1. Dogs in parks – request letter and petition – council heard a presentation by Pat Buckland representing those who had signed a petition to the Town requesting that the present bylaws for dog control in the community park be maintained. That petition in response to a request from the Oliver Parks and Recreation Society to have the town remove a section of the Dog Control Bylaw that allows off leash activity dawn to 9am in the main part of the Park.
Council will advise the Parks Board to hold a public meeting and invite concerned dog owners to such an event but until then – the bylaw will be sustained. Council will look at the request again after the public meeting.
2. Dog limit – two per home: Council heard another plea by a pet owner that the 2 dog limit per home is unreasonable. Council also heard from a dog owner asking for time to comply with the Dog Control Bylaw. The town decided to grant Ivy George time to accommodate one dog elsewhere by June 1st. Triena Greener has four dogs and asked for special consideration. Council has instructed staff that the bylaw will be sustained and no changes are contemplated.
3. Support of ALR – Motion passed by Council to support the Agriculture Land Commission Act by advising the provincial government that the Union of BC Municipalities should be involved in any discussions about change of such a law and the independence of the commission should be maintained. The motion stated that Oliver lies in the middle of a concentrated agricultural area and the area depends on the farm industry.
3. System 2 upgrade Chlorine Contact – Contractor R-355 Enterprises has been granted a job valued at $298,775.00 to install a chlorine contact manifold for System 2. 190 metres of ductile iron pipes will be utilized.
4. ORL report – CEO of the Okanagan Regional Library Stephanie Hall presented an annual report to Town council. Hall told councillors that Oliver gets a very good deal from the system. Oliver sits in a category where it is getting 31 percent more value than it pays for and ORL staff will be working to reduce that so that all communities in the system are treated fairly. Circulation in Oliver has fallen by 3.27% with 132 thousand physical units (books and videos etc.) in circulation. There has been over 68 thousand visits to the Oliver Branch with about 5000 cardholders. Electronic use of the library has gone up 204 percent system wide.
5. Venables Theatre – Council will meet with rural area Director Allan Patton next Monday to hammer out an acceptable operating budget for 2014. The theatre is scheduled to be used for a first paid performance February 28th. Council has authorized the formation of a Theatre operating society with the following named as directors: Bob Park, Christine Rothwell, Jack Frank, Carol Sheridan, Midge Wyse and Wendy Newman. The operating society is expected to be a legal entity within 3-4 months. No firm decisions on funding have been made but the preference seems to be grants-in-aid for 2014 with a referendum in the fall for the formation of a joint services arrangement at the RDOS covering 2015 and beyond.
6. Centennial Campsite lease – present operators MIM Management granted a 5 year lease with one year opt out clause for a fee of $20 thousand. Campsite and RV open dates April 1st to the first Monday after the Festival of the Grape event.
7. Search and Rescue DCC fees – Oliver/Osoyoos Search and Rescue are obligated to pay Development Cost Charges for new construction on the east side of the airport. Council has granted time to pay in the amount of $3273. The organization is also invited to complete forms for a grant in aid. No decision on granting those monies has been made.