Annual Report 2003 Nurturing Growth, Fostering Lifestyle Regional District of contents Central Okanagan 1450 KLO Rd., Kelowna, BC V1W 3Z4 Ph: 250-763-4918 Fx: 250-763-0606 Email: [email protected] www.regionaldistrict.com Message from the Chair . .2 Message from the Administrator . .3 provide so many recreational opportunities; Vital Statistics . .4 orchards and vineyards that provide a rural, Finance . .5 agricultural flavor and all the amenities Engineering . .6 associated with a thriving, urban centre. In fact, Regional Waste Reduction Office . .7 the Central Okanagan continues to be one of the Parks and Recreation . .8 most desirable places in which to live. It’s truly a Planning . .11 four-season playground, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year. They come to Inspections . .13 partake in extraordinary powder skiing, lush golf Human Resources . .14 courses, world-renown wineries, fruit right off Economic Development Commission .15 the tree and fresh, clean air and water. It’s no Crime Stoppers . .17 wonder an increasing number of people turn a Crime Prevention . .18 visit to the Central Okanagan into their chosen Victim Witness Services . .19 place to live, work and play. Emergency Response Plan . .21 The Regional District of Central Okanagan includes the two unincorporated Electoral Areas of Ellison/Joe Rich and Westside, along with the “Nurturing growth, while fostering lifestyle.” member municipalities of the City of Kelowna, That’s the challenge facing everyone involved the District of Lake Country and the District of with the Regional District of Central Okanagan. Peachland. The mission of the Regional District The Central Okanagan is located along the is to help protect the quality of life for all citizens shores of Okanagan Lake, in the beautiful by planning for the future, while delivering Okanagan Valley of British Columbia’s Southern regional services in an efficient and cost effective Interior.The Regional District encompasses over manner. Services that are provided by the 314,000 hectares of diverse topography. There Regional District include water, sewer and are mountain peaks and beautiful sandy beaches. garbage collection to the Electoral Areas. As well, You’ll also find naturally forested areas that the District provides region-wide services such as garbage collection and recycling, 911, Regional Parks and the Emergency Response Plan that was brought into action during the ➢ Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park forest fire N District last summer. of Lake Country The Regional District Board of Directors is Westside made up of eleven elected and appointed Electoral Ellison/Joe Rich representatives from the Electoral Areas and the Area Electoral Area City of participating municipal government partners. Kelowna The Board normally meets every two weeks to provide guidance in managing the various District of programs, services and issues that arise as part of Peachland local governance. page Regional District of Central Okanagan 2003 1 message from the chair Robert Hobson Challenge, excitement partnership involving the Regional District, and exhilaration! Those Westbank First Nation and funding from the words can be used to Federal-Provincial Infrastructure Program saw describe 2003.The Okanagan the Casa Loma Sewer project move ahead. This Mountain Provincial Park will bring additional capacity not only for Casa firestorm, while many Loma residents, but also on First Nation lands. months ago, remains as The Regional District continues to strengthen the predominant event in our important relationship with the Westbank the Central Okanagan. I’m First Nation (WFN). WFN announced it will very happy with the way our community rose to contribute to the ongoing annual operation of the cause, handling the fire and it’s aftermath. the expanded Mount Boucherie Community This will, of course, continue to be a challenge Complex. Over the coming year, we will throughout 2004 and in the years to come. I continue to work closely with the WFN on a believe though, the event demonstrated the number of issues of mutual interest, such as the benefit of having a well-thought out and Okanagan Lake Bridge project. practiced Regional Emergency Plan and a Transportation will be a big issue during Coordinator (Kelowna Fire Department Assistant 2004. More money will be put into our transit Chief Sid LeBeau) who works with the talented system in order to restore service to previous and resourceful volunteers and staff from across levels and during the year, a long-term review the region. 2004 will see the Regional District will be undertaken into transit service. We will continue with a major fuel modification continue to have discussions with the Provincial program in our Parks. Government on the Highway 97 Corridor, an Another highlight of the past year was the important transportation backbone for the successful Mount Boucherie Complex Okanagan. Referendum. Not only will we have a wonderful In closing, I’d like to thank the army of facility to meet the needs of residents, but one residents who volunteer for Regional District that will also contribute to the economic future programs like Crime Prevention, Victim Services of the Westside. Kudos to the Mount Boucherie and in our Parks. Our community is a better Expansion Society, its Chair Rusty Ensign, the place because of your selfless dedication. I’d also Westside Directors and the hundreds of like to thank my fellow Board members for their volunteers who made this happen. tireless efforts on behalf of our citizens to make Partnerships were also a highlight of 2003. the Central Okanagan a better place in which to The Regional District, Peachland and Ministry of live, work and play. Thanks also to the staff and Transportation worked together to bring a new management of the Regional District who ensure on-ramp to the Okanagan Connector, which every day that we have the most effective and should be completed this year. Another efficient programs and services for all residents. page Regional District of Central Okanagan 2003 2 message from the Wayne d’Easum administrator Chief Administrative Officer message from the administrator This has certainly been a year of challenges for everyone living in the Regional District of Central Okanagan. Looking back on the year however, it’s pleasing to see how we came together as a community to meet those challenges head on. The devastating fire last summer certainly tested the mettle of not only our citizens, but also those people charged with providing a coordinated and unified response to the disaster. Our thoughts are with those of our neighbors With growth brings an increased demand for who suffered losses as a result of the fire. As a services. We continue to make progress in testament to the strength and resiliency of our building the infrastructure needed to support community,the rebuilding is well underway.Our those people who’ve chosen to call the Central Regional Emergency Response plan was put to Okanagan home. The second phase of the test and more than met the challenge with community sewers was completed in West the safe evacuation of almost 30,000 people. In Kelowna Estates and several other neighbor- many respects, the successful response is a direct hoods.Work was also finished on the $6 million result of the talent, commitment and co- sewer trunk linking Casa Loma and Westbank operation of everyone involved. It was truly a First Nation Reserve #9 with the Boucherie regional effort. While we hope that we never trunk system. This was a cooperative project have to mount such a response in the future, involving not only the Regional District and the should we again be put to the test, we’ll certainly Westbank First Nation, but also the Federal and benefit from our experience during the summer Provincial governments through their infra- of 2003. structure program. 2003 also saw Westside The Central Okanagan continues to be one of residents vote to support the Phase 2 expansion the most desirable places in which to live. Our of the Mount Boucherie Community Complex. Inspection Services Department processed We look forward in 2004 to breaking ground on almost 1,000 building permits during 2003, an the $5 million dollar project. increase of almost 20% over 2002. Those A clear objective of the staff of the Regional approved projects were valued at more than $70 District of Central Okanagan is to continue to million, compared with the $57 million in offer citizens effective and efficient programs projects receiving permits during 2002. The and services throughout 2004 and the years to residential construction market remains strong as come. more than 360 new homes were started last year, up slightly from the previous year. page Regional District of Central Okanagan 2003 3 Regional District of Vital Statistics Central Okanagan Statistics POPULATION (EST.) 2003 Regional District 157,432* Westside Electoral Area (incl. IRs) 35,894 Ellison/Joe Rich Electoral Area (incl. IRs) 4,251 City of Kelowna (incl. IRs) 102,488 District of Lake Country 9,761 District of Peachland 5,038 Households 65,363* Businesses 12,609 ** Area 2,956.3 sq. kms RDCO Employees (full, part time, seasonal, casual) 149 *SOURCE: BC STATS JULY 1, 2003 **SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA, NOVEMBER 2003 Regional District Departments Chief Administrative Officer Wayne d’Easum Director of Engineering Services Hilary Hettinga, P.Eng. Director of Financial Services Harold Reay Director of Human Resources Gary Leier Director of Inspection Services Kelly Roth Director of Parks and Recreation Services Bill Vos Director of Planning Services Ken Arcuri Economic Development Commission, Executive Director Robert Fine Regional District Board The Regional District Board normally meets every two weeks, managing the wide variety of topics that arise as part of local governance.The elected and appointed Board represents the member municipalities and the Electoral Areas that make up the Regional District of Central Okanagan.