RDEK Board Highlights

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Posted: August 10, 2016

The following is a synopsis of what occurred during the August 5 Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors’ meeting.

10-Year Service Award

Congratulations to Fire Chief Jim Miller on receiving his 10-year service award. Miller is the Chief of the Columbia Valley Rural Fire & Rescue Service and is well known for his dedication and leadership. Jim is pictured above, centre, with RDEK chief administrative officer Shawn Tomlin, left, and RDEK board chair Rob Gay, right. (RDEK photo)

Wasa commercial rezoning

The board gave first and second reading and authorized a public hearing for proposed bylaws to amend the Wasa and Area OCP and the Electoral Area E Zoning Bylaw to allow for subdivision and new commercial development on a 20-hectare property fronting Highway 93/95 in Wasa. Presently, the land is zoned to permit a golf course and an accessory campground, and no further subdivision is allowed. The proposed change to the C-4, Service Commercial Zone will allow for subdivision and a variety of new commercial development opportunities.

The public hearing for Bylaws No. 2709 and 2713 will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 24 at the Wasa Community Hall.

Requesting stepped-up treatment on invasive plants

A letter will be sent to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure requesting they take immediate steps to contain and limit the further spread of invasive plants on Crown land in Electoral Area E, specifically along road right-of-ways, in ditches and within abandoned gravel pits. In addition, a letter will be sent to the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council requesting the amount of active treatment of invasive plants and public education be increased in Electoral Area E.

New MOU for participation on Regional Broadband Committee

Board Chair Rob Gay has been authorized to sign the Memorandum of Understanding for participation on the Regional Broadband Committee. The MOU follows a recent needs assessment, and updates and replaces a previous one. The committee is working together to champion a regional broadband strategy and implementation plan.

In support of a Provincial Action Plan for a sharing economy 

A letter will be sent to the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development outlining the issues noted in the July 12 Request for Decision, regarding a sharing economy of passenger and accommodation services and encouraging a provincial action plan to address the related issues and opportunities.

Letter of support for Tie Lake Wireless Project

A letter will be sent to South Kountry Cable indicating support for its application to the Northern Development Initiative Trust for a grant of up to $209,727 from the Connecting British Columbia Program for the Tie Lake Wireless Project. South Kountry Cable’s application includes plans for infrastructure upgrades to improve connectivity in the Jaffray and Galloway areas.

Funds approved for a new bike and walking path

The board approved $15,000 in funding for the Fairmont Bike and Walking Path from the Community Works Fund.

No further work on Columbia Valley Recreation Service expansion

The board decided that no further work should be done at this time to expand the Columbia Valley Recreation Service to include the remaining portion of Electoral Area G. Currently, the northern part of Area G, including Brisco and Spillimacheen, is not included in the service. The proposal was discussed at a recent public meeting and there was very little community support for the expansion.

Bike Park project to receive funding

The Canal Flats Community Society’s request to reallocate unused funds from its ballpark fencing realignment project to its Canal Flats Community Group Bike Park Project has been approved by the board. The group completed the fencing project and had just over $2,700 in unused funds from its Columbia Basin Trust Community Initiatives Program grant.

Discretionary Grants-in-Aid (DGIA)

The Elko Parks and Recreation Association will receive $1,500 from the Electoral Area B DGIA account to go towards purchasing playground equipment.

Windermere's long-running Scarecrow Festival and harvest celebration is a major draw each autumn. — Windermere’s long-running Scarecrow Festival and harvest celebration is a major draw each autumn.

The City of Cranbrook will receive $1,500 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account for its 2016 Mosquito Control Program.

The Columbia Valley Skating Club will receive $2,000 from the Electoral Area F DGIA account and $500 from the Electoral Area G DGIA account for renovations to its clubroom.

The Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation will receive $2,250 from the Electoral Area F DGIA account and $750 from the Electoral Area G DGIA account for the Columbia Lake Eastside Collaborative Partnership Signage Project.

The Windermere Community Association will receive $1,000 from the Electoral Area F DGIA account for its annual Scarecrow Festival.

Public hearings

Wednesday, August 17 – 4 p.m. at RDEK board room  19-24 Avenue South, Cranbrook: Bylaw No. 2700 – Regional District of East Kootenay – Moyie & Area Land Use Bylaw No. 2070, 2208 – Amendment Bylaw No. 13, 2016 (Lumberton / Alaric);

Wednesday, August 17 – 4 pm RDEK board room , 19-24 Avenue South, Cranbrook: Bylaw No. 2706 – Regional District of East Kootenay – Wycliffe Zoning and Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2256, 2010 – Amendment Bylaw No. 11, 2016 (Cranbrook North / Pukas & Walton);

Wednesday, August 17 -4 p.m. RDEK board room, 19-24 Avenue South, Cranbrook: Bylaw No. 2708 – Regional District of East Kootenay – housekeeping amendment to the Cranbrook Rural Zoning Bylaw No. 1402, 2001.

Tuesday, August 23 – 7 p.m. Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce 651 Highway 93/95: Bylaw No. 2707 – Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 – Amendment Bylaw No. 313, 2016 (Panorama I Marshall).

Wednesday, August 24 – 4 p.m. at Jaffray Community Hall , 7375 Jaffray Village Loop Road: Bylaw No. 2710 – Regional District of East Kootenay – Jaffray, Tie Lake, Rosen Lake Land Use and Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 1414, 1999 – Amendment Bylaw No. 27, 2016 (Jaffray South I Crabbe).

Wednesday, August 24 -7 p.m. at Wasa Community Hall , 6145 Wasa School Road for Bylaw No. 2713 – Regional District of East Kootenay – Wasa and Area Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2501, 2014 – Amendment Bylaw No. 3, 2016 (Wasa I Kiy & Swan) -AND- Bylaw No. 2709 – Regional District of East Kootenay – Electoral Area E Zoning and Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2502, 2014 – Amendment Bylaw No. 10, 2016 (Wasa I Kiy & Swan).

Public meetings

Central Community Directed Funds Committee – Thursday, August 11—3 p.m. at the  RDEK Board Room (Cranbrook).

Windermere Water Update – Open Houses  – Saturday, August 20 from 9 to 11 a.m. -OR- Tuesday, August 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce Office 651 Highway 93/95. Please join us for one of two Open Houses being held at the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of the Open House is to give the community an update on where we are at with the Windermere Treated Water project, review the options and get a sense on which option is preferred by the community

Fairmont Hot Springs and Columbia Lake Area OCP – Community Planning Workshop – Wednesday, August 24 -7 to 9 p.m.  Fairmont Hot Springs Resort , 5225 Fairmont Resort Rd., Fairmont Hot Springs. Participants in the workshop will get an overview of the recent survey results and introductory meeting; be asked to comment on existing and proposed land use policies; and show us where they would like to see (or wouldn’t like to see) residential, commercial and industrial development, trails, parks, conservation and other land uses. The community’s participation at this meeting will provide us with detailed feedback that will be used to further refine land use policies for the area.

Jaffray and Elko Area OCP Planning Process-Community Planning Workshops (Tie & Rosen Lakes)

Tie Lake: Saturday, August 27 -9 a.m. Rosen Lake: Saturday, August 27 -12 p.m. at Jaffray Community Hall , 7375 Jaffray Village Loop Road, Jaffray. Participants in the workshop will get an overview of the preliminary and Lake Issues surveys; given an opportunity to comment on existing and proposed land use policies; and show us where they would like to see (or wouldn’t like to see) residential, commercial and industrial development, trails, parks, conservation and other land uses.