Keremeos council heard from representatives of the B.C. Fruit Growers Association in a delegation during council’s regular meeting on June 17.
President of the BCFGA, Jeet Dukhia, presented council with an industry update, highlighting the association’s strengths and weaknesses within the industry.
Calling B.C.’s fruit production a “boutique” market based on its size, Dukhia noted that the B.C. industry is smaller, nimbler and smarter than its Washington competition, a market 30 times the size of B.C.’s. He also noted that Washington state government had provided 100 million towards worker housing, where no assistance has been forthcoming here.
Other comparisons illuminated in the presentation concerned other aspects of competitiveness (i.e., B.C. competes well on research and efficiency initiatives, but not on infrastructure).
Council was very interested in the presentation, asking several questions following the BCFGA update.
Keremeos Seniors Center Society sent council a letter requesting a letter of support for the senior’s center grant application for funding to upgrade the insulation and have an exterior stucco coat applied to the building.
The grant funding would come from the New Horizons for Seniors Program.
Council found no reason to deny the request.
Chief Administrative Officer Laurie Taylor was recognized by the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators for 35 years of municipal management service.
Taylor told council that she has actually been involved in municipal management for 37 years, having served 14 different mayors, 83 councillors and having attended 1,200 council meetings. Congratulations were offered by Mayor Bauer.
The village’s annual report for 2012 was presented for public scrutiny. There were no members of the public present in the gallery to ask questions or make submissions regarding the document.
Council approved the Village of Keremeos Statement of Financial Information, also presented during the meeting.
A draft of the parks bylaw was presented to council for scrutiny.
The updated parks bylaw will replace the current bylaw which was introduced in 1979. It also addresses the issue of providing RCMP with the power to remove persons from the parks for non-compliance of bylaws.
Concerns addressed in the new legislation include advertising, animals, damage, encroachments, temporary overnight shelter, hours of operation, interference, nuisances, loitering, liquor, bathing restrictions, sales of goods and services, vehicles and other activities.
What is perhaps most important in the parks bylaw update is the Loss of Access Rights section.
With this legislation, new powers given to the CAO, bylaw officer and RCMP will allow them to remove persons from the park or other community facilities who do not adhere to orders to comply with the village bylaws.
Residents living near the park were glad to hear about the bylaw improvements.
“I heard that council was dealing with new laws concerning the park,” said Twelfth Avenue resident Rocky Watt on June 18, adding that he was anxious to see the new bylaw implemented.
The updated park bylaw will receive second reading on July 2.