Modest tax hike pitched for Summerland

Taxes, snow and software highlight tonight’s meeting of Summerland council. A property tax rate increase of 2.75 per cent is being proposed, according to director of finance David Svetlichny’s 2018 financial report.

The increase means the owners of an average Summerland home assessed at $535,900 will pay approximately $55.40 more in taxes this year.

If council approves Svetlichny’s report, staff will present the proposed 2018-22 financial plan at an open house on March 22.

To prepare for the possibility of a detrimental freshet event, staff are requesting authorization to install a bridge along the access road to Garnet Dam prior to the finalization of the 2018-22 financial plan.

The bridge would mitigate the risk associated with the insufficient capacity of an existing culvert, director of works and utilities Kris Johnson explained in his report on snowpack and dam management.

Significant snow pack levels in the range of 150 per cent above historical average have been measured at the upper and southern ends of the Trout Creek system.

Staff are also requesting that purchase of ESRI ArcGIS software as a new geographic information system be included in the proposed 2018 budget and five-year financial plan. The new software would facilitate more effective community planning and comprehensive asset management.

Council will later consider three development services reports starting with the request to remove a restrictive covenant on the property at 6019 Nixon Rd., which would allow the owner to completely enclose an existing carport.

The second application is to change the Official Community Plan designation and zoning bylaw for property located at 12914 Prairie Valley Rd. in order to subdivide the land to create two parcels—one within the Agricultural Land Reserve and the other outside.

Staff recommend that the application be referred to the Advisory Planning Commission and Agricultural Advisory Committee.

The third application is to reduce the frontyard setback and garage door setback for a proposed single detached house at 7001 Nixon Rd.

The staff recommendation to implement standard seasonal opening preparations for the washrooms in Memorial Park and to consider upgrades to those facilities as part of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and Downtown Plan will also come before council.

The public is welcome to attend the meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at Municipal Hall, 13211 Henry Avenue.