From Mayor Sue McKortoff
1. Child Care application for funding was accepted. We are happy to support building additions to allow more child care spaces.
“The Osoyoos Child Care Centre was successful in receiving funding support from the Community Child
Care Space Creation Program in 2019 in the amount of $892,500. That funding enables the Centre to
renovate and add to the existing Child Care Centre to provide additional childcare spaces in
accordance with the requirements of the Program. That Program would see additional childcare
spaces for children under 36 months in age and children 30 months to school age created.
Since that time an additional funding opportunity through the Ministry of Children and Family
Development’s Childcare BC New Spaces Fund became available. The Town and Centre made an
earlier application this year to the Fund for an additional $3M that was not approved. The Centre has revised their application, including building design, construction costs, childcare spaces offered and cost per childcare space to bring it into line with Provincial goals and would like to apply for an additional $1.68M instead to further expand the Child Care Centre and significantly improve the provision of licensed childcare in Osoyoos. Total project costs envisioned by the Centre total $2,572,500.00 and would see 42 new childcare spaces created in Osoyoos.
The Town and Child Care Centre have been in discussions with School District #53 to secure additional land for childcare expansion in Osoyoos. While those discussions are ongoing the Town and Centre would like to submit its funding application to the Province as these funds have been made available on a first come – first served basis. This additional funding application if approved would significantly increase the number of childcare spaces for the childcare groups noted above and for school age children and help address community needs.
The Osoyoos Child Care Centre has a long history of providing quality licensed childcare in the
community on lands owned by the Town and the opportunity to expand and enhance the amount and
quality of services offered through this opportunity should be supported.
The Childcare BC New Spaces Fund application attached to this report provides more details in
regards to their renovation and expansion plans.
In order to make application to the fund a resolution of Council supporting that application is required. Town Council approval to make modifications to the existing building if grant applications were successful was approved by resolution on February 4, 2019.
A requirement of the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund application for local governments is a resolution
providing evidence of financial commitment to the Project if total Project Costs surpasses the maximum provincial funding amount. That commitment implies a need for greater Town involvement in project management and procurement to guard against that and limit the Town’s financial exposure.
2. We supported the staff decision to approve overtime compensation in emergencies.
Emergency events and local government response have grown in frequency and duration over the past several years. Spring freshet and flooding events, wildfire season, other disasters and now the COVID-19 pandemic have seen local governments establish local emergency operations centres that are often in operation 7 days a week for months at a time.
The Town of Osoyoos Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) staff includes all management exempt staff and some CUPE employees. EOCs are established at varying levels depending upon the needs and severity of an event and staffing levels are scaled up or down as required.
During prolonged emergency operations consideration needs to be given to management compensation for overtime. For unionized employees, the collective agreement between the Town and CUPE Local 608 establishes the overtime compensation framework for those employees when they work overtime either during an emergency or when other needs dictate.
The attached policy suggest a framework for management exempt staff compensation for overtime during emergency events. The policy mirrors the overtime framework provided to unionized staff when reimbursement for staff overtime is provided from Emergency Management BC (Provincial Regional Emergency Operations Centre – PREOC). When overtime reimbursement is not provided, generally during smaller scale or shorter duration events, the policy suggests that management exempt employees would be compensated for overtime at straight time.
3. We have asked CFO Jim Zakall to come back in 2 weeks with a report on some suggestions to how we could lower the 2.98% tax rate. He will look at the financial plan and how it will affect our budget for the next 4 years.Moved by Councillor King Seconded by Councillor Rhodes.That Osoyoos Tax Rates Bylaw No. 1363, 2020 be referred to staff for changes and be brought back to next the Regular Open Council Meeting. CARRIED Councillor Rhodes was opposed.
4. Museum parcel tax motion was passed.
Publisher’s note – the Town of Osoyoos’s video presentation worked on several media outlets but unfortunately not to ODN so we asked the Mayor and her staff to comment.