It was truly painful to watch the District of Squamish council recorded proceedings of Jan. 19, but I had to find out if I could discern any logic in why we are spending $60,000 to commission a study to update a very extensive study done as recently as 2010 (Compass Resource Management & FVB Energy Inc.: District of Squamish Neighbourhood Energy Utility Feasibility Report – 88 pages).
I regret to say that after an hour or so of watching council, the reason for this expenditure did not become any clearer.
This process is in support of an initiative to promote a district heating facility for the Oceanfront lands and adjacent developments. Staff indicated that the only change from the 2010 study would be the addition of the Scott Crescent development and the cost of the natural gas fuel. The district plans to pass a bylaw mandating connection to this district heating system by the respective developers.
Five councillors and mayor were present for the Jan. 19 meeting to decide on this award. Councillor Ted Prior was absent.
Staff was emphatic in stating that this would be a major project in terms of cost and therefore needed to be updated by a consultant – five bids had come in as a result of a request for proposals – notwithstanding the existence of an excellent study. It was pointed out that council had allocated $60,000 in the 2015-16 budgets for costs connected to the district heating initiative.
Councillor Susan Chapelle questioned staff at length about the need for a further study because the 2010 study already covered anticipated growth to 2040 and so could easily encompass the Scott Crescent development; she spoke clearly against it and yet, surprisingly, voted in favour of the motion. Councillor Doug Race also spoke of some of the same concern and so did the mayor. None of the other councillors spoke on this.
Yet the vote appeared to be unanimously in favour to award this work to the consultant who was also involved in the 2010 study.
I would have thought that a simple and inexpensive internal review could have brought the 2010 study sufficiently up to date for the purpose of drafting a bylaw.
Residents of Squamish have to impress on council that we must wean ourselves off the never ending dependence on consultants when we have a wealth of capable professionals on district staff and also voice concerns over property tax increases that far exceed the cost of inflation.
Herbert Vesely, P.Eng.
Squamish
