The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is set to move ahead with the next phase of its water and sewer valve and fitting replacement program, with staff recommending the contract be awarded to Drake Excavating Ltd. for $1,420,500 (excluding GST)
The work, now in its fourth year, is part of an ongoing effort to replace corroded infrastructure.
Work planned for 2025 will focus on areas along Spruce Grove Way, from the west side of Fitzsimmons Bridge to Highway 99 on Mons Road, as well as from Spruce Grove Way to Sabre Rentals. Sewer work is planned along Blackcomb Way, from the Montebello entrance through the Nancy Greene Drive intersection, ending about 150 metres down the Valley Trail on the west side of Fitzsimmons Creek.
The project is on track to stay within the approved $2 million budget for 2025, which includes contingency and contract administration costs. Construction is expected to begin in April, with completion targeted for early September.
Fee for service funding recommendations
Meanwhile, the RMOW is entering into three-year-long fee for service (FFS) agreements with five local non-profits:
- Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council (SSISC) – up to $75,705
- Whistler Animals Galore (WAG) – up to $124,373
- Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association (WORCA) – up to $290,925
- Whistler Museum and Archives Society – up to $224,950
- Whistler Arts Council (Arts Whistler) – up to $594,825
Previously awarded annually, it's the first time FFS agreements have extended over three years. The amounts will serve as an annual funding baseline over the next three years, subject to the non-profits signing an agreement which outlines their obligations as well as the municipality's.
The funding totals just over $1.3 million for 2025, a bump of three per cent compared to 2024. Reasons for the increase relate to financial pressures for wages and the cost of goods they use for their organizations.
The FFS program is guided by Policy A-39, which contracts services the RMOW sees as necessary, but can be delivered at a lower cost and with more expertise than if the municipality delivered them.
