RDEK Board Highlights

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Posted: December 19, 2018

The following is a synopsis of some of the matters covered during the Dec. 7 Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors’ meeting.

10-Year Service Awards

The board recognized Lori Engler and Sanford Brown for their 10 years of service to the RDEK. Engler is the Human Resources Manager while Brown is the Building & Protective Services Department. Congratulations Lori and Sanford – and thank you for all you do!

Columbia Valley – Bylaw Amendments for telecommunication towers 

A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on January 2, 2019 in the Windermere Community Hall to consider a number of bylaw amendments to permit new wireless communication facilities around the Columbia Valley.

The Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation is proposing to erect towers at the RDEK’s Edgewater, Windermere and Fairmont fire halls. Bylaws No. 2881 and 2882 are OCP housekeeping bylaws to correctly designate the Edgewater and Windermere fire hall properties as Institutional, while Bylaw 2883 contains amendments to the Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw to correctly zone the Windermere fire hall as P-1, Public Institutional and to add wireless communication facilities as a permitted use at all three fire hall properties.

In addition, Bylaw No. 2889 will add wireless communication facilities as a permitted use on property located at 1490 Windermere Loop Road both to acknowledge existing telecommunication towers, as well as permit a new Xplornet antenna at this location.

2019/2020 CBT Community Initiatives and Affected Areas Program call for proposals opens 

The RDEK will continue to administer the Community Initiatives and Affected Areas Programs on behalf of Columbia Basin Trust for the coming year. The call for proposals is now underway and the deadline for applications to be submitted is January 21, 2018. For more information, please visit www.rdek.bc.ca and click the link under the Current Projects box on the right hand side of the main page.

Windermere Water Project scope expands

The Windermere Water Project Engineering Services Contract with WSP Canada Inc (WSP) will be expanded to include the upgrading of some watermains within the community water system. WSP was previously awarded the contract to manage the design, tender and construction required to connect the community of Windermere to the East Side Lake Windermere water treatment plant.

FireSmart application to be submitted

The RDEK has submitted an application to the Union of BC Municipalities for $100,000 under the Community Resiliency Investment Program for FireSmart educational activities, emergency planning and wildland fire training within the RDEK. If the application is successful, the RDEK will support the project and provide the grant management.

MLAs and MP to be Invited to January Committee Meeting 

Kootenay-Columbia MP Wayne Stetski, Kootenay East MLA Tom Shypitka and Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Doug Clovechok will be invited to meet with the Governance and Regional Services Committee in January to discuss health care and wildlife issues.

One-Year Agreement for Fernie Rural Fire Protection

The Chair and CAO have been authorized to sign a one-year agreement with the City of Fernie for the provision of fire protection services to the Fernie Rural Fire Protection Service Area. The one-year agreement will allow the RDEK and City of Fernie to negotiate a longer-term contract.

Community Emergency Preparedness Grant Application

A Community Emergency Preparedness Grant application for $25,000 will be submitted for evacuation route planning for rural areas within the RDEK to supplement the existing RDEK Evacuation Plan.

Seeking solar power funding

The RDEK will be submitting a grant application to the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) Trail Enhancement Grant for 70% of the cost to install solar lighting on the Old Coach Trail. A separate application will be submitted to the CBT Energy Sustainability Grant for 75% of the cost to install solar power at Wycliffe Exhibition Grounds.

Special Event Licence approved for holiday fireworks

Special Event Licences will be issued to Fairmont Hot Springs Resort for its Christmas Eve Fireworks Display and Panorama Mountain Resort for the New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show.

Discretionary Grants-in-Aid (DGIA)

The following organizations will receive:

Fernie Alpine Ski Team – $1,000 from the Electoral Area A DGIA account for the 2018 New Year’s Eve Fireworks.

BC Conservation Foundation – $1,000 from the Electoral Area A DGIA account and $1,000 from the Electoral Area G DGIA account for the 2019 Wildsafe BC Program in the Elk Valley.

Jaffray Elementary Junior Secondary School – $1,000 from the Electoral Area B DGIA account to help offset costs for the Junior Boys to attend Volleyball Provincials.

Canadian Mental Health Association for the Kootenays – $1,500 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account for the Community Christmas Food Box Project.

Moyie Community Association – $1,566.86 for the Moyie Narrows “Go Slow / 5MPH” signage.

Conrad Kain Centennial Society – $750 from the Electoral Area F DGIA account and $250 from the Electoral Area G DGIA account for the 2018 Bugaboo Teen Camp.

Friends of Invermere Public Library – $700 from the Electoral Area F DGIA account and $300 from the Electoral Area G DGIA account to go towards the Library’s Story Adventure Kits.

Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 199 – $2,000 from the Electoral Area G DGIA account to offset replacement costs for an electrical breaker box.

City of Cranbrook will receive $1,500 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account for the Free Movie Night Swim on December 23 and Free Skate and Swim on December 24.

Public Meeting

Tuesday, January 22, 2019 – 7 p.m. at the Moyie Community Hall

OPEN HOUSE – Moyie and Area Planning Process

Staff presentation of draft Official Community Plan (OCP) & Zoning Bylaws
Copies of Draft OCP policies will be available for review & comment

For more information, contact Michele Bates at the RDEK’s Cranbrook office or email [email protected]

Public Hearings

Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at 7 p.m. at the Windermere Community Hall,  4726 North Street, Windermere

Bylaw No. 2891 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Lake Windermere Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2061, 2008 – Amendment Bylaw No. 4, 2018 (East Side Windermere Water / RDEK)”

Bylaw No. 2892 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 – Amendment Bylaw No. 344, 2018 (East Side Windermere Water / RDEK)”

– and –

Bylaw No. 2881 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Steamboat – Jubilee Mountain Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1926, 2006 – Amendment Bylaw No. 13, 2018 (Wireless Communications Facility / RDEK)”

Bylaw No. 2882 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Lake Windermere Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2016, 2008 – Amendment Bylaw No. 23, 2018 (Wireless Communications Facility / RDEK)”

Bylaw No. 2883 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 – Amendment Bylaw No. 342, 2018 (Wireless Communications Facilities / RDEK)”

– and –

Bylaw No. 2889 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw 900, 1992 – Amendment Bylaw No. 343, 2018 (Windermere East / Bruns).”

Thursday, January 3 at 4 p.m. at the Regional District of East Kootenay (Board Room) 19 – 24th Avenue South, Cranbrook.

Bylaw No. 2820 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Cranbrook Rural Zoning Bylaw 1402, 2001 – Amendment Bylaw No. 47, 2017 (Gold Creek / Anderson)”

Thursday, January 3 at 7 p.m. at the Grasmere Pioneer Hall,  5880 Grasmere – Dorr Road, Grasmere

Bylaw No. 2890 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – South Country Zoning and Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2320, 2011 – Amendment Bylaw No. 15, 2018 (Grasmere / McLeay).”

RDEK Board Meeting dates for 2019