Council Meeting Highlights for March 2, 2020

Council Meeting Highlights for March 2, 2020

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

Committee of the Whole Regular Open Public Hearings
 
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
  
Delegations

• Denise Eastlick, Executive Director, and Jayme Friedt, Managing Director, from the Osoyoos Desert Society presented an update to Council. Ms. Eastlick is stepping down as Executive Director after twelve years with the society, while Ms. Friedt has taken on the role of Managing Director for the Desert Centre.
• Brenda Arychuk, Secretary, and Kyle Fossett, Vice President, from Oliver/Osoyoos Search and Rescue (OOSAR) presented an update to Council. Ms. Arychuk thanked Council for their letter of support in 2019, which assisted with OOSAR receiving a Capital Gaming Grant of $100,000.00 for a truck and trailer station.

REGULAR OPEN MEETING
 
Bylaws

• Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1085.130, 2020 was read for a third time. If approved this amendment would add the use of Shopping Centre to the C7 Special Commercial Zone – 5820 89^th Avenue is the only property in Osoyoos with this zoning.
• Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1085.129, 2020 was reread for a second time, due to the legal description being incorrect at initial reading. If adopted this amendment would allow for a residential unit, to be used for employee housing, to be located within the existing commercial building at 5401 Lakeshore Drive (Casa del Milo Oro). Council also set a Public Hearing date for March 16, 2020 at 4:00 pm in Council Chambers at Town Hall.

Business

• Council directed staff to request detailed financial information from the Osoyoos Lake Paddle Club in order to reconsider their request for Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) funding.
• Council opted to fund the Osoyoos Museum’s request in the amount of $10,562.00 from reserves in order to offset the costs associated with the development and building permits for the renovations at the new museum.
• Council denied the request from Sy Murseli to hire a Civil Engineer as services required to fully equip an engineering department are not feasible for a small municipality.
• Council denied the request from Ms. Calisto for additional funding for children’s programming and opted to maintain the budget for Children’s Programs as presented, which has increased by 7.22% for 2020.
• Council authorized staff to award a contract to SAHURI + Associates Architecture Inc. for the Town Hall Space Needs Assessment and Pre-Design project for a total fixed lump sum price of $79,720.00.

Reports

• Councillors King and Bennett attended the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce Business after Business event.
• Councillor Bennett attended the meeting at RDOS for bike trails.
• Councillor Bennett attended the meeting with the Destination Osoyoos marketing board.
• Councillor Bennett attended the quarterly meeting with the Municipal Insurance Association.
• Councillor Harvey attended the quarterly meeting of the Okanagan Regional Library board.
• Mayor McKortoff attended a Climate Change workshop.

Public Hearings:
 
There were two public hearings held:

1. A Public Hearing was held in the Council Chambers on March 2, 2020 at 4:00 pm for Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 1230.25, 2020 and Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1085.127, 2020. If adopted these amendments would allow for the implementation of Phase 2 of the Meadowlark Plan. Members of the public were generally in favour of the additional near market housing but did raise concerns with traffic safety, the highway crossing, and environmental protection of the existing pond. Video of the hearing can be viewed here. 

2. A Public Hearing was held in Council Chambers, immediately following the above meeting, for Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 1230.26 and Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1085.128, 2020. If adopted these amendments would allow for the implementation of Phase 3 of the Meadowlark Plan. Video of the hearing can be viewed here, beginning at the 56 minute, 35 second mark.   

 
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.