Crime Stoppers Theft of Energy Initiative

The Regional Board has endorsed a new one year program with the Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers Society for the Fortis BC - Theft of Energy Crime Prevention Initiative. As a part of the program, Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers will receive anonymous tips regarding the theft of electricity and natural gas from other Crime Stoppers programs in the Fortis service area, forwarding the information to the utility for investigation.  Once complete, the result of the investigation will be forwarded from Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers to the originating Crime Stoppers program.

Land Commission Exclusion Application 

The Regional Board has deferred a decision on an application to the Agricultural Land Commission to exclude a property from the Agricultural Land Reserve.  The 12.83-hectare property located on Trepanier Road in the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area was impacted by the 2012 Trepanier wildfire.  As there are differing opinions about the suitability of land for agriculture from various agencies reviewing the exclusion application, the Regional Board has deferred the final decision to the Land Commission.

Land Reserve Subdivision Application 

The Regional Board has given conditional support to a subdivision application within the Agricultural Land Reserve.  The applicant wants Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) approval to subdivide an approximately .28-hectare lot from the 3.95-hectare parcel on Black Road within the Central Okanagan East Electoral Area.  Board support for the application is conditional on the applicant registering covenants to restrict future additional residences on the property and to advise future purchasers they may be impacted by farm practises.  As well, the Board asks that the ALC require appropriate fencing and landscape buffering should it approve the subdivision application.

2013 Dog Control Service Highlights

The Regional Board has received information and statistics regarding the Dog Control Service activity during 2013.  There were 16,908 dogs licensed in the Central Okanagan at the end of 2013, a 24% increase over 2012.  In addition, there were 632 dogs impounded during 2013, down from 685 in 2012 and continuing a ten year downward trend.  The number of dogs euthanized is also decreasing annually:  from a high of 306 in 2003 to 52 last year which includes 27 that were initiated by individual dog owners. 

UBC Okanagan Campus Presentation

The Regional Board has received a presentation about the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus. There are more than 8,300 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs at the facility.  Since 2005 the campus has tripled its square footage, provides over 1,600 residence beds and has an operating budget of $116-million.  The campus has embarked on a process to create a vision of the future called ‘Aspire’ involving stakeholders and the public.  It’s created an online discussion forum (aspire.ok.ubc.ca) and will hold an Open House next month at the Rotary Centre for the Arts to engage the community. 

Regional Board Meetings

Regional District office – 1450 KLO Road, Kelowna (Woodhaven Board Room).  Residents are welcome to attend.

Thursday, February 13th – following 8:30 am Governance & Services Committee meeting and Grant-in-Aid review
Monday, February 24th – 7:00 pm
Thursday, February 27th -  8:30 am Governance & Services Committee Preliminary Budget Review

News from © iNFOnews, 2014