APC rezoning commercial, budget and young famlies leaving

Advisory Planning Committee (APC) meeting last night dealing with rezoning and other issues was well attended. I should have had mentioned the APC meeting  earlier, in order for the public to come to the meetings and hear the discussions at the Celista Hall. For those novices who are not familiar with APCs,  feeding habits; the meetings are usually the Monday before the CSRD Board meetings (which are typically the 3^rd Thursday of the month).

                The application for a rezoning change; from commercial (it was zoned for a business campsite use) to residential. The applicants are new owners and in order to get a mortgage it is easier if it is zoned as residential. The lot is 0.46 acres and is in Magna Bay, near the Ross Creek area. The discussion went towards what is allowed for camp sites in the Magna Bay area. In Magna Bay you are allowed 3 residential campsites (meaning non-commercial). What is called guest accommodation (no larger than 500 sq ft), RV sites as well as campsites are allowed but only 3 of any one of those. The recommendation was unanimous for acceptance of the application by the APC.

                At this point the discussions were handed over to me. I use the APC as a sounding board often to give me a sense of what they are hearing. What came over loud and clear is that the economy is hurting in the North Shuswap, young families are having to go else where to look for a lively hood. In that sense the CSRD should be more supportive in lessening the bureaucratic tanglings for developments (large and small) to move ahead, easier. The CSRD should be helpful when coming in to make applications, someone to lead people through the system.

The coming CSRD Board agenda (March 17^th this Thursday) has an application (1st reading) for a campsite in Magna Bay. The applicant is one of the APC members and will have to remove himself from the table when it comes up for discussion when it comes to the APC for comment. There are two bylaw introductions one the Subdivision Bylaw and the lakes Zoning Bylaw (dealing with docks and buoys). There were concerns and the need for clarifications about the budget that is coming to this Board meeting. Some concerns was the spending on; Regional Trails, Communication Coordinator, Parks and the new CSRD Office costs to name a few of the issues. Farrells Field and how it can work into the CSRD  Parks plan, what is the best way to support it and still keep the community involved with its creation.

More SLIPP... on the SHuswap Lake

There have been achievements of SLIPP, such as; the bringing together of the governemnet agencies (this has helped to deal with understanding a variety if issues on the lake),  the Premier awards recognizing the innovative and effectiveness of SLIPP,  as well it helped with organizing the policing of the lake last year. There has been14 different agencies working together which is different as often they work in separate cells. All together, with in kind donations from government agencies it comes to over $1 million in the 3 year proposed pilot project. There is and has been a lot invested in time and money into the Shuswap Lake system.

Terms of reference; were to make sure that that there would a watch dog to be; responsible for the funding, to share  and address information amongst the agencies. All making sure that things get done and monitor risks. Finally and maybe most important  making sure the budget is spent properly in getting things done.

Who votes especially on financial matters? This was a long discussion and debate, it was decided; for a one year trial that ¾ of the votes will decide the direction of SLIPP. It would include the financial decisions for which was an issue as Ted & I pay a lion’s share (over 50%) for SLIPP. However in order to maintain the good will, flow and continuity of the process we agreed with the voting process. The main intent is; that we work towards the benefit of the lake. A positive twist to the donation SLIPP is a First Nation representative felt it was important that they too could be contributor.  There was an interest in being a contributor if the band council decided they would or would not want to be involved.   It was suggested that there be no proxy as teleconferences could be used. There was no clear understanding if alternates could be used or not, that will be cleared later. It was understood that Steering members would pay their own way to the meetings. The Fraser Basin Council will charge a 6% administrating fee for managing the funds of SLIPP, which is supposed to be a good deal. Future meetings could take ½ day with presentations provided, if requested.

 Priorities set in 2011 were for;

1)      Water quality monitoring(organizing of all the data from all sources of water smaples) including cumulative effects.

2)      Assessment on recreation management

3)      Education compliance and enforcement

4)       Stakeholder, meetings reporting expenses.

5)      Foreshore development

Onyyx Creek (opps Manson Creek)

Ice skates,boat launchs, trails

         Parks meeting at the Celista Hall; volunteers from the Farrell’s Field came to discuss the progress at the ice rink and future plans. As well they requested; for some funds for maintenance and machinery. They have visions that the area could be used for a year around park. Security at the Parks this summer was discussed as if it should be continued or not. If Citizens On Patrol is created this could have a large impact on the abuse of Parks during after hours. The boat launch study points very few accesses on the lake that could be used for boat launches. The study shows that fish habitat and the riparian foreshore is too important to be disturbed by boat accesses, as required by DFO. Rose Clifford Park is looking at some way of making parts of the park more attractive and asked the Parks maintenance contractor for some ideas.   The Hilina/Scotch Creek trail (above Scotch Creek) needs some bob cat or backhoe work to make the parking area more accessible. There is no money in the parks function to do this so there is a need for volunteers to help. Contact me if you have machinery and would be willing to volunteer it. Discussion of the Lee Creek Bluff trail and at what point could work be started on making it a trail. Naming the presently unnamed Hilina/Scotch Creek trail above Scotch Creek was talked about with a proposal for a name, to go to the Board.   

More on SLIPP meeting- beginnings

Shuswap Lake Integrated Planning Process (SLIPP) started in 2006 with a houseboat tour of all the government agencies together and Local Government types discussing the health of the Shuswap Lake. What amazed everyone on the tour, as I remember it was  that the lake was being negatively impacted by incremental steps. As well it seemed that government was powerless and the agencies are too singly involved; to solve the problems of the lake on a holistic level. It was then generally agreed to that the agencies would try working together to start solving those impacts to the lake. Hence the need for a body, to manage these different organizations together and SLIPP came into being. In 2008 a strategic plan was created and finally in 2010 an interim governance piece and funding model was created. As well Ted Bacigalupo in frustration without getting financial support for SLIPP from different political bodies, found a way of using the federally funded tax money for the EADs to help fund SLIPP. Ted has been instrumental in getting this process underway as well has been the largest payer into SLIPP.   Three main concerns were brought about the lake they are; Development, Recreational use conflict (public safety) and of course Water quality. The laws are complicated with jurisdictions across all levels of government having different controls on the lake and adjacent lands.  The agencies needed to get a sense of what happening on the lake and a strategic plan as well as public involvement was needed. The public had 1,200 words of input put in at meetings and other communications. The Public needs to be heard and SLIPP needs to continue engage the public. In other words the public needs to be a big part of the SLIPP process and it is recognized as so.

looking at my belly button

                        At the Parks celebration for Roger Beardmore someone asked me what is it that you learned the most from being a director. I’m not sure I answered the question it caught me off guard. It is a personal question and I’m so used of answering the blood & gut questions of day to community issues that I did not give a answer. I started off saying the Westbeach Development public meeting was a larger turning point in my awareness of my place in the North Shuswap as a CSRD representative. Answering the question what had I learned most(which in proper political response I did not answer); is the awareness of who I am and what it is I to do. The whole time has and is a constant questioning myself has been; is this, what the community wants. Is this is best for the community? Getting opinion, from the community, at times that has clear and directive conclusion has some analogy to picking up mercury with rubber mitts on a tossing boat.

            It has been a constant inward look as to what is the truth in me. What is it is it I really hear and see from the public. All too often I find myself creating what the residents want; either for expedience of time or thinking what is best for the community without asking them. Separating the image of what I want to the reality of what I think is there has been the biggest lesson not just as a representative of the people of North Shuswap but in every part of my life.  There is so much that I learned and I do appreciate the community that gave me this opportunity, very much.    

Scotch Creek Medical Clinic SPRINGS back

Good News !!! no wait Great News!!!

 Our Medical Center is being kept open!  Presently  it will be open Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursday. You still have to call ahead to  250 955 0660, to get an appointment.

But that is not all we now have a DOCTOR who will be available on Thursdays! A real live Doctor, with fingers and toes and everything!

As I understand it the Doctor is/ will be living in Scotch Creek.  As well the Nurse (Janet) lives in Magna Bay. This is very incredible as it looked very dismal at a time in which many of you wrote in asking to keep out clinic open. It worked, our clinic has been kept open and it is well back to having a doctor and other staff to run OUR Clinic. Now we need to support that clinic make sure you use it or we will lose it.

This did not happen just by happenstance there has been a lot of work and discussion on getting out clinic up and running again. Please, please send a letter thanking everyone that helped us get this clinic back.  

One for sure is George Abbott:   george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 
as well:

philip.snyman@interiorhealth.ca

david.gillespie@interiorhealth.ca

Andrew.Neuner: Andrew.Neuner@interiorhealth.ca

The note does not have to be long, something like:
     Mr Abbott
            We have our Clinic back, thank you, thank you thank you and with a Doctor! Thanks again for listening to us and helping us out. We appreciate the work you do on our behalf.