As part of our Squamish Votes 2018 coverage, we invited each candidate to fill out an online questionnaire answering questions about policy and big issues facing Squamish in the next four years. Candidates were emailed the questionnaire and given one week to submit answers.
About You
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Name: |
Jeff Cooke |
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How many years have you lived in Squamish? |
11 |
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How many council or committee meetings have you attended since Sept. 1, 2017? |
12 |
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What do you love most about Squamish? (150 word limit) |
I love our small town feel, I love our beautiful surroundings, and I love the caring people that are always there when you need them. |
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Are you endorsing a particular candidate for mayor? (question for councilor candidates) |
Jeff Cooke |
Squamish Issues
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What do you think is the biggest single issue facing Squamish? (150 words limit) |
Rapid development without foresight and proper planning resulting in: - density/overcrowding - lack of funds coming back to community - lack of infrastructure |
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In the last term, what was council's single greatest accomplishment? What was council's biggest failure? (150 character limit) |
Success: Completing the OCP and encouraging extensive community participation in the process. Failure: Approving tax breaks for development.
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Residents often complain about traffic (speeding, parking etc.) What would you do to improve traffic and parking in Squamish? (150 words limit) |
Replace 15% of local car trips with bike trips. Get more people commuting locally on bikes by making safer and more convenient bike paths and ensuring there are truly secure bike parking facilities at workplaces. |
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Squamish has a housing affordability crisis. What would you do to improve affordability? (150 words limit) |
Many basement suites are used for Air B&B. To increase inventory of long term rentals, offer financial incentives to homeowners who have tenants with at least a year long lease in place. |
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Do you support stronger regulation of AirBNB? |
Yes |
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How would you attract new businesses and employers to Squamish? (150 words limit) |
The same way successful businesses find new customers: market effectively and close deals. Our outdoor recreation amenities already attract all kinds of people to live here. Let's recruit employers using these same benefits so their employees can have a happier and healthier family life. |
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Do you have a strategy to implement regional transit? (150 word limit) |
Before coming up with the strategy we have a to determine which problem we are trying to solve: The commuter traffic or the tourist traffic. These are very different customers with very different needs. If we don't do that first, we will waste a lot of time and money. |
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Given limited financial resources, what do you think is the single highest priority for Brennan Park? (150 word limit) |
I was taught this early on: You can either live within your means....or increase your means. If we are more efficient, increase the business tax base, and collaborate with developers, we can create an investment strategy for a recreation facility that attracts potential businesses and residents to Squamish, further increasing the tax base. |
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Do you support cannabis retail shops in Squamish? |
Yes |
Major Developments
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Would you consider yourself pro-WLNG or anti-WLNG? |
Somewhat opposed (4) |
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Are you supportive of the Garibaldi At Squamish project? |
Neutral (3) |
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Do you support development of the Cheema Lands (Lot 509/510)? |
Neutral (3) |
