A citizen's committee report on the $20-million failed recreation referendum is complete and it will become a public document for the June 21 regular meeting of District of Squamish Council.
Ron Anderson and Douglas Day created the report, with help from Bob Kusch, Squamish's director of tourism, parks and recreation. The mayor asked the committee to find out from residents what facilities are needed and how to move forward to build the facilities.
Day and Anderson hosted a series of meetings with groups and individuals so they could get an understanding of why the $20 million referendum failed. Based on those meetings they drafted recommendations for Council suggesting what next steps should be taken.
Mayor Ian Sutherland saw a draft version of the report some time ago and he said he is happy with what he read.
"As I recall, everything in there is good information and great feedback from the community," Sutherland said. "Doug and Ron have done a great job of summarizing the feelings of the community."
He said the report contains details of what people did and did not like about the original borrowing plan to build new amenities.
The document will create discussion for the days, months and even years ahead, the mayor said.
Sutherland wanted local voters to support the idea of borrowing up to $20,350,000 for projects such as a new ice arena, a senior's centre, an arts centre, a playing field with artificial turf, a running track, a youth gym, a public market facility, another slo-pitch field and upgrades to Brennan Park Recreation Centre.
Voters rejected the notion by a margin of three-to-one.
Of the 3,386 people who cast ballots in the District of Squamish Public Amenity and Recreational Facilities Loan Authorization Bylaw referendum, 2,491 (73.6 per cent) voted against the idea while only 888 (23.2 per cent) voted for the concept.
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