Safety Program Recognized
On behalf of Council and the District of West Kelowna, Mayor Doug Findlater accepted two Certificates of Recognition from Worksafe BC and the BC Municipal Safety Association (BCMSA) after a comprehensive review of its Occupational Health and Safety Program and Return to Work/Stay at Work Program. The municipality, through BCMSA, was audited in late 2013 and successfully passed all elements, earning an overall score of 87% for its safety program and 92% for its Stay at Work/Return to work program. The certificates are valid for three years and entitle the employer to receive financial incentives. In the District’s case, this equates to an annual refund of approximately $20,000 for each of the three years. The municipality anticipates investing these savings into even more improvements of its safety program. As part of the Worksafe BC certification, internal audits are required for 2014 and 2015 and the District had two staff members attend training and become certified to perform these audits through the BCMSA.

Rose Valley Development
Council gave first and second readings to a Zoning Bylaw amendment to rezone a 1.64 hectare property at 1506 Rose Meadow Drive from Rural residential Large Parcel to Compact Single Family Housing. The rezoning is intended to facilitate a 12-lot subdivision of the subject property and an adjacent property to the north. The application will now be scheduled for a public hearing.

Glen Canyon Park
Council gave first and second reading to a Zoning Bylaw amendment for part property at 2880 Scharf Road, part of a key trail connection in the Powers Creek corridor, owned by the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO). The subject property is adjacent to Glen Canyon Regional Park. As part of a 2008 rezoning application by a previous owner, a "Right of First Refusal" agreement was secured by the RDCO and the property was subsequently acquired in September 2013. As part of the property acquisition, the RDCO intends to subdivide and sell a portion of the property, located on the east side of Powers Creek while retaining the western portion of the subject property as regional park (Glen Canyon Regional Park). Council agreed to waive the Procedures Bylaw requirement to post a development notice sign on the site and to waive the need for a public hearing, in accordance with Section 890 of the Local Government Act. The District will give notice to the public that it is waiving the public hearing and will schedule the application for third and final reading at an upcoming meeting.

Medical Marihuana
Council adopted a Zoning Amendment Bylaw that will allow commercial medical marihuana production in the District’s Light Industrial Zone, with the minimum siting distances for P zones and zones that permit residential dwellings as principle use.

Works and Services Bylaw
Council adopted its Works and Services Bylaw 0120, which enables a municipality to regulate and require the provision of works and services associated with subdivision and development of land. The District previously used Bylaw 704 developed by the Regional District of Central Okanagan which was last substantially reviewed in 1996. Bylaw 0120 will become effective on April 24, 2014. All applications submitted before April 24 will be considered in-stream with a one year grace period under the previous Bylaw 704. Any new subdivision or development applications submitted after April 24 will be considered under the new Bylaw.

CNR Wharf Design Considerations
Council was provided information on design considerations of the CNR Wharf, currently under construction as part of Phase 1 of the CNR Wharf Park Plan, to address safety concerns raised by a nearby household. Council was advised of design elements of the current phase under construction which are intended to address safety concerns including:
-  Feature lights to remove dark spots
-  Redesign of lift towers to increase sightlines and remove hiding places
-  Removal of fence to encourage public viewing and use
Further crime reduction measures that will be implemented this year is
-  Increased communications with the RCMP of ongoing issues and increased patrols in the area
-  Introduction of Park Ambassadors in the Gellatly Bay area to provide community information to park visitors and guests and provide a District presence in the park
-  Staff monitoring and evaluation of the wharf use
Council agreed to review the operation of CNR Wharf as part of the operational work plan in Fall 2014. As part of the staff review a report on any security related issues, particularly through the summer season, will be provided to Council.

Pritchard Park Construction
Council awarded the construction contract for Phase 1 of the Marjorie Pritchard Memorial Park Plan to Arterra Construction for $352,735. Phase 1 improvements include:
-  Demolition and removal of existing asphalt
-  Curb, gutter, sidewalk installation
-  Watermain and storm sewer upgrades
-  Irrigated landscaping
-  Formalized parking with wider than standard stalls for easier access into vehicles
-  Turnaround/drop off zone
-  Six-foot wrought iron fence
In preparation for the Phase 1 improvements, the park is closed and much of the existing landscaping has been removed to accommodate construction and the new landscape design. The project is expected to be complete by the end of June.

Master Sanitary Plan
Council adopted the Master Sanitary Plan which is a comprehensive plan guiding the operation, maintenance, upgrading and expansion of the municipality’s sewer infrastructure. An open house was held on February 13 with the plan’s recommended capital works and business plan. Staff provided Council with the results of the corresponding survey which indicate support from the 17 respondents. The 20-year capital renewal program in the plan indicates $5.84 million and a capital renewal recommendation of $1.05 million. These amounts will be incorporated into the 2015-2024 Financial Plan.

West Kelowna World Music Festival Title Sponsorship
Council directed staff to seek out a title sponsor for the 2014 West Kelowna World Music Festival. The District of West Kelowna hosts an annual Music in the Park, running each Friday evening at Memorial Park throughout the summer. Title sponsorship is not sought for Music in the Park as it is branded as a District of West Kelowna event. In 2013, a new multicultural event was added to the 'Music in the Park' program, titled 'West Kelowna Global Music Fest' which celebrated multiculturalism through music, dance, food and interactive entertainment. The event took place at Memorial Park on Saturday, August 24. A one-time grant of $3,000 was received from the lntercultural Society of Central Okanagan (ISCO) to host a Global Music Fest event in West Kelowna and a further $2,500 was received from the Central Okanagan Foundation to support this multicultural event. No grant funding is anticipated this year for the Saturday, August 23, 2014 event and Council agreed to pursue securing a title sponsorship for the event. Creative Okanagan is the non-profit society contracted to produce and promote Music in the Park and the West Kelowna World Music Festival. The District of West Kelowna will work with Creative Okanagan to promote the title sponsorship opportunity, with the District of West Kelowna providing final approval of the sponsor.

West Kelowna RCMP Detachment – LEED Certified
Council received information that the West Kelowna RCMP Detachment has earned a silver certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED®. The 1,767 square-metre building was opened in October 2010 and was built at a total cost of $8.46 million. The RCMP, E-Division, have committed to paying 53% of the operational and debt servicing costs through lease agreements. Green features of the building include:
-  Contaminated soil removal and site reclamation of the former Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure works yard
-  Roof planted with natural vegetation to filter pollutants and carbon dioxide, reduce energy costs and manage storm water
-  An underground cistern that catches and stores rainwater for landscape irrigation
-  Solar panels for heating the building’s water
-  Low flow plumbing
-  Efficient lighting and high use of natural daylight in 90% of indoor spaces to reduce energy consumption
-  At least 20% of materials produced regionally
-  Use of low emission products including paint, carpet and adhesives
-  Diversion of 75% of construction waste from landfill through recycling or reuse
-  Bicycle storage facilities included and transit service provided nearby

News from © iNFOnews, 2014