My Focus for the Upcoming Term  

Some Issues:

The Asphalt Plant:  Moving forward I will be focused on making a strong health, environmental argument to the minister when the license comes up for review in 2017.  Council can work with the ministry to find another Temporary Use area for the plant.

The Official Community Plan:  Whistler is the only community that needs to get Ministry approval for an OCP.  Our First Nations neighbours challenged the consultation that the Ministry undertook and won.  Now we are operating under an old OCP. Moving forward council will need to find a strategy to build relations with our First Nations communities so that an updated OCP can be approved. As someone who on School Board was part of the first Aboriginal Education Agreement I am well poised to help lead here. Our quashed OCP was a leader in protecting wet lands.

Education Opportunities: The Education Task Force identified opportunities and that starting small is good to build the economic impact. Moving forward create a work plan and define a good location for institutions to come and offer programing. The Creekside area seems like a good location and perhaps an area for discussion.

Whistler 2020: This document is important to Whistler and will need updating.  Moving forward a commitment by council to act and engage either staff or the Whistler sustainability centre to lead the community in this review.

Recreation and Leisure Master Plan: Moving forward the plan needs to be adopted and lead projects identified for the budget process.  For example, there is a great opportunity here for collaboration amongst user group to create an indoor field house that would benefit the community and visitors alike.

Housing: The crunch for visiting workers and others alike has arrived again.  The solutions lie in a clear analysis lead by the Whistler Housing Authority as to the possible ongoing needs.  Also moving forward we need to understand the impact of companies like AirBnB have on our rental availability.  What is the impact of illegal rentals in WHA housing is another piece to be studied.

Innovation: There is a need to create a larger opportunity for innovation.  I am working with some community members to look at possible spaces. There is a will out there  - just needs a place.

Environment: Moving forward I want to bring back to council the grocers to learn how the campaign to reduce plastic bags has unfolded. If we are not reducing this impact a new strategy needs to be found.  This along with reusable coffee cups and the sale of water bottles.  Other places have banned water bottles and plastic bags and I am willing to consider this. Be a leader in Canadian resorts. 

Invasive Species: Invasive plant species are a growing concern and impact on our native plant life.  I support strong education activities to make citizens more aware.

Biking/Hiking trails: A review of the different usage levels for existing trails needs to be done.  I see moving forward that more trail etiquette and signage is needed.

In conclusion I understand the balance of community and resort.  The financial future of Whistler may be in part dependent on new financial tools that council will have to discuss, especially if the RMI funds are phased out or substantially reduced by the province. These funds help us make Whistler special and attract guests to build our businesses and personal economics. Growing this is a plan that will be shaped with our partners – Whistler Blackcomb and Tourism Whistler.