Sylvie Paillard
spaillard@squamishchief.com
Mayor Ian Sutherland announced the winners of the District of Squamish (DOS) photo contest. In the professional category, Damian Cromwell received $500 donated by Capilano College for his photo Skier off Cliff. Amateur photographer Herbert Vesely received $500 donated from Howe Sound Community Futures Development Corporation for his photo Garibaldi Lake. Receiving honourable mentions in the amateur category were Vesely, Paul Siemens, Rolf Brandvold, Jean Davis and John Irvine. Cromwell received an honourable mention in the professional category. The photos now become DOS property and will used to promote Squamish.
Carney's hearing cancelled
Sutherland said that the hearing to assess the business licence of Carney's Waste Systems due to the persistent stench emanating from their composting station on Queens Way was delayed for two weeks because councillors Ray Peters and Corinne Lonsdale were absent from the meeting. Council set a new hearing for Tuesday, April 4.
Monster home motion adopted
Council adopted a Committee of the Whole motion made earlier in the day to direct staff to begin processing a new family home sizing and massing zoning bylaw. Any application for construction of a family home submitted after Tuesday, March 28 will now be limited in size and massing. If the proposed bylaw does not pass within six months, applicants may be entitled to compensation.
BMX track denied
Council also adopted a Committee of the Whole motion to deny the Squamish BMX Racing Club the requested land west of Centennial tennis courts and that the club may return with the $10,000 grant in aid request once a suitable site has been found.
Loan authorized
Council supported a staff recommendation for a bylaw authorizing a loan of $2.7 million for the purchase of the Forestry Building on Centennial Way. Director of finances Ralph Hughes said the bylaw is an interim measure to ensure the district has the funds to purchase the building. If the district has the money on hand, there would be no need for the loan, said Hughes.
Cheakamus River Steelhead recovery championed
Edith Tobe of the Squamish River Watershed Society presented concerns from numerous environmental and angling groups regarding the province's refusal to adopt hatchery steelhead repopulation measures for the Cheakamus River because the province has given the river a "wild" designated. Tobe requested that council send a letter to Minister of Environment Barry Penner denouncing their decision. District environmentalist Chessy Langford said the ministry has assured her that the Cheakamus River Technical Steering Committee's demand for the scientific basis for the province's decision is on its way. Langford suggested a letter be sent containing a request for the committee to present its own scientific evidence supporting the steelhead hatchery program, which has a fast approaching deadline of six weeks. Langford said she doubts the province will accept the terms, but the letter can pave the way for further pressure to accept hatchery steelhead in the coming seasons. Council passed a motion to send the letter suggested.
Patterson asks for garbage exemption
Longtime resident Terrill Patterson petitioned council to exempt him from the annual garbage removal fee. Exemptions are allowed under the removal fee bylaw. Patterson compared the flat use fee to receiving the same charge every time a person fills up their vehicle's gas tank. Patterson said he made the same request 10 years ago and was denied when council implied he could simply place his garbage on his neighbours' property before pick up. Patterson said that now that Carney's has introduced tote containers, he could no longer deceive pick up drivers. Patterson used props of a toy car and a miniscule tote container with a bear proof latch to illustrate his point. "I learned a long time ago, to keep the ears active you have to keep the eyes busy," he said. Councilor Jeff McKenzie put forward a motion to allow Patterson's request, but when nobody seconded it, the motion was defeated.
Aid granted
Council passed a motion to give the Parent Advisory Council of Ecole Les Aiglons a grant in aid in the amount of $817.46 to cover the cost of renting municipal owned facilities for a social cultural event on April 21.
Squamish gets fit
Council passed a motion to accept the provincial government's challenge to increase physical activity by 20 per cent by 2010. The challenge allows Squamish to register as an Active Community and may entitle the district to provincial grant money.
Public hearing delayed
Sutherland excused himself for reasons of conflict of interest before the start of a public hearing on Seabright Holdings requesting a zoning amendment bylaw for a development proposed for Fifth Avenue. Despite the large number of spectators in the gallery, council passed a motion to delay the hearing by two weeks due to the absence of Lonsdale and Peters. The hearing was rescheduled for April 4.
