Summerland public meetings in 2024
10 substantive meetings from 2024, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Special Council
This special council meeting will consider adopting two bylaws: one renewing the Southern Interior Bylaw Notice Dispute Adjudication Registry agreement for 2025, adding the Town of Osoyoos as a participant, and another updating fees and charges and water utility rates for 2025. Both items are up for adoption after prior readings.
- Adoption of Bylaw 2024-039: Southern Interior Bylaw Notice Dispute Adjudication Registry Agreement Amendment (2025 Agreement), adding Osoyoos and extending budget timeline to October 31
- Adoption of Bylaw 2024-041: Fees and Charges Amendment (2025 Updates)
- Adoption of Bylaw 2024-042: Water Utilities and Water Rates Amendment (2025 Rates)
- Annual $1,200 budget contribution to the dispute adjudication registry
Agricultural Advisory Committee
The Agricultural Advisory Committee will consider two applications: a Development Variance Permit for an unpermitted carriage house at 4415 Monro Ave, and an OCP and Zoning Bylaw amendment to rezone 15815 Hwy 97 for a food processing facility. The committee will also adopt the agenda and minutes from the previous meeting.
- DVP24-017: Vary farm home plate rules to allow two plates and permit carriage house not abutting Monro Ave at 4415 Monro Ave
- Z24-007: Redesignate 15815 Hwy 97 from Agricultural to Agri-Industrial and rezone from A1 to M3 for ~2600m2 food processing facility
- Delegation from Agricultural Land Commission CEO Kim Grout and Board Chair Jennifer Dyson
- Staff recommend approval for both applications
Regular Council
Summerland Council will consider 2025 utility rates and general fees, a RecycleBC service agreement renewal, and a bylaw amendment for the Southern Interior Bylaw Notice Dispute Adjudication Registry. They will also hear a delegation from LocalMotive about a greenhouse grant application and discuss a temporary bus stop for the Food Bank. The meeting includes adoption of zoning and parks regulation bylaws, and a closed session for legal and land matters.
- Fees and Charges Amendment (2025 Updates) Bylaw No. 2024-041 and Water Utilities Amendment (2025 Rates) Bylaw No. 2024-042
- RecycleBC Master Services Agreement & Statement of Work(s) renewal
- Temporary Bus Stop - Alliance Church for Food Bank users at 14820 Victoria Road N
- Zoning Bylaw Amendment (12914 & 13316 Prairie Valley Road) Bylaw No. 2024-017 for medium density housing
- Development Variance Permit – 18420 Garnet Valley Road for Agri-Tourism Accommodation
Advisory Planning Commission
The Advisory Planning Commission will hear a presentation from Urban Systems on the District of Summerland's Official Community Plan (OCP) review, including the project timeline, engagement activities, and the APC's role. The commission will also adopt the agenda and minutes from the August 30, 2024 meeting. This is primarily an informational session to introduce the OCP review project.
- Presentation by Dan Penner (Urban Systems) on OCP review, including project objectives, schedule, and engagement plan
- OCP review includes Urban Growth Boundary review and update of Development Permit Areas (focus on Multi-Family)
- Engagement #1 (Community Visioning) scheduled for January–February 2025
- Adoption of August 30, 2024 APC minutes
- Next APC meeting set for January 31, 2025
Committee of the Whole
The Committee of the Whole is reviewing the proposed 2025 general fund operational and capital budgets. Staff recommend a 9.27% property tax revenue increase to cover a $1,005,650 shortfall, which would cost the average homeowner about $167.80 more per year. Council will provide direction on the tax increase and decide on grant-in-aid allocations. The budget will be presented at a public open house on January 15, 2025.
- Proposed 9.27% property tax increase (average home: +$167.80/year)
- 2025 operating budget: $22.78 million
- 2025 capital budget: $16.0 million (63 projects)
- Grant-in-aid requests total $134,018; proposed budget includes $53,000
- Prairie Valley Road debenture adds $184,153 (1.70% tax increase)
Committee of the Whole
The Committee of the Whole is reviewing the proposed 2025 general fund operational and capital budgets. Staff recommend a 9.27% property tax revenue increase to cover a $1,005,650 shortfall, which would cost the average homeowner about $167.80 more per year. Council will provide direction on the tax increase and on how to allocate $53,000 in grant-in-aid funding among 19 applicant organizations. The budget will be presented at a public open house on January 15, 2025.
- Proposed 9.27% property tax revenue increase (average home +$167.80/year)
- 2025 operating budget of $22.78 million; capital budget of $16.0 million
- Grants-in-aid: $53,000 budgeted, but $134,018 requested by 19 organizations
- New debt payments for Prairie Valley Road (Morrow to Cartwright) project: $184,153
- Capital plan includes $7.5 million borrowing for roadworks and drainage (subject to voter assent)
Committee of the Whole
The Committee of the Whole is receiving information on 2025 Grant-in-Aid applications, including presentations from each organization. Staff recommend that council provide direction on funding levels during the December 9-11 budget deliberations. The preliminary budget allocates $53,000 for grants, but requests total $79,888, plus two requests for increased operational support totaling $54,130.
- 17 grant-in-aid applications and 2 requests for increased operational support received
- 2025 grant requests total $79,888 against a preliminary budget of $53,000
- Summerland Community Arts Council requests operational support increase from $6,000 to $47,130
- Summerland Museum & Heritage Society requests operational support increase from $55,000 to $68,000
- Staff recommend holding back a portion of budgeted GIA funding for late applications
Regular Council
The Regular Council meeting will receive updates from BC Emergency Health Services, the RCMP, and the Fire Department, and will consider increasing dog licensing fees for 2025. Council will also confirm resolutions from recent Committee of the Whole meetings regarding the proposed 2025 utility operating and capital budgets, which include rate increases. An administrative correction to the Parks Regulation Bylaw is also on the agenda.
- Review of dog license fees for 2025 renewal season
- Confirmation of 2025 Water, Sewer, and Electrical utility budgets and rate increases
- Parks Regulation Amendment Bylaw administrative correction
- RCMP Q3 2024 update
- Fire Department Q3 2024 update
Community Climate Action Advisory Committee
The Community Climate Action Advisory Committee will consider adopting its October minutes and continue discussing the proposed use of Climate Action Reserve funds, specifically the $140,000 Wastewater Collection System Expansion Study. Staff will present responses from the Director of Utilities to the committee's earlier questions. The committee previously tabled its recommendation pending this information.
- Adoption of October 18, 2024 minutes
- Climate Action Reserve funding: Wastewater Collection System Expansion Study ($140,000)
- Staff responses from Director of Utilities Jeremy Storvold
- Next meeting scheduled for December 20, 2024
Agricultural Advisory Committee
The Agricultural Advisory Committee will consider a Development Variance Permit to allow an agri-tourism accommodation (an RV) on a 1.6-hectare parcel at 18420 Garnet Valley Road, which is smaller than the 2.0-hectare minimum in the zoning bylaw. Staff recommend support, citing the property's intensive mushroom farming and compliance with Agricultural Land Commission regulations. The committee will also adopt the agenda and minutes from the June 20, 2024 meeting, and receive information about an upcoming presentation by the ALC CEO and Commission Chair at the December 19 meeting.
- DVP24-020: variance to allow agri-tourism accommodation (RV) on 1.6 Ha parcel at 18420 Garnet Valley Road
- Staff recommendation to support the variance for the agri-tourism accommodation
- Adoption of June 20, 2024 meeting minutes
- ALC CEO Kim Grout and Commission Chair Jennifer Dyson to present at December 19 meeting