Mayor Greg Gardner said he was "disturbed" to see a 20 per cent increase in garbage collection fees before District of Squamish council unanimously passed the item during budget deliberations Tuesday (March 9).
Staff recommended an increase the solid waste collection fee by $20 per household annually, retroactive to Friday Jan. 1, 2010.
However Gardner questioned the need, saying council was told the current $100 per household per year was adequate.
"What we were told a year ago was that our costs were $100 per taxpayer and that was truly reflective and now none of the individuals who communicated that are here now," Gardner said. "I am quite disturbed by this."
Acting engineering manager Brian Barnett explained solid waste collection costs the district $140 per household and suggested the municipality consider increasing the fee by $20 in 2010 and the remainder in 2011.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale said some taxpayers should expect to see a solid waste collection fee totalling $139.20, once the $19.20 cost of the bear proofed tote locks are added.
Barnett said in previous years, the $40 different per household was absorbed into the operating budget and now the district is attempting to set the collection fee to accurately reflect the cost of waste collection.
Coun. Paul Lalli asked if the district now has an extra sum of money in the 2010 operating budget since collection fee costs will no longer be absorbed.
Chief administrative officer Kevin Ramsay said the district has not yet adjusted the operating cost with the waste collection revision.
Council unanimously supported an increase in the household solid waste collection fee to $120 per household annually.
Park washroom nixed
Recreation, parks and tourism director Bob Kusch said a proposed washroom for John Hunter Park in Valleycliffe presents too many uncertainties to proceed. There's a risk of vandalism, the location of the facility is concerning and the use of a septic tank is questionable in an environmentally sensitive area like the park, he said.
Kusch presented council with cost estimates for building a washroom facility at John Hunter Park in Valleycliffe.
The proposed concrete block construction and an adjacent covered area is estimated at $52,000 not including the cost of connecting to the municipal sewer and water system, or the installation of a septic tank.
Gardner said the issue first came to him from discussions with several Valleycliffe residents who felt they did not have a community gathering place.
"I actually still believe in the project, however at that time the concept was it was that the capital costs be funded primarily by the community and I actually think that this can be done for much less capital costs than estimated here," said Gardner.
Coun. Patricia Heintzman urged council to consider the bigger picture and include washroom facilities in future discussions on the revitalization of community parks, rather than just thinking about the playground facility.
"This seems kind of piecemeal, you know? It'd be good to have a strategy."
The project was nixed from 2010 budget considerations.
Sewer, water rates increased
District deputy treasurer Marcia Collier proposed a 2.5 per cent increase to water utility rates for 2010. The increase would translate to an additional $5.35 per single family home for a total of $219.38 annually, or $4.28 for a secondary suite for a total of $175.53 annually.
According to Collier's report, the increase ensures the utility would fund its own operating costs while accumulating a surplus, which could be used for necessary future projects.
In response to Lonsdale's inquiry, Ramsay said the water budget could be examined in detail in an upcoming budget discussion when all of the details are ironed out.
"But I only asked the question because why would I decide to give a 2.5 percent increase today if I wasn't willing to agree to this budget?" Lonsdale said.
Collier could not provide details over water rate increases for the previous year, but believed it to be around three or four per cent.
Ramsay said part of the increases in the inspection pro rata line item were a third of the cost of the solid waste management engineer the district recently agreed to hire.
Gardner said he felt comfortable moving along on the budget discussion items as referred to in the agenda.
"I'm comfortable working off of the document that was provided to us and I'll tell you why," he said. "If we come along later and save some money, it will go to build our reserves, which we're going to need."
Gardner requested a closer examination of the water sewer utility budget at a future meeting.
Council unanimously approved a 2.5 percent increase to the water rates for 2010.
Without additional discussion, council unanimously supported increasing the 2010 sewer rate by 1 per cent.
The remaining budget discussions are scheduled to resume in Municipal Hall on Tuesday (March 16) at 10 a.m.
