Council Meeting Highlights for December 3, 2018

Council Meeting Highlights for December 3, 2018

Click on button to watch the video of the Committee of the Whole, Regular Open Meeting and the Public Hearing.
       Committee of the Whole   Regular Open Meeting  Public Hearing

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Delegations

• A presentation was made about the South Okanagan Immigrant & Community Services (SOICS) by Nora Hunt-Haft, SOS Local Immigration Partnership and Tahira Siheed, Executive Director to Council.  They advised that they work with the YMCA and WorkBC.  Within their team, board and volunteers over 15 languages are spoken.

REGULAR OPEN MEETING
Correspondence

• Council will provide a Letter of Support for the Osoyoos Museum Society for the OMS application infrastructure funding from the Ministry of Community Cultural and Recreation Program.

Bylaws

• Good Neighbour Amendment Bylaw No. 1277.01, 2018 was adopted.  This Bylaw will help with the struggle to control the spread of Puncturevine in our area.  These invasive plant species are particularly aggressive in our area and are the frequent cause of many popped bike tires along our walking and biking trails.  (The seeds of Puncturevine are easily spread through contact with clothing, shoes, tires, pet fur, etc.)

Business

• Council gave pre-budget approval to tender the repair of the Cottonwood Park retaining wall (complete with improvements) and upgraded Park lighting.  This past spring the current retaining wall sustained damage from the flood water and repeated wave action.  As a result, the four (4) wall sections are now leaning outward.  Concrete and asphalt walkways have sunk and surrounding landscape areas have been compromised.  True Consulting Ltd. has developed a repair plan which consists of repairs with improvements designed to withstand future flooding events.  The total costs (not including GST) is $518,000. Emergency Management BC stated that they are willing to fund $281,565 toward repairing the retaining wall to pre-disaster condition, no improvements. 
• Council approved the agreement with the Fraser Basin Council.  A grant was awarded to the Community Services Department from the Fraser Basin Council to help offset the costs of installing direct digital controls in the Sonora Community Centre.  An agreement must be signed in order to receive the funds and move forward with the project of installing direct digital controls.
• Council approved the Regional Tourism Marketing Fee for Service Agreement with Destination Osoyoos from 2019-2021 to provide tourism development, marketing and visitor services for the Town of Osoyoos.
• Council approved providing Destination Osoyoos (DO) a letter of support for a 3% MRDT program.  Council approved DO request to receive MRDT funds directly through the province as the Town’s designated MRDT fund recipient and approved the signing of the Destination Marketing Agreement 2019-2023.

Reports

• Councillor Bennett attended the School District meeting.
• Councillor Bennett attended the Destination Osoyoos AGM.
• Councillor King attended the Destination Osoyoos Board Meeting.
• Councillor Bennett attended the Osoyoos Airport Development Society meeting.
• Councillor Rhodes attended the RDOS Strategic Planning Session.
• Councillor King attended the Destination Osoyoos AGM.
• Councillor King attended the Osoyoos Airport Society AGM.
• Councillor King thanked Councillor Bennett for decorating the Town’s parade entry.
• Mayor McKortoff thanked everyone who was involved with Christmas Light-up.
• Mayor McKortoff attended the SOAP It’s a wonderful Life play.
• Mayor McKortoff encouraged everyone to support the local businesses and events.
• Mayor McKortoff advised that Santa’s Night Out is at the Sonora Community Centre on Dec 6^th.

Copies of reports are available within the Council Agenda packages located on the Town’s website www.osoyoos.ca.
 
The public is encouraged to attend the Committee of the Whole meetings which take place in Council Chambers at 9:00 am on the morning of the Regular Open Council meetings at 2:00 pm to learn additional in-depth information regarding upcoming business.