Minutes

Regular Council Meeting

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 7:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

Carr's Landing Room, Municipal Hall

10150 Bottom Wood Lake Road

Lake Country, British Columbia V4V 2M1

Council Present:

• Mayor Blair Ireland
• Councillor Tricia Brett
• Councillor Heather Irvine
• Councillor Michael Lewis
• Councillor Todd McKenzie
• Councillor Bib Patel
• Councillor Cara Reed, Electronically

Staff Present:

• Paul Gipps, Chief Administrative Officer
• Jeremy Frick, Director of Planning & Development
• Trevor James, CFO, Director of Finance & Administration
• Darren Lee, Fire Chief
• Matthew Salmon, Director of Infrastructure & Development Engineering
• Brad Savoury, Director of Legal Services and Risk Management
• Reyna Seabrook, Director of Corporate Services
• Matt Vader, Director of Parks, Recreation & Culture
• Carie Liefke, Manager of Current Planning
• Steven Gubbels, Manager of Development
• Shaun Lesowski, Parks and Facilities Manager
• Ruth Sulentich, Economic Development and Public Engagement Specialist
• Scott Unser, Public Works Manager
• Richard Wagner, Manager of Finance
• Makayla Ablitt, Manager of Corporate Administration
• Shara Glenn, Legislative and FOI Coordinator
• Cory Drinkwater, Support Analyst

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1.

Call to Order and Territorial Acknowledgement

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 7:01 p.m. 

2.

Adoption of Agenda

• 2026-01-001 It was moved and seconded

  THAT the Regular Council Meeting Agenda of January 13, 2026 be adopted.

  Carried.

3.

Adoption of Minutes

3.1

Regular Council Meeting Minutes of December 16, 2025

• 2026-01-002 It was moved and seconded

  THAT the Regular Council Meeting Minutes of December 16, 2025 be adopted.

  Carried.

4.

Mayor's Report

5.

Announcements

• Hikers, Spion Kop trail users, residents, and motorists on Hwy 97 may notice smoke from burn piles; and see crews working on Spion Kop during January/February.
  As a continuation of the work started last year, they will be doing some more machine and hand thinning, pruning, surface debris clean up, piling and burning of debris in an effort to reduce the wildfire risk in Lake Country.
  LCFD is aware of the burning and is briefed daily by the specialist wildfire crew from Rider Ventures doing the work, so there is no need to call 911.
  In the interest of public safety, we remind the public to please stay out of marked work areas, and pay attention to signage and direction from crews.
  
  
• The District is hosting two public open houses to discuss the 2026-2030 Five-Year Financial Plan which includes the proposed 2026 budget.  These sessions are a great opportunity to speak directly with staff on what is included in the proposed draft budget that Council will review.
  The open houses will be held:
   
  • Thursday, January 29, at George Elliott Secondary School from 5-8pm
  • Wednesday, February 4, Municipal Hall from 3-6pm  

Visit letstalk.lakecountry.bc.ca to read more about the budget process and ask any questions using the Q&A feature.

 

6.

Delegations

7.

Planning and Development Applications

7.1

Development Permit with Variances| DP001068 | 3351 & 3583 Woodsdale Rd

Multiple Unit Development Permit for form and character of 3 residential apartment buildings and an accessory building with 4 variances

• 2026-01-003 It was moved and seconded

  THAT Development Permit with Variance DP001068 (Attachment A in the Report to Council dated January 13, 2026) for the properties at 3551 and 3583 Woodsdale Road and legally described as Lots 10 and 11 DL117 ODYD Plan 3884, be approved.

  Carried.

8.

Departmental Reports

8.1

Fees Bylaw Amendment | Schedule 12 Community Complex

Fees Amendment (Schedule 12 Community Complex) Bylaw 1314, 2026

• 2026-01-004 It was moved and seconded

  THAT Fees Amendment (Schedule 12 Community Complex) Bylaw 1314, 2026 be read a first, second, and third time.

  Carried.

8.2

POL2018-164 and POL2025-224 Council Remuneration and Expense and Use of Technology Policy

Consolidation and cleanup of various technology and expense related policies

• 2026-01-005 It was moved and seconded

  THAT Council Remuneration and Expense Policy 164, 2018 be amended as follows:

  Item 1.2 is amended by deleting and replacing “January 1, 2027” with “November 1, 2026”

  Item 1.3 is amended by deleting the text “Effective January 1 of each year” and beginning the sentence with “Each”.

  AND THAT Council Remuneration and Expense Policy 164, 2018 be adopted as amended.

  Carried.

9.

Bylaws for Adoption and Readings Following a Public Hearing

9.1

Zoning Amendment Bylaw 1254, 2024 |Z0000328| Robinson Road (previously 11474 Petrie Rd)

To rezone from RU1 – Small-Scale Multiple Housing to RM2 – Low Density Row Housing
Read a 1st, 2nd, 3rd time December 17, 2024. 3rd reading rescinded and read a 3rd time as amended December 16, 2025. 

• 2026-01-006 It was moved and seconded

  THAT Zoning Amendment (Z0000328) Bylaw 1254, 2024 be adopted.

  Carried.

9.2

Revenue Anticipation Borrowing Bylaw 1303, 2026

Read 1st, 2nd, 3rd time December 16, 2025

• 2026-01-007 It was moved and seconded

  THAT Revenue Anticipation Borrowing Bylaw 1303, 2026 be adopted.

  Carried.

10.

Rise and Report from In Camera

11.

Council Committees

12.

External Committees and Boards

12.1

Board of Education Meeting Highlights of December 10, 2025

12.2

Regional District of Central Okanagan Board Report of December 18, 2026

13.

Strategic Priorities

14.

Report from Councillors

Councillor Patel extended congratulations to Lake Country's Tij Iginla and Canada World Juniors bronze medal.  He also wished best of luck to local students U18 Women's hockey representing Canada. 

Councillor Brett wished everyone a happy new year and said she is happy about the bus routes improvements. She announced an Okanagan Centre town hall meeting with the Mayor and staff will be held at the Okanagan Centre Hall on Thursday, January 22 at 6:30 p.m. and encourages attendance.

Councillor McKenzie announced that on Sunday, January 18 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. a Sunday Social with District staff members will be held at the Oyama Community Hall to talk about the Official Community Plan and he encouraged all to attend.

Councillor Irvine wished everyone a happy new year and reminded the community to be aware of safety regarding motorized scooters.

Councillor Reed advised announced that the Carr's Landing Fire Hall will be hosting the Official Community Plan town hall on Wednesday January 28th at 7:00 p.m. The CAO and members of staff will be in attendance and invited all members of the community to attend. She thanked the District roads crew for cleaning up a washout in Carr's Landing while also improving the flow of water and adding signage. She announced that longtime Carr's Landing resident Jerry Morton who was very active in the community passed away and acknowledged his contributions to the community.

Finally, she provided the following notice of motion:

THAT staff be directed to evaluate the potential benefits, risks, and community impacts with aligning the Districts Short-Term Rental (STR) policies with current Provincial legislation, specifically to the inclusion of carriage houses as eligible short-term rental accommodations.

AND THAT the evaluation include, but not limited to: 

• Alignment with Provincial STR regulations and intent;
• Impacts on long-term rental supply and housing affordability;
• Neighbourhood compatibility, enforcement capacity, and compliance considerations;
• Infrastructure, parking, and servicing implications;
• Economic and tourism impacts; and 
• Any required zoning, bylaw, or policy amendments.

AND FURTHER THAT staff report back to Council with findings and options for consideration.

Mayor Ireland would like to extend a happy new year and is looking forward to an exciting year ahead with many positive changes to come.

15.

Adjournment

The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m.