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EPI ready to share research findings and draft recommendations
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Some of the key decision-makers in Whistler have spent the last 10 months behind closed doors looking at what can be done to keep Whistler successful.

The discussions to date have been private. Until now.

The Economic Partnership Initiative (EPI) Committee is ready to reveal some of its findings with research and draft recommendations now ready for review at an upcoming open house.

"There's some really good stuff," said Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden.

The EPI Committee was formed with a goal to grow the resort economy, build confidence in the economy and encourage reinvestment. It includes key decision makers such as Dave Brownlie, president and CEO of Whistler Blackcomb, Barrett Fisher, president of CEO of Tourism Whistler, Wilhelm-Morden, Councillor Jayson Faulkner and municipal CAO Mike Furey, among others.

The committee has met with nine different community organizations, including representatives from the retail and bar sectors, the restaurant industry and strata management.

The open house will be held on Wednesday, June 26 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Delta Whistler Village Suites.

It will include a presentation from the EPI reps at 5:15 p.m., a gallery walk with display information, opportunities to meet municipal staff and committee members and to submit feedback.

The committee will consider input from the open house as it works to prepare a summary report, expected to be delivered to council in the fall.

Legislation considered for recycling

Council may be considering a bylaw legislating restaurants, stores and stratas to separate their recycling from their garbage.

Commercial, industrial, institutional and strata garbage accounts for 62 per cent of Whistler's waste stream.

This new bylaw could be part of a series of recommendations put to council in the coming weeks all with a goal of making Whistler's solid waste management more effective and efficient.

"Garbage is the most expensive thing," explained James Hallisey, manager of environmental projects, during the June 18 Committee of the Whole meeting on Whistler's solid waste. "Compost and recycling are cheaper."

Not just cheaper but reducing garbage also aligns with Whistler's goal of moving toward zero waste.

Whistler generates 465 kilograms per person per year in landfilled waste with 56 per cent diverted out of the landfill.

Hallisey called that "respectful" compared to other B.C. towns.

"We're doing pretty well," he said.

But, this comprehensive look at the solid waste system — which runs close to $5 million annually — shows Whistler can be doing more.

About one quarter of Whistler's waste, sent to the landfill in Washington State, is compostable; a further 16 per cent is wood waste and could also be taken out of the garbage stream.

"I would say: bring it on as fast as we can," said Councillor Jayson Faulkner, of the potential new bylaw focusing on commercial and industrial waste.

Faulkner was heavily into recycling when he owned and operated Escape Route.

Long time restaurateur John Grills added: "I think for the most part stratas are involved... I don't think it will be that much of a surprise."

Among other things municipal staff is considering: developing new performance-based solid waste operating contracts, improving the efficiency of the composting facility by building a dry woodchip storage building and improving the diversion in the commercial and multi-family sector.

If council moves ahead with staff recommendations there is potential to save $172,000 in 2014, $300,000 by 2015 and $430,000 by 2020 as diversion increases.

The changes come as the provincial Ministry of Environmental brings in legislation requiring producers of packaging and printer paper (PPP) to develop a program to collect PPP at their cost; currently most costs to collect this material are paid by municipal governments.

Staff will be developing formal recommendations in a report to council in the coming weeks. 

Whistler to meet Squamish Chiefs

Though they are about to draw battle lines in the BC Supreme Court, Squamish Nation and Whistler are going to share a meal together this week.

Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden and municipal CAO Mike Furey have invited Squamish Nation Chiefs to lunch.

The lunch date was set in recent weeks after Squamish and Lil'wat First Nations filed a petition in the B.C. Supreme Court asking the court of overturn Whistler's Official Community Plan. The case is expected to be lengthy and costly.

But lunch isn't about formal talks; it's a way of keeping the lines of communication open. "I think being in a casual setting and sharing food is a good way to foster relationships," said the mayor.

The lunch will take place on Thursday with Chiefs Bill Williams, Gibby Jacob and Ian Campbell, as well as Councillor Chris Lewis and Lisa Wilcox, in intergovernmental relations, attending.The mayor and Furey will be joined by Councillors Roger McCarthy and Andrée Janyk.

Another luncheon with Lil'wat Nation chiefs is planned in July.

Whistler has yet to file its response to the First Nations petition in court. Legal counsel has been retained and an extension has been granted.

Councillor added to CCF board

The board of the Cheakamus Community Forest has another council voice at the table.

The mayor has appointed Councillor Duane Jackson to the board. He will be replacing Peter Ackhurst. Ackhurst will continue as the manager of the CCF.

When asked about the change, the mayor said: "It's an indicator of the seriousness with which we are treating the community forest."

Wilhelm-Morden recognized the "enormous time and energy" that Ackhurst has brought to the board.

The CCF is a community-managed forest, responsible for the harvesting of about 40 hectares of the forested area around Whistler annually.

Whistler May Test liquor licence

The province may be testing out a new "festival" liquor licence in Whistler this summer.

Councillor John Grills, council's representative on the municipal Liquor Licence Advisory Committee, said one or two summer festivals could be the testing grounds for this potential new licence. It would not be a stadium liquor licence.

When asked for more details after the meeting, Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden said the criteria is vague. She did note it would be nice to have for the free Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performances at Whistler Olympic Plaza.

"It's an opportunity that we want to try out but it's going to take some thought and some work," she said.

Using Whistler as a test case for a festival licence comes on the heels of changes to the B.C. liquor legislation earlier this year after a lobby to the province about B.C.'s "antiquated" laws.

Now caterers and restaurateurs can hold liquor licences for events such as weddings and corporate gatherings, where once the host used to apply for the licence.

Examining Whistler's welcome

Whistler is looking at ways to improve the welcome to town. A Request For Proposals was recently issued looking for qualified consultants to complete a landscape reconnaissance of the Highway 99 corridor from the Callaghan Valley and Brandywine Falls Provincial Park to Function Junction.

The purpose is "to inform planning of potential gateway features the municipality may wish to consider as well as the management and potential improvement of the existing gateway experience."

Among other things, the consultants are to develop a baseline inventory of legal boundaries and rights of way, views and off-highway stopping locations.

Council raised concerns about the "gateway" experience when it first looked at a rezoning application for the Lil'wat Nation Legacy Lands at Function Junction. That land is zoned for a gas station and commercial uses. A year ago the Nation was looking for changes to that zoning including a provision to allow a fast-food drive-through.

Council sent the application back to staff, citing concerns about the approach to town and how critical that entryway is.

The Lil'wat's director of economic development and business Kerry Mehaffey said they are still working on the Function project. "It's not on hold from our end," he said.

The Lil'wat had been working with Miller Creek Developments Ltd, but no longer. The Nation is looking to partner with someone in the development of that land.

Proposals for the highway study must be submitted to the RMOW on Friday.