Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
EAD meeting October 2011
Lake zoning bylaws were gone through again. One of the important items brought up in all CSRD areas; was that sufficient manpower/money and set be aside to enforce this bylaw. Staff will be seeking legal review about how the bylaw will be effective to be enforced. A second reading would be done in October and then to it would go to the public hearing after that.
A revised "Crown Land Telecommunications" policy was requested by TELUS to speed up their applications to put up transmission towers on Crown land. Existing TELUS transmission sites are presently near Scotch Creek and Adams Hill; newly proposed and recently approved sites are in Sorrento and Eagle Bay and Taft Mountain; they may offer some better cell access to the North Shuswap, in the future. Any proposals will still have to go to the public for an input (to be advertised twice in the papaer). The Director would still decide upon the sites inpact and have input.
Directors are looking into the expansion of the use of municipal ticket utilization bylaw for enforcing our bylaws. When a ticket is given and not disputed; after 14 days a fine would be forth coming. It was wondered if it is appropriate to fine for all bylaws and you can ticket pretty well for any of the bylaws. For instance; for people for putting a shed to close to the property line. It would seem a bit heavy handed to do that. When put into the perspective of people not remedying the shed positioning and what to do with them. Presently most tickets(tickets that have been written) have been paid; if tickets are ignored a collection agency is employed to collect the money. Eventually the infraction could end up with a court decision. Education is the first thing to be done when an offense is found. With the hope that the person would self regulate themselves once they understood why the bylaw exists. If education is not effective;if the person continued to persist in flaunting the bylaw, then a ticket would be given.Directors often hear; “All these bylaws mean what? nothing; when the offenders only have to ask for forgiveness. This is after the fact and they then get away with breaking the bylaw”. What is needed is to have an enforcement that is effective in handing out our bylaws. The work load has become heavy, for the bylaw officer and the resource for bylaws is not enough, for bylaw enforcement; there will need to be an increase. The CSRD will be looking towards raising funds through taxing to by for the bylaw enforcement in next year budget. The budget is about 108,000 for by law enforcement for all of the CSRD, the thinking is that another bylaw officer would be needed.
A revised "Crown Land Telecommunications" policy was requested by TELUS to speed up their applications to put up transmission towers on Crown land. Existing TELUS transmission sites are presently near Scotch Creek and Adams Hill; newly proposed and recently approved sites are in Sorrento and Eagle Bay and Taft Mountain; they may offer some better cell access to the North Shuswap, in the future. Any proposals will still have to go to the public for an input (to be advertised twice in the papaer). The Director would still decide upon the sites inpact and have input.
Directors are looking into the expansion of the use of municipal ticket utilization bylaw for enforcing our bylaws. When a ticket is given and not disputed; after 14 days a fine would be forth coming. It was wondered if it is appropriate to fine for all bylaws and you can ticket pretty well for any of the bylaws. For instance; for people for putting a shed to close to the property line. It would seem a bit heavy handed to do that. When put into the perspective of people not remedying the shed positioning and what to do with them. Presently most tickets(tickets that have been written) have been paid; if tickets are ignored a collection agency is employed to collect the money. Eventually the infraction could end up with a court decision. Education is the first thing to be done when an offense is found. With the hope that the person would self regulate themselves once they understood why the bylaw exists. If education is not effective;if the person continued to persist in flaunting the bylaw, then a ticket would be given.Directors often hear; “All these bylaws mean what? nothing; when the offenders only have to ask for forgiveness. This is after the fact and they then get away with breaking the bylaw”. What is needed is to have an enforcement that is effective in handing out our bylaws. The work load has become heavy, for the bylaw officer and the resource for bylaws is not enough, for bylaw enforcement; there will need to be an increase. The CSRD will be looking towards raising funds through taxing to by for the bylaw enforcement in next year budget. The budget is about 108,000 for by law enforcement for all of the CSRD, the thinking is that another bylaw officer would be needed.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Electoral Directors meeting 1 Oct
The purchase of 2-3 mobile sprinkler protection units has supported for purchase has bee suggested for the homes in interface areas of the CSRD (all of the North Shuswap). To date; research for grants that would help to offset or pay for these systems have not been found. Our Gas tax money does not qualify for the sprinklers. Money will be considered to be taken out of the 2012 budget to purchase sprinkler systems
Fire Services review for VFD in the CSRD had many suggestion this one was about; proficiency criteria and honorarium. The Firefighters(FF) are no longer considered volunteer strictly but have been now called “ paid on call Firefighters”. Part of the reason for this is the expectations that insurance companies and the liabilities that are occurring more and more against VFD and the local governments that support them. In order to have FF reach the high expectations put upon them; there has to be training and if the FF are going to invest their time in getting highly trained and fighting fires accordingly, they have to be paid more. Pretty much all the FF from the Chief; to the on the ground FF will be seeing a increase of payment for their time and expenses. An example is;FF would be going from nothing(in some cases) or the average about $12.00 per hour to $18.00 per hour, pro-rated over the next three years and the amount of training they received. The increases for the North Shuswap Fire departments will be minimal.
Fire Services review for VFD in the CSRD had many suggestion this one was about; proficiency criteria and honorarium. The Firefighters(FF) are no longer considered volunteer strictly but have been now called “ paid on call Firefighters”. Part of the reason for this is the expectations that insurance companies and the liabilities that are occurring more and more against VFD and the local governments that support them. In order to have FF reach the high expectations put upon them; there has to be training and if the FF are going to invest their time in getting highly trained and fighting fires accordingly, they have to be paid more. Pretty much all the FF from the Chief; to the on the ground FF will be seeing a increase of payment for their time and expenses. An example is;FF would be going from nothing(in some cases) or the average about $12.00 per hour to $18.00 per hour, pro-rated over the next three years and the amount of training they received. The increases for the North Shuswap Fire departments will be minimal.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Osprey Landing PH
Another pubic hearing Osprey landing people were very respectful (in comparison to the last meeting). Many thoughts and concerns brought out again!! Ted Bacigalupo and Rene Talbot showed up to strong arm anyone who got out of line.
There must of been about 40 people who soke and about 130 that showed up. Pretty good for a cool wet night. I sure appreciate all the people who got up and spoke it is not easy but we do need to hear what people are thinking. I hope this was a positive experience for everyone .. thanks again to everyone who showed up.
There must of been about 40 people who soke and about 130 that showed up. Pretty good for a cool wet night. I sure appreciate all the people who got up and spoke it is not easy but we do need to hear what people are thinking. I hope this was a positive experience for everyone .. thanks again to everyone who showed up.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
salmon Festival Columbia style
I was invited to the First Nation Salmon celebration in Invermere right after the UBCM meeting. I feel it is important that whenever we can that we communicate with our neighbours and went to represent the CSRD. This inaugural Festival is being hosted by the Akisqnuk First Nation and Shuswap Indian Band with support from the Canadian Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fisheries Commission (CCRIFC), the Ktunaxa Nation Council, the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partnership and the Fairmont Trails Society. The goal of the festival is to inform people about the cultural significance and history of Salmon for First Nations, and educate the public about the ongoing strategies to restore Salmon to the Upper Columbia. Many people came members from the Little Shuswap Band and the Okanagan Band were there.
First Nations have been working towards salmon restoration in the Upper Columbia since the Grand Coulee Dam was built in the early 1940’s, blocking all salmon migration to the upper Columbia River. Before this time, Salmon, were a critical source of sustenance for Ktunaxa Nation and Shuswap (Kinbasket) people. The talks of Salmon returning were of an optimistic nature and considering the physical and political challenges of bringing the Salmon back to the upper Columbia.
Many good stories were told. Salmon was last seen in the Columbia in 1932-34, the creation of large water wheels harvesting the salmon as they went up the river and dams, prevented any more salmon reaching and feeding the peoples of the Columbia. Peoples of this valley who had collected salmon from the time of the receding glaciers (10,000 years) must have been devastated. The First Nations who depended on their winter food,the salmon and finding nothing, year after year; it is unimaginable.
The Rockies, are said to be the bones of Yawo'nek (pronounced "Yehwoonik"), a great water monster whose bones were thrown up onto the banks of the river. A giant and some other animals chased the Yawo’nek to kill it as it eat everything that came into the river. At the time the Columbia River was a large circle of water that went from Invermere, Cranbook, Nelson, up the lower and upper Arrow lakes, past Revelstoke up the Great Bend and down to to Golden and back to Invermere. The monster was chased and chased round and round but they could not catch him. Finally the giant took part of the Rockies and blocked the Columbia River, where they caught the giant and killed it.
I did not get to say anything on behalf of the CSRD for a variety of reasons; the event was 2 hours late and it was raining, I waited to speak but after all the speakers talked the War Canoes came in and the speeches were cut off to have salmon and drumming It was at times almost a spiritual primeval feeling with the drumming, the canoes, coming in being welcomed, the singing and the grey foggy skies. ..
First Nations have been working towards salmon restoration in the Upper Columbia since the Grand Coulee Dam was built in the early 1940’s, blocking all salmon migration to the upper Columbia River. Before this time, Salmon, were a critical source of sustenance for Ktunaxa Nation and Shuswap (Kinbasket) people. The talks of Salmon returning were of an optimistic nature and considering the physical and political challenges of bringing the Salmon back to the upper Columbia.
Many good stories were told. Salmon was last seen in the Columbia in 1932-34, the creation of large water wheels harvesting the salmon as they went up the river and dams, prevented any more salmon reaching and feeding the peoples of the Columbia. Peoples of this valley who had collected salmon from the time of the receding glaciers (10,000 years) must have been devastated. The First Nations who depended on their winter food,the salmon and finding nothing, year after year; it is unimaginable.
The Rockies, are said to be the bones of Yawo'nek (pronounced "Yehwoonik"), a great water monster whose bones were thrown up onto the banks of the river. A giant and some other animals chased the Yawo’nek to kill it as it eat everything that came into the river. At the time the Columbia River was a large circle of water that went from Invermere, Cranbook, Nelson, up the lower and upper Arrow lakes, past Revelstoke up the Great Bend and down to to Golden and back to Invermere. The monster was chased and chased round and round but they could not catch him. Finally the giant took part of the Rockies and blocked the Columbia River, where they caught the giant and killed it.
I did not get to say anything on behalf of the CSRD for a variety of reasons; the event was 2 hours late and it was raining, I waited to speak but after all the speakers talked the War Canoes came in and the speeches were cut off to have salmon and drumming It was at times almost a spiritual primeval feeling with the drumming, the canoes, coming in being welcomed, the singing and the grey foggy skies. ..
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