Squamish officials extinguished a $30 campfire permit fee, but didn’t back moving the application process online.
Municipal Coun. Bryan Raiser aimed to stamp out the one-time payment for the year-long permit and move the application process from the Squamish Fire Rescue hall onto the Internet. One of his recommendations squeaked by council at the regular council meeting on Tuesday (May 20), but the other didn’t.
Every summer, firefighters deal with approximately 105 burning complaints, 75 per cent of which relate to ash and people burning materials that release toxins, Fire Chief Russ Inouye told council. The municipal bill for the after-hours calls is approximately $18,000, he said.
While the fee doesn’t cover the expense of the fire department’s backyard fire-related calls, it comes down to principle, Coun. Doug Race said.
“There is a cost to it and we are asking for some compensation from users,” he said.
There are only two piggy banks for municipalities — taxes or user fees, Coun. Ron Sander noted. The District of Squamish seems to continually duck out of the idea of fees for users, he said, drawing from the current heated debate regarding municipal field user fees.
The intent of the permit was never to collect fees; education was always the focus, Coun. Patricia Heintzman said.
Coun. Susan Chapelle agreed.
“The way to get the education out to the community is by not charging a fee,” she said.
Council axed the charge in a 4-3 vote with councillors Ted Prior, Race and Sander opposed.
While council agreed the key mission behind the permit is education, officials were split on how to get the lessons out. Raiser argued that an online application is more accessible and available at night time when residents want to have fires.
People don’t learn from scrolling through a list of regulations and simply clicking the “Agree” button, Sander countered. A face-to-face meeting with a firefighter who is there to answer questions and inform people while filling out the form has a greater impact, Sander said.
The vote came down to another 4-3 vote with councillors Race, Sander, Prior and Mayor Rob Kirkham voting against the online process.
The move to axe the fire permit fee will have to go through a bylaw reading. Fifty-two residents have already purchased their year-long campfire permits. They will be reimbursed by the municipality, the district’s general manager of financial services Joanne Greenlees said.
