Westside Regional Wastewater Plant Budget

The Regional Board has approved additional budgetary expenses for 2015 associated with the temporary transport of biosolids for approved disposal.  As a result of an ongoing protest in the Merritt-area where an approved composting facility is located, the Regional District has been prevented from delivering biosolids to the contractor’s site west of Merritt.  It is estimated that hauling the materials at an increased distance for disposal to an approved location previously used in the rural area outside Clinton could potentially cost $356,000 more than initially budgeted.  The draft budget was based on cost savings achieved through contracted composting at the Nicola Valley site.  In light of the current situation the budget increase is similar to the higher rate approved last year by the Board to cover increased hauling costs for biosolid disposal in the Clinton area.

Land Use Contract Discharge Bylaws

The Regional Board has given second and third readings to two Land Use Contract Amendment bylaws and two associated amendments to the Joe Rich Rural Land Use Bylaw.  If approved, the changes would discharge Land Use Contract No. 199 affecting five properties and see new land use designations put in place for each property.  Final consideration and adoption will be scheduled after bylaw approval is received from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. (RLUB-14-01 and RLUB-14-02)

Land Use Contract 172 Discharge Bylaw

The Regional Board has adopted a bylaw discharging Land Use Contract No. 172 from two properties along Teather, Wheland and Rittich Roads in the Ellison area of the Central Okanagan East Electoral Area.  In addition, a Zoning Amendment bylaw has been adopted that changes the affected properties zoning to A1 Agricultural with no further subdivision permitted. 

Proposed Community Works Fund Projects

The Regional Board has approved a proposal to use more than $460,000 of Federal Gas Tax Community Works Funds to complete a variety of infrastructure projects in the Electoral Areas reducing the need to fund through taxation. A total of $226,950 will be spent on upgrades to Central Okanagan East parks, community halls and two fire departments while $233,907 will be used in Central Okanagan West for proposed projects on three water systems, two fire departments and several parks in the electoral area.

Transit Fare Increases Approved

The Regional Board has approved proposed fare increases affecting Kelowna Regional Transit riders.  The new rates for single rides, ticket packages and monthly passes will take effect September 1st to coordinate with fall and winter service changes.  This is the first increase in transit fares since 2012.  A proposed September 2016 increase in the U-Pass program rates requires approval in a referendum of UBCO students.  The Regional District is a municipal partner in Kelowna Regional Transit which operates a small conventional bus service with two trips a day Monday through Saturday in the Ellison area of Central Okanagan East.

Referral Applications from FrontCounter BC

The Regional Board has given conditional support for two separate applications to FrontCounter BC that were referred for Board comment.  The first application from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations proposes to manage unsanctioned activities currently taking place in two watershed areas north and west of Dee Lake, east of Lake Country.  The second application is from the Mountain Bikers of the Central Okanagan to construct, rehabilitate and maintain recreational mountain bike trails on Crown land in the vicinity of Gillard Creek Forest Service Road, south of the City of Kelowna.
In providing support for each application, the Regional Board asks that staff at FrontCounter BC consider all comments and information supplied from various agencies before giving any approval.

Regional Board Meetings:

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

·         Friday, March 27 – 9 a.m. Public Financial Plan Adoption
·         Thursday, April 9 – following 8:30 a.m. Governance and Services Committee meeting
·         Monday, April 27 – 7 p.m.

News from © iNFOnews, 2015