Highlights of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District Board of Directors Meeting of November 23, 2023
The TNRD held its Board of Directors Meeting in the Twin Rivers Boardroom of the TNRD Civic Building in Kamloops, B.C. The meeting was held in-person and via Zoom, and a recording of the meeting was uploaded to the TNRD’s YouTube channel. You can view the recording here.
Delegation: Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation and Forest Enhancement Society of BC
The Board heard a delegation from Dan Buffett, CEO of the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, and Steve Kozuki, Executive Director of the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, who provided an update on conservation and forest enhancement projects in the Thompson-Nicola region.
Delegation: Kamloops Search and Rescue
The Board heard a delegation from Paula Davies, President of Kamloops Search and Rescue (KSAR), and Diana Gerlof, a KSAR Director, who provided information on the current situation and looming deadline of January 31, 2025 to vacate their current location within the City of Kamloops. Davies said KSAR members respond to approximately 50 to 65 tasks per year, with an average response of six to 15 members. Davies said KSAR responds to incidents within TNRD boundaries and several other areas near TNRD boundaries, including Lillooet and the North Shuswap.
Kamloops Search and Rescue Purpose-Built Hall Planning
The Board directed TNRD staff to work with the Kamloops Search and Rescue executive to seek suitable land for a purpose-built Search and Rescue Hall in the Kamloops area. The Board also directed staff to create a funding strategy which would include options for a public assent process for potential borrowing of funds for a capital project. Read the report here.
Temporary Use Permit Application (Nicola Lake Estates)
The Board approved first and second reading of Temporary Use Permit 2822, affecting property at 6592 Monck Park Road in Nicola Lake Estates in Electoral Area “M” (Beautiful Nicola Valley – North). This temporary use permit proposes to enable short-term rental usage within an existing single-family dwelling for up to three years. This proposed temporary use permit will be taken to a public hearing in conjunction with a regular Board meeting. Read the report here.
Tipping Fees Amendment
The Board adopted Solid Waste Management Facilities Amendment Bylaw 2827. This bylaw amendment is to update tipping fees for several waste streams which will come into effect on January 1, 2024. This will be the first update in several years to tipping fees for the affected waste streams, which will better reflect current costs of disposal for many materials while keeping rates in line with surrounding regional districts. Read the report here.
Read the News Release issued on November 23, 2023 here.
Mandatory Recyclable Materials Bylaw Expansion
The Board adopted Mandatory Recyclable Materials Amendment Bylaw 2829. This bylaw amendment expands the TNRD’s disposal ban bylaw to include all materials regulated by the Province of BC's Recycling Regulation. The bylaw expansion follows a public consultation process in the fall of 2023, and will be implemented over three phases in the next six months. Read the report here.
Read the News Release issued on November 23, 2023 here.
Letter to the Province of BC on Communication and Engagement
The Board approved sending a letter to all Provincial Ministries, through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs Deputy Minister, requesting that the Province of BC ensures that it provides a collaborative and inclusive approach when communicating with elected officials within the TNRD. Read the report and letter here.
Board Expenses Policy Amendment
The Board approved amendments to Board Expense Policy 1.1.16, and approved repealing Board Policies 1.1.4, 1.1.5 and 1.1.12, effective January 1, 2024. Current Board expense policies could be misinterpreted, and repealing outdated expense bylaws and combining all guidance into Board Expense Policy 1.1.16 will ensure efficient processes for staff and the Board, and transparency for the public. Read the report here.
Board Remuneration Increases and Board Remuneration Bylaw Amendments
The Board approved an increase of 4% to annual wages paid to the Board, retroactive to January 1, 2023. Board Remuneration Bylaw 2825 states that Board wages will increase by the same amount as the Consumer Price Index (CPI), however, this increase is lower than the current CPI for 2022 which was 6.9%. Read the report here.
Further, the Board approved a one-time increase to annual wages paid to the Board, effective January 1, 2024, to better align with average wages across comparable regional district Boards. This one-time increase was recommended after direction was given by the Electoral Area Directors Committee to review wages of other regional district Boards. TNRD Board member wages in 2024 will be slightly lower than the 2022 average wages for Directors in comparable regional districts. The Board also approved amendments to Board Remuneration Bylaw 2825, with updated language on communications (technology) allowances, annual increases to Board wages, and other housekeeping items. Future Board wage increases will be recommended to align with the annual CPI index to a maximum of 4%, unless otherwise voted on by the Board. Read the report here.
For Referral: ALC Application 225 (Sunshine Valley)
The Board supported Agricultural Land Commission Application 225, affecting property at 1688 Nicolls Road, located in Sunshine Valley in Electoral Area “N” (Beautiful Nicola Valley – South). The application proposes to build a single-family dwelling on the property 4,392 square feet in size. Board support is necessary for a development application within the ALR in a TNRD Electoral Area to be considered by the Agricultural Land Commission. Read the report here.
For Referral: ALC Application 227 (Blackpool)
The Board supported Agricultural Land Commission Application 227, affecting property at 1476 Old North Thompson Highway and 1480 Old North Thompson Highway, located in Blackpool in Electoral Area “A” (Wells Gray Country). The application proposes to expand camping options at the Lacarya Golf Course and Campground to add glamping structures and rentable units, and to add commercial uses at the adjacent lot, including domes for tropical plants and organic produce, a coffee shop, and a yoga dome. Board support is necessary for a development application within the ALR in a TNRD Electoral Area to be considered by the Agricultural Land Commission. If approved by the ALC, any proposed zoning amendment on the property would require approval by the TNRD Board at a future Board meeting, following a public hearing process. Read the report here.
For Referral: ALC Application 228 (Big Bar Lake)
The Board supported Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) Application 228, affecting property at 1840 Marriott Road and 2149 Marriott Road, located at Big Bar Lake in Electoral Area “E” (Bonaparte Plateau) The application proposes to enable subdivision of one lakeshore parcel into three parcels, while repealing a site-specific amendment previously approved on an adjacent ALR parcel. Board support is necessary for a development application within the ALR in a TNRD Electoral Area to be considered by the ALC. If approved by the ALC, any proposed zoning amendment on the property would require approval by the TNRD Board at a future Board meeting, following a public hearing process. Read the report here.
The next TNRD Board Meeting is on December 14, 2023, at 1:30 pm.
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