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Work ongoing to help DES homeowners

Council briefs: Diner en Blanc license; community monitoring
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help planned RMOW staff are in the process of developing resources for Cheakamus Crossing residents who experience problems with the District Energy System. File photo

At least 23 homeowners in Cheakamus Crossing have reported expensive repair or maintenance bills to fix their District Energy System (DES) according to a recent municipal survey.

The survey details some of the more technical problems experienced by homeowners on the Olympic DES system, installed as the heating system at the legacy neighbourhood.

It is part of the ongoing work dealing with the temperamental system in the predominantly employee housing neighbourhood.

On Tuesday, July 21, council received an update on the ongoing initiatives to address the problems.

There are three main municipal deliverables, all set to be completed in the coming months.

First is to simplify the information so that it is user friendly for homeowners. Staff is now working with a consultant to develop:

  • a quick reference guide;
  • a troubleshooting manual;
  • a user guide, and
  • recommended maintenance procedures.

This work is 35-per-cent completed.

The second project is a website with information that will include YouTube videos and could include a forum of owners to share information.

This work is 25-per-cent complete and set to be done by the end of the year.

The third project, set to get underway this winter, is an energy efficiency study. The RFP is set to be released shortly.

Councillor Steve Anderson said: "I hope with your efforts it will alleviate a lot of the concerns of the homeowners there."

Councillor Sue Maxwell said she was glad to hear that along with the homeowners and the municipality, the Whistler 2020 Development Corporation, the municipal subsidiary, which built the neighbourhood, is also taking an active role in the ongoing discussions.

Dîner en Blanc gets licensed

The location remains top secret, but plans are falling into place for the second annual Dîner en Blanc in Whistler.

Council approved a catering licensed event for more than 500 people at its Tuesday meeting, paving the way for the Friday, Aug. 21 "chic picnic."

Dîner en Blanc events happen around the world, subject to strict rules with participants having to dress in white in order to attend. The location remains secret until the last minute. Last year the event was held in Rebagliati Park.

The municipality will approve the location and it will be a licensed area up to 1,000 people including patrons, staff and security. Patrons can bring their own picnic or order through the Bearfoot Bistro.

Ultimately the goal of the event if to entice overnight guests to Whistler and enhance culinary tourism in the resort.

To book tickets go to www.whistler.dinerenblanc.info/register.

Monitoring Whistler trends

Municipal staff has gathered its community monitoring data onto the whistler.ca website for an easy-to-access and comprehensive look at how Whistler is ticking.

The new tool was presented to council on Tuesday night.

"It's a really good move to move that data over to our website," said the mayor.

The community performance indicators haven't changed. But the data is now up to date and in one easy-to-use spot, showing the current trends, and if those trends are moving towards, or away from, Whistler's goals.

Performance indicators include resident affordability, community energy use and annual occupancy rates, among a host of other things.

Councillor John Grills questioned the unusual stat that unemployment was at five per cent in 2014, up from two per cent the year before; this at a time when businesses are clamouring for employees.

"It caught our attention as staff as well," said Ted Battiston, manager of special projects, calling the number surprising.

"At the moment we don't have a working theory on it."

The data is used to paint a picture of Whistler and the direction it is moving. It is crucial information on which to base decisions.

Check out the information at www.whistler.ca/monitoring.