“Cawston director George Bush – too late in budget cycle

CAO Bill Newell – strategic decision

Kaleden/OK Falls director Tom Siddon – 11th hour

Summerland Mayor Peter Waterman – lets move ahead

West Bench director Michael Brydon – this is planning not the final decision”

Some of the comments from RDOS directors before agreeing to modify the Regional District budget by $55,000 to aid in the preparation of a survey and plans for a funding referendum

Conservation Fund

The goal of the Conservation Fund is to raise between $250,000 to $500,000 per year on a region wide service basis. The costs of establishing the service is comprised of in-kind staff time and actual costs. At present SOSCP has $10,000 in funding to conduct public opinion polling and undertake public engagement. Fund raising for the Alternative Approval Process and/or Referendum will be undertaken. See attachment for a summary of the Conservation Fund concept. Based on a preliminary cost analysis, to meet the goal of raising $250-500,000 per year the cost to every household in the RDOS, including municipalities, is $4.62 – $9.25 per year. There are other funding formulas for specific areas, where the costs per households are increased.

Decision: That the Board add $55,000 to the General Government 2015 Budget to process the direction to investigate the development of a conservation fund.

Reference: Keeping Nature in Our Future Board Resolution, B212/14

THAT the Board of Directors provides approval in principle of establishing a “Conservation Fund” and direct staff to obtain public opinion on the concept and further develop fund details.

History: In September 2013 the Board accepted “Keeping Nature in Our Future” as a guiding document, then provided direction for staff to work with SOSCP to undertake immediate priorities. One of the priorities was to: Improve and expand methods for financing conservation. An option identified to increase funding and capacity for conservation and protection of important ecological values unique to the South Okanagan Similkameen, is through the establishment of a local conservation fund.  Local conservation funds focus on projects that don’t fall within the mandate of other levels of government. Local governments have the legal authority to establish and operate a conservation fund as a service, just like fire protection, water supply, recreation and waste management. The fund can be financed through a property tax, parcel tax, local area service tax or fees.  Successful examples are being drawn from the East and West Kootenay ($1 M since 2008) and Cowichan Valleys and Central Okanagan Regional District. Each regional district custom designs the conservation fund to address local environmental priorities and dovetail with existing planning and decision-making. In July 2014 the Board approved in principle the establishment of a “Conservation Fund” and directed staff to obtain public opinion on the concept and further develop fund details.