Greater Vernon Water Rates Online at RDNO

http://www.rdno.ca/bylaws/BYLAW_2622_GVW_Rates.pdf

Greater Vernon Water Rates (No. 2622, 2014)
A bylaw to impose rates for the Greater Vernon Water Service.
Greater Vernon Water Utility Rates

Residential & Commercial Water Rate Changes

2014 ONLINE WATER CALCULATOR
A Calculator where you can interactively enter your quarterly consumption totals in m3 and see your $ increase can be found at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqjuHhD4a7O5dHR2UzU5WkhaTF9HLW5FOW1wNmpDQ0E&usp=drive_web#gid=0

Rates Effective April 1, 2014.

Marijuana stays on ALR land

by Carmen Weld | Castanet - Mar 31, 2014 / 4:53 pm
The City of Vernon has voted to restrict medical marijuana production to agricultural land. The vote scraps the original bylaw that would have allowed it to be grown on light industrial land. Their reasoning was simply the tax loss. “I will speak against the motion as it stands only because BC Assessment has made it very clear that land and property used for this use can only be assessed at agricultural rates. So I would not like to see us use our scarce light industrial land for these uses when we can only recoup the much lower rate of taxation,” explained Mayor Rob Sawatzky. “We have so little light industrial land and properties within our jurisdiction as it is, so this would take away any potential and just helps to lower our revenue sources,” said Councillor Juliette Cunningham. “I don’t have a moral problem with the issue, but I think the consequences (of lost tax revenue) are really important.” The only Councillor supporting the motion and wanting to allow medical marijuana production on light industrial land was Councillor Bob Spiers, who insists marijuana production should not be limited to the agricultural zone. “This puts a considerable wrench in the four or five applications that are before the City right now,” said Spiers. “It’s a valid use on industrial land and it can be better controlled with policing. It’s an economic development issue,” he added. Despite his opposition, council voted against him and struck light industrial land from the bylaw.

MLA Says Recycling Plan Proceeding Despite Criticism

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Monday, 31 March 2014 06:02
Vernon's MLA says the Liberal government has no plans to revisit the new recycling program that starts May 19th. Eric Foster disagrees that opposition to Multi Materials BC is growing, but rather, the few groups against it, are just getting louder. Foster says very few businesses will be impacted. "Less than one percent of about 385,000 businesses in BC will be above the thresholds," Foster says. Foster says the BC Chamber of Commerce is backing the plan, a group he says represents most of the small and medium-sized businesses in BC. "There's a little turf war going on between a couple of agencies that represent businesses in the country, and that's part of this," says Foster. Foster say the idea of the new plan is not to get more money from people. "The idea of this is to get the packagers, or companies that make the products, to reduce the amount of packaging they use." The Canadian Federation of Independent Business and eight other groups want it stopped, saying it will lead to higher fees which will be passed onto consumers. "This is public policy run amok," says Mike Klassen from the CFIB. "We are asking British Columbians to talk to the BC government to push the pause button on its reckless and red tape laden program." Front end recycling fees will be added to businesses that produce packaging and printed paper, a move that will cost newspapers $6 million across the province, says the BC Yukon Community Newspaper Association.
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Will these charges end on May 19th as business will be providing the service at their cost??

Current fees for Program in Vernon 
Recycling- Residential
$8.78 per quarter
Bi-weekly pickup, unlimited pickup

Recycling - Commercial
$67.35 per quarter
Monday, Wednesday and Friday Pick up, Unlimited Pick up

Ottawa to appeal medical marijuana injunction

CTVNews.ca Staff Published Monday, March 31, 2014 10:08AM EDT Last Updated Monday, March 31, 2014 10:12AM EDT
The federal government has announced it intends to appeal a recent Federal Court order that allows thousands of patients to continue growing their own marijuana while patients challenge the government's plan to change the system.Health Canada said in a brief statement Monday that it disagrees with the injunction the court issued earlier this month and will challenge it.The injunction allows patients who are licensed to possess or grow medical marijuana to continue to grow their own pot while patients take the government to court over plans to overhaul the marijuana system.That proceeding is expected to be scheduled within the next year. Canada's medical marijuana system has allowed licensed patients to grow their own pot since 2001. But Health Canada has repeatedly said it does not endorse the use of marijuana. It's also suggested that federal officials have only been running a medical pot program because the courts have said there must be reasonable access to the drug. Health Canada says the medical marijuana program has been open to serious abuse and that the risks related to marijuana grow-ops, such as fires and crime, outweigh the patients' rights to grow their own pot. Health Canada wants to bring in a new system to restrict medical marijuana production to licensed commercial producers only. Patients are contesting those plans because they say the marijuana will become more expensive and they won't have as much control over which strains of the drug they use.
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Also read ONUS FOR PRESCRIBING MEDICAL POT NOW ON DOCTORS

Earth Hour results are in

by Liz Craig |CASTANET - Mar 30, 2014 / 12:06 pm
Thousands of people across the province spent an hour in the dark Saturday to take part in Earth Hour. According to BC Hydro, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. across the province, 65 megawatt hours of electricity were saved and and the provincial electricity load was reduced by one percent, the equivalent of turning off about 1.4 million lights. In the Okanagan, Lumby residents did the best job turning out the lights, reducing their energy consumption by 4 per cent. Coldstream was next at 2.6 per cent, followed by Enderby at 2.1 per cent, Sicamous at 2 per cent, and Vernon, Lake Country, and Salmon Arm at 1.7 per cent. Peachland, West Kelowna and Summerland all saw reductions of 1.3 per cent. FortisBC has not yet provided figures for Kelowna. This year, province-wide there was a 1 per cent reduction in the energy load, that was down from 1.95 per cent last year. Those results matched our poll results that show only 37 per cent of people took part, while 63 per cent chose to keep the lights on. Earth Hour is an annual global event hosted by the WWF that encourages individuals to turn off unnecessary lights and electronics to demonstrate support for climate change reduction efforts. To see a full list of how communities across the province stacked up in terms of their energy reductions click here.

New market unveiled

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 30, 2014 at 1:00 AM

Farm-fresh produce is returning to downtown Vernon. The Downtown Vernon Association is preparing for a farmers market on 30th Avenue from May 2 to September on Fridays from 3 to 8 p.m. “The market will create an ongoing community event,” said Lara Konkin, DVA executive director. There was a farmers market downtown a number of years ago but that initiative ultimately came to an end. However, Konkin is convinced now is the time to bring local agricultural crops and crafts back to the central core. “It will improve the social and economic well-being of the community as a whole,” she said, adding that people shopping at the market will also likely visit merchants downtown. Pointing to other communities, Konkin says a farmers market can inject about $26,000 a week into a downtown area. The Friday night farmers market would alternate from one end of 30th Avenue to the other each week. The DVA made a presentation to Vernon city council and support is coming from Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe. I think it’s brilliant,” she said of the market concept. “I have many positive memories of when it was downtown before. It exposed people to downtown in a positive way.”

Hope Springs Eternal for Chicago Cubs Fans.

 With mostly the same roster, Chicago won back to back World Series championships in 1907 and 1908.  It is now 106 years and counting.

City of Vernon Open House (Liquid Waste Management Plan)

City of Vernon Webpage :  http://www.vernon.ca/services/operations/liquid_waste.html

Sports complex costs clarified

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 28, 2014 at 1:00 AM
The City of Vernon is making it clear who will pay for the new sports complex, even though it can’t avoid the bill. Council will inform the Ministry of Transportation that any road upgrades required for the sports complex in Coldstream should be directed to the Regional District of North Okanagan for funding. It will also tell RDNO that the district is responsible for any future parking that may be needed. “It’s a regional district facility,” said Mayor Rob Sawatzky of the running track and sports fields under construction next to Okanagan College. However, because the city is part of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee and the largest jurisdiction in the service, Vernon would pay about 68 per cent of any costs associated with the regional district. The other participants are Coldstream and Areas B and C. RDNO initiated a traffic impact study in relation to the sports complex. “The study, as conducted by our consultant, revealed no necessary upgrades to the Highway 97 corridor or the College Way intersection,” said Keith Pinkoski, RDNO parks planner, adding that the process involved the Ministry of Transportation. “We have received no comments or concerns to date on this item.”

Employment Opportunity City of Vernon

http://www.vernon.ca/images/uploads/hr/Summer_Student_-_Bylaw_Compliance_-P.pdf

http://www.vernon.ca/images/uploads/hr/Data_Entry_Clerk_-Temp_-_RP.pdf

B.C. Interior's farmland opened to development under ALR changes

CBC News Posted: Mar 27, 2014 7:48 AM PT
B.C.'s Agricultural Land Reserve will be divided into two zones — opening up much of the Interior's farmland to more development — under changes introduced today by the provincial government. Under the new system, Zone 1, which covers prime farmland in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, the Okanagan Valley and Vancouver Island, will see very few changes. But Zone 2, covering farmland in the North, the Kootenays and the rest of the Interior, will see farmland protection rules loosened to allow for more non-farming activities on the land. Agriculture Minister Pat Pimm says the new system will make for better use of the land. "The improvements include the creation of two ALC [Agricultural Land Commission] administered zones to better recognize the province's regional differences. In Zone One, where land is in greater demand and there are development and population pressures, ALC decisions will continue to be made on the basis of the original principle of preserving agricultural land. "In Zone 2, where growing seasons are shorter and there are lower value crops, ALC decisions will now, in addition to the original principle, include additional considerations to provide farmers with more flexibility to support their farming operations."

Commission to remain independent. Under the new system the Agricultural Land Commission, which administers and regulates land in the ALR, will remain an independent body, said Minister Bill Bennett, who is in charge of the government's core review process. "These improvements achieve our goals of supporting the ALC in its role as independent decision maker, protecting our high quality farmland and still supporting farmers to get ahead," said Bennett in statement released on Thursday. But farmland advocates are concerned such changes will lead to more development because it will be easier for oil and gas companies to use Zone Two land for activities like drilling for oil and gas.

Firefighters reach deal

by Wayne Moore |CASTANET- Mar 27, 2014 / 10:43 am
Firefighters and the City of Kamloops have finally come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement. The four-year agreement, announced Thursday morning, replaces the previous contract which expired in December of 2010. The new deal between the City and IAFF, Local 913, expires at the end of this year. The contract provides for increases of 1.25% (effective Jan 1, 2011), 1.25% (effective July 1, 2011) and 0.5% (effective Jan 1, 2013). Wage increases for 2012, 2013, and 2014 shall be the average of the percentage increase agreed to by the majority of 15 Lower Mainland municipality IAFF Firefighter Agreements. There were a number of operational efficiencies and improvements negotiated in the Collective Agreement that helped to reduce contract costs. These negotiations included no benefit enhancements, an increase in the number of flex firefighters allowing for greater flexibility in job responsibilities and an improved uniform replacement system. The City of Kamloops and IAFF Local 913 were scheduled to proceed to arbitration in April to settle what would have likely been a one- or two-year term, which would have resulted in a Collective Agreement that would have remained two or more years in arrears. “I am very pleased that we were able to reach a settlement with our firefighters," says Kamloops Fire Chief Dale McLean . "This is a direct result of the positive working relationship established between Labour and Management. Everyone within Kamloops Fire Rescue has common goals and objectives in providing the best service possible. The negotiations and Collective Agreement outcomes clearly illustrate this commitment.” Kris Krutop, IAFF Local 913 President, says he was encouraged by the city's willingness to discuss the business objectively. "This agreement is a result of working in a collaborative fashion focusing on efficiencies and operational improvements to our service delivery. It was important to everyone that our service be as efficient as possible. Both parties worked diligently to analyze our business and to carefully consider the people that we proudly serve," says Krutop. “We’re pleased that an agreement has been reached and we look forward to a continued positive relationship providing excellent fire services in our community,” added Mayor Peter Milobar.

Friday downtown market proposed

Howard Alexander Info-Tel Multimedia March 27, 2014 - 8:29 AM
VERNON - The Downtown Vernon Association wants to hold a market each Friday during the summer and are looking for city council's permission. The DVA applied to close 30 Avenue Fridays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. to hold a farmer's market. The road would be closed on the west and east side of 32 Street on alternating Fridays from May 2 to Sept. 26. Executive director Lara Konkin told city council 76 per cent of the merchants on 30 Avenue are in favour of the market featuring live music, artists and vendors along with local farmers selling their produce. The DVA plans to charge a $200 vendor permit fee and use that money for marketing and promotion. When asked by Coun. Juliette Cunningham if a new market would negatively affect the other farmer's markets in the city, Konklin said 80 per cent of the vendors at the current Friday market in the north parking lot at the Village Green Mall would prefer to be downtown. The farmer's market in the Kal Tire Place parking lot runs Monday and Thursday mornings with many of the vendors expressing an interest in setting up at the Friday downtown market as well. The DVA is hoping to get the city's blessing by the first week in April so they can launch the downtown Friday markets this May.

Time For Transit Fare Increases?

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Thursday, 27 March 2014 06:00
Vernon council has endorsed the North Okanagan future transit plan, covering bus service over the next 25 years. One of the goals is to have 2.5% of all trips in Greater Vernon (the mode share target) made by transit by 2038. That would mean an increase in ridership from 445,330 to 1.4 million trips per year in Vernon and Coldstream. Councillor Bob Spiers says fare increases may be needed to offset the plan's impact on ratepayers. "For the next five years their figures show $1.3 million of possible expenditures, divide that by 5 and that's $260,000 which is a 1% tax (city) increase each year, guaranteed," says Spiers. Spiers says perhaps a way to offset tax increases would be to consider fare hikes. "We haven't looked at those in ten years," he says. The 25 year plan calls for expanding from 24 to 48 vehicles, adding three new transit exchanges at the Village Green Centre, Polson Mall, and Okanagan College, along with Park and Ride lots in Armstrong and at Okanagan College.
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107.5 KISSFM DAILY Poll Results FINAL

Do you think transit upgrades should be paid through extra taxes, or should fare increases be considered?
fare hikes
18-	50.0%
don't see a need for improved transit
11-	30.6%
taxes
7-	19.4%

Number of Voters

:  30

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NORTH OKANAGAN TRANSIT FUTURE PLAN  FINAL DOCUMENT (P. 229)

5 year Possible Expenditures P.263

B.C. to modernize local elections

VICTORIA – Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Coralee Oakes introduced legislation today that will support greater transparency and accountability in local government elections.

Oakes has tabled two bills to modernize local election campaign finance rules and introduce further changes to local elections. The new legislation responds to the majority of recommendations made by the joint B.C.-Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Local Government Elections Task Force.

The new Local Elections Campaign Financing Act (LECFA) makes significant reforms to campaign finance rules that, if passed, include:

Requiring candidates to file campaign finance disclosure statements within 90 days, rather than 120, following an election.
Ensuring candidate campaign disclosures are published online.
Ensuring the sponsorship information is published on all election advertisements.
Requiring third-party advertising sponsors to register and disclose their expenditures.
Establishing a new compliance and enforcement role for Elections BC.
The Local Elections Statutes Amendment Act (LESAA) is a companion piece to the campaign finance legislation establishing how election participants will transition to the new campaign finance rules. The act also makes further changes to local elections by:

Extending the terms of office for local elected officials from three to four years.
Moving the general voting day from November to October, beginning in 2018.

Parking Fee Options Considered

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Tuesday, 25 March 2014 06:00
City staff will take a closer look at the options for parking meter fees in downtown Vernon. The current dollar an hour rates have upset some merchants and drivers since taking effect last year, and varied rates outside of 30th Avenue, will be explored. Mayor Rob Sawatzky is concerned reducing the rates could cut up to $190,000 from annual revenues. "There are consequences to doing that and they are pretty significant. We run a very tight budget and there folks who want more amenities and services, and reducing parking rates, reduces that," says Sawatzky. Administrator Will Pearce warned council any changes to the fees would likely affect the tax rate, to keep the budget balanced, although surplus funds could be another option. Councillor Juliette Cunningham says businesses have given their input. "We know that a lot of them are hurting. It's not always easy to assess the reason for that, but we've heard quite clearly that parking is having an impact," says Cunningham who has owned a business downtown for 24 years. Councillor Mary Jo O'Keefe says she supports keeping the higher rates in the high occupancy areas, saying that keeps the vehicles moving. Councillor Brian Quiring says if the fees are lowered, parking fines should be doubled. "If people are abusing them, then slam them," he said. "I feel like we made a mistake. We're hitting the downtown negatively," added Quiring about having the $1 an hour rates in all meters, going against what a consultant recommended when council was originally looking into the issue.

Vernon Limits Marijuana Growing Sites

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Monday, 24 March 2014 19:16
Vernon council will limit any medical marijuana growing facilities to agricultural land. Councillor Juliette Cunningham says they rejected a staff recommendation to also includes light industrial sites, which the province has said must be taxed at the lower farming rate. "If BC Assessment is going to potentially allow any growers to go to the agricultural rate, that has a huge impact for revenues, not just for us, but for all municipalities across the province," says Cunningham. Mayor Rob Sawatzky says the city has a real shortage of industrial land. "So to have that taken up by a business we can't even tax at a business rate, we can only tax at a agricultural rate, which is a tiny fraction of the business rate, just doesn't seem logical to me," says Sawatzky. Councillor Bob Spiers went against his fellow councillors, feeling light industrial has several benefits for the facilities, and would create jobs for the local economy. "It can be more adequately policed and maintained. It will be a self contained building with 24 hour a day security. Economically, it's just another business. It's a viable and great business to have," says Spiers.' Spiers has heard one applicant has been approved to grow medical pot in the Vernon area, one of only 11 licenses he says awarded in Canada.
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 List of Authorised Licensed Producers under the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations

Penticton Tourism dispute goes before judge.

by Steve Kidd - Penticton Western News posted Mar 24, 2014 at 8:00 AM— updated Mar 24, 2014 at 10:29 AM
Another four weeks, at least, has been added to the ongoing tourism marketing dispute in Penticton. Thursday, the Penticton Hospitality Association and the City of Penticton were facing each other in B.C. Supreme Court in Kelowna, after the city petitioned for an injunction to stop the accommodators’ association from spending any more of the funds currently in their possession. The dispute started on Oct. 31, 2013, when the city announced the PHA was in breach of the obligations spelled out in a five­ year contract signed with the city in July 2012 giving them control over the approximately $400,000 for tourism marketing collected annually via the hotel room tax. The PHA maintains they are just trying to continue business as normal, and are using hotel room tax funds from before Oct. 31 to continue funding advertising and marketing for the 2014 tourist season and beyond. If successful, the city's injunction would prevent them from continuing to purchase tourism marketing. After hearing arguments from both sides over the course of three days, the Supreme Court Justice hearing the petition said he will deliver his decision in four to six weeks.

CPI Results Feb. 2014. (Canada & B.C.)

Don Quixote Note: Latest CPI Figures to Feb.  2014. Note that the B.C. CPI remains negative. This is the index used in November (-.2 in 2013)  of each year to determine any increase to the Vernon Council Remuneration. The Nov. Canada CPI (.9% in 2013) is used for staff exempt calculations and the Aug. Canada CPI (1.1% in 2013) is used for the Facilities Contract between GVAC & City.

Connect with Us NEWS Live dealers return to casino

posted Mar 23, 2014 at 1:00 AM Vernon Morning Star
The tables are turning at Vernon’s Lake City Casino. The casino has announced the re-instatement of live dealers. “We get requests for them everyday,” said Clay Riley, manager. Tables go live April 1. “This is not a joke,” said Riley, as the virtual dealer tables were unpopular since being implemented at the Anderson Way casino in 2009. “They weren’t as popular as thought,” said Riley. The change in gaming means Lake City Casino is able to add 15 new employment opportunities to the residents of Vernon. The new Match Eatery & Public House coming to the facility in May 2014 will offer even more hiring opportunities. As a major employer in town this is great news, said Riley. All tables will be open seven days a week at 6 p.m. daily. You can play Blackjack, Three Card Poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. “We have a passion for providing exceptional customer service by engaging and entertaining our clients in a fun, exciting and friendly atmosphere,” said Riley. “Including live tables is the perfect addition as we expand our operations and provide an overall exciting gaming entertainment facility to our valued guests.” Anyone interested in a career with Gateway Casinos can visit www.gatewaycasinos.com/Careers.

Cultural plan collects opposition from directors

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 23, 2014 at 1:00 AM
Greater Vernon’s focus on culture is generating some high-profile opposition. Directors Mary-Jo O’Keefe and Catherine Lord voted against the Greater Vernon cultural plan terms of reference when it came before the Regional District of North Okanagan board Wednesday. “We did a cultural plan in 2006 (it went unadopted) and it was quite ranging in its implications and I don’t think much has changed and this is not a good use of funds,” said O’Keefe, adding that the new process will delay a decision on constructing new facilities for the museum and the public art gallery. “Doing another $100,000 plan won’t help us address those issues.” Lord’s concerns revolve around the steering committee being involved to lead development of the master plan. “I have a problem with the size of the committee (31 people),” said Lord, who believes the discussion could become dominated by the specific needs of the organizations represented. “We’re setting up expectations in the groups included.” However, a majority of the Greater Vernon directors endorsed the cultural plan concept. Director Juliette Cunningham says the process is necessary and there is more than the gallery and museum to consider. “There are other factions in the community involved in the arts that wonder where they fit in,” she said. “We have a growing and dynamic arts community and they need to be included in the vision. There may be no buy-in from the community because they don’t feel they have a voice.” Director Mike Macnabb questions the relevancy of the 2006 cultural plan in what is occurring now. “Forecasting from eight years ago is not forecasting,” he said. “There are many reasons why the earlier plan failed so let’s move forward.”

Employment Opportunities - City of Vernon & RDNO

http://www.rdno.ca/careers/14-07_RDNO_Project_Engineer.pdf
Applications, quoting Competition No. 14-07 will be accepted 
until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 4, 2014 to:

http://www.vernon.ca/images/uploads/hr/Supervisor_-_Building_Services_-P.pdf

Lake bypass

posted Mar 21, 2014 at 1:00 AM Vernon Morning Star
John Davis’ letter to the editor astounded me. He has it backwards- his is the small town attitude in thinking that there are any benefits in bringing all of that polluting through traffic into the downtown area of any city in the north and central Okanagan. Tourists usually travel with a destination in mind and will divert their route if need be, not drive through congested local traffic looking for what? We have limited access to the lakes, plenty of sports facilities and Silver Star for winter sports. Also, what kind of high paying businesses is there that we can attract that is clean? We had a high-tech park set aside here for about 10 years which attracted nothing, and when the one business already here relocated, he went out of the city limits. As for the catastrophic accident waiting to happen on Mission Hill, will it happen tomorrow, next week or month? Do you not remember what happened in Kamloops with run-away trucks before they made their bypass? Losing the railway through the valley just puts more pressure on our already overcrowded roads. Let’s look at this traffic problem from another point by getting a bypass back in the OCP and working on relieving the traffic pollution. The west side of Okanagan Lake makes perfect sense, just as it did back in 1942 when the American engineers surveyed an inside route up to Alaska or even further back, the fur brigade trail. They knew the best way to traverse this beautiful valley back then and now it’s up to us in the North Okanagan to promote this bypass once again.If you believe that a bypass should be put back into the official community plan, write rmiles@vernon.ca with your comments so council can debate and include it.

Joanne Georgeson Vernon
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Don Quixote Note: Reposted with permission of author. The transportation section of OCP is still outstanding and will be brought back in a few months for Council and public input. In advance you can send any comments on a potential bypass and/or route as suggested in the letter to rmiles@vernon.ca

http://vernonblog.blogspot.ca/2013/09/city-plan-should-include-bypass.html

Medical marijuana grow-at-home injunction granted

CBC News Posted: Mar 21, 2014 10:01 AM PT
A Federal Court judge in Vancouver has granted a last-minute reprieve for medical marijuana users who say they need to be able to grow their own pot at home. On Friday morning, the judge granted an injunction allowing those who have a personal production licence to grow medical marijuana to continue for now, pending the outcome of a trial to be held at a later date. Those with an authorization to possess medical marijuana will also be allowed to continue to do so under the injunction, though they will only be permitted to hold up to 150 grams. Without the injunction, Health Canada's new laws, which go into effect April 1, would end the home production of medical marijuana. Instead, all those using medical marijuana would have to purchase it from large-scale commercial facilities that are being set up around the country. (more)
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Also see http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/news/251535901.html

Dispatch still based out of region

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 21, 2014 at 1:00 AM
Most North Okanagan communities will continue to receive emergency fire dispatch from operators sitting hundreds of kilometres away. The Regional District of North Okanagan board is renewing a five-year agreement with the Fraser Valley Regional District to provide fire dispatch to all communities with fire protection outside of Vernon. “They gave us a price that is totally acceptable and there haven’t been any problems with the service,” said Shirley Fowler, Armstrong director.“It’s prudent to let them carry on because they have done a good job.” Under the new contract, Fraser Valley will be paid $35,000 to start and that will climb to $38,500 by the end of the five years. Fraser Valley took on the first contract in 2010. The City of Vernon, which was passed over for the service four years ago, met with RDNO officials in 2013 in an attempt to win the bid for 2014. However, RDNO staff recommended staying with Fraser Valley. Opposition to renewing the contract came from Vernon’s four representatives and Kevin Acton, Lumby director. “I believe the city should have been considered,” said Acton, adding that dispatch operators at the Vernon fire hall are more familiar with locations in the region. “We would have done our due diligence giving a local authority the opportunity to bid on it.” Vernon officials have argued that all fire dispatch should be based in the North Okanagan. “Having separate fire dispatch services for our area, Vernon and the Okanagan Indian Band, dispatched out of our station and the rest of the region dispatched out of Fraser Valley certainly creates operational challenges on types of incidents where our departments overlap,” said Keith Green, Vernon fire chief, in a November interview. “Large-scale incidents where mutual aid is required presents difficulties when the responding departments don’t share communication systems. We felt we could have provided a very attractive bid from both a financial perspective and an operational efficiency perspective.” Fowler believes Vernon may ultimately have an opportunity to pursue the dispatch service. “When the contract comes up in five years, we can look at it then,” said Fowler of going through a full tender process.

Directors regret Civic Arena decision

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 21, 2014 at 1:00 AM
Similar to cracks in ice, fractures are developing over a proposed new arena in Greater Vernon. Directors Bob Fleming and Mike Macnabb used the Regional District of North Okanagan meeting Wednesday to reverse their positions on a previous decision to hold a referendum to fund a replacement ice sheet and decommission Civic Arena as an ice facility. “I am suffering from voter regret,” said Fleming of the motion approved at the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee March 11. “It (motion) includes things that are premature and inappropriate.” Fleming suggests the motion could be interpreted to cover the cost of demolishing Civic. In speaking to the board, Macnabb stated that the March 11 motion did not include those costs. “When we go to referendum, we have to tell the public what it costs,” he said, adding that he’s also not convinced that Civic needs to be abandoned as an ice sheet. “It’s by no means on its last legs.” An engineering assessment was recently conducted of the 1938 Civic Arena, plus a 1979 renovation. The report suggests it would cost $1.5 million to replace the slab surface, which is at risk from a deteriorating brine (refrigeration) system. The engineering report also says an immediate $100,000 in life and safety upgrades would be needed if Civic remains open while short-term upgrades of $5.6 million would be needed in two to five years. Fleming says spending $1.6 million on a new slab and safety concerns at Civic may be more cost-effective than $5 million on a new arena. “I didn’t realize we were writing off Civic when we voted for this (March 11),” he said. That brought a quick response from director Juliette Cunningham, who is GVAC chairperson. “I’m surprised you’re surprised because we had this discussion at GVAC,” she said. Cunningham insists that the exact price of a new arena will be determined before there is a final move to go to referendum. “When you look at the costs involved in Band-Aids at Civic, they’re significant. After 10 years, you probably still would have to look at replacing it,” she said. Director Doug Dirk pointed out that Civic runs a $160,000 annual operating deficit and moving towards a referendum doesn’t mean a new facility will actually be constructed. “If people don’t approve twinning Kal Tire Place or Priest Valley Arena, Civic will be looked at and the upgrades will go ahead,” he said. Fleming and Macnabb were referred to as obstructionist by director Mary-Jo O’Keefe, who is convinced Civic Arena will not be usable. “We don’t want the same sort of failure as occurred in Armstrong when they didn’t respond fast enough to an aging facility,” she said. Fleming continued to defend his case. “Information is what we’re looking for and we’re not trying to be obstructionist,” he said.

New Deal For Fire Dispatch

Written by Glen Morrison 107.5 KISSFM Thursday, 20 March 2014 15:04
Regional fire and emergency calls in the North Okanagan will continue to be dispatched out of Chilliwack. Regional District of North Okanagan directors have approved a five year extension of their contract with a Fraser Valley-based service. "It runs from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019, and that's with the Fraser Valley Regional District," says board vice chair Rick Fairbairn. Fairbairn says there was no opposition to the move, even though Vernon operates it's own stand alone system. "I thought there might have been some in light of the city of Vernon, but it was passed," he says. The contract will cost $35,000 next year, rising to $38,500 by 2019, representing a 2% increase over the term. The fee in 2014, the final year of the original agreement is $34,000.
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Don Quixote Note: The above posting was changed subsequently to : (see KISSFM Link)

Vernon's four representatives and Lumby director Kevin Acton were opposed to renewing the contract, prefering to use Vernon's dispatch service.

Non-profit extravagance

by CTV | CASTANET - Mar 20, 2014 / 2:26 pm
The non-profit group that looks after some of Canada's poorest citizens blew thousands of dollars on lavish hotels, limousine rides, expensive dinners and even a trip to a Disney resort. Separate financial reviews examining expenses by the Portland Hotel Society -- which runs Canada's only safe-injection site -- have uncovered misuse of corporate credit cards, unsupported expenses and inadequate criminal record checks. A B.C. government review and an external financial audit reveal what the province says are significant concerns over the practices of the society that operates numerous programs in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The audit detailed over $8,600 spent on limousine rides last year, a stay in a United Kingdom hotel that cost almost $900 per night, and a trip for two adults and two children to the Disney resort in Anaheim at a cost of more than $2,600. The audit also revealed the non-profit society is in weak financial shape, is more than $130,000 into it's bank overdraft and drew $1.2 million from lines of credit and a business loan.A joint news release from the ministries of health and housing says the board and senior managers of the society have been fired and an interim board has been appointed to oversee a restructuring of society operations.

Employment opportunity - City of Vernon

Records Coordinator/Legislative AssistantJob Posting - PDF

City OKs pot growing on farms

By Ron Seymour The Daily Courier THURSDAY, 20 MARCH 2014 02:00
Medical marijuana-growing operations could be allowed on Kelowna farms after all. City councillors have reversed an earlier position and now say they're open to permitting commercial pot-production on properties within the Agricultural Land Reserved on a case-by-case basis.
"We have decided to re-think this issue," Mayor Walter Gray said Wednesday. "There are some places within the land reserve which would probably work really well for this kind of business, and others where it would absolutely not work, mostly because of their proximity to residential areas," Gray said. Having council consider each application on its own merits - the same as it does for other types of development proposals affecting farmland - would serve both the would-be pot grower's interests and those of the broader community, Gray said. A lawyer representing potential producers of medical marijuana said she was generally pleased with council's decision. "I'm happy overall," Jennifer Thorne said. "I think it's a reasonable decision. They didn't go as far as I would have liked, which is full inclusion on ALR land." In early March, council unanimously accepted a staff suggestion to restrict commercial pot-growing ventures licensed by Health Canada to industrial properties. Given the kind of large, highly-secured structures required for such facilities, councillors agreed with staff's contention that the businesses were a better fit for industrial than agricultural lands. But councillors reversed their position at a public hearing held Tuesday at City Hall. A number of people told councillors commercial marijuana productions would be appropriate and desirable in farming areas. And no one spoke against the idea, Gray noted. Council also agreed to allow commercial pot productions on all types of industrial land, not just the few classifications that were originally being considered. "We have expanded the areas where this activity could take place, no question," Gray said. Pending the necessary bylaw changes, expected within a few months, each application from people wanting to establish medical marijuana growing ventures on farmland would be considered individually by council. Before approval is given, council would consider such things as the venture's location, its proximity to residential areas, and the design of the proposed facility. Each application for commercial pot production would also be subject to a public hearing, meaning owners of nearby properties would have the chance to comment on the proposal. After a public hearing last week, West Kelowna decided to permit commercial pot-growing ventures only on industrial lands. Several other B.C. cities have taken the same approach.

Invasive mussels stopped from entering the Okanagan

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 19, 2014 at 6:00 PM
The Okanagan escaped a close call with an invasive species that has devastated ecosystems across North America. On March 12, a Canada Customs official at the Osoyoos border crossing stopped a vehicle pulling a boat from Texas. It was headed for moorage in Okanagan Lake and it was infested with what was believed to be zebra or quagga mussels. "It's because of the awareness raised by the Okanagan Basin Water Board that the customs officer acted," said Juliette Cunningham, an OBWB director. The federal customs officer had no legislative authority to refuse entry to the vehicle, but B.C. conservation officers were contacted and a decontamination unit was sent to the scene. The mussels are native to Europe but were introduced to North America and since then, they have spread across the continent, clogging water intake pipes, pumps and boat motors. They also deplete food sources for fish and produce toxins that kill fish and birds and contaminate drinking water. There is also a recreational impact as the razor-sharp shells can spread across beaches. The OBWB has suggested it could cost $43 million a year to manage the mussels if they arrive in the valley. Because of the potential risk, OBWB has been lobbying the federal government to permit border guards to inspect boars and prohibit entry of any contaminated vessels. It also wants the provincial government to make it illegal to transport live or dead invasive mussels and create an inspection program. A report suggests that 19 per cent of the infected boats stopped in Idaho in the last five years were on their way to B.C. and Alberta

Gray not running again

WEDNESDAY, 19 MARCH 2014 02:00 RON SEYMOUR Kelowna Daily Courier
Walter Gray believes he re-opened Kelowna for business. Now he's content to let someone else run the shop. Gray has decided not to seek re-election as mayor, saying he has accomplished much of what he wanted to do in his political life. Gray, 73, also says he wants to spend more time with his family and to travel with his wife, Doreen. "There's a time to come and a time to go," Gray said Tuesday. "For me, it's now time to move on and allow for a fresh perspective at City Hall. "I don't want to die of old age in office," Gray said. "I want to see more of the world, and to see it with Doreen while we are both in good health." Gray said he'd been grappling with the decision whether or not to run since Christmas. On Monday, he told senior city staff and the eight city councillors he would not be seeking a fifth term. "I love the job," Gray said. "But I'm confident the good work this council has been able to achieve in the past three years will continue on past November." Two councillors - Gail Given and Colin Basran - have said they'd consider a run for mayor if Gray didn't seek another term. Gray said he believed either of them would make a good mayor, but he has no plans to formally endorse anyone. Through his four terms as mayor, Gray has been a colourful, popular, and sometimes divisive figure in city politics. (more)
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Gray will not run in Nov.

Spall Protests Marijuana Assessments

Written by Glen Morrison 107.5 KISSFM Tuesday, 18 March 2014 15:11
Spallumcheen is joining the opposition over how medical marijuana operations are assessed. Mayor Janice Brown says they have a bylaw at second reading, that would restrict them to industrial lands. Brown says the government is rating the operations as farm. "That doesn't make any sense. The reason we had asked for it in industrial is so then we could get the tax base and have a business license and control it all," Brown tells Kiss FM. The municipality would lose a lot of tax revenue if the assessments are kept at farming, as industrial land is a higher rate. "We feel it will increase our workload. We feel it should be industrial, agricultural or processing. You write the law for vegetables and carrots and you just can't just stick medical marijuana in there with all the same rules," adds Brown. The bylaw will go to public hearing April 7.
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Don Quixote Note: In Spall the municipal taxes on a $100,000 property assessed as Light industrial would be 1,295.58 while a farm assessment's municipal taxes would be $588.90. ($706.68 decrease)

In Vernon the municipal taxes on a $100,000 property assessed as Light industrial would be 1,148.37while a farm assessment's municipal taxes would be $76.43.. ($1,071.94 decrease)

http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/infra/tax_rates/tax_rates2013.htm

Recycling collector named for the North Okanagan

Vernon Morning Star: posted Mar 18, 2014 at 11:00 AM
Multi-Material B.C. has selected Emterra Environmental to manage the North Okanagan’s curbside recycling collection services effective May 19. MMBC, a stewardship group made up of major retailers and producers, will take over collection and recycling of packaging under provincial regulations. According to MMBC, communities will be able to recycle new categories of packaging starting in May, including milk cartons, foam packaging, plant pots, aluminum foil packaging, certain types of plastic film packaging and drink cups. Look for more in Wednesday's Morning Star.
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Don Quixote Note: Residential Recycling cost $8.78 per quarter Bi-weekly pickup, unlimited pickup on our Utility Bill. Commercial Pays $67.35 per quarter Monday, Wednesday and Friday Pick up, Unlimited Pick up.

What effect will there be on these rates and when will they be changed ???

Police Still Waiting For Pot Enforcement Policy

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Monday, 17 March 2014 17:32
People who grow medical marijuana at home will be breaking the law as of next month, but they will get a bit of a break on that date. Ottawa moves to a new system April 1 where only selected commercial producers will be able to grow pot. Health Canada says they will give police the names and addresses of home growers who don't destroy all their plants and products by April 30. Vernon RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says police forces are waiting to hear from their national headquarters on how it will be enforced. "If you're asking, on (April) 2nd, are we running out (to enforce it)? In all likelihood, no, not off the bat. I'm sure there's going to be some form of a grace period, but we don't have that officially," says Molendyk. There's about 16-thousand licensed medial marijuana users in BC. "I anticipate there could be some push back from some of the licensees," says Molendyk.
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 List of Authorised Licensed Producers under the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations   (Health Canada)

Frequently Asked Questions: Health Canada

MLA Pay Posted

Written by Glen Morrison 107.5 KISSFM Monday, 17 March 2014 09:30
Local MLA's have similar expenses while doing their jobs. Both Eric Foster and Greg Kyllo had expenses close to $33,500 in the period from April 1st last year to December 31st. Those costs include a living allowance for the time they spend in Victoria. For pay in the period, Vernon Monashee's Foster received $88,965 dollars which includes 12 thousand for serving as government whip in the legislature. Shuswap's Kyllo pulled $77,326 dollars.
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Members' Disclosure Reports: Travel Expenses
Paid in the period April 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013 (updated February 7, 2013) [ PDF ]

MLA Remuneration and Expenses

Some Items of Interest at RDNO Meeting on Wednesday at 4 PM

REGIONAL DISTRICT OF NORTH OKANAGAN BOARD of DIRECTORS MEETING Wednesday, March 19, 2014 4:00 p.m. REGULAR AGENDA

2. Bylaw 2622 – Greater Vernon Water Utility Rates Imposition
− Bylaw 2622, 2014
RECOMMENDATION 7 Page 23
(Customized Stakeholder Vote – Includes Vernon, Coldstream, Electoral Areas “B”
and “C”)
That as recommended by the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee, Greater Vernon
Water Utility Rates Imposition Bylaw No. 2622, 2014, as amended at the Greater
Vernon Advisory Committee Meeting of March 6, 2014, be given First, Second and
Third Readings.
RECOMMENDATION 8
(Customized Stakeholder Vote – Includes Vernon, Coldstream, Electoral Areas “B”
and “C” – 2/3 Majority)
That Greater Vernon Water Utility Rates Imposition Bylaw No. 2622, 2014 be
Adopted.

5. Bylaw 2625 – Regional District of North Okanagan 2014-2018 Financial Plan
– Staff report dated March 5, 2014
– Bylaw 2625, 2014
RECOMMENDATION 14 Page 52
(Weighted Corporate Vote – Simple Majority)
That Regional District of North Okanagan 2014-2018 Financial Plan Bylaw No. 2625,
2014 be given First, Second and Third Readings.
RECOMMENDATION 15
(Weighted Corporate Vote – 2/3 Majority)
That Regional District of North Okanagan 2014-2018 Financial Plan Bylaw No. 2625,
2014 be Adopted.

13. Referendum Process for Greater Vernon Water Master Water Plan Borrowing
Referendum
RECOMMENDATION 24
(Customized Stakeholder Vote – Includes Vernon, Coldstream, Electoral Areas “B”
and “C”)
That as recommended by the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee, the Referendum
Process for Greater Vernon Water Master Water Plan Borrowing Referendum be
endorsed.
RECOMMENDATION 25
(Customized Stakeholder Vote – Includes Vernon, Coldstream, Electoral Areas “B”
and “C”)
That as recommended by the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee, Director
Macnabb be appointed to act as Chair for all public meetings for the Greater Vernon
Water Master Water Plan Referendum Process.

24. Civic Arena Engineering Assessment
RECOMMENDATION 37
(Customized Stakeholder Vote – Includes Vernon, Coldstream, Electoral Areas “B”
and “C”)
That as recommended by the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee, as per the
Greater Vernon Recreation Facilities and Programming Memorandum of
Understanding dated September 12, 2013 that the Regional District of North
Okanagan hold a referendum in conjunction with the local government elections in
November 2014 seeking borrowing approval to fund a replacement sheet of ice and
to decommission the Civic Arena as an ice facility and that all other agreed to terms
stated in the Greater Vernon Recreation Facilities and Programming Memorandum
of Understanding dated September 12, 2013 under sections “New Recreation
Facilities” and “Civic Arena” will apply.

25. Fire Dispatch (913)
− Staff report dated March 5, 2014
RECOMMENDATION 38 Page 217
(Weighted Corporate Vote – Simple Majority)
That the Regional District of North Okanagan be authorized to enter into a renewal of
the fire dispatch service agreement covering the 5 year term, January 1, 2015 to
December 31, 2019 with Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD).

Fortis Gets Unasked For Rate Hike

Written by 107.5 KISS FM Monday, 17 March 2014 07:08
The cost to heat your home with natural gas is going up April first and it's going up more than Fortis BC wanted it to. Fortis goes to the BC Utilities Commission every quarter to ask permission to increase or lower rates. This time the commission told Fortis to raise them higher because stockpiles are low thanks to the cold winter back east. It means the cost for an average home will go up about $130 per year, however Fortis says it's almost the end of the heating season right now and it expects rates will drop in the fall
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FortisBC to increase natural gas and propane commodity rate
Rates and rate structures vary across the FortisBC natural gas service territory, and certain service areas will remain unchanged. Customers will see the following changes to their commodity rate effective April 1, 2014:

Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Interior, North and the Kootenays
Residential customers will see an increase to the commodity rate of $1.368 per gigajoule (GJ)

Downtown Market

3/17/2014 105.7 SUNFM
The Downtown Vernon Association has proposed an Avenue Farmers Market to the City of Vernon. The goal of the market would be to provide access to locally made products, as well as increase local shopping in the Downtown Core. The DVA is currently looking for feedback and interest in the market to see if there is a need for the event. The market would be expected to start on May 2, 2014 and it will run every Friday on 30th Avenue from 4pm-7pm through to the end of September. Anyone wishing to have input on the Market can contact the Downtown Vernon Association.

City of Vernon falters in Best Places to Live list

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 16, 2014 at 1:00 AM
Officials aren’t losing sleep over a survey that places Vernon mid-of-the-pack for liveability. Out of 201 communities, MoneySense magazine’s Best Places to Live ranking puts Vernon at 125. “It’s an interesting analysis but I don’t put a lot of emphasis on it,” said Kevin Poole, economic development manager. Among the factors considered by MoneySense are population growth, the unemployment rate, average income, house prices, property taxes, public transit use, total rainfall, days above 20 Celsius, the crime rate and the number of doctors. “How they select the items for quality of life is beyond me. They don’t ask how many lakes are nearby or how close a community is to a ski hill,” said Poole. The survey indicates that Vernon’s unemployment rate is 9.2 per cent, but Poole says that if the figure comes from Statistics Canada, it is not accurate. “The sample size is too small and Stats Canada says not all of the sample is in Vernon. They could throw in Clearwater or Osoyoos or anything in the Thompson-Okanagan,” said Poole, adding that the local economy is improving. “The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is cautiously optimistic and sees things picking up in 2014 and 2015. Building permits are up.” Most of the communities at the top of the survey are those influenced by the oil and gas sector, including St. Albert (1), Calgary (2) and Strathcona, Alta. (3). “They are putting a lot of weight on the average income. If that’s how you establish quality of life, we’ll never compete,” said Poole. The average household income in Vernon, according to MoneySense, is $70,229, while it is $128,270 in St. Albert. Poole points out that new workers have relocated to Vernon from Alberta and the Lower Mainland recently. “They are moving here for the quality of life we have,” he said. Poole isn’t concerned the MoneySense article will create a negative perception about Vernon. “We try to get people here as tourists and then they often want to become a resident,” he said.
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http://www.moneysense.ca/canadas-best-places-to-live-2014-full-ranking
Also:  Valley ranked low for livability

Farmland should go to pot, say growers

SATURDAY, 15 MARCH 2014 02:00 DON PLANT Kelowna Daily Courier
Cannabis growers are seeing red over Okanagan communities blocking medical-marijuana operations from their farmland. West Kelowna's council voted this week to restrict commercial pot producers to industrial land. The City of Kelowna, which holds a public hearing on Tuesday, is poised to do the same. People who've applied to set up licensed factories in the Valley are aggravated by what they say is ignorance of the new rules that control how they operate. "Business-wise, it's a ridiculous decision," said one grower who requested anonymity because his licence application is pending. "They should open it up and embrace it. The demonizing should stop. The gangsters are not going to get in here. It's the most difficult business to get approved in." Growing medical marijuana meets the definition of farm practices under B.C. legislation. But the stigma surrounding weed is hazing politicians' view of what promises to be a lucrative industry for farmers struggling to make a buck, said the grower, whom we'll call Brian. He and his business partners have invested $750,000 in outfitting a building on four hectares of farmland outside Kelowna in the Central Okanagan Regional District. He's confident Health Canada will allow his company to produce enough medical marijuana to supply more than 1,000 patients starting later this year. Forcing growers to raise their plants in "bunkers" on industrial land instead of in greenhouses gives the edge to foreign competitors such as Jamaica, Spain and Uruguay because they can sell cannabis for far less, Brian said. He estimates the bills to power the grow lights indoors could amount to $8,000 to $10,000 a month. "We'll be competing against guys who are growing it outside. . . . It's not feasible to do it under all those lamps in a warehouse and compete with the rest of the planet who do it out in fields. We can grow all we want in industrial areas, but that's going to be a lot of wasted money and a lot of wasted power," he said. More than 1,000 Kelowna adults have federal approval to grow pot at home for medical reasons. Their licences are about to expire, and Health Canada has ordered them to dispose of their plants at the end of the month. The department is switching to large-scale producers so people allowed to use cannabis for a medical condition continue getting a supply. It just licensed a commercial operator in the Vernon area - the fifth in the province. In the Zone Produce plans to start selling medical marijuana in mid-June for $5 to $8 a gram. The company's website states it's a family-operated farm that produces organic strains such as Hindu Kush and Green Ogopogo "in a clean, safe manner." The City of Vernon is considering a proposal to zone the large pot factories both industrial and agricultural. Staff recommend that council define what qualifies as medical-marijuana production facilities and permit them in the agricultural land reserve as well as light industrial areas, said city planner Dale Rintoul. About 10 federal licences have been granted so far across Canada. Municipalities are wringing their hands over how a commercial factory might affect their social fabric if a licence is approved in their community. (more)

Completed Sign Put On Highway 6 Upgrade

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Friday, 14 March 2014 16:34

Photo: Highway 6 opening
 L-R Coldstream Mayor Jim Garlick, Lumby Mayor Kevin Acton,
 Vernon Mayor Rob Sawatzky
and Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster (Kiss FM)

The BC government held a news conference to officially put a wrap on the upgrade to Highway 6 near the Coldstream Ranch. Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster says the 11 million dollar project has improved traffic flow and made it safer over the 2.2 kilometre stretch between grey and Ricardo roads.  "Everybody is really, really happy with it. It doesn't make the trip to town faster or anything, it just makes it more comfortable," states Foster. Foster, who has lived in Lumby for 30 years, remembers first starting to lobby the province for the upgrade back in 1986. "I was at a meeting with the then minister of transportation with Lumby council and Coldstream council. Ernie Palfrey was the mayor (of Coldstream) and Dave Simpson was mayor of Lumby. We we're lobbying then." Lumby Mayor Kevin Acton, who's been driving the route for 23 years, says taking out the section near the ranch has been a major improvement."Any time you can save a life it's huge. That corner was definately a huge danger, and a huge risk," says Acton.  About 9,000 vehicles use that part of the highway daily. Vernon Mayor Rob Sawatzky says the added safety is not just good for motorists. "It won't be long before this is one of the favorite bike routes in the North Okanagan, and people come from the prairie provinces, and all over, to ride here in our area." The section saw 119 crashes between 2000 to 2009, many in the dangerous part that ran by the Coldstream Ranch. The contractor was Windley Contracting of Nanaimo.

Vernon secondary suite requirement shot down

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 14, 2014 at 1:00 AM
Vernon officials are backing away from a secondary suite rule even though they still believe it’s the right thing to do. Lawyers have questioned a city bylaw that would force the owner to reside on a property that has a secondary rental suite, so the bylaw could ultimately be rescinded. “Because of legal opinion, I’m going to be forced to vote for this very reluctantly,” said Coun. Bob Spiers. The city has obtained a legal opinion to determine if it can require a property owner to live in either the primary unit or the secondary suite in the case of single-detached housing. “The advice received indicates that the city cannot legally have such a requirement in the zoning bylaw,” said planner Dale Rintoul in a report. “Deletion of the owner occupancy regulation in the zoning bylaw would enable the primary unit and the secondary suite to be occupied by residents that are not the owner of the property.” Under the current bylaw, council had wanted the property owner to live on site so there was oversight of tenant activities. “When you have an owner in the unit, there is less conflict for the neighbourhood,” said Coun. Juliette Cunningham of traffic, noise and property maintenance. Spiers believes rescinding the bylaw also goes against the original purpose of the rule. “It was supposed to be a mortgage helper for people,” he said of first-time home buyers. While owners won’t have to live on site, that doesn’t mean renters will be able to do what ever they want. ‘“We will still react to building complaints and parking complaints and they (suites) will still require a business license,” said Rintoul. Council has not made a final decision on rescinding the bylaw as it wants more staff information on legal implications as well as options to deal with enforcement of problems arising from suites.

Committee considers Vernon council compensation

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 14, 2014 at 1:00 AM
It will be determined if Vernon politicians are adequately paid or if compensation needs to climb. A committee of three residents will be formed to review remuneration and report back to council in September. “We always do this in the last year in the term of council and it (any changes) come into affect for the next council,” said Coun. Bob Spiers. A committee of residents, including at least one with previous municipal experience, is formed to provide an independent review of salaries, although it will be current council that makes the final decision. The mayor’s base salary rises to $67,045 this year from $63,466 (unchanged from 2010) while the councillors’ base salary increases to $21,628 from $20,473 (unchanged from 2010). The mayor and councillors are also eligible for meeting pay, but that depends on councillors claiming the pay for each meeting. Spiers would not speculate on whether salaries should increase, but he pointed out that the next term of council will be longer under provincial legislation. “It will be a four-year term so it (what occurs with wages) will be interesting,” he said. Mayor Rob Sawatzky will also not say whether remuneration should increase or if present compensation is sufficient to reflect the workload of council. “I really welcome the independent review,” he said.
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2012 Greater Vernon Political Remuneration

Exemptions from Elector Approval Requirement (Water vs Sewer)

http://www.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/ID/freeside/29_254_2004
Part 2 — Exemptions from Elector Approval Requirement

Drinking water protection orders — installation of treatment works
8 Approval of the electors is not required under section 175 (2) [liabilities under agreements] or 180 (1) [loan authorization bylaws] of the Community Charter if
(a) the liability is to be incurred for the purpose of complying with an order of a drinking water officer under the Drinking Water Protection Act that expressly requires the municipality to install treatment works, and  (b) the inspector of municipalities approves the proposed liability.

Liquid waste management plans
9 Approval of the electors is not required under section 175 (2) [liabilities under agreements] of the Community Charter if the liability is to be incurred for the purpose of
(a) preparing or revising, under the direction of the minister under section 24 (3) (a) of the Environmental Management Act, a waste management plan respecting the management of municipal liquid waste, or
(b) implementing all or part of, or an amendment to, a waste management plan approved by the minister under section 24 (5) of the Environmental Management Act respecting the management of municipal liquid waste, and the inspector of municipalities approves the proposed liability.
[en. B.C. Reg. 93/2007.]

RCMP issue Revenue Canada email scam alert

March 13, 2014 - 5:05 PM Info-Tel Multi-media
VERNON – Just when you thought it was safe to look at your email messages, the scam artists are back at it. The Vernon RCMP have issued a scam.  RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says there is an email making the rounds that claims to be from Revenue Canada.The email lures in it’s unsuspecting victim with the promise of a tax refund. Even the officer in charge of the Armstrong RCMP detachment has received the fraudulent message. “It just goes to show that everyone is a target to this type of deceit to get your personal information so they can relieve you of your money, or worse, your identity,” Molendyk says. Several seniors in the Armstrong area have reported the bogus Revenue Canada emails to police.Molendyk says they are reminding everyone not to respond to this type of solicitation.If you get a suspicious email the police want to hear about it. You can also call the National Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

Here's what the email looks like:

Moneysense Canada’s Best Places to Live 2014:

Canada’s Best Places to Live 2014: Full Ranking



Best Cities Overall 2013

by Mark Brown  March 12th, 2014 From the April 2014 issue of the Moneysense magazine.
Who says size matters? If you’re looking for the best place in Canada to live, perhaps it’s time to think small. Really small. It’s easy to think residing in a modest-sized town means giving up access to all the services and amenities you need or desire, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Satellite communities around major centres are evolving to deliver small-town flare with big-city conveniences. In that way, many of these communities aren’t just great places to live: they’re Canada’s best-kept secrets. Take St. Albert, a community of just 64,000 on the edge of Edmonton that few Canadians have likely ever heard of. They have now, because St. Albert tops MoneySense’s annual Best Places to Live ranking. (more)

Don Quixote Note: These are the latest rankings from Moneysense and these are 4 selected cities in B.C. from their list of 200 ranking them as per their methodology in 2013 and 2014.  By clicking on the links you can see the full list and an insight on their ranking methodology. (It appears to have changed from 2013 to 2014.)  Note that Vernon's population seems to include the entire greater Vernon Population.

Tribunal ruling ‘a great victory,’ Williams Lake chief says

MARK HUME VANCOUVER — The Globe and Mail Published Sunday, Mar. 09 2014, 10:04 PM EDT
It was a 135-year-old letter to the editor that helped persuade a tribunal the land that now makes up the downtown core of the City of Williams Lake was unjustly taken from natives. The decision by the Specific Claims Tribunal could bring the Williams Lake Indian Band a federal payment of up to $150-million in compensation for the loss of thousands of hectares of land along the Fraser River. The ruling last week comes as a stunning setback to the federal government, which rejected the claim three times before the band took the case to the tribunal.Chief Anne Louie said the ruling that the band deserves compensation is “a great victory” that her people have been pursuing for generations. (more)

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RULING: 2014 SCTC 3 .pdf

W. Kelowna location eyed for marijuana growing

WEDNESDAY, 12 MARCH 2014 02:00 RON SEYMOUR Kelowna daily Courier
An industrial building in West Kelowna could become the site of a large-scale medicinal marijuana-growing business. Owner Trent Kitsch asked Tuesday for West Kelowna council to endorse his plans to develop the property at 2322 Dominion Rd. for commercial pot-production under new Health Canada rules that take effect April 1. As well as helping to meet the demands of Canadians licensed to use marijuana for medicinal purposes, Kitsch said the venture could have a significant economic impact locally with dozens of new jobs and taxation revenue. "I think this is a perfect example (of) economic development," Kitsch told West Kelowna councillors. "It's often misconstrued as an illegal or shady business." Council was holding a public hearing on where medicinal pot-growing ventures could be set up in the municipality. Aside from another man who said medicinal pot-producers should not be allowed in residential areas, Kitsch was the only person to address council at the public hearing. Staff's proposal, following the lead of the B.C. cities,including Kelowna, was to restrict such businesses to an industrial zone, keeping them out of areas with residential or agricultural classifications. After a brief discussion, council voted 6-1 in favour of the recommendation. Coun. Rick De Jong dissented, saying medicinal grow-ops should also be allowed on agricultural land. The Dominion Road property owned by Kitsch has previously been used for the growing of medicinal marijuana under Health Canada's current regulations, which expire on March 31. Kitsch said the venture had a good working relationship with local authorities such as the municipality, West Kelowna Fire Rescue and the RCMP. Given the track record, he said, it makes sense to take the operation to a larger-scale under the new commercial growers-only regime being introduced by Health Canada. If the venture is licensed for medicinal marijuana production by the federal agency, Kitsch said he and the other building owners would make sure the structure complies with stringent standards relating to on-site security. "If anybody tried to break into it, we'd know in about three seconds," Kitsch said after the meeting. "And the police would know three seconds after that." The new Health Canada rules require the approximately 35,000 Canadians with licences to use marijuana to obtain their supply only via the mail from one of the new large-scale commercial growers. As of late-February, however, Health Canada had only approved only eight applications for commercial pot growers across the country, raising some concerns about whether supply will match demand. The City of Kelowna will hold a public hearing next Tuesday to decide where such ventures will be allowed inside the municipality. Councillors have already given preliminary endorsement to a staff recommendation they be restricted to an industrial area.
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List of Authorised Licensed Producers under the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations

Frequently Asked Questions At Health Canada Website: