[0:02] Good afternoon.

[0:07] Welcome to Vernon City Council. September 8th, 2026, 1.30 PM, I'll call this meeting

[0:15] order. As mayor and the city of Vernon, the spirit of this gathering, I recognize the city

[0:21] of Vernon is located a traditional territory of the sealed people of the Okanagan Nation.

[0:28] Just as I get underway, I'd like to take a moment since this is our first time that we have met

[0:34] since the Bradley Creek wildfire and the kilpotok wildfire.

[0:40] As mayor Vernon, I want to express my sincere heartfelt condolences to all those affected

[0:46] by the Bradley Creek wildfire.

[0:49] Thousands of people were evacuated from the fire zone and had to seek temporary accommodation

[0:56] leaving them to worry about what they left behind.

[1:00] As evacuation orders have been lifted, residents have returned to find their lives upended and upside-down.

[1:10] Lost home structures, animals and livelihoods.

[1:15] I can only imagine how difficult this must be for them.

[1:20] I also want to say how proud I am of the people of the city of Vernon.

[1:24] There has been a huge outpouring of support from the community.

[1:31] Many people have donated food, clothing, other necessities, or have given to the wildfire

[1:37] response funds, the Salvation Army Food Bank, or the United Way.

[1:42] School District 22 in local and regional businesses also stepped up to organize donations

[1:48] without a word, without a word of their own recognition.

[1:52] In addition, staff at the city of Vernon and other local communities, staff with provincial

[1:58] organizations, professionals and paid-on call firefighters, BC wildfire service personnel,

[2:05] emergency operations staff here, emergency support staff, services staff, volunteers, and

[2:12] Oconognesian band emergency personnel. All deserve a huge thank you for how for you, for your

[2:22] capacity and commitment to helping others during a traumatic and dangerous situation.

[2:29] So as Marin Council, continue to focus on response and resilience to drought, fire and other

[2:35] extreme events.

[2:37] My thoughts were made with those who suffered the losses this summer.

[2:41] And thank all who pitched in.

[2:47] Ms. Wood, are there any amendments to today's agenda?

[2:52] Your worship. There is one addition to the agenda. We'll go under item 13.8.2. It's the

[3:00] Science Center request for letter support and there's a copy of them at your desks.

[3:08] Thank you, Ms. Wooden. Can I have a motion to adopt the agenda? Councillor Guy, Councillor

[3:12] Derny. Any comments on the agenda? Seeing none. I'll call the question. All those in favor. Those

[3:19] posting, none motion is carried.

[3:23] Can I get a motion to adopt the regular meeting minutes of the 20th of July, 2026, the

[3:29] public hearing of the same date, and the committee of the whole Social High 2026.

[3:35] Councillor Munn, Councillor Garrison, any comments?

[3:40] Seeing none, I'll call the question, all those in favor, those opposed motion is carried.

[3:45] So, moving now to General Matters, we get a presentation from the RCMP, second quarter of

[3:52] report, and the superintendent gets to be the first one to drive the new bus for those

[3:58] who are online or in the council chamber, she'll now file it yourself facing another direction.

[4:05] We've turned the council chamber's 90 degrees, and for those who knew the council of days

[4:11] It's gone by. It was like this. So we returned back to the old and they refreshed things like carpets and electronics and cameras. Hopefully to improve the experience for everyone involved.

[4:27] Welcome Superintendent and Inspector Kennedy. So you're standing at the back much appreciated. The floor is yours.

[4:38] Okay, good afternoon Mr. Mayor. Thank you very much and council members and city staff.

[4:43] Thank you very much for having us here today.

[4:46] I have Inspector Kennedy who's actually going to present the quarterly reports for us.

[4:52] And I will stay for the duration as well.

[4:55] And just so you know with yourselves and all of our communities.

[5:00] This is what I'm having is I want to have the people who are actually connected with operations a bit more.

[5:05] I'm going to present the stats because they are there as they are well aware of the information and what's going on in real time.

[5:13] As you can see, these stats end at the end of June.

[5:16] So that's why I'm having more of my operational people presenting these.

[5:20] But I will be here moving forward for the presentations as well.

[5:23] So thank you for having me.

[5:24] Thank you.

[5:25] Thank you.

[5:26] Thank you.

[5:28] Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor.

[5:34] staff, councillors, according to reporting for the period of April to June, this happens

[5:40] to be a quarter that I'm happy to present because as you will see our numbers are actually

[5:45] very good.

[5:49] We get right into the first slide. Total calls for service.

[5:55] We're working

[5:55] it on my work. We're going to owe being given the control, watch out people.

[6:02] Okay, here

[6:02] you go. You see, for a city of Vernon, you can see that for the same quarter reporting

[6:07] from 2025 to 2026, your numbers are very so slightly 0.3% so running about the same as this quarter

[6:15] last year from 5,028 to 5,044. So just marginally out of every so slightly.

[6:26] From no code cases,

[6:28] we are down almost 3%. So these are your total of all types of criminal code offenses,

[6:33] down from 17.55, down to 17.04 from the same period in 2025.

[6:44] Violent offenses, this is something to celebrate, down 16.3% this quarter from

[6:49] 319 and 25 to 267,

[6:56] and property offenses, just up ever so slightly 2.1% again, a very

[7:02] small number of change from 922, 20 more occurrences in 2026, same reporting period, 942.

[7:15] Area where we're still striving to fit in all operational pressures and be visible out on our roadways.

[7:23] We're down 19.8% in our overall traffic contacts for the city.

[7:28] Then we spoke last year about the...

[7:30] Put on the police with extra reporting for Crown Council, and so again, this is a direct linkage

[7:38] to the reason for the complaint.

[7:41] We do have a reserve constable that's being brought on board, who's primarily one of his primary

[7:46] duties will be traffic enforcement in the city of Vernon 2, so we hope to have that number

[7:50] back up.

[7:55] I'm just going to speak real quickly on some of our key other areas, such as prolific offenders,

[8:00] Just to give you an update in this reporting period, we had 11 identified

[8:03] political offenders for who are remaining custody and seven who are not in custody of

[8:09] these seven reside in or known to frequent the city of Vernon.

[8:15] On our revoi, which is a report repeat violent offender intervention, which is the

[8:20] provincial program that's funded through the province, we currently have six individuals

[8:26] identified in the Vernon, Northorganogum, three currently remaining custody and three out of

[8:31] custody who do reside in the Vernon area. And then we have a new provincial program that was

[8:36] introduced, believe I spoke about it last eating, which is your chronic property offending

[8:41] intervention program. We're moving away from the term prolifer fender as we transition those

[8:46] most highest repeat property crime offenders into what we're in alcoholing sequoic,

[8:52] the chronic property offenders, and we now have two individuals who have been identified

[8:56] and are part of that program, and that are being monitored by our partner agencies as

[9:02] well as the police.

[9:10] I'm just going to go into one last one, so our mental health files down 37.7% 532 occurrences

[9:18] compared to 331, I checked in with our integrated program, the ICIR integrated crisis response

[9:26] team.

[9:26] They've been working very hard to do a lot of education, working with clients that repeatedly

[9:32] call police were support, and there's been measures put in place to reduce those calls,

[9:38] which means there's less police intervention on what would typically be a mental health

[9:42] or a health crisis.

[9:44] So that is a direct result of the efforts and the education that's being done jointly through

[9:49] our interior health partners and the nurses at work with us and our principals at work

[9:54] with the program.

[9:57] In this reporting period, we had a few community things, I'll just make note of, so we ended up out in the community, again, it was the John Mingge Youth Academy.

[10:10] We had 49 successful candidates or 50, I believe, that went through another great successful year.

[10:17] We participated in McCapy days and also special Olympics softball game with special Olympics, which was a really good event.

[10:30] And yeah, I would note about in other communities as well.

[10:33] I'm happy to take any questions or concerns. I can also speak quickly on our efforts in regards to e-bikes and e-bikes.

[10:40] I know that was a hot topic last time, so just I'll give you a little preview to next quarter

[10:46] reporting but since then we have actually charged two individuals on the motor vehicle act

[10:52] and the criminal code for driving well impaired on E devices. We have had also a 13 year old I mentioned

[10:59] last time it was going to happen our community sooner than later and incident unfortunately luckily

[11:05] the 13 year old youth was not hurt but was involved in a collision with a vehicle because

[11:11] they were failing to abide by the rules of the road. So that's just a little brief update and

[11:17] we've had two alcohol related instances where we've seized the and the e-devices and they

[11:25] be an impounded. So

[11:29] the next, what I have for you this afternoon, happy to entertain any questions.

[11:34] Thank you and thank you for your presentation today. It's always excellent when we get

[11:43] positive news. I just have a quick question just to clarify for me the repeat violent

[11:48] offender intervention initiative and the chronic property offending intervention initiative.

[11:56] Are those individuals like duplicated? Are they separate? Are they do some along?

[12:01] does an individual could actually belong to like both of those initiatives?

[12:07] Yeah, it's one or the other.

[12:09] So there's criteria that the individuals who are presented to the programs that must meet,

[12:14] and it's where the best are going to be monitored.

[12:18] So if an individual is both violent and commits property crime,

[12:21] but the violent offenses take the priority,

[12:24] and they're going to be better suited to be monitored.

[12:27] So that program, they are part of the reevali.

[12:29] Individuals that are strictly just property crime and committing like I said it's usually the 5% committing 95% of the crime

[12:36] They would be strictly the new property crime

[12:40] See-point program. So there is no duplications. So when I speak of numbers, they would be completely separate parties

[12:46] That's good information one more question absolutely

[12:49] So I did notice this morning that at the coast a lot of the schools are not allowing e-bikes

[12:55] to chain up her secure on property for the youth.

[13:00] I'm wondering if our school district here,

[13:02] if you've talked to them regarding any initiatives

[13:05] around maybe going in the same direction?

[13:08] Yeah, so last time I presented,

[13:09] I mentioned we presented to school district 22.

[13:13] They've taken the stance that no,

[13:15] immobility devices will be allowed on school property.

[13:18] However, I will have to follow up

[13:19] with our school district superintendent

[13:21] to see if they're gonna apply that to the six-year-olds

[13:24] that are actually illegally allowed to ride electric assisted bikes, or 14-year-olds who are allowed

[13:29] to legally ride light e-bikes. I do believe at first, first, flush they were going to not off

[13:37] allow any, but I have to see if their positions changed. But for sure, no e-shooters, they weren't allowing

[13:43] any, you know, segways or the e-dirt bikes at all. Excellent. Okay, thank you so much and thank you again for

[13:53] I agree with you, this is a good report to come in and report on, so I had a question

[13:59] around mental health, so your mental health calls decreased by 37.7% which is positive.

[14:05] With the ICRTs response to 200 calls and the rollout of the health IM app, can you comment

[14:12] on how the real time data is improving outcomes?

[14:16] I was prepared.

[14:17] I did not have quarter-toes health.

[14:19] I am report for you, but starting next quarter, I think it'd be appropriate to share

[14:24] some of that data for you.

[14:26] So for example, I can speak to August.

[14:27] I have August.

[14:29] It's not part of this quarter that I'm presenting on.

[14:32] But just to highlight, we had 13 mental health occurrences of those 13, 13 individuals

[14:39] were apprehended under the mental health act.

[14:42] two were repeat clients meeting we had previously apprehended them. There was the other 11 were brand new brand new

[14:52] present with a call brand new presentations and there was no chronic

[15:00] In a 90-day period, we did not have any of those. So moving forward, I am prepared and will provide you with a quarterly 2 or a 43 report of the overall mental health breakdown.

[15:12] We can include that for you. Starting up to be a very valuable tool, helping officers make a better, better informed decision.

[15:21] And also like I said to the work of our program, the ICRT car, that partnership is proving

[15:27] valuable as far as reducing the amount of time police officers are spending on what is

[15:33] otherwise a mental health call.

[15:36] So then my last question, and it totally, do you feel them that it is actually saving time

[15:42] for your members?

[15:42] Are you seeing that time reduction?

[15:47] Time will tell.

[15:49] But I would be more than happy if you ask that question to me.

[15:52] in three to four months, I can show you this statistical data

[15:56] on our wait times of the hospital.

[15:58] And I can tell you right now, our wait times are averaging

[16:01] anywhere between 40 minutes to one hour,

[16:03] which is really, really good.

[16:05] We like to see it down under 40 minutes,

[16:08] but we're working with our partners

[16:09] and they have their own pressures as well.

[16:12] But with that is where we're also seeing a benefit

[16:14] is that real-time data getting to the hospital

[16:17] in advance of our attendance for it to be reviewed

[16:19] for them to be prepared for our attendance

[16:21] to see a quicker turnover between a police apprehension and then when the doctor makes the decision

[16:27] to commit or not. I could tell you comparatively from the lower mainland, you're looking

[16:32] in excess of three hours a week time, which is a huge drain on police resourcing, right?

[16:38] So here we're very fortunate that we've got a great partnership with Interior Health and

[16:41] that our week times are, in fact, on the lower end of under an hour, which is really promising.

[16:50] Thank you.

[16:51] Thanks Mr. Mayor.

[16:52] Thanks for the report.

[16:53] It's like it is.

[16:54] You said it's a good report.

[16:56] I had three points and you've actually touched on all of them already.

[17:01] The first was about mental health files, but you answered my question in your presentation.

[17:06] On the traffic counts, you've focused on the Vernon numbers in your remarks and indeed

[17:13] they are down.

[17:14] But overall in the region, they're up almost to the level they were at two years ago,

[17:22] up 20% roughly, and including this category of Vernon provincial, where there are almost

[17:29] twice as many as last year.

[17:32] Do you want to say anything about that?

[17:34] Okay, many of them are up.

[17:37] It's really just the Vernon that's notably not up.

[17:45] Generally, as an integrated attachment,

[17:47] any road safety that's done anywhere through any of the communities

[17:49] is a direct benefit to the city of Vernon.

[17:53] Our citizens travel throughout our region,

[17:56] not exclusively just in Vernon,

[17:57] so Vernon resident could possibly be stopped in Armstrong.

[18:02] So generally speaking,

[18:03] of stocks that are up traffic-wise, it is a benefit to the greater area in

[18:08] rate.

[18:09] Okay.

[18:10] Thanks.

[18:10] And the other thing was about the kids on e-bikes.

[18:12] That was another thing that I was concerned about last June when we talked about it.

[18:16] I think it was June.

[18:19] And at that time, you talked about your heavy focus being on education.

[18:24] And now that school is back, are you going to be ramping up your presence in the schools,

[18:30] doing education for kids and parents and teachers?

[18:32] So, we'll be going back again to, so we're going to work with our partners and leverage that capacity and have school district assist us because it's not possible for us to present to every single parent, but we will make ourselves available at certain meetings where it would be most value for us to be present and to present on this, but we're going to really leverage the partnership that we have with the school district to really champion this, our time again is, we don't have a lot of unfettered time.

[19:01] So we'll choose to use it wisely, but where appropriate we most certainly will go in and join with our partners with the school's air to meet presentations.

[19:09] So I don't have anything lined up, but I'll be working through a principal, Crystal Eski, who does prime is our primary point of contact for the school district management.

[19:25] I've noticed in my summer, minor, summer holidays this year that this issue of electrified devices

[19:34] goes well beyond the coin fines of the North America and it's a common comment among

[19:43] the other provinces and other jurisdictions.

[19:46] And so I'm glad we're taking it serious.

[19:50] And when you see an individual that the cross bars on a electric kick scooter are almost

[19:59] at his chin, then you know that the child is a child, and probably should not be on electric

[20:08] kick scooter when the handle bar is about at their chin.

[20:12] So, yes, this is an ongoing issue and I know there are many communities that are quite concerned about the electric dirt bike, particularly, and we've had our first incident here that unfortunately.

[20:28] So, we do appreciate you joining many forces here across the country beginning to deal with this.

[20:35] new and somewhat say enjoy all but not so safe how that it's beginning to form so much

[20:42] appreciated. So pretend to thank you also for the work you do and seeing your members

[20:49] out in a boat very helpful and also the the two major wildfires in our area and I do

[20:56] know that your staff was there at the beginning knocking on doors helping panic to people

[21:02] move the region very, very quickly.

[21:04] So I've had a number of thank yous express to me,

[21:07] whether I was in a grocery store or somewhere else

[21:10] people wanting to make sure that your forces

[21:13] were aware of how they changed their life

[21:17] by having one of your members pounding at their door

[21:20] and saying, no, they didn't have time to open their trainer.

[21:24] And it was time to go and go quickly.

[21:27] So thank you very much.

[21:28] Thank you very much for your force for reacting so quickly on that very traumatic Saturday afternoon.

[21:35] Much appreciated.

[21:36] Thank you very much.

[21:37] Appreciate it.

[21:39] Council.

[21:40] Can I have a motion to receive?

[21:41] Please, Councillor Garish, Councillor Mung.

[21:44] Any comments?

[21:45] Seeing none.

[21:46] Call the question.

[21:47] I was in favor.

[21:48] I was opposed.

[21:49] Motion care.

[21:49] Thank you, gentlemen.

[21:56] Next item.

[21:57] Presentation of the Council of Immuneration Committee.

[22:00] and I welcome Ms. Rachel and so much appreciate it.

[22:05] Thanks for joining us this afternoon.

[22:08] The floor is yours.

[22:59] How do

[23:10] we catch up on the screen? How do you get your notes?

[23:18] Missiles, are we waiting for something?

[23:22] Good. And is it operating?

[23:26] The microphone is not operating?

[23:33] No, there are a classical green or blue. There's a second color.

[23:55] We're a high technical place here.

[24:10] All right, we'll start with that. Pardon us.

[24:13] Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council.

[24:25] So sorry.

[24:54] Thank you, Ms. Os.

[24:55] Okay, let's try this again.

[24:56] We'll start again.

[24:57] Thank you, Ms. Nessori.

[25:00] First day after major changes.

[25:03] Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor.

[25:05] Councilors and staff.

[25:08] My name is Rachel Enz and I'll be presenting the

[25:12] Remuneration Committee report.

[25:14] My self Glen Benescheck and Deborah Law met over the summer did quite a number of,

[25:23] sorry, quite an amount of research about pay structures within City Council.

[25:31] and the mayor, we compared Vernon with several comparative cities and our conclusions,

[25:45] where the recommendations that we're making to council was to find the right balance between

[25:54] keeping costs for taxpayers reasonable, but also suggesting a fair inequitable

[26:04] pay structure for our counselors.

[26:10] Our findings,

[26:13] the summary of our report is that the mayor's salary is to be adjusted

[26:18] in twenty twenty six by applying the average of the previous four year.

[26:26] I'm

[26:30] sorry. Trying to read, applying the previous four year annual B.C.

[26:39] Concealer price index August over August to their salary, a cost of living

[26:43] adjustment effective in Operation Day. So in other words, the Mayor's salary will stay on

[26:50] par with what it is. Councillor Salary will be increased to 40 percent of the salary of

[26:58] the mayor. After the salary of the mayor is adjusted for the consumer price index, effective

[27:05] in Operation Day, the Mayor's salary will continue to have an annual cost of living adjustment

[27:12] based on the previous four years, effective November 1st of each year.

[27:19] Marin Council will receive the exempt staff benefit package with the exception of long-term

[27:25] disability and the municipal pension plan. We've eliminated the committee meeting

[27:32] and paste stipend found in the policy and that was because of the increase to Councillor's

[27:40] salaries.

[27:46] And we made one other recommendation that should the acting mayor be away from their role for

[27:56] either an

[28:00] injury or a long-term disability, if that comes greater than 60 days, the counselor

[28:07] who is filling in as acting mayor will be paid at the mayor's salary for the months or months

[28:16] that are in addition to those 60 days. And that is the gist of our report. Thank you.

[28:26] Thank you, Ms. Adams. I'd appreciate it. Counsel and any questions of Ms. Andrew, representing

[28:33] the committee.

[28:36] I'll respond to

[28:39] him.

[28:39] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[28:41] I mean, look at it. It looks kind of about getting an increase as we're going into this

[28:48] year.

[28:49] But I thought about this and I said it would be, look, even worse if the new council came in

[28:54] and they were making the decision.

[28:56] So I think the decision will be best if we make it.

[29:01] I'm glad that we're getting rid of the stipend.

[29:04] I think that's the right move.

[29:05] I've always, I've never collected the stipend

[29:07] of my 12 years here, so.

[29:10] But I think that's, I suppose, consider it part of our job.

[29:15] Then you gotta consider if there's any committees

[29:17] where people have to travel.

[29:20] I think there's still to be something there.

[29:24] You know, when you're traveling, sometimes you have to travel up and take in way out salmon arm and then meeting and then back.

[29:33] Again, this isn't for me, this is for consideration for others who may have to take time off work to do this committee work.

[29:43] That's, otherwise I like the recommendations, I'm fine with them.

[29:48] I just want to make sure that we consider not to start cells if they grow all pretty well off here, but somebody else runs for it.

[30:00] I can't hesitate to take time off a work to do the jobs of traveling out of town. Probably should be paid for it somehow.

[30:17] Councilor Gears.

[30:19] Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And thank you very much for your group for putting all the work together. I know it's not an easy task to determine what the best remuneration would be for any incoming council.

[30:31] with regards to this to the stipend. I do agree with that. I like my fellow councilor here

[30:37] in the eight years I've been here. I've never actually taken a stipend. But I think it's important

[30:42] for us to note that that is, if I'm correct, that stipend is only applicable to internal

[30:48] city of Vernon committees, not external. Most of the committees where you tend to do some

[30:55] are usually external committees and they're not typically the internal ones anyway and there's

[31:01] different rules and regulations that are around those external committees from those organizations

[31:08] that are putting that on. So I think with the increase in the counselor pay that offsets that's

[31:14] what those stiffens would be and it makes it a bit more fair and equitable because the one thing I

[31:19] I don't think we've actually acknowledged is that you may never get on any of those external or those internal committees.

[31:28] And so those individuals that are continually on there would have that advantage to be able to collect that stipend.

[31:34] Even though we might be placed on a bunch of external committees that don't actually have a stipend.

[31:41] That's applicable to that.

[31:42] So I think this is just fair, and it allows the public to really know exactly what that value is and it's consistent across the board.

[31:51] So I think the recommendations are fair, and I would be prepared to support the recommendation as noted.

[32:04] Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And thank you, Rachel, for this excellent work. I also am in support of not having a stipend.

[32:14] I do just have a question, it's only because I don't know and need to ask is when

[32:20] Councillors travel or, like, excessively for their role, is there anything internally with

[32:26] the city that covers their kilometers for travel?

[32:33] Is that timing?

[32:41] I believe there's a separate policy for travel.

[32:44] Okay, and I do know that some of the committee meetings they actually pay you to travel.

[32:49] So, thank you for that, and thank you for your work.

[32:51] I think it's excellent and we're moving in the right direction for the next council coming on.

[33:00] Sounds good.

[33:01] Yeah, thanks Mr. Mayor.

[33:03] Yeah, firstly, external committees have their own salary and the way of dealing with pay for

[33:10] for meeting. So we're not talking about that here. We're just talking about internal committee meetings

[33:15] and we set up the membership of those meetings every year and each of us sits on two or maybe three

[33:24] such committees and we don't do much traveling. Any traveling, meanings are usually right here.

[33:31] So I don't think that's a problem. So I like what you've suggested there.

[33:35] Acting pay for absence is more than 60 days. So it's a good idea except that we have a different acting

[33:42] mayor every month. So for the first 30 days of an absence we've got one mayor for the next 30 days.

[33:49] We've got another one acting mayor for the next 30 days. We have another acting mayor.

[33:53] And then after day 60 there'd be a third acting mayor.

[34:00] So, no acting mayor is in the way we do it is ever going to act for more than 30 days.

[34:06] So I'm not sure that as long as we keep the way we're doing it now, we don't need this.

[34:15] So who would get the big boost in salary? The third acting mayor came in on day 61.

[34:22] Yes, please.

[34:25] Good question.

[34:27] Good question.

[34:27] Thanks, Your Worship.

[34:30] When council points are acting mayor as you correct every month, should the mayor not be

[34:36] in attendance for greater than 60 days, whoever the acting mayor is in that given month would be eligible for

[34:43] the mayor's salary, as it rotates to the next person, then they would be eligible for that salary, until the

[34:50] Americans returns to the, they have that chair position.

[34:55] Okay.

[34:56] That's fair.

[34:57] Okay.

[34:57] The other, another question about long-term disability.

[35:02] Your report says that counselors aren't eligible because we aren't full time.

[35:08] In that case, why do we do it now?

[35:11] At why does any municipality do it now?

[35:13] You said in your report that about 10% of the municipality surveyed actually do it now,

[35:18] but none of them have full time counselors.

[35:25] The current benefit package currently on the books and with the current policy is that the

[35:32] mayor's a full-time position in Councillors are part-time positions at greater than 20 hours per week,

[35:38] as such that's how the benefit package rolls out. So the mayor's eligible for a full-time benefit package,

[35:44] and Council is eligible for the part-time benefit package. The only change that would be considered should

[35:52] Council approved the policy is that the benefits are all the same as they currently are, except for

[35:57] LTD will not be included in the benefit package, but nothing else changes.

[36:04] Great question hasn't been in the policy.

[36:07] LTD was part of the package.

[36:09] Yes it has.

[36:12] So things you don't know.

[36:12] So it's part of the package now.

[36:16] And the recommendation is to remove it from the package.

[36:21] And the reason is that we aren't full time.

[36:25] No, I would suggest the reason is that the reason would be is that you're not on going past four years.

[36:34] Potentially.

[36:35] No.

[36:38] Okay, as long as the reason is holds up.

[36:41] I'm just, just seems inconsistent.

[36:43] Like some of these bellies do it and some don't.

[36:46] Yeah, you're worship.

[36:47] When we did look at all the municipalities, there was very few who actually offered LTDS.

[36:52] It's one of their benefit options.

[36:58] Okay.

[37:01] Okay.

[37:02] That's good enough for me.

[37:07] Come to fair.

[37:09] Yeah.

[37:09] I have a question I've always been curious about but never asked and not as a perfect

[37:12] time for it.

[37:14] Around, since counselors are considered part-time over 20, part-time employees would probably

[37:22] be eligible for pension contributions and just curious have.

[37:30] Around the rational.

[37:34] This would. You know, where should the municipal pension plan does not allow

[37:39] municipalities to offer pension to council members?

[37:48] And in the past for the future, no other pension

[37:53] plan plan type system is being proposed.

[37:58] Okay. Thank you.

[38:03] The only question I have is, is related to

[38:06] historically we established $2.44 per person has sort of the base that we worked

[38:13] from and based on the population of 2021. So it's now 2026 and this will apply to

[38:23] late 26 and early 27. Is there a reason for not having that 244 apply to our new

[38:31] population?

[38:35] The sense? Yes. The numbers that we were looking at, we weren't just looking

[38:43] at 2021 population. We were also looking at cost of living increase and other metrics that

[38:58] increase the mayor's salary. So we didn't think that the 2021 numbers were too far out of

[39:08] line with current numbers to make a significant difference.

[39:13] So if population went up by 2,500 over the last five years, we would see an essence in

[39:22] Vernon situation of five or six percent growth in total population.

[39:28] And your indication is that that's not significant then we didn't, we don't need to bake

[39:32] that into future salaries.

[39:34] That's something for the next remuneration committee to look at when that gets re-evaluated.

[39:44] Because we've had significant population growth between 2021 and today.

[39:51] Because CPI just means that you're getting paid the same thing that you've got paid in 2021,

[39:57] just that your state, even with cost of living, there's been no change, essence in, in the

[40:07] salary, there's been change in the amount, but in terms of purchasing power, it's flat.

[40:12] Which is good.

[40:13] That's good, I'm not complaining about that.

[40:14] I'm just saying that it had this extra element, which was that we should make it associated

[40:20] with size of the community.

[40:22] So, we decided to drop that. That's not appropriate at this time.

[40:28] We didn't think that the change was significant enough to this time around to adjust it for that.

[40:37] Or to anticipate what it would be the next time it's evaluated.

[40:41] Okay. Well, we'll watch that together.

[40:46] Let's see what it says. But we were projecting at the

[40:49] time, growth rates in the neighborhood of 2% annually. So substantial. I don't know what's

[40:58] actually happened over time. We had to leave that over to Mr. Nurelle. He might have a better idea

[41:03] what stats can is assuming our population is but what is it 44 up to 47 or 48 yeah so it's gone

[41:13] out almost 10 percent nine and a half for 10 percent in size in five years we weren't just looking

[41:22] at the 2021 population numbers okay all right no I'm just trying to make the logic work here because we've

[41:31] this, gone from 44, probably 47, or 48,000, so almost 9% growth in size.

[41:41] Okay, but I'm just trying to tie it together.

[41:47] Councillor Gill.

[41:48] I think there's just one other quick question, Rachel.

[41:51] On this statement, the percentage of merit salary boost is 3% from 37 to 40 that you're

[42:00] and it's a fair, a good-sized boost.

[42:07] Sorry, we weren't making a boost to the mayor's salary?

[42:10] No, no, no, but you're saying that the percentage of the mayor's salary that a

[42:15] counselor would be paid will change from 37% to 40%.

[42:21] Oh, correct.

[42:22] Yes.

[42:26] and when you looked at the comparables in terms of what that percentage should be, you concluded that 37 is a little low, so you wanted to put it up to 40, that's fine.

[42:39] But the comparables that you used, did you sort out in terms of those that pay meeting stipends separately versus those that don't?

[42:51] The comparables were looked at population size.

[42:57] So some of those that pay the average of which you said was 39%.

[43:03] So a whole bunch of those might pay meeting stipends and a whole bunch of them might not.

[43:08] You don't know.

[43:11] We were just looking at the base salary, as far as I remember.

[43:17] We were looking at a lot of different things.

[43:18] So before we're today right now we're we're counselors are paid 37% of what the mayor's paid plus there's these

[43:25] There's a meeting site bound of 137 dollars per meeting. Yes, one of the other reasons we decided to do away with that stipend was that no one was really collecting it

[43:37] so it was even though it was

[43:39] available

[43:40] most counselors were not

[43:43] utilizing it and so we found it to be both unnecessary and

[43:47] and irrelevant.

[43:49] So yeah, plus I assume that's a bit of administrative efficiency

[43:53] gain, too, without having another process.

[43:55] But anyway,

[44:00] so that's fine, I guess, on balance here,

[44:05] satisfied that 40% is the right number,

[44:11] with no side bend.

[44:13] With no side bend on top of the 40.

[44:17] Okay.

[44:21] Council, any other questions for the sense?

[44:30] All right, much appreciate it, and I think so.

[44:32] I'll put it up with a few point of questions if we try to get clear on this.

[44:36] This is great. I'll call for a motion to receive.

[44:40] I have a Council adjourning, Councillor Fair, any last comments?

[44:45] Seeing none, call the question or a little some favor?

[44:47] Go suppose, motion is carried. Thank you very much.

[44:51] Thanks for your committee work, and thanks to your colleagues.

[44:55] We'll move forward now, I'll do it.

[45:00] I'm your closure by law 68086 of 2026, so I'll open up public input for the road closure.

[45:10] Ms Wood, has there been any written submissions?

[45:14] Your worship, there's been no written submissions received.

[45:18] Thank you. So I'll call for a first time for any presentations from the public.

[45:28] I will now call a second time for presentations from the public.

[45:35] And I'll call for a third and final time for presentations on the public to the 43rd Avenue

[45:41] closer by a six-year-old eight six.

[45:51] Public input is closed

[45:53] Council if you have any questions of staff

[46:05] in

[46:06] kind of emotion, please. Councillor Guy. Councillor Derny.

[46:10] Any last comments?

[46:12] Seeing none. Call the question. I'll was in favor of those post. Motion is carry.

[46:17] We'll move now to item six, counseling quarries, so there are any counseling quarries.

[46:28] Seeing none, we'll move now to administration updates,

[46:33] move them, counselor, one comes.

[46:36] So, Gareth,

[46:40] any comments on the updates?

[46:44] Counselor Guy?

[46:47] Yeah, thanks. Just one thought that occurred to me reading this report, mentioning the

[46:53] the World Park, Baudelante, closure.

[46:59] It's James there, yeah.

[47:02] I just thought this might be a good opportunity to add a muscle, a base of muscle, stencil,

[47:12] clean drain dry, muscle, stencil to the surface of the Baudelante.

[47:17] This is something that will be WB's been working on forever.

[47:20] They've arranged a really good price on a large stencil that would go on the on the on the boat launch, and it just requires the the launch to be closed for a day or two.

[47:34] And the best time to do it obviously is after the main voting season. So I'll help you in touch with Carmen at the OBWB on this.

[47:45] They're installing municipalities or installing the stencils on their main boat launches up and down the valley now.

[47:51] I'll talk to you later.

[48:05] All right.

[48:05] Call the question.

[48:06] All those in favor?

[48:08] Those post-motion is carried.

[48:13] All right.

[48:13] Move John finished.

[48:14] Business Council Compensation says that you commit draft report and policy recommendation.

[48:22] Could I have a motion please?

[48:25] Council, adjourning, Councilor Fair, any last comments from Council?

[48:33] Seeing none, call the questionals in favor, those opposed motion is carried.

[48:39] Thank you, committee.

[48:40] Much appreciated.

[48:43] Just a closing comment.

[48:44] I think you can follow up on Councilor Monday's comment.

[48:47] I think it is best that we continue with this process of putting it to the end of

[48:52] Council's term as opposed to bringing it forward to the fall in Council.

[48:56] I think that's been a great addition.

[48:59] I think it was Councilor Mund who started that process and when he was mayor, so I just want

[49:03] to recognize that the process was a good one.

[49:06] And then thanks to the committee members who do this quite willingly, obviously Mr. Benesheck

[49:13] has done it now, I think, three times, which is really good, and I appreciate that.

[49:18] And I also appreciate the two others who have taken it on Deb Law, who was familiar with

[49:23] seats here for many, many years. And welcome yourself, Rachel, much appreciate it. You

[49:28] would take some volunteer time and to address what your critical issue. Thank you very much.

[49:36] All right, we'll move now to this declassified Asian motions. Do you want to read the

[49:42] motor? No. They're just in the agenda. We've got the business retention expansion,

[49:47] to all in partnership for deconstrication.

[49:52] We've also at Fire Service pilot automation aid agreement

[49:56] with the District Coal Stream.

[49:58] We also have the active living center commercial retail unit

[50:02] leaks all three of those are declassified motions

[50:05] from in-camera meetings.

[50:08] We'll move now to item 10A, active living center

[50:11] nearing project milestone, aquatic center commissioning.

[50:20] I think Mr. Ross who's attended many many times was probably not expecting we'd be here by now.

[50:34] Welcome, Mr. Ross. Perfect timing.

[50:42] Much of your surprise. Your years and years of being near this, you must have got it.

[50:48] Untimely sense of time.

[50:56] Just in the nick of time.

[50:58] Thanks for making time for me this afternoon.

[51:00] I've got a brief memo for you about an upcoming project milestone with the active living

[51:07] center.

[51:08] There's some information in here that is about the filling with the pools and there's

[51:12] also some about water conservation.

[51:15] So if there's any more detailed questions you have about the water reclamation site or things

[51:20] like that, I'll ask for James to step in and answer those, but I can provide you with update

[51:24] on the ALC.

[51:25] So, construction on the active living center is progressing towards its planned opening in later this year.

[51:33] The project is now entering the final stages of construction testing, commissioning, and inspections.

[51:38] The project is entering a major milestone as we get ready for the aquatic center to move into the commissioning and systems testing phase.

[51:46] This critical work will ensure that the aquatic mechanical filtration and air handling systems are operating as intended before the facility opens.

[51:54] The facility has to be brought up to its full operating temperature, so that we can test all of the air handling systems and things like that.

[52:03] The city has work closely with the regional district, who is authorizes city to proceed with the filling of the ELC pools, as part of this next phase of the project.

[52:12] And that work is scheduled to begin the week of the 14th.

[52:16] And again, that is required to do all the testing for all the systems.

[52:20] and the water has to be in the pool, so it has to be brought up to temperature.

[52:24] This is timely because it actually aligns.

[52:30] We understand for demand a free irrigation has decreased. The aquatic commissioning is on the project's critical path, so this is in addition to testing the aquatic mechanical system. The pools need to be filled and operational before they can be inspected by interior health who issues the operating permit.

[52:50] In the spring, the city developed a plan to reduce municipal water use during stage three restrictions and we're closely with the regional district to implement measures.

[52:59] across its operations.

[53:02] The city reduced overall municipal water use by 60% saving approximately 55

[53:07] megaleters of water, and which exceeded the city's conservation targets.

[53:12] In addition, the city continued to expand the use of reclaimed water to support agricultural

[53:16] users.

[53:18] The city partnered with the Regional District to temporarily connect Vernon's reclaimed water

[53:22] system to the RDNO non-potable irrigation network.

[53:26] That initiative expanded access to reclaim water for approximately 100 agricultural customers, providing additional sources of irrigation supply during the ongoing drought conditions.

[53:39] The ALC requires approximately 3.8 megaleters of water to fill its aquatic facilities.

[53:47] In August alone, the city supplied 77 megaleters of reclaim water to supplement Ardenino's non-potable irrigation system.

[53:54] So that's equivalent to 20 times the volume that's required to fill the ALC.

[54:00] Use the reclaimed water help reduce demand on potable water supplies.

[54:05] The city has considered alternatives, including transporting water in the Vernon by truck and from another water system,

[54:12] as well as trying to reuse water from late view and laving to outdoor pools.

[54:17] Both of those options would have added significant costs to the project.

[54:22] Using water from the outdoor pool is also not recommended because it's previously been

[54:26] treated and it could potentially have a debris in it from outdoor use.

[54:32] Delaying the aquatic commissioning would have financial implications of approximately $100,000

[54:36] per week.

[54:38] The dry side of the ALC could potentially operate, but that would not avoid the costs associated

[54:44] with delaying completion and commissioning of the QWATA components.

[54:51] So the project team and the communications department will continue to provide project updates

[54:56] as the LC moves into the next phase of work and prepares for facility opening.

[55:01] And I'll be back and provide a more detailed report to Council on September 28th when

[55:08] the facility will almost be ready to be open.

[55:12] If you have any questions and I'm happy to answer them and again if there's something technical

[55:16] about the recline border last James, the step in and answer those.

[55:22] Thank you, Mr. Ross.

[55:24] Council.

[55:28] Councilor Guy.

[55:30] Thanks, Doug, and I like the argument that you've made.

[55:33] It could be a decent rationale for giving us a bit of room to fill the pool with fresh

[55:38] water.

[55:39] And actually, it's even more than 20 times.

[55:40] You mentioned 20 times the 77 that we saved with irrigation.

[55:45] But then there's the 55 that we saved ourselves, you know, 130 or so total we saved

[55:51] right, or more or so, so that's more like 30 times or more than 30 times to put the pool of

[55:55] volume. So yeah, good rationale, good report.

[56:01] Councillor, any other comments?

[56:08] Councillor Monk, Councillor Harris, all in favor? Motion is carried.

[56:14] Thank you, Mr. Ross, for the forward to the 28th and the clink of someone handing over

[56:19] keys.

[56:20] Thank you very much.

[56:22] Thank you.

[56:25] All right, move now.

[56:26] I intend to be the Kelli Malcolm Lake Road 14,000 year highway six multi-use path to the East Hill amendment, could I have a motion please?

[56:36] Councilor Guy, Councilor Gurney, welcome Mr. Hanyeak to our new facing south facing gallery and presentation.

[56:49] It's right.

[56:53] Any questions, service to Daniac?

[56:58] Council.

[56:59] Thank you.

[57:00] Just one question.

[57:03] Maybe two.

[57:05] Looking at the multi-use path.

[57:11] Just in that now.

[57:14] Or maybe it's just a sidewalk.

[57:15] I guess it's a sidewalk.

[57:18] Along the northwest side.

[57:20] On the diagram.

[57:22] The northwest side of Highway 6, going from

[57:24] rotary road down the hill to the gym. You want to put it up there, Mark?

[57:36] Yeah, it's that

[57:37] you'll, you'll colored piece on the north side, north west side of the highway

[57:48] running from part of the road down to the gym.

[57:53] So it looks to me on the diagram that

[57:55] it stops before the, before the gym, on the uphill side of the gym. And so what I'm

[58:04] wondering is why would we not extend that at least down to that driveway at the gym?

[58:11] And maybe even beyond the gym all the way down to the existing intersection of Cal Lake

[58:18] Road and the highway to meet up with the new sidewalk that we're going to build along

[58:22] the East Side of Cal Lake Road right there at that intersection.

[58:27] Mr. Dehyme?

[58:29] He worshiped by apologizing we did not show that there was an existing sidewalk in that

[58:33] So there already is a sidewalk for that entire stretch.

[58:38] So we highlighted some of the existing sidewalks.

[58:41] So I apologize for not highlighting that.

[58:43] That one piece as well.

[58:44] But there is a sidewalk there.

[58:48] Yeah.

[58:51] Oh, sorry.

[58:52] Councillor.

[58:54] Go ahead.

[58:54] Yeah.

[58:54] In that case, it's even a smaller job than I thought.

[58:58] To extend that a few meters to the driveway.

[59:01] Or even all the way to the intersection.

[59:03] pass the driveway all the way to the intersection.

[59:08] Mr. Dye?

[59:09] Your worship, our intention is to connect to the network completely in that location.

[59:14] So, the budget that's presented will connect the network.

[59:18] So, even though it doesn't show in the diagram, you're going to extend that sidewalk all the way along to the junction of Highway 6 and Cal Lake Road.

[59:26] I can't speak for certain, but I'm pretty certain.

[59:31] there's a side hook in that location.

[59:34] Okay, yeah, but not all the way down.

[59:36] And I don't have it completely memorized.

[59:38] Each piece of the sidewalk in that network,

[59:41] but our project team is planning to connect the entire sidewalk network

[59:47] and the multi-snetwork through this project.

[59:49] Okay, well that little piece is quite important.

[59:51] It's a well-known danger zone for people who get to the end of the sidewalk.

[59:56] And then we...

[1:00:01] Especially kids, kids on bikes.

[1:00:06] Okay.

[1:00:12] Okay.

[1:00:15] I don't see any other comments or questions on this one.

[1:00:21] Sometimes, she is tapped to y'all hooray. This is a project that's obviously been on our to do this for quite a while.

[1:00:33] Personally, there's one extra element here.

[1:00:37] I'm really pleased to see the 14th Avenue,

[1:00:41] no post-periars being shifted from the north side to the south side.

[1:00:46] So I think that that in itself will lower my heart rate.

[1:00:51] So I appreciate that.

[1:00:52] That one was one that always for me generated significant anxiety.

[1:00:57] When I would watch people crossing 14th Avenue there,

[1:01:02] take it to the other side, to ride behind the barriers,

[1:01:06] to then cross again, and at the west side of Calth Tiger Head Office,

[1:01:15] it was always sort of interesting to watch the antics.

[1:01:18] So thank you, excuse me, and those in the transportation

[1:01:20] department for recognizing that.

[1:01:27] Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I actually just wanted to recognize that there is one really big

[1:01:33] hooray on this one and that's the signal, the new intersection. So if anyone drives past that

[1:01:40] intersection, like I do on a daily basis, especially today with school being back in, the turn

[1:01:45] lane was incredible. For people trying to turn on to pottery road, because of course I can't get to

[1:01:51] 15th Street intersection.

[1:01:53] So out of all of this, the public who was saying,

[1:01:57] what is the city doing?

[1:01:58] Well, this is what we're doing.

[1:02:00] We're putting in a signal.

[1:02:01] So, right at the team on this one.

[1:02:10] I just need to go back to that late blue line indication

[1:02:14] that there is a sidewalk.

[1:02:17] My, when I go up one to essentials right now,

[1:02:20] there is no sidewalk between pottery, road, and the gym.

[1:02:25] Turn it.

[1:02:26] Is that correct?

[1:02:29] There is from going, if you leave the gym, there is a sidewalk from there to the intersection

[1:02:38] at the end, but the light blue section is missing.

[1:02:42] There is no sidewalk there today.

[1:02:46] Mr. Abbott.

[1:02:47] Mr. Abbott.

[1:02:49] Mr. Abbott.

[1:02:52] Mr. Abbott.

[1:02:53] Mr. Abbott.

[1:02:55] along the front edge of the gym.

[1:02:58] Yep.

[1:02:58] So we do intend to build that piece of sidewalk.

[1:03:02] And the way that we're doing it in this project

[1:03:05] is quite a bit more economical than what we had planned

[1:03:09] originally, building a wide multi-spath.

[1:03:12] The intersection kind of gets rid of the need

[1:03:14] for that multi-spath on the highway.

[1:03:17] But we intend to connect the sidewalk fully

[1:03:19] to pottery road and up to the existing sidewalk

[1:03:24] on the front to the gym there.

[1:03:26] Sorry, I was in clear there.

[1:03:27] I apologize.

[1:03:28] Super.

[1:03:29] Thank you.

[1:03:30] I just, yeah.

[1:03:31] I just was trying to, we were trying to clarify here up in the table and I wasn't getting

[1:03:36] it all off my, so to speak.

[1:03:39] Good.

[1:03:39] Thank you.

[1:03:42] And I'm, thank you very much for your application to the grant funding.

[1:03:47] It's, it's quite amazing when you get this amount of money for a project like this.

[1:03:53] much appreciated. Thanks for your work, and thanks for your work, I'm

[1:03:56] assured, on making sure that this actually came up.

[1:04:04] Council, I'll call the question.

[1:04:06] All in favor.

[1:04:08] Those of all of us seeing none, motion is carried.

[1:04:11] Quick question, is this now become a 27 project?

[1:04:16] Your research. So the way the motion's written is, it's a men of the

[1:04:20] 2020 six project with approval to spend the grant funding and then they

[1:04:26] of some of their funding that came back into our reserve accounts from the year-end process.

[1:04:33] So you'll have design in 26 and construction in 27?

[1:04:37] That's correct. We intend to go for competitive bits and the next couple of weeks.

[1:04:42] Super. Thank you very much.

[1:04:44] Okay.

[1:04:49] Yeah. Great project.

[1:05:01] All right. Next was the Crown Lease. Yes.

[1:05:05] move it second. Yep. We're going to respond.

[1:05:11] Any questions from Miss Nire?

[1:05:16] Seeing none, I'll

[1:05:17] call the question, I was a favorite. Those are both motion carried. Much of many of us

[1:05:21] put a lot effort into the roses pond one and it's great to see this working together so easily.

[1:05:27] Next item, Ken Beach, the old community strong fund grant application.

[1:05:35] Can I have a motion please?

[1:05:37] Yep.

[1:05:38] We've got councillor turning, councillor guy, welcome to space.

[1:05:46] Do we have any questions from this space regarding, uh, can be,

[1:06:04] can we put the concept

[1:06:05] up for those who are watching online?

[1:06:33] The only thing I was surprised about is, is the comment that the playground is aging out,

[1:06:39] because the equipment seems to be in very good shape.

[1:06:42] We don't have chip paint, we don't have, like it's, um, surprised.

[1:06:45] But what do we use it somewhere else like what will happen to the equipment from, it can be just as it's now.

[1:06:54] Mr. Rice?

[1:06:56] Oh, this is the market.

[1:07:01] Mr. Rice.

[1:07:02] Thank you, Yourorship.

[1:07:03] We do have a professional risk and site inspector that does regular inspections on all of our playgrounds.

[1:07:09] Even though the can beach playground from a distance looks like it's in good shape but actually has reached the end of its useful life.

[1:07:16] So there's very little there that would be salvaged or any other use.

[1:07:22] All right, thank you.

[1:07:25] And I've looked at it much closer than...

[1:07:45] I'm just wondering if there's a lot of hustle it seems every season for the vendor spots down there, being so far away from service seemingly.

[1:07:56] I'm just wondering what that will look like, how many vendors, if there's kind of an idea

[1:08:01] of what it would look like, we're all done for the potential vendor help.

[1:08:06] Is that right?

[1:08:07] So right now we have the two vendor locations pulled into the park adjacent to the playground

[1:08:13] there.

[1:08:14] And so we are looking at having two mobile vendor opportunities there as well.

[1:08:20] And then there's still some areas closer to the beach to explore other waterfront vendor.

[1:08:27] opportunities there as well, so a blend of food opportunities as well as whether that be water

[1:08:33] rentals.

[1:08:36] I'm happy to hear that we're open to that because I've heard some things over the past

[1:08:40] years and I think staff have handled what's gone on down there well, so given that's a little

[1:08:46] more open opportunity to be able to accept vendors and small businesses, only else is kind

[1:08:53] of a great thing.

[1:08:53] So thank you.

[1:09:00] Council on the other questions.

[1:09:03] Seeing none, I'll call the question of those in favor.

[1:09:06] Those opposed motion, Gary.

[1:09:07] Thank you very much.

[1:09:16] We'll move now to the procurement policy update.

[1:09:30] Have a motion, please.

[1:09:31] Council, Gary, Councilor Munt.

[1:09:34] Any questions for Ms. Marshall?

[1:09:39] Seeing none, I'll call the question of those in favor.

[1:09:42] Those opposed motion, Gary.

[1:09:44] Thank you for all these updates.

[1:09:45] These are a piece of this is important.

[1:09:46] Thank you.

[1:09:47] Yes, thank you.

[1:09:48] Your message.

[1:09:50] Next, one of why if you're planning committee finance committee terms of reference amendments

[1:09:55] and meeting schedule, we're going to deal with the APC first, can I have a motion please?

[1:10:02] Councillor Guy, Councillor Durning,

[1:10:07] any questions for Ms. Wood or Ms. Isles? Seeing none

[1:10:13] call the question, what was in favour? Those opposed motion is carried. And now we'll do

[1:10:18] the Finance Committee in terms of reference, and he from those mentioning on the Finance

[1:10:23] Committee. Councillor Guy, Councillor Earning. Any questions for Ms. Wood? All in favor?

[1:10:33] Those opposing, none motion is carried. We'll move now to a fees and charge of direct

[1:10:38] Mark services by last six, zero of six, two amendments to fees and charges of by law

[1:10:45] of three, nine, nine.

[1:10:48] Welcome, Ms. Walker.

[1:10:50] Council, any questions?

[1:10:55] Seeing none, I'll call for a motion.

[1:10:58] Councilor Guy, Councilor Fair,

[1:11:02] any questions from Ms. Walker?

[1:11:05] Seeing none, all those in favor?

[1:11:09] Councilor Guy, you have a question before me.

[1:11:11] Councillor.

[1:11:13] Councillor.

[1:11:15] I missed your light.

[1:11:19] Yeah.

[1:11:19] Firstly, good work.

[1:11:23] I'm impressed with the effort and the thought that's going into this and I really

[1:11:27] like the adjustments.

[1:11:30] I know we passed a motion in June, I think, to on the fee and structures, but there's

[1:11:37] other things in there now too.

[1:11:39] And there's several new concepts here that sort of at another level of granularity that I really like and as for example these promotional pieces that I think are going to be great right out of the gate and I read through it on the weekend and I originally had lots of questions but it managed to answer most of them myself.

[1:12:05] But I do have a couple that are three or four maybe that remain, so if you don't mind can just flip through my hard copy and ask you the odd question.

[1:12:23] The, firstly, just for clarification,

[1:12:29] the, the, the, the, we, we, we originally, we're going to do a 4% facility fee enhancement or facility enhancement fee for non residents and, and you're recommending we change it to just to clarify that's starting in 2027 or only for 2027.

[1:12:50] And the reason I ask that is because looking at all the various tables, there is some inconsistency.

[1:12:55] Sometimes the fee is removed in the 2027 column in the 28 column and sometimes there is still one.

[1:13:02] There is still a 4% facility fee in some of those columns for some of those categories.

[1:13:07] Thank you.

[1:13:08] Speaker.

[1:13:09] Your workshop.

[1:13:10] So the intention is to remove it as of 242027 onwards.

[1:13:16] So we will before the finalized cocky comes.

[1:13:19] We'll go through it a bit more to make sure it is all removed for 2027 onwards.

[1:13:23] It's not being removed until 2027 because we have some groups that have already paid for this year and have already signed contracts.

[1:13:30] So we're working on it for 2027.

[1:13:32] words.

[1:13:35] Okay, thanks. That's a good idea, good answer. On the, your idea to add a rental fee

[1:13:46] for the Concourse in Calgary, place south.

[1:13:53] Is this a common thing to do? Do other communities

[1:13:56] do this in their arenas?

[1:14:00] Marker?

[1:14:01] So, yours.

[1:14:04] It's common for the whole facility to have a fee.

[1:14:06] So, right now, our facility fee is only an arena rental fee.

[1:14:09] It doesn't really encompass the whole facility.

[1:14:12] And, because CalSire plays south, differs in CalSire plays north.

[1:14:16] And, there is differing requirements that facility for rentals.

[1:14:20] We're adding it in for people that want exclusive use that are then closing it to other

[1:14:24] users like the walkers. So if someone cannot use the concourse, how it would normally be

[1:14:30] used during an ice rental, they would then be required to use the concourse as well.

[1:14:35] Right, and other communities do this, and our pricing would be consistent with what other communities

[1:14:39] charge. Yeah, so other communities do use a whole facility fee. For the cost, it is in line with

[1:14:47] subsidy recovery of 65 percent. Okay. I had a question about the

[1:15:02] I did not see any rationale. You have said that it would be $50 an hour for custom branded displays

[1:15:12] in a $100 an hour where they feature third party advertising.

[1:15:19] What is it? What are those numbers

[1:15:20] come from? What is the rationale for picking those particular numbers?

[1:15:28] You're welcome.

[1:15:31] It's to ensure that we can retain some advertising up there.

[1:15:36] Currently, anyone that wants to use that for they can use a city branded

[1:15:39] scoreboard and all of our city advertising at no cost to their rental.

[1:15:43] If they want to brand it so that it takes away from some of our advertising,

[1:15:47] there's a minimum cost of $50 an hour.

[1:15:50] And then if they're selling advertising on top of that, it does double their cost of rental

[1:15:55] as that's consistent with our commercial rates and our, because at that point it becomes a commercial cost

[1:16:00] if they're selling advertising to, for the scoreboard.

[1:16:05] Okay, on the list of community organizations and recreation, it's on page 9 of the package of the memo.

[1:16:17] There's a whole long list of different sports groups there.

[1:16:22] It's not a complete list of all the sporting organizations in town though.

[1:16:28] For example, there's right there's rugby, people play rugby and town and they travel around the different places.

[1:16:39] I don't know if they have an organization or not, maybe they don't.

[1:16:42] and the same with Cricut. I see we're going to charge a new fee for using the Cricut pitch,

[1:16:47] but they're part of a leading as well. So would they just apply to become listed on your list?

[1:16:56] Like, this is a big advantage to being on the list, obviously.

[1:17:00] Yes, yours. So that used to be called our minor sports organization. We have changed the title to

[1:17:05] be kind of more in line with being a partnership between us and these organizations. So one of the

[1:17:14] factors for becoming that organization and being part of that list is being part of either

[1:17:18] a provincial sport organization or a national sport organization and any group that has

[1:17:25] as part of that is welcome to apply and have a process in place. Those organizations that

[1:17:30] you mentioned have not approached us to apply at this time and the only new organizations on

[1:17:36] at least are sky volleyball, as well as open up an Indian band.

[1:17:41] The other ones were all there.

[1:17:42] Exactly, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[1:17:45] OK, on the Vernon Resident Program on page 12,

[1:17:53] the tables, table one, table two, eight, table two,

[1:17:57] be in the title of those tables.

[1:18:03] It says single-use, single-use rates. They're single,

[1:18:08] single, the title is single-visit. But then there's, I just want to be clear on the terminology.

[1:18:16] We used to call that drop-in, but the word drop-in is gone now. So it's single-visit, and it applies

[1:18:23] to the, not only the single use, the single day use, but the tenth pass and the monthly and

[1:18:32] the annual memberships, just to be clear that those, those are still referred to as single

[1:18:37] visits.

[1:18:38] Am I right here on the understanding of terminology, like a, as opposed to a program where you

[1:18:44] go every Thursday or something like that, is that, is that what single visits means?

[1:18:50] Yes, that is the intent, because we also offer drop-in sports and drop-in programs, we wanted to differentiate between what's a drop-in facility use versus a drop-in program use.

[1:19:01] So we went to single business.

[1:19:04] Okay.

[1:19:07] On under fee regulations, 0.7 refers to events that require a special event permit and a $100 application fee.

[1:19:20] before the permit is reviewed and then it says if the event goes forward, it's going to be applied to the deposit.

[1:19:26] What if it doesn't go forward?

[1:19:28] There's nothing that says what happens to that $100 if it doesn't go forward, if the event doesn't go forward.

[1:19:35] It's Walker.

[1:19:36] Who worship?

[1:19:37] So the intent is that if it doesn't go forward, then that would the application fee is not returned.

[1:19:44] a lot of staff time goes into those event applications and we want to make sure that when

[1:19:50] people are applying, they understand what they're applying for and we can help them through

[1:19:55] that process.

[1:19:57] Okay, thanks be a one last quick super quick thing on page 45 that's table 22.

[1:20:03] Under community

[1:20:04] use, this is for the ALC, this is for track rental. The three categories are adult youth

[1:20:10] than mine, but we don't use the term minor anywhere else.

[1:20:15] It's called preschool in the definitions.

[1:20:20] This walker.

[1:20:21] Good catch.

[1:20:22] We will update that to say core.

[1:20:24] So that is minor.

[1:20:25] You should be our core group.

[1:20:26] So we will update that to say core.

[1:20:28] Thank you.

[1:20:29] Thanks for catching that.

[1:20:32] Thank you.

[1:20:33] Thanks for coming.

[1:20:34] Thank you.

[1:20:37] Thanks for coming.

[1:20:42] to verify with Ms. Walker, all 4% facility enhancements fee should be removed from 2027 and 2028, is that correct?

[1:20:53] Yes, that's correct.

[1:20:55] So on the new fee, though, for 2026 the ALC, the 4% doesn't apply.

[1:20:59] It's only on current fees for the rest of the year.

[1:21:03] For 2027 and 2028.

[1:21:07] 2026 is only on current fees, so the ALC, we'll see that 4%.

[1:21:11] everything else as of January 1st, 27, maybe 2%.

[1:21:15] Thank you. So if it's okay with Councillor Gain, Councillor Fair, who made

[1:21:23] move the motion. If we could do third as amended to remove all 4%

[1:21:31] facility fees from 2027 and 2028 and to update minor to pre-school throughout the

[1:21:39] documentation document, then we will be able to give it third reading.

[1:21:45] It's an update manager to court.

[1:21:47] To court.

[1:21:48] Got it.

[1:21:49] Thank you.

[1:21:51] That allows us to approve it because there's some minor adjustments to me.

[1:21:56] It's okay.

[1:21:57] Move on.

[1:21:58] Secondary.

[1:21:58] Fine.

[1:22:00] Okay.

[1:22:00] We've got a minor.

[1:22:01] You want to make a motion on the amendment, and then the motion will just take the

[1:22:04] motion.

[1:22:07] Okay.

[1:22:08] We have to be okay. We're good. All right. Allow me then to call the question,

[1:22:14] I'll also in favor. Those are both. Motion carried. That says perimended. Thank you.

[1:22:22] Thank you, Ms. Walker. And thanks for dealing with the right

[1:22:24] to tell it on the details. This has been.

[1:22:31] I appreciate your comprehension of the details, I appreciate it.

[1:22:37] Oh, we said too much of your life on these peace and judges.

[1:22:40] Thank you so much.

[1:22:45] All right, next item is the zoning text amendment for CMUN zone, amended by law 6091.

[1:22:56] Secondary Council, a month,

[1:22:59] any questions from Ms. Campbell?

[1:23:03] Now, if you got one, thanks, Mr. Merchist. I just want to think to clarify my understanding

[1:23:06] of the memo. I'm finding the changing the bylaws recommended, but just to clarify, because

[1:23:14] of the provincial moratorium that exists for the next six years or whatever, it's a 232.

[1:23:20] None of them are going to be added. No liquor stores will be added to that zone.

[1:23:24] in the next six or seven years.

[1:23:26] Correct. You would have to relocate an existing approved license within BC.

[1:23:30] Okay, okay, but it just allows us to do that.

[1:23:33] Okay. Okay.

[1:23:35] It allows us to do that into that zone.

[1:23:37] Yeah. You can all see other zones.

[1:23:39] But you can bring one from somewhere else.

[1:23:42] These are the ones.

[1:23:46] Ms. Campbell put up with a lot of my new sense questions at APC.

[1:23:50] So I appreciate that.

[1:23:51] We had a very deep dive into this during APC.

[1:23:56] Council, I call the question, I was in favor.

[1:23:59] Those opposed motion carry.

[1:24:00] Thank you, Ms. Campbell.

[1:24:04] Next item, for Mr. Tax by law number 6089,

[1:24:09] could I have a motion please?

[1:24:10] Councilor Mund,

[1:24:14] Councilor Jerry?

[1:24:16] Thank you.

[1:24:16] Sorry, there's only looking one way

[1:24:18] once I wouldn't pass, can you hear it?

[1:24:24] Any questions from Ms. Crossen?

[1:24:28] Seeing none, I call the question, I was in favor.

[1:24:30] I was opposed, motion is carried.

[1:24:33] Thank you, Ms. Crossen.

[1:24:34] And thank you to the Finance Committee who've been looking at this and significant detail.

[1:24:42] That's it, comes to yours.

[1:24:45] Any questions?

[1:24:48] First off,

[1:24:53] seeing none all those in favor?

[1:24:56] Those opposed motion carries.

[1:25:04] Any questions, comments?

[1:25:09] I'll call the question, all those in favor.

[1:25:11] Those opposed motion carries.

[1:25:16] That one we need to pause if we do that.

[1:25:18] It's a very significant one, we're creating a village center here.

[1:25:22] We've got a motion counter one, we've got a second group, council guy.

[1:25:28] This would be a significant thing if it goes ahead.

[1:25:32] Well, all in favor, those opposed seeing none, motion carried.

[1:25:41] Any comments on the landscape regulation update?

[1:25:47] Seeing none, call the question, what was in favor,

[1:25:49] opposed motion carried?

[1:25:57] Look at that.

[1:25:59] Councilor Ferris.

[1:26:00] I'm going to declare a conflict of interest as BC housing owns that property and turning points as contracted and I worked for turning points.

[1:26:08] Thank you, Councillor Verne.

[1:26:15] Never. Miss Wood is too sharp for that.

[1:26:20] And as have the one is before Miss Wood,

[1:26:24] confidence staff is always a good thing.

[1:26:29] Council. To have any questions on this, how do you agreement? Seeing none,

[1:26:38] call the question on those in favour of those opposed motion carried.

[1:26:42] Do you want to grab Mr. Councillor?

[1:26:44] Mr. Councillor?

[1:26:45] Or maybe Mr. Rao.

[1:26:54] I knew I forgot to do something.

[1:27:34] All right, we'll move now to

[1:27:39] council updates.

[1:27:40] I

[1:27:46] need to start out how my immediate right and all

[1:27:55] of us have done a probably a few things since the 20th of July.

[1:28:05] I have really go now to Councilor Durning.

[1:28:10] Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So I had the honor of being the acting mayor for the last part of July.

[1:28:17] And I did want to thank our community for all their support during that time, during extreme drought and their cooperation has just absolutely been phenomenal, especially it's been a dire for so many.

[1:28:33] And I just wanted to say thank you to the public for that.

[1:28:35] I was very proud to be able to be the acting mayor for the connection of the Reclaimed Water Initiative.

[1:28:45] I think primarily by the city and was very happy to see that and see that active as of today that water distribution.

[1:28:55] So, a real win for the citizens and a real win for us as the city of Vernon.

[1:29:02] Also, several of us were on site for the wildfire, the evening of the wildfire, and I

[1:29:11] got to tell you it was impactful.

[1:29:14] I think that's the only way to have for it.

[1:29:17] Something I won't soon forget.

[1:29:19] And my heart is the mayor's.

[1:29:21] It also goes out to those people and seeing that night was pretty horrendous.

[1:29:27] and was something I've been watching kind of roll out to today even, so the need is still there,

[1:29:36] so we need to keep keeping supportive of that. I've also attended several events, business after

[1:29:46] five, I was able to attend the Kloena Airport Advisory Meeting for Councilor Mundon. I never

[1:29:52] have been to that and I understand that grab one of the reasons we moved here was for.

[1:30:00] How much I didn't know about the airport and the impact on the entire region. So thank you, Councillor

[1:30:06] Month, for giving me that opportunity and that's all I'm going to report on today.

[1:30:16] Councillor.

[1:30:17] Yeah, last week I attended two different overdose awareness events for overdose awareness day and

[1:30:23] burning. Prior to that, I attended the City of Vernon Finance Committee, climate action committee, and the youth climate

[1:30:31] course, YCC Showcase over at the library. Also completed this city's annual

[1:30:39] respectful workplace training. Invited to be a guest speaker of the National

[1:30:45] Cadet Advisory Council, which was great. I attended two art exhibits, one put on

[1:30:51] by Archways Society for Domestic Peace, and by the Canadian Mental Health

[1:30:55] Association. And as Councillor Durney said, I spent some time with her volunteering for

[1:31:02] that open-up in Indian Vens emergency reception center at the night of the fire. And

[1:31:07] it was definitely a very summer experience to see the trauma in real-time. And I had

[1:31:14] soft to okay at the council and the fire department and everyone else that was still instrumental

[1:31:18] in responding.

[1:31:25] Councillor Durney Thanks, Mr. Mayor. Going back all the way to July 22nd.

[1:31:30] It was an RD&O meeting on the 29th, GVAC held a special meeting relating to the 2026

[1:31:37] drought and also relating to some proposed new wells in the Cold Stream Valley aquifer.

[1:31:45] Being a special meeting, it conflicted with another meeting of mine, the Climate Action

[1:31:50] Advisory Committee.

[1:31:50] So thanks to Councilor Fair for stepping in for me on that one.

[1:31:54] August the 5th, I went down to an official opening,

[1:31:59] ribbon cutting for a segment of the rail trail,

[1:32:04] running from north-colonar, from the airport right up

[1:32:07] through into late countries.

[1:32:08] So there's only one tiny piece of the rail trail left to complete,

[1:32:13] and that's going to happen pretty soon.

[1:32:15] And then on the second of September,

[1:32:18] the collaborative leadership table,

[1:32:20] which we're part of, this organization

[1:32:22] of the mayors and chiefs up and down the valley. There's a couple of committees that that group has

[1:32:29] governance committee being one of them and I'm chairing that governance committee. So we had a meeting

[1:32:34] on the second of September.

[1:32:40] Com for yours. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So I attended to

[1:32:47] Chamber meetings for their advocacy committee for both July and for August. I also had several meetings

[1:32:56] with the Oconorgan Regional Library for discussing obviously the provincial funding and I have good news

[1:33:03] to report to do to all the advocacy efforts that we put forward. Our funding has been restored

[1:33:10] for the Oconorgan Regional Library. So I think that's a good win considering that obviously they

[1:33:18] heard us loud and clear and we're back where we were. So whatever happens moving forward that's

[1:33:24] Obviously going to be for the next board to decide, but it's a good way to kind of finish

[1:33:28] this board term.

[1:33:31] That's it.

[1:33:35] Councillor Munn.

[1:33:36] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[1:33:37] Again, we'll just touch on the wildfire with this water, thank all the staff opening up the

[1:33:42] emergency center.

[1:33:43] It was, as Kelly had said, it was quite eye-opening to watch the goings on that night.

[1:33:52] I'll also to you, Mr. Mayor, for coming back off your vacation off the island, coming back

[1:33:56] dealing with situation, a community for that. It's not not easy when you have to deal with the general

[1:34:03] public when they have no idea what it takes to keep everybody safe and it was emergency services

[1:34:12] did a fine job. I ran into RCMP officers at the roadblocks doing a fine job. Everybody came together.

[1:34:20] There's only so much you can do and I think kudos to everybody who was involved and

[1:34:24] If you're staff, I went over from Elk's lodge, over the Caltarit Place, and they were flying.

[1:34:31] They had it up. All the volunteers were in place, so it was well done.

[1:34:37] So congratulations to everybody, and again, my hards go out to all those people who lost their homes out there.

[1:34:47] Councillor.

[1:34:48] Thanks, Mr. Mayor.

[1:34:49] Just can I just ask a question.

[1:34:53] Councillor Garza, did other libraries get their funding restored or just ours?

[1:34:57] The list was long of the fund of the libraries.

[1:35:01] Yeah.

[1:35:02] It was called major libraries when they announced it.

[1:35:05] We were considered a major library.

[1:35:13] Well, that's great work.

[1:35:14] Well then.

[1:35:15] And then the other thing I forgot to mention is,

[1:35:18] I'm acting mayor next month in October,

[1:35:20] but I'm going to be out of town from the 19th of the 31st.

[1:35:22] So I need to sub for that period as acting mayor.

[1:35:27] And my friend Theresa has kindly offered to do that for me.

[1:35:31] So I think we need a motion to make that official.

[1:35:37] Second.

[1:35:37] Council guy.

[1:35:39] All in favor?

[1:35:42] Motion is carried.

[1:35:47] Journey is it.

[1:35:48] Okay.

[1:35:51] Thank you for that.

[1:35:57] All right.

[1:35:57] Mayor's report.

[1:36:01] In, like, 20th of July seems long for a long time ago.

[1:36:06] So, that week, I spent a couple of times with great room water staff talking to Agrival

[1:36:16] for Operators, one night we were in Goldstream Hall, and we had 95 ag operators.

[1:36:23] This is the discussing the impacts of stage three water restrictions, and I had discussions

[1:36:31] the next few days fairly extensively with some individual ag operators in the city of

[1:36:39] Vernon. And that was the beginning of the discussions of what we could do with treated

[1:36:44] wastewater. I know that our staff became involved. I know that it had involved a number

[1:36:52] of discussions in late July. And then I went on my holidays. I too attended the

[1:36:57] trail completion because I was around like Councilor Mund when those first decisions were made

[1:37:03] to create the rail trail and it was really neat to see the rail trail completed through to the

[1:37:10] lake country and that will have a substantial impact on the city of Vernon. That one just

[1:37:15] be very, very important of course, already you know and as Councilor Mund indicated I had had

[1:37:22] Before we call it a plan, that after a week I was back because of the fires and I do appreciate it.

[1:37:30] Up to everything and filed into our EOC and our ESS on Saturday, folks be the longest long weekend and just quite amazing to see the work that was done.

[1:37:43] So thank you for everybody who did the emergency. Support services and all sorts of emergency operations and so much appreciated.

[1:37:51] I'm looking over there at Mr. Bool. Obviously those on Saturday afternoon Saturday morning

[1:37:57] suddenly realizing that we were going to be in something very significant and did the

[1:38:02] precautionary thing which was to get our ESS organized in case it was cold and was in a few

[1:38:11] hours it was cold. So much appreciated for that. When I as people will know I was here most days

[1:38:20] with providing updates, connecting with the OCE and RESS and in touch on regular basis with Chief Wilson.

[1:38:30] For those who don't know, Chief Wilson did call me just in that late afternoon.

[1:38:37] And he was in his truck and he was leaving the reserve and he was calling a competitive evacuation.

[1:38:42] and I pushed him through to Kevin Bull and then he informed me once he got to West

[1:38:49] Corona on the Saturday night. So he and I have spoke many, many times since then.

[1:38:56] We've had contact with each other every few days and getting updates. I want to thank

[1:39:01] his staff who got caught in the center there at fire of both ends and their EOC was

[1:39:07] trapped. So I want to really give my heart's quote to call in Martian and the Holy O.C. over in

[1:39:17] NIR1. So after that we sort of toned down a little bit. I did attend on the 25th August 25th

[1:39:25] the celebration of the Bill's Place expansion launch with Miss Hurt and that was a really exciting

[1:39:35] Anything great proposed addition to Bill's place?

[1:39:40] How many beds, 36 addition?

[1:39:43] 36.

[1:39:45] So, just a very, very important time with a substantial seed donation from the Ford family foundation.

[1:39:54] So, do watch that.

[1:39:56] That will be a significant addition to that facility and a great thing for greater burden.

[1:40:02] We went then myself, I'm just heard immediately went to with with the gross went to the ALC

[1:40:10] construction staff barbecue just as a thank you to all the construction staff at noon on the 25th

[1:40:18] great barbecue good food and also a chance to tour the facility again.

[1:40:23] So that was a worthwhile and the next day deep conversations with Minister Niel

[1:40:30] with Minister Poppum, with Minister Davis in his office, also Minister Kelly Green's office

[1:40:40] all related to trying to get the approval for the use of treated effluent for agriculture.

[1:40:50] So over a three or four or five day process, I think I was in calls with him four or five times.

[1:40:57] I just want to thank Mr. Rice and his staff served for quickly turning out when around and being

[1:41:05] absolutely ready.

[1:41:06] The moment that we were given, go ahead and the official piece of paper to allow us to

[1:41:13] connect those two pipes.

[1:41:14] So thanks for getting it shovel ready and open and parts there and the whole system that then

[1:41:21] ruled very quickly.

[1:41:22] So, thank you all. I also was in meeting with Minister Parmar for us with Ms. Herd and Chief Wilson,

[1:41:32] and calling Marchant about the North Aberdeen Plateau and the response of BC Wildfire,

[1:41:40] to both the fires on the west side. And then recently I was involved with a meeting with Minister

[1:41:47] with RDNO, regarding possible water sources as we go forward with the expected road to last through

[1:42:00] 2027. So a long discussion, chair by Bob Fleming, obviously. I would give you W and myself.

[1:42:11] And then the next day I was again on a call with Minister Niel regarding the Aberdeen Plateau,

[1:42:17] with Chief Wilson and Mayor Ireland, the three of us are there. We're presenting the work to

[1:42:24] being done on the North Aberdeen Plateau.

[1:42:29] So that is my update.

[1:42:38] Thank you for varying with me

[1:42:39] on that. Councillor God. If I might add a quick comment about water to what you said,

[1:42:46] But it will be a G-VAC tomorrow.

[1:42:52] There's a report in the regular G-VAC meeting about the drought itself and the drought response

[1:42:57] and the results.

[1:42:59] And it turns out that creative rain and water ended up managing the situation very well.

[1:43:08] Residential youths dropped by 60%, the target was 50 and overall in the distribution area,

[1:43:16] which is a permanent cold stream in most of B&C.

[1:43:20] You use it's dropped 60%.

[1:43:22] And then on the ag side, the media

[1:43:26] talking about a 70% reduction.

[1:43:31] But in fact, the actual use over the season

[1:43:36] was down 33% from normal.

[1:43:41] There's a difference between what's the allocation

[1:43:43] and what's actually used, and people reported that the allocation was reduced by 70 and that may be true.

[1:43:51] But since most farmers only use roughly half of what they're allocated,

[1:43:55] the actual water use was down 33%.

[1:43:58] So, greater than water actually did a good job of spreading the pain of the shortage around fairly and equally,

[1:44:06] and keeping us out of stage four.

[1:44:08] Now, as you said, Mr. Mayor, we're still very, very low in terms of reservoirs and

[1:44:14] Cal Lake and the upper reservoirs, and with the Super El Nino strengthening and coming

[1:44:20] through Fall in Winter 27, it's more than likely that we're going to see warm dry winter,

[1:44:28] and so we've really got to take some action to prepare for this.

[1:44:36] for seeing the same problem dealing with the same problem next year, and the water utility

[1:44:45] operators are recommending we stay in state. I'm going to recommend tomorrow, I would

[1:44:49] feedback that we stay in stage three.

[1:44:55] Hiya.

[1:45:00] Finish that up. There has been some misinformation about water sources that GVW has access to, and I just want to take a moment to correct the record.

[1:45:11] GVW has access to some, obviously to the Digital Plateau and Cal Lake, they also have access to some deep water wells in the Cold Stream Valley.

[1:45:22] And once they put everyone on stage three, they began to use those deep water wells.

[1:45:31] So people are saying, why didn't you drill any wells in the Cold Spring Valley?

[1:45:35] Well, the answer is, they already were wells drilled in the Cold Spring Valley in the 1960s.

[1:45:40] In the 1960s, and they were brought on stream.

[1:45:43] They come with them.

[1:45:44] They come some difficulties with water chemistry and requires some different treatment and

[1:45:49] management, but if you've been out in Livington, you will see signs saying, you're now on this

[1:45:55] well, you're now, and go somewhere else, you'll find out you're now on this well. So, Great

[1:46:01] Vernon Water did access all three of their sources and did 2027, looks like they all have access

[1:46:09] spoken on the lake through the canoe beach intake pipe.

[1:46:17] So in 2027, it looks like they'll lack just four sources.

[1:46:22] And it's important for the public to know that the creative

[1:46:25] room water applied through with friend to get access

[1:46:30] spoken on Blake in 2000 and 19, and it took six and a half years to get approval from the

[1:46:40] Ministry to move water licenses from BX Creek to Ocarong Lake.

[1:46:45] So when people indicate, well, why didn't you get access to Ocarong Lake?

[1:46:48] The answer is, six and a half years ago, we asked for it.

[1:46:54] And promptly, six and a half years later, we got it.

[1:46:57] So, for those who feel like it's been a long time, it has been a long time, and we look

[1:47:04] like by 27 will access.

[1:47:07] We also have access to an additional source in its temporary water sources, Mr. Rice, maybe

[1:47:12] we can give us an update, which is our treated efflimate.

[1:47:16] So we'll have access to yet another source in 2027 that we historically didn't.

[1:47:21] So Mr. Rice, is that still a temporary permit or where are we at in terms of that?

[1:47:26] Thank you, Your Worship. So the authorization supply reclaimed water into the Goose Lake

[1:47:30] irrigation system was for a one-year period in 2026 and it comes due in December. We are

[1:47:37] making another application shortly to expand that authorization to the end of next year.

[1:47:44] And then the hope is that should Council approve us proceeding with the amendment to the

[1:47:49] Liquorways Management Plan next year. It would be built in permanently into that plan and we

[1:47:54] have our offerings certificate modified. So we don't expect that the province will give

[1:48:00] us a much push back on the extension of the authorization. Obviously it's really important.

[1:48:06] So that's currently where we're sitting right now. So I think it's just really important for

[1:48:10] people to understand that the great room water has been at this for a long time and we will have

[1:48:17] access probably in 2027 if we can probably get this permit to five different sources and so

[1:48:24] good work is being ahead with the concern of low water in 2027.

[1:48:34] All right, we'll move now to correspondence and I see council garrison's lights on,

[1:48:40] council garrison.

[1:48:41] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[1:48:44] I know that I was the one that requested this letter to be deferred, but I would like to defer it again to this September 28th meeting.

[1:48:52] And the reason why I am recommending the deferral is I had met with the DVA.

[1:48:58] And I'm doing this on behalf of Council Requiring because of course he's not here today.

[1:49:04] Part of the discussion that we had all those is quite a limited discussion.

[1:49:10] The comment that you had made with regards to their funding and whether or not they would be doing matching.

[1:49:17] They would like to be able to take that to the board and they're having a board meeting on September 15th, so just after this one.

[1:49:24] So if Council is okay, if we'd re-defer this back to the September 28th, and then we would

[1:49:31] have an update from the DVA through Councilor Quarnas, he is there liaison to that information.

[1:49:39] Okay, move to the front,

[1:49:44] hold on, favor, motion carried, okay, good, thank you.

[1:49:49] All right, flicking at this reddit correspondence, I'd like to move that we do a letter

[1:49:56] of support to Science Center, and answer a guy in the comments, all in favour, motion carried.

[1:50:07] There's minutes that are here just making you aware and seeing there's no further

[1:50:13] business. I will adjourn the meeting.

[1:50:20] Literally. You'll shut her down.

[1:50:29] Thank you remarks. Much appreciated.

Regular Council Meeting

Agenda

Transcript