staffing levels while looking for opportunities to improve efficiency and limit unnecessary growth in ongoing operating costs. I would also support strengthening contributions to asset replacement reserves and ensuring that infrastructure planning is based on realistic long-term costs. I would also look carefully at new initiatives and their ongoing financial implications before committing taxpayer dollars.

If the Town received a $1 million grant with no matching requirement, I would direct it toward a priority infrastructure project that improves public safety, accessibility or the long-term reliability of a core municipal asset. I would want to review the Town’s current asset-management and infrastructure priorities before determining the specific project, rather than choosing one without the necessary information. For me, financial responsibility means more than keeping taxes low in the short term. It means being honest about what services and infrastructure cost, planning for their replacement, and making decisions that are financially sustainable for future residents as well as those living here today.

 

Section 4 ( Transparency)
In the past term we have seen many significant initiatives that were never on the town's 5 year strategic plan, all proceeding to fruition behind closed door meetings. Examples include the introduction of a tree protection bylaw, the renewal of the skateboard park, the commons proposal, the acquisition strategy of Eaglecrest, and donation to the hospital foundation. All  significant events/expenses that came out of the blue and did not receive an opportunity for the public to hear council openly debate in public the costs, or where the project should be placed in terms of the town's priorities. What is your opinion and what would you change with respect to the process of new projects proceeding in closed meetings without debate in public view? When do you think the town should report to the public on decisions made in closed meetings?

 

Response:
I believe closed meetings have an important and legitimate purpose when Council is dealing with matters that are required to remain confidential. However, I do not believe closed meetings should be used as a substitute for public discussion and debate about significant policy decisions  or the direction of the community.
For major new initiatives, I would like to see a clearer process where Council first considers how a
proposal fits with its strategic priorities, financial capacity and other commitments. Where
confidentiality is no longer required, the public should have the opportunity to understand the proposal, its costs and implications, and hear Council’s debate before a significant decision is finalized. I would also support using Committee of the Whole more effectively for complex or emerging issues. It provides an opportunity for Council to explore options and develop recommendations before bringing decisions forward to an open Council meeting. When a decision has legitimately been made in a closed meeting, I believe Council should report it publicly as soon as it is legally and practically possible to do so. The public should know what decision was made, the general reason for it, and any financial or other
significant implications that can be disclosed.
Transparency does not mean exposing confidential negotiations before they are ready. It means making sure confidentiality is used for the reason it is intended, not to avoid public scrutiny of decisions that should ultimately be discussed in public.

 

Section 5 ( FireSmart)
In your opinion, is the town providing sufficient resource allocation and direction with respect to
FireSmart activities on municipally owned land?

 

Response:
I believe the Town is taking meaningful steps on FireSmart, including work on municipally owned
forested areas and the use of provincial funding to support FireSmart coordination. I would like to see that work continue and be guided by the risks identified in the Town’s Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan. I also think education needs to be a significant part of the approach. Residents need clear, practical information about how choices on private property can affect wildfire risk,  particularly where landscaping and vegetation are concerned. If elected, I would want to understand whether current resources are being directed toward the highest-risk areas and whether there are opportunities to leverage additional provincial funding. FireSmart should be approached proactively, with public safety, responsible land management and education working together.

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Section 6 (Public consultation and open dialogue with the public)
Would you be supportive of returning the availability of public feedback during council meetings, prior to decisions being made for items on council agendas? What are your thoughts on how letters to council from the public are currently handled and would you support posting letters received on the town's website?

 

Response:
Yes. I support giving residents a meaningful opportunity to provide feedback before Council makes decisions on items that affect the community. Hearing directly from residents can add information and perspectives that may not be captured in a staff report.
I also think there should be a clear and consistent approach to correspondence received by Council. Residents who take the time to write to Council should know that their concerns have been received and how their correspondence will be handled. Subject to privacy requirements and appropriate redactions, I would support posting letters and other correspondence received by Council on the Town’s website. This would make the process more transparent and allow residents to see what issues their neighbours are raising and what information Council is considering. Public input doesn't mean Council will agree with every submission, but residents should have a clear opportunity to be heard before decisions are made. I would like to see that opportunity strengthened while keeping Council meetings focused and respectful.

 

 

Section 7 (Discretionary community funding)
The town currently provides support by way of operating cash, fee for service agreements,below
market rents, property tax exemptions and other incentives to the nonprofit sector. These include arts and culture, sports related, economic, tourism and environmentally focused groups. Do you think the current level of support is fairly distributed? Is it sufficient? Is it transparent? How do you see the town arriving at a predetermined quantifiable overall amount and achieving greater fairness in the distribution of the discretionary support funded by taxpayers?

 

Response:
Nonprofit organizations contribute a great deal to the quality of life in Qualicum Beach, and I think taxpayer support for them is worth protecting. At the same time, public funding should be clear and justifiable to the people who provide it. Before deciding whether the current level of support is sufficient or fairly distributed, I would want to see the full picture, not just direct grants, but fee-for-service arrangements, reduced rents, tax exemptions and other forms of municipal support. Those contributions can look very different on paper, but they are all part of the public resources being committed.
I would like to see Council establish a clear annual amount for discretionary support and a
straightforward set of criteria for allocating it. Community benefit, the number of residents served, accessibility, financial need and alignment with municipal priorities could all be considered. The criteria should be published, along with the support provided, so residents can see where their tax dollars are going. Fairness doesn't mean every organization receives the same amount. It means organizations are assessed using the same transparent process, and Council can explain the reasoning behind its decisions.

 

 

Section 8 (Development)
What are your views on the need for development within Qualicum Beach over the next 10 years? How can the town balance the need for growth with the desire to protect the community
character? What type of development do you believe the community most needs now and why?

 

Response:
Qualicum Beach will continue to change over the next 10 years, and I think our responsibility is to plan for that change rather than react to it project by project. Growth and community character don't have to be competing priorities, but achieving both requires thoughtful planning and clear expectations.
I have always believed that Qualicum Beach needs a mix of housing options. That includes housing for seniors who want to remain in the community, families, and people who live and work here. We should be looking at where different forms of housing make the most sense, including opportunities closer to the village centre, while ensuring that development is supported by appropriate infrastructure and services.
The Official Community Plan (OCP) should be an important part of that conversation. I would like to see Council use it to provide clearer direction about where and how growth should occur, rather than making decisions one development at a time. At the same time, good design, appropriate scale, setbacks, green space and protection of the qualities that make our neighbourhoods unique should remain important considerations.
The type of development I believe we need most is a broader range of attainable housing, particularly options for seniors to downsize without leaving Qualicum Beach, as well as housing suitable for families and local workers. I would also like to see thoughtful commercial development that supports a vibrant village centre.
For me, the goal isn't growth for growth's sake. It is making sure that when development does occur, it meets a genuine community need, fits the character of Qualicum Beach, and is something our infrastructure and taxpayers can sustainably support.

 

Section 9 (Eaglecrest development going forward)
If the revenue from the planned sale of Eaglecrest lands does not meet the  current budget
expectations of $21,199,800, What would your plan B look like? What options would you request staff to explore such as using long term debt, or upzoning further other Eaglecrest lands? Before executing a long term lease at the  Eaglecrest Golf Course, would you pursue an analysis of the expected financial impact the now revamped Eaglecrest Golf Course  will have on the cash flow of the existing town owned Memorial Golf Course and its ability to repay its current loans to the town? 

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Response:
The $21.2 million figure is a significant assumption in the Town’s financial planning, so I think Council needs to be very clear about what happens if land sales do not generate the anticipated revenue or take longer than expected. I would want to see the assumptions behind that number, the timing of anticipated sales, and the financial commitments already made before deciding what should happen next. My first step would be scenario planning. Council should understand what a smaller-than-expected return, or a delay in sales, would mean for reserves, planned projects and the Town’s overall financial position. From there, I would want to consider the full range of options, including adjusting the timing or scope of expenditures, identifying other funding sources, and, if appropriate, considering borrowing. Any borrowing decision would need to be based on a clear repayment strategy and an understanding of
the long-term cost to the Town. I would not support further up zoning simply to close a financial gap; changes to density should make sense from a planning and community perspective.
Before entering a long-term lease for the new Eaglecrest golf course, I would also want a clear business plan and a financial analysis of how the course could affect Memorial Golf Course. That  should include potential changes to revenue, operating costs, cash flow and Memorial’s ability to meet its existing financial obligations to the Town. I don't think the analysis should assume that Eaglecrest will have a negative impact, it should give Council the information needed to understand the potential impact.
Ultimately, Eaglecrest represents a significant public investment. I would want Council to be transparent about the financial assumptions, risks and options, while recognizing that some information may legitimately need to remain confidential during negotiations. Once information can properly be made public, residents should be able to understand where the project stands, what decisions remain, and what the financial implications are. For me, the goal is not to predetermine the answer. It is to make sure Council has enough reliable information to make a financially responsible  decision and that residents can understand how we got there.

 

Section 10  ( Governance) 
The town currently has 8 committees, commissions and boards set up to advise council.These
committees not only use council time and staff resources, but presumably reflect councils priorities. If elected  would you continue with these same entities or are there other more critical issues that you would encourage council to pursue via new committees? 

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Response:

I would review the committees we already have to ensure each has a clear purpose, an active mandate and a meaningful role in supporting Council. I wouldn't create new committees simply because an issue is important or eliminate existing ones without understanding the value they provide. Committees can bring valuable community expertise and perspectives to Council, but they also require staff and Council time. Where there are gaps in areas such as housing, infrastructure, accessibility or the environment, I would consider whether a committee or working group is the right tool. For me, it isn't about having more committees. It's about making sure the people who volunteer their time are heard and that their
work helps Council make informed decisions.

 

 

 Section 11 ( Specific to Mayoral candidates only)
Historically the role of Mayor includes acting as a director in the RDN. What specific actions will you undertake to ensure Qualicum Beach residents are made aware of the RDN issues that affect them? How will you engage with Qualicum Beach residents to ensure your vote is in line with their preferences? RDN taxation will soon exceed the municipal portion of our overall property taxes. What RDN services and costs should be reviewed on a  value for money basis, as it applies to Qualicum Beach residents?

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