The ball is rolling on an initiative to increase locally-grown produce as council for the District of Squamish agreed to dedicate $30,000 towards a Squamish Climate Action Network (CAN) proposal during a special business meeting Tuesaday (Jan. 12).
With councillors Corinne Lonsdale and Rob Kirkham absent, and Coun. Doug Race and Mayor Greg Gardner opposed, council supported director of planning Cameron Chalmers's recommendation for early release of $20,000 grant-in-aid funds for an agricultural assessment proposal.
He also requested $10,000 to fund additional staffing requirements due to the planning department's current full workload.
"We would also ask, because the analysis to date, is that the planning department 2010 work program is fully if not over committed, we do not feel we have the resources to provide in a way that we can ensure the project results can be easily implemented into our policies."
Chalmers said there are several deadlines for the study to obtain funding ranging from February to May, giving council adequate time to examine the proposal.
Coun. Patricia Heintzman noted her concern over lingering planning department projects such as the Official Community Plan (OCP) and the Zoning By-law.
"We've got to get closure to those so we can move on and continue to do the policy work that needs to be done."
Heintzman also urged staff to explore other avenues of funding in order not to limit arts organizations.
She urged councillors to make a commitment to funding the study and encouraged Squamish CAN to search out funding from other organizations including the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) and Squamish Nation.
She also encouraged council to include the $10,000, contingent on receiving matching funding from other organizations, not for staff for but for a summer intern to work on behalf of staff.
Coun. Paul Lalli said the agricultural study shouldn't take up much district staff time, especially if the study extensively explores alternative forms of agriculture.
"I would like Squamish CAN to explore alternative forms of agriculture," he said. "I think that's something we need to look at and should look at and that, I think can happen at arm's length from the district."
Coun. Bryan Raiser expressed confusion over the grant-in-aid fund but concluded he could support the motion nonetheless.
"I'm still kind of getting my brain around what should and shouldn't qualify for grant-in aid. If that's what it's decided to be then I suppose, sure. I'm happy recommending this, if this will work," Raiser said. "If we go with the recommendation, is that going to work? Are we going to miss out on any opportunities?"
Mayor Greg Gardner hesitated on allowing an advocacy group to steer a study that has district land use implications.
"I just want to emphasize that we need to be looking at land use from a balanced point of view," he said.
He also said he believes the planning department currently has higher priority items.
Coun. Doug Race said he would not support the motion because the district should not commit funds without having gone through the proper budgetary planning process first.
The motion was passed by a vote of three to two with support from Lalli, Heintzman and Raiser.
Beaver study to cost $10K
District manager of operations Gord Prescott asked council to approve up to $10,000 for a registered biologist to assess the local beaver situation.
Last year, the district hired a Langley-based trapper to take care of problem beavers that were causing a flood, but the district was caught unaware when the trapper killed 12 beavers, resulting in numerous public complaints.
"Responding to the problems we had in operations both last fall and continuing into the winter with the beaver situation in the district," Kusch said, "the request is to acquire a registered biologist who is familiar with beavers in other municipalities."
The biologist would collect information, analyze data and help develop strategies to deal with beavers. The expert would also estimate the current and former beaver population, provide a summery of maintenance and removal costs for 2009 and conduct an analysis of the impact on the population resulting from measures taken to date.
The biologist would assess infrastructure threats from anticipated beaver activity and current beaver damage. Last year, several municipal locations were affected by beavers including the Judd Slough pump station, Dryden Creek, and the Loggers Lane ditch, according to reports.
Lastly the expert would help develop a municipal policy on beavers, according to Prescott.
Council voted unanimously in support of the recommendation with no discussion.
Stratification approved
Chalmers asked council to endorse the stratification of a duplex at 38347 Buckley Avenue by giving authorization to the mayor and director of administrative services to execute the strata plan once certain conditions have been met to the municipality's satisfaction.
The conditions include a provisional and physical connection of each unit with separate services, a written report from an qualified engineer certifying the building meets applicable requirements for fire separations, electrical separations, plumbing separations et cetera and payment in full of any outstanding property taxes.
Chalmers also recommended the registration of the strata plan be completed within one year of the date of council's approval.
The motion was carried unanimously.
Climbing recommendations accepted
District director of recreation, parks, and tourism Bob Kusch presented a report with a dozen recommendations taken from the 2008 Squamish Climbing Strategy report submitted in Nov. 2009.
Monitoring future carrying capacity, recognition in the Official Community Plan and a district climbing co-ordinator were among the suggestions. The report also urges staff to continue work on the Smoke Bluff Park land transfer, improve park parking capacity and security, collaborate with regional climbing centres, develop a 2010 climbers survey and collect information on liability chill.
The report also recommends municipal staff consider a park use permit fee for commercial operations, use of climbing terrain near the Rod and Gun Club range, and research Sky Pilot and Mount Habrich accessibility.
Kusch submitted a chart to council outlining each of the Climbing Strategy's 12 recommendations, and a course of action to identify a lead agency.
"If council endorses this [report], this would then would into the work program for my department," Kusch explained.
Gardner said he's pleased municipal staff is willing to work closely with other agencies like BC Parks, and asked about the level of interactions so far between the district and user groups or other agencies.
"We're just starting that process but we are making sure we're communicating with various organizations," Kusch said.
Council voted unanimously to support the proposed courses of action.
January is Crime Stoppers month
As one of his last acts as operations director, outgoing manager Gord Prescott read from a letter written by the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper in an effort to encourage council to declare Jan. 2010 as Crime Stoppers month in the district.
"Crime Stoppers month is an opportunity to raise awareness of this successful international effort, which has developed a respected and strong presence in Canada with more than one hundred community-based programs and over two hundred thousand cases cleared," states the letter signed by Harper.
In 2009, Sea to Sky Crime Stoppers, which includes Pemberton and Whistler and Bowen Island, handled more than 60 calls, Prescott told council. He also informed council of upcoming fundraising projects including one scheduled to take place in the corridor this spring. For more information on the organization, visit the local Crime Stoppers office at the community policing station on Cleveland Avenue.
Council unanimously agreed to declare Jan. 2010 Crime Stoppers month in town.
Gardner took the opportunity to thank Prescott, who is retiring next week, for his work with the district.
"Thank you very much for the years of service," he said.
Funds get early release
Heintzman motioned for council to approve the early release of $4,034, 425 in general capital projects, $2,475,000 in water capital projects and $2,175,950 in sanitary sewer projects.
She also recommended council add an addition $50,000 to the funds allocated for early release to initiate the study to turf the all-weather fields.
"I hope to get that up front now, so we can get that work done, so come May we're ready should we have the opportunity to do so," she said.
Prescott clarified, the $4.034 million dollars ear marked for early release includes a $230,000 was recently added path initiative.
Gardner said he felt comfortable approving the early release because council has spent quite a bit of time planning the capital budget.
"In fact, we've already had a opportunity for public input at our last town hall meeting and received some input," he said.
Council unanimously supported a motion to approve the early release of $4,084,425 in general capital projects, $2,475,000 in water capital projects and $2,175,950 in sanitary sewer projects.
Letters to be sent out
On behalf of the Operations Standing Committee, Raiser presented council with several beautification recommendations, including sending a letter to BC Hydro for policies on artwork on electrical boxes.
Raiser asked that a letter to be sent to a property owner on Cleveland Avenue who has surrounded the land with a prominent and unsightly chain link fence.
"Enough with the chain link fences!" he said.
Raiser also requested Carney's Waste Systems develop a report outlining customer satisfaction of residents subsequent to a one-year recycling trial period. The report should also include information of services in similar sized communities and the cost of curb-side pick-up.
All three recommendations pass with unanimous support.
