Greater Vernon's Water Manager says the cool wet weather has definitely led to fewer people needing to water, or to complain about their neighbors in the midst of the tough stage three water restrictions.. 
Al Cotsworth says reservoir levels are now at 91 percent of the previous low as compared to mid April when it was 54 percent of the previous low. He says that means it's nine percent lower than it's ever been at this time of year, but that's still an improvement over last month. "We are still in the stage 3 area of our drought response plan, however, it has improved significantly and if it continues like this, we might be getting into stage 2." The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee is meeting today behind closed doors and Cotsworth will be there. " I will be presenting these numbers to the GVAC, with some other data that we have." Cotsworth says NORD has received a "few calls" about neighbors breaking the rules. "But I wouldn't say it's been a huge amount of calls." Cotsworth says some pool companies will be at Wednesday's NORD board meeting.They'll be making an argument for allowing people to fill their swimming pools which is currently prohibited under the stage 3 rules.
Al Cotsworth says reservoir levels are now at 91 percent of the previous low as compared to mid April when it was 54 percent of the previous low. He says that means it's nine percent lower than it's ever been at this time of year, but that's still an improvement over last month. "We are still in the stage 3 area of our drought response plan, however, it has improved significantly and if it continues like this, we might be getting into stage 2." The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee is meeting today behind closed doors and Cotsworth will be there. " I will be presenting these numbers to the GVAC, with some other data that we have." Cotsworth says NORD has received a "few calls" about neighbors breaking the rules. "But I wouldn't say it's been a huge amount of calls." Cotsworth says some pool companies will be at Wednesday's NORD board meeting.They'll be making an argument for allowing people to fill their swimming pools which is currently prohibited under the stage 3 rules. 
6 comments:
Why is there nothing on NORD's website about this TOP SECRET GVAC meeting? No agenda, no meeting notice, no nothing.
Why is the GVAC meeting being held behind closed doors today???
Even IF there was a LEGITIMATE reason to hold this GVAC meeting IN-CAMERA, every meeting must be publicized properly, and must start as a public, open meeting.
Assuming there are sufficient and legitimate reasons under Section 90 of the Community Charter, the meeting could then be closed to the public.
Avoiding embarrassment is NOT a legitimate reason.
Cmon Don Quixote, you were never a fan of the Dark Side... doesn't this total disregard for procedure and legality bother you?
Here's an excerpt from the Community Charter:
Requirements before meeting is closed
92 Before holding a meeting or part of a meeting that is to be closed to the public, a council must state, by resolution passed in a public meeting,
(a) the fact that the meeting or part is to be closed, and
(b) the basis under the applicable subsection of section 90 on which the meeting or part is to be closed.
Meetings that may or must be closed to the public
90 (1) A part of a council meeting may be closed to the public if the subject matter being considered relates to or is one or more of the following:
(a) personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agent of the municipality or another position appointed by the municipality;
(b) personal information about an identifiable individual who is being considered for a municipal award or honour, or who has offered to provide a gift to the municipality on condition of anonymity;
(c) labour relations or other employee relations;
(d) the security of the property of the municipality;
(e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality;
(f) law enforcement, if the council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the conduct of an investigation under or enforcement of an enactment;
(g) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality;
(h) an administrative tribunal hearing or potential administrative tribunal hearing affecting the municipality, other than a hearing to be conducted by the council or a delegate of council;
(i) the receipt of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose;
(j) information that is prohibited, or information that if it were presented in a document would be prohibited, from disclosure under section 21 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act;
(k) negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the council, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality if they were held in public;
(l) discussions with municipal officers and employees respecting municipal objectives, measures and progress reports for the purposes of preparing an annual report under section 98 [annual municipal report];
(m) a matter that, under another enactment, is such that the public may be excluded from the meeting;
(n) the consideration of whether a council meeting should be closed under a provision of this subsection or subsection (2);
(o) the consideration of whether the authority under section 91 [other persons attending closed meetings] should be exercised in relation to a council meeting.
Don Quixote Note:
Every meeting must start in the open and any member of the public is entitled to sit in. However the meeting can by resolution move in-camera or to the Darkside after the reason under the proper section of the community charter is so stated and a positive vote follows.
The minutes of the open meeting, the participants at that meeting and the reason for moving in-camera are minutes that are available to the public upon request.
Not being an appointed member to either GVAC or NORD I have no opportunity to vote on whether an item will proceed in-camera, or stay in-camera after discussion.
I have sat in on these meetings before as the member of the public and ensured that the reasons for the meeting moving in-camera were publicly stated and then along with another local media reporter got the boot.
Thanks DQ.
But how does one even find out about these meetings if NORD does not give proper public notice?
This isn't the first 'secret' meeting... for what reason(s) is NORD not following public notice requirements?
Perhaps your fellow Council members, those who do sit on the NORD board or the GVAC committee, may wish to confirm with NORD that public notice requirements should be followed for all official meetings, including GVAC and NORD, whether they go in-camera or not.
A brief google search does not show how often pools are used to extinguish wildfires (however, one site reported that pool water was used to put out a barn fire in England).
There is an pdf document put out by The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals which challenges commonly held beliefs about the water needed to fill swimming pools. According to the Association pools use less water than lawns of the same size.
If this doc is to be believed, some of the information could be valuable, ie: if your pool is covered by a mesh cover instead of a solid one, enough snow and ice can be accumulated to melt into your pool to fill it. In addition, they suggest that the down-spouts from gutters can be directed to the pool to collect rain water.
"Facts About Pool Water Usage":
http://www.nespapool.org/pdf/industry_pdf/facts_pool_water_usage.pdf
re pools as a resource for fighting wildfires: several years ago there was a tv news item showing fire-fighters using pool water to put out a wildfire threatening structures.
If fire-hydrants lose pressure or water tankers cannot access fires pool water might save both lives and structures.
More of the usual garbage-there is no reason that this meeting should be in camera or behind closed doors! Come on Bob-you are the one that used to complain about in camera-you should be complaining now-just because you are an elected politician does not mean you should abandon your beliefs. Who called for the meeting to be in camera,who seconded the motion-get us the facts.
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