Sustainability Begins with Us

In the last year or so, since I moved to Lake Country and started to work for the District, many things have happened for the benefit of the community as a whole. A list of our major accomplishments will be part of our annual report which will be published in June of this year, according to legislation. However, as I ponder over the few things that are making and will make a difference in and for Lake Country, I cannot help but think of our efforts in the areas of organizational excellence, sustainability in all directions, partnership with the Okanagan Indian Band, and approach to critical infrastructure management.

The common denominator of all these efforts is the time that it takes to establish good change. The reality is that it will not happen overnight. I am no fan of 'quick fixes'. For instance, if you wish to lose 7 pounds you could do it in a week (or even less) by extreme means, such as fasting, drinking only or other strange diets. The problem is that a human body will not be able to keep the results in the long run because the causal root is not dealt with properly. A sustainable dietary regime that would maintain results in the long term is accomplished only through constant effort in changing a lifestyle and educating our own body to stay away from junk food or excessive food intake. In other words, it takes time to get rid of bad habits and embrace new and good ones. The same is for organizations, including governments.

For instance, in the case of our relationship with the Okanagan Indian Band, it is important to understand that it will take years to develop a solid relationship of trust. It will have to take a constant effort on the part of both communities, Lake Country and OKIB, to look at the long term results of a partnership based on integrity, honesty, accountability and vision. There will be times in which the two groups may not agree on something. However, if good faith and renewed effort are present at all times, it will be easier to 'agree to disagree' and the relationship will become stronger.

In the case of our relationship with the Okanagan Indian Band, the first step was to renew our mutual Memorandum of Understanding, which contains a proviso for the creation of a working group made up of staff members to delineate Terms of Reference and working plans in the areas of common interest identified in the agreement document. The working group met two weeks ago and other meetings are scheduled for the next few months. Throughout the process, priorities will be identified and resources allocated to generate results for the benefit of both OKIB and Lake Country. We are moving ahead.

With respect to the other three elements mentioned at the beginning of this blog, I wish to point out that we have done much but just scraped the very surface of our potential. Municipal staff are working to establish a foundation of excellence based on:

• 'Can Do' Culture: this is the first critical step which is based on the principle of 'Seek First to Understand than to Be Understood'. Our efforts are in trying to understand the real need of our customers and try all options available to satisfy that need;
  
• Be On the Same Page: this is accomplished by regular updating, which, in turn, ensures that roles are clear, focus is defined and progress is monitored; and
  
• Be a One Stop Shop: this is fulfilled by providing accurate and consistent information to all our customers.
  

In the area of sustainability, we created a staff Community Sustainability Team with the purpose to coordinate sustainable efforts throughout the organization and foster program within the community to enhance the overall quality of life of our residents in the areas of environmental protection, economic growth, social development, including arts and culture, and effective infrastructure management. As I said, all of this will take time but I am confident that we will get there step by step.

Finally, a comment which reflects the title of this blog: we cannot be where we want to be without willingness to a personal commitment. If we want our community to be sustainable, we have to start with ourselves. Engagement will be important, but people will have to step up to the plate and play a role in making our community the best in this beautiful spot of the world. Life. The Okanagan Way.

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Council Meeting Highlights from March 15th

HAVE YOU REGISTERED YOUR SUITE YET?

If you have an existing secondary suite in your residence, you can come in and complete an application form to register your suite, with no application fee, before April 30^th.  An existing secondary suite is a suite that was built before April 9, 2009. If you complete the registration and file it with the Development Services Department before April 30^th you will pay no application fee and will only be required to ensure that your suite meets the basic health and safety standards which include having windows with an unobstructed opening in sleeping areas, hard wired smoke alarms and a fire extinguisher.  All suites in Lake Country must be registered!  Call or email the Development Services, Building Inspections Department if you have any questions!  Application for Existing Suites

What happens once a suite is registered? You will receive a Certificate of Registration with a new address that includes an ‘A’ for accessory and you will be charged utilities for that suite if you are on municipal sewer or water.

What are the utility charges for the suite? Legal, registered suites that are on municipal water and sewer will pay an additional 40% of their annual user fees for utilities.  The annual sewer rate is $250 per year so you will be charged an additional $100 for the suite. The annual municipal water fee for the Lake Country System is $486 per year so you will be charged an additional $195 for the suite. Illegal suites will pay 100% of the annual water and sewer user fees for both the residence and the suite! The utility charges will begin when the suite receives the Certificate of Registration. If you have a water meter, your base rate stays the same and you will only be charged for what you use.    If your suite is on a private water utility, you will have to provide a confirmation letter from the utility showing that there is sufficient capacity for the suite.  Owners on well water or surface water will have to provide a hydrologist report and water licence indicating that there is sufficient capacity for two dwellings and have a Section 219 covenant registered on the title.

What if I register my suite after the April 30^th deadline? You will need to take out a Building Permit and comply with all current Building Code Standards.  Building Permit fees will apply based on the requirements to make sure your suite meets the Building Code which could result in some major and costly alternations.

What if I do not register my suite? If your suite is not registered and the District becomes aware of its existence the District will initiate bylaw enforcement action and ticket the owners of the suite. Illegal suites will pay 100% of the annual water and sewer user fees for both the residence and the suite!  If the District is concerned about the immediate health and safety of the tenants eviction procedures will be commenced.

Can I de-register my suite?

If you have just purchased a home or want to get rid of your suite for any reason, here’s what you need to do:

Fill out and drop off a Change of Occupancy Permit application form ($100 fee) to the Building Department; Remove cooking facility from suite (stove); Call for inspection of deregistered suite; If the suite is passed, file will be closed and the suite is now de-registered.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS DELEGATION

Teresa Murray, Area Director of Central Club Services for the Boys & Girls Clubs did a presentation for Council on the accomplishments and future plans of the Lake Country Boys & Girls Club.  Council applauded the efforts and contributions that the Boys & Girls Club makes in the community.  Teresa Murray and Youth Councillor Vicki Boitchenko also discussed the possibility of collaborating on the Teens for Change program which is a program started by George Elliot Secondary students to raise awareness about children’s safety.  Click here to view the full presentation to Council.

COMMUNITY AGE FRIENDLY LIVING GUIDELINESDr. Meghan Salhus presented information on the next steps required to complete the Community Age Friendly Living Guidelines Project.  The consultant’s reports provide the context, methods used and outcomes of the research.  Council approved staff’s recommendation that a report outlining recommendations for implementing the Final Report, Best Practices in Age Friendly Planning and Age Friendly Guidelines and Community Charter be reviewed and brought back to Council on April 5^th with recommendations on implementation.

BYLAWS ADOPTED

Council adopted Water Regulation and Rates Amendment Bylaw 783, 2011 and Parks, Public Spaces & Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Amendment Bylaw, 780, 2011, both of which received 3 readings on March 1st.

FIRE TRUCK FLEET REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE

Fire Department staff have been researching new technology as a means of reducing the fire truck fleet while at the same time, improving the response capability to structure and wildfire calls. The new Class A/Wild‐land pumpers are approximately ten feet shorter than conventional pumpers and are four‐wheel drives allowing access to difficult driveways and wild‐land areas.  The Fire Chief presented a proposed replacement schedule which retires two bush trucks, one tender, and one pumper, replacing them with two smaller engines, one in 2012 and one in 2013. This reduces the District’s fire truck fleet from ten to eight apparatus with one old pumper held in reserve after it is removed from service to act as a reserve vehicle to assist in training and as a spare during fleet repairs.  Click here to view the full report to Council.

CONSIDERATION OF A TWO-PHASE CAMPFIRE PROHIBITION

Council received a notice from UBCM and the Ministry of Natural Resource Operations, Wildfire Management Branch, requesting feedback from Council on the consideration of a one year trial to allow a 2-phase campfire prohibition.  The 2-phase program would allow campfires in supervised commercial campgrounds during high fire danger class ratings and continue to ban all campfires during the extreme danger class rating.  Many campground operators feel that it is not necessary to prohibit campfires in supervised campgrounds because of higher standards of site engineering and campfire supervision.  Many campground operators feel that bans in commercial campgrounds have reduced the amount of revenue generated through the camping season. Click here to see the letter from UBCM for more details on the proposed trial. Council supported the idea of a 1 year trial subject to ensuring that the Ministry receives feedback from local governments following the trial.  Council also requested that the Ministry consider the impacts of the proposed 2-phase prohibition on larger jurisdictions. Lake Country bylaws prohibiting or allowing fires would take precedence over Wildfire Management Branch authority.

FUNDING CUTS AFFECT GEORGE ELLIOT SECONDARY

In response to an issue brought forward by Youth Councillor Vicki Boitchenko, Council will be writing a letter to the Premier, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance advising them that the funding cutbacks for education have had a significant impact on the GESS band class and other elective programs.  GESS’s band class is very active in Lake Country and the cutbacks have had a negative impact not only on students but on the community as well.

The Okanagan Indian Band and the District of Lake Country

Following my previous blog, I wish to provide a bit more information on the agreement between the Okanagan Indian Band and the District of Lake Country.

The District and the Band recently reaffirmed their existing Protocol agreement relating to their collaborative government to government relationship. The ceremony was held at the historic Head of the Lake site on the Okanagan Indian Band Reserve in Vernon.

  

Both Lake Country and the Okanagan Indian Band share a common boundary of approximately 2kms at the Duck Lake Reserve, located on Lake Country's southern boundary. Both Lake Country and the Duck Lake Reserve are well situated to benefit from their strategic locations, being about five minutes from the rapidly expanding Kelowna International Airport and University of BC Okanagan. 

 

Mayor James Baker and Chief Fabian Alexis were quick to note that "the agreement is grounded on the fundamental underlying principles of trust, honesty and mutual respect". Baker adds that, "collaborating with each other will benefit both parties, as we work together to foster future cultural and economic development ties". "We consider the reaffirmation of this unique government to government protocol a model relationship, covering such areas as joint land use, community servicing, communication, cultural resources, fisheries and aquatic management" says Chief Alexis. Chief Alexis added, "It is uplifting to see a community like Lake Country recognizing and affirming our Okanagan Title and Rights and that the municipality is located within our ancestral homelands. When communities understand and respect the truth with regard to our historical and inherent rights and interests which is reflected in this Protocol, we will all benefit from the assurance built on a growing awareness that our rights, titles and interests are not a threat to anyone. Rather, recognizing and affirming them will make our federation stronger."

 

Both governments look forward to implementing the renewed Protocol, continuing to build upon the existing strong relationship that exists between Lake Country and the Okanagan Indian Band, and jointly collaborating together in a spirit of neighbourliness

Here's a picture of the historic event.

Okanagan Centre Safe Harbour Regional Park Update

With the worst of winter hopefully behind and spring approaching, the Regional District is providing updated information on their plan for replacing the boat launch pads at the Okanagan Centre Safe Harbour Regional Park.

Last fall, the RDCO successfully built and poured new concrete pads which are sitting in the parking lot.  During October and November, environmental monitoring was done of shore spawning kokanee salmon in and beyond the harbour area with the hope of requesting an extension from the Ministry of Environment allowing the removal of the existing pads and installation of the new ones, outside the fish spawning window.  In late January, approval was received from the Ministry to carry out in-water works during 2011. 

Since then, RDCO Parks Services staff have continued to work on coordinating contractors and equipment for the project.  If all areas can be lined up, work will start by mid-April.  The RDCO anticipates that the work will only take a couple of days to complete and will not cause any disruption to those using the harbour at this early part of the boating year as the outer boat launch will not be affected.

More information will be provided as this anticipated project moves closer.   RDCO thanks you for your continued patience and support.

Council Meeting Highlights from March 1, 2011

MAYORS REPORT

Representatives from Lake Country, the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) and the City of Kelowna recently met to discuss future collaborative planning for the portion of land that is within Kelowna’s boundaries but borders Lake Country and the OKIB’s IR#7 along Jim Bailey and Beaver Lake Roads. It was agreed that a Working Committee would be formed with the objectives of ensuring that any future developments or projects in the area are acceptable to everyone, including the residents, and that proper services are available.  The Committee will include representatives from Lake Country, OKIB and Kelowna.

DOG LICENCES

The deadline for renewing your dog licences was February 28^th.  There is now a $20 late fee that applies to dog licence renewals.  To purchase a new dog licence is will cost you $20, to renew a dog licence it will cost you $40.  To purchase a new dog licence for a non-spayed or neutered dog it is $60 and to renew a dog licence for a non-spayed or neutered dog it is $80. Licences can be purchased at the Municipal Hall and at Lake Country Farm and Pet Supply.

SECONDARY SUITE REGISTRATION DATE

The deadline for registering existing secondary suites is April 30, 2011!  An existing secondary suite is a suite that was built before April 9, 2009. If you register before April 30^th, there is no fee and existing suites are only required to meet the basic health and safety standards, such as windows with an unobstructed opening in sleeping areas, hard wired smoke alarms and a fire extinguisher. If you register your existing suite after the April 30^th deadline, the requirements are slightly more onerous.  You will be required to obtain a Building Permit and comply with all Building Code Standards. All suites in Lake Country must be registered! This is the last chance to get your existing suites registered before the deadline! Call or email Development Services, Building Inspections Department if you have any questions!  Secondary Suites FAQ; Registration Process; Application for Existing Suites

TEMPORARY USE PERMITS

Council approved a Temporary Use Permit allowing parking and storage of excavation equipment on a property at 8355 Okanagan Centre Road West. The permit comes with conditions, is valid until December 31, 2011 and can be extended by Council upon application.  Some concerns were expressed by neighbouring residents that this application may lead to increased industrial businesses in the area which will disturb the neighbourhood.  The OCP designates the future zoning of the area as light industrial which generally provides for very minimal industrial uses that are non-invasive to the surrounding properties.

Council also approved a Temporary Use Permit allowing for the parking of an oversized commercial vehicle (dump truck) on 10539 Powley Court.  The permit includes the condition that a 1.8 metre solid wood fence be put up on the common property line.

BUILDING REGULATION BYLAW AND AMENDING BYLAWS

Although the Planning staff eagerly wished to review the Building Regulation Bylaw page by page by page by page….Council thanked staff for their time and attention to detail in the bylaw and proceeded with 3 readings.  Building Regulation Bylaw 709, 2011 will be forwarded to the Building Safety and Standards Branch for provincial approval before being brought back to Council for adoption.  As a result of the Building Regulation Bylaw, several other District bylaws needed to be amended in order to ensure their enforceability as they reference sections of the previous Building Regulation Bylaw. Council gave 3 readings to Municipal Ticketing Information Amendment Bylaw 775, 2011, Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw 776, 2011 and Land Development Fees Amendment Bylaw 777, 2011.

ELECTORAL AREAS FOR TRUSTEES

Council received a letter from the Board of Education asking for comments on proposed changes to Trustee Electoral Boundaries on the west side of Okanagan Lake, which will provide a more balanced representation of the population within each zone.  Council will be sending a letter supporting the geographical representation.  For more information contact the Board of Education.

BYLAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT

In 2010, 146 bylaw complaints were received at the District; at year end, only 10 were left outstanding. Bylaw Enforcement has been the responsibility of the Corporate Services Department since January 1, 2010, has one Bylaw Enforcement Officer on staff and uses the Commissionaires staff intermittently for peak times and special events.

WATER REGULATION AND RATES

Council gave 3 readings to Water Regulation and Rates Amendment Bylaw 783, 2011 which proposes a water rate increase of approximately 4% or $19 per year. The revenue generated by the increase will help with aging infrastructure issues and move the water system towards a more sustainable level of infrastructure management. The rates were recommended by the Water Services Advisory Committee and approved by Council during budget deliberations. Click here for the background report to Council.

PARKS, PUBLIC SPACES & RECREATION FACILITIES REGULATIONS & FEES AMENDMENT BYLAW

Council gave the Parks, Public Spaces & Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Amendment Bylaw, 780, 2011 3 readings and amended the associated policy. The bylaw changes the fee schedules for Beasley soccer fields, leagues, and the fees for lit/unlit fields.  The new rates also reflect the different field sizes at Beasley with the smaller fields having a slightly lower fee.  The amendments also add a Curling Rink Lounge Fee and a booking deposit regulation that allows for a deposit and a cancellation regulation. Click here to view the full report to Council for more details and the amended schedules.

BEASLEY PARK AND COMMUNITY HALL USE AGREEMENT

Council approved 2 lease agreements, one between the District and the Lake County Youth Soccer Association and one between the District and the Lake Country Soccer Society. These new agreements replace the one previous agreement between the District and the Lake Country Soccer Society and clearly outline the certain uses of the facility ensuring that everyone’s needs are met.

LIBRARY CELEBRATION

On Saturday March 19, all 29 Branches of the Okanagan Regional Library will be open in honour of 75 years of service.  Join the Library for refreshments and special activities at a branch near you! Check www.orl.bc.ca  for upcoming details!

Historic Meeting

February 28, 2011 was a historic occasion for the City of Kelowna, the Okanagan Indian Band and the District of Lake Country. The three councils and administrators met to articulate common interests and a common vision for the areas that are next to each other.

As I was observing the dynamics at the meeting, I felt grateful for the City of Kelowna initiative to call this meeting and hold it with the other two councils. According to those present, - and some of them, like Mayor James Baker of Lake Country, go back quite a few years – this was the first meeting where the three Councils met together, and from my observation of the meeting, it will not be the last.

Rather than simply providing notes from the meeting, I wish to reflect on some of the comments I heard around the table. First, the fact that the District of Lake Country and the Okanagan Indian Band have recently signed an updated protocol agreement which expanded on a previous one signed a few years ago.

The protocol agreement goes beyond the issue of communication and addresses mutual interests in the provision of services, the fostering of common economic initiatives, and, most importantly, the recognition by the District of Lake Country of Okanagan Indian Band title and rights to their ancestral homelands. This means that the District believes in the need to working together with the Okanagan Indian Band to preserve natural resources for the benefit of all those who live in the Okanagan Indian Band traditional territory, including, but not limited to, the community of Lake Country. This is especially important for our common efforts towards water conservation and protection of water reservoirs in the Uplands. I believe this is also a historic event the positive consequences of which will have beneficial effect for our future generations.

The City of Kelowna and OKIB also have a protocol agreement and this renewed effort, started with the meeting last night, will bring to a possible expansion of the old one and the draft of a new, more substantial one.

The other point of major discussion was a joint planning effort for the area where the two local governments and the First Nation boundaries connect. The Okanagan Indian Band is exploring economic development opportunities for their reserve within the City of Kelowna but this will need the cooperation from both Kelowna and Lake Country through the provision of services. As the City of Kelowna continues to work on its new Official Community Plan and the District of Lake Country begins a comprehensive Integrated Community Sustainability Plan, it will make sense to create a joint planning committee, comprised of elected and appointed officials of our three governments to articulate a common vision for the areas where common interest lies.

The discussion was not about the past – we learn from but we should not linger on it if progress needs to occur. The discussion was about the future. And last night, the future was bright…and I was fortunate to be there.

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