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RDEK Board Highlights
The following is a synopsis of what occurred during the Feb. 12 Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors’ meeting and an update of public meetings and hearings.
Columbia Valley Economic Development Service Project funding
The board approved three resolutions related to funding from the Columbia Valley Economic Development Service. In 2016, a $100,000 grant will be provided for Columbia Valley Visitor Services. A one-year contribution agreement will be negotiated with the Radium Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce. In addition, the 2017 Financial Plan for the Columbia Valley Economic Development Service will include $50,000 for the Permanent Resident Attraction and Retention project upon its implementation. The board approved an annual grant of $15,000 for Imagine Kootenays and a three-year contribution agreement will be negotiated with the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Regional Parks Budget to include funding for Old Coach Trail winter maintenance
The 2016 Regional Parks budget will include $5,600 and the 2017 budget will include $9,200 in order to provide winter maintenance on the portion of the Old Coach Trail that extends from the Invermere bridge to the Crossroads intersection. Staff will also be conducting research to assess and define a plan for winter maintenance that accurately reflects annual maintenance costs.
Consumption billing set to begin in Windermere
The board has amended the Windermere Community Water System Regulation and Fee Bylaw. The amendment will impact the fees Windermere residents pay for their water service, increasing costs for large volume users and reducing fees for those who consume less. Consumption based billing will begin on April 1.
Reservoir project changed slightly
In late 2015, the board approved using remaining funds from the Windermere Reservoir Project to install Pressure Reducing Valve remote monitoring instrumentation and secondary chlorine. The updated costs for this part of the project exceed the available funds, so the board has approved only the secondary chlorination and will amend the contracts accordingly.
Funding approved for high speed Internet project
A total of $48,090 has been approved for payment from the Community Works Fund for the FlexiNET Broadband Inc. project to improve high speed internet service in the East Kootenay. A partnering agreement will now be negotiated with Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation and FlexiNET to provide the funding through the Electoral Area B, C, E and F Economic Development Services.
Directors appointed to Advisory Committee
Directors Dean McKerracher (District of Elkford), Mary Giuliano (City of Fernie), Cal McDougall (District of Sparwood) and Mike Sosnowski (Electoral Area A) have been appointed to the Columbia Basin Trust Elk Valley Advisory Committee. The RDEK administration over the Elk Valley Community Directed Funds (EVCDF) Program has ended and this new CBT Advisory Committee will continue the work of the EVCDF Committee.
Chair Gay appointed to Highway 3 Coalition
Board Chair Rob Gay (Electoral Area C Director) has been appointed to the Highway 3 Mayors’ and Chairs’ Coalition. The Coalition provides advice to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure on priorities for highway and bridge improvements along the Highway 3 corridor in southern B.C.
Letter of support for Fernie Nordic Society
A letter of support will be provided to the Fernie Nordic Society for its Recreation Infrastructure Grant application for funding towards the completion of outstanding projects at the Elk Valley Nordic Centre.
Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy approved
The board has approved the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy. The Minister of Energy and Mines and Columbia Basin Trust will be advised of the Strategy and the RDEK’s interest in partnering on funding for Phase 1 implementation. Advancing the development of electric vehicle charging station infrastructure is part of the East Kootenay Community Energy Manager’s (CEM) two-year work plan.
Funding for parks
In 2016, $15,000 of the BC Hydro payments in lieu of taxes for the Aberfeldie Dam will be allocated to assist in funding facility upgrades at Wycliffe Park and Wycliffe Exhibition Grounds. The remainder will be directed to the Electoral Area C Economic Development Service. The RDEK receives payments in lieu of taxes from BC Hydro for three power generating dams in the region.
Advisory Commissions established
A new Utility Advisory Commission (UAC) has been established for the Spur Valley Water System. Rob Dickson, Bruce Kaufman, Tom MacRae and Brett Redpath have been appointed to the Spur Valley Water Utility Advisory Commission for a two-year term. A new UAC has also been established for the Elko Water System and recruitment for Commission members is underway. Utility Advisory Commissions provide RDEK Staff and the Electoral Area Director with feedback on the operation and maintenance of its community water system.
Application to be submitted for WildSafeBC Coordinator
An application will be submitted to the 2016 WildSafeBC Program to provide a Community Coordinator in Electoral Areas F and G. Both areas participated in the WildSafe BC Program last year and Directors Wendy Booth and Gerry Wilkie would like to see the program continue in their areas this year.
Discretionary Grants-in-Aid (DGIA)
Elkford Secondary School will receive $1,000 from the Electoral Area A DGIA account for its Library upgrade.
The Fernie Museum and Visitor Information Centre will receive $2,000 from the Electoral Area A DGIA account for its program ‘Currents: A Fresh Look at the Elk River.’ The centre will also receive $8,000 from the Electoral Area A DGIA account for the ‘Tides of Fortunes: A Community History of Hosmer’ program.
The Fernie Secondary School Senior Boys Volleyball Team will receive $500 from the Electoral Area B DGIA account for its participation in the BC Provincial Single A Volleyball Tournament.
The BC Conservation Foundation will receive $1,000 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account for its WildSafeBC Program in Electoral Areas C and E.
The BC Conservation Foundation will receive $2,300 from the Electoral Area F DGIA account and $700 from the Electoral Area G DGIA account for its WildSafeBC Program in Electoral Areas F and G.
The Columbia Valley Skating Club will receive $1,000 from the Electoral Area F DGIA account and $250 from the Electoral Area G DGIA account for the East Kootenay Invitational Skating Competition.
Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology will receive $250 from the Electoral Area G DGIA account for the Environmental and Social Assessment Forum.
Slow Food Columbia Valley will receive $2,000 from the Electoral Area F DGIA account and $1,000 from the Electoral Area G DGIA account for the Slow Food Canada National Summit.
Public meetings
Kimberley Rural OCP Review Visioning Workshop Wednesday, February 24 —7 p.m. at Centennial Centre, Kimberley.
Central Community Directed Funds Committee Thursday, February 25 —3 p.m. at RDEK Board Room (Cranbrook).
Backyard Agriculture Community Workshop (Electoral Areas F and G) Tuesday, March 1—7 p.m. at Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Jaffray and Elko Area OCP Planning Process Visioning Workshops
Elko & Galloway: Tuesday, March 1 —7 p.m. Elko Community Hall
Jaffray: Monday, March 7 —7 p.m. Jaffray Community Hall
Public hearings
Thursday, February 25 —7 p.m. RDEK Board Room (Cranbrook) 19-24 Avenue South.
Bylaw No. 2668 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Rockyview Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2255, 2010 – Amendment Bylaw No. 16, 2015 (Cranbrook South / Pelton)
Bylaw No. 2669 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Cranbrook Rural Zoning Bylaw No. 1402, 2001 – Amendment Bylaw No. 39, 2015 (Cranbrook South / Pelton)
Hosmer Firefighter Recruitment Key Dates
March 8 – 7 p.m. Open House / Training Hosmer Fire Hall
April 5 – 7 p.m. Fire Extinguisher Training Hosmer Fire Hall
April 15 -Deadline for Firefighter Recruit Applications
5-Year Financial Plan comment period open
The RDEK’s Five Year Financial Plan is available for public review and comment. The deadline to comment is February 26.
The plan, comment forms, and an overview are available on our website, at the RDEK’s Cranbrook and Columbia Valley Offices and can be mailed to you. For more info, contact the RDEK’s Cranbrook office.
NEXT BOARD MEETINGS
Thursday, March 3 – Committee Meetings TBA
Friday, March 4 – RDEK Board Meeting 9 a.m.
RDEK
