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South Okanagan Photos

Town of Oliver – council briefs

Updates on stories on a planned housing project, a government run cannabis retail store, syphon repairs at Gallagher Lake and a large paving project centred at Earle Crescent

Earle Cres at Hillside

1. Earle Crescent Reconstruction Project – Council awarded Grizzly Excavating Ltd the Earle Crescent Reconstruction Project in the amount of $749,625.03 after evaluation of tender offers. The project involves road rehabilitation of Earle Crescent between Okanagan and Kootenay Street. It also includes alteration of the road corridor to one-way traffic between Veterans Avenue and Kootenay Street. That section will be one way going northbound only to allow for less traffic and more secure parking.

In addition, there will be water service replacements and repaving of the existing asphalt surface on Church Avenue between Okanagan and Kootenay Street, and on Veterans Avenue between Okanagan and Earle Crescent. Work is expected to commence in July.

2. BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch – information for municipalities regarding BC Cannabis Stores. Presention from the Branch on the slow start to approvals for cannabis retail outlets in BC.

Oliver will get one but not this year. About 20 stores in BC should be approved this year – some in the Kootenays, Vancouver Island and the Caribou according to Kevin Satterfield, Director of Retail Cannabis Operations.

 

3. Syphon repair options – a report discussed at council with public works staff and contract engineering consultant – True Engineering. Council requested more information on options if a calamity occurred before the repair project could be completed. Concerns about how to get water from lakes and rivers adjacent to the ditch if supply of water from McIntrye Dam was not possible.

4. A local affordable housing society wrote council a letter indicating that municipal water and sewer services would be needed for their project on Reserve land adjacent to Sen Pok Chin elementary school on Osoyoos Indian Band Land. Council instructed staff to find out more and to fact find on just how domestic water is presently supplied to the area and the sewer credits that the Band has acquired in previously agreed to contracts.

Other items dealt with:

Oliver Downtown Advisory Committee Resignation and Appointment – Council rescinded the appointment of Teresa Maurer as a local business representative and appointed Dermott Hutton as a local business representative to the Oliver Downtown Advisory Committee. Council wishes to thank Ms. Maurer for her participation in the Oliver Downtown Advisory Committee.

Council read Zoning Amendment Bylaw 1380.07 a first and second time and directed staff to schedule a public hearing for June 24, 2019. The Zoning amendment is in regards to visitor & persons with disabilities vehicle parking regulations and fencing regulations. The proposed amendments include on-site visitor vehicle parking space requirements, on-site persons with disabilities vehicle parking space requirements, the determination of fence height and the placement of fences upon retaining walls.

2018 Statement of Financial Information – Council approved the SOFI report for 2018. The Financial Information Act requires all public entities to submit specific financial information to the Province and make it available to the public.

Council adopted Delegation of Council Executive and Administrative Powers Bylaw 1385. This Bylaw provides the opportunity for Council to streamline decision-making by providing the Committee of the Whole authority to consider meeting items and vote upon without the need to refer to a Regular Council Meeting except for Bylaws, budgeting, and water matters.

Oliver Senior Center Society – Council supported the request of a letter of support for the Society’s New Horizons for Seniors Program grant application to repair and upgrade the parking lot.

Okanagan Regional Library – Council supported a request for a letter of support from the ORL regarding upcoming Provincial Government 2020 Budget Consultations and the need for BC public libraries to receive adequate and sustained funding.

Criminal Justice Reform in British Columbia – Council endorsed a resolution from the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Committee to correspond with Premier John Horgan to support addressing the ongoing gang violence across the lower mainland of BC.

The resolution is to take steps to explore initiatives to address issues within the British Columbia justice system including BC’s restrictive charge approval standards, the ongoing high volume of court delays as well as measures to address community safety in support of the rights of all Canadians to live in safe communities.

Gas Tax Monies – Lengthy discussion about an unexpected gift of a 1/4 million dollars in gas tax funds. Council debated the use of such funds for one-off projects like a solar array for Topping Lake Sewer Plant,  the Oliver Fire Hall or to spend the funds upgrading streets and sidewalks near two schools in Oliver. Staff to supply more detailed information in the weeks ahead to assist council in making such a decision.