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South Okanagan Photos

Official staff report on Thursday meeting of RDOS directors

Highlights from August 1 Regional Board meeting

Selected highlights from the regular meeting of the Regional Board of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen held Thursday, August 1. Complete minutes of the meeting will be made available to the public following adoption at the next scheduled Board meeting August 15.

1. The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and City of Penticton are extending an existing relationship of shared services and opportunity to include the disposition of some bio-waste materials.

The Regional Board voted today to enter an agreement to transport sludge materials from the Okanagan Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant to the City’s Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The Okanagan Falls plant removes the solids/sludge and transports them by septic truck to the Penticton plant for dewatering.

The ability to dewater materials was removed during the pre-design of the Okanagan Falls facility to maintain the capital budget. Moving the sludge materials to Penticton is cost-effective for the Regional District and provides revenue for the City of Penticton.

“This is a great example of two peer organizations cooperating for the benefit of both,” said Regional Board Chair Mark Pendergraft.

2. Regional Directors want more time to consider a tri-party arrangement to provide funding to maintain the Penticton Channel Trail. The trail is owned and operated by the Penticton Indian Band.

With the three-party agreement, the Regional District would contribute $5,833 for the remainder of 2013 and $14,000 annually each of the following five years to assist with maintenance and enhancement of the trail.

The Regional District, as part of its commitment to improving client and stakeholder experience, is working to develop the KVR Trail to link communities within the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys. The Penticton Channel Trail is part of this network.

Since 2009, the Penticton Indian Band has solely funded the maintenance of the trail between the dam at the north end of the channel and the parking lot at the sound end.

3. The final partner is in place for the development of a water plan for the Similkameen valley.

The Regional Board voted to approve a work plan delivered by the Lower Similkameen Indian Band to provide consultative services and share unique cultural and ecological data for the Similkameen River Watershed Plan.

The Board was following advice from steering committee members of the Similkameen Valley Planning Society, who unanimously recommended the Regional District approve the work plan and up to $43,755 in fees.

4. The Regional Board approved an amendment to the Area ‘D-2’ Official Community Plan to include a provision regulating short-term vacation rentals. The amendment will make the OCP consistent with community plans in other Electoral Areas.

5. The Regional District’s current auditor, White Kennedy Chartered Accountants, will continue to provide services through 2015 after the agency was selected from among three companies interesting in providing auditing services.

6. The Regional District will make an application to the Province to lease Crown Land with the intention of eventually constructing a community centre in Coalmont.

7. The Board adopted an Emergency Services Amendment Bylaw which allows fire services to legally respond outside their established service areas. The Amendment will also allow for fires to be reported and or investigated by a Duty Officer rather than the Fire Chief.