Council endorsed a recommendation from the Select Committee of Environment that the District of Squamish require the Wal-Mart store to be built in the Squamish Business Park meet or exceed the environmental design standards of a new "green" Wal-Mart proposed for Vancouver.
Councillors Raj Kahlon and Corinne Lonsdale opposed the motion because Squamish's Advisory Design Panel reviewed the building design.
Planner Heather Evans and Administrator Kim Anema both said the motion simply reiterates earlier directives to staff on the Wal-Mart design that the design meet or exceed LEED standards.
The Wal-Mart proposed for Marine Drive in Vancouver includes windmills to provide half the power to heating and cooling systems, dozens of trees, skylights and rooftop water collection for store use.
Select Committees facing attendance problems
Council decided to reduce the size of the library board from 13 to 12 and then voted take similar action to help ensure the Select Committee on Business Development has a quorum at its next meeting.
Coun. Jeff Dawson said only a small core group of people are attending the select committee meetings he chairs. And, he said there are about four people who have not attended a meeting in months. Dawson said it is a shame for the dedicated people to arrive for meetings just to have the meeting cancelled because the attendance is too low to form a quorum.
Air Cadets get break
District of Squamish Council voted to give Air Cadet Squadron #835 a one-time grant-in-aid worth $9,000. The grant will be used to fund the operations of the squadron and cover administration fees and facility rental expenses.
Council also voted in favour of covering the cost of 18 adult bus passes for the Canada World Youth participants scheduled to be in Squamish this summer. The value of bus passes is $2,106.
Grads will also have free access to the transit busses. Council voted to support the BC Transit GradPass Program. The program is aimed at promoting public transit as a lifestyle choice and authorizes GradPasses to Grade 12 students so they can ride the bus free of charge for any two consecutive days of their choice in June.
Waterfront Corp. gets name change
The Squamish Waterfront Development Corp. is now officially called the Squamish Oceanfront Development Corp.
The local lawmakers passed a motion to mark the change.
The corporation's board of directors have operated for many months calling their organization an oceanfront development corporation because the word oceanfront is more commonly used to describe areas like the former Nexen lands in Squamish.
The oceanfront lands will be used by Westcoast Amusements for a carnival from April 7 to 11. The fair traditionally sets up on the Adventure Centre property.
