The Squamish BMX Racing Club is going to have to wait a few more days to find out whether the District of Squamish (DOS) will help fund preparations for the Sea to Sky National Race in June.
The BMX organization is one of the groups that submitted a funding application to the DOS for a portion of the Sport Legacy Fund initiated by the Vancouver Organizing Committee of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
Vicki Schenk, the president of the BMX organization, wrote to the mayor and councillors on March 9 asking whether bleachers need to be rented for the national race or if the organization should purchase bleachers. She also asked whether the start gate at the BMX track should be repaired or replaced.
"I am writing to request an anticipated date for the disbursement of the Squamish Sports Legacy Funds," Schenk wrote in her letter.
Instead of coming up with a disbursement date, members of Squamish council debated whether the money should be made available or not and where the money should come from if, in fact, it will be made available in time to make purchases ahead of the national competition.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale said she wanted to make $50,000 available for the purchase of a start gate and some bleachers. She envisioned the DOS being the owner of the bleachers so the bleachers could be moved around and used in various places.
She was supported by Coun. Bryan Raiser and Coun. Patricia Heintzman.
The threesome was happy to take the money from the Legacy Fund or the 2011 budget.
Coun. Doug Race said it would be unfair to the other groups awaiting a decision on the Legacy Fund disbursement if money was allocated from that source and he said he wanted to consider the 2011 budget as a whole with no money spent in isolation.
Coun. Heintzman said she never really bought into the process for choosing how to use the $750,000 Sport Legacy fund.
"Moving it from one flawed process to another doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever," Raiser said of the discussion of whether to take the money from the legacy fund or the 2011 budget. "I support the BMX youth initiative."
The six attending members of council voted to defer the issue to a meeting scheduled for March 22. Mayor Greg Gardner was travelling this week and did not attend the meeting.
The national BMX competition is expected to attract 600 participants.
Japan relief
Kaoko Mori came before council to request help to raise money for the a fund set up by the Canadian Red Cross to help people impacted by the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
A fundraising event is planned for Sunday (March 20) at Brennan Park, where Mori works as a lifeguard and swimming instructor. Between noon and 3 p.m. coffee, sushi and baked goods will be sold while cash donations are accepted. According to Mori, tax receipts will be issued for cash donations.
Mori said she has friends and family living in Japan and members of the Japanese community in Squamish felt compelled to do something.
Complaint to be checked
Council granted a request by resident Walter Huber's request to have an alleged park intrusion checked out. The bylaw department will investigate to determine whether parkland along Mashiter Creek is being used improperly. Huber said he feels the parkland on the west side of the creek is being "wrongly used" for the storage of abandoned vehicles, containers and excavating equipment.
Daffodil Day declared
April was declared Daffodil Month in Squamish and April 27 declared Daffodil Day. Lisa Merrick, the Canadian Cancer Society revenue coordinator in Squamish and an organizer of the annual Relay For Life event, came before council to make the request. She said daffodil pins will be made available for sale around the community in April to raise money for cancer-related causes.
