Recyclable Materials Contract Amended
The Regional Board has adopted an amendment to the processing and marketing of residential recycling materials contract. While the Regional District entered into a new seven year contract with Metro Waste Paper Recovery Incorporated for processing and marketing of those products in June, the global economic downturn has resulted in a 70 to 80% reduction in revenues generated from the sale of residential recycling materials. In order to maintain a viable recycling program into the future, the contract will be amended to see the Regional District pay a fixed $115 per metric tonne for processing of residential recycling materials and receive 100% of the revenue generated from the sale of those products. The contract approved in June provided a three-tier structure for processing costs based on the price per tonne with a 50% share in revenues for the Regional District.


Heartland Ranch Non-Farm Use Application
The Regional Board has given conditional support to a referral application from the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) for outdoor concerts and special events on a portion of the Heartland Ranch off Highway 33. The proponents have asked the ALC to allow the non-farm use on a 5.6-hectare portion of the 71-hectare property. Should the Commission approve the application the Board has advised that the proponents will be required to seek approval of the Regional District for each special event or outdoor concert at the site.

Gravel Mining Operation Resolution
The Regional Board has given support to a resolution from the District of Peachland regarding gravel mining operations. The resolution asks that the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources urgently review and update the process for considering gravel mining applications to include a broader range of social, economic, health and safety impacts as well as the interests of affected local governments.

Wind Monitoring Referral Application
The Regional Board supports a referral application from FrontCounter BC for a License of Occupation to construct three towers to gather wind monitoring data in the vicinity of Carrot Mountain in the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area. The application is from a numbered BC company. Should FrontCounter BC consider granting approval, the Regional Board would like a number of conditions met including that the company ensure no new roads or buildings are proposed that reservoir lakes are not impacted and that the application be considered by the District of West Kelowna and the Westbank and Lakeview Irrigation Districts. As well, the Board has directed staff to write FrontCounter BC outlining concerns about its application referral process requesting that in the future all impacted agencies are provided with an opportunity to comment.

Water Board Grant Applications
The Regional Board has endorsed forwarding seven applications for grants under a funding program of the Okanagan Basin Water Board. Two applications are for programs sponsored by the Regional District including a second phase of the Joe Rich Creek Restoration project and a South Okanagan Lake Foreshore Inventory and Mapping project in partnership with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. Five other applications from community organizations (Okanagan Xeriscape Association, Lakeview Irrigation District, Black Mountain Irrigation District, Benvoulin Water Users Community, Mission Creek Water Users Community) are also being supported for proposed water conservation or water quality improvements.

Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendments
The Regional Board has given first reading to proposed amendments to Zoning Bylaw No. 871. The annual update includes text and mapping changes to reflect policy and development trends. Among the proposed amendments: a change to the F1 Forest Resource zone that would increase the minimum parcel size from four hectares to 30-hectares and a zoning change from P1 Park and Open Space to I-1 Light Industrial to allow installation of a new solid waste/recycling transfer station on a parcel adjacent to the La Casa Strata development off Westside Road.