Here's a quick look at what to expect at Tuesday's council meeting, kicking off at 5:30 p.m. at the Maury Young Arts Centre.
E-BIKE DRAFT POLICY
After months of consultation with key stakeholders, council will consider supporting a draft policy concerning "e-mobility devices" (or e-bikes) at its July 9 meeting.
The policy would permit Class 1 e-bikes (pedal-assisted motors, top speed of 32 kilometres an hour) on the Valley Trail network and most, but not all, off-road, non-motorized recreational trails.
Class 1 e-bikes would not be allowed on hiking-only trails, all recreational, non-motorized trails above the Flank Trail on Sproatt and Rainbow mountains, and within the Emerald Forest (other than the access road connecting Lorimer Road and Alta Lake Road).
Class 2 (full-throttle bike, no human effort required) and Class 3 (similar to Class 1, but with a higher top speed) devices are considered motor vehicles by "senior legislation," including the Motor Vehicles Act, according to a staff report to council, and are therefore deemed not appropriate or safe for use on any recreational non-motorized trails on Crown lands.
Class 2 and 3 e-bikes are allowed on motorized trails (none of which exist in Whistler) and resource roads, as well as on municipal and provincial roads and highways.
Other "e-mobility devices" like low-speed motorcycles, powered skateboards, stand-up scooters, segways and hoverboards are also classified as motorized vehicles by provincial legislation, and are also not allowed on the Valley Trail or other non-motorized rec trails.
Municipal staff are proposing to monitor e-bike use over the next two years to understand changes, trends and issues, with an eye to re-evaluating or adapting the proposed policy where necessary.
Read the draft policy in full in the July 9 council package starting on page 130: https://www.whistler.ca/sites/default/files/2019/Jul/meeting-package/package/26096/2019-07-09_regular_package.pdf
Q1 FINANCIALS
Council will also receive the Resort Municipality of Whistler's (RMOW) First Quarter Financial Report at the July 9 meeting.
Three months into the RMOW's 2019 fiscal year, overall operating revenues were at six per cent and expenditures 24 per cent of their annual budgeted amounts.
Those numbers compare to 6 per cent and 25 per cent at the same point of fiscal 2018.
Nearly all municipal revenue is accounted for later in the year, as property tax and utility user fee billing takes place in Q2.
The RMOW's investment income, meanwhile, was $276,607 (unaudited)—about 12 per cent of the total budgeted investment income for the year.
Find the full council package at www.whistler.ca/municipal-gov/council/meeting-agendas-and-minutes.
Pick up Thursday's Pique for more from council.
