Council for the District of Squamish will consider expanding the board of the Squamish Sustainability Corporation on Sept. 5 following a notice of motion put forward by Coun. Greg Gardner during the regular council meeting, Tuesday (Aug. 1).
Gardner will bring forward a motion to expand the Squamish Sustainability Corporation (SSC) board from two members to seven members of district staff and the business community.
The SSC, an arms-length wholly-owned entity of District of Squamish operating the Adventure Centre, currently has a board that includes Mayor Ian Sutherland and district deputy administrator Brent Leigh.
The Adventure Centre houses a collaboration between SSC, the Chamber of Commerce, the Center for Tourism Leadership and Innovation, and a host of project and event specialists.
$506,482 for new
Business Park intersection
Council unanimously passed a motion to pay Peter Kiewit and Sons $506,482 to build a new intersection to access a new road near Wal-Mart, deemed "the new entrance to the Business Park" in a staff report. The road intersects Highway 99 and since Kiewit is currently expanding the highway for the Ministry of Transportation, council decided not to tender out the work and offer the project to Kiewit instead.
"I understand we're working co-operatively with Kiewit, but I'm generally not approving of non-tendered work," said by Gardner before supporting the motion.
Kiewit initially quoted the work at a cost of $619,310 whereas District consultants estimated the work at $467,943.
The work, which is to be completed Sept. 30, includes the design and construction of a left turn lane, acceleration lane, deceleration lane, new traffic signal, lighting, signage and landscaping.
Main St. land
exchange passes
A motion for a land exchange between Seabright Holdings and the District of Squamish passed with Coun. Raj Kahlon and Coun. Corinne Lonsdale opposed. Seabright is developing a multi-phase project on Main St. The District committed to hand over a portion of land around 5th Ave. in exchange for the nearby dyke, which Seabright will remediate.
"It's good for the community," said Acting Mayor Mike Jensen.
Kahlon disagreed.
"I don't think it's a good deal for taxpayers," he said.
Gardner said the issue was "too late in the process to change" so he would be supporting it.
Filming road closures cause concern
A new agenda item recommending approval of a road closure for filming of the production Men in Trees brought up concerns among council members. Lonsdale said the issue of road closures is causing "a lot of angst" for merchants on Cleveland Avenue. She said she supports the motion but reiterated a request that staff find a way to survey downtown merchants on the issue and bring forward a report. Jenson said he'd heard from a restaurant server whose tips dropped 80 per cent during one day of filming, while the owner received remuneration.
"It's having an impact," he said, "but there are benefits."
Council unanimously passed a motion to close Victoria Street from Cleveland Avenue to Loggers Lane from 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11 to 1 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12.
