Certificate of Recognition
Mayor Doug Findlater, on behalf of Council, presented Certificates of Recognition for the extraordinary efforts taken to save the life of Mr. Dennis Savage on March 12, 2014, who collapsed in full cardiac arrest while playing a game of senior hockey at Royal LePage Place arena. This proactive hockey group had purchased an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) eight years ago and they it have ready on the bench for each hockey game.  The trained hockey players quickly used the AED. Doctors commended the quick action of these hockey players in saving Mr. Savage’s life.  Mr. Savage was in attendance at the Council Meeting. District of West Kelowna staff also played a key role in this incident in calling for an ambulance and relaying vital information over the cell phone.  Certificates were provided for the following people:
Senior Hockey Players:
-  Mr. Bernie Roy
-  Mr. Bill Koch
-  Mr. Bill Hetland
-  Mr. Steve Berry
-  Mr. Larry Preston
-  Mr. Geoff Stevenson
District of West Kelowna Staff:
-  Mr. Jeff Fletcher
-  Mr. Russ Sutherland
-  Mr. Clarence Breitkreutz
-  Mr. David Stork
-  Mr. Erin Goodwin

Snow Stars Recognized
Mayor Doug Findlater, on behalf of Council, recognized the District’s first Snow Stars, nominated by fellow residents for their lending their hands to clear snow for their neighbours during snow season. Darlene Lesperance, a Saddleridge Drive resident, was nominated for the ten years she has been shoveling her neighbour’s driveway to “get a little exercise and some fresh air.” Steve Ferguson, a Pinewood Place resident, was nominated by a neighbor who said “I am especially grateful to Steve who goes out in the freezing cold as these snow clearing tasks are too great for my senior father.”  The two were randomly selected to be recognized with a $250 gift certificate to Home Hardware.

Memorial Park Skate Board Park
Council directed staff to set up a trust account to hold donations for the purchase and installation of a skateboard park at Memorial Park, adjacent to Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre. The move is in response to recent activities of a fundraising group advocating for construction of a new skateboard park to replace the deteriorating existing facility. The estimated cost to construct a new skateboard park is $406,000 as outlined in the Memorial Park Plan.

DCC Rate Options
Council was presented information on its developing Development Cost Charges (DCC) program by Leftside Partners Inc. and provided input into the proposed recommended allocations. DCCs are fees implemented at the time of development which are meant to help municipalities recover the costs of infrastructure needed for growth ie: roads, sewage, water, drainage and parks. The DCC program and preliminary rates will be revised and brought back to Council for further feedback, with water rates established after the Water Utility Master Plan is presented to Council in July.

Gellatly Road Phase 4
Council received information regarding the design of an upgrade to Gellatly Road Phase 4. Gellatly Road Upgrade Phase 4 project will improve approximately 1.2 km of Gellalty Road from Carrington Road to Boucherie and a portion of Boucherie Road to link works completed by Westbank First Nation and Gellalty Road Upgrade Phase. 3. This year, detailed design will be undertaken of the road upgrade. An open house will be held in the summer to gather input from the public. Construction is expected to begin in 2015.

JBMAC Closure
The Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre (JBMAC) will be closed for renovations from August 23 to September 14. Annual maintenance is conducted during a two-week closure each year after Labour Day long weekend. This year, the facility will be closing for an additional week in order to also complete improvement projects slated for the facility. Improvements to be completed include:
-  Lighting replacement
-  Interior painting (the mural will be saved)
-  Door and hardware replacement
-  Acoustic tile replacement
-  Security upgrade

West Kelowna Civic Centre Business Plan
Council received a business plan for the proposed West Kelowna Municipal Hall/Civic Centre. The purpose of the plan is to identify the key decision points and the steps that have been taken towards a new Municipal Hall and outline the goals, financial implications and next steps needed to make Council’s vision a reality. The plan outlines 14 key elements that have led to, and are expected to result from, the current West Kelowna Municipal Hall/Civic Centre proposal. The plan illustrates Council’s vision that a new Municipal Hall be more than a stand-alone building and instead be a catalyst for economic growth to the surrounding area. The business plan includes information on the financial implications of the project. Council was also provided the next steps in the project including the development of a communications strategy and electoral approval planning. Council requested an update be provided to the public regarding the business plan. The business plan is available on the District’s website at www.districtofwestkelowna.ca under Mayor & Council/Municipal Hall/Civic Centre.

Sewer & Recycling Fees Increase
Council was advised that West Kelowna residents will see a substantial increase on their July utility bill, a result of increased costs associated with the Regional Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) advised the District that it would be charged an additional $494,265 for sewer service based on adjustment to the sewer flow calculation for the community. A further $210,000 increase would be billed to the District to pay for increased biosolid hauling costs.  Although the District’s sewer fee remains unchanged, residents will see a rate increase of 22.92% ($49.24 annually per household) on RDCO sewer rates, beginning on the next utility bill to be distributed in July. Partially offsetting the sewer rate increase is a reduction in recycling fees. Incentive funds provided from Multi-Material British Columbia (MMBC) for communities that participate in recycling programs will be used to help reduce the cost of recycling to residents. All together, these changes will result in a net annual increase of $30.80 on the utility bill for an average single-family home, beginning this July.

Statement of Financial Information
Council approved the 2013 Statement of Financial Information for the District of West Kelowna. The report is an annual requirement for all local governments under the Financial Information Act. It provides full disclosure of Mayor and Council remuneration in 2013, reimbursements and expenses received by Mayor and Council, staff who have earnings and expenses over $75,000 in 2013 and reimbursements and expenses received by DWK staff. The report also lists all vendors paid $25,000 or more in 2013.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014