[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:31] All right, everybody. We will get started on our regular board meeting now for Thursday,
[0:37] the 19th of June. Held here in the Woodhaven boardroom. I will call this meeting to order,
[0:42] and as an open meeting, a live audio-video feed is being broadcast and recorded on rdco.com.
[0:48] Before we begin, I would like to take the time to acknowledge that we're gathered on
[0:52] the traditional ancestral unceded Tumulau of the Silk Okanagan people who have resided
[0:57] here since time immemorial. We recognize, honor, and respect the silk Okanagan lands upon which we
[1:03] live, work, and play. Can I please get a move of our agenda as presented? Please move by Vice
[1:08] Chair Ireland, seconded by Director Hodge. All in favor? Opposed? Carried. And can I get a move
[1:15] of our meeting minutes from May 15th, please? Move by Director Milsum, seconded by Director
[1:21] Mr. Kraft, any errors or omissions?
[1:22] Is the nod all in favor?
[1:24] Opposed or carried?
[1:27] Item 5.1, please.
[1:30] 5.1 is the 2024 Statement of Financial Information.
[1:33] This is an all directors weighted corporate vote.
[1:36] This is to consider approval of the Regional District
[1:38] of Central Okanagan's 2024 Statement
[1:41] of Financial Information presented
[1:42] by Tonya McCabe, Director of Financial Services.
[1:45] Welcome Tonya.
[2:04] Please.
[2:05] So, before you today to do the last piece of financial reporting for the year, it is
[2:12] a statement of financial information.
[2:15] This the Financial Information Act, in case you're not aware of it, is a provincial legislation
[2:19] that requires specified corporations and public bodies to prepare statements of financial
[2:24] information in accordance with the Act.
[2:26] The Board is required to approve this annual statement of financial information each year.
[2:31] And so to that end today, we will review the 2024 SOPHI report as we like to call it.
[2:37] So this is the financial information that is included in the Statement of Financial Information
[2:42] report.
[2:43] We have a statement of assets and liabilities, a statement of operations, a schedule of
[2:48] debts, a schedule of guarantee and indemnity agreements, a schedule of remuneration and
[2:54] expenses, a statement of severance agreements, and a schedule of payments to suppliers
[2:59] of goods and services.
[3:02] So for the RDCO, we provide the first three requirements
[3:06] as part of the annual audited financial statements.
[3:09] The 2024 audited financial statements are included in the package
[3:12] to meet this requirement.
[3:14] Oops, I forgot that part.
[3:19] And then we have the RDCO does not have any guarantees
[3:22] and indemnity agreements, so nothing is included in the report.
[3:30] The next requirement is a schedule of remuneration and expenses.
[3:34] This is provided on pages one to three and includes the amounts paid to elected officials,
[3:39] the amounts paid to employees greater than 75,000, the amounts, the total amount paid
[3:44] to all other employees, and a reconciliation of these amounts to the amounts reported
[3:48] into the financial statements.
[3:51] Two points that are important to make each year is first that the remuneration reported
[3:55] it is per T4s. It does not reflect annual salaries and includes things like taxable
[4:00] benefits, vacations earned that are taken in pay instead of time, and any overtime that
[4:04] is paid out. Second, the threshold was established in 1985, which is 40 years ago. It has not
[4:11] been increased over that time. If we were to adjust it for inflation, it would now
[4:15] be 180,000, which would reduce our list down to three people. The list continues
[4:20] continues to grow with cost-living increases. Last year it was only 60, and this year is
[4:26] now 75. And over half of the employees on the list are union employees.
[4:32] The next requirement is providing a statement of severance agreements. The RDCO has entered
[4:37] into three of those in 2024, and the required information is provided in the attached documents.
[4:43] And then the last requirement is a schedule of payments to suppliers of goods and services.
[4:47] This is included in the SOFI report document on pages 4 to 8.
[4:51] It does provide details of grants and contributions that exceeded $25,000.
[4:56] There was three organizations, a list of all suppliers who were paid more than $25,000
[5:01] in 2024, and the total amount paid to all other suppliers.
[5:06] Again, like the threshold for remuneration, this threshold has also not changed.
[5:11] And if it were to be adjusted for inflation, it would be $60,000 today.
[5:16] It would reduce the list down not quite to the same significant degree, but it would take it down to from 143 vendors down to
[5:24] 79 and
[5:25] that is
[5:27] Presentation
[5:29] Thank You Tanya any questions on the Sophie reports
[5:33] Seen not to have a mover the recommendation, please move by a dr. Milsum second by dr. Tom on favor
[5:41] Opposed carried. Thank you
[5:47] All right, just CAO, before you introduce the next two items, just a reminder to the
[5:51] Board that both Item 6.1 and 7.1 have also been circulated through the Electoral Area
[5:57] Service Committee, and now before the Board for further presentation.
[6:02] Over to you, Sally.
[6:04] 6.1 is the antenna system siting consultation policy.
[6:07] This is in all directors' unweighted corporate vote.
[6:10] This is to consider approving an antenna system siting consultation policy to set notification
[6:15] and consultation requirements for antenna systems in electoral areas, presented by Ryan Draier-Planet.
[6:23] Hi, Ryan. Welcome.
[6:25] Thank you. Thank you, Chair. Good morning, Chair Members of the Board.
[6:28] Today's presentation will discuss a proposed antenna system siting consultation policy,
[6:33] which is being forwarded to the Regional Board today for consideration.
[6:38] So the purpose of this presentation and proposal is to adopt a set of consultation requirements
[6:43] requirements for the antenna system siding policy and to implement siding and design
[6:47] guidelines within the regional district electoral areas. More specifically, the primary objective
[6:53] of the policy is to establish an increased notification distance that will require telecom
[6:58] providers to consult more parcels for input and to establish the mentioned guidelines
[7:03] that will enable the regional district and its residents to effectively participate
[7:07] in and influence the placement of antenna systems proposed within each electoral area.
[7:11] In overview of the timeline and process, the initial draft for the antenna system
[7:18] setting policy was developed in June 2024. The proposal was then sent for referral in
[7:23] August 2024 to internal and external agencies, including staff consultation with West Bank
[7:29] First Nation and the Okanagan Indian Band. After referral comments were received and
[7:34] incorporated, staff presented the policy proposal and was supported at the June
[7:38] fifth 2025 Electoral Area Services Committee meeting.
[7:42] And today, staff are forwarding this policy proposal to the regional board for approval.
[7:49] In overview of the policy, antenna systems in Canada are under the sole jurisdiction
[7:53] of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, known as ISED, who is
[7:59] responsible for the orderly and efficient development and operation of radio communication
[8:03] systems across Canada.
[8:04] While the ISED is the sole authority for permitting antenna systems, they enable and encourage local
[8:11] governments to create policies or procedures that outline notification, citing and design
[8:16] preferences to support local government officials to issue a letter of concurrence or non-concurrence
[8:21] for ISED's consideration.
[8:24] In the event that no local government antenna policy exists, proponents are required
[8:28] to follow ISED's default requirements.
[8:30] As a comparison, the RDCO proposes a greater notification distance and outlines design
[8:37] and location preferences while ISED's default policy does not address these concerns and
[8:42] has a low notification distance requirement.
[8:45] For clarity, the RDCO is not the approving authority for antenna proposals.
[8:50] The federal government has full responsibility for antenna systems and ensuring that they
[8:54] adhere to Health Canada requirements, aeronautical safety, environmental considerations and
[8:59] construction standards. And as mentioned the policy proposal was referred to both
[9:04] the Okanagan Indian Ban and West Bank First Nation who provided their
[9:08] consent and supporting conditions on the proposal which is indicated within the
[9:11] staff report and the policy proposal was previously supported by the
[9:15] Electoral Area Services Committee on the June 5th 2025 meeting.
[9:21] Finally staff
[9:22] recommend that the regional board adopt the antenna system citing
[9:25] consultation policy. Thank you and that concludes today's presentation.
[9:28] Perfect. Questions for clarity? Director Weber?
[9:34] Question for clarity. So, you know, as you mentioned, the regional district doesn't have anything to do with approving these kind of things.
[9:43] So the policy has to apply to someone. And I'm guessing it is, I'm not guessing, I'm reading that it's,
[9:48] but I want to make sure that what it is is if somebody wants a transmitter, wants to put something up,
[9:55] they're going to come to us for agreement, not permission but for what do you call it, endorsement?
[10:02] Yeah, so through the chair, the proponent would have to ultimately seek approval through ISED
[10:06] but they will have to consult with the regional district for any antenna placement.
[10:09] Yes, and so that the policy really mostly applies to that, to those people who are
[10:13] correct. Okay, thank you.
[10:16] Any other questions? Seeing none, do I have a mover?
[10:19] moved by Vice-Chair Ireland, seconded by Director Carson in comments.
[10:24] Seeing none, all in favour?
[10:27] Opposed?
[10:28] Carried unanimously. Thank you.
[10:32] Item 7.1, please.
[10:34] 7.1 is a letter to Minister of Transportation and Transit
[10:38] for Upper Finchry Community Concerns with Road Conditions.
[10:41] This is an all directors unweighted corporate vote.
[10:44] To consider authorizing the Board Chair
[10:46] to submit a letter to the Minister of Transportation and Transit
[10:49] with citing concerns of the road dust in Upper Fintry,
[10:52] presented by Corey Griffiths, Corporate Officer.
[10:55] Welcome, Corey.
[10:56] Thank you, Board Chair, members of the Board.
[10:58] Recently, the Regional District of Central Okanagan
[11:00] has received numerous complaints
[11:02] from the Upper Fintry residents regarding road dust
[11:05] and concerns that the dust is a health issue.
[11:08] The maintenance of area roads are the responsibility
[11:10] of the Ministry of Transportation and Transit.
[11:13] At the June 5th, 2025
[11:16] Electoral Area Service Committee meeting,
[11:18] Given road activities in electoral areas or outside the RDCO's jurisdiction,
[11:23] the following resolution was adopted.
[11:26] That the East Committee recommends the regional board write a letter to the Ministry of Transportation and Transit,
[11:31] citing road dust concerns and upper fintry.
[11:34] Therefore, the following East recommended resolution is before the board for your consideration.
[11:39] Thank you.
[11:41] Any questions?
[11:42] questions?
[11:44] Dr. Weber.
[11:47] To go to the minister when normally that would be the last resort I would think.
[11:52] So have we, is there a perception that any levels of authority within the transportation
[11:59] industry below the minister himself, all those possibilities have been exhausted?
[12:05] The local managers, local district officials and so on, and now we're going straight to
[12:11] the top because we haven't gotten any reaction from lower down or have we tried?
[12:16] Through the chair, staff have reached out to staff at MOTT and the regional district has
[12:23] advised all of the area residents how to contact MOTT and their contractor aim to voice their
[12:29] concerns.
[12:30] Multiple times.
[12:34] So I guess I'm just wondering whether this is the kind of request that the minister
[12:38] even responds to.
[12:42] I guess that's more of a comment.
[12:44] Any other questions?
[12:47] Do you have a mover to get that on the floor for comment?
[12:50] Moved by Dr. Carson, seconded by Dr. Dias.
[12:54] Thank you.
[12:55] Comments, Dr. Carson?
[12:58] Yeah, first off, I want to thank the board for helping out and advocating in this.
[13:07] I've received dozens and dozens of phone calls from the residents in Upper Fintry
[13:14] about the road conditions up there.
[13:15] There are all dirt roads within the area there.
[13:20] This community changed drastically during the last census there.
[13:26] There was maybe a dozen, two dozen homes in that area right up until about 2020, 2021.
[13:34] And now I understand there's over 130 people up there.
[13:37] These are nice homes.
[13:38] They're on good lots.
[13:39] but they're just buried in dust from the roads.
[13:45] I believe those are the only roads that I know of within my
[13:49] electoral area that are not paved.
[13:54] And I know the residents have been on the media several times.
[13:58] They have contacted just about everybody possible.
[14:03] And that's why I had a conversation with them and told them
[14:07] that I would bring it to the Electoral Area Services Committee to see whether or not we
[14:11] could get a letter from the regional district to the ministry to try and see if we can help
[14:16] these people in some way. Obviously, pavement is what would solve the problem. There's
[14:23] been attempts at dust suppression in there, and now you're just breathing chemicals
[14:28] us with the dust. So yeah, really hoping that we can get a letter to the minister, maybe
[14:36] help open up some eyes in Victoria that this is needed. This area is also part of the Vernon
[14:46] Ministry of Transportation office, which makes it even a little bit tougher to try
[14:51] and deal with the situation in there and make sure that they're talking to the
[14:56] moody office
[14:57] so again i want to thank it uh...
[15:00] Board, anything that we can do, I know the residents would be very appreciative of that.
[15:06] Thank you, Director Carson. And should the Board approve it, I'm always happy to reach
[15:11] out to the ministry to address residents' concerns. But I do think to the previous report that
[15:16] we saw in the committee, the whole meeting, this raises the point around densifying rural
[15:22] areas and the challenges with housing needs and outlying areas, because it just does
[15:26] put more pressure on the infrastructure that's required. So I think it's a point to raise
[15:31] with the housing minister as well. So with that, I'll ask for a vote. All in favor. Opposed
[15:39] and carried unanimously.
[15:44] Item 8.1 please.
[15:47] 8.1 is the appointment of park ranger and animal control officers, all directors, unweighted
[15:52] corporate vote to consider the appointment of one park ranger and one animal control
[15:57] officer presented by Dan Maya, Chief By-Law Enforcement Officer, actually
[16:01] interim manager of protective services. Oh wow, okay. Welcome Dan.
[16:13] The Regional
[16:13] District By-Law's Local Government Act requires the Regional Board to appoint
[16:17] staff members as By-Law Enforcement Officers, Animal Control Officers for
[16:21] the Regional District of Central Okanagan. Regional District's
[16:25] Central Okanagan Dog Control Officer, level one, Natalia Ayala Ortiz, is
[16:29] eligible for appointment by the Regional Board to enforce the Regional
[16:32] District's responsible dog ownership bylaw number 1343 and Regional District
[16:39] Central Okanagan Park Ranger Kristina Brewer is eligible for appointment by the
[16:44] Regional Board to enforce the Regional District Central Okanagan Regional
[16:46] Parks bylaw number 1427 and Community Parks bylaw number 1431. Our
[16:54] recommendation is the Board appoint both these parties.
[16:57] Please.
[16:58] Thank you.
[17:00] Moved by Dr. Stack, seconded by Dr. Dias.
[17:04] Okay.
[17:06] Dr. Carson, then Hodge.
[17:09] Yeah, I just wanted to check again.
[17:11] Are these existing employees or are these new hires?
[17:16] Through the chair, Natalia is our current casual for the dog control team.
[17:22] As we go through staff members there, we try and backfill with the casual, get
[17:27] them some experience and get them on board with us and as well Christina is a
[17:31] current employee with regional parks she's recently completed the training
[17:36] she required and so that's why we're bringing the appointment forward today.
[17:40] Okay and just one compliment for you I ran into one of your park rangers the
[17:44] other day in Killenee Beach on a noxious weed very well informed I
[17:50] was really impressed. That's great to hear. Thank you.
[17:54] Dr. Hodge. Thank you Mr. Chair. A couple questions. How many park rangers are park
[18:01] officers do we have? Through the chair, I know we have four park rangers. We also
[18:08] have some team leads that are appointed in a similar capacity. The exact
[18:13] number I would have to defer to Director Parks. Do they deal with
[18:18] in general, or what?
[18:21] Through the chair, we have our weekly wildlife reporting.
[18:25] So if we hear of bears, cougars, stuff in parks,
[18:28] there is an email that goes out to staff
[18:31] to ensure we get messaging out to the public.
[18:34] But we don't deal directly with them.
[18:36] We defer to the province and the conservation services.
[18:39] So if you have a deer in the city
[18:41] or in the outskirts of the town
[18:44] or a raccoon,
[18:47] Who do you call?
[18:49] Through the chair, unfortunately we have to phone the CO just like everybody else.
[18:54] All wildlife is a conservation service.
[18:57] So a conservation officer.
[18:58] Oh, we have a complaint.
[19:01] There's obviously just one in my yard to get rid of it.
[19:04] That's got nothing to do with what we provide.
[19:08] No.
[19:08] Through the chair, the regional district has no authority over wildlife.
[19:12] life. Okay, because I get calls and I want to make calls. So that's not to do with us.
[19:18] All right.
[19:21] That's good. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. I have a mover and a
[19:24] seconder. Correct? All in favor?
[19:29] Opposed and carried. Thank you. Thank you very
[19:33] much, Dan. Appreciate it. And board members, I do have our committee in new
[19:39] business minutes and reports to receive as a block. I do want to raise
[19:44] attention for item 9.2 however which is a little bit different this time around
[19:50] as we've included the COEDC's quarter one progress report. During the
[19:57] presentations to various municipal councils EDC received feedback that
[20:03] councils would be interested in keeping up with their activities on a
[20:07] quarterly basis and reporting.
[20:09] Obviously, visiting every council
[20:10] every single quarter is not an achievable feat.
[20:13] So we're now including the EDC's minutes
[20:16] as well as their quarterly reports in the packages,
[20:20] both for the board, the public,
[20:22] and your respective councils,
[20:24] should they wish to review that on their own time.
[20:27] So I just wanted to bring that to your attention there.
[20:30] So with that, I would just look for a mover
[20:31] to receive, please.
[20:33] Moved by Dr. Weber, seconded by Vice to Ireland.
[20:35] All in favour? Opposed and carried. Thank you. Director Items. Any Director Items?
[20:43] Director Melsam.
[20:47] Okay, yeah, we'll go to Director Melsam and then we'll go over to you.
[20:56] Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, the family has made a formal announcement.
[21:00] Someone let the board know that one of our former West Carolina councillors passed away on Friday.
[21:07] Rusty Enzine. Yeah. Yeah. So Rusty was a westbound counselor from 2014 to 2018. He was also a
[21:17] trustee of the Lakeview Heights Irrigation District. Also, he was president of West Bank
[21:24] District Chamber of Commerce and he was a champion Royal Page Place. And Rusty was
[21:31] because our chair of our accessibility committee
[21:33] rate up until this time.
[21:37] So even though he suffered a spinal cord injury,
[21:40] himself playing rugby many years ago,
[21:42] he was a true community champion.
[21:46] And anyways, we'll miss him.
[21:48] Just want to let you know there's no news yet
[21:49] as far as services, celebration, and life,
[21:51] but I'm sure we'll hear that news in the near future.
[21:56] Thank you.
[21:57] Thank you, Dr. Mulsom, for raising that.
[21:59] and deepest condolences to his family.
[22:02] Dr. Hodge.
[22:07] So to take away from Mr. Chair, I just wanted to remind people, but through the water board,
[22:15] that if you're here or you're aware of anybody, remind them that we were on the base of muscle,
[22:22] campaign, art, and everything, to check both.
[22:26] This is a critical time of year.
[22:28] So if you see anybody here, anybody who can influence to make sure they step up the watching
[22:34] for both, it's really critical folks that we are still on top of a muscle campaign.
[22:40] So that's all I was going to say.
[22:41] Thank you, Mr. Chair.
[22:43] Thank you, Director Hodge for raising that.
[22:45] Any other director items?
[22:47] Seeing not, I will call this meeting adjourned.
[22:51] Oh, sorry.
[22:51] No, I will not call this meeting adjourned.
[22:53] I am going to ask for a mover to move us into closed, please.
[22:55] moved by Vice Chair Ireland, seconded by Director Stack, all in favor, posed and
[23:02] carried. We'll just power down our streaming and a few staff will leave the
[23:07] room and we will carry on.