Tourism Squamish has settled on the terms of reference for going non-profit and independent of the District of Squamish, council heard during Tuesday's (Sept. 15) regular council meeting.
Council's endorsement of the organization's proposed bylaws and constitution would mark the final step towards Tourism Squamish's new status, which means the 170-volunteer-member organization will no longer be a subsidiary of Squamish Sustainability Corporation (SSC).
It would receive funding from initiatives such as the hotel tax, which the district plays a role in collecting and spending, and would still apply for an undetermined amount of municipal funds, said Tourism Squamish board vice-chair Tim Schoahs.
Schoahs said he hoped the organization would be an independent society before December.
Mayor Greg Gardner suggested the society broaden its base by getting more stakeholders from the tourism industry on board. He pointed out that while the society board allows for only five directors, there are nine different organizations represented on the board.
Coun. Doug Race said the society should identify and have a director for local core organizations, such as the Downtown Business Improvement Association, the Chamber of Commerce, as well as sectors such as retail and restaurant, and the arts community.
Schoahs said the society would bring the issue before its board.
Council unanimously endorsed Tourism Squamish's terms of reference.
Hospital expansion update
There will soon be a larger waiting room, state of the art equipment and more space for doctors and nurses at the Squamish General Hospital, said Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) manager of acute services Corinne Hammil.
In an update to council on the Hilltop House and hospital expansions, Hammil said the hospital's emergency department is undergoing a three-phased growth, although she didn't specify when that would be complete.
Hammil also said repairs for water leakage that have plagued the emergency room for months are almost complete. The agency is also prepared for possible increase in numbers during the Olympics, said Hammil, but noted that a study shows the public tends to use the health care system less during such sporting competition.
The Hilltop House would have an additional 13 beds by the end of October, said the manager of home and community care for Squamish, Marion Biln. She said more than 85 per cent of seniors in the facility are from Squamish.
Zoning amendment bylaw adopted
The District of Squamish adopted bylaw that would change 2.4 acres of Garibaldi Spring Golf Course from greenways to residential.
This bylaw itself came as an amendment to an earlier zoning bylaw that had allowed for up to 20,000 sq-ft of office space, but had refused any residential units.
The latest bylaw would allow for development of single-family residential subdivision with approximately 10 new lots.
Coun. Patricia Heintzman had the lone vote against the adoption of the bylaw.
"I have always voted against it because the Official Community Plan (OCP) designates it as greenway means you cannot build homes on it," she said.
