Kal Beach pier contract awarded, key staff position filled: Coldstream council

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Coldstream council awarded the contract for the design services of the rehabilitation of School Road in Lavington to Monaghan Engineering and Consulting for $117,114.

Council also decided to expand the scope of the design services to include all of School Road.

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Council has approved an agreement between the district and the Bishop Wild Bird Foundation to allow for continued public access to the sanctuary for bird viewing and educational purposes.

It is a five-year deal, effective May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2028.

The sanctuary is located at 12408 Coldstream Creek Road, near Kalamalka Lake.

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If there is a hazmat incident in Coldstream over the next five years, Vernon Fire Rescue will be responding to it.

Coldstream council has approved a hazardous materials response agreement with Vernon which will run until 2028.

It will cover incidents involving toxic substances such as ammonia, chlorine and sulphur dioxide.

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Coldstream has filled a key staff position in its administration.

Nicole Cressman has been hired as the district’s new director of corporate administration/corporate officer effective August 28, 2023.

Nicole Cressman (Photo courtesy of LinkedIn)

Cressman has worked for various municipalities in the Okanagan, most recently at the City of Armstrong. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Education degree.

Cressman takes over the position from Keri Ann Austin who is now the district’s chief administrative officer after the departure of former CAO Trevor Seibel to the City of West Kelowna.

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Here are other items from Coldstream council’s Aug. 14 meeting:

Farmland Residential Development Permit Area

Following a public hearing, council gave second and third reading to an official community plan bylaw, which adds a new section to the OCP to establish the Farmland Residential Development Permit Area.

The permit is intended to ensure that second dwellings on agricultural properties are located in a manner that will minimize the loss of potential farmland, limit the possibility of future subdivisions in the ALR, and minimize impacts on neighbouring agricultural or residential parcels.

As part of this process, the bylaw has been forwarded to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for approval.

Financial Update

The Director of Financial Administration provided a report updating council on the district’s financial performance relative to the approved budget, which included a high-level overview of revenue and expenses.

Click here for more details.

Building Report for July 2023

Construction value was up by $7,415,712 for a total of $8,865,712. This compares to last year when the construction value was $1,450,000.

The number of housing units were up by one from last year.

The total construction value for the first seven months of 2023 is $44.7 million compared to $32.8 million for all of 2022.

2024 Budget Process and Finance Committee Meetings

Council reviewed a report on the timeline and process for the 2024 budget and resolved to conduct finance committee meetings on October 3, 2023 and November 6, 2023 in lieu of the regularly scheduled committee of the whole meetings.

Purchase of GPS Equipment

Council approved the purchase of the Leica Geosystems Field Controller from Spatial Technologies Inc. in the amount of $47,831.

The GPS data collection equipment will be used to collect the spatial and location data of district utility assets and to provide accurate data to district crews when performing works on the infrastructure.

by Pete McIntyre

Kal Beach pier contract awarded, key staff position filled: Coldstream council

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