Council Meeting Highlights for March 16, 2020

Council Meeting Highlights for March 16, 2020

Click on button to watch the video of the Committee of the Whole, Regular Open, and Public Hearing meetings.

Committee of the Whole (No video) Regular Open       Public Hearings
                                                                                  (Video starts at Water Matters Item #2)
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
  
Delegations

• Committee of the Whole considered the 2020 Community Services Grant applications which were forwarded to the Regular Open meeting for Council’s consideration.

REGULAR OPEN MEETING
 
Bylaws

• Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 1362, 2020 was read three times. If adopted, this bylaw allows the Town of Osoyoos to borrow funds to secure financing for the Water Treatment Plant and Manganese Removal project.
• 5 Year Financial Plan Bylaw No. 1361, 2020 was read three times. A number of budget meetings were held to discuss the three 2020-2024 budget including a public consultation on February 18, 2020. The 5 Year Financial Plan No. 1361, 2020, is now being presented for Council consideration.
• Waste Management Services and Regulations Amendment Bylaw No. 1309.06, 2020 was read three times. This Waste Management Services and Regulations Amendment Bylaw amends the residential collection rates and landfill tipping fees.

Business

• The Annual General Meeting for the Town of Osoyoos will be held on Monday, June 15^th,  2020 at 1:00 PM in the Council Chambers.
• Council authorized the lease of the property located at the east end of the back parking lot at the Sonora Community Centre for 5 years to the Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Center. The property is to be used as a community garden.
• Community Services Grant Applications - A total of $56,600 in grants were awarded for 2020. Council has asked staff to bring back more information on how the funds will be used for Desert Sun Counselling request for grant-in-aid support for their community kitchen project.  

Reports

• CAO Chabot announced that Council has made the decision to close some community facilities due to COVID-19. The Sonora Community Centre and Desert Park building was closed effective March 17, 2020 while the Sun Bowl Arena was shut down immediately.
• Councillors King and Bennett attended the Town of Osoyoos Grant-in-Aid committee meeting.
• Councillor King attended the Accessibility and Age Friendly Advisory meeting.
• Councillor Bennett attended the Destination Osoyoos board retreat.
• Councillor Harvey attended an onsite Dog Park committee meeting.
• Mayor McKortoff encourage everyone to practice social distancing, proper hand washing and other precautions as promoted by public health officials.
• Mayor McKortoff stated that the Town will continue to monitor the issue of COVID-19 and will work with local authorities as the situation continues to evolve.

PUBLIC HEARINGS
 
There were two public hearings held:

1. A Public Hearing was held in the Council Chambers on March 16, 2020 at 4:00 pm for Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 1230.27, 2020 and Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1085.131, 2020. If adopted these amendments would allow for the use of the subject property at 2 Braeburn Place to be contiguous with the neighbouring properties. Video of the hearing can be viewed here.
2. A Public Hearing was held in Council Chambers, immediately following the above meeting, for Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1085.129, 2020. If adopted, this bylaw would allow for a residential unit, to be used for employee housing, to be located within the existing commercial building. This Bylaw is site specific; the use will apply only to the Casa del Milo Oro property. Video of the hearing can be viewed here, beginning at the 14 minute, 35 second mark.   

 
Copies of reports are available within the Council Agenda packages located on the Town’s website www.osoyoos.ca.
 
The public is encouraged to attend the Committee of the Whole meetings which take place in Council Chambers at 9:00 am on the morning of the Regular Open Council meetings at 2:00 pm to learn additional in-depth information regarding upcoming business.