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This week's letters

I would like to compliment everyone at municipal hall who contributed to the Five Year Financial Plan.

I would like to compliment everyone at municipal hall who contributed to the Five Year Financial Plan. This is the first year that I have had some concerns about financial decisions and the future directions of the municipality, and I am very impressed.

The Five Year Plan is an excellent blueprint which clearly defines Whistler’s financial system, the budget process, factors affecting the budget, the strategic business plan, quarterly action plans and of course the revenues and expenditures.

This document lays out the priorities, timetables and budgets for all the major municipal departments through to 2006. This informs the community, and establishes clear accountability. Anyone who has not taken the opportunity to read through this should certainly do so.

The open house prior to the last council meeting was also very helpful. There were a few of us who arrived at 5:30 with our financial plans in hand looking for some answers. All the key staff were there armed with answers; and watching the interaction in the room, coupled with the fact that there was only one question asked at the public question period certainly left me with the impression that the homework had been done and the questions satisfied.

Although my questions were answered, I would like to point out some flags that were waving at me from the plan.

1. The provincial government has not been forthcoming about the municipality accessing other sources of revenue, so we must be careful not to place too much reliance on this potential.

2. Hotel tax revenues are normally based on projections provided by Tourism Whistler; however they were "unavailable" this year, yet the budget model shows an increase of 2.5 per cent each year until 2008. I would think someone might want to actually get this year’s numbers and then re-asses whether the budget should show an increase.

3. "The potential impact on property tax revenues for Whistler remains an issue". "Tax revenues have already been eroded by several hundred thousand dollars for 2004 and if a decision were to be made to move all, or a significant number of Class 6 properties to Class 1, it would result in a loss of 20 percent of current property tax revenues". Property tax revenues according to the plan are $23.5 million; this translates into a potential $4.7 million lose of revenues (ouch!). Let’s keep in mind "we must live within our means" (page 3.8).

4. According to the Plan, the standard budget cycle as described suggests that public consultation takes place in December. Considering this is happening five months later than suggested in the standard cycle, and that other initiatives such as the Comprehensive Sustainability Plan and the Governance Review also suffer from timeline performance; this is an area that could be improved.

I have full confidence in our municipal staff, the mayor and our councillors, and although we all anticipate some tough times ahead, I believe that with a strong community involvement we will succeed. The Five Year Financial Plan is a competent and worthy document, I encourage everyone to read it, question it and support it. Once council approves the plan, we all have a game plan that clearly states our objectives, challenges and accountability.

Congratulations!

Bob Lorriman

Whistler

In response to Ms. Beswetherick’s letter ‘Library should not be a pawn’ (Pique April 16).

We feel that some clarification is necessary concerning Ms. Beswetherick’s letter and the information within. The focus of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association — Sea to Sky is to effectively represent those involved in residential construction, i.e. builders, developers, renovators, sub-trades and suppliers, to governments, the media, educators and the general public through a strong, sustainable and supportive association.

A number of our members, through diverse organizations, form part of both the local residential and commercial construction industries. From time to time, those members, wearing their "commercial hats", and independently of CHBA — Sea to Sky, may choose to voice their opinions on aspects of commercial projects, such as the local library project. Their opinions should not be misconstrued as representations of CHBA — Sea to Sky, an organization focused on representing the interests of those involved in residential construction only, but rather heard as opinions of professionals who, although members of CHBA — Sea to Sky, also have a vested interest in the local commercial market.

Having considered Ms. Beswetherick’s challenge to donate time and labour to the library project, CHBA — Sea to Sky is clear that to do so, falls outside its scope. However, we are proud to announce that a number of initiatives are currently being developed, to benefit the community at large. These include discussions with the Olympic 2010 Corporation, to donate labour and materials to construct a building to house the office of the Bid Corporation in Whistler Village. Although the scope of our involvement in this project is currently being defined, we are hopeful that we can make a significant contribution to the project.

We are also working with both Whistler and Mount Currie communities to create and sustain education and training initiatives that will help to develop a skilled workforce over the long term. Further information regarding CHBA — Sea to Sky can be obtained at www.chbaseatosky.com

Jim Charters, vice president

CHBA Sea to Sky

My husband, Dom, and I are moving to Sun Peaks this May. Dom has been in Whistler for nine years and I’ve been here for four. We’re a good example of long term locals who chosen to leave the bubble for things like an affordable house with a yard. In saying goodbye, we’d like to share our list of what we will and won’t miss about Whistler:

We won’t miss the high cost of living, the greed, all the confused people and drivers, never being able to afford a house or land in the area, construction, the Sea to Sky Highway (and its construction), outrageous lift lines, the moody freezing level, the whole ski area being tracked out within the first hour of a powder day, the obscene number of DUHs, the Olympics and all the hype, having to find a new roommate/place to live every season, really noisy neighbours that through no fault of their own have to pack 12 people in their house to pay rent, speed bumps, speed patrol, being frisked to get into a company Christmas party, and the fact that there are more traffic lights between Alpine and Function than there are between Emerald and our place in Sun Peaks.

We will, however, miss the following: reading the Pique (especially Maxed Out), enjoying the parks, lakes and bike paths, bike and hiking trails, local musicians and world class acts, so many quality sushi restaurants, bars (The Boot, Crystal, GLC, etc.), Peak to Creek before it gets tracked out, Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, the amazing alpine views and mountains surrounding Whistler, the backcountry, Nesters and all the faces you see there, volunteering at WAG, such a dog friendly environment, and most of all the people who have become our friends over the years.

Thanks for a great time, hope to see you all in Sun Peaks.

Katrina and Dom Koric

Whistler and Sun Peaks

Hey Intrawest, women make up 50 per cent of the population.

I read the story "Intrawest restructures, prepares for growth" (Pique April 23). I was disappointed to see that once again, Intrawest, which touts itself to be a forward-thinking, progressive organization, did not name one single female executive to its new restructured division, Leisure and Travel. Of the 14 executive positions, 12 of the roles will be filled by men; the two remaining, at this stage, are yet to be filled.

Intrawest, and for that matter, Whistler-Blackcomb, continues to function within "the old boys club" mentality. Gentlemen, that world left us a long time ago. We live in a world where both women and men ski, and both women and men golf. Business magazines (such as Harvard Business Review) have shown that organizations that have female representation at the executive level are far more successful than those organizations without. Which one do you want to be?

Patricia Pelosi

Whistler

The friends and family of Brett Carlson would like to extend a huge thank you to the citizens and businesses of Whistler and the mountain community for all their support with this year's Brett Carlson Memorial Fundraiser at the GLC. The fund has now raised several thousand dollars towards building or renovating a public access backcountry cabin in our area as well as working with the Zero Ceiling Foundation to bring at-risk youth into our mountains to enjoy the experiences and feelings Brett loved so much.

Thanks to :Mike Varrin and the GLC staff, Extremely Canadian, Fibre Options, Evolution, Doglotion.com, Jib Culture, The Keg, Behind the Grind, Trattoria di Umberto, High North Ski Camp, Sushi Village, Base Energy Drink, Citta's, Sachi Sushi, Fantyk-co, Pan Pacific Hotel, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, SBC Skier, Helly Hansen store, Dubh Linn Gate, Earl's, Wildwood Pacific Bistro and anyone we've overlooked.

Losing a friend is a tragedy that's all too common in this town but to see the entire community band together like this year after year and bring some good out of the sadness really touches me and makes me proud of where I live.

Thank you.

Feet Banks

on behalf of the Brett Carlson Memorial Fund

Re: Electronic waste round-up a huge success

Last weekend the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District organized the first ever Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Round-Up involving the communities of Pemberton, Whistler, and Squamish. The events were all enormously successful. Everything went so smoothly. Even the weather co-operated.

In total, 14 skids or approximately 40 cubic metres of material were sent to Maxus Tech in Calgary for 100 per cent guaranteed recycling. The majority of the waste collected was computer oriented and most of it was less than five years old. Such is the nature of an industry dependent on built-in obsoleteness.

We did receive a single Commodore 64 and several enormous and archaic printers. It seems as though a lot of people had been storing equipment for years, not sure what to do with it.

Electronic waste (e.g. computer equipment, audio-visual items, fax machines, cell phones, etc.) can be highly toxic and often contain unfriendly materials such as lead, mercury, bromine, and cadmium. It is becoming apparent to those concerned with sustainability issues that these materials, which can all be fully recycled, should not be entering landfills.

In a Zero Waste society everything would be designed and intended to be fully reused or recycled. E-waste Round-Up Events help us move towards creating a Zero Waste mindset. Hopefully, within the next year or so, we will see the creation of a comprehensive product stewardship program for electronics which will be funded and run entirely by industry. With any luck, we will not have to do another electronic waste round-up and industry will start looking after its own products.

In the meantime, big thank yous need to go out to Carney’s Waste Systems, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Sperling Hansen Associates Inc., the Whistler Blackcomb EnviroFund, and AWARE for financially supporting the event. As well, thanks should also go to the Whistler Millennium Rotary Club, Councillor Lynda Chandler and the Village of Pemberton, Base 2 warehouse, and all of our dedicated volunteers.

Of course, the biggest thanks should go to all the responsible residents who took time out of a sunny weekend to bring down old equipment and ensured that these materials were dealt with correctly and fully recycled rather then clog up the local landfill. You did the right thing.

Thanks again to everyone who helped out.

Wendy Horan

Waste Reduction Co-ordinator

Squamish-Lillooet Regional District

Blackcomb Surprise Party

For the past six months I have been the target of a conspiracy of silence. While close friends and colleagues were meeting secretly to plan the details of a complex ritual I was kept completely in the dark. Not even the woman I live with divulged the plan taking form among the 80-odd red-coats who make up the Blackcomb Mountain Hosts. So when about 50 of us were lined up at the top of the Solar Coaster for a routine year-end photo shoot I was still naively out of it. But when 49 of them started singing happy birthday I finally got it. Having quietly swept the anniversaries of my first seven decades under the rug I was going to have to face this one head on.

Sue Dixon's snowmobile, bearing gifts, became the table for two huge customized birthday cakes complete with candles. From there the party migrated down to the valley for a bonfire and barbecue at Rod's place. It was a great party, a great end to my 13th year as a Mountain Host. My sincere thanks to you all – to Mike, Fiona, and my fellow Hosts who did the planning; to Sue, Doug Mac, Bones, Kim, and Kay, the Intrawest Managers who dropped by to wish me well. Hope you're still around when I celebrate the next decade. (And Dale – No!, I was definitely not here during the last Ice Age.)

Jack Souther

North Vanouver/Whistler

During the past month the Whistler Secondary grad class has held two bottle drives to raise funds for their dry grad party in June. We have been overwhelmed by the community’s response and would like to thank those who have helped ensure they grad 2004 is a success.

We really appreciated the efforts by Andy Flynn from Moe Joe’s, he spearheaded our endeavour by co-ordinating donations from the Whistler bar and restaurant sector, an important part of our success.

We certainly couldn’t have attempted these two marathon days without the help of Shelley and Marilyn from the Whistler bottle depot. These ladies are terrific community advocates, they worked hand-in-hand with us, encouraging people to donate, assisting our volunteers on how to make these events successful, they were always patient in showing us, the rookies, how it’s done and stayed late to enable us to process "just one more" drop off. You both are truly an asset to our community, thank you!

We would also like to express our gratitude to the Whistler community and business that donated their bottles and cans, every bit helped. Many thanks to the 30-odd students and grad parents who came out to volunteer, you’re the best!

Whistler Secondary school

Graduating Class of 2004