Greg Gardner was sworn in Tuesday (July 11) as the newest member of council following a June 26 byelection that saw Gardner win 49 per cent of the vote. Council has been one councillor short since March 30 due to the passing of Ray Peters. Gardner's inauguration brings council back to its full complement of seven members.
Lawyer Doug Race of Race and Company, who helped Gardner in his byelection campaign, swore in the councilor-elect before Gardner took his seat between councillors Mike Jenson and Corinne Lonsdale.
Hunting in estuary banned
In a decision some council members are calling long overdue, council voted to ban hunting in the downtown Squamish estuary with Coun. Raj Kahlon opposed.
Director of Protective Services Cliff Doherty requested council pass the first three readings of a bylaw that would take the estuary out of the district's hunting permit area.
Permits may be available from the RCMP in cases where livestock must be put down or protected, said Doherty.
Mayor Ian Sutherland called estuary hunting a "pet peeve" of his, adding that district staff fields numerous calls of complaint on the issue every year.
"It's a true step forward," he said. "Almost everyone, if not everyone will buy into this."
But not everyone did. Coun. Raj Kahlon said he opposed the bylaw because of the wording, which states that the bylaw eliminates individuals discharging guns in the estuary "in an unsafe manner". Kahlon reminded Doherty that it is a criminal for anyone to discharge a gun in an unsafe manner anywhere. Kahlon asked Doherty if he'd ever seen an accident in the estuary.
"No, I've never seen an accident in the estuary," said Doherty.
Kahlon said the money spent on drafting the bylaw would be better spent on education.
Coun. Patricia Heintzman said she's happy to see the bylaw.
"I don't care how safe people are with their guns," she said. "There are people walking around there."
Development requests parking bylaw leniency
Planning consultant James Pernu presented council with a staff recommended development variance permit that would allow Solterra Development 24 less parking stalls for phase two of their downtown north project. Phase two of the development involves 80 residential units, 6,000 square foot commercial space and a seniors' centre. The residential visitor parking area has a shortfall of seven stalls. The commercial space has a shortfall of 17 stalls, which Pernu said should be acceptable because a proposed health club will be available to residents who already have their own parking, and streetside parking in the downtown is a very low 20 to 40 per cent utilization rate, according to a recently completed parking analysis. The ownership of cars for downtown families is also low, at an average of one per household, he said, and future phases of the development will add more parking with the addition of an extended road system.
Pernu also said that the provision for parking at the seniors' centre is more than satisfied because not only is there sufficient parking according to the district bylaw, but certain stalls are larger to accommodate those with mobility challenges, and an area in front of the facility will be dedicated to shuttle buses.
Gardner pointed out that Squamish is among the most lenient municipalities when it comes to parking.
"We require the least number of stalls compared to anywhere else, except Vancouver," he said.
Lonsdale said the parking issue is "problematic". She said she's not comfortable that there will be adequate parking and pointed to the Tantalus Seniors' Centre's often full parking lot as proof more stalls are necessary.
'It's not necessarily a showstopper," she said. "Maybe nothing can be done about this one, but it may be time to review the parking bylaw."
Jenson said the reduction of commercial stalls from 29 to 12 is "quite a percentage down."
Heintzman said she supports the variance permit because it less parking may a way to discourage the use of cars.
"We've become a town way too dependent on cars," she said, adding that a better public transit system would also help the situation. Lonsdale said it would be a stretch to ask seniors to walk.
Kahlon said it behooves council to ensure the project is properly built at this stage.
"After 15 years, seniors are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "We're on the right track. But without adequate parking no one will want to rent that facility."
Sutherland said he supported the variance.
"Solterra has, in the big picture, done a good job of meeting the needs of the community," he said.
Council voted to allow the variance permit reducing parking stalls from 188 stalls to 164 with Jenson opposed.
District to get a new fire truck
Council unanimously passed a staff recommendation to purchase a triple combination pumper truck for $450,000 as outlined and approved in the 2006-2010 financial plan.
