Whistler Alert—the Resort Municipality of Whistler's (RMOW) emergency notification system—has seen good uptake since launching in early November, with 1,351 people signing up to receive alerts.
"It's great uptake. We're targeting 10,000," said Mayor Jack Crompton.
Currently, the provincial system only offers alerts for tsunami warnings, he added.
"The Whistler Alert will provide updates on all Whistler emergencies including shelter-in-place recommendations related to chemical spills or gas leaks, boil-water orders and evacuation alerts," he said.
"The Whistler Alert is the most effective way to prepare your family and our community for emergencies."
Whistler Alert is available for both residents and visitors.
The RMOW recommends residents keep 72 hours of supplies for themselves and their families in the event of a prolonged power outage, as well as have an evacuation plan in place if an evacuation order is issued.
"Whistler Alert will only be used to send notifications about emergencies that pose an immediate threat to lives or property in Whistler that require residents and visitors to take action ... [it] is separate from the BC alerting system," Crompton said.
"You can learn more about how to prepare a personal evacuation plan at whistler.ca/evacuate, and you can access the Whistler Alert application and additional emergency information at whistler.ca/emergency."
WSL HOUSING PROJECT MOVES AHEAD
A Whistler Sport Legacies (WSL) employee housing project in Cheakamus is moving forward after a rezoning was adopted and related housing agreement bylaws received first three readings at the Jan. 7 council meeting.
The project is one of five private developer employee-housing ventures to arise from the Mayor's Task Force on Resident Housing (and one of two that was green lit for further review in February 2019).
It will see a new apartment building constructed at 1315 Cloudburst Dr., and shift the existing athlete accommodation from 20 townhomes at 1345 Cloudburst to the new building.
"The townhouses will be used for employee housing, giving preference to essential service workers," said planner Amica Antonelli in a presentation to council.
The housing agreement for 1315 Cloudburst ensures that 1,400 square metres of gross floor area of the new apartment building (about 20 dwelling units) will be below market, price-restricted employee housing, while 2,500 square metres will be available for either employee housing or athlete and coach accommodation.
"The tenants in that building for the employee housing will be eligible employees from the [WSL] or the Whistler Housing Authority list," Antonelli said.
The housing agreement also sets out the rents: $1,200 per month for a 430-square-foot, one-bedroom unit, and $2,100 for a 650-square-foot, two-bedroom unit.
The housing agreement for the townhomes at 1345 Cloudburst will ensure all tenants are restricted to eligible employees with a preference for essential service workers.
"Those workers have been defined as medical workers including paramedics and ambulance service, police, firefighters, maintenance workers for roads and utilities, teachers and daycare workers," Antonelli said.
"The housing agreement includes a clause that allows for athlete and coach accommodation in the townhomes until such time that equivalent units have been built on the vacant land and are available for athlete accommodation."
LOST LAKE TRAILS OPEN
Whistler's Lost Lake Nordic Trails are officially open to cross-country skiers and snowshoers as of Jan. 6.
A new electric fireplace is being installed at the Lost Lake warming hut this week, while a new grooming snowmobile and utility terrain vehicle will help keep the trails in top shape.
"This year the baseball-diamond parking behind the Meadow Park building is being plowed for those who want to ski the multi-use trail from Meadow Park to Rainbow Park," Crompton said.
"We encourage all trail users to use this lot instead of the Meadow Park parking lot."
The trail is groomed for cross-country skiers twice a week, though it is open to others as well. Those using the trail are asked to be respectful of the track setting for skiers.
