The municipal committee appointed to address seniors' issues is shedding light on a safety hazard for the area's elderly - local streets.
At an April 20 meeting, The Select Committee on Seniors settled on some recommendations that would make the municipality safer for the residents, which they presented to during the District of Squamish council Tuesday (May 4) meeting.
Council unanimously supported recommendations over such things as stop sign placement and cracks in the sidewalks, directing staff to investigate pedestrian safety, and public transit expansion to local grocery stores and the Seniors Centre.
The recommendation to examine enhancing the crosswalk on Third Avenue behind the Chieftain Town Centre mall was also passed unanimously.
The final motion to construct a walkway between the Squamish Senior Centre and Third Avenue was dismissed after it was revealed the Senior Home Society and centre developer Solterra were already working on a similar plan.
"Within about two months we'll have plans drawn and possibly the work beginning and the legal documents all prepared, in place and that walkway will exist," said director of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Bob Kusch.
Council pay increased slightly
Council adopted a remuneration and expense bylaw unanimously but not without comment from Coun. Bryan Raiser who has made it his mission to increase council pay.
The resulting increase totals 2.2 per cent, which amounts to approximately $300 per councillor.
"Still not enough to pay a babysitter," Raiser quipped.
Raiser said pay is still a barrier to people running for council, and suggested that with this amount, voters might believe council members are trying to undermine democracy.
"I'm concerned that this sends a message to the public that councillors won't vote ourselves a raise unless it's small enough not to lead to any extra competition come election day."
He said it also looks bad that council appears to be backtracking on earlier statements.
"During the budget process we sent a very clear message that salaries were not to be increased," said Raiser. "Over and over again we heard, 'We can't give ourselves a raise,' and yet here we are giving us a raise - although not enough to deal with the pay barrier issue."
Mayor Greg Gardner said the figure was generated through the same process used to determine management wages.
"This bylaw will make our compensation consistent with what happens to our exempt staff," said Gardner. "Now we weigh the price increase as a blended rate and the three factors are the consumer price index, the amount that our salary with our CUPE workers is increasing and the amount that our contract with our IAFF [firefighters] workers are increasing."
Council settles on tax increase
Council unanimously supported first three readings of the tax bylaw after debating some changes in recent weeks.
"What the tax increase proposed by council tonight means is that on average, your taxes will be the same as last year with two exceptions," said Gardner. "They will fluctuate with any changes in the assessed value of your home or business and as well the average increase will be approximately 3.6 per cent."
The average business property will go down 9.83 per cent, the average residential strata property will go up 8.29 per cent and the average residential single family detached property will go up 1.53 per cent.
The District of Squamish 2010 to 2014 five-year financial plan bylaw was adopted unanimously.
Zoning process reviewed
The zoning bylaw update, considered one of the district's highest priorities in 2010 by the new Squamish Service Initiative, is anticipated to take place over approximately 10 months. It began in February and the timeline includes legal review time.
"[I want] to stress to the public that this is an important process as it can impact what you can and cannot do on your property and if you are a landowner it's a good process to stay in touch with," said Mayor Greg Gardner.
Municipal planners Cameron Chalmers and Chris Bishop presented the zoning bylaw review update to council. The study process is utilizing the services of two urban planning consultancies, Halcrow as the technical review consultant and Brook + Associates to implement the consultation strategy to ensure stakeholders provide feedback on the bylaw's functionality.
A working group was formed to ensure bylaw users can provide feedback. Organizations included are the Chamber of Commerce, the Urban Development Institute, designers and environmental groups. Coun. Corinne Lonsdale pointed more groups can be included.
"I'm thinking there's a gap or two in the working section. I was wondering if there would be some merit to having a representative from the social planning council to take into account areas for kids to play or adults to mingle."
Chalmers said he would approach them immediately. He also said his staff is open to comments via email or in person, but that "the avenue for general public engagement is limited at this time."
"The process tends to function better if we have something to present that people can react to," he said.
Lonsdale said when public input is limited early on, the process often ends up being prolonged by issues raised when the plan is finally presented.
"I'm a bit worried about the lateness of public input and comments," she said.
Chalmers said he would collect and incorporate comments when possible.
RGS debate continues
Chalmers asked that council endorse a joint statement to be signed by Gardner illustrating council's issue with a specific aspect of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) bylaw.
In dispute is a requirement that municipal Official Community Plans direct major settlement growth to urban areas and master planned communities while avoiding non-settlement areas, as well as encouraging appropriate smart growth strategies.
The move to endorse the joint statement was passed unanimously.
