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Posted: November 5, 2013

Columbia Valley Recreation Service boundary to be expanded

The Columbia Valley Recreation Service boundary will be extended to include Edgewater following a Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors’ meeting Nov. 1. The service provides funding for the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena and Canal Flats Arena, and will be expanded to include operational funding for the Frank Shnider Memorial Rink.

Home Based Business Regulations proceed, with changes in Area C

Following the public hearing on proposed amendments to the regulation of home based businesses in Electoral Area C, the board gave the regulatory bylaws third reading but decided not to proceed with any changes to planning policy that would support a new category of “major” home based businesses. With the removal of any references to “major” home based businesses the board also decided to strike the word “minor” from the amendments. All of the other proposed regulations proceeded as presented.

Wilmer and Dry Gulch OCP Bylaw gets initial readings

A bylaw to amend the Steamboat – Jubilee Mountain Official Community Plan to include the communities of Wilmer and Dry Gulch received first and second reading by the board. The planning process for Dry Gulch and Wilmer was initiated in the summer of 2012 and has included numerous meetings with areas residents and other stakeholders. The OCP articulates the communities’ vision for land use conservation and change in the area and includes a number of community specific policies to help direct the future growth and development of Wilmer and Dry Gulch.

A public hearing on the proposed bylaw will be held on November 25 at 7 p.m. at the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce building.

Logjam to be removed

The 2013 Strategic Priorities will be amended to include undertaking the Thompson Road area logjam removal on the Elk River, subject to the approval of funding under the Disaster Financial Assistance Program and the Electoral Area A portion of the Elk Valley Mine Tax Sharing Funds. The logjam was created during the flooding this spring and re-directed the river, resulting in the erosion of a 100m section of bank.

Requesting renewal of Municipal Regional District Tax

The Ministry of Finance will be requested to renew the Invermere Municipal Regional District Tax (MRDT) while the RDEK considers options to proceed with a boundary expansion.

RDEK staff will consult with the District of Invermere, Mountain and Valley Invermere/Panorama Destination Marketing Organization, Copper Point Resort and Panorama Mountain Village on the possible expansion of the MRDT boundary. The MRDT applies a tax to all rental accommodations within a defined boundary in the Invermere/Panorama area. The funds collected through the tax are used by the Destination Marketing Organization to promote and encourage tourism in the valley.

In Support of postal banking

A letter will be sent to the Minister responsible for Canada Post requesting that as part of the review of the Canadian Postal Service Charter, they consider postal banking as a service to be provided by Canada Post.

Kimberley Rural Zoning Bylaw Amendments to be prepared

An amendment to the Kimberley Rural Zoning Bylaw will be prepared to regulate the production of medical marijuana.

Draft recommendations supported

The RDEK Board of Directors has thrown its support behind the draft recommendations put forward by the Columbia River Treaty Local Government Committee. The committee is seeking feedback on its draft recommendations over the next month and will consider the feedback received as it prepares the final report for submission to the province in December.

Discretionary Grant in Aid (DGIA) funding

– The Sand Creek Senior’s Drop In Centre will receive $3,500 from the Electoral Area B DGIA for the South Country bus garage.

– The Grasmere Triangle Women’s Institute will receive $1,600 from the Electoral Area B DGIA account to help with the cost of purchasing recreational equipment for the Grasmere Hall.

– The Canadian Mental Health Association will receive $1,500 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account to help offset costs associated with hosting the 34th Annual Community Christmas Dinner.

– The Royal Canadian Legion (Windermere) will receive $75 from the Electoral Area F DGIA account, while the Royal Canadian Legion (Edgewater) will receive $75 from the Electoral Area G DGIA account for the annual Poppy Remembrance Campaign.

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