Staff update on climate action progress, next rental development in Cheakamus close to breaking ground, and not-for-profits pitch for grant funding.
Looking to get caught up on the Tuesday, March 5 Council Meetings? We’ve pulled together some key stories from Committee of the Whole and the Regular Council Meeting, including:
- RMOW staff present an update on Climate Action achievements and focus areas;
- Next rental development in Cheakamus back before Council; staff seek approval of Development Permit; and
- Local not-for-profits make their cases for grant funding through Community Enrichment Program.
For all the details, check out the recording of the full meeting on whistler.ca.
Mayor Jack Crompton reviews Climate Action report: “The elephant in the room is that we are missing our targets as a community.”
Active transportation was raised in the Public Question and Comment Period as an area needing focus. Part of Big Move 1, it was discussed by staff and Council as important but complex, with collaboration needed with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Photo: Oisin McHugh
It’s time to double down efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize the negative effects of climate change by preparing for what’s to come, according to the Climate Action and Environment department.
The RMOW has aligned itself with international efforts to lower harmful emissions by 2030 to avoid irreversible temperature increases.
The overall aim is to reduce emissions to 50 per cent of 2017 levels by 2030, and the road map for change—called the 2022 Big Moves Climate Action Implementation Plan—sees six-month progress checks. This time, both staff experts and Council raised alarm.
“The elephant in the room is that we are missing our targets as a community,” said Mayor Jack Crompton. “…I want you to know that this community needs to do better, that the RMOW needs to do better, that we all need to up our game.”
There are six Big Moves Whistler focuses on to achieve change:
- Go beyond the car, aimed at encouraging active transportation and transit use;
- Decarbonize passenger and commercial transportation, focused on conversion to electric vehicles;
- Reduce visitor travel emissions, to demonstrate leadership in low carbon tourism;
- Build zero emission buildings, via strong policy, like the new Zero Carbon Building Code;
- Make existing buildings better, focused on retrofitting; and finally,
- Close the loop and shift toward lower carbon consumption, aimed at waste reduction, recycling and landfill measures.
While goals two and four have seen measured success, getting people out of personal vehicles is proving challenging, as is achieving the larger partnerships with other communities and governments to secure the highest impact transit routes, like regional transit.
With six years remaining until 2030, the General Manager charged with community engagement made it clear that more of Whistler’s organizations need to be working with the RMOW on these goals.
“The RMOW is not going to solve these problems on behalf of everybody in the RMOW [Whistler],” said Karen Elliott. “These are complex issues that need all of our community partners involved and engaged… we’re not going to reach these targets if everyone thinks it’s up to the RMOW.”
The evening highlighted many positive steps taken on each Big Move, including:
- Goal 1: Valley Trail additions, new ebike share program and improvements to transit
- Goal 2: 14 new electric vehicle charges installed, electric hand-tools for municipal staff and new fast chargers planned for 2024
- Goal 3: Event work done to reduce the waste of local events, provide secure bike valet services, ensure third-party event providers are prepared for climate emergencies
- Goal 4: On January 1, Whistler adopted B.C.’s Zero Energy Step Code, which will be supported by a $200,000 grant for contract help to assist the transition.
- Goal 5: Retrofit assist is up and running with 20 participants filling the first intake to improve homeowner’s energy; energy audits done on municipal buildings; we are working to begin benchmarking against other municipalities, with help of a UBC sustainability scholar; and examining retrofit possibilities for the sports centre.
- Goal 6: Whistler Public Library’s repair cafe, membership in the B.C. Social Procurement Initiative for social and environmentally thoughtful purchasing, and work on the transfer station scales.
And municipal staff also highlighted how they’re preparing for the impacts of climate change, looking at ways to avoid wildfire, adapt to extreme weather events, and increase biodiversity, including:
- 96 homes receiving FireSmart reports from the municipal program to reduce the risk of wildfire on private property, and the adoption of the Community Wildfire Defence Plan, with groundbreaking work done to provide firefighters with tactical maps in advance of an event
- Flood modelling, a heat response plan and accounting for our natural assets, from a dollars and cents perspective, in municipal planning
- Local biodiversity work in parks planning, work to eliminate invasive species and protecting important habitats by defining and focusing on those areas
The discussion touched on the latest steps in priority cycling lanes for the highway, lessons learned from Hawaii’s wildfire evacuation, elimination of fossil gas in the community and the new Alta Lake fish weir project among the long list of projects Councillors had questions about.
Watch video of the report and discussion in the Regular Council Meeting agenda on whistler.ca.
Next rental development in Cheakamus back before Council for a Development Permit
A recent capture that shows the site for the 1475 Mount Fee Road development.
“I think this is obviously great work… You’re building buildings, having just built buildings.”
This praise came from the mayor, after a report from RMOW Planning staff on the next step in the process for 1475 Mount Fee Road, the next Whistler Development Corporation build intended for those on the Whistler Housing Association rental list.
The project is moving at a significant pace, achieving the rezoning in early January, the terms of its housing agreement at the end of the same month and now the development permit. Later this month the Building Permit is expected and trees are already being cleared from the site.
The project is two four-storey, employee-restricted apartment buildings with a total of 104 units, including 24 studios, 40 one-bedroom units, 32 two-bedroom units, and eight three-bedroom units.
The occupancy goal is 2026.
Local not-for-profits make their case for annual grant funding
The Whistler Farmers’ Market was one of 39 not-for-profits applying for grant funding through the 2024 Community Enrichment Program
Whistler not-for-profits made their pitch to Council Tuesday at Committee of the Whole, each vying for a portion of the $180,000 Community Enrichment Program (CEP) fund.
Each year, the RMOW supports local not-for-profit organizations and societies that benefit the community.
To qualify for a grant through the CEP, applicants must focus on one of the following areas: environment, social service, community service, recreation and sport, arts and culture.
Council spent two+ hours listening to the pitches, which follow up on organizations’ applications.
Applicants and projects included the Mature Action Community (Whistler MAC), seeking funding to continue their meetups and seminars that bring local seniors together; the Whistler Naturalists, looking for support in continuing their Fungus Among Us education and programming; and the Whistler Farmers’ Market, with plans to reduce its environmental footprint and increase First Nations engagement, among others.
The full list of organizations and projects can be found on whistler.ca.
Council will approve and announce the 2024 CEP funding recipients on Tuesday, April 23 at the Regular Council Meeting, with funds set to be issued by the end of April 2024.
To attend an upcoming meeting, check out the Council Meeting Schedule. Agendas and Minutes are available online. To connect with Council, consider Presenting to Council, or get in touch with them individually by phone or email.
