Highlights from Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen  meeting held Thursday, November 21.

A proposed commercial distillery in Naramata will go to public hearing after the Regional Board gave first and second reading to a zoning bylaw amendment application. The property is currently the site of a medical office.

The Regional District will continue to participate in a three-party agreement to fund visitor information services and tourism initiatives at the Oliver Visitor Information Centre. Both the Regional District and Town of Oliver will pay $28,000 per year for three years beginning in 2014. The Regional District’s funding is shared between the Town of Oliver and Area “C” taxpayers as a joint service.

The Board approved an additional $6,500 in funding for the Tulameen Community Rink project to cover an over-budget amount for lighting upgrades. The additional funds will come from the Area “H” Gas Tax Reserve, which is expected to have a balance of approximately $297,000 at the end of 2013.

The Regional District will participate in the Multi-Material Collection Incentives program following a Board decision to enter in to an agreement with the service’s provider, Multi-Material BC. The agreement is for a maximum of five years.. The program provides for the diversion of paper and printed packaging for recycling at a cost to the material’s producer.

The Board made a number of decisions related to 911 Radio service within the Regional District. It replaced a policy detailing cost sharing for 911 radio equipment with a new policy established by the RDOS E911 Fire Radio Communications Committee. It provided support to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities to pursue the concept of a province-wide 911 Call Answer Levy and a method of fair distribution for those funds throughout the province. And it authorized the Chair and Chief Administrative Officer to execute an “up to five-year” 911 Service Agreement (2014-2019) with Central Okanagan Regional District (CORD).

The Board also authorized the administration to support CORD in signing an “Up to five year” Memorandum of Understanding with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to provide for policing services.