Councillor Kiss meets with Water Consultants

A little background first on the ongoing Master Water Plan discussions concerning separation of agricultural water customers from domestic:

This from page 135 of 135 of (unadopted) minutes of Greater Vernon Advisory Committee Special Water Meeting dated March 22, 2012 at North Okanagan Regional District office:

"Concluded:
Major raw water supplies are limited to Duteau Creek and Kalamalka Lake
Minor raw water supplies potentially from:
o City of Vernon – Reclaimed water
o B.X. Creek (existing licenses)
o Lavington supplies (King Edward Lake, Wells, Coldstream Creek)
o Future expansion of water supply for Okanagan Lake is feasible from a water licensing perspective
Capital plan should be updated regularly, at a minimum of every 3 years with a 20 year horizon
Capital works costs will increase for diminishing returns / benefits
Performing total system separation may not be economically feasible or cost efficient
Policy direction required regarding agricultural system separation, full separation or some type of hybrid model that is more cost efficient
Discussion ensued regarding an analysis of the recommended amount of separation that would provide the most benefit with the least cost. The consultant team was tasked with examining and reporting back on the most cost effective system.

It was noted: Councillor Kiss would meet with the consultants to provide them with his recommendations regarding the Master Water Plan Update and that the consultant team would analyze his recommendations and present a summary at the following meeting." (emphasis and underlining:  Ed)

and this from Coldstream Regular Council Minutes dated March 12, 2012:

"Greater Vernon Advisory Committee (Garlick/Kiss)
Councillor Kiss reported that at the recent meeting of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee, the following items were discussed:

Water rates were adopted
Two committees were struck, one to investigate the financing of the water rates and one to consider the Master Water Plan
Special Meetings regarding the Master Water Plan had been scheduled for March 22 and April 12, 2012"

and this from Coldstream Regular Council Minutes dated March 26, 2012:

"Greater Vernon Advisory Committee (Garlick/Kiss)
Councillor Kiss reported that he, and his fellow Councillors Besso and Enns, had attended the Special Meeting of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee which had been scheduled to discuss the water utility. A consortium of Consultants had been assembled to provide statistical and historical information and discussed separation of agricultural water from domestic water. Councillor Kiss provided Council with an overview of the discussion he had had with one of the Consultants after the meeting and shared with Council his conclusions based on that conversation. Council requested that Councillor Kiss provide the information to each of them via email. (emphasis and underlining: Ed.)

Councillor Kiss indicated that the next Special Meeting was scheduled for April 19, 2012.
Moved by Kiss, seconded by Dirk,
THAT staff be directed to include “Water” as an item for discussion at the next meeting of the Committee of the Whole."

via EMAIL????  Huh?
Does anybody see Councillor Kiss' opinions on water anywhere in the minutes?
What are Councillor Kiss' recommendations?
What are his conclusions?
What did he say to the consultant(s)?

It'll obviously affect water users in Coldstream.
But Councillor Kiss is keeping his opinions on water and recommendations to consultants under his hat.
Looks like it'll stay there too; he's been asked by Coldstream Council to communicate with council via email.

Coldstream Council has a short memory. 
Definition of transparency: as it relates to government.



"I think he needs a new hat," offers Kia.


All the while the public is still waiting for the release of the Water Survey public comments, which were promised two month ago.