Money for Okanagan Film Commission/Economic Development for RDOS

Directors looked at a bylaw to fund the Okanagan Film Commission with up to $35000 in cash.Then they were urged to drop the film commission’s name and make it general in nature – like Economic Development. Several months ago this failed when Towns and cities balked at a $100 thousand limit on an Economic Development scheme.

This bylaw got approval today but needs the assent of the electorate and will be part of an AAP Alternative Approval Process where 10 percent of the population needs to demand a referendum. The limit of spending is lower and allows other groups to be funded with expenditures in total less than $35 thousand.

SO Transit System

This establishment bylaw appears to be going no where. Osoyoos has administered a bus system (Medi Tran) for many years with voluntary contributions from Oliver and the rural areas.

The proposal now to expand the system to five days a week – trips to Kelowna and back but there is resistance. OK Falls and east side road land owners already fund a bus service and local Director Tom Siddon says he would be getting political heat if this proposal was adopted by the RDOS.

He proposed an alternative motion to get a report on how the system could be financed more fairly with user pay – not a land tax. It passed. More to this story later.