Unofficial summary · Not affiliated with the Resort Municipality of Whistler · 7-minute read · View in browser

Meeting: Regular Council, Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Length: about 4 hours
Watch: Full video on the RMOW meeting portal · Agenda and reports: RMOW council video, agendas and minutes

This is a test issue on a past meeting, written for Council Watch Whistler's setup.

Key decisions

THREE READINGS · Supportive housing in Cheakamus Crossing
Zoning Amendment Bylaw 2536 adds supportive housing (housing with on-site supports for residents who cannot live independently) as a permitted use at 1400 Mount Fee Road and 1100 Legacy Way. Housing Agreement Amendment Bylaws 2537 and 2538 let social services clients rent units there without the 30-hours-a-week employment requirement. Adoption is expected on November 17.
Vote: no one opposed.

THREE READINGS · Metered water and sewer fees for businesses
The new water and sewer user fees bylaw allows billing industrial, commercial, institutional and mixed-use properties by metered use, with billing to begin January 1, 2028.
Vote: no one opposed. Moved by Councillor Ford.

ADOPTED · Building fees bylaw; Emerald Drive housing agreement
Council adopted the building fees and charges amendment bylaw and the housing agreement bylaw for 9389 Emerald Drive.
Vote: no one opposed.

CARRIED · Wild Blue patio enclosure
Development permit DP002086 at 4005 Whistler Way allows a glass-roofed aluminum enclosure over the restaurant's existing patio, with a side setback variance from 9 metres to 1.3 metres.
Vote: no one opposed.

CARRIED · Sanitary sewer system policy
Council Policy E14 sets out how the RMOW inspects, maintains and repairs its sewer mains, manholes and lift stations. Staff said it reflects current practice.
Vote: no one opposed. Moved by Councillor Forsyth.

CARRIED · Cheakamus Crossing phase two funding agreement
Council approved the Whistler 2020 Development Corporation's neighbourhood-level funding agreement for Cheakamus Crossing phase two.
Vote: no one opposed. Moved by Councillor Ford, seconded by Councillor Forsyth.

CARRIED · 5458 Stonebridge Drive footprint modification
Approved without presentation.
Vote: no one opposed. Moved by Councillor Jewett, seconded by Councillor Forsyth.

RECEIVED · Three reports
The 2026 second quarter financial report; the 2025 greenhouse gas inventory and climate action progress report; and the Smart Tourism Committee's key findings and congestion priorities.
Vote: no one opposed.

Recorded votes

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

• Ending the meeting: carried. One member of council said "I'm opposed"; the transcript does not show who.

What was discussed

Wildfire season and detection cameras

• The Fire Chief said the 2026 season started early, with a first brush fire on April 6, and that a campfire ban was in place from May 7 for the rest of the season. Watch at 0:03:15
• A new detection system of six cameras and about 70 sensors, funded by the Municipal Insurance Association of BC, spotted one fire 10 minutes before the first 911 call, the Chief said. Watch at 0:11:28
• Councillor Forsyth asked about fire risk from illegal camping near the municipal boundary; a councillor asked about setting earlier, fixed campfire-ban dates, which the Chief said is being considered with Squamish and Pemberton. Watch at 0:25:21

Bailey Park skate ramp

• Staff said the mini ramp was a pilot built for about $25,000 from an approved budget line with donor support, about 29 metres from the nearest building face, and that it is probably not the ideal location. Watch at 0:56:43
• Staff estimated moving it at about $100,000 and said a Bailey Park master plan process would be proposed in the 2027 budget. Watch at 1:02:57
• Councillors discussed hours of use, a seasonal closure from September 30, and dealing with it in the budget. Council made no motion, as the item was not on the agenda; the Mayor asked staff to work on it from there. Watch at 1:09:13

Finances at mid-year

• Revenue to June 30 was about $2.1 million above budget, operating spending about $2.4 million below, and staff expect a surplus at year-end. Watch at 1:54:09
• About $12.8 million of $50.3 million in planned project spending had gone out; staff forecast about 70% by year-end, with the sewer trunk main upgrade delayed by a CN Rail permit. Watch at 1:57:47

Climate action progress

• Community emissions in 2025 were 139,676 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, about the same as 2024. Staff said Whistler is unlikely to reach its 50% reduction target by 2030 without measures beyond the current priority actions. Watch at 2:14:15
• The RMOW's own emissions fell 4% from 2024; about 4% of its fleet is electric against a 66% target. Watch at 2:19:28
• Councillor Jewett asked about adding greenhouse gas criteria to contracts; Councillor Forsyth asked about the effect of day-skier traffic. Watch at 2:39:16

Smart tourism and congestion

• The Smart Tourism Committee chose five congestion priorities: a locker, transit and ski pass bundle; transit and high-occupancy vehicle priority; an integrated travel app; parking and revenue alignment; and shared rides in the corridor. Watch at 3:03:52

Regional transit and the Mayor's report

• Councillor Ford announced that an agreement was signed with the Minister of Transportation to work on an inter-regional bus service linking Pemberton, Whistler and Squamish, with BC Transit designing it. Watch at 1:38:08
• The Mayor reported on meetings at the Union of BC Municipalities convention with provincial ministers on camping on forest lands, long-term care beds and tourism. Watch at 1:28:04

Public input

• Four residents of a building next to Bailey Park asked council to move the skate ramp further from homes, citing noise, guidance of 50 to 80 metres from housing, and a lack of consultation. Several said they support skateboarding but not the location.
• The president of AWARE, a local environmental group, said current actions will not produce the emissions reductions the 2030 targets require.

Following up

From earlier issues: This is the earliest meeting we cover for Whistler, so there are no earlier items to follow up.

New items we'll watch for:

• Adoption of the supportive housing bylaws: expected November 17.
• The Bailey Park skate ramp: staff to work on it; a Bailey Park master plan process proposed in the 2027 budget.
• The sewer trunk main test section: expected next spring.
• Active transportation network plan to council in November; energy reporting bylaw in December.

What's next

• September 24, October 1 and October 6: All-candidates meetings.
• September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation; the Fitzsimmons bridge will be lit orange.
• October 7 and 10: Advance voting. October 17: General voting day.
• November 17: Council meeting expected to adopt the supportive housing bylaws.
• December: Third quarter financial results and the draft 2027 budget at Committee of the Whole.

Get involved

• Vote in the October 17 municipal election; details on pre-election events and voting are on whistler.ca.
• Council meetings include a public comment and question period (three minutes per speaker).
• Agendas, reports and ways to contact council are on the RMOW council page.

Terms used

ICI: industrial, commercial and institutional properties · Supportive housing: housing with on-site supports for residents who cannot live independently · Three readings: a bylaw needs three readings and then an adoption vote to take effect · Setback variance: permission to build closer to a property line than zoning allows · MRDT: the municipal and regional district tax on accommodation · UBCM: Union of BC Municipalities.

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.

• Hectares burned in the Coastal Fire Centre (cited by the Fire Chief: over 101,000 in 2026 against just over 15,000 in 2025): could not be checked against a public source at the time of writing.
• Context notes on candidates' statements are paused during the election period.

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

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