Council Meeting Highlights from April 5th

LAKE COUNTRY RCMP DETACHMENT GETS A NEW SERGEANT!

Sgt. Scott Rempel , the new NCO I/C for the Lake Country Detachment, was born in Trail BC and spent most of his youth growing up in Vernon. He has worked in traffic, general duties, gang enforcement, community policing, police leadership, serious crime investigations and as a patrol supervisor. In 2002 he was presented the Queen’s Jubilee medal for outstanding service by Deputy Commissioner Beverly Busson. In 2008 he was promoted to Sergeant at the Kelowna Detachment where he was a senior patrol supervisor. Scott will have 30 years service in the RCMP this year and he is very grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Lake Country detachment commander. His heart is in the Okanagan.

SPIRIT OF LAKE COUNTRY

Shannon Jorgenson, President of the Lake Country Heritage & Cultural Society presented Council with copies of a new Lake Country guide book entitled Spirit of Lake Country: Heritage and Culture.  Production of the book was made possible through the funding of the Province, the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan and local arts and cultural organizations.  The book provides a detailed history of the community and includes pictures and information on the public art located throughout Lake Country.

DEVELOPMENT VARIANCE PERMITS

Council had a lengthy discussion and heard a number of objections from neighboring residents on the proposed Development Variance Permit (DVP2011-001, Kristensen) on Brun Road.  The application requests to vary the minimum rear yard setback by 4.5 m to 1.5 m and the side yard setback by 2m to 1.97 m and allow the applicant to continue plans to add an additional storey to an existing garage and convert the structure to a residence. Council denied the variance application and requested that staff investigate the non-conforming issues of the current structure on the property. 

Council approved a Development Variance Permit on Oyama Lake Road (DVP2011-002, Madsen) to modify some of the provisions of Zoning Bylaw 561, Signage Bylaw 501 and the Subdivision & Development Servicing Bylaw 97-139 in order to set up a temporary zip line operation (Outdoor Amusement Facility). Council previously authorized a Temporary Use Permit for the proposed Zip-Line which is valid for a three year period. 

AGE-FRIENDLY LIVING GUIDELINES

On March 15^th the final report on Age‐Friendly Living Community Guidelines was presented to Council and staff was directed to provide Council with an implementation action plan. Council approved staff’s recommended action plan and timeline to put the Guidelines into effect.  One of the recommendations is to review the District’s Access and Mobility Committee Terms of Reference to allow the committee to provide recommendations on the age friendliness and accessibility of new developments in the community. Click here to view the full report to Council.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

The CAO reviewed the recent quarterly update to Council’s Strategic Priority Chart and the work plans for each of the District Departments. The Strategic Priorities are available for the public to view on the District’s website. 

LOGO USE POLICY

Council adopted Logo Usage Policy No. 11.115 which establishes and governs the use of Lake Country’s new logo.  The policy will streamline requests to use the logo and ensure that the integrity and appearance of the logo is maintained.  The intent of the policy is not to limit use, only to ensure that the logo is not altered or modified in any way.

SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

The District uses Social Media such as Facebook, Twitter and You Tube as an additional communication tool to encourage information sharing and dialogue within the community.  Social Media Policy No. 11.116 was adopted by Council and establishes principles expected of staff and Council when engaging in Social Media on behalf of the District.

NOTICE ON TITLE

Council placed a Notice on Title for the property at 12515 Pow Road for a violation of the number of structures that exceed the zoning bylaw requirements. Some of these accessory buildings have been constructed or added to without permits and Stop Work Orders have been issued and permits cannot be finalized.

PARCEL TAX REVIEW PANEL

Council set the date and time for the 2011 Parcel Tax Review Panel as 6 pm, Thursday, April 28th to be held in Council Chambers. Pursuant to the Community Charter each year that a new parcel tax is imposed or that a property is added to an existing parcel tax roll, a Parcel Tax Review Panel must be held to give affected property owners an opportunity to appeal their obligation to pay the parcel tax. You or your agent must notify the District in writing, of your complaint and the complaint must be received before noon on Tuesday, April 26, 2011.  If no complaints are received by the deadline, the meeting will be cancelled.

GRANT-IN-AID APPLICATIONS

Each year Council distributes grants to community organizations. In 2011 the grant‐in‐aid budget is $7,000 and so far $2,400 has been allocated to various community groups such as the Dry Grad, the Rotary Club, the Oyama Fun Days and the Lake Country Native Association.  At the April 5^th meeting Council approved several additional funding requests.  The Lake Country Seniors bus Society was given $2,500 for the operation and maintenance of their bus,  the Lake Country Art Gallery was provided with $1,500 for the costs associated with hosting an exhibit “A Tribute to Rick Davidson” and $520 for the Lake Country Heritage & Cultural Society for Creekside Theatre rental fees.

REGISTER YOUR EXISTING SUITE BEFORE APRIL 29TH

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 29^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 29^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 at 250-766-6675 if you have any questions!  Application for Existing Suites