Budget 2023

Why not start with putting money towards a boat launch for squamish? Daryl bay is the best and most realistic option for this.

We suggest the DOS budget for 2023 includes $20,000 to pursue opportunities for community access to the Squamish Oceanfront.

Squamish is an ocean front community without a plan for a boat launch. This is a request to amend the DOS budget for 2023. It is made on behalf of the 371 members of the “Squamish Needs a Boat Launch” Face book group and the larger community that this group represents. There is a lot happening on the Squamish Ocean front and there are so many opportunities for Marine access that may be lost if they are not pursued in a vigorous, constructive, and timely way. The proposed DOS budget has only line item that is related to Marine access. Item 72310008 SP‐Marine Impact Study for $40,000 in 2024. Senior DOS planner, Sarah McJannet has done an excellent job liaising with the community about Marine Access considering the limited resources at her disposal. The intention of this proposed budget amendment is to provide district staff additional resecures in 2023 to pursue conversations and actions that will improve Marine access for Squamish. We suggest the DOS budget for 2023 includes $20,000 to pursue opportunities for community access to the Squamish Oceanfront in general in 2023. This includes and is not limited to preliminary design and proof of concept for a boat for a boat launch at Darrell Bay and possible short-term enhancements at the current boat launch. District resources can be amplified if used to coordinate the many community volunteers that are happy to offer their energy and expertise to the goal of Marine access for Squamish. Respectfully submitted

Adopt zero-based budgeting.

I would like to see the District use zero-based budgeting, where managers would be required to justify all proposed budget amounts every year. Currently, last year's budget seems to be the unquestioned base for the new year, with additional items requested and approved without any requirement to review previous programs, staff, and equipment levels to see whether all continue to be necessary and relevant. It seems to me that the current approach results in a ballooning tax bill for everyone, and a rate of increase that I'm just not comfortable with. I was a property owner in Vancouver for many years before I moved here, and was also a City of Vancouver manager required to participate in zero-based budgeting. Was it a lot of work? Yes. Did it help keep managers diligent? Did it help keep taxes lower than they might otherwise have been? I believe so.

Improve Cycle infrastructure

Making cycling more preferable than driving into to downtown. Install safer/dedicated cycle paths, link existing cycle paths between neighborhoods. Encourage businesses to put bike racks, or somewhere to hang raincoats, etc.

We need to update our play parks for our children. There isn’t ONE inclusive park in this town for my special needs child to play on.

I am a huge advocate for my son who is 5 years old. I recently went back home to saskatchewan where in a small town every single park was inclusive that he was able to play on. In Squamish we have tons of programs and supports for disabled adults and children and ZERO equipment for them to enjoy life on. It’s pretty sad that we talk a big game about inclusivity but there is ZERO action towards that being any sort of true. Not one single play park is inclusive for my son. NOT ONE!!!! Start updating this town to INCLUDE the people who actually live here and pay to be here instead of only caring about more multimillion dollar buildings to bring more people but still do nothing to provide adequate equipment or enjoyment for the families who already live here! We don’t need $80,000 overhangs for people to sit under all around town. There are 2 special needs swings in this town. 2!!!!! And those are at schools only. I fought for one of them at my sons school. That’s insane!!!! This town needs to represent the people who already live here not just attract more young single people. Start showing you care about the people not just money and tourism. Do better Squamish. I have provide pictures of just one simple play park that was in a small town of Saskatchewan. And every single park in that town was like this, fully inclusive. Every single school park. Every public park. It’s not that hard to care about the people in your town. And provide adequate equipment to include all kinds of people. Unless Squamish has something against disabled people which I have been feeling for the past 3 years.