Albas flag presentation, then down to business

Tonight’s meeting of Summerland council opens with the presentation of the Canada 150 flag by Member of Parliament Dan Albas.

Albas is presenting Central and South Okanagan municipalities with the special flag in celebration of Canada’s sesquicentennial. The flag is to be displayed in each community.

Later in the meeting, council will receive the 2017 Budget Report, with its proposal to increase property taxes by 4 per cent.

As reported by director of finance David Svetlichny, 1.8 per cent is directly attributable to increasing reserve contributions for future capital projects with the remaining 2.2 per cent attributed to the operating funding shortfall.

Owners of an average Summerland home assessed at $396,943 would see their property taxes increase by approximately $50.50.

Director of development services Dean Strachan will update council on the review and study components related to the OCP amendment and rezoning requirements for the proposed Banks Crescent development.

Council will be presented with 12 additional pages of the petition to stop the Banks Crescent Development.

Including signatures on both the paper and online forms of the petition, the total number now stands at 1,355 signatures.

Information considered at a previous incamera session regarding the work plan for the Arts and Cultural Centre will be made public.

Two applications for development variance permits will come before council.

The first is to reduce setbacks for the property at 9400 Cedar Ave., in order to sanction an existing mini-storage development on site.

The second application regards varying the asphalt width, uphill shoulder width and width of shoulder surfacing from asphalt to gravel on streets associated with the Hunters Hill subdivision at 19013 Bentley Rd.

Staff will be seeking direction from council on regulation of audible bird scare devices.

If council wishes to regulate these devices, staff are recommending that council either refer the matter to the Agricultural Advisory Committee or direct staff to draft a noise bylaw for audible bird scare devices.

The council meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Hall, 13211 Henry Avenue and is open to the public.