Council Meeting Highlights for September 3, 2019

Council Meeting Highlights for September 3, 2019

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

  Committee of the Whole Regular Open
 
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING

Delegations

• MLA Linda Larson met with Council to discuss updates on housing for hospitality workers in Osoyoos. Gina MacKay, Director of Planning and Development, stated that the Town will be looking at housing needs in the Housing Needs Assessment report, which is a requirement of the Official Community Plan review.
• Kelley Glazer, Executive Director of Destination Osoyoos, presented Destination Osoyoos’ Bi-Annual Progress Report. Ms. Glazer stated that the Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT), which increased from 2% to 3% on September 1^st, will likely generate around $600,000.00 a year to put towards projects and tourism marketing and events.
• Residents presented a petition to council regarding the sewer smell in the golf course area. Jared Brounstein, Director of Operations, advised that he will be meeting with a provider of a bacteriological product which can be added to the treatment process that may help with the issue.

REGULAR OPEN MEETING

Correspondence

• Council received a letter from Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre thanking council for their support in providing Desert Sun’s office space at a very reasonable rate, which enables them to serve vulnerable community members and host a variety of services (Alcoholics Anonymous, Elementary Backpack Program, etc.).

Bylaws

• 5 Year Financial Plan Bylaw No. 1349.02, 2019 was adopted. This bylaw adds the Osoyoos Child Care Centre Expansion Project, which is fully funded through the Community Child Care Space Creation Program.
• Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1085.113, 2019 was adopted. This amendment allows for a site specific retail cannabis store to be located at 8322 Main Street.

Business

• Council authorized staff to install a pad at no charge as a sponsorship towards the memorial bench for Blake Sewell and to donate $150.00 towards the memorial bench.

Reports

• Councillor Rhodes thanked the residents in attendance at the Committee of the Whole meeting for presenting their petition in such a respectful manner.
• Councillor Rhodes encouraged residents to be engaged in the community and with Council.
• Mayor McKortoff and Councillor Bennett attended the Okanagan Art Gallery open house.
• Mayor McKortoff and Councillors King and Bennett thanked the organizers of Music in the Park for a great ten weeks of entertainment.
• Mayor McKortoff attended the Highway 3 Coalition meeting.
• Mayor McKortoff encouraged everyone to do the Make Water Work Pledge – the winning community will be announced on September 6^th.
• Mayor McKortoff encouraged everyone to go online and register for the kickoff event on September 12^th, as well as take the survey.

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.