Steven Hill
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A grant-in-aid request from the Howe Sound Ladies Fastpitch league was turned down Tuesday (March 7) by council members.The request of $629.73 to cover the cost of renting municipal facilities for a dinner and dance was not supported by members of council, after they briefly discussed past and current policy for dealing with grant-in-aid requests.
Coun. Jeff McKenzie said most groups, including those in which he was a member, paid for their own expenses for group fundraisers and the like.
The motion to award the grant-in-aid failed without support.
$10,000 approved for meth awareness
Council agreed to pre-approve $10,000 in the budget as matching funds for a meth awareness program.Municipal staff said they were applying for provincial funding and needed a motion of support from council, as well as $10,000 to match the provincial funding.
Coun. Lonsdale asked if the original request went far enough."If we approve the motion, then we will have no choice, should the provincial funding be approved, but to approve the $10,000 line item in our budget," she said. "Why not just approve it now?"
Council added the friendly motion to the original, before voting in favour.
Golf course gets refund
Squamish leaders carried a motion to reimburse Garibaldi Springs Golf & Country Club for sewer and drainage work.
Council voted to repay Garibaldi Springs $102, 473 from the Sewer Reserve Fund, and $29,940 from the Drainage Reserve Fund. The refund comes as a result of servicing of the sewer and drainage system on the golf course, which necessitated installing drainage and a sanitary sewer on Tantalus Road. The developer was charged Development Cost Charges (DCC) on the project when seeking permits, however municipal staff has since determined that those costs should not have been charged.
Mountain bike initiative OK'd
Squamish councilors approved spending up to $10,000 and giving their support to a Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA) proposal to the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and the Arts for an economic impact study of mountain bikiing in the corridor.
Cliff Miller from Squamish Off Road Cycling Association (SORCA), Martin Littlejohn and Donna Green of MBTA presented council with an overview of the impact study, which had already been given approval and support by councils in Whistler and the North Shore.
Coun. Lonsdale said she would not support the initiative, as she had concerns over funding."On the North Shore it is the biking organization putting forth some money, and in Whistler it is Tourism Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb and the Resort Municipality of Whistler who are contributing," she said. "Why are we not doing those sorts of partnerships?"
Miller indicated he would seek direction from SORCA members in regards to whether money was available to partner in the initiative.
Mayor Sutherland said with a March deadline, and the other two communities having already given support, it was up to Squamish to "put money in the pot".
Coun. Raj Kahlon asked to alter the motion to read the DOS would "contribute up to $10,000" to cover the eventuality of SORCA or another group finding money to aid with the District's share.
Council voted in favour of the motion with Coun. Lonsdale voting against.
