The unresolved spectre of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District's (SLRD) Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) hovered over Monday's (Feb. 23) regular board meeting, entering the directors' discussion of a plan to address a commitment to the provincial Climate Action Charter.The board considered a motion to prepare an action plan for addressing climate change and energy consumption within SLRD operations and the regional district as a whole. A parenthetical reference to the RGS in the motion, calling the planning efforts "an RGS implementation project," proved to be a point of debate for some directors.The District of Squamish has rejected the RGS, a planning document intended to guide growth and facilitate consultations within the corridor and its communities. Squamish Coun. Paul Lalli, acting as an alternate SLRD director, said it seemed to him that passing the motion with that phrase included would presume supporting and adopting the RGS."I bring [the ties to the RGS] up to the board as a concern," Lalli said.While SLRD Administrator Paul Edgington said the RGS-related phrase could be taken out of the motion, Squamish Mayor and SLRD director Greg Gardner said Squamish's concerns with the RGS are less on the planning side and more relating to governance issues."I don't have the same concerns [as Lalli]," Gardner said.Whistler Mayor Ken Melamed said he's proud of the RGS and would prefer to see the reference stay in the motion, as he likes the idea of tying the high-level policy document to action.An amendment to the motion, removing the RGS reference, passed with Melamed and Electoral Area C Director Susie Gimse opposed. The motion's directives for the strategic planning on climate change and energy issues then passed.
The Climate Action Charter sets out goals for local governments to hit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including becoming carbon-neutral in their operations by 2012 and creating compact, energy-efficient communities.
