District of Squamish Council briefs from the regular meeting May 17:
The District of Squamish (DOS) is beautifying property owned by BCR Properties to make the entrance to downtown along Cleveland Avenue more appealing while also addressing safety concerns at the entrance to Squamish Elementary School.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale wanted to know why District of Squamish employees are landscaping the lot known as the Teardrop property along Buckley Avenue and Mayor Ian Sutherland reported the Parks and Operations departments are covering the costs of the landscaping up to a maximum of $5,000.
Sutherland said BCR Properties was asked to pick up the cost but the plan didn't work out and the DOS decided to press on with the work after getting a licence to go onto the property.
The plan is to put grass on the lot and maintain the area as a community park.
Sutherland didn't have a dollar figure of how much it would cost to maintain the park on privately owned land but he said the staff indicated the work could easily be done as part of the annual maintenance for the other parks in the community.
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Wildlife bylaw introduced
First three readings of a wildlife attractants bylaw were given this week. The proposed bylaw makes it mandatory for residents to use wildlife-proof garbage containers and regulates when residents can put out their garbage for pick-up.
A previous draft version of the bylaw called for regulations on when bird feeders could be hung and a ban on backyard composters. The final version of the bylaw makes no mention of compost piles and the only regulation on bird feeders is that they must be hung so wild animals can't get to them.
The goal of the bylaw is to reduce conflicts between people and wildlife, particularly bears.
Eivind Tornes of the Squamish Bear Network thanked Council for moving the bylaw forward and said his group is committed to educating residents to reduce conflicts between people and bears.
The bylaw will be officially in place when council gives it final adoption later this month.
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Lions Bay wants DOS bylaw enforcers
The DOS director of protective services is recommending Squamish make its bylaw enforcement officers available for hire by the Village of Lions Bay.
Some Council members are uneasy with the idea and want to know more about the deal negotiated with the Village.
Instead of moving ahead with the proposed contract, Council decided to refer the issue to the Protective Services Committee - a committee that was created after the last election but has rarely met.
Mayor Sutherland and councillors Dave Fenn and Jeff Dawson opposed the idea of sending the issue to the committee for more study and voted against the move. The other members of Council supported the move so the committee will take a closer look at the issue and report back to Council.
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Fire prevention bylaw moves forward
A renewed fire prevention bylaw received first three readings this week.
The new bylaw puts further restrictions on open air burning. It also puts further restrictions on the installation of wood burning appliances in an effort to make sure newly installed wood stoves meet modern emission standards.
Fire Chief Ray Saurette said he worked with local fireworks retailers to create a section of the bylaw dealing with the sale of fireworks. The bylaw forces retailers to sell Roman Candles only in bundled packages with other types of fireworks.
Saurette also told the members of Council that the new bylaw gives the DOS the ability to bill people from out of town for extraordinary costs incurred by Squamish Fire Rescue (SFR). He said the intent isn't to bring back a section of the bylaw struck down by Council last year but to give the DOS the option to bill for emergencies that end up being extremely costly to SFR and the DOS.
The bylaw will be officially in place when council gives it final adoption later this month.
