The Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation (SODC) board of directors is transitioning into a supervisory role rather than operational, District of Squamish council was told during a Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday (Jan. 19).
"We've seen the board morph from 2007 when we were picking up the tools and we were a kind of operational type of board and doing the hands-on stuff," said SODC chairman Bill McNeney.
At one point, the board was going in the direction of being comprised of various stakeholder representatives but direction had changed again, towards becoming a governance type board.
"We've actually said we're essentially a governance board and there should be some changes and reviews."
One of the changes the board is considering is streamlining their selection process for the 13-member board. In the past the board and district separately collected applications but McNeney suggested a more collaborative approach.
Once discussion surrounding refinancing started, Coun. Rob Kirkham, a Scotiabank employee, declared a conflict of interest and left the chamber.
The SODC currently has a $1 million loan with Scotiabank at 2.25 per cent and a $4.2 million loan with Pacific and Western at five per cent, which expires Sunday (Jan. 31).
SODC CEO Drew Stotesbury said the SODC has refinanced their loan with Scotiabank with a $3.8 million increase, which brings the total loan funds available to the SODC to $9 million.
Stotesbury started explaining the details of the SODC's refinancing agreement, before Mayor Greg Gardner stopped him. Gardner warned Stotesbury there was media present in the room and pointed out any information disclosed during the meeting would be made public.
Heintzman moved to close the meeting and was supported unanimously.
However before the closure, Gardner suggested the process to populate the board should involve board members themselves to a higher degree, since they would be in a position to gather the most experienced skill sets.
Coun. Doug Race agreed it's important for council to receive recommendations from board members.
"In a number of other community arenas we might look for a broad cross-section of people to represent a whole bunch of different sectors in the community but this isn't necessarily the one we do that with," Race said. "We have to remember this is a land development company so it's got a very narrow business.
"It's not good getting someone from the community with no expertise in land development because all they're going to do is sit there and watch."
Coun. Patricia Heintzman said council should work at keeping a diversity of perspectives on the board.
"No offence to grey-haired gentlemen who have lots of experience, wisdom and knowledge - I don't think it's good to have a board that has one demographic, one perspective for age."
Heintzman said council should utilize people of varying ages, genders and ethnicities.
"They need to have the experience and the expertise but we also have to work as hard as possible to make a diverse board with different perspectives."
Council agreed to review the process.
Earlier in the day, Gardner brought the local business community up to speed on progress at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
He said it was great to have a land use plan the community likes, but pointed out the future challenge is about completing a sub-area plan and a zoning plan.
In general, he said the SODC is major initiative that's been "a tough one."
"I'm like most of you are, like [a] dictator when I run my business, I get to make the decisions. This is one where we have to have the community on board [and] bring them along."
