Squamish council didn't see anything sweet in allowing fruit stalls on residential properties.
With the exception of Councillors Patricia Heintzman and Bryan Raiser, council on Tuesday (Sept. 20) voted to redefine urban agriculture in the municipality's new draft zoning bylaw. The change takes out wording that would allow people on lots zoned for residential use to grow produce and build a structure up to 30 square metres from which to sell their goods. The former definition would have also opened the door to holding poultry, fowl or bees on residential lots.
Heintzman said council should keep the original language of the bylaw so residents would have a chance to discuss it when the zoning bylaws went to public hearing. Raiser agreed.
"I think there is room in this community for that," he said, speaking of the fruit stands.
There are already ample options for people to sell home-grown produce, without drawing away from the downtown core, Coun. Doug Race argued, adding that the bylaw could draw traffic into neighbourhoods and alter the community's character.
Dollars and sense
The District of Squamish (DOS) is reviewing its staff salary levels.
The last time the municipality did such a study was in 2006, said Kevin Ramsay, the district's chief administrative officer. Since then a number of new positions have been created at the district and requirements changed, he noted. Housing prices in Squamish need to be reflected in recruiting, Ramsay added.
"We have had some difficulty attracting qualified candidates to management positions in specific areas," he told council.
The review will compare district staff salaries to those of employees in other municipalities. Findings from the report will be taken into consideration for the 2012 budget, Ramsay said.
The finance committee will help frame the terms of reference for the report. The study will cost $8,000, money that will come from council's contingency fund. Some organizations do these types of reviews every two to three years, Ramsay said.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale said council should consider following other municipalities' leads and complete such reviews on a timely manner.
"We need to be current, we need to be able to compete, we need to have good people," she said.
Potty talk
Council has dedicated close to $100,000 to upgrade its sewage system, but the district's manager of engineering warns that may not cover the bill.
The DOS is slated to replace equipment in two of its sewage lift stations - pumps that move wastewater from a low elevation to a higher elevation. The project is part of a plan to incrementally improve its lift stations, Brian Barnett said. Most of the smaller stations are reaching the end of their useful life of 40 to 50 years, stated the engineering and parks report.
The replacement of equipment at the district's stations at Wilson Avenue and Madill Street is slated to cost roughly $50,000 per unit. The budget for the project is $100,000 with no contingency, Barnett said.
"So we are a little bit concerned that we might just run into some issues as this work unfolds," he told council.
Staff plan to complete one station before going to the next in an effort to help realize potential cost savings, Barnett said.
Warm intentions
Visitors to Brennan Park Recreation Centre should be warm and toasty this winter.
Council approved the expenditure of $29,667 to install new heating, ventilation and air conditioning at the facility. Its offices' current heating and cooling system is inadequate, said Camilla Say, the district's facilities manager. The ducting is not up to code and doesn't meet seismic regulations, she said. Staff were cold all last winter, Say added.
"It is totally inadequate," she said.
The centre is short $14,677 for the work in its capital budget of $15,000. But the facility saved $6,500 on its new hot water system and Brennan Park Arena saved $13,000 on its new chiller and condenser. As suggested by Say, council voted to use the savings to upgrade the rec centre's heating and air conditioning system.
