Vernon Council primer: Geese and Kin Race Track update

In the summer, Vernon council meets once a month. What that means is that its monthly agenda in those months are stacked.

On Monday, Aug. 14, council will meet for the August session in what is assured to be a jam-packed meeting.

Here are some of the key agenda items to be discussed.

Geese on the loose

The next steps for the goose management program in Vernon is set to be discussed, with three options on the table.

The first is to spend $75,000 on investigating landscape design options at Kin Beach and Paddlewheel Park to deter geese from congregating in those areas. The actual landscape improvements required to deter geese in these areas (if approved) could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The second option is to bring forward a service level increase for consideration during the 2024 budget for enhanced turf cleaning on weekends. This cleaning would be funded by taxation, with a max increase of four per cent. If approved, an additional $30,000 would be required.

Final option is to bring a service level increase for consideration during the 2024 budget for temporary barriers, such as constructing fencing during the geese moulting season. The cost would not exceed $20,000 on an annual basis, and would be funded by taxation. If approved, $20,000 would be required to install and maintain the shoreline barriers during the July season of geese moulting.

Kin Race Track update

Council is recommended to continue the park planning process for the Kin Race Track Athletic Park, following completion of the design for the Active Living Centre (ALC).

On the geotechnical side, primary work has been completed, along with the environmental assessment. A traffic impact assessment was done, showing a deficiency of 300 parking spaces, which would require an addition 7,000 m squared of space.

Administration recommends that the ALC project advance ahead of the Kin Race Track Athletic Park, now that it’s been approved.

A proposed project schedule has now been set, with ALC Design taking place until the end of 2024. Following that, 2025 is scheduled for the Kin Race Track, with design (in 2026) and construction (in 2027) to follow.

Storm water quality update

Administration has completed analysis on the city’s storm water quality and has identified five items that require updating or development. The first is the start of a storm water drainage bylaw, which will control and restrict storm water discharge. This is needed due to finding deleterious substances in the city’s pipe during the analysis. A bylaw would restrict this type of discharge.

The second, third and fourth is to update the Master Drainage Plan, which was last touched in 2001, and two bylaws. An update to the stormwater development cost charge bylaw is needed, due to the significant number of drainage projects recently completed in the community. Additionally, updating of the subdivision and development servicing bylaw would also be required, due to higher volume of drainage work recently completed.

Finally, administration is recommending the permanent installation of flow monitoring gauges at locations along Vernon Creek and BX Creek, to monitor flow quantity and quality.

Secondary suites

Council is recommended to endorse amendments to zoning bylaw 5000 which will allow secondary suites in all residential zones and in semi-detached dwellings .

A first and second reading will be followed by a public hearing for the proposed amendment to the bylaw, if approved.

The full Council agenda can be found here.

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