Electoral Area D Service & Boundary Configuration Study

In 2017, the RDOS received a New Building Canada Fund – Small Communities Fund grant in the wastewater category. The grant was received for the Phase 1 expansion of the Okanagan Falls sewer system to the community area of Skaha Estates. 

 A predesign was completed and the cost estimate for a new system was over $15M. The $6.6M grant received would not be sufficient to make the project affordable to the residents. At that time, the RDOS sent a request to the Province to reallocate the grant funds to Phase 2 of the proposed expansion project for the lakeshore area of Kaleden in Electoral Area I. After proceeding with predesign, the referendum failed and the project was stopped. 

 The grant expires on March 31, 2023, so other possible wastewater projects were explored that did not require borrowing of funds for the 1/3 share as there was insufficient time available for a referendum. Okanagan Falls sewer service did not have any wastewater projects that could proceed. The Province indicated they would not consider any other type of project, such as water or solid waste, so wastewater projects in other areas were considered.

 The Liquid Waste Management Plan had just started in Naramata of Electoral Area E. A few developers had been discussing various options for handling wastewater for their ongoing developments in the village area.  The developers agreed to pay for the 1/3 share to match the grant funds so a community system could be established in the community instead of each development having a mini wastewater treatment system. Further expansions into the rest of the community in the village area would benefit from the initial infrastructure installation by the developers. The Board looked at the option and recommended that the RDOS request the repurposing of the grant to a Naramata Sewer Project. The request was sent to the Province for consideration.

For vehicle and equipment specifications, we recommend contacting the fire departments directly.

Okanagan Falls Fire Department: okfire@shaw.ca or reach them on Facebook.

Oliver and District Fire Department: 250-498-0695 or fill out their online form.

The Sun Valley water system users do not have meters installed at this time. Users are charged based on the size of dole valve they were previously assigned by the Sun Valley Irrigation District. The RDOS has not yet changed this method of user fees that consists of an annual flat rate basic user fee plus an additional cost based on size of dole valve.

No. A municipality with fewer than 5,000 persons is still provided policing services through the province, and that service is contracted by the province to the RCMP. As a municipality under 5,000 population, residents would continue to contribute to policing costs through a “police tax” to the province. The rate would change once incorporated.  

Decisions on resource levels and “authorized strength” for unincorporated areas, and for municipalities with fewer than 5,000 people, involve the RCMP and Province, but are driven by the RCMP's analyses of workloads and needs. The RCMP maintains internal processes for local detachments to request adjustments to authorized strength for both unincorporated areas, and for municipalities with fewer than 5,000 people. These requests are forwarded to BC RCMP Headquarters to be evaluated and considered by the Province in the broader context of the entire Provincial Police Service. Any changes to provincial detachment units require agreement between the BC RCMP and the Solicitor General.

RCMP Detachment Commanders are expected to engage Indigenous and local governments within the detachment service area in establishing local policing priorities. Accordingly, the Mayor and municipal council would have the opportunity to meet with the detachment commander to discuss local priorities and issues.

Once a municipality exceeds a population of 5,000, at that time the municipality would become responsible for paying 70% of the policing costs for the community (and 100% of the costs to accommodate the local police) and would have increased influence and authority over the service. At that time the municipality could consider, as one option, having a local detachment within the municipality.

When an improvement district is dissolved, the assets and liabilities would be transferred to the municipality. Any funds accumulated in a reserve intended for that water system would continue to be allocated to and reserved for that particular water system. Similarly, even once part of the municipality, the only residents that would contribute toward the costs of that particular water system would be those who are connected to and benefit from, the water system.

While the population is one consideration in drawing a boundary, and a concentration of residents is needed to sustain a viable municipality, there is no set minimum threshold that is required to incorporate as a municipality.

As noted in the question above, a Town is a municipal classification. If there was a reason that an area preferred to be called a “Village” over a “Town” or a “District” the Ministry would seek guidance from the Incorporation Study committee at the time of the Incorporation Study, regardless of population.

During an incorporation study, an Incorporation Study Committee is charged with ensuring all residents of the study area have the opportunity to become informed about the impacts of incorporation prior to proceeding to a vote. Due in part to the complexity of the analysis, it is generally the Province’s preference to proceed with two distinct and clear options — typically one option is the status quo (or default option), and the other is incorporation. On occasion, there have been studies that have offered more than two different scenarios, but these would be the exception. For instance, when West Kelowna’s study was completed, the options were to incorporate, to join the City of Kelowna, or to remain as part of the unincorporated area. Ultimately that decision would rest with the Province; however, the objective of the Area D Service and Boundary Configuration study is to recommend one preferred boundary.

The Study is seeking to identify issues, concerns and interests from each focus area and community within Area “D”. One of the purposes is to identify shared interests, another is to determine what issues exist, and whether a change in governance might help to address those issues.

Yes, where estimates can be made, this is part of the information shared during presentations.