Council Roundup from Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Looking to get caught up on the Tuesday, June 11 Council Meetings? We’ve pulled together some key stories from Committee of the Whole and the Regular Council Meeting, including:
- What’s next for Smart Tourism?
- Parks planning update
- Road and Valley Trail repaving
- Function employee housing moves forward
For all the details, check out the recordings of the full meetings on whistler.ca.
Smart Tourism looks to shift focus from looking at how the town can support tourism to how tourism helps Whistler support its needs. Photo: Tourism Whistler/Justa Jeskova
What’s next for Whistler’s tourism economy?
Smart Tourism to pave the way for destination management plan that ensures tourism benefits entire community
The explosion of visitors to historical cities, famous landmarks and resorts like Whistler has prompted a global shift towards “Smart Tourism.” There are a lot of differing definitions for what that means, but it comes down to managing tourism with balance so that it benefits the community, while preserving the environment, and acknowledging the cultural history of the lands it is built on.
Richard Kemble, the RMOW’s Economic Development Officer and Smart Tourism initiative lead, presented a progress report on Smart Tourism at the June 11 Council meeting.
Kemble made it clear why it was important to think about the long-term sustainability of the tourism industry. “Times are changing, and we really need to be sure we’re being proactive in how we manage tourism in Whistler,” adding that being proactive now means setting in place strategies and plans that enable tourism to support the community in achieving its goals.
Examples of destinations who’ve had to implement reactive tourism management practices include the historic cities of Amsterdam and Venice, both of which have experienced the effects of overtourism on housing, the cost of living, and the overall resident experience.
Amsterdam’s plan to address their issues includes educating visitors on how to behave, deterring short-term party visitors, and capping the number of annual visits and hotel rooms. Venice is using technology and policies to keep visitors moving and deter crowding, reducing the number of cruise ships that can dock there on any given day, and implementing a small visitor tax.
It was noted that Whistler’s Smart Tourism efforts already have a strong foundation with decades of planning through the Whistler 2020 Sustainability Initiative of 2002, the creation of the Economic Partnership Initiative, the 2019 Official Community Plan process, 2020 COVID planning sessions and the 2021 Whistler Sessions’ consideration of the possible futures that could unfold over the next 30 years. Smart Tourism was also identified as one of four core Council priorities through their 2023-2026 strategic plan.
In a way, Smart Tourism flips the script on how we think about Whistler as a resort destination. The focus will shift from looking at how the town can support tourism to how tourism helps Whistler support its needs.
“We really need to lean in on what is Whistler and what makes us happy to be here,” explained Kemble. “We want an engaged community that’s living locally, we want access to nature, we want trails, we want parks, we want all kinds of things – but most of all we want us to be stoked to live here.” When residents are stoked to live in Whistler the visitors feel it.
Tourism can help support a wide range of objectives, from restoring nature to improving accessibility, improving active transportation infrastructure, and improving the town in general.
The presentation focused on defining Smart Tourism as the resort works towards a first draft of a policy, there were some forward developments to report as well – including the establishment of a Smart Tourism Committee of Council with representation from Council, municipal staff, Tourism Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb, the Whistler Chamber of Commerce, the Hotel Association of Whistler, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, and Arts Whistler.
The draft vision will be presented to the community for feedback this summer, followed by development of acollaboartive Destination Management Plan, created with partners like the provincial government and First Nations.
Mayor Crompton said he was pleased with the approach and asked Kemble how Whistler can be bolder in its planning.
“I’m convinced that Whistler is at our best when we’re looking to be world leaders, so I really liked the way you framed this as ‘what’s next’ (because) we’re not living off the Olympics for ever and ever. How are we creating the permission (for this committee) to push past good and chase great?”
Crompton also noted that the need for Smart Tourism, and the issue of avoiding overtourism, was identified as a major priority for locals in the last municipal election.
Kemble said it won’t be easy. “Lots of difficult decisions will need to be made along this road, which is why it’s important to get the vision right and sitting right with the community – and having Smart Tourism focus inwards rather than chasing the goal of economic success.”
Watch the whole presentation on whistler.ca.
Work at Rainbow Park is nearing completion. Photo: RMOW/Kevin Sibbald
State of the Parks
Partnerships and collaboration key to maintaining delivery of a quality experience
Whistler’s Parks Planning Department provided an update on 2024 plans and projects at the Community of the Whole meeting on June 11, including the extensive Rainbow Park upgrades that have been underway the past two years.
Projects under construction include:
- Rainbow Park – The major park renovation is on schedule to reopen in late June in time for Canada Day, although some improvements will be completed in the fall. The improvements will improve the movement of traffic through the park and create more gathering areas in the available space.
- Meadow Park – This is the first year of a three-year project that will realign trails, replace the splash pad and playground, and add an off-leash dog area and realign trails.
Upgrades are funded by the provincial Resort Municipality Initiative.
Some minor upgrades are also underway at Lakeside Park. Damage was repaired after a water main break last fall, allowing for additional improvements like replacing failing trees and improving the drainage of the lawn. This area will also reopen towards the end of June. Some areas of lawn may remain closed until the grass can be established.
In addition to park upgrades, Parks are also working on a Cemetery Master Plan, a Recreation Trail Strategy, and a Disc Golf Feasibility Study. Smaller projects still in development include a wetland viewing platform for Millar Creek, the replacement of the Wedge Creek bridge on the Comfortably Numb trail, improvements to Pine Point Park, an Alpha Lake Valley Trail extension and a new section of Valley Trail along Highway 99 (see below). Upcoming programs include a Village Stroll tree strategy and a Parks and Valley Trail strategy.
Watch the whole presentation on whistler.ca.
Three sections of the Valley Trail will see improvements in 2024. Photo: Tourism Whistler/Justa Jeskova
Road, Valley Trail repaving contract awarded
Improvements to be completed in 2024
Municipal staff has awarded a contract to repave sections of road and the Valley Trail to Coastal Mountain Excavations, following a bid process that wrapped up on May 24. Just over a million dollars will be spent repairing the following:
- Lorimer Road from Blackcomb Way to Lot 6
- Whistler Way from Springs Lane to Mountain Lane
- Spring Creek Drive from the highway to Kyber Lane
- Alta Lake Road North
- The Valley Trail at Meadow Park Sports Centre (35 metres)
- The Valley Trail at Bridge Meadows (37 metres)
- The Valley Trail from Whistler Cay Drive to Lorimer Road (60 metres)
Coun. Arthur DeJong asked Chelsea Roberts, Manager of Capital Projects, how they determine paving priorities each year.
“Last year we did have the roads scanned and the road scanner collects data such as potholes, cracks, degradation in certain areas, the depth of cracks, the depth of potholes – it’s quite extensive the amount of information collected,” said Roberts. “From there we look at bus routes, road use, things like that.”
All repaving projects are expected to be completed by September 2024.
72 units of employee housing on track for the Function Junction neighbourhood. Photo: Tourism Whistler/Justa Jeskova
Function employee housing project moves forward
Proposal would increase employee housing units from 48 to 72
A project to develop employee housing at the corner of Highway 99 and Alpha Lake Road got a boost from Council on Tuesday, with Council giving the first three readings to a zoning amendment bylaw for the site – which included a proposal to expand the project from 48 units to 72.
The applicant made other changes as well, withdrawing a proposed brewery in favour of additional warehouse and commercial space, as well as additional housing. The development also includes additional parking, enhanced landscaping, widened sidewalks and a variance to build up to 13 metres from the previous 12 metres.
The housing mix would be in three buildings with eight three-bedroom units, 40 two-bedroom units and 24 one-bedroom units.
Coun. Cathy Jewett asked how the developer would accommodate year-round bike parking on site. Coun. Arthur DeJong also asked whether the number of planned electric vehicle charging stations was sufficient given the number of units.
The proposal will come back to Council for final approval at a later date, taking Council’s feedback and questions into account. It moved forward unanimously in the final vote.
To attend an upcoming meeting, check out the Council Meeting Schedule. Agendas and Minutes are available online. To connect with Council, consider Presenting to Council, or get in touch with them individually by phone or email.
