New Soil Removal Byaw

Why is there a need for a soil removal bylaw? Mostly it is for adjacent most land owners they are the most impacted. However problems with road usage, dust, noise in areas that have not had that use can affect many neighborhoods. In the past in some areas a lot would be essentially mined for the material and left totally destitute with the local roads destroyed. In other cases people have stored material that can have environmental or just look ugly. There is little anyone can do about these situations right now. The absence of bylaw has created problems such as; 925 truckloads of fill off of a lot created problems (in the neighbourhood).  The lot sits open a decade later and under the Mines Act there is nothing that can be done with the property. Under the mines act, there is no control we over such things as; blasting, mining quarry and soil removal on ALR lands.  The CSRD cannot supersede Mining or ALR regulations, they however can regulate; processing, delivery of material to and from the site. A soil removal bylaw can deal with such issues as; movement of contaminated soils, permit exemptions for small scale situations, dealing with slope stabilization, erosion issues, public consultation, consideration of surrounding  land use/ resident quality of life, storm water management, hours of operation, noise levels and proper accesses (fencing, gates).   

Snow Feb 7th

sssssshhhh I'm trying to think It is the Shuswap

The proposed Noise Bylaw created concerns as how we can effectively enforce the bylaw (the CSRD did have a noise bylaw in 1998). It was removed because it could not be properly enforced. As well as a Marine Noise bylaw (created in 1982) its effectiveness is nil for a variety of reasons. How can we deal deciding what is an inappropriate noise level? The intent is that the bylaw is to deal with ongoing loud party noises, late in the night. It seems in some places people buy homes just to party, the surrounding neighbours are used to sleeping those hours.  It was suggested that areas of recurring noise problems could have the CSRD bylaw officer deal with offenders, in some situations. The RCMP is very supportive of this bylaw and would likely be the main enforcement of the noise bylaw. The CSRD involvement would be to firstly educate the residents that there is a bylaw and it is enforceable. Secondly if there is a property the repeatedly creates noise after hours the CSRD bylaw officer would warn them. Persistent complaints would result in a ticket if the noise continued a high fine would be applied to the property owner. The resulting income from the fines could be used to recover enforcing the CSRD’s bylaws. Using the Municipal Ticketing Information System (MTI) is an effective and cheap way to enforce the bylaw and would likely be used. If this bylaw was accepted it would only be in North & South Shuswap.

Tales from the Crypt

While you were sleep the CSRD staff and Directors a working into the long hours by candle light drafting up bylaws and changes to make your life better. Much, much better…. Come into the crypt and read what we have been doing……….

On Feb the 3^rd the Electorial Directors sat down to discuss some changes and introductions of bylaws and other things. We looked at; Why is there a need for a soil removal bylaw?, a Noise Bylaw- how can we properly enforce it (the CSRD did have a noise bylaw in 1998). As well as the Marine Noise bylaw (created in 1982) its effectiveness is nil for a variety of reasons. How can we deal with measuring the noise level? The intent is that the bylaw is to deal with loud party noises later at night. A decision on how many Electoral Area Directors (EAD) members could go to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities convention (FMC) in Halifax. A Fire Service Operational Criteria Bylaw change to update the bylaw produced 11 years ago. It gives direction to what the Fire services Coordinators (Jack Blair) responsibilities are. As well it lays out what Fire Chiefs responsibilities and duties are. Changes to the Property Tax for Water Systems from external properties (from the water system area) wanting to buy into a system, from outside the area. To many water systems are coming to the CSRD to take them over. A limit of engineering assessments 3 at any one time has been decided upon.  Fireworks Bylaw 509  has re-defined definitions for the bylaw, it is used only in areas “C” &”F” only.  Special Events Bylaw will be only for areas “D”. “C” & “F” it is at the request of the RCMP and they will be enforcing the bylaw.      

Agricultural Advisory Committees if created, what method of gaining input can be used to the CSRD. SLIPP funding from the CSRD. Thanks to the efforts of  Ted Bacigalupo a formula was created for funding the Shuswap Lake Integrated Planning Process (SLIPP). And SCADA by now you are drooling with expection, tell me more….. ahhh the first one is free you now have to pay for more information!!!

Sun nien fai lok

Gung hay fat choy ( "May you become prosperous.")
Sun nien fai lok ("Happy new year")
  The Electorial Area Directors meeting on Feb 3rd had to deal with many things. One of them was:

the revising the Subdivision bylaw (641) bylaw the proposed changes are on the website, the bylaw is only for new subdivisions not existing places. The new bylaw will replace the 20-year old, existing Bylaw 592 and addresses current standards, newer legislative requirements, a higher degree of public safety and sustainable development. Most the improvements to this bylaw were to do with water as that seemed to be the concern most people have with subdivisions. Many other Regional districts have regulations that are similar to these proposals. The bylaws will help a developer plan ahead rather then do the development and adjust the plans later. This is good in 2 ways 1) it will be done right (we hope) in the first place (not causing problems down the road and 2) it will save the developer money down the road allowing for less frustration. The bylaw stipulates that all wells on new subdivisions must be on the property that they service. It is thought that the control of water is more secure if the bylaw includes this as well- it more likely that a person will be more considerate if the well is on their property than if a person who does not get his water from that well would be.  

More coming on the subdivision bylaw.

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Economic Development

Weather is cool but clear. Today was a meeting for the Shuswap Development Committee (SDC) I was voted Vice Chair and Chair for the Tourism Committee. Economically stuff  we discussed the advancement of the Downtown Community College Campus. An Agricultural discussion group or advisory group, to discuss agriculture issues that come to the SDC. The North Shuswap does not have a large agriculture presence as in other areas, never the less it is important. We were trying to get a Correctional Facility in areas E & D.
       Shuswap Tourism meeting (a arm of Economic Development) decided that we would manage the "World Host Program". A program that teaches people how to deal with people in the hospitality business. Things like smile and listen to people who spend money at your business, surprisingly it is a very effective way of getting repeat customers.
Sturgis is a community in South Dakota that has huge numbers of motorcyclists descend upon their community every year. It has problems (but they are small... you know murder, assaults.. that sort of thing- small things) this does not have to be what Salmon Arm is having. Apparently most of the attendees apparently are the 55 years or older and this is not what will be happening. The spin off economically is that the riders tend to travel all around the area so the North Shuswap will get these folks eating, sleeping, shopping and enjoying our area. The dates would be from July 13th to 17th, it has a lot of promise. We will ses how well it goes.    
          The Shuswap Tourism Branding was presented, it is very impressive. really good I think. It takes time to see the depth of the display. I'll let you make up your own mind try it; http://www.shuswaptourism.ca/

sunset winter