Lake Country BC CAO

Census Stats and Other Lake Country Stuff

2012-02-08T13:04:00.001-08:00

The numbers are out and Stats Canada has released them. In the last five years Lake Country has grown in population a total of 21.9% and has now 11,708 people living "Life. The Okanagan Way". Lake Country is the fastest growing municipality in the Central Okanagan and the Central Okanagan is the fastest growing area in BC, second only to Greater Vancouver. 21.9% means an average of 4.38% annually, which is above the 3% average forecast in our Official Community Plan. Now this does not mean that we will continue to experience these growth rates. The current real estate market is very slow due to economic conditions, but when those conditions get better, and they will, we will experience more growth in those areas that Council has identified in our plans. So, investors beware! Lake Country is open for business and this is where the Central Okanagan is really growing. We will need more commercial services and vibrant community to provide what newcomers will need in terms of living our Okanagan experience fully. And growth also means gaining needed tax base to properly maintain our infrastructure which is becoming old. Our 20 year plan cannot be accomplished without new growth and other levels of government assistance. Water quality and conservation, as well as transportation, parks, sewage and other infrastructure do not come cheap and they are beginning to come to the end of their life span. When the municipal budget is up for consideration, Council will have to decide what to prioritize, what to delay and what to cut. Remember, municipalities only get 8 cents or less for every dollar we pay in taxes. The rest (a whopping 92%) goes to the federal and provincial governments.

And speaking about budget, Council will begin discussing it on February 16^th. Staff are planning to provide an overview of the current budget and long term plans, incorporate the priorities that were approved by Council in December and come up with a formula that will provide the level of services needed in the community. The current economic times are tough and so Council will be aware of what can be afforded. A business systems review is underway and its final outcome will provide opportunities to scale back some services, save some money and minimize the impact of municipal operations to the taxpayers. We hope to have a final, clear direction from Council next Thursday. I have challenged staff to submit a 'no tax increase' budget, which can be a double edged sword: it could be a temporary relief to the taxpayers but it is also a detriment to future projects as reserves would need to be used in order to continue to make things work. Not an easy task but a very important one for the future of our community.

On another note, I read in the paper that the District is considering a marina on Wood Lake. I have never heard of this before, in fact I was surprised when I read it. I thought maybe I had missed something in the last couple of years. So I asked staff and they were as surprised. We also checked the books and there is no application for such a thing. Maybe the newspaper should ask the District first if this is true before writing something that is not accurate. If, in the past, there was a proposal it is now defunct as far as the District is concerned. Furthermore, deliberations about these things are, by law, made in the public realm and cannot be considered in a closed meeting. In fact, we rarely have closed meetings and only to discuss legal issues, land negotiations and personnel matters. Even in that case, most of the times the resolutions adopted in a closed meeting are brought forward to a public meeting for public knowledge. No secret on this side.

Finally, I wish to highlight the fact that the District of Lake Country has received a grant to do an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan. This is very important for us as our current plans are not fully inter connected. The Plan will include extensive public consultation and will represent a solid picture of where the community sees itself and wishes to be 30, 50, or even 100 years from now. If we don't do this, provincial and federal grants may be not be awarded as those levels of government now require municipalities to take an integrated approach to economic, social, environmental, and infrastructure issues. No big picture, no money. Staff are working on the terms of reference and we hope to begin the process in the spring.

Lake Country Needs More Economic Growth

2012-01-19T09:06:00.000-08:00

I received a few e-mails asking that Iclarify my position with respect to the article “Just a Bit More Balance,Please” published last week in The View as it relates to Lake Country. I amhappy to do so with this blog.

The article, which was written by TomMacDonald in Victoria, was not at all concerned with Lake Country business orthe Lake Country Chamber. It was a general reflection on the economic crisisand reactions to it, including some from a number of local governmentofficials.

The issue in thearticle was about the continuous reports from the Canadian Federation ofIndependent Business (CFIB) about businesses being taxed too much by localgovernments and statements by CFIB with respect to the value-for-money fromlocal governments in general. The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) has triedto counter CFIB claims (for a copy of the UBCM report on CFIB claims please goto Commentson Fiscal Management in BC Municipalities) and I did have some discussion with provincial staff on the Premier’sposition about local governments. In my opinion, CFIB comments are one sided.There are not only issues with local governments taxation systems, if you wish,but also with the way both federal and provincial governments are dealing withthe economic crisis and the impact (or not) on the work force and thetaxpayers. Having said that, I believe that:

· The 2008bailout was wrong and created a bigger gap between the middle class and bigcorporations. In fact the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ which the article talks aboutwas a reaction to the way the bailout money was utilized;

· The smalland medium businesses came out with the short end of the stick in the currenteconomic crisis;

· The issueof taxation is real for business and residential taxpayers alike but smallbusiness is also struggling more than others because of the economic crisis andcannot afford more taxes and rightly questions the value-for-money for theservices they receive (or not) from local governments;

· Alltaxpayers are reaching a capacity limit in what they can pay to sustaincommunity and all governments services;

· We need towork together to find solutions. Conflictual positions do not help.

In Lake Country we need more business and moreeconomic growth. We cannot be sustainable on residential tax base only. It justdoes not work. In addition, the existing businesses cannot afford to pay moreor they will collapse. Furthermore, I know and I appreciate much of the hardwork and countless volunteer hours that members of the business community andthe Chamber provide to Lake Country. I don’t think a community could really besuch without those contributions.

I understand theissues the District of Lake Country is facing and I will continue to work withall stakeholders to make our community an even better place for residents,tourism and business investment. As a supporter of economic development, I willcontinue to make an effort in cutting back our budget to relieve the taxpayersof unnecessary tax increases, and I am confident the new Council will make theright decisions for the community on this. The vision is there and I willpursue it with vigor. Finally, I also hope that we can all support the effortsof our good District staff, recognizing that adjustments need to be made to theorganization and work together to make those adjustments. Cooperation is thekey and our partnership with the Lake Country Chamber of Commerce and otherimportant stakeholders in the community will be critical to accomplish our goalof creating a unique place to live.

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Just a Bit More Balance, Please

2012-01-06T09:19:00.001-08:00

I just recently came across an article by Tom MacDonald, the Executive Director of the Local Government Management Association (LGMA) of British Columbia and 2011 Silver Medal Lieutenant Governor Award of British Columbia. The article fully reflects my sentiments about the subject topic of local government taxation and relationship with the business community and so I asked Tom if I could publish his article in my blog. He agreed and here it is:

"I can't think of even a single time over the past eight years where anything even remotely political in nature has been the subject of this report. After all, normally we leave the politics to the folks at UBCM (Union of British Columbia Municipalities). However, a few weeks ago I was out walking with a local government colleague and we got onto the topic of the various "Occupy" movements that were manifesting themselves across North America including Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria. While the "Occupy" groups seem to be at best incoherent collectives of people with beefs against "the system," the prevailing theme of the movement is that corporate greed has led to a situation where a very small percentage of the population controls much of the wealth, and that the gap between the rich and poor continues to grow.

So what does any of this have anything to do with local government in British Columbia? Well, most of you who are our members and readers will know that local governments have been under a concerted attack this year by business lobby groups who are saying that local government spending is out of control, that business pays too much, and that business has no voice in how they are taxed. Earlier this year, an excellent response to these concerns was prepared by the UBCM in collaboration with LGMA and GFOA to address these specific points. (See www.lgma.ca: Resources and Publications for a copy of the report.) While not wanting to rehash the report, it did acknowledge that local government expenditures and taxes were rising, but that in virtually all cases, these costs were coming from the local taxpayers who were demanding the increased services. It also provided data showing that the business share of property taxes has actually gone down over time versus residential taxes, and that the majority of elected officials in B.C. were from a business background.

So now back to my walk with my colleague and our conversation about the "Occupy" movement sweeping North America. "How is it," he said, "that the business community and Chamber of Commerce groups often lead the charge for pressing local governments to provide additional services – deal with homelessness/street people in business areas, deal with criminal gangs, undertake beautification projects in business areas, provide more downtown parking, install new underground infrastructure to facilitate development, etc., etc. – but in the next breath, they attack local governments for increased expenditures? Isn't this just a bit hypocritical that the business lobby always seem to want more but that they want others to pay? Could this be a version of the same principle that the "Occupy" movement has seized upon when they complain that a very small minority control the wealth while the rest of the population bears the burden?" Of course my friend also raised the point that any business person reading this article would simply make the assertion that as local government employees, comments such as these from us are just self-serving and an attempt to protect our fat-cat jobs. In response to this, one might ask, how many local government managers make up that 1% who control the 99% of the wealth compared to those who are business people?

"Just a bit more balance on this debate please!" said my colleague."

The article speaks for itself…thank you for listening.

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Lake Country is Moving Forward

2011-12-13T10:22:00.001-08:00

On Thursday and Friday last week, Council and staff met to establish the District's priorities for the new term and the debate was about narrowing down the District's focus to some essential and fundamental targets. There was much debate but in the end it looks like economic development, water quality, and safe and well maintained infrastructure are at the top of the list.

The group was able to identify more than one hundred projects and issues for discussion but was also comfortable to combine many of those under a number of categories to establish the top priorities to tackle in the next first months in office.

The Water Master Plan and its implementation were again at the top of the list. As you may recall, this was also the top priority in the previous term. Much was done in the last two years, to the point that a preferred option was chosen by Council and information sessions were held in order to create awareness of the plan and the chosen option. The next step will be to acquaint the new Council members with the plan, the capital projects that are needed to implement the strategy and the corresponding cost, and finally to have the plan finalized and approved prior to the 2013 budget cycle. The first step will be to present the plan and the necessary background information to Council in January and work with the consultant to prepare the final consolidated plan.

It is important to remind that the volunteers sitting on the Water Advisory Committee spent countless hours to steer and guide the process this far. They have supported the preferred option and have assisted with the public information process. It is also important to remind that there are some immediate needs that the District is already working on. Probably the most significant is the former Wood Lake water system, which will positively affect and improve the long standing issue of water quality in Oyama. We have repeatedly said that the new system will be ready in 2013 and that work has begun this year thanks to a grant from the provincial and federal governments. Finally, the issue of water rates will have to be discussed as part of the budget process. The question is whether a major increase is necessary immediately or it can wait until the next budget process. Again, this is something Council will debate and decide likely in January.

With respect to infrastructure, Council is well aware of the issue of aging, which is not unique to Lake Country but is common to all Canadian municipalities but safety is paramount for our community. So called 'Active Transportation Hot Spots' will be on top of the agenda, such as Lodge Road and Davidson Road. Council will review the list staff has been working on for the last couple of years and prioritize them in order of urgency and funding criteria. We need no reminder that funds are tight and will be even tighter as we meander through a global economic crisis that still lingers on. The District has already been working on this in the last two years and seeing this again on Council's agenda is a good sign that we are going in the right direction.

With our Waste Water Plant at capacity, another priority is also the finalization of our Liquid Waste Management Plan and securing the Ministry of Environment and Interior Health 'go ahead' with the expansion of our septic facility and the ability to provide a long-term sustainable approach to liquid waste (another item from last term priority list).

Finally, Economic Development and the Town Centre are back on the top of the agenda. Focus on a strategy, possible incentives and an understanding of market dynamics will help to successfully accomplish the economic rebound that our community needs, especially in view of the fact that almost 90% of our tax base is from residential properties.

As we work on finalizing these priorities, the Corporate Business Plan will be prepared accordingly and the budget submitted on the basis of these priorities. We will continue to communicate to the public through our social media and the traditional press and we are thankful to our local newspapers for the support they provide in communicating these important issues to the community.

Lake Country is truly moving forward.

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There Is More Than Meets the Eye

2011-11-25T14:08:00.001-08:00

With a new Council and the highest election turnout in Lake Country's history of local government elections, interest in what we do and how we do it has increased. I am very pleased about this, because one of the biggest issues we face at the local level is apathy for municipal government. I love my job and I have passion for what I do and the community I serve and live in. In addition, as a local government administrator I deal with a very complex field and a wide variety of issues: from road construction and maintenance, to parks amenities and recreation centres; from water quality and conservation, to saving lives and properties; and the list goes on. In addition, as the Chief Administrative Officer of a municipal corporation I have the blessing (or for some the curse) of two main responsibilities: first to advise Council to the best of my ability on the options they have in order to make an informed decision; and second, to carry out those decisions with the assistance of staff. It takes an entire organization to do that.

In my life experience, I have worked in many jobs. I sold computers, I reported for newspapers, I served in the military, I practised law, I consulted private corporations on management and business plans, I taught, and finally I worked (and work) in local government. I believe that my variety of experiences has provided me with good common sense and decent business practices. I have to say that, in all honesty, working for local government is not for the faint of heart. You have to keep motivated all the time and you have to fight constant misinformation on what staff do and how we are organized and operate. Notwithstanding all that, my job is a constant inspiration to me and to the majority of our staff. I remember a few years ago I hired a new Director of Finance for a municipality from the private sector. She had never worked in local government but she was the best fit for the job and I was right. She did a wonderful job and she earned the respect of many colleagues who have never worked in the private sector. She used to tell me that she had never been so busy in her entire career. Indeed her job with that municipality was very demanding on her. Just a couple of years ago she left that local government and is now working for a progressive, rapid growing private company expanding its business throughout BC and Alberta. In fact, she has become a partner in the company. One day we were having a conversation about differences in work environments and she said to me: "I never thought working in local government would be so hard, busy and demanding. Compared to the work I did in private corporations, some of them very big, local government is the most challenging and demanding." I believe so too.

Lake Country as a community will face hard times and the new Council will have to meet new and old challenges, especially doing more for less. So, if working in a municipality was busy and demanding in the past, it is even more so today. In thinking of these challenges, may I suggest that it is our responsibility, collectively, individually and in all of our respective roles to do the following:

Be informed. Get to know your local government by approaching staff and asking questions on how things work and what we do. Try to understand the demands of your community and how we are trying to meet them. Finally, approach your elected officials and ask them good questions about the goals and objectives of your municipality.
Be connected. In a society where social networks are the norm of communication now, the District has a Facebook page, a Twitter account, and a You Tube account. Subscribe and keep informed on what's happening in your community. Our Parks & Recreation department also has a Facebook page. Visit our new beautiful website at www.okanaganway.ca and the information in it. You will find useful stuff that will help you explore our community in more depth.
Be part of the solution, not the problem. Your feedback is important to us and we understand that sometimes you can be frustrated by the bureaucracy imposed by the many laws that regulate us. Sometimes even staff scratch their heads at some of the legislation they have to deal with. The reality is that local governments have a very limited autonomy and it all comes from the provincial government. They pretty much decide what we do and how we do it. In addition, they are downloading more and more responsibilities to local governments without giving them the resources to do it. It is as frustrating for us as it is for you.
Be positive. Recently, I received an e-mail from one of my staff who also has had a long experience in the private sector. In a nutshell, he was concerned at the tone of some election campaigning, not just in Lake Country but everywhere else in BC. He commented: "... I've been thinking a bit about working in local government lately, with the election coming and some candidates, journalists, and forum respondents passing various types of comments about municipal staff being lazy, incompetent, etc. While I know it is a common misconception for people to think that public servants are lazy, incompetent, etc. due to the bureaucracy, it concerns me how advocating and voicing these misconceptions can affect the entire organization [and the community] in the long term… I don't believe they consider how attacking the reputation of the municipality has many unintended impacts. .. I'm sure these claims do not help how employees see themselves. Worse yet, they will no doubt affect our ability to attract the bright talent that we need to develop and improve as an organization, or to retain the talent that we have already. I believe that while we do have areas to improve upon as an organization, we have taken many steps lately to get better and we have many highly qualified and talented professionals working [in local government]. As someone who has worked in the private sector and in various municipalities, and is committed to working in the local government field, I find it troubling that public service … seems to be valued less [than other services]."

Staff are here to help and are committed to provide the best service to the public and the community. I know that, like all organizations, there is always room for improvement and we are working hard on making those improvements happen. The majority of our staff are local taxpayers and care for the community as they care for their family's and individual quality of life. Also those who don't live in our community are caring individuals that take pride in what they do. Give us the benefit of the doubt. There is much more to local government operations than meets the eye.
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The Future is Now

2011-11-21T10:01:00.001-08:00

The municipal election is over and the dust is settling. In Lake Country, the Mayor, James Baker, was re-elected and so two of the incumbent councillors, Penny Gambell (at Large) and Barbara Leamont (Carr's Landing). We also have four new councillors: Jamie McEwan (at Large), Rob Geier (Winfield), Owen Dickie (Oyama), and Lisa Cameron (Okanagan Centre). I congratulate the new elected Council and I am looking forward to the new term with them. I also wish to thank those who were not elected for their dedication and hard work. Each one of them brought a unique set of skills that provided good leadership and vision for the community.

What now? I would say: the future is now. There is much that needs to be done and the new Council will begin working immediately to understand their role, their function, and their responsibilities and to set the priorities for the next three years. On December 6^th, the new Council will be sworn in and a number of orientation sessions will be held beginning next week. We will also hold a priority setting session at the beginning of December and an initial budget session. We do not waste our time at the District but we work hard to get things going.

One of the things we are working on is a business systems review with the purpose of streamlining our organization and operations and alleviate potential tax increases in the future. In addition, there are critical capital projects and plans that need to continue to be pursued. We have not heard from the province yet regarding our grant submission for the expansion of our sewer plant. The Regional District is contributing to the project but we cannot proceed without the bulk of the funds that could come only through a grant. Lodge Road design is near completion and we should be able to start the work in the spring of 2012. This is a much needed improvement that will benefit both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, especially the many students that walk that road during the school year. The province will contribute to the funding of the project and we made an application to ICBC for some money as well. The Water Master Plan will be discussed as part of the budget process as the model calls for fee increases in the next two years.

Then there is some important stuff that will need to be addressed. Boundary readjustments with the City of Kelowna and possibly more collaboration at the political and administrative levels between the City and the District; increase partnership opportunities with the Okanagan Indian Band through the provision of services and the implementation of economic and tourism development projects; and of course our Town Centre and the District economic development strategy.

On top of all of this, there are many other projects that are in progress and there is the day-to-day operational load. It is good to be busy and we welcome opportunities. Definitely, we will not be idle and the new Council will begin its work at a rapid pace. Again, the future is now for Lake Country.

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Lake Country Endorses Progressive Plan to Reduce Municipal Carbon Footprint

2011-11-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

Lake Country, BC – In an effort to reduce thecarbon footprint of their municipal operations and meet the terms of theprovincial Climate Action Charter, the District of Lake Country Councilrecently developed and endorsed a new Carbon Neutral Operations Plan. LakeCountry signed the province’s Climate Action Charter in 2007, requiring them tobecome carbon neutral in their municipal operations by the end of 2012.

By reducing or offsetting theirmunicipal carbon emissions, Lake Country intends to provide an example of howmunicipal carbon neutrality can become a reality, and by doing the right thing canalso position themselves for continued senior government grants. “This plan hasallowed us to inventory all aspects of the municipal operation over time,identify cost saving areas and historic trends, as well as narrow in on those facilitiesneeding the most attention” says Mayor, James Baker.

Development Services Manager,Mark Koch, explains that “the different energy sources used by the municipalityover the past three years were tabulated, and converted into tons of carbonequivalent, allowing the municipality to understand the true carbon footprintof the District’s water system, sewer infrastructure, arena, works facilitiesas well as other District functions”. While not tying the District to any onesolution, the plan provides a framework for future green technology investmentdecisions to be made in the most impactful areas, favoring local reductionsolutions over offsetting, where possible.

While the District believes thatreducing their consumption of electricity, gasoline, natural gas, and all otherfuel sources simply makes good business sense, they also plan on using revenuefrom the award winning Lake Country Hydroelectric Generating Station to helpoffset costs associated with becoming carbon neutral.

For more information, contact:

Mark Koch, Development Services Manager

250 766 6674 mkoch@lakecountry.bc.ca

Alberto De Feo, Chief Administrative Officer

250 766 6671 administrator@lakecountry.bc.ca

November 1st Council Meeting Highlights

2011-11-03T15:08:00.000-07:00

Due to the upcoming election, RegularCouncil meetings will not be televised on Shaw Cable until after the GeneralVoting Day on November 19^th. In addition, there will be no Public Commentor Councillor Comment periods during Regular Council meetings until after theElection.

LodgePine Estates Bylaw 675, 2008
Bylaw675 rezones a narrow strip of land from Rural Residential to Direct Control andPark to construct 4 duplexes has been on the District’s books for several yearsbecause of outstanding issues. Theapplicant has dedicated the required park land to the District and Council gavefinal reading and adopted the bylaw.

Carbon Neutral Operations Plan

In 2010 the District signed the Climate ActionCharter and made a commitment, along with all BC municipalities, to achieveoperational carbon neutrality by 2012. Staffpresented an operational plan to inventory District emissions and establish broad principles forreductions opportunities. The inventory will help calculate carbon-offsets thatmay be needed to achieve carbon neutrality but does not commit the District toanything. The emissions inventory will be reviewed and updated annually toprovide up-to-date information on the amountof carbon being emitted by the District. See the complete Carbon Neutral Operations Plan that wasendorsed by Council.

Shanks Road Development Variance Permit

Council approved the application to varythe floor area of a number of accessory buildings at 8051 Shanks Road from 100m2 to 460m2. Theapplicants would like to build a new residence on a farm property and convertthe old residence into a storage building. The total floor area of the old residence and a variety of storage buildingson the property used for farming purposes exceeds the total allowable floorarea for accessory buildings on property zoned Agriculture 1 which does nothave farm assessment. The approval ofDVP2011-009 will allow the applicant to build a new single family dwelling and keep theexisting accessory buildings for storage and farm use.

Whiskey Cove Road Development Variance Permit

The applicant applied for a varianceto construct a new pool and outdoor lounge area on the property at 15510Whiskey Cove Road. The proposed planrequires a variance of the sight line and north and south side yard setbacks. Staff recommended that the variance not besupported as there are opportunities for the plans to be modified to eliminatethe need for both the side yard setback variances and the sightlines variance. After a lengthy discussion Council approvedthe applicant’s request to vary the site line requirements and the south sideyard setback although denied the request to vary the north side yard setback.

McCreight Road Development Variance Permit

The applicantfor the property at 13210 McCreight Road applied to vary the sight linerequirements from 120 degrees to 80 degrees to remove the exiting dwelling andconstruct a new single family dwelling with a pool and outdoor living areafacing the lake. Council approved theDevelopment Variance Permit DVP2011-013 as the existing views from theneighbouring properties are skewed to the south and will not be significantly impacted.

Sawmill Road Development Variance Permit

Kon Kast Holdings Ltd. applied to relax the requirements of theDistrict’s Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw in order to construct a 36,600 sq.ft concrete production and casting facility at 15670 Sawmill Road. The servicing standards require sidewalks,curbs and gutter, community sewer, underground wiring and street lighting. Staff recommended approval of the variance asnone of the surrounding properties have urban services and the economicdevelopment value of the development will expand the community’s industrialbase. The applicant will be required toprovide full water service and roadway improvements along Sawmill Road in orderto accommodate anticipated loads. Councilapproved the variance adding the requirement that a buffer be installed toshelter the neighbouring properties and also that additional lighting beinstalled on the existing hydro poles along Sawmill Road.

MTI & Bylaw Enforcement Amendment Bylaws

Dueto a minor error the current MTI and Bylaw Enforcement bylaws do not cite thecorrect sections of the new Building Regulation Bylaw 709, 2011. Council gave 3 readings to Bylaw NoticeEnforcement Amendment Bylaw 805, 2011 and Municipal Ticketing InformationAmendment Bylaw 804, 2011 so that the bylaws accurately cite therelevant sections of the municipal bylaws that the ticket is issued under.

Padel Licence of Occupation at Jack Seaton Park

There are two PADEL courts set up in Lake Country onthe old tennis courts with a third one being planned. Mr. Thorburn operates thePADEL courts and since the sport began in Lake Country, has run camps, juniorprograms and ladies programs, all of which have met with great success. PADELsupports the District’s drive to increase physical activity for Lake Country citizensand Mr. Thorburn has already invested in the development of the site such as walls,fixing cracked areas of the old tennis courts and the re‐anchoring of the nets.The proposed Licence of Occupation to operate the courts at Jack Seaton Park willrequire the maintenance of the area, an annual fee of $500 and appropriateliability insurance. There has been great enthusiasm from the community for thesport which was showcased by CHBC and there has also been some earlydiscussions about an interprovincial tournament that could be held in LakeCountry next year. Council approved the Licence of Occupation for the period ofJune 2011 to December 2015.

Is there Anything Happening in Lake Country? Part 3

2011-10-31T15:59:00.000-07:00

Thisweek I would like to continue the story of what’s happening in Lake Countrywith more details on infrastructure, water and the Parks and RecreationDepartment. If you have read Alberto’sblogs then you are familiar with his story of the grasshopper and the ant wherethe grasshopper spends all summer with his feet up, relaxing while the ants runaround preparing for the long, chilly winter ahead. Of course we all know that the District’sinfrastructure is vital to the wellbeing of our citizens and businesses. Butdid you know that much of our infrastructure will be reaching the end of itsuseful life over the next few decades? TheDistrict has prepared a 20 year plan called the Integrated Asset ManagementCapital Plan (IAMCP), which is a really long name for a plan that tells us whatneeds to be replaced, when it needs to be replaced and how much it’s going tocost. The IAMCP is the District being ants. Not only are we going to beprepared for when the time comes, we are already working like little ants toget ready for the long winter ahead. Some of the things already underway are:

· The Liquid Waste Management Plan, which is being updated with theMinistry of Environment, gives us a 20 year plan for how we collect and manageliquid waste. It is being done at the same time as the predesign for theWastewater Treatment Plant Phase 3 Expansion to make sure we are continuing tomove forward with our plans.

· The $5 million Kal Lake Interconnect project will give us theability to put Kal Lake Water into the Oyama Lake water source giving us moreoptions, and more water, in times of drought and during peak seasons. It willinclude 1 new reservoir, a new pump station, new pipelines (already done!) andultraviolet disinfection capabilities.

· I’m hoping everyone has heard of our Water Master Plan project? Wehave done mail outs, held information sessions and done presentations to asmany committees (both internal and external) that we could get to. The WaterMaster Plan final documents will be presented to Council in early 2012 and thenwater rates will be discussed by the new Council during budget time.

Andwhere do we even begin with the Parks and Recreation Department, which is nowcalled the Parks, Recreation and CultureDepartment. Their list of Capital Projects goes on for an entire page! Justlook at all the great amenities we have in Lake Country: tennis courts, theTrethewey Splash Park, Padel courts and some of the most beautiful and soughtafter soccer fields in the entire Okanagan.

Thisyear the Lakes Resident Association and the District joined forces to build theApex Drive Park project. The Association provided free pizza and masses ofpeople (ok maybe not masses but definitely swarms) came out to help build thiswonderful asset to the community.

The Winfield Recreation Centre is continuingalong its expansion phases which saw new dressing rooms and door upgrades lastyear with refrigeration, compressors, dehumidifier upgrades and a lightingretrofit in 2011. Not only did thelighting upgrades help us reduce our carbon footprint by replacing 35 year oldlight fixtures with a new, high efficiency system, we were also able to installsome groovy lights that make the winter DJ skates a huge hit! Check out thisvideo from the first skate event using the new system.

TheParks, Recreation and Culture Department also made the move of bringing contractedservices in-house this year which has turned out to be a huge advantage. Services have improved significantly with nobudget impact, the parks staff are highly skilled and have the specificknowledge, equipment and training to get at the problem, get it fixed and do itquickly.

Thiswas also the first year that Lake Country got involved in the Communities inBloom Project with Kelowna offering to mentor us for the first go around. Everyonein Lake Country dashed around cleaning, planting and making our alreadybeautiful community shine. On July 20^th the judges arrived and wereloaded into a bus for the grand tour. And do you know what they saw? Shiny,happy people… …everywhere! A family was enjoying a beautiful afternoon at KopjePark, the Lake Country Boys and Girls Club had the kids on a field trip at the SwalwellPark, there was a tournament being held at the tennis courts, a group of peoplefrom the Connect Brain Injury Clinic were visiting the Community Gardens, Padelwas in full swing, the soccer fields were full and kids were enjoying theplayground at Jack Seaton Park. Not only were the judges impressed but staffwere moved by what they saw. Sometimes juststepping back to see and appreciate what we already have in our wonderful littleLake Country can inspire us in moving forward and making it even better.

TheParks projects may be ones that are most visible in the community but there areso many other things going on behind the scenes (and under the ground) in the District. All these projects, and the dedicated staffthat are working on them, are so vitally important to the growth,sustainability and health of our community. We are planning and working for the future so we can continue to liveLife…the Okanagan Way.

Reyna

Reduce and Simplify

2011-10-19T12:32:00.001-07:00

The District of Lake Country has experienced rapid growth in recent years and it also depends heavily on its residents rather than local businesses and industry for its tax revenues. It just makes sense, then, that the District operates effectively (doing the right things), efficiently (doing things right) and economically (operating at least cost). Current economic conditions are not conducive to much growth and real estate business has been flat for a while now. For these reasons, our taxpayers will be hard pressed to foot a high tax increase or one at all. In order to find the budget efficiencies we need to balance our budget by keeping our levels of service the same without any substantial tax increase, we have initiated an organizational review and I wish to provide some information on the scope and work-plan of this project.

SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES
The scope of this review is to examine all District services and contracts with the exception of the fire department and police service (we just completed a fire department strategic plan and the RCMP is not under our direct jurisdiction). In addition, we have identified the following three objectives that the review will focus on:

Examine the organization structure to determine if it can be more effective and efficient;
Identify opportunities to reduce, prevent, control and recover operating costs; and
Coach District leaders in improving municipal administration and operations.

WORK-PLAN
There will be an initial information gathering phase where we are going to: a) define role, responsibilities, accountabilities, concerns and ideas for improvement; and b) review financial statements, budget, OCP and other municipal reports and statistics. The second phase will be to identify key business processes in the District, such as issuing development permits, building inspections, bylaw enforcement, tax billing and collections, recreation planning, and economic development, to cite a few. During this phase we will also asses three key business processes to identify improvements and cost reduction opportunities by reviewing resource requirements, cycle times, reporting, service levels, and customer satisfaction. Then we will apply core service review criteria to the major District services and compare District's operations and costs to other municipalities, we will identify opportunities for improving costs, and we will develop and assess opportunities to improve the organization structure and accountabilities.

WHEN WILL THIS BE DONE BY?
The information gathering has already started and, except for a brief break for Christmas, we will continue this review with the hope to provide initial recommendations to Council for budget purposes sometime in December. A final report is expected to be submitted to Council in February 2012. Due to the aggressive timeline we have set out to meet, we will need the assistance of a consultant. The person who will do this review for us is Dugal Smith, a management consultant for 37 years who spent 14 years as a partner with Price Waterhouse.

Thank you very much for your support on this and if you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact me in writing at administrator@lakecountry.bc.ca
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What’s on the Agenda Tonight? Only three Council Meetings before the Election

2011-10-18T11:53:00.001-07:00

We have another Council meeting this evening. After this one, there will be only two more left for this Council due to the municipal election on November 19^th. Let's take a peak of what's on the agenda for tonight.

DAVIDSON ROAD IMPROVEMENTS
At the last Council meeting, Councillor Gambell tabled a Notice of Motion requesting that we do more improvement work on Bond road following the improvements we have made don Davidson road. In addition, Councillor Gambell would like to widen the road stretch at the westbound stop intersection of Davidson and Bond as some concern was expressed on the new design of that intersection. She would like also this work to be done now for safety reasons. As this is a budget issue ($25,000 will be needed to do this), there will be some discussion at the Council table about the motion. The issue of safety was addressed in a report from Greg Buchholz, which is on the agenda. The design and work was done by expert engineers and workers and it was checked by ICBC for safety. Staff has been assured that the work has increased the safety of the intersection but residents feel otherwise. So this evening, Council will attempt to find a solution.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

We are still looking for volunteers for our committees. We know that it is difficult to give precious time to the community when economic times are so tough, but we hope to have a good number to get these committees going.
The semi-annual water bills are due on October 31^st.
This week (October 17^th – 23^rd) is Waste Reduction Week. Please be conscious of waste reduction efforts at home and at work and recycle all that you can. It's important to our quality of life.
British Columbia Youth Parliament is seeking for applicants. If you know of a young man or woman that are interested in politics and in learning how our political system works, please talk to them about this great opportunity. Applications are found at www.bcyp.org
Finally, if you are going to be out of town on Municipal Election day (Saturday, November 19^th) or have made other plans to enjoy that weekend, you can vote on November 9^th and November 15^th at the Municipal Hall between 8am and 8pm. Don't be shy and come out to vote.

LAND USE APPLICATIONS
The rezoning bylaw (Royston) for the property on Chase road, which is somewhat a continuation to the South of the Sage Glen subdivision, is going to Council for final adoption. It could have been approved at the last meeting two weeks ago, but Council had requested more information about water availability to both the new development and the farm properties in the area. The answer is that there is enough water and more for that area and that response was provided to Council.

A request for a Temporary Permit to store heavy equipment on a property on Chase road against zoning regulations is again on the agenda. Staff has recommended Council to deny the request after Council had asked that the property owner be given an opportunity to comply with regulations and address other zoning issues to no avail.

In order to correct some minor errors, the Lakestone property will have to go through a 'cosmetic' amendment (if I can define it that way). Because there is absolutely no change in the purpose and scope of the development, staff have requested Council to waive the Public Hearing requirements.

OTHER MATTERS
We have a delegation from the Open Air Performances. Carmelo Scarpino (a nice Italian fellow J) will provide Council with the highlights and review of the 2011 season, which went very, very well.

A couple of Bylaw Enforcement matters: a house on 4410 McCoubrey road did not pass the final inspection so Council will be asked that we place a Notice on Title on the property. A garage was built but no inspections were completed at 15611 Roberts Road. In addition, there are setback problems and the property owner has not provided the required documentation. Also in this case, Council will be asked to place a Notice on Title.

The Finance Department is recommending Council to approve a grant-in-aid to the Lake Country Food Assistance Society in order to waive the rent of the Creekside Theatre for the Society's Christmas Musical Fundraiser event, which will be held on December 10^th.

Finally, the Fire Prevention Bylaw is on the agenda for final adoption.

SOME ELECTION PROCEDURAL MATTERS
The Public Comment period and the Council Questions and Answers period will be taken off the agenda as of tonight and until after the election to guarantee a fair election process (in other words, one can't campaign by using a public meeting).

Reyna will provide you with the outcome of the meeting
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Is there Anything Happening in Lake Country? Part 2

2011-10-14T10:15:00.001-07:00

This week's contributor is Reyna Seabrook, the District's Executive Assistant and Communication Officer. There are also two pictures of the proposed design for Lodge Road. If you click on the picture you will be able to enlarge it to see some of the details.

"A few weeks ago Alberto gave an update on what's happening in Lake Country. He spoke about economic development, branding, Town Centre development and other achievements that are not only putting Lake Country on the map, but creating a strong, sustainable and vibrant community.

So what else has been going on in Lake Country? I thought about listing all of our capital projects, but by the time I got to page 4, I started to think about how much room I actually have in this article. Needless to say, there are many (all listed in the 2011 budget) and we are working on all of them.

One big change the District made this year, which is turning out to be a huge success, was the decision to bring some of our roads contracts in-house. You may have seen Gary and Al around the community doing all sorts of jobs from painting to picking up garbage, talking to people in the community, responding to calls for drainage issues and animal pick-up. The switch to in-house has allowed us to be more proactive with our maintenance programs resulting in less weather related problems and has also improved service call response time exponentially. Gary and Al are both long-time residents of Lake Country and like many residents they are proud to live here and want to see this community look its best.

Have you ever heard someone say "Lake Country is a great place to live – but not always the easiest place to get around?" I can see you nodding your head, and we are nodding along with you. One of our top capital priorities is the Integrated Transportation Framework; a project that looks at all modes of transportation in Lake Country, not just vehicle traffic. It promotes liveability and health, connects neighbourhoods to schools and parks, includes multi-modal transportation options for transit and accessibly and makes transportation convenient, easy to use and barrier free.

So how are we going to do this? Let's go back to our Capital projects list and talk about a couple of more projects that fit into the Integrated Transportation Framework. First up, Lodge Road: We all know how many people use Lodge Road, especially the kids walking to GESS, and we all know that something needs to be done to improve this area. The Lodge Road Transportation Corridor design is well underway with pre-design and preliminary cost estimates already completed. The Lodge Road Project will be going out to tender in early 2012 and construction is planned to begin in the summer of 2012. Some of the highlights of the project include:

a round-about at Lodge and Bottom Wood Lake Road intersection
3.5 metre travel lanes and a 1.5 metre bike lanes
2 metre sidewalk – separated from the roadway with a bio-swale* to control and treat Stormwater drainage prior to entering Vernon Creek (ps if you are thinking "what the heck is a bio-swale?" don't worry, I asked the same question. Basically it's a section of gently sloped land with native plants and vegetation separating the road from the pathway to control runoff water.)
Pedestrian Bridge at Vernon Creek
LED Street Lighting & landscape trees

The Davidson Road Project was another capital project identified as an area that needed improvements to both infrastructure and safety. The approximately 450 metre asphalt curb and pathway was done in a completely cost-effective manner with all the engineering standards being met or exceeded. The pathway was also completed in time for the students returning to school.
We definitely have to acknowledge one of our biggest partners in helping us work towards achieving our goal of integrated transportation in Lake Country. The Walk Around Lake Country, or WALC as they are known, volunteers are un-ending in their devotion to this community. They are helping the District identify the top pedestrian active transportation linkages and working with us to integrate them into the Integrated Transportation Framework plan.

Other projects that you may have noticed around the community:

In response to meeting and working with the group GESS Student group, Teens 4 Change, a 30 km/hr school zone was put in in front of the school along with an additional crosswalk to increase student safety.
In response to a petition received from residents in the Lakes subdivision about the speed of traffic on Lake Hill Drive, traffic calming devices were installed at the Shoreline intersection and rumble strips were placed at the Oceola intersection. Next year we will also be putting in a crosswalk at Oceola and Lake Hill Drive.
Middle Bench Road was renewed and the drainage was improved.
We received a beautification grant from BC Hydro to remove the power poles along Main Street and Bottom Wood Lake Road which also helps improve site line visibility in the school zone.
To help improve transit we installed 7 brand new bus shelters complete with solar lighting.

These projects are just the starting points to an idea of creating a living community with vibrant and environmentally friendly networks…and just think how sweet it will be to hear …. "Lake Country is so easy and enjoyable to get around while being safe at the same time!"

Reyna Seabrook"

October 4th Council Meeting Highlights

2011-10-05T16:11:00.001-07:00

Zoning Amendment (Royston) Bylaw 795, 2011
The Royston Zoning Amendment Bylaw proposes to rezone the property at9614 Chase Road from single family to duplex. After a discussion and a requestfor additional information from staff on the water supply to the property,Council gave Bylaw 795 third reading.

Zoning Amendment (Russo) Bylaw 784, 2011

The Russo Zoning Amendment Bylaw proposes to re-zone 8 large rural lotsalong Oyama Road and was met with some controversy at the Public Hearing onJune 7^th. Residents expressed concern about the subdivided propertysizes and sufficient ground water in the area. The bylaw had been referred backto staff to consider a reduction in density and a site specific zone of RuralLarge Parcel Oyama Road which would allow limited subdivision while maintainingthe OCP vision of a rural area. Theamended bylaw reduces the number of lots on the northernmost properties by 3.Council had a lengthy discussion about the water availability on the propertiesand the effect that subdividing would have on the surrounding properties. Council’s motion to send the bylaw back to a publichearing was defeated and a second motion giving the bylaw 3^rd readingsubject to receiving a hydrogeological report that meets the satisfaction ofthe Approving Officer prior to 4^th reading, was passed.

Development Variance Permit 12976 East Ridge Ct.

The applicant received a Building Permit authorizing theconstruction of a single family dwelling unit at 12976 East Ridge Court. The structure was located within therear‐yard setback of the property. The applicant built the home as per theplans and a variance permit is now required to authorize the encroachment intothe setback before final occupancy can be issued. Council approved DevelopmentVariance Permit 2010-010 relaxing the rear yard setback from 6 to 3.7 m.

Subdivision Application 15042 Oyama Road

A portion of Oyama Road crosses private property located at 15042Oyama Road and the owner of the property suggested swapping a laneway locatedalong the rear side of the property for the trespassing roadway. The laneway is also owned by the District andCouncil supported staff’s recommendation in rejecting the proposed applicationon the basis that the travelled portion of Oyama Road is protected under theProvincial Transportation Act. If the land swap was approved the District wouldbe trading its own land (the laneway) for land that the District has control ofby way of provincial legislation.

CorporateBusiness Systems Review

In view of the unfortunatethreat of another recession being more real than ever and in orderto alleviate possible tax increases in the 2012 budget the Chief AdministratorOfficer requested that Council initiate a Business Systems Review with theintent of finding efficiencies within the budget. It was suggestedthat Council contemplate a conservative financial plan and find efficiencieswithin the current and future budget to minimize tax and fee increases to themaximum extent possible while trying to minimize the effect on current services.The assistance of an external, experienced professional is necessary to providean unbiased approach to the methodology andCouncil authorized staff to proceed with the Business Systems Review allocating$30,000 from prior years’ general fund accumulated surplus for this project whichwill be completed in time for budget deliberations.

Letterof Support for the Okanagan Indian Band

TheOkanagan Indian Band is submitting a proposal to the BC Capacity Initiative toassist in its land‐use planning goals and requested a letter of support fromthe District Country to include with their proposal. The BC Capacity Initiativeis a federal initiative committed to “supporting First Nations to enhance theircapacity to prepare for consultation, negotiation, implementation or managementof land and resources components of current or future aboriginal titlesettlement agreements”. Council was happy to assist the application byproviding a letter of support.

FirePrevention Bylaw

TheDistrict’s previous Fire Prevention Bylaw was adopted shortly afterincorporation and as the District has evolved it has become evident that thefire department requires prevention language in the bylaw to address specificconcerns within the community considering the department’s staffing andresource capabilities. Besides providing updated language, the proposed FirePrevention Bylaw 800, 2011 will adopt the BC Fire Code, relocate the RegionalDistrict of the Central Okanagan’s Fireworks Bylaw into the Lake Country bylawand be linked to the MTI and Adjudicated ticketing process for enforcementpurposes. The bylaw revision was one of the fire department’s 2011 strategicobjectives and Council gave 3 readings to Fire Prevention Bylaw 800, 2011,Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw 801, 2011 and Municipal TicketingInformation Amendment Bylaw 802, 2011

DavidsonRoad Pathway

Councillor Gambell provided a Noticeof Motion for discussion by Council requesting that $25,000 from prior years’general fund accumulated surplus be allocated to continue the pedestrianpathway northwards up Bond Road and to straighten the pathway section at theintersection of Davidson and Bond Roads and that the work be completed in theFall of 2011. Staff will provide areport on the Notice of Motion for the next Council meeting.

Council Meeting News

2011-10-04T10:11:00.001-07:00

ANNOUNCEMENTS

We are still looking for volunteers for our committees as several positions are available because terms have expired. It is difficult to find people that wish to give free time when there is so much economic turmoil nowadays. We are also reminding people that Nomination Packages are available for the upcoming Municipal Election. I believe one aspiring candidate has filed with Hazel this morning. We are also informing the public that water bills have been mailed and payments are due on October 31. Finally it's going to be Waste Reduction Week the week of October 17.

LAND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS

We are asking Council to approve a Development Variance Permit to relax the rear yard property setback for a home at the Lakes (12976 East Ridge Court). In this case, DLC incorrectly issued the permit for the structure so we are fixing the problem. We are also proposing adoption of rezoning of the property immediately south of the Sage Glen subdivision on Chase Road to allow the construction of attainable housing (mostly duplexes) on the property. We will then deal with a request to swap land with the District with the intent to close a laneway on Oyama Road. In reality we already own the road under provincial legislation so we are asking Council to reject the proposal. Finally, Council will deal with the proposed rezoning of large portions of land in Oyama to create 21 lots and subdivide them for future development. The owners wish to do this mostly to ensure that family members can have portions of their lands and live there, however there are concerns from the public on density and especially on servicing. It will be an item of great discussion around the Council table. In fact it will be the highlight of the evening.

ADMINISTRATION

In view of the recession and in order to alleviate possible tax increases in the 2012 budget, I am asking Council to initiate a Business Systems Review with the intent to find efficiencies within the budget. I am concerned that a tax increase would be too much at this time for our residents, especially those who have lived here for a long time and have very little disposable income. I hope to have this completed as part of the budget process.

PROTECTIVE SERVICES

The Fire Department is proposing a new Fire Prevention Bylaw and coordination with our Bylaw Enforcement Ticketing bylaw (Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw). There is a lot of effort from staff to put together this bylaw and more coordination will be needed to complete it before final adoption.

DAVIDSON ROAD

The last item on the agenda is a Notice of Motion from Councillor Gambell which reads:

That Council allocate funds of up to $25,000 from prior years' general fund accumulated surplus to continue the pedestrian pathway northwards up Bond Road and to straighten the pathway section at the intersection of Davidson and Bond Roads;

And that the work be completed in the Fall of 2011

A number of residents, although pleased with Council's action to complete improvements to Davidson Road, have expressed the desire to further improve the safety features at Bond and Davidson and I believe this motions is trying to address those requests.

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Lake Country Discusses Water, Infrastructure Management and Active Living with Provincial Ministries

2011-09-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

The District of Lake Country Council hadanother busy and productive day at UBCM in Vancouver.

In a meeting with the Minister ofCommunity, Sport and Cultural Development, Ida Chong, Council discussed theneed for infrastructure grants as the issue of maintenance and replacement ofwater, sewer and roads is becoming urgent in the community. The Ministerassured Council that if the Federal Government initiates new infrastructureprograms the Province will match their contribution and support the programs. TheUBCM Gas Tax fund is currently still available to municipalities and theDistrict has submitted an application to fund the upgrade and expansion of the WastewaterTreatment Plant, which is almost at full capacity. The Wastewater TreatmentPlant project is also sponsored by the Regional District of the CentralOkanagan as the plant also functions as the regional septic facility.

Council also talked about the need for anew Active Living Grant Program with Minister Chong, who noted that pastprograms such as the Senior Parks Equipment program were initiated by the Province.Notwithstanding the fact that there are no current programs available, theMinister encouraged Council to write a letter requesting that the Provinceconsider creating new Active Living opportunities, especially in view of the agingpopulation.

Following the meeting with Minister Chong,Council met with the Minister of Health, Mike De Jong, to address issues ofwater infrastructure and coordination of water standards throughout theProvince. The Minister acknowledged the need for coordination of departments atthe provincial level in dealing with water policy and issues and reiteratedthat grant programs could only be available through federal initiatives. Headded that his ministry is willing to work with the District to find solutionsthat can be effective and less costly in order to provide the best options forall residents.

“It was a very positive day” said MayorBaker, “we felt that progress was made, especially with respect to theimplementation of our Water Master Plan, which, without the assistance of theProvince, cannot be fully sustainable.”

Lake Country Council Brings Municipal Issues to the Attention of the Provincial Government

2011-09-28T15:27:00.000-07:00

The District of Lake Country Council is inVancouver along with all BC local governments to participate to the annualUnion of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention. In addition to the AnnualGeneral Meeting and policy sessions where various motions are discussed andadopted for advancement to the Provincial Government, Mayors and Councils meetwith ministers in order to solve local issues on which the provincialgovernment has authority. On Tuesday Lake Country Council met with twoministers and the Premier and participated in a number of workshops and policysessions of interest to the community.

The first meeting was with Minister MaryPolak, Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation. Council discussed Lake Countryand the Okanagan Indian Band concerns for the protection of water sources oncrown land and also requested further assurance that lease lots not be sold toprivate individuals, as announced by Minister Bell last year. Minister Polak reiteratedthat lease lots will not be sold and congratulated Council for its exemplaryand successful relationship with the Okanagan Indian Band.

Council met with Premier Clark to discussthe proposed Municipal Auditor General and also the District’s recommendationto create only one department for water affairs as there are currently at leastfour different ministries with conflicting views on management and protectionof water resources. Minister of Environment Terry Lake, who was at the meetingwith the Premier, confirmed that the government is already looking at optionsrealizing that the complexity of water service delivery requires properattention. Minister Lake also offered to meet with Mayor and Council to furtherdiscuss their proposal.

Finally, Council met with the Minister ofTransportation and Infrastructure Blair Lekstrom to follow up on the futuremaintenance and use of the current Highway 97 corridor along Wood Lake once thefour laning project is completed in 2013. Both the Minister and theDistrict acknowledged the value of the new highway stretch under constructionand the old corridor, which will be devolved to the municipality once the newhighway section is in operation. Minister Lekstrom will request that his staffwork with the District to finalize the terms of the transition of the oldcorridor from the Province to the municipality.

“So far, this has been another successfulUBCM convention” said Mayor Baker, “I feel that our concerns are being takenseriously and that our collaborative approach is paying off. I also wishto acknowledge the hard work of MLA Norm Letnick who is always a strongadvocate for our community and has the ear of Cabinet members.”

On Monday evening the District wasrecognized by Clean Energy BC for its Hydroelectric Generating Station andreceived the ‘Project of the Year’ Award. The City of Surrey was also recognizedas the Clean Energy Community of the Year for its efforts in planning for greenenergy.

On Wednesday Council will meet with theMinister of Community, Sport & Cultural Development, Ida Chong and theMinister of Health, Mike De Jong. On the same day Lake Country will bealso showcased for its proactive approach to asset management.

Neighbouring Cities Bloom Under Mentoring Program

2011-09-28T15:25:00.000-07:00

Communityparticipation and the use of public art have won the District of Lake Countryits first award at the provincial Communities in Bloom Awards Ceremony lastweek. The City of Kelowna also received recognition for mentoring the Districtthrough its debut into the international beautification program.

“Lake Country is such a beautifuland diverse place, filled with natural landscapes, tended fields, vibrantgardens and community art. We are so pleased to be recognized for the hard workand dedication of the community,” says Lake Country Councillor Noreen Guenther.

The annualCommunities in Bloom program is a friendly competition that encouragesmunicipalities to foster civic pride, environmental responsibility andbeautification through local gardens, community programs and green spaces. Eachyear, members of the local community and city staff create a submission packagehighlighting the horticultural features of the community and tour judges aroundthe area in August.

This year theneighbouring cities took their mentorship to a new level and partnered on acommon presentation theme: Art & Agriculture.

“Being a seasonedCommunities in Bloom participant, it’s been our pleasure to mentor a number ofcities in the valley including Lake Country,” says Kelowna Communities in Bloomvolunteer Suzanne Anderton. “We look forward to one day working together as avalley – from Armstrong to Osoyoos – promoting the Okanagan as a destinationfor horticultural tourism and setting the whole valley in bloom.”

Setting the stagefor next year’s theme “Water”, the City of Kelowna was also awarded “FiveBloom” status for the un-H₂O Xeriscape Demonstration Garden at theMission Recreation Complex at this year’s provincial ceremony. Kelowna willhost the annual Communities in Bloom Awards convention in 2012.

For more informationon provincial Communities in Bloom program, see bccommunitiesinbloom.ca. Forlocal program information, visit the Communities in Bloom pages on lakecountry.bc.caor kelowna.ca.

Is There Anything Happening in Lake Country? Part 1

2011-09-23T12:09:00.001-07:00

I just realized that I have been with the District of Lake Country for 2 years now. Time goes by very fast when one is busy. And we have been very busy. Last night I met with Council to talk about accomplishments and to look at the future as well. It was a very good discussion and I wish to share some points with the Community.
The feeling around the room was that we have established a firm foundation for future Councils through the creation of a vision for Lake Country. By approving a Corporate Business Plan, Council endorsed three main general objectives for the Community:

Put Lake Country on the map or, in other words, create a strong identity and awareness of our Community throughout BC and the rest of Canada;
Make Lake Country the best place to live in BC by creating a sustainable and vibrant Community;
Make the District the best place to work by creating an organization that is trusted and respected by Council and the Community.

These are not easy tasks to accomplish but we have strived to fulfill Council's vision and to assist our local government in moving forward on important issues and projects. As a resident of Lake Country, I too, with my family, desire the best for us and our family and I believe that Lake Country definitely fits the bill. In April we moved in the new Sage Glen subdivision on Chase Road and a couple of nights ago we, together with the other residents, celebrated our new life in an area that not only provides affordable housing but has been a successful attainable housing project thanks to the District's partnership with the Okanagan Foundation, whose purpose is helping a number of qualified families to purchase their first new home. It is all about building a Community.
Some of the things we have done are pretty self-explanatory. Let see what they are.
The two major Council priorities under 'Put Lake Country on the Map' are:

Community Branding; and
Town Centre Plan

In addition, Council identified Economic Development as a major focus.

The District has completed the Community Branding priority. As a result we now have:

A new Logo and Brand;
Recognition by Canada Post of Lake Country as a Community;
A new Community Portal (website);
Advertising in strategic publications targeted at visitors of our valley;
Creation of marketing material;
Social Media Network Participation;
New Banners in the Town Centre;
New Tourism Signs in strategic locations.

Obviously, these efforts cannot remain an isolated phenomenon and we will need to work further on marketing the Community. However, these efforts have helped so far in focusing on the other two priorities. With respect to the Town Centre, although there is still much to be done, which is mostly dependent on market conditions, progress has been made and can be summarized as follows:

Numerous meetings with the landowners have been held and continue to be held with Council and staff. This is providing the landowners with more confidence that there is support from the District;
Meetings have been and are still held with potential buyers/developers to discuss opportunities and options. Just recently we met with a corporate group that has a signed purchase agreement with one of the landowners on Main Street and they are now working on identifying needs and draft a concept for discussion with the District;
Council approved a Development Permit for the construction of a TD Bank. Work has begun and construction is progressing;
Council has given three readings to the McPhearson rezoning proposal on the south-east side of Main Street and is waiting for Ministry of Transportation approval.

In addition, Council and staff have been working in fostering further economic development and tourism. Some of the things that have happened are:

The creation of an Economic Planning & Development Committee, to provide advice to Council on economic development matters;
Meetings of staff with various developers to further plans for current land identified for growth under the OCP. Some of these meetings have moved to development applications such as the rezoning of the AMG site on Oceola Road (Turtle Bay Crossing Commercial development), the redevelopment of the Oyama Sawmill site (an application is forthcoming), the advancement of the McCoubrey Plateau Neighbourhood Plan study, whose final drafting should be ready for Council review in the next month or so, the Lakestone development, the Turtle Bay Campground, the rezoning of the Royston property on Chase Road for attainable housing just to cite a few;
The creation of a District Staff Economic Development Working Group, to move along economic development decisions;
Increased partnership with the Chamber of Commerce through a current review of the Visitor Information Centre services and direct participation to the Chamber Tourism Committee;
The creation of the Okanagan Indian Band and District Working Group, which meets monthly to discuss mutual economic development opportunities;
The creation of a District Staff Agriculture Economic Development Working Group, to further advance the District's Agricultural Plan and related economic growth opportunities.

All of this just in two years. But it is not all. Stay tuned for more information to come in the next few days.
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Lake Country Showcased at NABOC

2011-09-22T17:46:00.001-07:00

If you missed this news release from last week…

The District of Lake Country was showcased at the National Aboriginal Business Opportunity Conference (NABOC) in Osoyoos for its advanced branding and First Nations relations.

The new brand and website were portrayed as a successful business story of a local government reinventing itself and putting the community 'on the map'. Lake Country is becoming widely recognized for its individuality thanks to its marketing efforts, which are bringing more development opportunities in the community and its Town Centre, and its extensive social media network. The District's Facebook page, Blog, and Twitter, together with its new community portal, are creating awareness and a positive energy about the community.

In addition, Lake Country was recognized for its progressive leadership in its partnership relations with the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB). The District and OKIB signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2005 and at the beginning of this year, the relationship was taken to a higher and more active level with the recognition by the District of OKIB traditional rights and the creation of an Action Working Group, with members from both governments, to tackle partnership opportunities, especially in the areas of economic development and community services. The Working Group meets monthly and is actively pursuing a number of ideas.

"We are very pleased with the progress our community has made in the last two years" Mayor Baker stated, "Notwithstanding the difficult economic environment, the District of Lake Country has shown proactive leadership in Economic Development and we are beginning to see the fruits our labours."

The District will be recognized for its Hydroelectric Generating Station project, which will bring revenue to the municipality, by Clean Energy BC at its annual conference in Vancouver on September 26^th.

Community Input on Agri-tourism Accommodation

2011-09-22T15:15:00.001-07:00

The District of Lake Country would like to invite residents toattend an open house on October 5, 2011 from 3pm to 7pm at the Municipal Hall. Thepurpose of the open house is to obtain public input to aid the District indeveloping possible policy amendments to better guide agri-tourismaccommodation.

Based on public feedback, the District has recently curtailednew Agri-tourism operations in the community while it undergoes a publicconsultation process. Council wishes to give the community and stakeholderstime to participate in a meaningful manner and create new Agri-tourism policycriteria that will meet the needs of both residents and farmers alike.

District staff will be presenting a brief backgroundon Agri-tourism in BC and the District along with presenting possible optionsto amend Agri-tourism as permitted use within the community. The District islooking for public feedback to guide the development of future Agri-tourismpolicy.

Should anyone not be able to attend the October 5,2011 open house, the information boards and copies of the open house surveywill be on display at the District Municipal Hall until October 13^th,2011.

For more information contact:Development Services staff at the District of Lake Country. Tel 250-766-5650 ordevelopment@lakecountry.bc.ca

Sept. 20th Council Meeting Highlights

2011-09-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

PUBLIC HEARING
The Public Hearing for Zoning Amendment (Royston) Bylaw 795, 2011 washeld and there were approximately 8 people in attendance. Bylaw 795 proposes to rezone the property at9614 Chase Road from single family to duplex. No letters were received and no comments wereheard from the gallery at the public hearing for the rezoning.

AGRITOURISM BYLAW AMENDMENT OPEN HOUSES

OnJune 7^th Council discussed concerns around the development of Agritourismaccommodation on ALR Land and recommended that the agritourism accommodation provisionsin the zoning bylaw be removed until significant public consultation had been undertaken.Council directed staff to initiate the consultation process suggesting that ameeting be held in each ward of Lake Country. Staff proposed that one centralized meeting be held at the MunicipalHall on October 5^th allowing a greater breadth of conversation andlarger attendance to discuss issues related to Agritourism. One centralizedmeeting will also allow the attendance of outside stakeholders to attend onemeeting rather than a several meetings, saving time and money. Councilsuggested the possibility of holding the meeting over several days allowingmore options for residents to attend.

BUILDING BYLAW 709,2011 – FORMS POLICY

Counciladopted Building Bylaw Forms Policy No. 11.118 which simply standardizes theforms, permits and applications that are a part of Building Regulation Bylaw709, 2011. By adopting these forms aspolicy, rather than as part of the Bylaw, the forms can be easily updated andchanged through policy amendments rather than through Bylaw amendments.

DEVELOPMENTVARIANCE PERMIT 11184 DAKOTA ROAD

Theapplicant for DVP 2011-005 initially commenced construction of a 2-storey deckoff the rear of the house without applying for a building permit and wasrequested to stop work. It was thendetermined that a variance was required as the rear yard setback was beingencroached upon. The property slopes downward from Dakota Road to the rearproperty line and is rather unusable due to the slope. One neighbouring resident spoke against theproposed variance suggesting that the deck would reduce the surrounding views.Council discussed a potential allegation of an illegal suite in the home and after some discussion, approved DevelopmentVariance Permit DVP2011-005 varying the required rear yard setback from 6 m to4.38 m.

DEVELOPMENTVARIANCE PERMIT 10559 OKANAGAN CENTRE ROAD WEST

Theapplicant for DVP 2011-008 requested a variance to reduce the required sideyard setback from 3 m to 2 m to build a 2938 sq ft accessory building with agames room/gym and garage, behind the existing dwelling. Approximately fourneighbouring residents submitted letters opposed to the variance. Council denied the variance noting that thereare several modifications that can be made to the building whereby it wouldmeet the required setbacks and eliminate the need for a variance.

ZONING AMENDMENT(WUTHRICH) BYLAW 796, 2011
Owners of 10 properties along Stubbs and Ottley Roads in LakeCountry made application to have their properties rezoned from RuralResidential 2 to Rural Residential 3 to allow for future subdivision. The bylawreceived first reading on Aug. 16, 2011 which included a requirement for the propertyowners to work with staff to develop a conceptual servicing model of the area beforesecond reading was considered. Staff recommended that the detailed servicingconcerns be addressed as part of the larger McCoubrey Plateau planning processand after a lengthy discussion, Council referred the bylaw back to staff andthe applicant reiterating the requirement for a conceptual servicing model ofthe area before presenting the bylaw at a public hearing.

NOTICE ON TITLE 11039DELDOR ROAD
Councilplaced a Notice on Title on a property at 11039 Deldor Road for construction ofa building without the required permits violating Building Regulation Bylaw709, 2011. The property owner has not responded to date and was not in attendanceto speak to the item.

AUDITOR APPOINTMENT

GrantThornton LLP, and its predecessor Rutherford Bazett, have been the District ofLake Country’s auditors since incorporation, as well as the auditors for theformer Winfield Okanagan Centre Irrigation District. The firm has an extensivebackground in serving as auditors for local public sector organizations,including several irrigation districts, the City of Kelowna and the District ofPeachland. The existing 5‐year contract has expired with the completion of the2010 year‐end. Council approved staff’s recommendation and appointed GrantThornton LLP as the District’s auditors 2011 to 2015.

TRANSIT OPERATINGAGREEMENT
Councilauthorized the AnnualOperating Agreement for transit service between the District, BCTransit and FirstCanada ULC for April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012 as part of Lake Country’s participation in theKelowna Regional Transit System. Annual Operating Agreement (AOA)’s with BCTransit and the transit operating company are standard agreements which providethe annual budget, payment schedule from BC Transit to the operating company,the service hours, and fares. The totalcost of the Kelowna Regional Transit System is $18.0 million, with LakeCountry’s share being $789,000, or 4.4% of the total. After accounting for farerevenue and BC Transit’s contribution, the 2011/12 AOA estimates the District’snet cost to be about $325,000.

LEFT TURN SIGNALS ATHIGHWAY 97/BEAVER LAKE/GLENMORE ROAD INTERSECTION

TheMinistry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) has agreed to installadvanced left turn signals at the intersection of Highway 97 and BeaverLake/Glenmore Roads. The total cost of the project is $70,000 with constructionand installation costs split 50/50 and MoTI absorbing the design costs of about$5,000. Council amended the 2011Financial Plan to include the District’s portion of $35,000 in the capitalbudget funded by $27,654 from Council Contingency and $7,346 from Prior Years’Accumulated Surplus. Installation should be complete this fall.

FIRE DEPARTMENTSTRATEGIC PLAN & SECOND QUARTER REPORT

The LakeCountry Fire Department has embarked upon a program to develop a Strategic Plan to guide its activities over thenext five to fifteen years. The intent is to establish a direction for theDepartment to follow as it faces the challenges inherent in any public serviceagency in this day and age. The Strategic Plan does not deal with directoperational matters such as fire ground activities but rather focuses at ahigher level on internal administrative matters, long term financialrequirements and sets a course aimed at addressing the way the District managesthe fire service. The Fire Chief also presented the Second Quarter Report including stats on incidents,recruit training, inspections, capital projects and more.

ENABLING ACCESSIBILITY FUND -ACCESSIBLE RAMP AND SWIM BAY

The Human Resources and Skills DevelopmentDepartment of Canada is accepting applications under their EnablingAccessibility Fund Small Project Component with a deadline of September 23,2011. The maximum funding for a projectis 75% up to $50,000 supplied by the federal government. Over the past three years, both PARC and theAccess and Age Friendly committees have mentioned the idea of an accessibleramp that would allow access to one of the lakes in the community. The exactlocation hasn’t been decided although Beasley Park beach may prove to besuitable as it is not a fish spawning ground and the depth of the lake isgradual. Council approved the submissionof a grant application and a $12,000 capital expenditure in the 2012 budgetcontingent on the grant application being successful representing theDistrict’s 25% contribution. If the grant application is approved the projectmust start by March 31, 2012 and be completed by March 31, 2013 and Councilrequested that staff engage in discussions with Committees and other communitystakeholders before a final location is determined.

Lake Country Hydro generation Plant is a Winner…Again!

2011-09-13T08:53:00.001-07:00

We have been just notified that the District of Lake Country is the recipient of the 2011 'Project of the Year Award' for the 2011 Clean Energy Awards. This is an annual competition held and administered by Clean Energy BC, which is a not-for-profit provincial organization whose mandate is to develop a viable independent power industry in British Columbia that serves the public interest by providing cost-effective electricity through the efficient and environmentally responsible development of the Province's energy resources.

Since 1992, the Clean Energy Association of British Columbia (formerly the Independent Power Producers of British Columbia) has been the voice of Clean Energy Producers in BC, to government and the public - when the members (and non-members alike) have chosen to send a collective signal. Also, government policy makers invite Clean Energy BC's input as they prefer principle-driven (versus project-driven) perspectives and the efficiency and fairness of finding an industry consensus position. Clean Energy BC has been active in advocacy with government electricity policy formulation, regulatory processes, permitting procedures, BC Hydro procurement, BCTC services, media coverage, informing the public, local and First Nations governments and resource users throughout BC.

The District is very proud of this accomplishment and for good reasons. This is the second provincial award given to the District on this project: the first time, the Hydro Generation Plant received a Union of British Columbia Municipalities award in 2009.

Once the bills are all paid, the revenue generated by the sale of electricity to BC Hydro will go to a reserve to assist with capital projects with 'green' blueprint. We are estimating an average of $350,000 a year, which equates to a bit more than a 4% tax increase. Not bad for return on investment in the public sector and no wonder the project has won two awards already.

I wish to thank Council, Jack Allingham, who worked on this project since the beginning, and Randy Rose, the Administrator at the time, for their vision and effort to make this vision come true.

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September 6th Council Meeting Highlights

2011-09-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

NOMINATION PACKAGES ARE NOW AVAILABLE

Nominations packages for the 2011 General Election are now available at the Customer Service Centre at the Municipal Hall during regular business hours. Nomination documents can be submitted to the Chief Elections Officer from October 4 to 14, 2011.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. Ron Volk thanked Council for their grant-in-aid contribution to the Custom and Classic Car show that was recently held at Swalwell Park. There was a great turn out with people coming from all over BC and Alberta to see over 200 cars with the oldest car from 1928! The Custom and Classic Car Show was such a success that they were able to donate $2,000 to the Lake Country Food Bank and hope to be back next year with a bigger and better show!

2012-2016 FINANCIAL PLAN & 2012 ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS & GUIDELINES

Council approved the 2012 Annual Budget and 5 year Financial Plan guidelines & timelines which supports Council in meeting their objectives and provides direction to staff for the budget process for the upcoming budget cycle. The budget cycle will be more ‘on-time’ being approved as early as possible in the year.

GREENHOW COURT LOCAL SERVICE AREA
Staff have been involved in negotiations with property owners on Greenhow Court regarding the transfer of ownership of a strata common property. Staff worked with the owners to determine necessary upgrades and the owners submitted a petition to have the area established as a Local Service Area. Council approved the petition and gave 3 readings to Local Service Area Establishment Bylaw 797, 2011 & Greenhow Court Local Improvement Expenditure Bylaw 798, 2011.

NOTICE ON TITLE 12022 PRETTY ROAD

Council placed a Notice on Title on a property on Pretty Road where a garage addition has been constructed without a Building Permit. The addition encroaches into required separation space between mobile homes and requires a Development Variance Permit and a Building Permit for the construction. The owner was advised that the matter was to be presented to Council but no response was received prior to the meeting.

SIX MONTH FINANCIAL RESULTS

The six‐month financial results indicate that overall the District is within budget but some departments are struggling due to negative variances in revenue. Overall, the operating budget is under budget which is an improvement from the same period last year. The operating budgets of General Revenue, General Government, Engineering, Parks & Recreation, Development Services, Transit and Sewer are over‐budget. Managers are working diligently to make adjustments where possible. All other departments and functions are under budget. Most departments have operational items and projects whereby expenditures are not made evenly throughout the year. While there has been a serious attempt to account for these seasonal influences in the figures above, a department’s final year‐end figure could be dramatically better or worse. In addition, since the operating results are only to the middle of 2011, there are many future factors that could impact the bottom line negatively or positively. See all the details in the complete report to Council.

WINFIELD CURLING CLUB LEASE AGREEMENT

The Winfield Curling Club has leased the Winfield Recreation Centre facility for many years in order to operate the club, lounge activities, ice making and janitorial duties. The club continues to provide a valuable service to the community and the District enjoys a solid working relationship with the board and their staff. Council approved a 5 year lease agreement with the Winfield Curling Club from April 1, 2011 to March 30th, 2016 which will continue to allow the club and the District an opportunity to offer a good facility and programming to the club’s members and public.

REGIONAL RELATIONS – CODE OF CONDUCT

Council endorsed the proposed Regulation Regarding Relations between RDCO Board, Electoral Area Directors and Partner Municipalities. Earlier this year the Regional District of the Central Okanagan (RDCO) Board drafted an internal & external Regional Relations Code of Conduct that sets out guidelines for dealing with regional partners and promoting the development of effective working relationships. Council endorsed the Proposed Regulation Regarding Relations between RDCO Board, Electoral Area Directors and Partner Municipalities to ensuring that quality and effective services are continued to be provided.

August 16th Council Meeting Highlights

2011-08-17T16:12:00.000-07:00

ZONING AMENDMENT (MACPHERSON) BYLAW 794, 2011

Bylaw 794 went to Public Hearing on July 19^th and proposes to rezone the property located between Main Street and Vernon Creek to allow for development of a mixed use commercial/residential complex consistent with the District’s OCP. Council gave third reading and forwarded Zoning Amendment Bylaw 794 to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for approval.

BC HYDRO SMART METERING PROGRAM

During Public Comment Mr. Hans Karow of Lake Country expressed concerns about the BC Hydro Smart Meter program, specifically about potential health hazards and residents’ lack of opportunity to provide input. Mr. Karow handed out some information for Council and listed 7 communities in BC that have placed moratoriums on the installation of the smart meters. Gary Murphy, Chief Project Officer from BC Hydro made a presentation to Council outlining the program which will deploy automated data collection systems and upgrade old meters to new smart meters. The most recent BC Hydro generating facility was completed in 1984 and the system of electro-mechanical meters hasn’t been upgraded in 50 years. The demand on electricity in BC will increase by 40% over the next 20 years and BC Hydro says smart meters will help customers better manage their energy use and reduce GHG emissions. Council had some tough questions for Mr. Murphy about the implied health hazards, the potential of smart meters leading to time-of-use billing and the need for public input. Council requested that BC Hydro provide some more information to the District from trusted reliable sources that can be made available for residents. Information will be posted on our website as soon as it’s available. What is your opinion on the smart meters? Join the conversation on Facebook!

FORESHORE INVENTORY AND MAPPING

Jason Schleppe reviewed the Foreshore Inventory and Mapping & Aquatic Habitat Index for Okanagan Lake. The project compiled information on the current condition of the foreshore on Okanagan Lake (289 km of shoreline – eg Kelowna to Hope) in order to help create an integrated approach to watershed management and determine the current state of the foreshore of Okanagan Lake. This data will help develop policies such as the Regional Growth Strategy and Official Community Plans and provides an invaluable GIS database.

TURTLE BAY CROSSING DEVELOPMENT

The Turtle Bay Crossing Development bylaws propose to change the property at 11850 Oceola and 2855 Woodview Road from Urban Residential to Mixed Use Commercial and to a Direct Control zone. Plans include approximately 44,000 sq ft of retail and office space. Council had a lengthy debate related to access issues, development in this location, the need to expand the Commercial tax base in Lake Country and the importance of promoting development in Town Centre. After a lengthy debate, Council gave third readings to the Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw 773 and Zoning Amendment Bylaw 774 with a provision that a meeting be held with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and the developer to ensure that secondary access issues are addressed to Council’s satisfaction.

DEVELOPMENT VARIANCE PERMIT - Retaining Wall (Hahn)

Council approved a development variance permit allowing the construction of an over-height retaining wall on a property on Forest Hills Drive. The retaining wall will be used to shore up a failing driveway and staff suggested that the wall would have minimal impact on the neighbourhood aesthetics as well as enhancing the safety of the lot.

TEMPORARY USE PERMIT – Destination Management

Council denied the Temporary Use Permit for the Lakes Development freestanding sign on the property at the corner of Oceola Road and Hwy 97. The sign is contrary to the District’s Sign Bylaw and the timeliness for the location of the sign has expired.

STUBBS & OTTLEY ROAD ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW

Zoning Amendment Bylaw 796 is an application from a group of approximately 10 properties along Stubbs and Ottley Roads to have their properties zoning amended from RR2 – Rural Residential 2 to RR3 – Rural Residential 3 order to allow for future subdivision. The properties are not currently serviced with District sewer and connections would be required prior to any subdivision. Staff supported the application as a means of adding density to an already developed area and recommended that the applicant submit a concept plan on the feasibility of providing sewer to the affected properties. Council read the bylaw a first time and requested that staff work with the applicants to pursue options for servicing the area.

ROYSTON ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW

Council rescinded second reading due to a mapping error and read Zoning Amendment Bylaw 795 again a second time as amended. Bylaw 795 proposes a minor change to rezone a portion of the property on Chase Road from RU1 ‐ Single Family Housing to RU6 ‐ Two Dwelling Housing and to RM2 ‐ Low Density Row Housing. Bylaw 795, 2011 will be forwarded to a Public Hearing.

TRANSIT

There are over 120,000 registered vehicles in the region, and 90 per cent of residents commute to work by car. With the population increasing from 188,000 to approximately 264,000 in 2035, the number of automobile trips will increase in a constrained road network. Meeting the demands of the population and traffic growth in the Central Okanagan requires a shift in focus from moving vehicles to moving people. To help build a sustainable future in the region, the plan is designed to increase 4.3 million rides today, to nearly 16 million rides in 2035. The Transit Future network is composed of four layers of service that are designed to efficiently and effectively move people and are facilitated by transit priority measures: Rapid Transit Network (RTN), Frequent Transit Network (FTN), Local Transit Network (LTN) and Targeted Services. The presentation on the Central Okanagan Future Plan, Executive Summary and Final Draft Future Transit Plan were approved by Council and are available on our website.

COUNCIL NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Council adopted Nominating Committee Policy 11.120 which creates a sub-committee of Council to assist Council in seeking potential members, reviewing applications and recommending appointments for Council Committees. Other communities have found this helpful in getting and keeping members of the community engaged in community affairs. Staff will be bringing forward recommendations for adjustments to individual Committee Terms of Reference in order to streamline and add consistency to the process of selecting Committee members.

COUNCIL POLICY REVIEW

The Corporate Services Department recently conducted an audit of all the current Council Policies to ensure that they are still relevant. There are approximately 120 policies on a range of topics dating back to incorporation in 1995. Some have been rendered inapplicable by virtue of changes in legislation or through new practices and procedures developed as the District has grown. Table 1 of the report summarizes the policies proposed for rescinding and provides some background and accompanying explanation for each one. Council approved staff’s recommendation rescinding the indicated policies and also adopted an updated Farewell Gifts Policy and Grants in Aid Policy.

NOTICE ON TITLE

Council placed a Notice on Title for a property located at 16015 Powley Court due to a grow-op which was dismantled by the RCMP in January. The District’s Bylaw 728 requires that the property be remediated and inspected prior to occupancy which has not been completed to date.

More on Water and Water Bottles

2011-08-03T16:38:00.001-07:00

I have received the following comment from Deb Youngest, in our Engineering Department:

"Interesting reading. On the point of the environmental impact that comes along with drinking from plastic bottles, it made me think of a photo series that drew my attention a few years ago. Chris Jordan. “Running the Numbers: An American Self-Portrait.” I’ve only seen the pictures on the internet; I imagine it is quite more impactful to see them life-size (on five-foot by ten-foot canvas):

http://www.chrisjordan.com/gallery/rtn/#plastic-bottles - “two million plastic beverage bottles, the number used in the US every five minutes.” (if you use the Click to Zoom feature, you’ll see the image contains quite a few water bottles in amongst the pop and Gatorade detritus).
http://www.chrisjordan.com/gallery/rtn/#caps-seurat – “400,000 plastic bottle caps, equal to the average number of plastic bottles consumed in the United States every minute."

Maybe the numbers in Canada are lower but I think they would still be pretty high. Meanwhile, did you know that the average person in the Okanagan uses 675 litres of water each day? Wow is the expression that comes to mind. This is more than twice as much water than the average Canadian uses, which is 329 litres per day. Clearly the Okanagan average is high and needs to be addressed, especially when we have less water available to us than almost anywhere in Canada. Interestingly, the average resident in France uses 150 litres per day and, in water-stressed Israel, people use 135 litres per day.

The figure of 675 L/day is an annual average for all Okanagan residents. Our use in the summer is actually much higher than in the winter. Residents in the North Okanagan, where they receive more precipitation, use less water than South Okanagan residents who live in Canada's only pocket of desert.

Should I say more?

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Lake Country is being Proactive – Part 2

2011-07-21T09:02:00.001-07:00

Following up on the fable of 'The Ant and the Grasshopper' I cannot help but think of the wasteful attitude of the latter. Well, today, many people in many developing countries seek out clean drinking water with much difficulty just like little ants try to store food for the winter because they know food will be scarce as water is scarce in many regions of the world. But developed nations such as the US and Canada behave like grasshoppers spending billions of dollars to buy bottled water even though their respective countries provide clean drinking water from the tap or are making considerable effort to do so. Our water is envied by many in the world and yet we prefer buying commercial water. I think people need to be made aware of some basics facts that may help them understand the implication of not supporting a water infrastructure management plan. Here it goes.

Bottled water is in many ways a North American obsession, with North Americans drinking annually 10 billion gallons. Not only do they drink vast amounts but they are willing to pay 10,000 times the cost of tap water for the privilege of drinking an arguably inferior product. We get the 10,000 times number from the fact that on average bottled water cost $10 per gallon compared to tap water which costs $.0015 per gallon or about a tenth of a penny (North American average). What is more is that the plastic bottles that this water comes in create billions of pounds of oil based trash destined to live out a thousand year lifespan in a trash dump.

Globally some 53 billion gallons of bottled water are consumed creating a $63 billion dollar industry. One the most peculiar facts is that 40% of this bottled water is actually taken from municipal water sources also known as "tap water". Another strange element of this puzzle is that far less testing is done on bottled water than on tap water. It turns out that unlike tap water, bottled water isn't tested for e. coli. More still is the fact that it can be distributed even if it doesn't meet the quality standards of tap water. Unlike tap water, bottled water isn't required to produce quality reports or even provide its source.

Comically, the bottled water production process is fairly resource intensive. It actually takes 17 million barrels of oil to produce bottled water which is enough oil to fuel 1 million cars for a whole year. Oil isn't the only necessary resource. Luckily tap water is very cheap because it takes about 3 times the amount of tap water to produce and fill 1 bottle of bottled water.

Sadly, it isn't just expensive and potentially lower quality to drink bottled water but there is an environmental impact that should be considered. Even though most major cities in North America have made recycling available, only 1 in 5 water bottles ever get recycled. Instead, 4 go to the trash dump to create about 3 billion pounds of waste just from all of the discarded plastic.

By properly looking after our infrastructure, just like little ants gather their food for the winter and accumulate resources with an eye to the worst to happen, we will have cheap, clean, drinkable and affordable water, and we will not need to spend money in expensive bottled water.

Council Meeting Highlights from July 19th

2011-07-20T16:03:00.000-07:00

TURTLE BAY CROSSING DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HEARING
The Turtle Bay Crossing Development at 11850 Oceola and 2855 Woodview Road proposes an OCP amendment to change the property from Urban Residential to Mixed Use Commercial and amend the Zoning to a Direct Control zone. The development is located near various Lake Country communities and proposes to include approximately 44,000 sq ft of retail and office space. Members in the gallery requested that the development ensure inclusivity for the mobility impaired and noted that the development will help create employment in the community.

ZONING AMENDMENT (MACPHERSON) BYLAW 794, 2011 PUBLIC HEARING

Bylaw 794 proposes to rezone the property located between Main Street and Vernon Creek to allow for eventual development of a mixed use commercial/residential complex consistent with the District’s OCP. There were no letters received and no comments from the gallery at the Public Hearing.

PUBLIC COMMENT
Approximately 6 people spoke against the proposed Juniper Cove OCP Amendment Bylaw 769, 2011 which proposes to amend the property at 17520 Juniper Cove Road for the eventual development of a 168 unit urban residential development. Residents requested that Council respect the Carr’s Landing Sector Plan and deny first reading of the proposed bylaw.

RCMP QUARTERLY REPORT

RCMP 2011 strategic priorities identified for Lake Country include grow ops & drug trafficking, road safety, community relations and water safety. From April to June four grow ops & drug trafficking search warrants were executed with over 5,500 marihuana plants seized and 7 people arrested. In the road safety division there were 27 accidents during the quarter which is a 51% reduction over the same period last year. There was a 61% decrease in impaired driving cases for the period which is a direct result of the new Immediate Roadside Prohibition program. On June 1^st Lake Country members were working on community relations at Tim Horton’s, although on this day, the constables were serving the coffee and donuts in support of Tim Horton’s Children’s Foundation! Water safety and noisy boats are a big issue in Lake Country during the summer months and the detachment has been stepping up small vessel enforcement in the community in conjunction with Transport Canada and Lake Country Bylaw Enforcement. Click here to view the complete report with all the details.

ZONING AMENDMENT (ROYSTON) BYLAW 795, 2011

Bylaw 795, 2011 for a property at 9614 Chase Road, proposes to amend the zoning from RU-1 Single Family Housing to RU-6 Two Dwelling Housing which is consistent with District OCP objectives and only changes the form of development from single family to duplex. Council gave 2 readings and forwarded Bylaw 795 to a public hearing.

JUNIPER COVE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL
Almost 65 residents were in attendance opposed to the proposed OCP Amendment. As staff’s recommendation for the Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw 769, 2011 was to deny 1^st reading, the applicant was provided an opportunity to address Council and outline the request to amend the OCP. The OCP amendment Bylaw, which is the first step in the development application process, proposes to amend the property at 17520 Juniper Cove Road to a future growth area for the eventual rezoning and subdivision for a 168 unit urban residential development. Arguments were made that the development design is well thought‐out and fits well on the property although its location at the perimeter of the community brings forward concerns of sustainable growth. Staff recommended against the bylaw because the costs to maintain a development of this scale in this area of the community are excessive when compared to similar developments closer to available infrastructure and services. Council unanimously denied 1^st reading of the OCP Amendment Bylaw 769, 2011.

TRANSIT FARE INCREASE
Transit fare increases take place approximately every four years with the last change in September 1, 2007 increasing fares by $0.25. Council approved the recommendation from the Regional Governance and Services Committee to support a transit fare increase of $0.25 effective January 1, 2012. West Kelowna recently approved the same increase and which is also subject to approval from the District’s regional transit partners. Click here for a complete list of the fare increases.

UBCM STRATEGIC WILDFIRE PREVENTION INITIATIVE GRANT
Council supported the grant application to the UBCM Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative for $165,000 which, if successful, will be used for fuel modification on Spion Kop Mountain which is outlined in the Regional District Fuel Management Prescription (Spion Kop Crown Lands). The District will provide overall grant management if the application is successful.

WATER MASTER PLAN

Council adopted the Water Master Plan Capital Projects, Financial Strategy and Proposed Water Rates in principle allowing due process for deliberation of water rates bylaws during the budget process which begins in September.

Council also directed staff to mail out a community wide public information and feedback package which will be distributed with the Utility Bills in September, in order to help gauge community support and gather a better understanding of residents’ opinion on the Water Master Plan. The Plan is intended to set the District of Lake Country’s direction for water servicing in the community for the next number of decades. The short but intensive communications program saw the majority of customers giving positive feedback with the feeling that the Water Master Plan is something we have to do. Although there are some specific concerns, there is general acceptance that it needs to be done. Click for the full report to Council and click for the Water Master Plan webpage.

CORRESPONDENCE

At the July 5^th Council meeting, Mr. Hans Karow made a presentation to Council expressing concern about health issues resulting from the proposed BC Hydro Smart Meter Program. Mr. Karow requested that Council lobby the Minister of Health to place a moratorium on the mandatory installation of wireless Smart Meters and submit a resolution to UBCM requesting the same until the major issues and problems are identified and are addressed. Council will hear a presentation from BC Hydro on August 16^th that will provide more information on the Smart Meter Program.

The BC Bottle Depot Association requested that Council consider joining the efforts of the Bottle Depot Association in placing a deposit on milk containers and requiring all milk containers to be recycled at the bottle depot rather than being included in the curbside recycling program. Staff are working with the Regional Waste Reduction Office on this issue and will keep Council apprised of any updates.

PARKS & RECREATION…AND CULTURE?
The Public Art Advisory Commission recommended that Council amend the Parks and Recreation Department name to include Culture, becoming Parks, Recreation & Culture. The Commission suggested that new name will bring the cultural part of the community to the forefront on a regular basis, eradicate potential bias or forgetfulness of another segment of the population and accurately reflect the responsibilities of the department. The CAO will make the operational change as requested.

Lake Country is being Proactive – Part 1

2011-07-18T14:58:00.001-07:00

For some, summer is a season to lay back and relax. Schools are closed until September and tourists populate resorts and other amenities to recharge and prepare for a busy winter. However, mindful of the moral lesson in the Aesop's fable 'The Ant and the Grasshopper', the District of Lake Country has been very busy working on assuring that its long term vision of a community known for the best quality of living in the Okanagan and in BC continues to produce the results we are striving for and that are beginning to materialize.

As it goes, Aesop's fable tells the story of a merry grasshopper that spends the summertime singing and seizing the day without any particular care for what tomorrow is going to be while the ants are hard at work gathering supplies for the winter. The grasshopper mocks the ants and invites them not to waste time in hard work but to enjoy themselves, but the ants continue their work knowing that the winter will come soon and with it very little food. When the winter comes, the grasshopper has no food and, starving almost to death, he goes to the ants and asks for a bit of food. The ants have enough for them to last through the winter and so they have no choice but to refuse to assist the grasshopper that dies of starvation soon after.

In the past, when the complexities of local governments were less pressing than today, some municipalities had a grasshopper approach to services and infrastructure. No need to set aside money for road repairs or replacement: when the time comes we'll find the money and the work will be done. Progressively, though, federal and provincial funding has become scarce and sparse and municipalities are left to fend the dilemma of how infrastructure and level of services can be proactively addressed for future betterment. It is not an easy answer. We can either let infrastructure gradually degrade and adapt to this, or we need to set aside sufficient funds to be prepared for when the need will come up.

In this spirit, the first phase of our asset management plan, which deals with our water infrastructure, is going through a number of proactive action steps that will ensure that Lake Country is prepared when the time comes. First, the District has prepared a Water Master Plan that has been prepared with the assistance of Council, staff, community members, the Water Advisory Committee, and consultants. It took a bit more than 2 years to draft the plan, finalize a number of options and, for Council, to choose the option we need to pursue. Since then (November 2010), we have been working on addressing the prioritization and long term funding of the projects that need to be done to keep our infrastructure functional and insure that when our residents turn the taps on they get water that is clean in a sustainable and affordable way.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that over 80% of the people that responded to our survey have told us they are pleased with the District taking the initiative to do this and pursue it full head on, and that they are not concerned with the cost increase of $114 per year. The actual cost to the taxpayer will be $1.33 per day: pretty good for a reliable, affordable and clean use of water. If you buy a bottle of commercial brand water, that would be cost of only one half a litre bottle. Not only that, but our residents investment of $1.33 per day will buy a $79 million in projects over the next 20 years. Only a few municipalities in BC can say they have accomplished as much.

Having a plan will also be useful to present a concrete approach to provincial and federal funding as we can show we are more prepared than others and we are making the effort to contribute. Only the City of Cranbrook and the City of Grand Forks are adopting similar strategies and those municipalities are working with Lake Country to show our provincial government our level of preparedness and foresight.

It is true life. The Okanagan way.

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Lake Country Launches okanaganway.ca Website to Further Support Tourism and Economic Development

2011-07-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

The District of Lake Country has recently launched a brand new website to support tourism and economic development in the community. The www.okanaganway.ca website emerged as a top priority from the branding exercise conducted by the municipality last year. “With the ever increasing role that having an online presence plays in current tourism and economic development decisions, the District is pleased to see this website in place so that we may further stand out in these highly competitive areas” says Chair of the Economic Planning and Development Committee and District Councillor, Geoff Greenwell.

Development Services Manager, Mark Koch notes that “the website was a highly collaborative effort, with input from various District stakeholders and the Lake Country Chamber of Commerce”. The District intends for the site to be a living entity, with regular updates on events happening in the community. The www.okanaganway.ca site was completed by both Zapp Worx and Reputations, two Vancouver based consultants that specialize in design and public relations. The website also ties in the District’s existing social media program, by connecting directly to existing Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and You Tube feeds.

The website is divided into three primary sections, Visit, Live and Work, speaking to the different audiences that will use the site, while the What’s Happening and Blog sections will keep those seeking current information attune to the latest events happening in Lake Country. Mayor, James Baker adds that he is “especially happy to see this website in place to help support existing and future Lake Country businesses, and to promote further investment in our fantastic community”.

The www.okanaganway.ca website is now live, with the District welcoming appropriate links to the site from other related websites in the community.

For more information contact:
Mark Koch, Development Services Manager
t: 250-766-6674 or mkoch@lakecountry.bc.ca

Alberto De Feo, Chief Administrative Officer
t: 250-766-6671 or administrator@lakecountry.bc.ca

Council Meeting Highlights from July 5th

2011-07-07T13:28:00.000-07:00

ZONING AMENDMENT (THOMPSON) BYLAW 789, 2011 Bylaw 789 amends the zoning of the property at 3386 Woodsdale Road from Neighbourhood Commercial (C2) to Town Centre Commercial (C1) to accommodate a greater amount of development on the property including both residential and commercial. Bylaw 789 received 2 readings on May 17^th and at the public hearing, residents expressed concerns about commercial development outside of the Town Centre area, taking away from potential development in Town Centre. Council expressed concerns about adhering to the neighbourhood plan that was created for the area and the proposed height of the buildings. Staff’s recommendation was for 3^rd reading and adoption of the bylaw. Zoning Amendment (Thompson) Bylaw 789, 2011 was read a 3^rd time with a restrictive covenant to be placed on title restricting building height to 4 stories.

OKANAGANWAY.CA WEBSITE

The District’s new economic development focused website created by Zappworx & Reputations was presented to Council and is now live! Check out okanaganway.ca!

REGIONAL GROWTH STRATEGY REVIEW

David Widdis, Regional Growth Strategy Coordinator outlined the regional growth planning process including public consultation and participation, identified issues and what the next steps of the process include. Click here to view the complete presentation to Council.

BUILDING REGULATION BYLAW 709 & CONCURRENT AMENDMENTS

Council adopted Building Regulation Bylaw 709, 2011 which establishes the roles and responsibilities of District Building Officials and the process by which building permits are issued. A review of the Building Regulations Bylaw was identified as one of Council’s strategic priorities and Bylaw 709 is a move to say current with BC Building Code and Community Charter requirements. The Bylaw clarifies the application process and also includes small rebates for highly environmentally friendly dwellings in order to encourage green development. As a result of the Building Regulation Bylaw, several other District bylaws needed to be amended to ensure their enforceability as they reference sections of the previous Building Regulation Bylaw. Council adopted Municipal Ticketing Information Amendment Bylaw 775, 2011, Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw 776, 2011 and Land Development Fees Amendment Bylaw 777, 2011.

ZONING AMENDMENT AGRITOURISM ACCOMMODATION BYLAW 793

Council gave 3^rd reading and adopted Bylaw 793 which removes agri-tourism accommodation as a permitted use from the zoning bylaw. Staff will begin an intensive public consultation process beginning in late August, early September to hear the public’s comments on what the new regulations should include. More information on the proposed changes can be obtained from the Development Services department at the District of Lake Country Municipal Hall or from the District’s website. Click here to view the News Release on the Agri-tourism Accommodations process.

DEVELOPMENT VARIANCE PERMIT @ 2612 LAKE BREEZE COURT

Council and the affected residents of the proposed Development Variance Permit held a lengthy debate about the construction of a retaining wall that is above the permitted height requirements. Council approved Development Variance Permit DVP2011-004 varying the height limitation to 5 metres for the retaining wall on the property at 2612 Lake Breeze Court which is subject to a $2500 landscaping bond. The $2500 bond will ensure landscaping work is completed to help mitigate the visual impact to the adjoining properties.

GRANT-IN-AID LAKE COUNTRY CUSTOMS & CLASSICS CAR SHOW

Rather than a grant-in-aid, Council sponsored the Lake Country Customs & Classics Car Show to be held August 27^th, for the requested amount of $380.80 from Council Contingency to cover the costs of renting Swalwell Park. The requested grant-in-aid is contrary to the District’s policy and the $7,000 grant-in-aid budget has been fully allocated for 2011. From the proceeds of the event, the Lake Country Customers & Classics Car Show will make a donation to a Lake Country charity.

USE OF LAKE COUNTRY NAME

Council passed a resolution requesting that Canada Post change the preferred municipality name to Lake Country. Canada Post currently uses Winfield, Oyama and Okanagan Centre as the preferred municipal name. With Lake Country’s new branding it is critical that there be consistency in the way the community is identified. The change will also amend the way other agencies identify the community such as Google Maps, ICBC and Land Titles. But don’t worry! Oyama, Winfield and Okanagan Centre will still be considered alternative addresses for sending and receiving mail.

ADOPTION OF BYLAWS
Council adopted Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw 791, 2011 and Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw 792, 2011 which add the ability to enforce Section 2.31 of Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 717, 2009 which prohibits the possession of illegal drug paraphernalia in a park or public space. This Bylaw allows the RCMP greatly flexibility to address drug related issues within municipal parks through the ticketing process.

NAVIGABLE WATERS
Following Council’s June 28, 2011 Strategy Session, Council passed a resolution requesting that the Regional District of Central Okanagan apply to the federal Navigable Waters Department for funding to dredge the Oyama channel between Wood Lake and Kalamalka Lake. The canal is very busy being used for tourism, recreation and commercial purposes. At low water levels, the canal can be difficult and even dangerous to navigate.

APEX DRIVE PARK

The construction of the Apex Drive Park is underway and unfortunately, the recent tender bids left the project with a budget shortfall of $20,000. The project has included planning with the Lakes Neighbourhood Association, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PARC) and other members of the community, capital contributions from the District, in-kind donations arranged by the Neighbourhood Association and Okanagan Land Developments and a BC Hydro Tree Canada Grant. Council approved staff’s recommendation to move the project in-house and maintaining the 2011 project budget of $75,000. The project completion date may be slightly delayed by doing so although there is the potential for cost savings and additional donations or in-kind contributions.

Investing in Safe and Reliable Water Infrastructure

2011-06-23T15:25:00.000-07:00

The District of Lake Country is planning major improvements to the community water system under the proposed Water Master Plan which will ensure safe, clean, sustainable and affordable water for all Lake Country residents.

“Water is an important issue for Lake Country residents. Council wants to make sure it is as safe and clean as possible, while still being affordable,” says Mayor James Baker. “Our new Master Plan will save us money in the long run, but only if we start to invest in our water system now.”

Over the last 2 years the District, the Water Services Advisory Committee and consultants specializing in water infrastructure have been planning for a better future by developing the Water Master Plan. The plan will build a fair system for everyone and does everything the District can to make water safer. The plan continues to move towards providing an equitable rate structure for all users, promotes economic development, recognizes the agricultural role in the community and will ultimately tie all the systems together so that the District can provide treated water to all of its customers. The current system is deteriorating due to aging and although no one likes to pay higher rates, the longer the project is delayed, the more costs will increase.

Jake Thiessen, a member of the Water Services Advisory Committee says, "The process of updating the Master Water Plan was a thorough one with a large number of options having been investigated before the preferred option was recommended to Council. The objective is to provide safe drinking water and an adequate supply for all water users in the community. Project priorities are laid out and an estimated cost is given for each project. The Master Water Plan will be a road map for improving of the DLC water system over the next 20 years."

The total cost of the Water Master Plan is estimated at $79 million over 20 years with projects such as a treatment and filtration plant, Ultra-violet treatment systems, expanded reservoirs to meet the growing demand, installation of universal water metering to accurately track water usage and ongoing replacement and upgrades to existing infrastructure. Financing for the Water Master Plan will be done through a combination of user rates, senior and government grants and developer contributions.

The District will have a water exhibit at the Municipal hall over the next month displaying details of the proposed projects and financial plan, aging infrastructure and impacts on user rates. Staff will be conducting a variety of presentations to community groups and holding a public open house on July 6^th at the Municipal Hall from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Residents are invited to attend the presentations, talk to community members or District staff involved in the plan and to provide feedback by completing the Water Master Plan survey that will be available at the Municipal Hall and on the District’s website.

The Water Master Plan was unanimously endorsed by the Water Services Advisory Committee and after receiving public input, the Water Master Plan will be presented to Council at its July 19 meeting. More information on the Water Master Plan is available on the District’s website www.lakecountry.bc.ca or you can contact Greg Buchholz, Operations Manager at 250-766-6677.

Gran Fondo Event Coming to Lake Country

2011-06-10T08:58:00.001-07:00

VANCOUVER, June 8, 2011: GranFondo Canada has announced a new 115 km route featuring a dedicated lane for the inaugural RBC GranFondo Kelowna on July 16, 2011 in the Okanagan Valley. "We are incredibly excited about this route," said GranFondo Canada co-founder Neil McKinnon. He added, "We love the idea of touring the lakes of the Okanagan Valley - the route is spectacularly beautiful." Cyclists will begin their journey at Waterfront Park in Kelowna riding north on Glenmore Road with great views of the lake. As they merge onto Okanagan Centre Road and Carrs Landing, cyclists will have the memorable experience of riding alongside beautiful Okanagan Lake after which they will start a 6.5 km climb to Predator Ridge. Riders will conquer the much talked about Quasi-Pavé section before topping out at Predator Ridge Drive with views of the notable Predator Ridge Golf Course. Halfway through the ride, cyclists will enter the City of Vernon and enjoy some local scenery before venturing southbound onto Okanagan Highway (Highway 97), which will showcase Kalamalka Lake and Deer Lake. During the final portion of the ride, cyclists will find themselves in familiar territory as they make their way through Oyama and Winfield before passing through vineyards on Lodge Road and Glenmore Road. Finally, they will arrive at Waterfront Park to celebrate the victory of their accomplishment with fellow cyclists, volunteers, community members, family and friends. Cyclists will be provided with a scenic and challenging ride on a dedicated lane through the Okanagan Valley with an approximate elevation gain of 1200 m. It will be a ride to remember and promises to become a Canadian classic. "The RBC GranFondo Kelowna is an incredible opportunity to cycle alongside hundreds of other enthusiastic cyclists – beginners to advanced – in one of the most beautiful places in the country," said Karen Borring-Olsen, RBC Regional Vice-President, Okanagan, who is also signed up to ride the event. She added, "RBC is delighted to support what will truly be a world-class event right here in the Okanagan." There are still limited spots available for the 2011 RBC GranFondo Kelowna, for information on how to register please visit: www.RBCGranFondoKelowna.com.

Council Meeting Highlights from June 7, 2011

2011-06-09T13:44:00.001-07:00

PUBLIC HEARING FOR ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW 784, 2011

On May 3, 2011 Council had a lengthy discussion about Zoning Amendment (Russo) Bylaw 784, 2011 to re-zone 8, large rural lots along Oyama Road from Rural Large Parcel to a site specific zone RLOP, Rural Large Parcel Oyama Road allowing future limited subdivision while maintaining the OCP vision of a rural area. By approving the Zoning Amendment, Council is not granting approval to any future subdivisions, but is simply creating a zone which could allow for potential subdivisions. Subdivisions would still need to go through the formal application and approval process to ensure that servicing requirements are met including final approval from the approving officer. The Bylaw was given 2 readings and forwarded to public hearing to hear comments from the public. There were almost 30 concerned residents in attendance at the public hearing who voiced concerns specifically around the subdivided property sizes and requested that Council ensure sufficient investigation is done on the available ground water in the area.

DEVELOPMENT VARIANCE PERMIT

Council approved a DVP for an applicant on Maddock Ave allowing an existing deck to encroach into the left side yard setback. The deck was previously constructed and did not meet the setback requirements of the zoning bylaw. On March 1, 2011 staff recommended that a Notice on Title be placed on the property and Council tabled the recommendation pending the receipt of a variance application from the property owner. Council approved the variance request which varies the north property line side yard setback from 3 metres to 0.43 metres as per staff's recommendation.

OCP AMENDMENT BYLAW 773, 2011 & ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW 774, 2011 (0825634 BC Ltd)

Council gave 2 readings to OCP Amendment Bylaw 773, 2011 and Zoning Amendment Bylaw 774, 2011 and forwarded the bylaws to public hearing. The bylaws rezone the current industrial and residential zones and amend the OCP allowing for commercial development on the properties located on Oceola and Woodview Roads. The bylaws also create the Turtle Bay Crossing Development Permit Area which regulates the form and character of the commercial development by way of a direct control zone which includes site specific design guidelines. Council discussed the possible need for a second access in the proposed Turtle Bay Crossing Development area and requested that the topic be discussed further prior to adoption of the bylaw.

TEMPORARY USE PERMIT (BUTLER)

Council deferred a Temporary Use Permit application for a property on Chase Road where the applicant was requesting permission to allow storage of heavy oversized equipment on a residential lot. Council requested that the owner of the property apply for a Development Permit to bring the land alternations that have occurred into compliance. As insufficient material had been provided for staff to properly analyze the Temporary Use application staff were directed to gather the required information and bring the proposal back to Council.

TEMPORARY COMMERCIAL PERMIT (DESCHUTTER)

Council approved a 2-year extension of the DeSchutter Temporary Commercial Permit allowing New Beginnings Early Learning Centre to continue operating until an application to rezone the property to commercial use can be made.

RECONSIDERATION OF TEMPORARY USE PERMIT

At the May 3^rd Regular meeting Council considered a Temporary User Permit from Lake Country Harvest to to expand a home-based fruit processing business and hire some additional staff for the summer months. Some concerns were expressed by the applicant's neighbours about the operation being located in a residential area. At that time staff recommended approval of a 3-year permit and Council approved a 1‐year permit. Since that time, the applicant has submitted a letter to Council requesting reconsideration of its decision and that the permit be issued for three years instead of one. Staff supported the original recommendation for issuance of a 3 yr permit and this time, Council agreed, noting that a 3 year permit will eliminate the uncertainly for the business that a one year licence would impose, and increase its success.

2010 ANNUAL REPORT

The Draft 2010 Annual Report was presented to Council and the final 2010 Annual Report will presented on June 21, 2011 at the Regular Council Meeting at 7 p.m. for Council to adopt. The District is looking for public comment on the Annual Report on or before the June 21^st meeting and comments can be submitted by mail, email or directly to Council on the 21^st of June. The Annual Report can be seen on the website here or at the Customer Service Centre at the Municipal Hall.

Agri-Tourism Accommodations in Lake Country

2011-06-09T13:20:00.001-07:00

The following press release was sent to the media yesterday.

AGRI-TOURISM ACCOMMODATION ON ALR LAND

Lake Country, BC – Current regulations on RV Accommodations on agricultural land are being reviewed by staff after Council heard concerns specifically with respect to a recent development of an RV Campground in Oyama. Such regulations have a minimum provision that applications for RV Campgrounds on farm land only need a building permit, which does not require Council to make a decision but it is granted by staff as long as the zoning requirements are met.

As part of the review, on May 17^th Council gave 2 readings to Zoning Amendment Bylaw 790, 2011 which deals with issues such as buffering, minimum setbacks, appropriate placement and restricting the number of permitted units based on lot size. At the same time, Council will exercise powers under the Local Government Act that all new applications for RV accommodations on farm land are to be approved by Council. This power can be exercised only for 90 days from May 17^th. In addition, Council requested that Bylaw 790 be subject to an extensive consultation process with the public and interested and affected stakeholders.

At last night Council meeting, staff informed Council that such an extensive consultation process would take longer than the 90 days provided by the legislation to "fix" the bylaw. To avoid the gap that would be left after the expiry of the legislated process and to minimize the impact of possible new applications prior to the new bylaw being adopted, staff has recommended that the current regulations be rescinded for the time being. This would allow for a less rushed process and would ensure that all stakeholders and the general public are properly heard. Staff would then have the time to review all the comments and forward those to Council for the approval of new regulations. Bylaw 793, which removes agri-tourism accommodation for the interim, was given first and second reading and Council decided also to wave the Public Hearing requirements and obtain feedback from the public by soliciting input through public notifications and letters to those affected by this change. By the way of this process, residents and stakeholders have an opportunity to submit their comments up until July 5^th, when the rescinding bylaw will be discussed again.

In the meantime, the public consultation process on the new regulations will begin with times and locations being announced in the next few weeks. More information on the proposed changes can be obtained from the Development Services department at the District of Lake Country Municipal Hall or from the District's website.

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For more information, please contact:

Mike Reiley, Director of Development Services

250-766-6674

FCM Conference a Success

2011-06-06T10:45:00.001-07:00

The 2011 FCM Convention just concluded and it was a success. The 2000 delegates were able to hear and work on policy issues that are critical to local governments, such as infrastructure management and funding, economic development, sustainability, climate change, social and affordable housing and so on.

We also had a number of federal political leaders addressing the delegates and recognizing that local governments need more attention from the federal government and that money needs to be set aside to assist municipalities with the delivery of services to their residents.

One interesting session dealt with integration of immigrants within municipalities. Local governments recognize that a key to Canada's future is successfully integrating new Canadians into our society and economy. It was clear, by the many examples presented during the session, that municipalities play an essential role in attracting, retaining and supporting immigrants and their families. The Okanagan has a program, through the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, to attract foreign workforce, which is becoming critical to the viability and success of many businesses in our area.

Another highlight of the conference was the session on the foundation of sustainable infrastructure. This presentation looked at the integration of the urban forest, oxygen-rich moist soils and rain water management as a single integrated approach, to develop and maintain sustainable green infrastructure in a dense urban environment. The concept of integration included creation of 'green' walls, 'green' roofs, streetscape and parking lot retrofits, and other innovative elements for the integration of trees, soil, and rainwater. Although Lake Country is not a dense urban environment, the adoption of sustainable practices and policies around age-friendly community living will make a difference to our community that will benefit our future generations.

Finally, I was really impressed by the quality of the presentation and discussion on breaking the costly cycle of chronic homelessness. Let's face it, chronic homelessness takes a terrible toll each year on thousands of Canadian families and lowers our communities' quality of life. Short-term solutions have proven ineffective and expensive. Our efforts, even in a more affluent community like Lake Country, need to focus to make attainable housing more available to both younger and older generations which cannot afford the costs of the current real estate market.

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FCM Conference Focuses on Infrastructure Sustainability

2011-06-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is the biggest municipal event for local governments in Canada. It happens every year and generates 2000 delegates from all canadian municipalities.

This year conference is held in Halifax and Lake Country is participating. The theme of this year is 'Strong Cities, Strong Communities. Strong Canada'. I find this theme very appropriate: the foundation of our nation is indeed in its communities. Like our bodies cannot be alive without some vital organs, so our country cannot exist without its communities.

Taking the hint from this theme, this year's conference focus is on making communities better places to live with an eye on a holistic, even global approach. I personally see three main topics developing while I participate to this event:

Infrastructure demand and impact on our communities;
Stimulation of growth, with an eye on international partnership approaches; and
Make the Federal Government understand the need to support communities.

In the first day of the conference, I sat in the Canada's first national infrastructure report card session. Over the past year FCM has been working with the Canadian Construction Association (CCA), the Canadian Public Works Association (CPWA), and the Canadian Society for Civil Engineers (CSCE) to develop a comprehensive, objective, and repeatable reference tool to evaluate the state and performance of three core municipal infrastructure categories: roads, potable water systems, and wastewater/storm water networks. This tool provides additional ways for municipalities to set targets and bolster the support available for local asset management. In Lake Country we are doing something very similar. In fact, we are on the leading edge of infrastructure management and inn the next few weeks, our water assets management plan will become public and will be built into our Corporate Business Plan.

In a subsequent session, we specifically discussed the challenge of rebuilding our water infrastructure. The big question came up: do we rely on internal processes or should we partner with the private sector in order to make the targets more attainable? I do not believe there is one answer or a wrong answer for that matter. Each community needs to figure that out for the benefit of its constituents.

The session on municipal international relations for economic development was very intriguing and an eye-opener. During the session, I heard many good points about establishing international partnership through memoranda of cooperartion with municipalities from other countries. I heard that size does not matter but shared goals, objectives and values plays a major role. Asian economic boom, in particular, offers opportunities that were unthinkable in the past.

Finally, the session on the use of social media in the municipal environment was a blast. Phillip Lecrec, from the City of Regina, explained how Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have changed and will change the way the City of Regina does business. With 15,000 fans, the City of Regina Facbook page is extremely popular and well used. Naheed Nenshi, the new Mayor of Calgary, explained how the rlationship with the community has changed by using social media. He was entertaining and very convincing. Just visit the City of Calgary and the City of Regine Web and Social Media sites to have an idea.

I found the first day of conference very interesting and stimulating. Now onto the second day.

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Lake Country Continues to Raise Its Profile

2011-05-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

At the Local Government Management Association (LGMA) Annual Conference and AGM held at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre this week from the 17^th to the 19^th Alberto De Feo, the District’s Chief Administrative Officer was successfully elected as the 1^st Vice President of the Association. Following Councillor Noreen Guenther’s recent appointment as the new SILGA President (Southern Interior Local Government Association), Lake Country is definitely putting the community on the map. Mr. De Feo says he “ is honoured to be considered for the position which will help foster relationships with federal and provincial partners and assist in funding future projects”.

The LGMA is an association governed by a 13 member Board of Directors with the presidential positions, Secretary-Treasurer and Directors at Large being elected at the Annual General Meeting each year. The LGMA encourages the interchange of ideas, promotes professional management and leadership excellence in local government and works to create awareness of the local government officers’ role in the community.

The 2011 LGMA theme was Building Leaders, Building Community and focused on topics such as holding not for-profit organizations accountable, engaging aboriginal stakeholders, integrated asset management and of course, balancing work and life.

Lake Country was showcased several times for their initiatives in working with aboriginal neighbours, the Okanagan Indian Band and also for demonstrating leadership in Asset Management.

In March of 2011, the District and the Okanagan Indian Band reaffirmed their existing Protocol Agreement, “Respecting Government to Government Working Relationship” and have been actively continuing to build upon the existing strong relationship and collaborating together in a spirit of neighbourliness. A CommUnity Working Group was established and meets regularly which is guided by the Protocol Agreement and explores, innovates, cooperates and collaborates on activities that enhance an environmentally conscious sound and sustainable self-sufficient community where all beings, bio-diversity and community service is encouraged and supported.

In Asset Management, Lake Country was showcased not only at the LGMA but at the Canadian Network of Asset Managers Conference in Burnaby and has received invitations to present to both national and international audiences on the Asset Management Roadmap Project. The project is a collaboration between Lake Country, Powel River, Merritt and Tofino under the guidance of Asset Management BC with funding through the Provincial Infrastructure Planning Grant. The Roadmap will provide small and medium size communities with a practical guide for navigating their way through Asset Management and shows others that it can be done.

Lake Country is demonstrating leadership and forging good connections for the future of the community.

Council Meeting Highlights from May 17th

2011-05-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARENESS WEEK

Local Government Awareness Week is being held this week province‐wide. Drop in to the Municipal Hall and view our panels about what the District does for you, where District revenue comes from and where it’s spent and an overview of what’s going on in the District.

COMMUNITIES IN BLOOM

The District is excited to announce that we have registered in the well‐known Communities in Bloom program and the City of Kelowna, the past national champions, have agreed to be our mentor in our first year of the program. Communities in Bloom is much more than just flowers (although that is part of it). We will be evaluated in many areas. See our webpage at lakecountry.bc.ca for more information.

BCRPA PARKS & OPEN SPACE AWARD

The District of Lake Country Parks and Recreation Department is proud to be the recipient of the 2011 BCRPA Parks and Open Space Award for Swalwell Park. This award recognizes innovative spaces that have, or could have, a significant impact in the Recreation and Parks field. These spaces will have demonstrated excellence in concept, design and development. “Swalwell Park is a great place for people of all ages to enjoy a variety of community activities” says Mayor James Baker. Click here to see some pictures of Swalwell Park.

DELEGATIONS & PETITIONS

Carol Ellison, Success by 6 Coordinator, United Ways of the Central Okanagan got Council out of their seats and involved in building a brain. The demonstration showed how the brain architecture of children is affected by emotional, social, cognitive and physical skills and the importance of early childhood development. Success by 6 is an initiative dedicated to providing all children with a good start in life and helps ensure that children ages 0 to 6 develop the skills they need as they enter school. After building a brain, Myrna Kalmakoff, Community Coordinator for Community Action Toward Children’s Health (CATCH) presented Council with information on the Child Friendly Communities Project that encourages Local Governments to include priorities for young children in planning for the community. Click here to view the full presentation to Council.

ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW 784, 2011

On May 3, 2011 Council had a lengthy discussion about Zoning Amendment (Russo) Bylaw 784, 2011 to re-zone 8, large rural lots along Oyama Road. The Bylaw was given 2 readings and forwarded to public hearing to hear comments from the public. Due to some required technical corrections in the bylaw Council rescinded first and second readings and read the Bylaw again as amended. The Bylaw will continue to Public Hearing to ensure that residents have an opportunity to provide their comments.

ZONING AMENDMENT (THOMPSON) BYLAW 789, 2011

Zoning Amendment Bylaw 789 for Thompson received 2 readings and will be forwarded to public hearing. The bylaw amends the zoning of the property at 3386 Woodsdale Road from C-2 Neighbourhood Commercial to C-1 Town Centre Commercial allowing the property owner to develop to a higher density. The new zone allows a similar suite of uses but allows construction of taller buildings to a higher density and is consistent with the District’s Official Community Plan.

STRATA CONVERSION HOLAND

Council approved an application to convert an existing duplex from rental to strata allowing the sale of up to 2 units in the building located at 15130 Highway 97, provided all required servicing is completed prior to subdivision. The property currently contains an existing duplex constructed in 1979 and a workshop that is used as a dog grooming studio. The potential removal of 2 rental units does not pose a significant decline in available rental stock in the Oyama neighbourhood and the proposed subdivision can now proceed subject to the Approving Officer’s determination.

AGRI-TOURISM ACCOMMODATION ON ALR LAND (ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW 790, 2011)

With the recent development of an RV Campground in Oyama concerns have been brought forward to Council relating to land use conflicts from agri‐tourism accommodation development. Concerns primarily relate to perceived issues of noise, traffic and visual impact. Some residents also expressed concern about the potential loss of agricultural land if farm land is allowed to be used for tourist accommodation rather than agricultural production.

On April 19^th staff were directed by Council to prepare amendments to the zoning bylaw to address these issues. Click here to view the complete report outlining the proposed amendments to Zoning Bylaw 561 which include buffering, minimum setbacks, appropriate placement and restricting the number of permitted units based on lot size.

Council held a lengthy debate around the need for public consultation and the process for implementing zoning amendments. Council gave first reading to Zoning Amendment (Agri-Tourism Accommodation) Bylaw 790, 2011 and directed staff to hold public input sessions for residents to have an opportunity to express their comments. Staff will also be examining the option of creating an Agri-Tourism Accommodation Development Permit Area.

GROWING FOOD LOCALLY – SETTING AN EXAMPLE

As an opportunity for the District to set an example of how to use land in a manner that addresses sustainability, carbon reduction, staff wellness and support for local food, District staff are proposing that the lawn in the center of the District parking lot be converted into a small garden. The small lawn area currently needs regular maintenance, including fertilizing, cutting and watering; by planting a small garden the water will be used to produce vegetables and works towards reducing the District’s carbon emissions by no longer requiring mowing of the lawn. Staff will be invited to tend the garden outside of work hours and harvest the vegetables. The food can be donated to local food banks, costs will be minimal and the District will be setting a positive example for business/homeowners. It is a small step which can easily be replicated and is a positive opportunity for all involved.

LOGO USE LICENSING AGREEMENT

Council approved staff’s recommendation for Logo use, rescinding Policy No. 11.115 and authorizing staff to execute licensing agreements for applicants wishing to use the Lake Country logo. Applicants can apply to use one of the three possible tag lines: “Life. The Okanagan Way.”, “Business. The Okanagan Way.” or “Experience. The Okanagan Way.”

Another Award for Swalwell Park! BCRPA Parks and Open Space Award

2011-05-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

Swalwell Park is a key community park in the District of Lake Country. Located in the Town Centre development area, across the road from the high school and seniors care home, the park is adjacent to Vernon Creek which has high fisheries values. Prior to the District’s new investment in the space, Swalwell Park contained a ball diamond and sports field, a skateboard park, two public art sculptures, a gravel parking lot jutting into the ball diamond and some old structures containing substandard washrooms and storage space. Despite the minimal facilities, the park was frequently used for community events, sports and a weekly farmer’s market.

In 2005 the District of Lake Country Council began the process of planning and upgrading the park to make it the “jewel” of Lake Country and a major focal point for the Town Centre. The first step was the preparation of the Swalwell Park Master Plan, which involved visioning, establishing the program of activities and facilities, reviews of plan options and selection and refinement of a preferred plan. Once the plan was adopted, implementation began in phases based on the availability of capital budgets. The estimated budget to finish the complete build out of the park is estimated to be approximately $3.3 million.

Phases 1 and 2 involved the construction of a pavilion with washrooms, a multi-use stage/picnic shelter, concession and storage. Environmental considerations, long term durability, maintenance and site accessibility were significant factors influencing the design. The pavilion features contemporary, sustainable architecture, with a green roof with native plants partially watered with grey (recycled) water from the sinks and a butterfly garden. The pavilion creates a welcoming, safe and accessible space for community gatherings and events in the park. The Pavilion was partially funded through a $215,000 BC Spirit Square grant and has received two other awards: Masonry Institute of BC – 2008 Masonry Design Award of Excellence – Small Project and; 2009 Lieutenant-Governor of BC Medal from Architecture Institute of BC.

Another phase of the project involved riparian restoration and environmental enhancements along Vernon Creek. The Lake Country Environmental Society was consulted and children from the local Boys and Girls Club assisted with the planting of approximately 1200 trees and shrubs, increasing the width of the riparian area beside the creek.

In 2010 the District continued its investment in Swalwell Park with the development of the Trethewey Splash Park. The design is a fruit theme based on the strong fruit farming industry in the District of Lake Country. The Trethewey Family contributed $350,000 to the splash park which had an overall cost of approximately $700,000.

The department hopes to complete the parking lot and farmers’ market re-build in 2012.

Walking with WALC

2011-05-12T13:06:00.000-07:00

The following article was prepared and written by Deb Youngest of our Engineering Department. Deb is working with Greg Buchholz, our Manager of Operations, on this very important project for us. I also wish to extend a huge thanks to WALC volunteers for their great community spirit and their wonderful cooperation and assistance.

"Lake Country is a great place to live – but not always the easiest place to get around. Effective planning for improvements to our transportation network means working with the community to determine current and future needs for all members of the community. Transportation planning must look at more than just "roads" and include components of Active Transportation (that is, any form of human-powered transportation – walking, cycling, using a wheelchair, in-line skating or skateboarding). As part of the planning process, the District of Lake Country has engaged in dialogue with the local citizens group, Walking Around Lake Country (or WALC, for short), as well as gathering feedback from other local pedestrians.

What is the need?

Here are some of the reasons we hear for wanting to improve our Active Transportation Network:

Healthy living. These ladies see a need. Walking routes provide opportunities for exercise as well as a social outlet.

Accessibility. These guys see a need. They rely on the transportation network to commute to shopping and transit.

The Environment. These girls see a need. When asked why they are walking to school instead of being driven, they respond without hesitation: "We don't want to kill the environment."

Safety. These students see a need. Sharing the road is their only means of getting to and from school.

What are we working towards?

Lake Country's Active Transportation Vision is "Making Lake Country easy to get around in safe and enjoyable ways." The Active Transportation Guiding Principles state that all transportation solutions must consider multiple users, including pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders and vehicle traffic, as well as considering issues of accessibility. A first priority will be to focus on connecting neighbourhoods to schools and parks in a manner that enhances safety for all travellers. The development of cost-effective solutions that consider the community's environmental, economic and social sustainability will move Lake Country towards its goal - to develop a transportation network that promotes and enhances a vibrant, livable community. The transportation network is such an important component of a community – it is the physical link that connects all of us together.

Challenges

Although tight budgets and cost-effective solutions will help to mitigate costs, there's no escaping the fact that improvements come at a price. Currently, about 50 cents per day per household goes towards maintaining the existing transportation network. In order to maintain and improve the transportation network, the cost will need to rise to $1.50 per day.

Current projects

Lake Country has budgeted funds for several transportation improvements to take place in 2011 and 2012. These include:

Lodge Road Multi-Modal Transportation Corridor

Davidson Road pathway

Camp Road pathway (Seaton to Bond)

Lake Hill/Shoreline intersection improvement

Celebrating Community Involvement

Lake Country is blessed to have numerous volunteer organizations that work very hard to help make our community great. WALC is one of these. This group is involved in the planning, creation and maintenance of numerous walking paths in and about Lake Country. The District recognizes and values WALC's contributions.

A special note to thank Dev Fraser for his excellent work in the role of liaison between WALC and the District of Lake Country. We thank him for the countless hours he has invested, and for his passion and enthusiasm for making Lake Country a great place to live… and walk."

Scholarship Award & SILGA Appointment

2011-05-10T11:54:00.000-07:00

Lake Country, BC – At the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) convention held in Merritt from May 4^th to 6^th, celebrating the community’s 100^th anniversary, Councillor Noreen Guenther was successfully acclaimed as the new SILGA President.

SILGA consists of 37 members and is represented by elected officials from cities, towns, villages, districts and 6 regional districts in the South Central BC. The SILGA Board consists of a President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice President and 6 Directors.

Councillor Guenther previously served two terms as Director at Large and one term as 1st Vice President on the SILGA Board. She was a Director at Large for the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) and served as Vice Chair for the UBCM convention committee. She is currently the Vice Chair of the Okanagan Regional Library Board and serves on the District’s Public Art Advisory Commission, Parcel Tax Review Panel and Liquid Waste Management Plan Amendment Committee.

As President of SILGA Councillor Guenther says “I will continue to work hard on behalf of SILGA to present the issues and concerns of communities and their leaders throughout the region.” Councillor Guenther trusts that SILGA resolutions send a strong and united voice to UBCM, the province and beyond. Congratulations Councillor Guenther!

Mayor James Baker (Left), Councillor Noreen Guenther (Centre), and Councillor Barbara Leamont (Right) at the 2011 SILGA Conference in Merritt

Also this week, a $1,000 Community Safety Scholarship was granted to Lake Country Fire Department Lieutenant Eric DeGelder to attend Incident Command System Level 400 Training (ICS-400) at the newly-constructed Emergency Management Division’s disaster simulation centre in New Westminster.

Community Safety Scholarships were created to increase the level of response capability within BC communities by making advanced ICS training more accessible. The Lake Country Fire Department provides a high level of training and certification to all paid-on-call volunteer firefighters; however the high financial cost and the need to attend the course at the lower mainland facility to access the technology required makes this course difficult to fund.

The ICS Level 400 course is the most advanced Incident Command training provided by the Justice Institute of British Columbia and builds on top of the ICS 100, 200, and 300 Levels of study. ICS-400 uses immersive simulation technology to learn management in large and complex emergency incidents and explores methods for managing activities and resources in a supervisory role in both multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional settings.

It has been Eric’s personal ambition to complete this advanced course and the Scholarship will cover the cost of the course travel, accommodation and expenses. To date the Fire Chief and both Assistant Fire Chiefs have completed ICS 400. Lieutenant Eric DeGelder will be the 4^th Lake Country Fire Department member to complete this high level of training. Congratulations Eric!

Council Meeting Highlights from May 3rd

2011-05-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK MAY 1 – 7TH

Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) is an annual event that takes place each year during the first full week of May. Is Your Family Prepared? If an emergency happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to reach you. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours. In an emergency, if phones don’t work or families aren’t together, what will you do? Know the Risks Make an Emergency Plan Watch this video on Making a Family Emergency Plan and preparing an emergency kit at getpreared.ca.

DELEGATIONS

Peter Rotheisler, Manager of the Regional District Waste Reduction, presented Council with an update on the annual results and plans noting that the revenue generated from the recycling program has increased and is allocated back to Lake Country. Good job residents! Lesley Dieno from the Okanagan Regional Library updated Council on activities since the fall of 2009, strategic planning and future directions and the services in Lake Country. In 2010 the Lake Country Branch was visited by over 780 people per week and the Oyama Branch was visited by a total of 4,500 people! Click here for more information.

REMOVAL OF THE BUNDLED PROCESS FROM DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS PROCEDURES BYLAW

Council adopted Development Applications Procedures Amendment Bylaw 786, 2011 which received 3 readings on April 19^th and removes the ‘Bundled Process’ option from the Procedures bylaw. Click here to view the full report to Council on April 19^th.

AGRICULTURAL LAND RESERVE APPLICATION

Council approved staff’s recommendation to resubmit an application for exclusion from the ALR on Okanagan Centre Road West. The application needs to be resubmitted because some of the supporting documents are no longer valid due to the length of time that transpired between the time the material was produced and the time the application was considered by Council.

TEMPORARY USE PERMIT

Council approved Temporary Use Permit (TP2011-004) on 6948 McCoubrey Road to expand a home-based fruit processing business. The current use is permitted but the applicant would like to hire some additional staff for the summer months and needs a Temporary Use Permit to do so. The home-based business supports local economic development and agricultural diversification in the community and has minimal impact on the local neighbourhood.

OYAMA LAKE ROAD ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT

Council had a lengthy discussion about Zoning Amendment (Russo) Bylaw 784, 2011 to re-zone 8, large rural lots along Oyama Road. Currently all District Official Community Plans recommend a minimum subdivision area of 30 ha (70 acres) in the area, essentially prohibiting subdivision. Staff recommended that a site specific zone be used to pre-plan subdivision in the area allowing landowners the option to subdivide, but not opening the door to configurations. Council expressed concerns about a minimum lot size and servicing requirements to the area.

Council gave the bylaw 1^st and 2^nd readings and forwarded to Public Hearing in order to hear comments from residents on the issue. Concurrent to proceeding with the Zoning Bylaw, Council gave 2 readings to Subdivision and Development Servicing Amendment Bylaw 785, 2011.

CARBON NEUTRAL OPERATIONS PLAN INVENTORY

In 2008 the District signed on to the BC Climate Action Charter committing to becoming Carbon Neutral in operations by 2012. The first part of the project involves inventorying District emissions, identifying major sources and trends and preparing an inventory that details those trends. The inventory presented by staff shows a rise in District emissions from 2008 to 2009 but a slight fall during 2010. Some of the reasons for the District`s changing emissions are due to colder weather in 2009 which increased natural gas usage, and the opening of the District`s Spray Park.

TURF & PARKS MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT

As part of bringing Parks contractual services in-house, the new Parks Foreman, Shaun Lesowski did an assessment of the services levels, park land inventory and current equipment in the Parks Department. The existing equipment is limited in providing the best quality product of turf and parks maintenance and could easily be improved with an investment in the purchase of 3 pieces of equipment. Council approved staff`s recommendation increasing the budget by $38,000 from the Capital Works Reserve allowing for the immediate purchase of a turf mower, a sweeper and a utility vehicle. The new mower will reduce the time it takes to cut by half, mow more acres per hour and mow in areas the current mowers cannot access. The new equipment will free up staff time to be spent on soccer and ball field maintenance, line painting, beach maintenance, volleyball, tennis courts and water park maintenance.

2011 FINANCIAL PLAN & 2011 TAX RATE BYLAW

The Chief Financial Officer presented the 2011 Financial Bylaw 787, 2011 for 3 readings. Council held budget deliberations on December 14^th, January 25^th, February 3^rd and February 22^nd and approved the 2011 Budget with a 3.9% municipal tax increase. The increase results in approximately $54 for an average single‐family house assessed at approximately $500,000 or about an $11 increase for each $100,000 of residential assessed value. Some changes were made to the 2011 Budget since Council’s approval because of some new information; although none of the changes impact the proposed municipal tax increase. For instance, new information received from the BC Assessment Authority negatively impacted the 2011 Budget because the property assessment appeal process lowered the tax base growth from new construction from 2.1% to 1.6%, resulting in a loss of tax revenue of $40,000. This loss of revenue was offset by a transfer from reserves.

When factoring in taxes paid to other taxing authorities, the increase in the provincial home owner grant, and increases in water user fees, the average single-family house will pay $160 less in property taxes in 2011, or an overall decrease of 4.6%. Click here to view the full report to Council. Click here to view the Financial Plan Power Point Presentation which uses graphs to detail the operating expenses, capital funding and budget, property tax distribution and property tax comparisons.

Council also gave 3 readings to 2011 Tax Rates Bylaw 788, 2011 which has to be adopted prior to May 15^th of each year. This bylaw provides the tax rates necessary to raise the revenue as set out in the 2011 Financial Plan, tax requisitions from the Regional District, Regional Hospital District and Okanagan Regional Library. The Province of BC, the Municipal Finance Authority and BC Assessment Authority set their own tax rates. Total property tax revenue for municipal purposes will be $8.3 million and the total taxable assessment of the District of Lake Country is $2.6 billion. Click here to view the full report to Council.

FIRE DEPARTMENT 2010 ANNUAL REPORT

The Fire Chief presented his annual report to Council outlining total incidents (818), average response time (10 minutes, 21 seconds), burning permits sold, prevention and inspection programs, public service events and recruitment and training. Click here to view the full presentation to Council and all the details!

Growth Is a Process

2011-04-30T08:10:00.001-07:00

I realize I have not written on this blog since March 31^st. Reyna Seabrook, our Communication Officer, has kept everybody updated with Council meeting highlights, though, and for this I am thankful. Reyna is an excellent communicator and assistant and is engaged in a variety of activities within the District, including involvement in Economic Development, First Nations, and Corporate Planning. She is preparing the District's Annual Report, which is due by June 30^th, according to legislation.

The reason I have not written much recently is that I have been busy on a professional and personal level, and while this is not the venue for personal bragging, I am happy to report that I have just purchased a new home in the beautiful and serene Sageglen neighbourhood. Not all work is completed yet, but certainly we feel more and more at home in beautiful Lake Country. However, it is my busy life at work that I wish to talk about.

The focus of this month has been threefold: economic development and tourism, social development, and organizational excellence. Today I wish to ponder out loud on the meaning of growth and progress in a local government environment, but more importantly, in our community.

One of the areas we have been proactively focussing on in the last year is economic development. Much has happened in a year but in a nutshell we are trying to accomplish three main objectives and goals: a) full recognition of the name and brand of Lake Country (now that we have a brand); b) full development of the Town Centre; and c) streamlining of all development processes and procedures in order to attract good investment in town.

The brand work and recognition of the name Lake Country in its own right is beginning to bring fruits to the community. The new logo and tagline have been praised by many and are beginning to make an impact in many places. For instance, specialized in business and tourism publications have noticed the new logo and have given us space at a reduced rate to tell the story and the beauty of Lake Country. A marketing firm from Vancouver has given us free banner stands in exchange for the use of our logo as an example of successful branding in their marketing efforts (visit their website to see what I mean: it's very nice). The 2011 Lake Country Community Guide was the first local publication to use our logo on its cover, and its story on building Main Street captures the full vision of what we are trying to accomplish. We just entered into an agreement with the Chamber of Commerce for the distribution of the logo to its members for marketing purposes. And finally, we are working on a virtual community portal to showcase Lake Country to the world. Those are few examples of what is happening with the brand and I wish to take this opportunity to thank all those who have participated in the vision of creating a brand and to our staff, which is "making it happen".

But branding has a meaning only if it is associated to concrete results. Main Street, or what we at the District call the Town Centre, is the main focus of our efforts, although, in general, we are working on attracting investors in all areas identified as growth areas in our new Official Community Plan. First of all, we have taken a more proactive approach in engaging the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission. This is a regional function that all of us, as taxpayers, contribute to. I had meetings with Robert Fine, its Executive Director, and we are enjoying some results. For instance, we sent Mark Koch, our Manager of Development Services and Economic Development Officer, to the Hotel Association Conference in order to find leads for a first class accommodation on Lake Country's Main Street. There are a couple of leads now on which Mark is working. Through the Commission, we were put in touch with a company wishing to relocate to Lake Country. This company, which is already in the Okanagan, employees 65 people and they are looking at Lake Country for its quality of life and potential. But the best news of all is that we have just issued a Development Permit for the construction of a branch of the Toronto Dominion Bank on Main Street. It took a few months and a few meetings, a bit of lobbying and a bit of bragging, and a bit of vision by all involved, from Council to staff, from the Developer to TD Bank (the client), but now we can say that the first development on Main Street is happening and we will have a branch of the TD Bank in Lake Country by the Spring of 2012. Finally, there are other active commercial and residential rezoning and development applications and in the next few weeks we hope to finalize them, and next week I have another meeting on a potential proposal for Main Street again.

However, I believe that the most critical piece of this flurry of activities will have to be the streamlining of all development processes and procedures in order to attract good investment in town. I heard too many times that Lake Country is not open for business because our development times and costs are too cumbersome and too high. I do not believe so as I compare to Kelowna and Vernon, but we can certainly improve it and become more competitive and be the leading 'Open for Business' community in the Central Okanagan. We have begun the process by eliminating some procedures, which were approved by Council at the last Council meeting. This will shorten somewhat the process to a more reasonable time. However, I am going to propose Council that we form a Streamlining Task Force with the participation of the business and development community, to review all of the bylaws affecting development and create the edge of competitiveness we are looking for.

I could go on and on, but the final thought I have in all of this is: it takes time for these things to happen (and a bit of vision). But I believe that we are on the right track and that in a not too distant future we will see the full ripened fruits of our labour. Stick with us and you shall see.

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April 19th Council Meeting Highlights

2011-04-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

REGISTER YOUR EXISTING SUITE BY APRIL 29^TH!

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

REMOVAL OF THE BUNDLED PROCESS FROM DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS PROCEDURES BYLAW

Council gave 3 readings to Development Applications Procedures Amendment Bylaw 786, 2011 which removes the ‘Bundled Process’ option from the bylaw. The ‘Bundled Process’ combined all review and approval steps into a single comprehensive package in order to expedite approvals in the community. Expediting the approvals process is always a double‐edged sword. On the one hand, a faster approvals process can save time and money for developers in the community. But on the other hand, expediting the process can curtail opportunities for Council, staff and the residents of the community to have an influence and role in the process. The ‘Bundled Process’ has only been used twice in District history, with mixed results. The removal of the bundled process does not signal an end to the District’s efforts to work towards expediting approvals processes. Even without the bundled process many options exist to expedite development where appropriate.

TEMPORARY COMMERCIAL PERMIT EXTENSION

Council approved a 1-year extension of a Temporary Commercial Permit (TC2010-001) for a lawyer’s office located at 10026 Hwy 97. D. Oscar Barnes operated a lawyer’s office at the residence and when the operation became too large to be considered a home based business, Mr. Barnes was granted a 1-year temporary commercial permit. Extension of the temporary commercial permit will allow the business to continue to operate and an application to rezone the property to commercial use is likely within this period. The 1-year extension will expire May 11, 2012.

PRESENTATION ON WWW.OUROKANAGAN.CA

Leigha Horsfield, Employment Counsellor for Community Futures, did a presentation for Council on their community website OurOkanagan.ca. Our Okanagan is an online tool developed to address challenges identified by Community Futures and Okanagan Partnership and to connect those looking for a local product or service with those that can provide them. The District already has a profile on the site and Leigha asked that Council further support the site by putting a link on the District’s web page and including information on benefits of the site in Business Licence applications.

2011 ELECTION APPOINTMENTS

Council appointed Hazel Christy as the Chief Elections Officer for the 2011 Municipal General Local Election with Reyna Seabrook and Willene Perez appointed as Deputy Chief Elections Officers. Voting day will be held on Saturday, November 19^th with Advance voting opportunities on Wednesday, November 9^th and Tuesday, November 15^th between the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm at voting places designated by the Chief Election Officer. Nomination packages will be available August 26^th. In order to be a candidate for the 2011 Municipal Election you must: be 18 or older on general voting day; be a Canadian citizen; be a resident of BC for the past 6 months; not be disqualified by the Local Government Act or any other reenactment from voting, being nominated, being elected, or otherwise disqualified by law.

TOURIST ACCOMMODATIONS ON ALR LAND

Residents in Oyama brought some concerns to Council’s attention about the current regulations governing tourist accommodations on ALR land in Lake Country. Council directed staff to prepare a zoning bylaw amendment respecting tourist accommodation regulations on A1 and RLP zoned land addressing issues such as siting of units, setbacks, buffering and/or screening and the number of units permitted on a parcel of a given size.

Until the zoning bylaw is amended, all new applications for tourist accommodations on ALR will be forwarded to Council for consideration. After a waiting period of 7 days, Council can withhold further applications for a period of 30 days. During those 30 days Council must consider the application and decide whether to withhold the permit for a further 60 days or issue the permit with conditions that are in keeping with public interest and the bylaw that is under preparation.

ACTION ITEM FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

The Committee recommended that Council convene a meeting of all of the current Council Advisory Committees to discuss issues being addressed by each committee and develop a better understanding and cooperation between the committees. Council suggested that such a large meeting may be difficult to organize and decided to further discuss how to organize and structure such an event at a future Strategy Meeting.

April 5th, 2011 Lake Country Council Meeting Highlights

2011-04-07T14:07:00.001-07:00

Reyna Seabrook, our Communications Officer, who also took the minutes of the meeting, provided the following Council meeting highlight for your enjoyment.

LAKE COUNTRY RCMP DETACHMENT GETS A NEW SGT

Sergeant 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 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 a pictures and information on all 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 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.

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 if you have any questions! Application for Existing Suites

Council Meeting Highlights from April 5th

2011-04-06T16:41:00.000-07:00

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

Sustainability Begins with Us

2011-03-31T12:08:00.001-07:00

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

2011-03-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-10T09:45:00.001-08:00

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

2011-03-07T16:27:00.000-08:00

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

2011-03-03T16:26:00.000-08:00

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!