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Village of Pemberton council gears up for annual UBCM convention

First Look: New mower; off-leash dog parks; invasive species survey
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Village of Pemberton council (VOP) will meet on Tuesday, June 11 for its regular council meeting.

Pique has put together a quick primer on what to expect. The meeting will kick off at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers (7400 Prospect Street).

UBCM convention prep

In preparation for the annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention—which will take place in Vancouver in September—VOP staff has prepared several briefing notes that will be sent to pertinent cabinet ministers.

The missives will give the ministers a deeper understanding of the issues the VOP feels are most important; council will have an opportunity to give feedback on them at Tuesday's meeting.

The letters include a request for an additional child and youth worker to be stationed in the Pemberton Valley (who could help link youth with mental health services); a request for financial support for ongoing flood-mitigation efforts; and money to create and fund a monitoring system for Mount Currie (that could evaluate the risk of a potentially catastrophic gravel slide).

The VOP has also asked the province to support its involvement in a long-term, visitor-use management strategy for the region, noting the surge in tourism the area has seen in recent years.

New mower

With the VOP's new soccer field set to open this fall, VOP staff is looking to purchase a recreation-field mower and storage unit and will ask for council's authorization.

The mower and storage unit would cost $34,750, and staff is looking to secure a five-year loan, through the Municipal Financing Authority, to pay for it.

More dog parks please

Are there enough off-leash parks in Pemberton?

One Pemberton resident says there certainly isn't, that the only one available, in One Mile Lake Park, simply doesn't cut it.

In a letter included in this week's agenda package for council's consideration, Nancy Lee asks council to consider building a new off-leash park close to the downtown core.

"There are a lot of dogs in town and the only sanctioned off-leash area is the dog

beach at One Mile Lake," reads Lee's letter.

"This is a nice spot but is not ideal as it is not fenced; it is a highly trafficked area with bikers, walkers, and children passing by and sometimes dogs jump up on or follow people around the lake."

Lee goes on to suggest a number of potential locations for an off-leash dog park: under the power lines between Poplar Street and the BMX park, the area adjacent Pioneer Park and the area northwest of the barn.

Lee also suggests that the money for the project could be redirected from funds that have been set aside to pay for the paving of the Downtown Barn parking lot.

"I know there is support for this from dog-owners and non-owners alike; the online community forums are filled with people upset with off leash dogs and I have spoken with many dog owners who would love to have a place where their pets can play safely, and where they can work on training and socializing," writes Lee.

Invasive Species

Council will also receive a letter from the Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council on a recent survey of invasive species along the CN right-of-way in the corridor.

The survey comes at the request from the VOP, Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, and Resort Municipality of Whistler, and documents over 500 invasive plant sites located around the path of the track.

The sites are arranged according to "highest priority for treatment" in a spreadsheet that was also provided to council.

See next week's Pique for a full run down on the council meeting.

You can view the council agenda here: www.pemberton.ca/public/download/files/89356