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Pemberton introduces water restrictions

Council briefs: Transit Future Plan expected in September; BMX Society receives funding
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As the hot, dry forecasts of May have carried over to June, the Village of Pemberton (VOP) is the latest municipality in the Sea to Sky to introduce restrictions on lawn sprinkling and irrigation.

At the VOP's regular meeting of council on June 16, council voted to implement Level Two water restrictions effective immediately.

Level Two water restrictions mean that even-numbered home addresses are permitted to water lawns on Thursdays and Sundays between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. or 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Odd numbered home addresses or homes with no civic address can water on Wednesdays and Saturdays between the same hours.

Since 2011, water usage in Pemberton in June has gone from an average of 24,071 gallons per day to 41,054 gallons per day.

Mayor Mike Richman said the increase can be attributed partly to population growth, but also to three consecutive springs without much rain.

The VOP estimates its overall community water consumption is more than two times the average provincial consumption rate.

Consumption in the fall and winter is about 500,000 gallons, but increases to an average of 900,000 gallons during hot summer weather.

Richman said the high usage is concerning, but not unexpected given the lower population density of Pemberton.

"When you look at a community like ours that is predominately low density, predominantly yards and gardens and that sort of thing, I would assume right off the hop that our consumption is going to be higher than a higher density community," he said.

Level Two restrictions do not apply to golf courses, sport fields, parks, public gardens or private vegetable gardens.

Should water conditions get worse, the VOP can move to Level Three watering restrictions — where homeowners can water one day a week — or Level Four, which permits no watering.

Check the VOP website at www.pemberton.ca for updates.

Final transit future plan expected in September

Presenting to council at the June 16 meeting, BC Hydro senior transit planner Elicia Elliot said the in-progress Transit Future Plan (TFP) should be ready to present come September.

"The plan will include service and infrastructure recommendations... with incremental recommendations tied to transit growth targets and ridership numbers," Elliot said.

The TFP is a 25-year strategic plan outlining growth in transit systems along the Sea to Sky.

Its stated goals are to create a transit system that is safe, environmentally responsible, accessible to everyone and part of a multimodal transit system.

Priorities for Pemberton are to optimize service and increase bicycle capacity by 2017 and to increase service between Pemberton and Whistler by 2020 and beyond.

BMX society granted money for hydroseeding

Also at the June 16 meeting, council agreed to support the BMX Society with $3,000 from the $25,000 Community Enhancement Fund.

The money will be used to cover costs associated with hydroseeding, as well as the purchase of tools and tack line equipment.

The Community Enhancement Fund for 2015 now contains $20,000. The VOP previously provided $2,000 for a Pemberton Secondary School bursary.