West Kelowna

The following are highlights from the District of West Kelowna Council meeting held Tuesday, January 24, 2012.

Photo: Contributed

Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual

Council received information on the Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual, a document with supplemental information supporting the broader Stormwater Management Plan adopted in October 2011. In general, the principles of the document provide alternative and innovative stormwater management concepts not generally addressed in the Design Criteria Manual.

Boucherie Road – Wine Route

Council directed staff to proceed with the design and tender of the Boucherie Road Upgrade to the Wine Route standard in conjunction with the Lakeview Heights Phase 7 (Boucherie North) Sewer Servicing Strategy project. The total project is expected to cost $2,602,000 with the sewer installation itself estimated to cost $504,000. The project will be funded through a combination of reserves, 2012 Road Rehabilitation funding, Development Cost Charges, and Gas Tax funding. The section of Boucherie Road that lies within the sewer project is from Highway 97 to Stuart Road and will be upgraded to include sidewalk, curb and gutter, bike lanes, street lighting, planted median, retaining walls and storm sewer system – in keeping with the Wine Route standard.

Tallus Ridge Rezoning & OCP Amendment

Council adopted an OCP Bylaw Amendment and Zoning Bylaw Amendment for a 1.1 acre (0.44 hectare) parcel at 2331 Tallus Ridge Drive. The OCP amendment proposes that the future land use designation for the site be changed from Single Family Residential to Low Density Multiple Family and the zoning amendment proposes a change from Park and Open Space P1 to Multiple Housing Low Density R3A. A Public Hearing was held October 11, 2011. Council has also directed staff to proceed with the exchange process regarding 338 square meters of land, running alongside Shannon Lake Road, which would be given to 0744389 BC Ltd. for 441 square metres of land, at the corner of Shannon Lake Road and Tallus Ridge Drive, which would be donated by 0744389 BC Ltd, to accommodate future construction of a roundabout at the adjacent intersection. Council further agreed that no parking be allowed at the south side of the intersection of Shannon Lake Road and Tallus Ridge Drive.

Development Services Update

Council was provided with an overview of the status of all current planning and subdivision applications with the District of West Kelowna. The report is part of an ongoing effort to improve Development Services in the District. The summary breaks down each application into various process stages, whether the application is being reviewed by staff, awaiting applicant information or awaiting other agency referral response. The development approvals process at the District has seen numerous improvements over the last year including:

• The establishment of the Development Review Committee
• Improved correspondence to the applicant
• Additional face-to-face meetings and pre-application meetings
• A new Procedures Bylaw
• An effort to advance applications to Council earlier in the process

The District currently has 50 development applications, 10 of which are considered inactive. Of the active applications, 26 are pending Council consideration, five are awaiting referral response and nine have been before Council but have not yet been adopted.

RCMP Traffic Enforcement

During upcoming 2012 budget deliberations, Council will consider funding a RCMP Reservist position for 200, 8-hour shifts to tackle speeding and traffic enforcement in the District. Council employed Reservists, recently retired RCMP officers, in 2011 who worked 135 shifts resulting in 1,968 violation tickets issued. The cost to employ Reservists for the 200 shifts in 2012 is estimated at $64,800. The move in 2011 and consideration in 2012 is prompted by a high number of speeding complaints received by the District and West Kelowna RCMP.

Strategic Priorities – Fourth Quarter Update

Council was provided an update on fourth, and final, quarter activities related to Council’s 2011 Strategic Priorities and Operational Plan. Council adopted its 2011 Strategic Priorities on Feb. 8, 2011. The Operational Plan defines specific initiatives and timelines to achieve Council’s priorities. The Operational Plan was updated to include activities up to September 30, 2011. Each Department also provided an activities update for the fourth quarter. Significant achievements in this quarter include:

• Completed the transition of the Development Services Department through a structural reorganization process
• Initiated a Major Projects Team meeting and process for the District of West Kelowna Senior Management Team
• 2011 Local Government Election Process completed
• Hosted the In-Augural meeting of new Council and finalized Council 2012 Orientation process
• 549 Requests for Service in the call tracker October 1 – December 31, 2011 – 453 items resolved, 96 under review
• Average of 9,571 unique hits a month on the District website
• Added a new pumper Fire Truck to fleet
• Pritchard Park Public Consultation including online survey
• Improvements to West Kelowna Recreation Guide – youth oriented
• Lakeview Hall renovations begun
• Heritage inventory and registry established
• Installation of speed reader boards
• Conducted 4th annual Citizens’ Survey
• Earned 5 blooms (highest rating) in National Communities in Bloom competition
• Waterfront Plan adopted
• Continuation of Forest Fire Mitigation work on public lands
• Worked with School District 23 to incorporate community facilities in the new school to be developed on Rosewood Drive
• Substantially completed Gellatly Road Upgrade, Phase 2
• Adopted the Master Stormwater Management Plan
• Completed the Business Licence Bylaw review
• Completed Glenrosa Phase 3 – Dunbarton sewer construction
• Completed Parks Naming Policy