The year 2010 will be looked upon in Squamish as a watershed year, says the district's mayor.
While unveiling the municipality's Annual Report at a council meeting last Tuesday, (Sept. 13), Greg Gardner took time to highlight some of the District of Squamish's achievements over the past year.
The municipality has turned around from being an organization "that didn't run as well as we should," to one that streamlined the way it provides services to the community, he said. The new structure was accomplished through the Service Squamish Initiative - a system that realigned resources and developed long-term strategies.
The district also built on external relationships with the federal and provincial governments and the Squamish Nation, Gardner said. As a result of the work, the municipality and the Squamish Nation signed the Intergovernmental Accord in early 2011. The accord will help build on co-operation when it comes to future government land-use issues and local developments, Gardner said.
"But like any document between two parties, it will be important for both sides to continue to work together with good intention for it to be extremely successful," he said.
The district's new efficiencies have saved money and cut time waits, said Kevin Ramsay, the district's chief administrative officer. Benchmarking from 2010 indicates a 50 per cent reduction in staff overtime, a 40 per cent reduction in building permit processing time and a 12 per cent reduction in overall excluded staff salaries, Ramsay noted in the report. Overall, the efficiencies saved the district close to $2 million in the 2010 budget.
"We ended up with a surplus for the end of 2010," Ramsay said.
The district also completed the Official Community Plan and adopted the Oceanfront Sub Area Plan. Squamish also became the second community in B.C. to earn Bear Smart status - a stamp given by the Province to municipalities that take steps to reduce human-bear conflicts.
As for as infrastructure needs in the community, the district completed the Garibaldi Highlands water project, the Government Road sanitary sewer upgrade and the Brackendale dike upgrade.
All of those projects were undertaken, while also hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics Games, Gardner noted. More than 5,000 residents joined the Olympic torch relay celebration at Brennan Park Recreation Centre. The Squamish Fire Rescue, in partnership with the provincial government, provided 24-hour coverage, primarily for road rescue, along Highway 99 during the Games.
The Olympics brought people of different expertise to town, Gardner said. It also saw the community through a difficult economic period when most of the world was struggling, he noted. On a less tangible note, Gardner said the Games strengthen inter-governmental ties.
"The Olympics dramatically changed the community for the better in my opinion," he said.
