A dismal turnout did not hinder colourful discussions over budget priorities at the District of Squamish municipal town hall meeting on Thursday (Nov. 12).
Locals who did turn up inquired about a wide variety of topics ranging from long-term financial plans, to VANOC's legacy fund, to the possibility of an economic development committee.
Each attendee also had an opportunity to voice their priorities with a handful of cash.
Each participant was given $3 million dollars of fake paper money to put money into projects in the form of boxes labelled "information systems," "fire and rescue," "parks and trails," and others.
The dollar votes haven't yet been made public, but recreation was among the top choices for many.
Jasmine Henczel said she chose to fund parks and trails with her mock millions since they're integral to the community.
"I put my funds into the parks and trails [box] because I believe we should have a paved trail throughout Squamish. There are a lot of smaller communities and similar sized communities as ours that have fully-paved trails throughout and I'd love to see that, as soon as possible."
Mayor Greg Gardner said he understands why fewer than 50 people attended the town hall.
"Frankly I'm not surprised because we've been dragging you out to OCP [Official Community Plan] meetings," he said.
The meeting started off with a short film on the Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation (SODC) land use plan, which was first screened publicly at the Oct. 29 SODC open house.
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Kevin Ramsay then presented information on municipal budgets, distinguishing between the two main components - the capital budget and the operating budget.
"The operating budget is intended for those activities that are ongoing, provisions for maintenance," Ramsay said.
"The capital budget is intended to provide for capital assets, the stuff you can see, feel and touch."
The major taxpayers currently include Squamish Terminals, BC Hydro, The Chieftain Centre, Wal Mart and Home Depot.
The CAO explained that for every $1 million dollars the district borrows, residential taxes increase by 0.61 per cent.
Since funding for the landfill, as well as the water and sewer utilities is not provided through residential taxation but rather through user fees, the district separates those projects from the general capital fund.
District staff prioritized project items relative to the immediacy of need and concluded a few high-priority capital budget items on the list for 2010 include $150,000 for RCMP building upgrades, a $142,000 dike rip rap, and approximately $770,000 for several roadway engineering projects.
"We need to look in the context of all residents within Squamish and what the overall community benefit is," Ramsay said.
After the budget presentation, an hour-long question and answer session started with a Brackendale resident voicing his overall discontent with what he called short sightedness.
"My concern is how this fits into the bigger picture. We have an OCP that's basically saying over the next 20 years we're going to grow to 30,000 people," McCabe said.
"If we're only operating in each year, in isolation then we really don't have a good handle on what the long-term requirements are and what the long-term impacts are."
Gardner said the district does in fact have a longer-term capital budget plan, a five-year plan which helps plan for the future.
"Planning starts with the OCP stage, and we then start planning where our expenses are to accommodate that type of growth, and then we look at where our revenue sources are and go back into the process to make it all work together."
Jeannette Maddox, a volunteer with the Squamish Youth Soccer Association inquired about the $750,000 VANOC legacy trust fund the district received in June.
"Is that being used anywhere in this budget?" she asked.
Gardner said the legacy funds have not been allocated for any project in the 2010 budget because the district has not received project proposals from the community.
"It's totally up to the discretion of the community, through council, what we use that on," said Gardner. "It doesn't have to be one project - it could be three or five projects."
Coun. Paul Lalli said there's still time for community groups who have project ideas to come forward and present them to council before the 2010 budget is finalized.
Former SODC board member Ted Prior inquired about the formation of an economic development entity, including a reintroduction of an economic development officer (EDO).
"There's a lot of jobs disappearing We always used to have an economic development officer, and doesn't it make sense to have somebody in that position?"
Gardner said council has been considering several options to stimulate economic development for the last year or so.
"One would be to just do what we do well: Make sure that when people come to town there is a friendly investment climate. Another would be to draw on resources within our community. We're turning our minds to what we do with the SSC [Squamish Sustainability Corporation] and whether we go, in my mind, back to a mandate where that would be a proactive economic development conduit."
Prior suggested an EDO would be best to deal with possible business opportunities.
"What about business coming to town and wanting to talk about economic development?" he asked.
Gardner referenced his own personal experience as a business man, saying often times business owners don't want to speak to EDOs, they want to speak to district planners, mayors and realtors.
"If I need data about the community I'll talk to the Chamber of Commerce," said Gardner. "I'm not opposed to hiring an economic development officer, but I just think that if and when we get there, we need to have a pretty good job description so that person knows what the expectations and objectives are."
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale said an EDO would have to bring tangible results to be worthwhile.
"I think we need to be very clear what we want that person to deliver. It's not a bunch of studies," said Lonsdale. "In my mind, I want to actually see them out there bringing business into the community."
Coun. Patricia Heintzman agreed, and stressed that she believes the district needs an EDO.
The final 2010 municipal budget is scheduled for approval in April.
