Regional board seeks lake protection grant
Highlights of the Central Okanagan Regional Board Meeting – October 8, 2020
Okanagan Lake Source Protection Grant
The Regional Board approved submitting a funding application to the Vancouver Foundation Systems Change and Test Grant Program on behalf of the Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program, Okanagan Nation Alliance and RDCO.
If the two stage application is approved for a grant of up to $100,000 by the Foundation, the funds would be used along with 25% in matching funding for the next phase of the multi-year Okanagan Lake Responsibility Planning Initiative for water source protection.
This project supports the Environmental protection focus outlined in the Regional Board Strategic Priorities 2019-2022.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Grants
The Regional Board has endorsed several grant funding applications to support proposed projects for the Westside Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant.
An application will be made to the CleanBC Communities Fund for $300,000 to improve energy efficiency and address aging infrastructure at the facility. The Board has also committed funding up to $80,000 for the project should the grant be approved.
Applications will be made to the Union of BC Municipalities Municipal Asset Management Planning Program funded by the BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Asset Management Program to develop an Asset Management Plan for the facility. If successful, the RDCO’s financial contribution would be $15,000.
During 2019, the RDCO Wastewater Treatment Plant treated approximately 11.3-million litres of wastewater each day from businesses and homes in West Kelowna, Peachland and Westbank First Nation Reserves #9 and #10.
Sustainable Transportation Partnership
The Regional Board approved withdrawing from the Sustainable Transportation Partnership of the Central Okanagan (STPCO) at the end of the year. Each participating local government will be asked to support withdrawing from the agreement that originally established the body in 2013.
The STPCO is not considered sustainable in its current form and by dissolving the partnership it’s suggested that the RDCO could create a new Regional Transportation Service providing some of the STPCO functions.
Regional Hospital District Budget Amended
The Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District Board has amended the 2020 – 2024 Financial Plan. At the request of Interior Health, three new projects totalling $1.42-million have been approved for 2020 including $1.2-million for the recently announced new Urgent and Primary Care Centre in West Kelowna if it receives Designated Facility Status from the Minister of Health. Four projects totalling $1.784-million previously approved for this year, have been moved to 2021 in order to fund these projects within the current budget.
Regional District office – 1450 KLO Road, Kelowna (Woodhaven Boardroom).
Monday, October 26 – 7:00 pm
Thursday, November 12 – 8:30 am Statutory Inaugural Meeting and Governance & Services Committee meeting
Monday, November 23 – 7:00 pm
Audio of the Regional Board meeting at: