The number of residents with trouble making ends meet has
increased by 10 per cent over the last year, reported Dan Wilson from Whistler
2020.
“Essentially quality of life remains strong, but one of the
challenges is affordability,” Wilson told council last week.
Approximately 27 per cent of Whistler’s permanent residents
earned an income below the cost of living in 2007, up from 18 per cent in 2006.
And 70 per cent of seasonal workers are living below the affordability line,
also up from 66 per cent the previous year.
Wilson did point out that some of the seasonal workers choose
not to work full time. However, almost half of seasonal employees (49 per cent)
are still making less than the cost of living involuntarily.
The three areas Whistlerites spend the most on are
accommodation, recreation, and food, he added.
Despite these numbers, Wilson also said that total income in
Whistler is trending upwards.
“Total income is still less than in 2001, when you account for
inflation, but it is the highest it has been in the last five years,” he said.
Other highlights from the presentation include that the number
of employees living in Whistler is just over 11,000, both permanent residents
and seasonal residents are extremely satisfied with Whistler’s recreational
opportunities, and summer tourist accommodation occupancy increased between
2006 and 2007.
On the environmental side, Whistlerites are using less water
annually, only 520 litres in 2007, down from 566 litres in 2006. But the
development footprint has also increased from 1,014 hectares in 2006 to 1,070
hectares in 2007, which Wilson said was largely due to the Cheakamus Crossing
and Rainbow developments.
The number of unlawful incidents in Whistler also increased in
2007 compared to previous years, with a record number of reported incidents in
2007 at 2,383, said Wilson.
“This is a
tremendous report and it is a great way to keep track of the community,” said
Mayor Ken Melamed following the presentation.
“It tells the good side and the bad side and shows where we
need to expend more effort.”
The Whistler 2020 Monitoring Report is available to the public
at
www.whistler.ca
.
Passenger vans get a boost, literally
The municipality’s controversial multi-passenger vans for
children’s summer activities are now equipped with booster seats. The booster
seats are required for all children under the age of nine, which is the
majority of children transported, said Roger Weetman, recreation coordinator
for the municipality, during a report to council last week.
He added that the seats are part of several steps the Resort
Municipality of Whistler is taking to make sure the municipality’s two 2003-04
Ford 250 extended wagon vans are safe for kids.
Van drivers will also have to take an Advanced Driver Training
Program, endorsed by the Safety Council of B.C., and vehicles will be
maintained frequently, following strict standards.
Municipal staff are also looking into upgrading the vans’
headlights, using European fog lights and reverse cameras, said Weetman.
The updates come after a decision last year to continue using
the vans for field trips and extra-curricular programming, despite parent
concerns following a fatal van crash in New Brunswick that killed seven
students.
The van service is optional, and Whistler-Blackcomb has also
offered a local discount day care rate for parents of kids that still do not
feel comfortable having their children ride in the vans.
“I think we have done a level of due diligence, and I know that
we have received correspondence on this,” said Mayor Ken Melamed following the
report.
“I think this is a good compromise for now.”
Advance voting days more inclusive
Anyone who can’t wait for the Nov. 15, 2008 election can now
vote ahead of time in three advanced voting days, following a change to local
bylaws.
Also, anyone absent from the municipality during voting days
can vote via mail, said Shannon Story, chief election officer for the
municipality.
Council gave first three readings to a series of 2008 Municipal
Election Bylaws last week.
Voters used to have to provide evidence that they would be
absent from the municipality on general voting day to go into the advanced
polls, or that they were ill, injured or disabled to qualify for the mail
ballots.
Two of the advanced voting days will be held in Whistler this
year, on Nov. 5 and 8. A special advanced voting booth will be set up in West
Vancouver, also on Nov. 5.
The Resort Municipality of Whistler will also use the
Provincial Voters List this year, instead of Whistler’s own list. Story said
this change was done after concerns were raised that a number of people who no
longer live in Whistler or who are deceased are still on the voter list.
The nomination packages will be ready for distribution on Aug.
22, with the nomination period running from Sept. 30 to Oct. 10. Nomination
documents and campaign financing disclosure statements will also be made
available electronically to the public this year.
Story added that while online voting is still not available,
the City of Nanaimo is doing a test run of online voting this year.
“I am hoping that is going to go well, and next election online voting will be available,” she said.