Confusion over windsurf spit municipal boundaries is causing headaches for the Windsport Society and will mean extra steps before municipally-funded infrastructure upgrades can go ahead.
The society requested that a $115,245 municipal grant for upgrades - approved in December, according to staff - be reduced to $20,000 for a strategic management plan.
The province recently imposed the work on the society after a survey revealed that the district owns the spit at its high water mark, not below the tidal area where part of the upgrades are meant to take place.
The province is "adamant" that the society draft a plan to address environmental impact, said Recreation, Parks and Tourism director Bob Kusch during a District of Squamish council strategy meeting Tuesday (Feb. 27).
"There's been a number of concerns by groups such as the Squamish Estuary Review Committee," said Kusch. "Having a draft to address it toe to toe, environmental impact and economic impact, will pave the way for a plan in the future," said society representative Jamie Martin.According to the Dec. 19 council meeting minutes, council approved the issuance of a purchase order to Coastal Mountain Excavations Ltd. in the amount of $108,000 for windsurf spit improvements with Councillor Corinne Lonsdale opposed.None of the monies dedicated to the project has yet been spent, said Kusch, who, under Lonsdale's questioning, added that the grant was to be funded through long term debt.Lonsdale said that although she believes it important to support local activities and endeavors that bring visitors to the community, she could not approve of the $20,000 because the town is facing a significant shortfall in revenue."This crisis we're in is not going to end in 2007," she said.Mayor Ian Sutherland disagreed, saying he would support the staff-recommended motion."If we don't spend the $20,000 this year, we'll be putting the whole thing off for 12 months," he said.Councillor Patricia Heintzman agreed."There's a lot of value to making that site as safe as possible," she said.Sutherland said there was "little point" in debating the merits of the grant with two councillors absent - Mike Jenson and Raj Kahlon. Council passed a motion to bring the issue back to the table at the March 6 council meeting.
