Unofficial summary · Not affiliated with the District of Squamish · 7-minute read · View in browser

Meeting: Special Business Meeting, Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Length: about 2 hours 10 minutes (public session 2:35 to 4:45 p.m., after a closed session in the morning)
Watch: Full video on YouTube · Agenda and reports: District of Squamish Council portal

This is a catch-up issue on a September meeting. Where later meetings have moved an item forward, we say so under "Following up".

Key decisions

CARRIED · Aquatic centre funding request to the regional district
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District owns the aquatic centre and the District operates it. Council endorsed the 2027–2031 financial plan request (item 4.1), due to the regional district by October 31. For 2027 it asks for about $1.8 million for operations ($2.5 million in costs, less $709,000 in fees and other revenue) and $3 million for capital work: replacing the pool's air handling unit and other mechanical and piping, change room upgrades with new lockers, pool deck upgrades, planning for tile upgrades, and electrical upgrades. Councillor Hamilton declared a conflict of interest and left for this item.
Vote: carried, with Councillor Pettingill opposed. Moved by Councillor French, seconded by Councillor Stoner.

CARRIED · Three permissive tax exemptions go forward
Staff will bring bylaws for first three readings on September 22 for one-year 2027 exemptions (item 4.2): the Squamish Sikh Society's vacant lot at 37957 Fifth Avenue used for overflow parking (about $5,537), Squamish Helping Hands at 37870 Third Avenue (about $23,814) and the Squamish Search and Rescue base (about $9,528). Together these shift about $39,000 in 2027 taxes to other taxpayers.
Vote: unanimous. Moved by Mayor Hurford, seconded by Councillor Stoner.

CARRIED · Golf club tax exemption goes forward
A bylaw for a 2027 exemption of about $59,554 for the Squamish Valley Golf Club will also come forward on September 22. The club leases District land on Mamquam Road that the province does not allow the District to charge lease payments on; instead, under the lease, the club pays about $45,000 a year in property tax, subject to council's annual approval. The lease ends in 2029. Councillor Andersen declared a conflict of interest (curling club membership) and left for this item.
Vote: unanimous. Moved by Councillor Hamilton, seconded by Mayor Hurford.

RECEIVED · 2027–2036 budget kickoff
Staff presented the financial planning process and timeline. No decision was needed.

Recorded votes

Votes where members of council did not all agree. Unanimous votes are not listed.

• Aquatic centre funding request: carried. Opposed: Councillor Pettingill.

What was discussed

The 2027–2036 budget

• The CFO said costs for municipal services are rising faster than the revenue tools available, citing labour, RCMP contracts, insurance and borrowing rates. Upcoming pressures include landfill expansion, the Cheekye fan barrier and the end of the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. Council cut about $600,000 in operating spending after the 2024 CUPE agreement, and that cut has been carried forward. Watch at 0:09:57
• Timeline: utilities on September 22, the general fund operating budget and library on September 29, the capital plan on October 6, a workshop pulling it together on November 10, a public information night in November, and three readings and adoption in December, after the new council takes office. Watch at 0:28:09
• Councillor Pettingill asked when asset management reserve contributions would be discussed; staff said September 29 for the general fund and September 22 for utilities, with the next asset management plan due in 2027. Councillor Andersen asked about the format of the public information event; staff said it will come back to council. Councillor Hamilton asked for the list of unfunded capital projects; staff said it is in the 2026 budget book and will be provided. Watch at 0:32:39

Aquatic centre

• Staff said last year's months-long pool deck closure and the fall labour dispute led to staffing problems. Lifeguard wages rose under the new collective agreement, and staff are working on more training courses, fewer barriers to taking them, and recruitment campaigns. Staff could not give a date for a return to normal hours. Watch at 1:06:00
• Councillor Stoner noted the 2027 requests are higher than forecast last year, and asked how much to invest in an aging facility. Staff said it is the community's only pool and building condition assessments from the recreation centre task force are pending. The locker budget rose to about $296,000 because staff now recommend plastic lockers, which last about 20 years; metal ones installed in 2017 showed rust after a year. Watch at 1:09:27
• Councillor Pettingill asked whether the new air handling unit could avoid gas, since Brennan Park's electrical capacity is maxed out and an electrical upgrade is planned for 2028. Staff said design has not started and other options will be considered, and that delaying risks losing heating or cooling. Watch at 1:18:36
• Councillor Stoner asked about working with School District 48 on swim lessons; staff said it has not been explored during the current director's tenure. Councillor Pettingill voted against, citing long-term gas dependency and future gas prices. Mayor Hurford noted user fees cover a small share of the costs. Watch at 1:31:06

Permissive tax exemptions

• Staff said all permissive exemptions for 2027, including these, total about $706,000 (about $667,000 in existing exemptions plus about $39,000 for these three; the golf club is not included), roughly a 1.4% tax increase. The Sikh Society's lot gets one year so staff can monitor its use; its temple building is already exempt by law. Watch at 1:56:52
• Councillors Pettingill and French raised the idea of a future conversation with faith-based organizations about their parking lots and vehicle residents. Councillor Hamilton said many such lots sit empty six days a week and suggested a broader policy discussion on exemptions for parking. Watch at 2:07:42
• Golf club: Councillor Hamilton said he disagrees with granting an exemption in place of lease payments but moved it because of the lease. Councillors Stoner and Pettingill said the contract should be honoured until 2029. Councillor French asked whether the lease can be shared with residents; staff will check. Watch at 2:11:20

Public input

No public delegations or public hearing speakers at this meeting.

Following up

From earlier issues: None of the items we're tracking came up at this meeting, which took place before most of the meetings we have covered. Since this meeting, on September 22 council gave first three readings to all four exemption bylaws: No. 3275 (Sikh Society), No. 3276 (Search and Rescue), No. 3277 (Helping Hands) and No. 3278 (golf club). The September 22 (utilities), September 29 and October 6 budget workshops were also held (in past issues).

New items we'll watch for:

• Permissive tax exemption bylaws 3275 to 3278, including the golf club: given three readings September 22; adoption still to come.
• Recreation centre task force building condition assessments for the pool: no date given.
• Whether the golf club lease can be shared with residents: staff to check.
• Golf club lease: ends in 2029.

What's next

• Since this meeting: Budget workshops on September 22 (utilities), September 29 (general fund and library) and October 6 (capital plan), and the general local election on October 17.
• October 31: Deadline for the aquatic centre request to the regional district.
• November 10: Budget workshop pulling the 2027–2036 financial plan together.
• November: Budget public information night (date to be announced).
• December: Three readings and adoption of the financial plan by the new council.

Get involved

• Let's Talk Squamish has background, FAQs and ways to take part in the budget process.
• The District's online budget book shows where tax and utility money goes; the 2027 version is being updated through the process.
• The November public information night is a chance to speak with council and staff about the budget.
• Agendas, reports and ways to contact council are on the District's council page.

Terms used

Air handling unit: equipment that heats, cools and moves air in a building · Asset management reserve: money set aside to replace existing infrastructure · CFO: chief financial officer · CUPE: Canadian Union of Public Employees · General fund: the part of the budget paid for mainly by property taxes · Permissive tax exemption: a property tax exemption council may choose to grant; the taxes are shifted to other taxpayers · SD48: School District 48 (Sea to Sky) · SLRD: Squamish-Lillooet Regional District · Three readings: a bylaw needs three readings and then a final adoption vote to take effect.

Context notes

We check factual figures cited at the meeting against public sources where we can. These notes add context; they are not verdicts on any speaker.

No figures at this meeting needed checking.

Council Watch Squamish is an independent, unofficial summary of publicly accessible meetings of the Squamish Council. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the District of Squamish. This summary was generated by AI from an automatic transcript and may contain errors. Watch the linked video for the official record.

Brought to you by the Business Innovation Society of the Sea to Sky.
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