All Candidates Meeting Notes: Q&A with SORCA

On November 9th, 2011, SORCA organized an all candidates meeting and here is the round-up of the Q&A with the candidates who attended. Notes were recorded as accurately as possible, no added facts were added.

By voting on Nov. 19th, you are supporting our community and various recreation groups.

Candidates not present:

• Geoff Dyer
• Uffe Hansen

SORCA Questions Asked to Candidates:

1) What’s your favorite trail

2) Are you willing to support SORCA’s proposal for a Bike Skills park – ie: allow SORCA the access and land to build a skills park at SORCA’s expense and volunteers

3) SORCA was able to raise $14,000 this season for the new trail pass fund through memberships and rider trail pass purchase. Would you support the DOS matching dollar for dollar for next season?

4) The current bike lanes in Squamish are not being used for bike commuters rather they are used for car parking. Would you support recommending a bylaw be passed to open the bike lanes back up to the bikers?

5) What is you feelings on the support that Outdoor recreation in Squamish currently receives from the DOS?

6) How do you feel about the ROR project?

Answers:

MAYORAL CANDIDATES

Rob Kirkham

1) Four Lakes Trail

2) Would like to see some changes in Park and Rec. The skills park area already has alot of interest, however its a no brainer that SORCA should be permitted to build. He asked if we felt there was a better block of land for the skills park to be built? Final comment – DOS should make it available to SORCA

3) Would like to see Parks and Rec receive permanent  funding so clubs are not having to consistently appreal. Kirkham said he supports funds matching.

Auli Parviainen

2) Strongly in favor. Felt we got a bad deal by being denied in the first place for the Olympic funding.

3) The first proposal was bought forward late in October. She believes that organizations and user groups should contribute to the biking funds – IE: Grand Fondo

Ron Bahm

2) Perfect location – great idea

CANDIDATES

Eric Andersen

1) Wonderland

2) Wasn’t aware of the proposal however he said it sounds like a great idea

3) Innovative way to fund infrastructure. He would like to see it pushed forward.

Phil Audet

1) Half Nelson

2) Great idea. Not sure why there would be any reason not to support this considering it is all managed under SORCA

3) Yes, but would need to review the budget.

Balvinder Biring

1) Great idea

2) Thought it was a great idea – looks at it like it is a 50% commitment from the DOS as SORCA would fund the other half.

6) Bylaw needs to be enforced.

Sarah Braebrook

2) How could this not be approved. It is part of the big picture

3) Sounds like a great idea. Can’t commit, as she hasn’t seen the budget. Other amenities in town have had their turn. The emphasis needs to shift. I am pushing for a new plan. SORCA is the foundation of eco tourism. We have a chance now to build for that. When its booming thats the wrong time to play catch up.

Susan Chapelle

1) Gear Jammer course – encompasses everything I love about Squamish

2) Feels this is a priority for Squamish. This proposal was one of the reasons she decided to run for council after it was rejected by the previous council. Its crazy that we don’t already have a skills park here.

Jeff Cooke

2) Totally support the idea – great for families and kids

3) I believe in great value – and this is great value – I fully support

6) Comes down to a safety issue. A bylaw should be put in place if it is not already. Needs to be enforced.

Nate Dolha

1) Valleycliff – Smoke Bluffs

2) Likes the idea of the skills park. Good infrastructure allows learning in the community

Larry McLennan

1) Walking trails – Power project

2) Larry was unfamiliar with the skills park proposal. However after hearing about it was not sure why this has already been approved.

3) Can’t commit to matching funds without knowing the current financial position of the DOS

Debra McBride

1) Isn’t a mountain biker but loves the waterfront walks

2) She would like to see the budget prioritized. Suggestion was to sell the adventure centre so all these requests can be funded.

3) She felt that 14K was an easy budget to meet

Patricia Heintzman

1) Wonderland

2) Would love to see it – best idea bought forward in a long time.

3) Needs to view the 2012 budget. She said that he felt that the recent request to match trail pass funds was bought to council to late

Brad Hodge

2) Yes, I would support the skills park

3) Agreed 100%

5) We need to bring business back to town to generate revenue

Mike Jensen

1) Discovery

2) Of the three proposals that where put forward Jensen wanted the skills park.

3) I support matching projects. Community should put up the dollars.

Peter Kent

2) WIN WIN – Believes in training. It would bring tourism to town and awareness to Squamish

3) Would love to see the funds being matched. Makes sense to maintain the trails as the outdoor capital of Canada.

Douglas Neville

2) Fully supported the idea – especially considering SORCA would fund it

3) Discussed the bike races that are currently supposed to be paying the $5 user fee per racer. He feels all of those funds should go back into the trails

6) Wasn’t sure where the bike lanes where however agreed that a bylaw should be put in place.

Terrill Patterson

2) No objection if SORCA was to fund it

3) Where is the $5 user group/event races funds going that is being charged per rider – this should all be put back into the trail network

6) There are no rules for the bike lanes. Action needs to be taken

Ted Prior

2) Win Win

3) Would like to see the trail society also receive funds to assist with maintenance

Doug Race

1) Corners

2) Voted for the skills park already. Needs to be apart of the rec master plan. Land is available. Proposal should be approved.

3) Voted against because he felt the funds shouldn’t be taken from the contingency fund, which is for emergencies. He mentioned it was a bad time (end of year) to submit such a proposal. If it was presented to council at the beginning of the year, he would support working it into the budget.

Brian Raiser

2) 100% support

3) Need to have the proposal put forward before the DOS allocates the funds for the year.

Ron Sander

2) Believes it was already given for rec use.

3) Felt is was exactly the approach that a user group should take. Then allow the experts to run the projects.

5) Evolving and challenging.

Chris Wallace

1) Not a big rider but supports the Test of Metal

2) YES! Really likes the fact that SORCA would fund and manage it.

3) Not knowing the funds it is hard to say however matching dollar for dollar is smart as it has both parties bringing dollars in.

Rob Weys

2) Great initiative. Squamish needs something like that

3) Likes the idea however cannot commit to a dollar value

4) ROR – Believes its a provincial thing.