January 18, 2011 Council Meeting Highlights

Welcome to Youth Councillor Vicki Boitchenchko!

Council welcomed their second Youth Councillor at the January 18^th Council Meeting. Vicki Boitchenko, a grade 12 student from GESS comes to us highly recommended from Ms. Kitzinger the principal of GESS. Vicki has lived in the District for 3 years, speaks three languages in addition to English and her academic interests are general in nature but include: Business, Law, Communications and Political Science. Vicki is very musical, playing the piano and singing with her youth group. The Youth Councillors may ask questions and participate in Council discussions, but will not be voting on any items.

Water Sustainability Act Process

Staff will be writing a letter to the Honorable Minister Coell, Minister of Agriculture, and submitting a resolution to the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) expressing concerns about the proposal to consider trading water rights as an economic instrument as outlined in the Water Sustainability Act. If implemented, there may be no means to restrict the trading of water rights outside of BC or Canada.

Council will also express their support for the introduction of Ground Water Regulations and the establishment of an Agricultural Water Reserve which will ensure water rights are committed to specific agricultural land to safeguard long term agricultural use.

Business Licence Renewals

Invoices for Business Licence renewals in Lake Country, which include home based businesses, have been mailed out and are due on January 31st. If you have not yet received your notice for 2011 please contact the District as soon as possible. For new businesses that have not yet applied for their licence, it is a mandatory requirement with an application fee of $90 and application forms are available on our website. Inter-community businesses are also required to purchase a business licence which is valid in 18 Okanagan communities and costs $150 annually. If you have a business in the District without a current and valid business licence you may be subject to a $100 fine.

Agricultural Advisory Committee

The Ministry of Agriculture is hosting an Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) workshop and inviting members from all BC Agricultural Committees to attend. Council approved a maximum of $2,000 from Council Contingency to allow 3 members of the District’s AAC to attend the workshop in Richmond on February 24, 2011.

Public Hearings

Two Public Hearings were held prior to the Regular Council meeting. The Public Hearing for OK Land Development Official Community Plan (OCP) Amendment Bylaw 771, 2010 and Zoning Bylaw Amendment Bylaw 772, 2010 are housekeeping amendments to correct discrepancies between the original hand-drawn zoning maps and the new computerized plans. Staff reassured residents that there would be no impact to the existing parkland in the area. The amendments will not increase or decrease the density and both bylaws received third reading and adoption at the Regular Council Meeting.

Council heard concerns from neighboring residents at the Public Hearing for Zoning Amendment (Bowman) Bylaw 766, 2010. Bylaw 766 proposes to change the zoning from Agriculture 1 to Public Park and Open Space, Town Centre Commercial and Low Density Multiple Housing for a proposed multi-family development on Reimche Road. Residents are concerned that the development will negatively affect their views and property value.

Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) Funding Application

Staff will be submitting a grant application for $250,000 to the Capacity Building and Integrated Community Sustainability Planning Projects under the Gas Tax Agreement to develop an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) for Lake Country. Council and the community are pursuing a more sustainable community and an ICSP is about planning for the future of our community and working together to achieve these plans for residents. The ICSP integrates land use, social, environmental and economic elements into a single plan over the long term and is developed collaboratively through community awareness on sustainability planning and then through full involvement and engagement with the community. Click here to view the full report to Council!

Development Permit (van der Star)

At the Development Permit Committee meeting on December 16, 2010 the Committee an application for the construction of a single-family dwelling on a ridgeline that does not meet the setback requirements was met with a tie vote. As per District bylaws, if there is a tie vote the item is forwarded to Council to make the decision. Council passed staff’s alternate recommendation approving the applicant’s request to locate the dwelling in the original location. The application is subject to terms and conditions outlined in the report which includes a geotechnical report, a wild land fire report and a security deposit.

Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program (OCCP)

Carolina Restrepo‑Tamayo, OCCP Coordinator, presented Council with an update on the OCCP program which is a partnership between various levels of governments, land trusts, stewardship outreach organizations and academia with goals of maintaining regional biodiversity, protecting species at risk, maintaining ecological connectivity throughout the Okanagan Basin and balancing regional growth with conservation. The OCCP has designed a website that provides access to resources to support ecosystem planning and conservation efforts. Click here to view the presentation to Council.

Community to Community Forum with OKIB

Council is looking forward to attending the Community to Community Forum with the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) on January 27 at the Head of the Lake Hall. Some of the topics for discussion will include a review of the District-OKIB Protocol Agreement, the sharing of services and economic development opportunities.