• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the broccoli and cook for 5 minutes. Transfer the broccoli to a large large bowl.

• In the same pot with broccoli water add the pasta and cook until al dente. Reserve about a cup of pasta water then drain the pasta and set aside.

• Add the butter to a large skillet and melt over medium heat. Once the butter is melted add the sausage and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes until cooked through, breaking it up as you go along. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until aromatic.

• Add the cooked broccoli florets, season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Add about ½ cup of the pasta water and the cooked pasta. 

• Toss everything together and cook for a couple more minutes. Finally, add the Parmesan cheese and another drizzle of some good extra virgin olive oil and toss well.

• Serve immediately.

Wishing Surrey’s own Jenn Gardiner and all members of Team Canada Women’s Hockey the best of luck at the 2026 Winter Olympics!

Jenn’s hard work and dedication are an inspiration to our community, and we’ll be cheering her on as she represents Canada on the world stage.

Go Team Canada!

The following is my summary of the most important agenda items at our last Council meeting in my opinion. All comments are my own and do not represent the City of White Rock. For the complete and unedited meeting, please find a link to the agenda and video below!

1. Delegation - Business sign bylaw variance request.

- a waterfront business came to council to very respectfully ask for a variance to the sign bylaw. The request was to add a glass panel to an existing sign box and a very small painted business name above their front door, in addition to their modest approved painted sign (on a large frontage). However these additions would violate the City's sign bylaw as-is.

- I put forth a motion to change the bylaw to allow the changes.

- OPPOSED:

- argued that there is a process to follow for signs in our sign bylaw, and a process to follow for requesting a variance (which costs thousands). This is going against the process.

- SUPPORT:

- argued that council has been asking to review the sign bylaw for 4 years and counting now, as this bylaw received a fair number of complaints. That's enough time.

- argued that unless it's a structural sign, we should be doing everything we can to reduce red tape and restrictions on businesses, and the timeline of government isn't the same timeline as business where time is money.

VOTE: 4-3 in Favour of changing the sign bylaw to allow the requested changes. (Mayor Knight, Cllr.Cheung, Cllr.Lawence opposed)

My comment: Unless it's structural or profane, I'm not sure why government needs to list in great detail how, where, and what signs businesses can paint on their own buildings. It's a matter for the business, their landlord, and their customers. At the very least the bylaw should allow a great deal of freedom to allow creativity of design. In my opinion, government should do what it can in a recession when so many small brick and mortar businesses are struggling to survive.

2. Developments

- Council voted to subdivide a lot at 15931 Buena Vista for 2 homes from one (7-0)

- Allow larger railings at 15385 Semiahmoo Avenue building (7-0)

3. Parking Decal for SPARC permit holders

- This would allow a resident SPARC permit holder (parking pass for person with disabilities) to have a two sided SPARC/City Permit. This would allow someone with a disability to transfer it between vehicles. For example, if the sister of someone with a disability wanted to drive a car to the waterfront with the person with a disability, they could use this pass. This is done as some people with disabilities don't have cars, but would like to be driven and need an accessible parking spot).

VOTE: 4-3 in favour (Mayor Knight, Cllr.Cheung, Cllr.Lawrence opposed)

My Comment: This report comes with recommendation of support from Staff. This allows people with disabilities in our Community to allow for greater mobility in our City. Opposed comment was that it's not one of our strategic priorities.

4. Community Hub

- To retain a Professional Services Team to take the design of a proposed Community Hub to the next design level - a significant step.

VOTE: (7-0)

5. Accessibility Grants

- Cllr.Bains through the Accessibility Committee brought forth two grant opportunities from the Equal Accessibility Fund (Federal Government) and Rick Hansen Foundation. These were discussed at the Accessibility Committee, but since reversed pending new information - the Equal Access Fund for a potential grant to pay for some of an elevator at the existing City Hall and the Rick Hansen fund to help pay for a accessible ramp for event stages in the City.

- Much Debate.

- OPPOSED:

-The Equal Access Fund does not meet the minimal requirement (for projects $500k-$1m k while we estimate it will be $300k)

- Much staff time to apply for the Equal Access Fund that could be used elsewhere

- Not a strategic priority

- old City Hall will be knocked down so waste of money.

- SUPPORT:

- Should apply for grants that may make our City more accessible.

- We have to make our event stages accessible regardless of grant opportunities so why not apply for a grant?

- The old City Hall will be in use at least until a new building is completed (years off) and even then, questions linger if there will be enough money for Phase 2 Community Hub in the short or medium term, so the old City Hall may make do as civic space until it can be replaced - this could be many years away).

VOTE: 4-3 in favour of both (Mayor Knight, Cllr.Cheung, Cllr.Lawrence opposed for both).

6. Council Policy 707

- To allow the Peach Arch Hospital Foundation and Christmas on the Peninsula to have grandfathered rates for their events.

-Council had previously voted in favour

- Cllr. Cheung made an impassion speech arguing that this will come out of taxpayer funds and we can't say yes to everyone.

- I agreed - noting that the Christmas on the Peninsula is very small volunteer based organization with small budget doing their event for many years in our City, and it was a matter of only a few thousand dollars that would have a big impact. The Hospital Foundation however, while doing amazing work, is a much larger organization with significant reserves.

- Council voted 6-1 in favour of motion to grandfather rates to the Christmas on the Peninsula group but not the PAHF (a savings of over $7000) (Cllr.Cheung opposed - wanting for both grandfather clauses to be opposed).

7. Cllr.Trevelyan - Resolution send to the LMLGA (Lower Mainland Local Govt. Organization) - to ask to allow Cities to significantly increase fees to act as a deterrent if a mature tree is illegally cut down. Currently the fees are very small, and the Province will not let Cities increase fees for illegal tree cutting/spiking.

- Cllr Chesney commented that this is especially important for White Rock, as large mature trees are essential to maintain slope stability.

Vote: (7-0)

8. Cllr.Bains - Motion - Apply for a BC Communities Age-Friendly Communities Grant -

- this could be used for the Kent Street Activities Center. Deadline March 12th 2026.

VOTE: (4-3 - Mayor Knight, Cllr.Cheung, Cllr.Lawrence opposed)

9 Cllr.Manning - Motion to add Rodent Abatement as part of a demolition permit.

- Many Cities have this. Some concern that it would be another obstacle to development. Some recent developments have seen rats scrambling for cover.

VOTE: (7-0 to send it to the Housing Committee for review)