Minutes

Special Council Meeting

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 6:30 P.m. - 10:00 P.m.

Council Chambers/Video Conference

10150 Bottom Wood Lake Road

Lake Country, British Columbia V4V 2M1

Council Present:

• Mayor James Baker
• Councillor Penny Gambell (arrived at 6:39 p.m.)
• Councillor Blair Ireland
• Councillor Jerremy Kozub
• Councillor Todd McKenzie
• Councillor Cara Reed
• Councillor Bill Scarrow

Staff Present:

• Tanya Garost, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
• Greg Buchholz, Director of Utilities
• Trevor James, Chief Financial Officer
• Jared Kassel, Director of Planning and Development
• Matthew Salmon, Director of Engineering & Environmental Services
• Reyna Seabrook, Director of Corporate Services
• Matt Vader, Director of Parks, Recreation & Culture
• Steve Windsor, Director of Protective Services
• Shaun Lesowski, Parks and Facilities Manager
• Brent Penner, Deputy Fire Chief
• Scott Unser, Public Works Manager
• Richard Wagner, Manager of Finance
• Kiel Wilkie, Utility Manager
• Ruth Sulentich, Communications & Public Engagement Specialist
• Caroline Barnhart, HR & Safety Manager
• Travis Tonn, Support Analyst

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1.

Call to Order

We acknowledge that we are conducting our business today on the unceded territory of squilx”/syilx (Okanagan) peoples. As a Council, we recognize the importance of doing our best to build respectful relationships that contribute to stewarding the land and waters in the community with integrity and consideration for future generations.

The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. 

2.

Adoption of Agenda

• 2022-02-034

  THAT the Special Council Meeting Agenda of February 22, 2022 be adopted.

  Carried.

3.

Presentation

3.1

Lake Country Health

Melissa Scaman, Executive Director of Lake Country Health and Sana Shahram, Vice President of Lake Country Health Advisory Board

• 2022-02-035

  THAT the request from Lake Country Health Society for additional, one-time funding for 2022 to supplement program funding, in the amount of $23,370 be approved and funded from reserves.

  Carried.

  Opposed: Councillor Ireland and Scarrow

  
  

4.

Resolutions for Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA)

4.1

RCMP Population Thresholds for Cost Sharing

• 2022-02-036

  WHEREAS during the 1992 negotiations between the federal Solicitor General and the provincial negotiating team it was agreed that the Province would be responsible for 90 percent of the share of the RCMP costs in communities with more than 15,000 residents and for 70 percent of the costs in communities with less than 15,000 residents;
  AND WHEREAS there have been significant increases in RCMP costs as a result of the collective bargaining process that municipalities must pay since the thresholds were set in 1992;
  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial and Federal Governments be urged to consider increasing the population thresholds to recognize the increased burden on emerging municipalities and inability for the current population thresholds to support the increasing costs of policing.

  Carried.

4.2

Winter Tires Mandatory for Rental Vehicles

• 2022-02-037

  WHEREAS winters in many parts of British Columbia are subject to icy road conditions and snowfall accumulation;
  AND WHEREAS most rental vehicles are only equipped with all season tires rather than winter tires;
  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the Province of BC to make it mandatory that winter rated tires be installed on rental vehicles during the winter months in those areas of BC that experience snow and ice conditions.

  Carried.

4.3

Family Doctors

• 2022-02-038

  WHEREAS British Columbians are continuing to struggle to access primary care and establish relationships with a family doctor despite a Provincial commitment to a new primary care network model in 2018;
  AND WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia offers limited alternatives with limited funding to the fee for service model for physician compensation;
  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM ask the provincial government to consider, implement and adequately fund alternative physician compensation models to replace the fee for service model to better support continuity of care and encourage doctors to practice family medicine.

  Carried.

4.4

Okanagan Regional Library

• 2022-02-039

  WHEREAS libraries in British Columbia are largely financed by levies paid by local governments, and where provincial library funding has remained stagnant for the past 10 years:
  AND WHEREAS public libraries are central to communities, providing equitable access to vital resources, including internet, computers, digital library tools, and in-person services from expert staff;
  AND WHEREAS public libraries provide British Columbians with low-barrier services, that support job seekers and small businesses, that increase literacy in communities, that advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and that promote equity and inclusion;
  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urges the Government of British Columbia to provide long-term sustainable funding for public libraries in BC;
  AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Province ensure that BC Libraries will henceforth receive regular increases to Provincial Government funding in subsequent years.

  Carried.

4.5

Water Source/Watershed Control and Protection

5.

Water Regulation and Rates Amendment Bylaw 1174, 2021

• 2022-02-040

  THAT the Water Regulation and Rates Amendment Bylaw 1174, 2021 be adopted.

  Carried.

6.

2022 - 2026 Financial Plan Bylaw 1179, 2022

• 2022-02-041

  THAT Council hear from members of the Public in relation to 2022-2026 Financial Plan Bylaw.

  Carried.
• 2022-02-042

  THAT 2022-2026 Financial Plan Bylaw 1179, 2022 be amended by reducing the 2022 funding for the Deputy Fire Chief position from $118,171 to $78,781 thereby funding the position for half year in 2022; 

  AND THAT 2022-2026 Financial Plan Bylaw 1179, 2022 be read a second and third time as amended;

  AND THAT the 2021 Capital Projects ($17,041,704) as attached to the report submitted by the Chief Financial Officer on February 22, 2022, be carried over from 2021 to 2022 to allow expenditure in the 2022-2026 Financial Plan.

  Carried.

7.

Adjournment

The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.