After months spent determining that the District of Squamish was Ring Creek Road's confirmed landowner, this heavily used industrial road has been repaired.
The road has been closed since a landslide forced its closure in January 2010, and industrial traffic had to resort to using the Boulevard where they had numerous issues with the tight roundabouts.
"I am pleased to announce the road is now open," said Gardner, "and I would like to commend staff on getting it repaired so quickly."
"Most industrial traffic uses Ring Creek Road and that's the way it should be.
District looks at alternative energy options
Council unanimously supported a recommendation from the June 15 committee of the whole meeting to receive and endorse the final draft report findings for the District of Squamish Neighbourhood Energy Utility Feasibility report, presented by municipal planner Sabina Foofat.
Over the 2009 summer and fall, there was a detailed technical evaluation for Squamish's alternative energy options at a downtown district level done. The findings were presented to council in October 2009, with woodwaste biomass and ocean heat recovery loop as the most feasible results.
BC Hydro's interest in co-generation potential led staff to add co-generation as a potential option for alternative energy. However, because biomass co-generation is still a few years away from being commercially viable, the interim fuel source would be natural gas, according to Foofat.
Council also supported the recommendation to gage the scope of work, terms of reference and funding options for the three options so council could consider these before the 2011 budget discussions.
They also directed staff to prepare a service area bylaw and hydronic connectivity guidelines for consideration at a future committee of the whole meeting and that staff present the feasibility study findings in conjunction with compass resource management at a public open house after the August break.
Gardner said the open house was essential so the community could have the opportunity to evaluate the options and their input would influence council's decision.
"If we want to put this type of infrastructure in place, now is the time to do it," said Gardner.
Sustainable Transportation Model
Community development director Mick Gottardi recommended council endorse the detailed plan and schedule for launching a 2013 multi-model transportation plan study, which he dubbed the future overarching transportation policy document for Squamish. It will replace the Bunt and Associates Transportation Plan that accompanied the 1998 Official Community Plan.
The study will access the needs of all types of transportation - commercial vehicles, public transit, cycling and pedestrians - while recognizing that Squamish accepts cycling as a critical part of the community.
Gottardi also asked council to approve the proposed list of stakeholders who will be specifically consulted throughout the study.
Council members supported the study in general but expressed concern about the list of primary and secondary stakeholders.
The primary stakeholders will be involved in every major step of the process. The list included council, District of Squamish Staff, Squamish CAN, Squamish Nation, Squamish Trails Society, BC Transit and Howe Sound School District No. 48/ Parent Advisory Committees.
Secondary stakeholders will be on a mailing list and receive periodic updates on the study's progress. It includes several organizations such as Tourism Squamish, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, neighbourhood associations, the Chamber of Commerce, Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation, Carney's Waste Systems, Squamish terminals and several more.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale was particularly concerned the Squamish Seniors Society, which wasn't included in the secondary stakeholders list either, wouldn't be represented. She was also concerned about industry representation and Squamish CAN's role.
"There's nothing there from industry, such as truck drivers who need truck routes, and why Squamish CAN instead of the Squamish Environmental Conservation Society," asked Lonsdale, "especially when we know Squamish CAN will approach us with their thoughts anyways."
Gottardi said the group make-up was more focused on technical discussion, and therefore groups with expertise in the area and wanted a small focus group. He also mentioned that the terminals and Carneys were both industry.
Lonsdale emphasized she believed an industry representative was necessary for the primary stakeholders list.
Coun. Patricia Heintzman asked about the downtown Business Improvement Association (BIA) and suggested having some youth involved.
"What about including a student from Quest or Capilano or even some older high school students? Students are a large part of our future and I think we should engage them now," said Heintzman.
Gardner pointed out he believe the school district and parent advisory groups should be viewed as two separate entities suggested truckers, water users and CN Rail, though he said they [CN Rail] would likely not attend.
"Half the people don't turn up to meeting anyways so I don't see the harm in adding a few more groups to make sure we cover our bases," said Lonsdale. "There needs to be proper representation across the board."
Coun. Paul Lalli suggested that greyhound, Airporter and the social planning council be added to the secondary list.
Gottardi responded to several of the suggestions - "the BIA is represented in neighbourhood association, Squamish CAN are very good researchers and therefore considered an asset and I think the focus group is being diluted by adding so many representatives."
Despite Gottardi's reservations, council decided to appoint Squamish terminals from secondary stakeholder to primary stakeholder and add a Transport Canada representative, the Squamish Seniors Society and one youth. Gardner voted against adding the Squamish Seniors Society and the youth but the motion was carried.
Small lot development requires variance permits
Municipal planner Sabina Foofat recommended council authorize seven variances for the small lot development on Loggers Lane, also known as the Maples.
Foofat said the project commenced in 2005 and is a very involved project with a small lot format that was approved in 2008.
"The challenge is existing bylaws that don't have provisions for small lot development," she said. "it is a pedestrian oriented neighbourhood with garages at the back so the houses can be close to the street."
She said the variances would only be applied to the 33 pilot lots to test and see hoe it works. She added that staff are learning a great deal from working with the new type of project and will be apply to apply these skills for future developments.
Some variances included having smaller, shared driveways, height variances that allow for carriage style garages and smaller rear and front line setbacks.
Heintzman, who said she didn't originally support the small lot project, said this description changed her mind.
Lonsdale was also supportive and said the smaller lots would address housing affordability in Squamish.
"I'm looking forward to seeing this lot developed and would like to recognize all the work Sabina Foofat had put into the project."
Council gives first three readings for sewer construction loan
Three companies bid for the construction of Government Road Trunk sewer project and even the lowest bid was $620,000 over budget.
At the council meeting on June 15, staff recommended council accept Coast Valley Contracting Ltd.'s bid for just under $3.2 million for the construction of a sewer line on Government Road. Staff is able to save some money by removing minor optional components. The budgeted amount was approximately $2.3 million.
Gardner said that seemed like a quite a large discrepancy and asked engineering manager Brian Barnett for an explanation.
Barnett cited additional funds for the pipe installation and namely dewatering cost as the main reasons for the discrepancy.Barnett recommended council give the DOS Government Road Trunk sewer loan first three readings so he could initiate the loan authorization process given the cost increase and the it was carried unanimously.
Officer and delegation bylaw adopted
The bylaw that accompanied chief administrative officer Kevin Ramsay's Squamish Service Initiative was adopted on Tuesday (July 6).
The bylaw establishes officer and management positions for the district and assigns specific powers to officers and managers. It was carried unanimously.
