Kiss Drops Water Bombshell

Last night's Committee-of-the-Whole meeting at Coldstream municipal hall started innocuously enough, but ended with a bang.

First, the stuff that was on the agenda:

Wetland Walkway Project
Trina Koch of Society for the Protection of Kalamalka Lake (SPrKL)--who last year received an award for her group's work on Coldstream Creek--explained the two phases of wetland protection for the District's newest (almost owned) Park west of the Regional District building between Selkirk Drive and Highway 6.

Trintec's (adjacent mall) development permit stipulated an environmental impact assessment of the wetland and, as Trina advised, a (one) Great Basin Spadefoot toad was present (not clear whether he was seen, or merely heard), triggering a requirement for wetland compensation by the Trintec developer. 

Phase I sees $6,425 in funding from TD Friends of the Environment, and provides planning, Ministry of Environment permits and volunteer work for weeding of Canadian Thistle and Common Burdoch (arriving on disturbed groundwork that resulted from RDNO's two renovations). 

It's Phase II's cost for stringers and walkway for the raised boardwalk--whose $65,000 cost, admits Trina, is double her planned $30,000. that had Council looking back and forth at one another, finally admitting "there's no budget".  Undaunted, Trina stated she had applied for a Gaming Grant last month for which no reply had yet been received, adding that other potential funding sources were Ducks Unlimited, EcoAction, Habitat Conservation, SPrKL ($2,000), and "maybe we can ask Tolko for help with the cedar railings and stringers..." (pilings are metal, and will last longer than wood in the wetland).  Coldstream is requested to "provide an engineered walkway drawing for builders and commit to walkway maintenance".
There's still no budget.

Councillor Besso said she had received requests from Selkirk Drive residents for picnic tables to be added to the area for family use.  Trina replied that while the wetland's signage and boardwalk features promote wetland education, a fence would then need to be installed as family activities (kids, dogs) would impact the pond's sandy beach perimeters.

Poor spadefoot toad...if the lone resident isn't impaled by the pounding of metal pilings, he'll surely pack up and head off for the culvert under Highway 6 for protection from Selkirk's kids and dogs.  The Ministry of Environment's efforts would be better utilized preventing recurring contamination of the area's drinking water around the Duteau Creek reservoir.  Must be too big a job for the MoE, because they're noticeably absent at the Duteau watershed.

Public Information Session on Ag Amendments to Zoning Bylaw  
Council--including three members of the public--were interested in comments that arose from Wednesday's open house on RU10 and RU30 zoning, forced on acreage owners valley-wide by Council.  Craig Broderick offered it was well attended, with approximately 75 to 100 people showing up throughout the two-hour session.

In the understatement of the new Century, Craig indicated there were concerns about lot sizes changed from existing to RU10 and RU30, homeplate footprint, and how existing properties could add on to their house for pools, garages, etc. without existing properties becoming non-conforming, and rebuilding concerns following a fire, for example, and some written comments had arrived concerning other aspects, including farm workers' housing.  "There were good comments, mostly concerning lot sizes and farm plate,"  he offered, adding  "March 28th is the deadline for comments, with 10-12 received Wednesday and six or seven emails since."

Councillor Dirk suggested compiling FAQs (frequently asked questions), so that all questions can be answered, posting on the District's website.  "Examples are what people want," he offered.  Craig stated that a report could be added to the website, but that people generally are making comments versus asking for examples to be provided.  Discussion continued, with Councillor Besso adding:  "They need to know their 8 ha parcel will stay as an 8 ha parcel."  She stated that 77.7% of the parcels in Coldstream in the ALR already are (emphasis Besso's) under 4 ha in size.

So the balance of acreages in Coldstream presumably will be punished.

Leading up to the end-of-meeting bombshell by Councillor Kiss, Mayor Garlick stated some concerns were regarding farm water allocations.  "Yes, you will always have an allocation," he affirmed, but added that all allocations were under question in the future.   Councillor McClean stated "People bought 5 gallons per minute per acre; now we are telling them that's probably only for farms, but they didn't buy it for farm use; more information should be provided." 

Councillor Kiss began (tough to hear him though)..."(there is) recommended meeting agenda (Greater Vernon Advisory Committee) on water rates co-mingling...you will never figure out how much because everyone is going to get treated water...there is going to be continued friction with domestic and ag users...it will upset...until we are totally separated."

Councillor Enns asked if anyone--any delegations--were speaking at the GVAC meeting on Thursday?
Discussion continued around not knowing the financial aspects or what type of plan they are putting forward.  Councillor Kiss affirmed that there is not enough money to create full separation between domestic and farm use, adding:  "Total separation is $50 million or more, in addition to annual costs of about $4 to $5 million at Duteau." 

"Are we going to put extra water into Kal Lake?" Kiss continued: "We have licences available, Coldstream Creek...King...we just have to transfer it.  There has to be some kind of intelligent ... on it.  I am writing an observation on it and I am making my comments on Thursday...they are protecting the plant...$29 million...it will be another $50 million just to bring it up to standards...it would be good to discuss it."  (Ed...the continuing curse of no microphones).

After the $50 million water bombshell, the Log House Vision discussion was anti-climactic, and "a community's gathering place," as Councillor Besso called it, not worthy of mention.  Since acreages -- and acreage owners -- aren't important any more.

"A bombshell?  We should call National Defense," offers Kia.  

National?  They're only good at collecting taxes, not offering help to acreage owners.