Changes to Whistler's Recreation and Leisure Advisory Committee's (RLAC) terms of reference led to a brief discussion about transparency at the Feb. 26 council meeting.
The changes in question were proposed to improve "alignment with senior documents, clarity and administrative purposes," as well as to include Whistler Sport Legacies as a permanent-partner member on the committee.
But one addition in particular-giving RLAC the ability to hold closed meetings-raised questions for Claire Ruddy, executive director of the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE), who wondered if that was really necessary.
It's not a "new ask," said municipal clerk Brooke Browning, but rather a change clarifying that if RLAC were to hold a closed meeting, it would need to be held in accordance with Section 90 of the Community Charter.
But it would be beneficial to not have closed meetings, said Ruddy.
"The reason I ask the question is because we had this issue with the Trails Planning Working Group-which is a working group not a committee-and there was plans that were set in place behind closed doors, and only once decisions and plans were rolling did things become external and groups like ours were able to give input," Ruddy said.
"So I think there is some benefit to things being open to the community, so that everybody can see ... with something like rec and leisure, we really value the opportunity to provide input as an organization that doesn't sit on that committee, but sits on others that have overlapping mandates."
The community can be confident that council is "very eager" to avoid in-camera meetings where possible, replied Mayor Jack Crompton.
"We are endeavouring to make sure that we are more careful, more aggressive in getting as much as is reasonably in the public realm, into the public realm. As it should be," Crompton said.
"Some things, around (human resources) or land acquisition or legal, can't be, but our team is really working hard to make sure that as much as can be in the public is in the public. So we share your desire to see that happen for sure."
