|
COW ELECTION 2014
LIVE CAM HWY 97 @ WESTSIDE RD
CHBC TV News
Carr's Landing
Joe Rich Community
Trepanier
Kelowna
Capital News
Issuu
Kelowna Daily Courier
Penticton Herald
Penticton Western
Summerland Review
Sumrlnd.myezrock
Vernon
Morning Star
Issuu
Vernon Daily Courier
Castanet.net
Bennett Bridge Cam
Interior Highway Cams
Kelowna Airport
Regional
District of Central Okanagan
RDCO's Facebook
Regional District
of Okanagan Similkameen
District of
Lake Country
District of Peachland
City of Penticton
District of
Summerland
City of Vernon
District of West Kelowna
--------
Kelowna's Best Rock
RDCO Board Calender
RDCO Meeting Schedule
RDCO Board Reports
RDCO Board Agenda
RDCO Board Minutes
Gov Service Agenda
Gov Service Minutes
NWCA Minutes
SILGA -
Board
UBCM
RDCO GIS Map
-------
Westside Rd. Maps
C.O.W. Links
NW
Ratepayers
Edgson News
NWCA
Westside Rd Interchange
Westside
Road Updates
Westside Rd COMPLAINT FORM
Westside
Residents Association
Jobs in Vernon
Jobs in Kelowna
Food Action Society
JOKES
WolframAlpha
Calculator/Answers
WikiLeaks.org
Datadotgc.ca
OpenDataBC
ProactiveDisclosure
BCGov FOI form
BC Forest Fire Info
Twitter
Facebook
BC Wildfires of Note
EmergencyInfoGovBC
Sound Cloud
Scan BC
Kelowna Yacht Club Wind Direction/Speed
MissingKids.ca
|
Follow
okanaganlakebc.ca on Twitter |
|
 |
|
Argo Road Maintenance
Westside Road BC Maintenance
Comment Form
How to find text on this page using:
Internet Explorer |
Firefox |
Opera |Safari
|
Google Chrome
Click on your refresh button in the top menu, to
be sure you see any updates.
LAST UPDATE
February 21, 2017
If you need a shoulder to cry on, pull
off to the side of the road.
Fines for Driving Violations
If you have a concern about road maintenance along Westside Road BC, or West
Kelowna, please contact Murray Tekano
District Manager of Transportation Okanagan Shuswap District Office
as Argo does not have an email address to send complaints to we were told by
Argo themselves.
So when we asked Murray Tekano about having an email address to send complaints
to, he said we could email our concerns about road maintenance directly to him.
(see table below)
|
Kelowna, BC Road Maintenance - for Westside Road BC
Ministry of Transportation website
Okanagan Shuswap District Office
District Manager of Transportation - Murray
Tekano - Murray.Tekano "at" gov.bc.ca - 250-712-3629
Area Manager of Roads - Scott Lain -
Scott.Lain "at" gov.bc.ca - 250-712-3668
copy and paste the email address and take out "at" replacing it with
the @ sign |
Castanet.net Poll
Do you agree with a recommendation to limit roadside
memorials to no more than two years?
Yes 1053
No 532
Total votes: 1585 |
Every year its the same old same old story, Why?
Letter: Snow clearing left lots to be desired
Kelowna Capital News - Feb 12, 2017
To the editor:
The purpose of this letter is not only to point out City
of Kelowna’s negligence when it comes to dealing with
snow removal, but to show that the city’s mayor and
councillors are only interested in furthering their own
needs.
We, the generous taxpayers, shell out huge amounts of
money to the city every year (my own taxes have gone up
29 per cent in the past four years) for the management
of the city with the expectation that the elected
councillors and mayor will represent what the majority
wants. We expect them to be fair and use common sense.
I have phoned twice and visited city hall and the city
yard works to get some action on having my road cleared
of snow with no results as of the writing of this letter
(meanwhile it is snowing heavily again).
The cul-de-sacs are supposed to be plowed within 48
hours of a snowfall. So far it has been over 100 hours
for my street. Hmm, what if we are that late with our
taxes?
My road is so bad (how bad is it?) that I haven’t been
able to get in or out of my driveway since Feb. 4 when
some city worker mindlessly plowed the walkway (beside
my property) diagonally across my driveway and out into
the road in front of my driveway.
What is it called when money is taken for a purpose and
not used for that purpose … robbery? What is it called
when promises are made and not followed through on …
lies? What is it called when the elected officials don’t
follow through on democracy … dictatorship? There you
have it. Our elected city council.
Lisa Broughton, Kelowna
Source: http://www.kelownacapnews.com/opinion/letters/413529583.html |
Its going to snow on blank day cause I have to go to town.
Argo
coughs up for windshield
Castanet.net - by Jon Manchester |
Story: 133360 - Feb 23, 2015
UPDATE Feb 23
The family of a young West Kelowna woman whose
windshield was smashed by snow thrown from a plow truck
says Argo Road Maintenance has stepped up to pay for the
damage.
Peter Kessler says a stranger named Jack called to say
he would pay for Alicia Kessler's new windshield, but
that turned out to be unnecessary when Argo emailed a
day later to say it would cover the cost of replacement.
"They said 'just give us the bill, and we will pay it,'"
said the woman's father.
Kessler said the work is now being done by Valley Glass,
near the family's Glenrosa home.
ORIGINAL Feb. 20
A young West Kelowna woman had the
scare of her life when a wall of snow smashed her
windshield while she was driving on Lower Glenrosa Road
earlier this month.
Alicia Kessler was driving to work at about 12:30 in the
afternoon Feb. 2 when heavy, wet snow thrown from the
blade of a plow truck passing above on nearby Highway 97
landed on her car.
She screamed and slammed on the brakes, said her father,
Peter Kessler.
When she called him to come and help, Kessler said a
"great big triangle of snow, a 15-foot pyramid,"
surrounded the car and went all the way across the road.
"Her car was right in the middle of it."
The rest of the road was clear.
The topography of the area may have contributed to the
incident. In the dip at Powers Creek, Lower Glenrosa is
very close to the southbound lanes of the highway and
about 20 feet below it.
Kessler said an Argo Road Maintenance plow truck came
down the hill "and threw a large amount of snow onto my
daughter's windshield, totally destroying it."
The father said his daughter was so distraught she
couldn't drive home and has hardly driven since because
she is scared.
But he's not angry about the incident. He just wants his
daughter's windshield replaced.
"This is Canada in winter ... If it was a crack or a
chip, that happens all the time in the Okanagan. But
this was one in 1,000 or even 10,000."
Alicia said she only saw the advancing wall of snow when
it was about a foot away.
"I felt pretty scared. I couldn't do anything about it,
so I just hit the brakes. I didn't know what else to
do," she said.
Alicia was alone in the car at the time and was unhurt,
but the abrupt stop and shock of the impact left her
shaken.
Kessler said he contacted Argo after the incident and
sent the company photos of the damage, but he has yet to
get any satisfaction.
"We have been playing phone tag for two weeks," he said.
"My daughter has not driven the car since and cannot
afford a new windshield right now."
Castanet was able to reach Argo operations manager Al
Fraser at the company's Penticton office.
Fraser said Argo has a superintendent looking into it to
see what happened.
"It is an oddity, for sure," he said. "But if we've made
mistakes, we will make good on it. We just have to go
through the process. It is being investigated."
Kessler said if a pedestrian had been walking along the
road at the time, the impact of the snow could have
crippled or killed them. |
Burst tire
sends woman, kids into lake
Castanet.net - by Adam Proskiw - Story: 93682 -
Jun 15, 2013
Photo: Adam Proskiw
A woman and three
kids are lucky to be alive after the front tire of their pickup blew
out, dragging them off Okanagan Highway and into the lake near
Antlers Beach, south of Peachland Saturday night.
"This could have ended a lot worse than it did," said West Kelowna
RCMP Cst. Ryan Rode.
The truck went down a two-meter bank at approximately 8 p.m. and
ended up half submerged on a rocky portion of beach.
The children, who were all under the age of five, were wearing the
proper restraints and all four were able to get out of the vehicle
before emergency crews arrived.
They were taken to Penticton Hospital as a precaution. |
May 9, 2013 Regional District of Central Okanagan Regular Board Meeting
Minutes5.4 Approval of the Sustainable Transportation
Partnership Inter-municipal Service 3-Year Agreement (All Directors - Weighted
Vote)
In April/May 2012, the Councils of the District of Lake Country, City of
Kelowna, District of West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, the District of
Peachland and the Regional Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding to
establish in principle a Sustainable Transportation Partnership. Since that
time, the work of a CAO committee culminated in the concept of an
inter-government partnership which will help local governments progress toward
the achievement of a more sustainable transportation system that supports the
region's economy, social network and ecosystem, while ensuring more cost
effective use, operation and expansion of the system.
The City of Kelowna administers the Regional Transit and the Regional
Transportation Demand Management (TOM) service. In order to further the benefits
of synergies in current and emerging opportunities, and achieve the desired
'enhanced transportation governance strategy', a "Sustainable Transportation
Partnership of the Central Okanagan" (STPCO) has been
defined and described in an Agreement between the local governments of the
Central Okanagan. The Agreement seeks to establish a partnership built on the
membership of local governments.
The Regional Board approved at its March 14, 2013 meeting, that upon signing
of the STPCO agreement, tax requisitioned funds for the TOM program be forwarded
to the City of Kelowna on behalf of the service participants for funding of the
STPCO program for 2013. Staff noted that a bylaw amendment removing Kelowna and
West Kelowna from the TOM function will be brought forward for Board approval at
a future date.
EDGSON/BAKER
THAT The Regional Board approves the Sustainable Transportation Partnership
Intermunicipal Service Agreement between the local governments of the Central
Okanagan in order to formally establish the new partnership known as the
"Sustainable Transportation Partnership of the Central Okanagan" ("STPCO")
consisting of the City of Kelowna, District of Lake Country, District of
Peachland, District of West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, and the Regional
District of the Central Okanagan (Central Okanagan West and Central Okanagan
East Electoral Areas);
AND THAT the Board appoints the Board Chair to the "Inter-municipal Advisory
Board" of the STPCO;
AND THAT the Board directs the Chief Administrative Officer to work with his
counterparts of local and regional governments in the Okanagan to oversee and
provide direction to the STPCO through the "CAO Committee";
CARRIED
-------------------------------
May 9, 2013 audio of entire RDCO Board meeting - .mp3 (11.5
MB)
May 9, 2013 audio of RDCO Board meeting only about Item 5.4 Sustainable
Transportation Partnership - .wma (276 KB)
May 9, 2013 audio of RDCO Board meeting only about Keith Fielding discussing
Sustainable Transportation - .wma (320 KB)
|
|
March
14, 2013 Regional District of Central Okanagan Regular Board Meeting Minutes
8. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
8.1 Rise & Report - Governance &
Services Committee meeting of February 28, 2013 & March 14, 2013
a) Transportation Demand Management (TDM) & Sustainable
Transportation Partnership of the Central Okanagan (STPCO)
Agreement (Feb. 28 meeting) (All Directors - Unweighted Vote)
The Governance & Services Committee at its February 28th meeting
after discussion about TDM being transferred to the City of
Kelowna and operated under the STPCO (Sustainable Transportation
Partnership of the Central Okanagan) group recommend the
following. OPHUS/BLANLEIL
THAT the Administration Overhead charge
for 050 - Transportation Demand Management (TDM) be removed from
the program beginning in 2013 and redistributed to other
existing programs; AND THAT upon signing of the
Sustainable Transportation Partnership of the Central Okanagan (STPCO)
agreement by all municipal partners and the RDCO, tax
requisitioned funds for program 050 - TDM be forwarded to the
City of Kelowna on behalf of the service participants for
funding of the STPCO program for 2013;
AND FURTHER THAT
details related to future transitioning of the 050 - TDM program
to the STPCO program, including determination of service
participants, be referred to the Steering Committee currently
undertaking the service review process
as agreed to by the Regional Board at its February 25, 2013
meeting. CARRIED
-------------------------------
March
14, 2013 audio of entire RDCO Board meeting - .mp3 (3.83
MB)
March
14, 2013 audio of RDCO Board meeting only about Item 8.1A
Transportation Demand Management Administrative Overhead -
.wma (21.8 KB)
|
|
January 17, 2013 Regional District of Central Okanagan Regular Board Meeting
Agenda
Item 5.1 Handi Dart Transit Local Service Area Establishment Amendment Bylaw No
. 1313
*Note* This is only a snippet, please click link above
for entire content
WHEREAS the Regional District of Central Okanagan has adopted the "Regional
District of Central Okanagan Handi-Dart Transit Local Service Area Establishment
Bylaw No. 419, 1990 and Regional District of Central Okanagan Handi-Dart Transit
Local Service Area Establishment Amendment Bylaw No. 965, 2002 and 1263, 2009";
AND WHEREAS the Westbank First Nation (as part of Central Okanagan West
Electoral Area) has expressed a desire to assume responsibility for Handi-Dart
Transit Services within their boundaries and the Regional Board has agreed to
this;
AND WHEREAS Director of Central Okanagan West Electoral Area has consented in
writing to the adoption of this Bylaw;
NOW THEREFORE the Regional District of Central Okanagan, in open meeting
assembled, enacts as follows:
1. That Regional District of Central Okanagan Handi-Dart Transit Local Service
Area Establishment Bylaw No. 419, 1990 be repealed;
2. This Bylaw may be cited as Regional District of Central Okanagan Handi-Dart
Transit Local Service Area Establishment Amendment Bylaw No. 1313, 2012.
-------------------------------
January 17, 2013 audio of entire RDCO Board meeting - .mp3
(11.7
MB)
January 17, 2013 audio of RDCO Board meeting only about Item 5.1
Handi Dart Transit Local Service Area Establishment Amendment Bylaw No . 1313 -
.wma (358 KB)
|
|
January 17, 2013 Regional District of Central Okanagan Regular Board Meeting
Agenda
Item 6.1 Reassignment Of Regional Gas Tax Funding To District Of
West Kelowna
*Note* This is only a snippet, please click link above
for entire content
Recommendation:
THAT the Regional Board approve of the reassignment of three million five
hundred and ninety thousand dollars ($3,590,000) in federal Gas Tax funding from
the City of Kelowna to the District of West Kelowna for completion of
infrastructure associated with Phase 2 of the Rapid Bus project;
AND THAT the Regional Board endorse the change of a proposed transit exchange
from along Stevens Rd to along Westgate Rd and next to Hwy 97.
AND THAT the Regional Board support a request to the Union of BC Municipalities
for an extension of the deadline for using the Gas Tax funding from September
30th, 2013 to December 31 St, 2014.
Purpose: To seek Regional Board approval of the transfer of Regional Gas Tax
funding from the City of Kelowna to the District of West Kelowna. The funding
was approved by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) in 2007. At the time, the
City of Kelowna agreed to administer the local government funding as the
District of West Kelowna had not yet incorporated. The funding agreement should
be between the UBCM and the local government that will have jurisdiction over
the completed infrastructure, in this case the District of West Kelowna. Since
2007, the location of a proposed transit exchange has changed and Board
endorsement is sought for this change.
-------------------------------
January 17, 2013 audio of entire RDCO Board meeting - .mp3
(11.7
MB)
January 17, 2013 audio of RDCO Board meeting only about Item 6.1
Reassignment Of Regional Gas Tax Funding To District Of West Kelowna - .wma (4.95
MB)
|
|
January 17, 2013 Regional District of Central Okanagan Regular Board Meeting
Minutes
6. NEW BUSINESS
6.1 Reassignment of Regional Gas Tax Funding to the District of West Kelowna
(All Directors - Unweighted Vote)
Staff report dated January 8, 2013 outlined that in 2007 UBCM approved funding
for infrastructure associated with the Rapid Bus service operating between the
Westbank Town Centre and UBC-Okanagan campus. Of the $10.5M approved, $3.59M was
related to proposed transit infrastructure within the District of West Kelowna.
At that time, the City of Kelowna agreed to
administer the government funding as West Kelowna had not yet incorporated.
Since that time incorporation has occurred, as well the area of proposed
improvements has significantly changed.
Staff provided a brief review of the background. There is an agreement in place
for gas tax funding which was approved as part of the region's Smart Transit
Plan. A capital plan was produced in 2006 and the funds approved in 2007. Phase
1 started in 2008 in Kelowna and was completed in 2010. Phase 2 of the plan is
within West Kelowna boundaries. Since the application was made, priorities have
changed and amendments are required as the infrastructure will be located with
the boundaries of West Kelowna. In addition, the current agreement expires in
2013 and an extension for the completion of the projects is required to the end
of 2014.
FINDLATER/GIVEN
THAT the Regional Board approve of the reassignment of $3,590,000 in Federal Gas
Tax funding from the City of Kelowna to the District of West Kelowna for
completion of infrastructure associated with Phase 2 of the Rapid Bus project;
AND THAT the Regional Board endorse the change of a proposed transit exchange
from along Stevens Road to along Westgate Road and next to Hwy 97;
AND THAT the Regional Board support a request to the Union of BC Municipalities
for an extension of the deadline for using the Gas Tax funding from September
30, 2013 to December 31,2014.
CARRIED
-------------------------------
January 17, 2013 audio of entire RDCO Board meeting - .mp3
(11.7
MB)
January 17, 2013 audio of RDCO Board meeting only about Item 6.1
Reassignment Of Regional Gas Tax Funding To District Of West Kelowna - .wma (4.95
MB)
|
|
August
22, 2011 Regional District of Central Okanagan Regular Board Meeting Agenda
Item 9.2 Report-Endorsement of the Regional District of North Okanagan Regional
Growth Strategy Bylaw No. 2500, 2011.pdf
Item 11.3 Sustainability Steering Committee Recommendation - Regionally
Significant Funding.pdf
*Note* this is only a snippet, click link above for
entire contents
Agenda No: 11.3
Mtg Date: August 22, 2011
Regional Board Report
TO: Regional Board
FROM: Sustainability Steering Committee
DATE: August 11, 2011
SUBJECT: Regionally Significant Project Funding
RECOMMENDATION
THAT the Regional Board approve the following projects be included in the
Regional District's applications to the Union of BC Municipalities for funding
under the Regionally Significant Projects Federal Gas Tax Funding:
• New and replacement of transit buses - $4,402,420
• Active Transportation Planning and Projects - $2,247,315
AND THAT staff finalize costs and report back to the Regional Board on the final
application for each project being requested;
AND FURTHER THAT staff report back on the success of the applications.
BACKGROUND:
The Regional District's Sustainability Steering Committee met on July 14th to
further discuss priorities for the regionally significant gas tax funding
(minutes attached).
To date, the Regional Board has approved funding priorities (out of the
$8,722,420 available) for the following projects: RDCO HVAC replacement
($892,685), the Regional Growth Strategy (including the aggregate supply
and demand study) ($400,000); and the upgrade to the regional septage
facility ($780,000).
The Board had previously agreed to include active transportation projects which
did not include funding for transit buses as a priority. In discussion with
municipal staff, concern has been expressed that there are not many active
transportation projects for consideration and that debt servicing of transit
buses is still a considered priority for the municipalities. RDCO staff continue
discussions with the member municipalities regarding the two priorities (new and
replacement of transit buses, and active transportation planning and projects).
The above recommendation is brought forward for Board approval in order for all
staff to move forward in planning considerations for the two remaining
priorities. How the remaining funds are to be distributed between the
municipalities and electoral areas is yet to be determined.
Application deadline for these funds is September 2012. This is submitted for
consideration.
------------------
October 7, 2010
Chair Robert Hobson and Board
Central Okanagan Regional District
1450 KLO Road
Kelowna BC V1W 324
Dear Chair Robert Hobson and Board:
RE: GAS TAX AGREEMENT REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS FUND
We are pleased to advise that Gas Tax Agreement's Partnership Committee has
approved a Strategic Priorities Fund program model. The Committee has again
agreed to set aside, or reserve, a portion of the funding for Regionally
Significant projects (RSPs) within Tier 2 regions.
The amount reserved for RSPs in your region is $8,722,420.00. We invite the
regional district, on behalf of itself and its member municipalities, to contact
UBCM indicating your interest in entering a RSP Working Group with UBCM and the
Province.
UBCM is interested in working with you throughout the development process.
The RSP Working Group, consisting of staff from UBCM and the Province, will
facilitate the discussion with staff from your region on the process for
developing an RSP proposal that meets the Gas Tax
outcomes of lower greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner air, or cleaner water, and
which is large in scale and regional in impact.
RSPs are unique as they will not be competing for funding against applications
from other regions, and funding will be provided for approved RSP projects up to
the lesser of the eligible costs of the projects and the amount reserved for the
region.
Further information about RSP proposals is set out in the enclosed Question and
Answer document. If you would like further information about the RSP program, or
would like to initiate discussions with the RSP Working Group, please contact
Brant Felker, Gas Tax Program Officer by email at bfelker "at" ubcm.ca or by
phone at 250 356-0893.
Yours truly,
Barbara Steele
UBCM President
pc: Harold Reay, CAD
don't forget to click link above for the entire contents
-------------------------------
August 22, 2011 audio of entire RDCO Board meeting
- .mp3 (307 MB)
August 22, 2011 audio of RDCO Board meeting only about
Regionally Significant Funding - .wma (1.38 MB) |
|
August 22, 2011 Regional District of Central Okanagan Regular Board Meeting Minutes
11.3 Sustainability Steering Committee Recommendation -
Regionally Significant Funding (All Directors - Unweighted Vote)
Staff report dated August 11, 2011 outlined the recommendation from
the RDCO Sustainability Steering Committee regarding funding under
the Regionally Significant Projects Federal Gas Tax Funding. It was
noted that since the July 14th Committee meeting the Regional Board
approved funding for the upgrade to the regional septage facility.
It was noted that staff are not sure at this point if transit buses fit the
criteria for regionally significant funding. SHEPHERD/FINDLATER
THAT the Regional Board approve the following projects be included in the
Regional District's applications to the Union of BC Municipalities for funding
under the Regionally Significant Projects Federal Gas Tax Funding:
• New and replacement of transit buses - $4,402,420
• Active Transportation Planning and Projects - $2,247,315
AND THAT staff
finalize costs and report back to the Regional Board on the final application
for each project being requested;
AND FURTHER THAT staff report back on the success of the applications.
CARRIED -------------------------------
August 22, 2011 audio of entire RDCO Board meeting
- .mp3 (307 MB)
August 22, 2011 audio of RDCO Board meeting only about
Regionally Significant Funding - .wma (1.38 MB) |
|
What I have learned from BC MOTH by Kelley
Hayes: Quick View
I have received several
complaints from residents near Goudie Road, regarding noisy logging
trucks hauling through the night, using their Jake brakes. I have
explained that the RDCO does not have jurisdiction over the
provincially owned roadway. I have referred people to BC Ministry of
Transportation & Highways.
RDCO is a regional district, not a municipality – municipalities
own and regulate activities on their roadways through traffic
bylaws.
Here is a further explanation of the problem and reason why RDCO can
not successfully enforce this problem under the noise bylaw.
I have spoken with Mike Hovde, Kamloops District, MOTH.
Due to warmer than normal temperatures, MOTH is requesting that
logging trucks haul their load between 2am and 10am in order to
avoid damage to their roads. These time restrictions are normal as
temperatures get above –3 degrees at night, but the time of year is
5 weeks earlier than normal.
Mike indicates that allowing the hauling at night keeps the industry
rolling. They may consider talking to the haulers to back off their
engine brakes, or placing signage on the road to “avoid” the use of
jake brakes.
Complainants should be referred to Scott Lane at the Kelowna MOTH
office at 712-3660 so that they can hear this information from MOTH
first hand, particularly if anything changes.
What the RDCO NOISE BYLAW states:
Section 1:
No person shall make or cause, or permit to be made or caused, any
noise in or on a highway or elsewhere in the Regional District which
disturbs the peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort, or convenience of the
neighborhood, or of persons in the
vicinity.
Note: RDCO does not have jurisdiction over it’s (Provincial)
roadways.
Section 5(b):
No person shall on any day before 7am or after 10pm operate any
logging equipment, log yard equipment, aggregate extraction
equipment or aggregate processing equipment in any manner whatsoever
which makes, causes noises or sounds in or on a highway or elsewhere
which disturb, or tend to disturb, the quiet, peace, rest,
enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the neighborhood, or of any
person in the vicinity.
Note: This paragraph does not include logging vehicles.
A few comments about the RDCO bylaw (by Rhoda):
RDCO noise bylaw violations are subjective to the complainants.
The bylaw requires (as required in the Local Government Act) that
more than one person witness that noise (at that date and at that
time). The RDCO noise bylaw does not specify dba levels and
bylaw officers are not qualified to use measure the dba.
The concept of noise includes an element of reasonableness, in the
sense that noise can be described as an activity that results in an
unreasonable interference with the use or enjoyment of property. The
degree of interference with the use and enjoyment of property must
be substantial and not trifling or insignificant.
Goudie Road is a community where logging trucks are a reasonable
activity. There is timber up Goudie Road which has to make it’s way
down to town.
Bylaw Enforcement officers at RDCO do not have authority to require
vehicles to stop or pull over.
What the RCMP say:
I spoke with Staff Srgt Dengis who indicates that the Motor Vehicle
Act does not allow loud or excessive noise, but the RCMP have to
demonstrate that the vehicle’s standard piece of equipment has not
been altered or reduced. The Jake brakes may be loud, but they are a
standard manufacturer’s equipment and disruptions to the
neighborhood will be expected from use of this standard equipment.
The legislation in the MVA is intended for
exhaust issues or squeeling tires.
What City of Kelowna (a Municipality) says:
One particular resident from Goudie Road insisted that the City of
Kelowna would enforce this under the noise bylaw. I enquired at the
City bylaw department and spoke with BEO Dan Maja. Maja indicates
that they would not enforce this under their traffic bylaw or their
noise bylaw in this situation because the driver has no choice but
to use his jake brake to slow down while going down a hill.
If he doesn’t use the jake brake, the driver will burn up the
brakes by the time he gets to the bottom of the hill. Catching the
driver is difficult, we do not have authority to pull drivers over.
This is also a safety situation for the truck drivers, similar to
the City not enforcing limitations to snow plowing (an activity for
safety) during night hours.
http://www.kellyhayes.ca/documents/Loggingtruckcomplaints.doc |
|
July 14, 2011 Regional District of Central Okanagan Governance
and Services Committee Meeting Minutes
7. Transit 7.1 Transit - Fare Increase and Recovery Percentage
Staff report dated July 4, 2011 from the City of Kelowna contractor for transit
outlined the requirement for support of a fare increase for conventional and
custom transit and U-Pass increase. The Regional District currently manages
transit service for the District of Peachland, Westbank First Nation and Central
Okanagan East Electoral Area. Each of the municipal councils are being asked to
approve the fare increase. Staff provided a review of the fare increases
noting the last increase was in September 2007. Staff also reviewed the
Universal Bus Pass (UPASS) system which was implemented at UBC-Okanagan in 2007.
The UPASS is structured as a student fee, currently set at $50 per semester. UBC-Okanagan
subsidizes the UPASS by 10%. The current UPASS agreement sets out the procedure
for changes in the UPASS program. Notice of a program rate increase must be
given before August 15 in the calendar year prior to the year the proposed
increase is to come into effect. The question was raised regarding sponsorship
opportunities on the student cards? It has been a desire to build this into the
system and staff is
continuing to negotiate this with the UBC-O Student Union.
Recovery rate is a critical policy issue. Keeping recovery rates low keeps fares
low and spreads a balance across the tax rate. Staff noted the recovery rate
used to be within 30-35%. FIELDING/HODGE
THAT the recommendation for a transit fare increase and recovery policy be
POSTPONED until the District of Peachland Council receives the transit
presentation; AND THAT the recommendation on a transit fare increase and
recovery policy bebrought forward for consideration to the August 11th
Governance and Services Committee meeting; AND FURTHER THAT the City of
Kelowna staff be authorized to negotiate with UBC Okanagan an increase to the
UPASS rate. CARRIED -------------------------------
July 14, 2011 audio of entire
Governance and Services Committee meeting - .mp3 (651 MB)
July 14, 2011 audio of RDCO
Governance and Services Committee meeting only about the Transit Fare Increase
and Recovery Percentage - .wma (15.4 MB)
|
|
MANAGEMENT PLAN for Fintry Provincial Park October, 1998
(the following found on page 44, or page 54 of the .pdf)
Actions:
-
Track repeat visitors and day
users, to determine the volume of park use travel from the north
and south ends of Westside Road.
-
Encourage Ministry of
Transportation and Highways to construct
pull outs and
safety barriers along
Westside Road, and to install barriers on Fintry Delta Road.
-
Encourage Ministry of
Transportation and Highways to survey and design a relocated
intersection at Westside Road, to be built when traffic
congestion requires upgrading to the intersection.
-
Survey and dedicate Westside
Road, removing the road from park status.
-
Eliminate, except for emergency
and park management purposes, vehicle use of access easements
and former roads in the park. In particular, close the
Attenborough Road short cut route to vehicular traffic and
incorporate the route as part of the hiking and horse trail
system. Keep Old Fintry Access route closed to all but emergency
vehicles. Incorporate the route as part of the looped canyon
trail system. Use gates, road rehabilitation, signage and
landscaping to discourage vehicular use except at designated
park entrances.
-
When backcountry use increases,
construct pull outs
for Westside Road users, possibly in conjunction with a
backcountry user parking area on Westside Road.
-
Install sign along Westside Road
at Bear Creek Provincial Park noting distance to Fintry Park.
-
Work with private tour operators
to determine feasibility of boat tours, with Fintry as a
destination.
|
May 22, 2011 Vernon Morning Star Newspaper Article about
BCAA's worst road survey
Westside Road is #7
Motorists frustrate emergency crews
Castanet.net - by Daniel Hayduk - Story: 60462 -
Feb 27, 2011
Weather conditions in the Okanagan created slick driving conditions
Sunday, but the warning from RCMP was for drivers to get out of the
way of emergency vehicles.
"People aren't slowing down for emergency vehicles, says RCMP
Constable Kent Hall at the scene of one head-on collision on Shannon
Lake Road in West Kelowna Sunday afternoon.
Hall says motorists need to re-familiarize themselves with the laws
regarding emergency vehicles.
Emergency vehicles with lights and sirens on always have the right
of way and motorists must pull over and stop.
To put it simply: "Get out of the way," says Hall.
Once emergency crews arrive at an incident, firefighters, paramedics
and police officers still have the right of way, says Hall.
Hall says he often sees motorists trying to manoeuvre past a road
block, and sometimes even strike emergency crews or their vehicles.
At the crash on Shannon Lake Road, several vehicles slowly inched
forward, driving over flares on the roadway, trying to make it past
Constable Hall's diagonally parked SUV.
The law requires all motorists approaching a stopped official
vehicle displaying flashing red, blue or amber lights to slow to 70
km/h, on highways with a posted speed of 80 km/h or higher,
and slow to 40km/h on those highways posting speeds of less than 80
km/h.
Official vehicles are:
Police Vehicles, Ambulance, Fire Service Vehicles, Tow Trucks,
Vehicles used by Conservation Officers, Inspectors under the
Inspectors Authorization Regulation, Passenger Transportation
Inspectors, Park Rangers, Ministry of Forests and Range Special
Constables. |
Cultural district to get break at night from truck traffic
Kelowna Capital News - By Kathy Michaels -
September 23, 2010Industrial vehicles won’t be
rumbling through Kelowna’s cultural district throughout the night
much longer.
City council voted Monday to ban the trucks from Ellis Street from 7
a.m. to 7 p.m. following a recommendation from a report on improving
the downtown pedestrian environment, through the road system.
But, by Coun. Michele Rule’s estimates the solution, which is to
close off Ellis and re-routing trucks onto Gordon Drive during the
night, won’t go far enough to address the issue.
“The idea is to not have trucks driving (on Ellis in the daytime,”
she said, inquiring into the rationale of not re-routing heavy
traffic through Gordon, 24/7.
That’s not going to happen, for the time being at least, explained
city staff.
“The (B.C.) Ministry of Transportation doesn’t want to turn a
left-turn light for northbound traffic, leaving Highway 97 for
Gordon Drive. In fact, they already want fewer turning lights on
that stretch through the city so traffic moves more slowly.
“There’s no good solution to this,” said Coun. Robert Hobson, noting
that keeping a cultural district that butts into an industrial area
is bound to create some friction. “This is a little step in the
right direction.” |
If you have photos, comments, information, regarding snow removal, pot holes,
crumbling shoulders, or any other complaints, please forward it to us as well as
the local authority. You can use our
feedback form, the
comments form below which posts your comments to this
website here, or you can email us.
We would like to know how you think Argo is doing.
We are not impressed about not being able to email Argo directly, are you?
Thanks to Murray we have someone to email, but I am sure he doesn't need these
emails. I don't think Murray would be going out to fill pot holes.
Contractors must maintain and implement a Quality Management System based on the
principles of the International Organization for Standardization’s ISO 9000-2000
standard. While contractors do not have to be certified, they are required to
have a system that meets both the letter and the spirit of the ISO standard.
The Ministry’s Quality Plan consists of monitoring and auditing the contractors
to ensure compliance with the contract terms and conditions. The focus of the
audits is on whether the contractor is meeting the Maintenance Specifications
and maintaining a Quality Management System.
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/BCHighways/contracts/maintenance/hwy_maintenance_contracts.htm
These two photos were taken of Westside Road BC on March 17, 2009.
Birds at Valley of the Sun treat the potholes as watering bowls LOL.
Larger photos of the pot holes at Valley of the Sun on Firwood Road below.
These photo's were taken September 26, 2010
View of Firwood Road a little ways into Valley of the Sun subdivision
click image for larger photo
View on the way out of Valley of the Sun on Firwood Road. You can see
Valley of the Sun sign in the distance.
click image for larger photo
View on the way into Valley of the Sun on Firwood Road
click image for larger photo
|
Vernon, BC Road Maintenance
Ministry of Transportation website
Operations Manager - Danny Morris - Danny.Morris "at"
gov.bc.ca - 250-503-3632
Area Manager - Mike Hovde - Mike.Hovde "at" gov.bc.ca -
250-503-3608
Vernon BC Weigh Scale
To
contact Argo
Road Maintenance for Vernon please phone: 1-877-546-3799
Jim Jensen - Argo Quality Assurance Manager North Okanagan - jjensen [at]
argoroads.ca
Argo Vernon BC - rkovacvich [at] argoroads.ca
If you can't get anywhere with the above try phoning or emailing your
Central Okanagan West director Jim Edgson who is director for Westside Road, Trepanier and Brent Road Peachland.
Phone Jim Edgson 250-260-3602
-----------------------
If the above contacts were of no help, try contacting:
Director of Highway Maintenance Contracts in Victoria
Director of
Highways Maintenance Contracts
Reg Fredrickson
in Victoria at 250-387-7627. Phone enquiry BC 1-800-663-7867 and they will put you through to
Victoria
toll-free with no long distance.
Phone: 250-387-7627
Fax: 250-356-7276
Cellular: 250-480-9729
| Mailing Address: |
PO Box 9850
Stn Prov. Gov't
Victoria, BC
V8W-9T5 |
|
Community Charter
[SBC 2003] CHAPTER 26
This Act is Current to March 31, 2010"extraordinary traffic"
includes the carriage of goods or persons in vehicles over a highway
that, in conjunction with the nature or existing condition of the
highway, the council considers is so extraordinary in
(a) the quality or quantity of the goods or the number of persons
carried,
(b) the mode or time of use of the highway, or
(c) the speed at which the vehicles are driven or operated,
that it substantially alters or increases the burden imposed on the
highway through its proper use by ordinary traffic, and causes
damage to the highway or resulting expense to the municipality
beyond what is reasonable or ordinary;
"highway" includes a street, road, lane, bridge, viaduct and any
other way open to public use, other than a private right of way on
private property; |
|
Penticton, BC Road Maintenance
Ministry of Transportation website
Operations Manager - Jeff Wiseman - Jeff.Wiseman "at"
gov.bc.ca - 250-490-2227
Area Manager for Penticton/Peachland/Summerland - Chris Keir
- Chris.Keir "at" gov.bc.ca - 250-490-2248
Kaleden BC Weigh Scale |
To contact Argo by telephone, click on the
Ministry of Transportation's website and look for your specific area.
We haven't found any email addresses for Argo Road Maintenance on the web, and
Argo refuses to accept complaints by email.
What we should all do is stop contacting Argo by telephone and make all our
complaints by email to the powers that be at the Ministry of Transportation
instead. And while you are at it let the Ministry know that you want to be
able to email complaints to someone in charge, and who would that be?
WARNING TIRE SAFETY PROBLEMS!
Retailers are selling brand new tires that are aged more than 6 years, which
could cause the tire to blow and your vehicle to go completely out of control.
Retailers are not suppose to sell a tire if it is more than 6 years of age.
Watch the video to find out how you can check to see if your tires are too old
and should be replaced. You check the inside sidewall of the tire for the
markings. There are different date codes for the markings, so it is best
to watch the video to see how they mark tires with the date.
http://abcnews.go.Com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897
2006 Westside Road Study - Regional District of Central Okanagan - Board Agenda
October 30, 2006
Ministry of Transportation Employee Newsletter
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/publications/roadrunners/index-roadrunners.htm
If drinking and driving is illegal, then why do bars have parking lots and why
don't they have beds instead? B&B = Bar and Bed but then again, it could
easily turn into another type B&B = Bar and Brothel that way too.
If you think Westside Road is bad, check out this
Russian
Highway on You-Tube. Amazing! You will never complain about
how much snow builds up on Westside Road BC again LOL!
Not enough tickets issued: cops
Kelowna Capital News - By Jennifer Smith - August
24, 2010Kelowna RCMP officers are not issuing enough
tickets to stop drivers from speeding through local neighbourhoods,
city council heard Monday.
Coun. Luke Stack said he has heard serious concern about drivers are
laying too much rubber near local homes when council met with the
neighbourhood associations en mass earlier this month and he shared
the concern with RCMP Insp. Cam Forgues.
The cops have not been handing out enough tickets, Forgues admitted,
noting even the figures for this summer show officers are not on top
of the basic infractions when the busy summer season begins.
“It’s a constant battle we face every day,” he said, adding
“unfortunately, in the last few years, we’ve been robbing the
traffic section for other duties.”
During his monthly visits to council, Supt. Bill McKinnon has
consistently complained that the local RCMP have had to steal
resources from the traffic section of their detachment in order to
meet demands in other areas—particularly during the busy summer
season.
Funding to pay for additional police officers must come out of the
city’s budget and, though he received an additional five officers
this year, the McKinnon said he would need 21 more to meet demands
this year. Council did not agree to his request.
Last December, McKinnon told council he is burning his officers out
and they are stretched thin, according to a frightening statistical
analysis that revealed Kelowna’s police resources are among the
worst in the country.
A Statistics Canada study released that same month suggested this
city has the lowest number of officers per capita of any city in
Canada.
At the time, the superintendent disputed some of the figures in the
study, but said it accurately depicted the state of affairs at his
detachment.
Numbers from the local policing reports for last month indicate
there is still a problem.
In June, Kelowna RCMP issued 855 tickets, but by July, with tourists
flocking to the shores of Okanagan Lake, only 642 were issued.
Forgues said he is aware that
McKinnon
has actually taken the concerns to the officers, saying “I know
you’re busy, but take the time to write a few tickets.”
jsmith "at" kelownacapnews.com |
Some councillors see red over going green
Kelowna Capital News - By Jennifer Smith - August
24, 2010Solar hot water showers for Kelowna’s fire
fighters and electric cars to boot about the streets had city
councillors in a flap over meeting green targets in the Okanagan
this week.
A request to install a $12,000 solar hot water system on the
Enterprise Way fire hall generated tremendous debate Monday
afternoon as councillors variously extolled the virtues of meeting
provincial greenhouse gas emission targets and damned the plans for
their perceived expense.
“If we keep growing like we do, we cannot meet those commitments”
said Coun. Graeme James, who appeared to lead the rally to sink the
solar hot water plan.
Kelowna has agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent
at all city facilities by 2011 and by 33 per cent from 2007 levels
by 2020 overall, but according to James those are now insurmountable
goals.
James said he believes this city is only going to continue to be a
popular place to live and that outfitting every city facility with
green technologies like the solar hot water system would eventually
bankrupt the municipality.
Not so, according to Angela Reid, however, who said the truly costly
decision would be to ignore environmental warning signs and stick
with the status quo.
“The idea that all future growth has to come at the expense of
greenhouse gases isn’t necessarily true,” she said.
“Growth is inevitable but how we grow is the important thing.”
She suggested pay back could be swift for most greenhouse gas
reducing technologies and helped turn the tide at the council table
so the council would approve the hot water deal.
Electric cars, on the other hand, could be
on the roads of other communities for some time before Kelowna
approves the little get-a-bouts.
Though places like Oak Bay, Victoria and Penticton have approved the
use of the small vehicles, Kelowna city councillors had serious
concerns about their safety rating and the dependency of local
residents on vehicles for travel.
They have ordered several more reports in the wake of Monday’s
discussion.
jsmith "at" kelownacapnews.com |
City
investigating low speed electric car
Castanet.net - by Wayne Moore - Story: 56504 - Aug
24, 2010
Low speed electric cars, those which travel between
30/kmh and 40/kmh
may soon be allowed on some Kelowna streets.
The Neighbourhood Zero Emission Vehicles (NZEV) are licensed by ICBC
and have been allowed in several communities in the province
including Vancouver, Penticton, Whistler, Port Coquitlam and many
municipalities around Greater Victoria.
Kelowna Council debated the issue at length Monday before asking
staff to report back on strategies to reduce car dependency in the
city, bring back a map identifying roads that the low speed vehicles
would and would not potentially be allowed to run and also to look
into a zoning bylaw change requiring plug-ins in all new commercial,
industrial and multi-family developments.
Council expressed serious concern about the safety of the vehicle,
described by Councillor Andre Blanleil as a glorified golf cart, and
the safety of the passengers.
"They are fiberglass, they have no airbags and very little steel in
them. You don't have to hit too hard in these things to be killed,"
says Blanleil.
"I don't think we should be jeopardizing people's families because
we feel this is the way to go. These are not made safe enough to put
on the road and get into an accident."
A study by the Transportation Association of Canada which
accompanied the report shows Kelowna is the most car dependent
jurisdiction in Canada and has the third highest rate of injuries
and fatalities per vehicle kilometre travelled in Canada.
Blanleil says the NZEV will also slow down traffic and further
irritate local motorists.
"They will cause impatience and slow people down. I just think you
are jeopardizing people's lives by even considering this.
He says full size electric cars are right around the corner and
while they are expensive, Blanleil says like all electronics, they
will drop in price if people are patient.
Council was told the vehicles would not be permitted on any roadway
with a speed limit over 50/kmh, including the two highways and would
also not be permitted to cross the highways in certain areas.
"We have preferred cycling routes that we recommend people use
within our community, and we could have an NZEV route map in the
community which says these are some roads we would suggest are
perhaps better than others," says Councillor Angela Reid.
"These could link people within urban centres and even linking one
urban centre with another. I know long term we want to get people
out of their cars and not just replacing cars with electric vehicles
but I think it is part of the transition we'll be making."
Councillor Robert Hobson suggested perhaps allowing vehicles within
specific developments.
"I think of the new commercial centre in the Upper Mission that we
just approved for example. You've got new village centre, you've got
multi family owned houses, it's a fairly confined neighbourhood,"
says Hobson.
Council agreed it will wait for staff to report back before
considering the next step which would be crafting a bylaw allowing
vehicles on the road. |
| This was a poll on Castanet.net we saw on August 27, 2010
Should Kelowna allow electric cars with a top speed of 40/kmh
to drive on city streets with speed limits no more than 50/kmh?
Yes 569
No 1096
Total votes: 1665 |
|
August 12, 2010 Regional District of Central Okanagan Governance &
Services Committee Agenda
Item 5.1 Quarterly Program Measures Report.pdf
Agenda No: 5.1
Mtg Date: August 12, 2010
TO: RDCO Directors and Department Heads
FROM: Donna Adams, Accounting Analyst; Marilyn Rilkoff, Manager of
Finance and Administration
DATE: July 30,2010
SUBJECT: Quarterly Program Measures Report, Year to Date June 30,
2010
*This is only a snippet of the 8 pages*
The following are some of the highlights for the year from the
Quarterly Report, but are certainly not all inclusive. We do
recommend that the report and each program be reviewed, particularly
with respect to "Department Initiative Status Reports", the "Summary
of Year to Date Results", and Project Updates for the various
programs. There are too many items too be covered in this summary,
and everyone's level of interest in the various programs and
departments varies.
Executive Summary:
083 - Westside Transit Services (Page 132):
Effective April 1,2010, at the beginning of each month transit
drivers will be allowed to provide a three day extension for a
riders' recently expired monthly pass. This grace period gives
monthly pass holders ample opportunity to purchase a new monthly
pass. The Regional Board has approved a request to provide an
average of 700 transit tickets each month to the Central Okanagan
United Way, which then provides the tickets to 17 social service
organizations to assist their clients with bus transportation around
the region. The Transit Bylaw has been amended to remove the
District of West Kelowna and Central Okanagan West Electoral area
from the Regional District Service Area and pave the way for the
municipality to assume responsibility for the service within its
boundary.
|
|
July 26, 2010 Highlights of the Regional District of Central
Okanagan Regular Board Meeting
Joe Rich Rural Land Use
Bylaw Amendment The Regional Board did not give first reading to a proposed
site specific text amendment to the Joe Rich Rural Land Use Bylaw. The applicant
requested the amendment for their 5.1-hectare property adjacent to Highway 33
east in order to allow storage of up to 40 recreational vehicles on site. Staff
suggested that the proposed use would impact the rural character of the area and
might interfere with neighbouring properties, doesn’t fit into the secondary
home-based business category since it is not located within a building and that
such a commercial use would be better suited to areas within the Regional
District designed for commercial or industrial activities.
------------------------------
July 26, 2010 audio clip of the Regional Board discussing only
the
zoning amendment for Recreational Vehicle storage facility.
Hear what COW Director Jim Edgson says at the end of the audio tape. .mp3 (21
MB)
July 26, 2010 audio clip of the Regional Board discussing only
the
zoning amendment for Recreational Vehicle storage facility.
Hear what COW Director Jim Edgson says at the end of the audio tape. .wma (10.6
MB)
(70.7 MB .mp3) Audio of the entire Regional District of Central Okanagan Board
Meeting -
Audio_Brd_July 26, 2010.mp3
click here for help
with the audio files
|
|
July 26, 2010 Regional District of Central Okanagan Regular Board
Meeting Minutes Bylaws: (First Reading) (Unweighted Vote)
6.4 Joe Rich Rural Land Use Amendment Bylaw No. 1195-05 for J. Varga (owner) and
B. Varga (agent) for a site-specific text amendment to permit outdoor storage of
recreational vehicles located adjacent to Highway 33. (RLUB-1001 Central
Okanagan East Electoral Area (Electoral Areas)
Staff report dated July 13, 2010 outlined the purpose of the amendment - to
amend the text of Section 2 - Regulations, Subsection 5.6.1 by adding ".8 Part
of Lot 1, Plan 25538, District Lot 4051, ODYD only the following use is
permitted: Outdoor Storage Recreational Vehicles". In accordance with the bylaw
amendment, the applicant wishes to store recreational vehicles (RVs) on the
subject property and has indicated that it is anticipated that a maximum of 40
RVs could be accommodated on the proposed 0.2 ha (0.5 acres) storage area. A
covenant would need to be placed on the property to restrict the use of the
identified area. Agency referrals were outlined. It was noted that the Central
Okanagan East Advisory Planning Commission did not support the application under
the existing Joe Rich Rural Land Use Bylaw guidelines.
Staff noted that site
line concerns at Highway 33 and the entrance to the property have been addressed
to satisfaction of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure with the
clearing of trees from the road right-of-way. Photos of the area were
highlighted. Further to posting of the bylaw amendment, several letters of
opposition have been received. These will be provided at public hearing should
the application proceed. Staff outlined the rationale for non-support,
including:
• The proposed use will impact the unique rural character of the area and may
interfere with the use and enjoyment of neighbouring properties;
• More intensive commercial or industrial activities are to be directed to areas
of the Regional District that support more intensive commercial or industrial
activity;
• Home based businesses are permitted in the Joe Rich Rural Land Use Bylaw area
provided they are secondary to and not detract from the residential and rural
qualities; however, the proposed outdoor RV storage cannot be considered to be a
home occupation as all home occupations are to be located within a building;
• The proposed outdoor RV storage will set a precedent for the Board to consider
other similar proposed amendments for commercial business uses which do not
conform to the home occupation or a temporary commercial use permit provisions;
and
• Safety issues associated with access onto Highway 33 is a concern. The
applicants addressed the Board noting:
• Pictures of the property were provided indicating that the house cannot be
seen from the highway. It is their belief that the area for RV storage would
also not be seen from the highway.
• Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has cleared the site line--this
was Crown land.
• The intention is to take RVs which are empty and will have no waste, gas or
oil in them. They are to be stored on the property for approximately a seven
month period and will be insured while on site. Approximately 2040 RVs will be
on site during this time. This would be an off-season storage area for RVs. This
type of facility is desperately needed in the region.
• Transport trucks will not be stored on site.
• The applicant works at an RV dealership and stated that there is no leakage of
fluids from RVs.
• Access to the property has been corrected and the driveway is to be paved.
• There is no visibility issue and no noise.
Questions to the applicants:
How many trees will be cut? Beetle kill trees will be only be removed.
The neighbor's house can be seen from the property, is this a problem for them?
The neighbor has indicated his support.
Are you planning any screening from the neighbor? There was no plan.
HAYES/EDGSON
THAT Joe Rich Rural Land Use Amendment Bylaw No.1195-05, application RLUB10-01,
for J. Varga (owner) for a site-specific text amendment to permit outdoor
storage of recreational vehicles located adjacent to Highway 33 not be given
first reading this 26th day of July 2010. CARRIED
-----------------------------------------
July 26, 2010 audio clip of the Regional Board discussing only
the
zoning amendment for Recreational Vehicle storage facility.
Hear what COW Director Jim Edgson says at the end of the audio tape. .mp3 (21
MB)
July 26, 2010 audio clip of the Regional Board discussing only
the
zoning amendment for Recreational Vehicle storage facility.
Hear what COW Director Jim Edgson says at the end of the audio tape. .wma (10.6
MB)
(70.7 MB .mp3) Audio of the entire Regional District of Central Okanagan Board
Meeting -
Audio_Brd_July 26, 2010.mp3
click here for help
with the audio files
|
|
April 8, 2010 Regional District of Central Okanagan Governance and
Services Committee Meeting Minutes
4. Transportation 4.1
BC Transit's Strategic Plan 4.2 Transit Services Update - Steve Harvard, BC
Transit BC Transit staff were unable to attend today's meeting.
Steve Harvard provided a letter dated April 7th outlining information on BC
Transit's Central Okanagan Master Plan and open houses which have been held in
the region and BC Transit's Strategic Plan development. He provided a review of
the RapidBus (BRT) status including: traffic signal priority measures will be
tested this month with the plan to go live in May, the transit platforms will be
completed by May, shelter design is being finalized with installation by
September, planning is still in progress for route realignments with a target
date of September and the public information sessions will be conducted once
particulars have been reviewed. Specific details will be relayed to individual
Councils by June. EDGSON/RULE
THAT the April 7th, 2010 letter by Steve Harvard, BC Transit providing a transit
service update be received. CARRIED |
|
March 22, 2010 Highlights of the Regional District of Central
Okanagan Regional Board Meeting
Transit and handyDART
Bylaws Amended
The Regional Board has approved two bylaws amending the Regional
District Service Area for urban transit and handyDART services. The
bylaws remove the District of West Kelowna from the Regional
District Service Area and pave the way for
the municipality to assume responsibility for both services within
its boundary. The Regional District will continue to be responsible
for transit and handyDART services for the District of Peachland and
Westbank First Nation lands. |
|
March 22, 2010 Regional District of Central Okanagan Regional Board
Meeting Minutes 4.2 Regional District of Central Okanagan
Handi-Dart Transit Local service Area Establishment Amendment Bylaw
No. 1263, 2009 Adoption (All Directors - Unweighted Vote)
Staff noted that the Board had previously supported the adoption
of the HandiDart Transit and Urban Transit bylaws subject to the
financial impact being received from BC Transit.
FIELDING/FINDLATER
THAT Regional District of Central Okanagan Handi-Dart Transit Local
service Area Establishment Amendment Bylaw No. 1263, 2009 be adopted
this 22nd day of March 2010.
CARRIED
4.3 Regional District of Central Okanagan Urban Transit Local
Service Area Establishment Amendment Bylaw No. 1264, 2009 Adoption
(All Directors - Unweighted Vote)
FIELDING/FINDLATER
THAT Regional District of Central Okanagan Urban Transit Local
Service Area Establishment Amendment Bylaw No. 1264, 2009 be adopted
this 22nd day of March 2010.
CARRIED |
|
March 22, 2010 Regional District of Central Okanagan Regional Board
Meeting Minutes 4.3 Regional District of Central Okanagan
Urban Transit Local Service Area Establishment Amendment Bylaw No.
1264, 2009 Adoption (All Directors - Unweighted Vote)
FIELDING/FINDLATER
THAT Regional District of Central Okanagan Urban Transit Local
Service Area Establishment Amendment Bylaw No. 1264, 2009 be adopted
this 22nd day of March 2010.
CARRIED |
|
March 11, 2010 Highlights of the Regional District of Central
Okanagan Regional Board Meeting
Regional Transit Program
Updates
The Regional Board has adopted two resolutions that will provide
some assistance to some riders of the Kelowna Regional Transit
service. In the interest of continuing to provide good customer
service, effective April 1st, at the beginning of each month transit
drivers will be allowed to provide a three day extension for a
riders’ recently expired monthly pass.
This grace period will allow monthly pass holders ample
opportunity to purchase a new monthly pass from retailers. As well,
the Regional Board has approved a request to
provide an average of 700 transit
tickets each month to the Central Okanagan
United Way, which then provides the tickets to 17 social service
organizations to assist their clients with bus transportation around
the region. Last year, the Regional Board
agreed to provide 600 tickets a month to the United Way. |
Adult is $53 for a monthly transit pass
700 tickets per month x $53 for an adult monthly pass = $37,100 per month x 12
months per year = $445,200 per year for 700 adult transit passes
http://www.transitbc.com/regions/kel/fares/
|
March 11, 2010 Regional District of Central Okanagan Regional Board
Meeting Minutes 2.1 United Way - Transit Assistance
Program (All Directors - Unweighted Vote)
CRAIG/SHEPHERD
THAT the Regional Board approve the United Way's request for an
increase in the transit assistance program to 700 tickets per month
for 2010;
AND FURTHER THAT staff be directed to work with the United Way to
determine the
possible need for a monthly pass program, as well as putting the
United Way in contact with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of
Central Okanagan to review their requirements for a monthly transit
pass program.
CARRIED
2.2 Transit Pass Grace Period Policy (All Directors - Unweighted
Vote)
It was noted that transit drivers continue to have difficulty
with distinguishing the monthly transit pass in terms of color and
print size. BC Transit has been made aware of this issue but to date
no changes have been made. A further request to review this issue
was discussed.
SHEPHERD/EDGSON
THAT the Regional Board endorse a policy allowing transit drivers to
extend a three (3) day grace period for the use of expired monthly
bus passes at the beginning of each month;
AND THAT staff be directed to request the operator, First Group
ULC (formerly Far West), to clearly communicate the new Transit Pass
Grace Period policy to all of its drivers;
AND FURTHER THAT staff be directed communicate with BC Transit
the need to better distinguish the monthly transit pass.
CARRIED |
|
February 11, 2010 Regional District of Central Okanagan Regional
Board Meeting Minutes 3.2 Regional District of Central
Okanagan Urban Transit Local Service Area Establishment Amendment
Bylaw No. 1264, 2009, 3rd reading (All Directors - Unweighted Vote)
FINDLATER/FIELDING
THAT Regional District of Central Okanagan Urban Transit Local
Service Area Establishment Amendment Bylaw No. 1264, 2009 be given
third reading this 11th day of February 2010.
CARRIED |
August 13, 2009 Highlights of the Special Regional Board Meeting
Transit Funding Application to UBCMThe Regional Board has
approved making an application to the Union of BC Municipalities for
significant transit infrastructure funding. More than $2.3 million
in gas tax funding is available for regionally-significant
improvements. It’s proposed that just over $1 million would be used
to
enhance signal light priority along the Highway 97 Bus Rapid Transit
route along with improved video surveillance on board
buses and at transit exchanges along with other communication
enhancements including a system control centre at the Enterprise Way
fire hall.
Another $1 million would be used for general bus stop
improvements such as shelters, sidewalks and pullout areas. In
partnership with UBC-Okanagan, the remaining funds would be used in
a cost-sharing agreement to construct a new shelter facility for the
growing number of student transit passengers. |
|
March 5, 2009 Governance & Services Committee Meeting Minutes
3. Delegation
3.1 Murray Tekano, Ministry of Transportation re: Overview of
Ministry Responsibilities with regard to capital construction,
rehabilitation and maintenance
Jeff Wiseman, area operations manager (Penticton) and Scott Lane,
road maintenance manager, were in attendance with Mr. Tekano to
answer questions.
M. Tekano, Ministry of Transportation, provide an overview of the
ministry's responsibilities including:
-
Highlighted the direct operating
area they are responsible for - Penticton, Vernon, Salmon Arm
and Kelowna
-
Two service
contractors operate in the two operating regions, both are Argo
Road Maintenance but are two separate corporations which operate
independently
-
Rehabilitation program reviewed -
rehabilitation plan (funded differently than maintenance) and
maintenance activities were reviewed.
-
Provincial and development
approvals (provincial approving officer (ie: land use changes,
zoning and bylaw approvals). Development approvals include
gravel pits, commercial development.
-
Commercial vehicle safety
enforcement (weight and inspect commercial vehicles and
facilities inspection, passenger and school bus inspection)
-
Two priorities focusing on:
beginning to work more closely on transit and cycling (working
with SC Transit and local governments). Assisting with cycling
and pedestrian facility projects - have no funding for these
areas but will work with governments to implement. Another
priority includes Intelligent Transportation Systems which is
being implemented in Kelowna (the first outside the lower
mainland).
-
Highway maintenance investments
reviewed - capital, rehabilitation and maintenance
- Maintenance agreements and contracts are all online:
www.th.gov.bc.ca/bchighways/contracts/
- Stakeholder feedback as always encouraged. Part of the
process includes RTAC (Regional Transportation Advisory
Committee)
Discussions and questions:
Capital funding is allocated over a ten year period, on a 3-year
allocation which is accessed on priorities
Some projects are cost shared with the Federal government ie:
Trans Canada
Is visioning still being considered for the Westside - Kelowna -
Lake Country for overall plan for the future? There will be
presentations to Councils in the near future.
High stats on crash areas - do you still work with ICSC for high
traffic accident areas. Working on safety committee for Trans
Canada. Not in urban sections but looking at doing the same safety
sessions for Hwy97.
Well done on Summerland slide.
Ministry encouraged to be involved in the safety aspect of
electric billboard signage. The Ministry has been involved in this
issue ie: reducing brightness of sign, technological recommendations
being reviewed. Staff react to the limitations of the Act.
#GS12/09 GIVEN/EDGSON
THAT the presentation from Murray Tekano, Ministry of Transportation
be received.
CARRIED |
Ministry defends road maintenance deal
By Jason Luciw - Kelowna Capital News - Published:
January 17, 2009 12:00 PM
Snow may have melted from many roads in the municipality, but when
it comes back the B.C. Ministry of Transportation feels it local
road maintenance contractor will do a good job clearing it.
In fact, the ministry says Argo Road Maintenace is one of the better
(contract) performers in the province.
But that doesn’t mean the company is infallible when it comes to
snow clearing, said ministry spokesperson Jeff Wiseman.
Given the many complaints the District of West Kelowna fielded about
poor plowing during the recent heavy snow falls, council felt it was
time someone from the ministry appeared before it to explain if Argo
Road Maintenance was living up to its contractual obligations in the
municipality.
“It can and does miss roads,” said Wiseman “But it’s the exception,
not the rule.”
If Argo gets a complaint, the company investigates and takes action
to correct the problem, he said.
Wiseman’s explanation came on the heels of a slide show Coun.
Rosalind Neis brought to council. The photos showed a street in her
Lakeview neighbourhood, which she claimed was plowed just once
between Dec. 25 and Jan. 3, despite repeated heavy snowfalls during
that time.
“This is actually one of the residents plowing the street with his
snowblower because traffic was immobile,” said Neis as she showed
one picture.
Given the road’s classification, it should have been plowed within
two days of every snow fall over five centimetres, according to Neis.
(A plow should have hit the road two or three more times, based on
that criteria.)
“This is a clear breach of the contract,” she added.
Wiseman noted that if the heavy snow keeps falling, however, Argo’s
first priority must be Highway 97, which carries the most traffic by
far.
“If one snowfall ends and another one starts, the clock starts
ticking again (starting) with the higher priority roads,” he said.
But Neis said the municipality seems to have no clout when it comes
to saying how West Kelowna roads are to be maintained.
“I can’t help but get the impression we’re a useless third party.”
West Kelowna chief financial officer Jim Zaffino told council the
municipality has met both with representatives of Argo and the
ministry, and both agreed to keep West Kelowna in the loop about
problems and complaints.
The Argo representatives also told Zaffino the company’s evaluation
reports would start going to the municipality so West Kelowna staff
could see where complaints were coming from and how they were being
handled.
Chief administrative officer Jason Johnson added the reports would
be useful in providing the municipality with its own history of road
maintenance.
Council could eventually use the information to determine if West
Kelowna’s service should be augmented and at what cost.
Wiseman said he could understand how the municipality might want a
higher level of service.
The province is meant to deal with rural
roads and is not geared toward clearing snow in an urban environment
like the one West Kelowna has so rapidly become.
“People have higher expectations given the values of their
properties and such,” he said.
He added the ministry gives Argo Road Maintenance
$16 million per
year, in 12 equal installments, to clear Central Okanagan Roads,
excluding the City of Kelowna’s streets.
The provincial government has determined that
$960,000 of that money
covers West Kelowna’s roads.
But Neis said she was concerned the real cost of clearing roads in
the municipality was much higher.
“One-sixteenth of that isn’t doing it. We’re not getting the service
we need.”
Taxpayers could be on the hook for a big bill for road maintenance
in 2013, when Victoria cuts off its transition assistance to the
municipality, she said. That assistance was part of the
incorporation deal made with the province in 2007.
Mayor Doug Findlater reminded everyone that the municipality’s new
director of engineering would be starting in early February and one
of his first priorities will be to dig into the details of the road
maintenance contract.
Wiseman said he looked forward to sitting down with the new director
to sort out the true cost of the Argo contract, to help the
municipality prepare for the end of provincial road maintenance
assistance.
West Kelowna will have three options at that time.
It could start its own road maintenance department, go out to tender
to find another contractor or hire Argo to continue its service.
jluciw [at] kelownacapnews.com |
Tire safety cause for concern
By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star - Published:
December 23, 2008
It may be mostly a cost-saving move, but it’s a move that could also
affect the safety features of your vehicle.
Vernon RCMP believe people may be trying to save money by not
purchasing tire pressure monitoring systems when installing new
winter tires on separate rims.
“What they don’t realize is that they may be compromising the
vehicle’s traction control system as it operates the motor vehicle
with no alarm inside to tell you it’s not functioning properly,”
explained Cpl. Gerry Kovacs with the Vernon RCMP. “Thus, the
vehicle’s safety feature has been rendered useless and it makes your
vehicle inoperable.
“There may also be some long-term damage to the system by
circumventing it by not installing tire pressure monitoring
systems.”
Kovacs explained that the monitoring system is usually found in the
valve stem of a tire, and it works hand-in-hand with the traction
control system.
Both systems are usually found in new vehicles, and the tire
pressure monitoring systems comes in factory alloy summer tires. So,
if you put those away, then replace them with winter tires that
don’t have the monitoring system, your car’s safety feature is at
risk of not working.
Kovacs has done a great deal of research on these products, and was
nearly involved in an accident on duty this winter.
“There was a vehicle that clearly had time to pull out in front of
me to make a turn, and he couldn’t do it. At the last moment, he
lurched in front of me,” said Kovacs, explaining that the accident
was diverted. “I stopped him and it became apparent that he had
proper winter tires and a traction control system but it wouldn’t
function.
“He expected the car to operate a certain way and it didn’t. He told
me he was told he didn’t have to buy the tire pressure monitoring
system. That’s not the case.”
The problem, said Kovacs, is in the vehicle’s acceleration.
A traction control system, explained the officer, when it kicks in,
slows the vehicle’s wheels to a crawl on extremely icy surfaces that
doesn’t allow the tires to spin. The vehicle will then move at a
pace depending on the friction of the system or what it’s driving
on.
“If it’s sheer ice, the vehicle will literally walk itself off until
it reaches traction, then disengage and accelerate,” said Kovacs.
“By diverting that system, a car will not function in the way it’s
normally used to, and thus, it becomes a safety concern.”
Kovacs believes a tire pressure monitoring system averages $200-$300
for a set of tires.
He recommends checking with your car dealer or a reputable tire
company for more information.
“Ask some questions, and ensure you have the right gear that will
make your car and its safety features function properly,” he said.
“Enquire with your dealer about what you need and what you don’t
need. Every manufacturer is unique.” |
2nd lake crossing not in the works
Castanet.net by Wayne Moore - Story: 43756 - Dec
13, 2008
Former Premier, Bill Bennett, likes the idea as do elected officials
on both sides of Okanagan Lake.
During the ceremony opening the new William R. Bennett bridge, the
former premier told those in attendance, including Premier Gordon
Campbell and Transportation Minister Kevin falcon, it's time to move
on new roads to serve Kelowna's boom, and to start work on getting a
second bridge at another location.
Back in the summer, municipal councils of both Kelowna and Westside
wrote to Falcon, asking for time lines and the process for
identifying the preferred location for a second crossing.
"The new William R. Bennett Bridge has been extremely successful in
reducing congestion along Highway 97 in the Kelowna area," says
Falcon in his response to the District of Westside.
"Planning work indicates that the bridge will provide capacity
across the lake for years to come. In light of the expected
performance of the new bridge, a second crossing is not something we
are currently considering."
Instead Falcon says, the government will focus of maximizing the
performance of Highway 97 and promoting transit and other
alternatives to the single occupant vehicle.
"We will continue to work with local governments to develop
strategies for reducing congestion and greenhouse gas emissions,
such as traffic signal improvements, special purpose lanes, improved
public transit and more cycling and walking opportunities in the
region," added Falcon.
"As such, I welcome the District of Westside's feedback as we work
towards these goals."
Earlier this year, plans were unveiled for the widening of Highway
97 between Gordon Drive and Highway 33.
The project means Highway 97 will be six laned from the bridge to
Highway 33.
The is talk that one lane may be dedicated to transit bus and HOV
(High Occupancy Vehicle) traffic. |
Traffic congestion rings up $200 million cost to drivers
By Jennifer Smith - Kelowna Capital News -
Published: November 29, 2008
Solving Kelowna’s traffic congestion issues is all about getting
people out of their cars, not building more roads, according to the
regional transportation director Ron Westlake.
On Friday morning, the Economic Development Commission issued a
report stating traffic congestion in the Central Okanagan cost
travellers $200 million this past year.
It’s a pretty steep price- tag, Ron Westlake admits, but likely no
more out of line than other communities battling car-driven
congestion issues. And solving the problem isn’t going to mean more
pavement.
“We’re looking for alternatives to providing more roads,” he said.
Right now, spending on alternative transportation virtually mirrors
spending on roads and the region is looking at investing more in the
bus system in coming years, he said.
Last year, the Central Okanagan struck a deal to bring a new Bus
Rapid Transit, or BRT line, from the Westside through Kelowna to
UBCO along the highway, and there’s still considerable work to be
done on those plans—though a new UBCO-Rutland BRT line is in
operation.
On an annual basis, the city already invests $10 million in
transit—a similar figure to what it will cost to build the new
Glenmore Bypass, an $11 million project on the books for next year.
The province recently announced another leg of the Rails With Trails
cycling and pedestrian path will be built linking Sexsmith Road to
the university and making it possible for students cycling to the
university to do so with out venturing onto private property or the
highway.
Still, the study found congestion is most serious in Central Kelowna
where speeds average 26-kilometres and by 2030 are expected to drop
to an average 23 kilometres, or 45 per cent below optimal speed. The
congestion is estimated to cost the average commuter an extra $521
per year. By 2030 it’s estimated to cost an extra $802 per car
region-wide.
jsmith "at" kelownacapnews.com |
Shoddy repairs lead to crumbling roads
Kelowna Capital News - Letters - Published:
October 02, 2008To the editor:
In a time of rising costs and reduced service, we all become extra
diligent to assure that we’re getting our money’s worth. When our
municipalities tender for services, this principle is usually
written into the documents.
During last winter, a large pothole opened up in the road at the
corner of my home and I noticed a large number of cracks running
lengthways in front of my driveway.
Sure enough, in the spring an Argo road maintenance truck came along
and the workers shoveled a mound of blacktop into the hole, then
drove away. I followed the truck down the road and asked the workers
if they were at least going to roll or tamp the fill into the hole.
The worker just laughed and told me that they let the trucks and
buses do that.
I had always been of the impression that the correct procedure was
to prep the edges of the hole with liquid tar, fill the hole and
then use a compactor or a roller to complete the job.
So, guess what? We haven’t even gotten near to another winter and
all of the patch material is now gone, either onto my neighbour’s
lawn or all over the road.
In the 10 years we’ve lived in this home, I’ve noticed, up and down
the road, the same potholes opening up year after year and always
wondered why. Now I know why.
I’ve just had my concrete driveway replaced at considerable expense,
and now have a six to eight inch gap between the end of the driveway
and the blacktop.
The cement workers apologized and told me there was nothing they
could do because the edge of the road just crumbled away. They felt
that the cracks in the road were letting water run through and by
next spring there probably wouldn’t be any road left.
McGinnis Road is a regular bus route and sees a lot of traffic.
I’m not sure what we pay Argo for road maintenance but I’m sure that
this is not the quality of work that we either expected or
contracted for.
Len Straub,
Westbank |
Westside Road crock (Westside Road N.)
From Craigs List rants and raves
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to: pers-831174197"at"craigslist.org
Date: 2008-09-07, 8:37AM PDT
How long are the residents of Westside Road going to have to suffer
with the half assed road repairs and maintenace. I personnally
probably lost about 15000 dollars of my income when they blasted the
road into the lake . I had to cancel jobs because I could not
get my tools all the places they needed to be. Also wore my
truck out on that hour and ahalf drive through the bush one way.now
they have made some other shitty little improvement and it sits
unpaved for 2 months so far.besides the fact that tourists r
travlling the loggiing trucks and cement trucks and sometimes b
train trucks that occupy the whole road in the corners on their
shortcut from venon avoiding scales.we also have albertans pouring
in and they seem to b buying an awful lot of vacant land and
building 50 million dollar homes and small cottages for a million
dollars.with the massive increase in property tax revenues along
this road why arent we seeing some real improvements.we r not even
included in the cities devepment plan or a part of westbank.where r
these tax doolars going.oh i know a city planner could hire a road
builder of his "choice" and that builder will over bid the job and a
portion of that xtra money could go towards a road of his own for a
project he is developing.i dontknow all the ins and outs of these
scamsbut they do it all day long.the most important thing would b to
make the road safe.how many crosses do we need to pass to get
something done now or the city is going to get sued after i build a
website for this crock and have a team of lawyers in the case of
someone elses death because of your negligant road improvements
Location: westside road n.
it's ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial
interests
PostingID: 831174197 |
Insurance system needs changes
Vernon Morning Star - Letters - Published: October
03, 2008We have recently returned to Beautiful British
Columbia (Vernon) after having lived and worked in Toronto, New York
and Chicago for the past 18 years.
During this time away from B.C. we have regularly insured two
automobiles and the cost per vehicle was never more than $750 per
annum. In fact our most recent coverage provided by RBC Insurance in
Ontario cost $556 for a 2003 pick-up truck and $689 for a 2008
sedan.
The cost to insure the same vehicles with identical coverage with
ICBC is $1,207 and $1,359 respectively. That is with the full 43 per
cent discount as we have spotless driving records and a zero claims
history.
While I do not know the specific statistics between various
jurisdictions, I don't imagine there is any comparison with respect
to the incidence of vehicle theft, fraud and accident claim levels
between Toronto / New York / Chicago and Vernon. Certainly none to
justify such a large difference in premiums.
There is little doubt in my mind that the "good" drivers in B.C. are
significantly subsidizing the "bad" drivers. We have taken the
Canadian concept of universality too far.
If a 19-year-old has demolished a car as a result of reckless
driving and is deemed either a high risk, or even uninsurable, then
he or she should buy a bicycle if they can't get insurance, not
depend on me to help pay for their auto insurance.
It is time for individuals to be held accountable for their actions
and also time for the government of British Columbia to get out of
the insurance business (which they had no justification for being in
to begin with).
As a stab in the dark, I would bet private industry would be 40 per
cent more efficient (insurance CEOs don't generally shower their
friends with repaired vehicles at their consumers' expense) so,
after deducting a 12 per cent profit margin, automobile insurance
costs for the residents of B.C. could decline by 28 per cent or
more. In addition, good drivers would pay much less as they would
not be forced to subsidize the bad drivers.
Glen Carter |
Police hope to use time wisely
Vernon Morning Star - Opinion - Published:
September 11, 2008Do not be surprised if you, as a
motorist, get involved in a simple fender-bender-type accident in
Vernon, phone the police to report it, and you get told to phone
ICBC instead.
That's the new way things will work for car accidents that result in
more than $1,000 damage, but there are no injuries, no deaths, the
accident isn't causing obstructions and doesn't involve a criminal
element, such as impaired or dangerous driving. If an accident
doesn't fall into any of these categories, or results in less than
$1,000 damage, the RCMP won't come.
Vernon RCMP Insp. Steve McVarnock announced the change this week,
calling it a "differential response" to motor vehicle incidents.
The idea is to help free up officers' time for more pressing areas
of police work, such as trying to help reduce property crimes, or
work on the ongoing drug problems within the city.
Each time an officer is called out to a minor accident, according to
McVarnock, 30-to-45 minutes is spent by the officer at the scene,
taking and looking at photographs, and doing paperwork inside and
outside the police vehicles.
Since Jan. 1, police have responded to 707 accidents that resulted
in either less than $1,000 in damage, or more but with no injuries,
deaths or crime. Using the high end of 45 minutes, that's roughly
530 hours of police time spent trying to determine who bumped who.
Now, that task will fall to ICBC. Ideally, the RCMP want to make
better use of that time.
Police dispatch has been trained to direct all calls to the ICBC
claim centre, who will then start a file on the accident.
It will take some adjustments on both sides, but the move is a good
step by the RCMP, as long as they live up to their promise to not
avoid work, but to spend their work time more wisely. |
Sept 08 article regarding road repairs at Pine Point and Six Mile, Westside Road
BC
Governance & Services Committee Meeting Minutes – January 10,
2008 (Pg. 6-7)
6. Transportation
Ministry of Transportation – Maintenance Agreement – Argo
It was noted that Chair Hobson over the past years has been asked to
provide input to the Ministry of Transportation on the road
maintenance agreement with Argo. As governance has changed on the
Westside, it is recommended that the Ministry request direct input
from the Westside District Municipality and that the regional
district’s input be given by a director in the area.
Director
Edgson has agreed to this role (in consultation with Director
Hanson) should the Ministry agree.
EDGSON/NEIS
THAT staff correspond with the Ministry of Transportation
recommending that Director Edgson be appointed as the Regional
District’s representative to provide input on the maintenance
agreement with Argo in the area of Central Okanagan
West Electoral Area;
AND THAT a request to the Ministry of Transportation recommending
that Director Edgson also be requested to provide input on the
maintenance agreement to the area under separate administration
(Argo Armstrong), the boundary of Central Okanagan West to Vernon;
AND FURTHER THAT the Ministry of Transportation be requested to
contact the Westside District Municipality to request a
representative from Council to provide input on the maintenance
agreement with Argo in the municipalities’ boundaries.
CARRIED |
PICTURES OF
SNOW BUILD UP, ON AND ALONG WESTSIDE ROAD SUBDIVISIONS
May 24, 2008 accident at Estamont
Article about the Carbon Tax from BClocalnews.com
Rural areas hit unfairly
It is intended that the proposed carbon tax will be revenue neutral. Revenue
neutral means the revenue from the carbon tax would be returned to taxpayers
through reductions in other provincial taxes.
http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/business/consumer_taxes/Carbon_Tax/carbon_tax.htm
An estimated $1.8 billion in personal and business tax reductions over three
years to return revenue generated by the carbon tax;
http://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2008/backgrounders/backgrounder_fiscal_plan.htm
If we are getting the carbon tax back, why charge us for it in the first
place.... just to make more paperwork?
more about the carbon tax
Vernon Blog Spot on Westside Road being used as
Vernon's bypass.
The last time we looked the poll suggested Westside Road as the corridor.
Jim Edgson says in
his newsletter
regarding snow plowing:
"I have heard from locals that things are improving."
Road issues have been a close second. I am part of the team from the RD who
report semi annually on road maintenance. While
I do not deal with specific complaints,
I would like input from people who have already had discussions with Argo and
either wish to report specific shortcomings or give them kudos. In the area from
Traders Cove North, the Westside Road Improvement Committee (WRIC) was organized
with the cooperation and approval of the Ministry of Transportation to help in
part with road maintenance concerns. Input from the WRIC will be part of my RD
evaluation report. While there were many road issues at the beginning of the
snow season, through the work of WRIC both they and I have heard from locals
that things are improving. People who have concerns about road maintenance in
the area covered by WRIC are urged to call the WRIC volunteers (Norm MacLeod
north of Caesar’s Landing 260-3556; Roger Wood south of Caesar’s Landing
769-9355).
okanaganlakebc.ca says nothing has improved at Valley of the Sun, as it still
takes two days for the plow to show up!!! Also while driving down Westside
Road the slush can sure build and pull your vehicle around when a plow hasn't
gone over it in awhile! Brand new snow tires and AWD did not seem to help.
The plows definitely need to do a better job than what they have been doing.
We don't know the locals Jim Edgson has been talking to, but as far as we can
tell nothing has changed.... just have a
look at the pictures. Jim Edgson's newsletter is dated Feb 3, 2008
Wanna know what Jim
Edgson is doing about the road maintenance problem?
Read what Vernon City
Council thinks of the roads Feb 15, 2008 article from the Vernon Morning Star.
Get Involved, Demand a Bypass Now!
http://www.westernbypassnow.com/
Highway workers concerned about road quality
Vernon Morning Star - Published: August 08, 2008
A poll of highways workers shows that they are deeply concerned
about declining road maintenance standards-and that should be a
wake-up call for Victoria and private maintenance contractors
Change is urgently needed, says the B.C. Government and Service
Employees’ Union.
The snapshot of opinion from the front lines of B.C.’s highways
system finds almost seven in 10 workers are frustrated because not
enough resources are being allocated to properly maintain our
highway infrastructure.
Meanwhile, six in 10 say private contractors aren’t meeting
standards which are set and supposedly enforced by the Campbell
government. A further 11 per cent believe those standards are met
only some of the time.
More than 70 per cent agree the situation is so bad that the upkeep
of provincial roads and bridges should be brought back into the
public sector. Highways maintenance services were privatized by
Victoria in 1988.
“Amid mounting public concerns about the state of our transportation
infrastructure, the poll results confirms that there are real
problems in the current system,” says B.C. Government and Service
Employees’ Union president Darryl Walker.
“The insights and experiences of front line workers point to the
need for fundamental changes,” says Walker, whose union represents
2,000 highways maintenance workers. “The Campbell Liberals and
contractors have to move quickly to restore standards, upgrade
enforcement and deliver proper resources to get the job done,” he
says.
“If they don’t then the only option may be to bring maintenance back
into the public sector.”
The late-June telephone poll of 200 workers was commissioned by
BCGEU in conjunction with Viewpoints Research. It has an error
margin of +/- 6.6 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
Other key poll findings include:
- Nearly three out of four workers worry that declining maintenance
standards are putting safety for the traveling public at risk.
- In the past few years, 73 per cent say that maintenance has
worsened, including 42 per cent who believe the situation has
declined considerably.
- On the job, worker morale has worsened over the past year,
according to 62 per cent of respondents, while 63 per cent say
workload has increased. |
Road woes
Vernon Morning Star Letters - March 21, 2008
I have never written a letter to the editor, but I feel I couldn’t
pass this up. The City of Vernon is asking the Ministry of
Transportation for a meeting regarding the maintenance of local
highways, and I need to express my feelings on this.
Has anyone from city council driven our roads in Vernon?
They are quick to say that others are not doing their job and want
results but don’t seem to recognize the monster potholes, lack of
curb maintenance, garbage, and vegetation control that takes place
in our city.
I have
never seen roads in worse shape than what ours are in. We pay our
taxes, so why do we suffer with such bad road maintenance?
The de-icing program is another concern I have.
This program seems to go everywhere but is not allowed to go past
Fulton Road leaving the Landing out so it becomes a sheet of ice.
Okanagan Avenue is very well traveled and has some very narrow
shaded areas, this to me seems like it should be a priority for
de-icing, but I have never seen it coated past Fulton Avenue.
I cannot count the number of accidents that occur between Elephant
Storage and Longacre Drive.
I could go on forever about my issues and gripes but I will leave it
at that as this concern won’t be taken seriously by our council that
I sadly helped to elect.
Jim Isnardy |
Rural service issues were expected, says Findlater
By Jason Luciw - Kelowna Capital News - January 30, 2008
Westside Coun. Doug Findlater says he’s not surprised at criticism of
rural-type services in Westside such as roads and policing.
Findlater, who chaired the governance committee for four years, says
that’s what the study and subsequent referendum were all about.
“We do have rural policing and we do have rural roads,” said Findlater.
“And that’s why you want to have municipal status, so you can do
something about it.”
Without municipal status, the province dictates the levels of service.
With municipal status, it becomes a decision of council, based on
community needs and feedback, said Findlater.
Currently, the province pays Argo Road Maintenance to provide a rural
level of service—the same as any other unincorporated area in B.C.
That prompted some residents to complain to council in late
December/early January that their roads weren’t being plowed and sanded
properly.
As for police, the province funds 25 officers in Westside.
But, RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon has said 10 more officers are needed to
address the number of Westside calls and the files generated from them.
“The regional district didn’t have a whole lot of say in those service
levels,” said Findlater. “That’s what was being provided by highways and
the solicitor general.”
Findlater and members of the governance committee went to Victoria
before the governance study concluded.
Kelowna’s chief financial officer Paul Macklem and consultant Ron Born
went along to negotiate changes to Westside service levels.
“When we went down with Ron Born and Paul Macklem to that Dec. 6, 2006,
meeting with the five ministers, they said no. (Transportation Minister)
Kevin Falcon said no to more money.”
The ministers told the governance committee that Westside was a rural
area, and if it wanted more enhanced roads and policing then it needed
to incorporate or amalgamate, he noted.
“(Their message was) pay the bill, you’ve had a free ride all along,”
Findlater said.
Solicitor General John Les had the same attitude, said Findlater. “We
used some of Bill McKinnon’s analysis and (Les) was not at all
(receptive).”
The bottom line is Westside had an unincorporated rural status in an
area that was becoming more and more urban, said Findlater.
“That’s the whole issue around the area not incorporating or going in to
Kelowna many years ago. It’s just carried on and carried on with a lot
development as an urban area without the tools to deal with it.”
It’s inevitable that Westside is now going to “play catch up” with some
of its service levels, said Findlater. |
Road maintenance mayhem catches attention of mayor
By Jason Luciw - Kelowna Capital News - January 13, 2008
An Argo Road Maintenance plow clears Anders Road after more snow fell
last week. Council has been hearing complaints about winter road
maintenance.
Westside council may need to review road maintenance levels in the wake
of criticisms about the lack of sanding and plowing in recent weeks.
Mayor Rosalind Neis met with local transportation ministry officials and
representatives of Argo Road Maintenance Wednesday to discuss service
complaints she and other members of council have been fielding.
Going into the meeting, Neis was concerned the ministry has reduced
service levels since incorporation.
“(But) nothing has changed according to the ministry of transportation
or with the contractor that provides the service,” she said following
the meeting. “It is to remain exactly as is. But, obviously there were
difficulties over Christmas with the way the weather hit.”
Neis said Westside may need to update its website with a link that lets
the public know what road maintenance standards are and who to contact
with complaints.
“There are specific guidelines that any contractor with the (B.C.)
Ministry of Transportation must follow and how they are to designate
their roads by priority,” said Neis.
For its part, Argo is open to increasing service levels for Westside.
Municipalities are welcome to set their service levels to a higher
standard, Argo told Neis.
But the mayor warned that would come with a price.
“The issue that needs to be taken back to the public is that anything
beyond the standards we are receiving now would come at a higher cost,”
Neis said she would report back to council.
“And then we can decide if that is a priority. You know winter is going
to be over in a month. And then there’s going to be the sweeping and the
potholes. So, it’s going to have to come from the community, whether
service is good or needs to be improved.”
The worst snow day so far was last Tuesday when the white stuff started
to fall before the morning commute and continued for most of the rest of
the day.
Commuters were travelling on to roads before snow plows and sand trucks
could get to them, making for icy conditions everywhere.
As a result, traffic was adversly effected in a major way heading to the
bridge, Hudson Road became a virtual parking lot, Bear Creek Road was
closed for almost two hours, a bus had trouble navigating Boucherie
Road, cars were in the ditch on Gellatly and Boucherie Roads and a fire
truck got stuck on ice on Butt Road and was towed to keep from going
into a ditch. |
This may be partly why the price of fuel is so expensive. One
pipeline foreman okanaganlakebc.ca knows, rides around on a quad in the bush 12
hour days and 7 days per week until that section of the pipeline is complete.
He makes sure his hired hand welders weld the pipeline and he does the hiring
and firing for the pipeline. Then he goes on to another section or another
pipeline. This foreman at one company earned $6,500 clear after taxes per
week because we saw his pay cheque in the silverware drawer while staying with
him in his huge 5th wheel trailer. This amounts to $338,000 per year or $28,167 per month
clear after taxes. He drove a Ford King truck the last time we saw him and
we seen many of his hired hands hang out at the bar with him because he buys the
rounds. He asked okanaganlakebc.ca to polish his leather truck seat.
$28,167 divided by 31 days in a month is $908.61 clear
after taxes pay for a 12 hour day.
How many people working as foreman do you know that make
$908.61 clear after taxes for a 12 hour day? That works out to $75.72 per
hour!!!
Bottom labourer earns $1,500 clear per week for a 12 hour
day 7 days per week = $17.86 an hour. Part of the $1,500 is to go towards
accommodations, sometimes $100.00 - $120.00 per day.
Road repairs needed - CHBC TV Video
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
The Okanagan's newest community is facing a huge bill for road upgrades.
(the new Westside Municipality not North Westside)
January 8, 2008 snowfall
CHBC News TV story called "Crashes Galore"
It was a very difficult commute Tuesday morning for many Westside motorists.
18 vehicles in the ditch on one road, plus 5 in the ditch up Bear Creek, and 3
in the ditch on Hayman Road = total 26 vehicles in the
ditch.
CHBC News TV story called "Treacherous Roads"
Westside called crash hot spot.
Excise tax exemptions repealed for renewable fuels
Effective April 1, 2008, alcohol blended fuels and bio-diesel fuels will be
subject to the excise tax on gasoline and diesel fuel respectively.
We found this deer meat laying at a pullout on the side of Westside Road on the
Okanagan Indian Band reserve near Beau Park Road on Feb 28, 2008! It was
not fully defrosted when we found it.
If this deer meat was any good, its too bad they didn't drop it off at the food
bank....but then again maybe the food bank would not be permitted to give it out
if it wasn't inspected. What a disgusting mess this will be for someone to
pick up after it rots, unless the animals eat it.
Ah .. the animals ate it.... at least it didn't go to waste.
Complete the Westside Electoral Area Road DCC Study.
Source
RDCO 2007 Annual Report pg 8
January 14, 2008
To okanaganlakebc.ca:
I have asked that staff from the Okanagan-Shuswap District review your concerns
with the local contractor and then get back to you with their findings.
While I understand your observations it is important to note
that while safety is always our number one priority that not all roads
receive the same maintenance treatment at the same time. Roads are
defined by their maintenance classification which is primarily a
function of the daily traffic volume on the road and other associated
criteria such as; is it a school bus route or access to a hospital etc.
The primary highway network is usually the highest classification and
therefore is usually the part of the network that receives maintenance
services first with low volume rural residential at the other end of the
spectrum. We expect the maintenance contractor to have a well defined process
and schedule to ensure all roads are maintained on an orderly and timely basis.
I hope that local District and contractor staff will be able to
address your concerns during their review of recent operations.
Reg Fredrickson
Director, Highway Maintenance and Rehabiltation
Ministry of Transportation
January 14, 2008
To okanaganlakebc.ca:
I am in receipt of your recent email correspondence below with Mr.
Fredrickson and have also been briefed by Danny Morris, our Operations Manager
in Vernon, on your recent phone conversation wherein you suggest that ICBC fund
additional maintenance equipment for Argo Road Maintenance.
As Danny has previously mentioned, it is extremely unlikely that ICBC
would agree to provide funding to Argo for the purchase of additional
equipment, that being said, I would not dissuade you from approaching them with
that proposal.
To address shortfalls in Argo's recent responses to winter storm events we have
met with them and advised of the need to deploy their existing resources in a
more effective manner. We will continue to monitor their performance and work
with them to ensure that they improve their response times for the delivery of
winter maintenance on the higher volume side roads.
Please feel free to give me a call at 250-490-5785 if you have any
questions or require additional information.
Regards Jeff Wiseman
A/District
Transportation Manager
Jan 16, 2008
From ICBC
We are not in a position to provide funding for snow removal, as this is the
responsibility of the Ministry of Transportation. If you haven't done so
already, you might want to express your concerns to Argo Road Maintenance, the
Highway Maintenance Contractor for your area, or to your area manager for the
Ministry. You can find contact information for Argo Road Maintenance on the
Ministry's website at
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/popular-topics/maps/serviceareacontacts.htm and for area managers for the Ministry at http:
http://www.gov.bc.ca/tran/contacts.html
Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact us.
Vince
Customer Contact
ICBC
Since January 1, 2004, all municipalities provide the “service” of highways, as
they have not only operation and control of most highways within their
boundaries, but also ownership of those roads. That provides municipalities with
more control over municipal highways (e.g. the authority to close a dead-end
road and sell the land to an adjacent land owner without first seeking authority
from the provincial government).
http://www.cserv.gov.bc.ca/LGD/governance/service_powers.htm
Approx. Jan 5, 2008 someone drove over a dead moose on Hwy 97 near Eagle Rock in
Armstrong. After driving over the dead moose they reported the incident to
RCMP, then went to the car wash in Armstrong to wash the burning hair off their
muffler. When they returned to the scene, the moose was still on the road
which was a good 20 minutes later. How many people drove over that moose
at 9 PM that night? The car that drove over the dead moose was a Honda
Civic which now needs a heat shield for the muffler replaced!!
January 9, 2008 another email was sent to Reg Fredrickson regarding the
18 cars
in the ditch up Bear Creek as seen on CHBC TV news ... I was wrong it wasn't 18
cars in the ditch on one street, 5 vehicles in the ditch up Bear Creek, and 3 in
the ditch on Hayman Road, which totals 26 vehicles in the ditch in one day in
Kelowna.
CHBC News TV story called "Crashes Galore"
December 20, 2007 an email was sent to
Reg Fredrickson the
Director of Highways Maintenance Contracts. Re: takes 2 days to plow,
corners are not plowed correctly, and no snow plow on Morden or Shorts Road at
Fintry Delta.
December 17, 2007 we received word from
one resident of Valley of the Sun that
they helped to get the ambulance unstuck on Alpine near Wood road after one of
the first snow falls of the year. This was most likely the time it took 2
days for the snow plow to arrive after it snowed. We are not positive but
we think it was the time that the helicopter came and picked someone up at the
entrance to Valley of the Sun. This
helicopter evacuation is posted on the
North Westside Fire
Dept website on their front page. By the looks of the snow piled up on
Firwood road in the pictures that are posted there, it looks like this could
have been the time the ambulance got stuck.
We suggest that everyone call and complain or it just may be your family member
who needs the ambulance next time, and what if they can't get unstuck?
Plus sometimes a few minutes makes all the difference.
Argo road maintenance should not be waiting for 2 days to plow out here or
anywhere for that matter. Why plow after the accidents and injury occur?
Wouldn't it be least expensive to just go buy the plow to start with? If
they are having a shortage of labour then maybe they need to increase wages.
Maybe it would entice some of the BC residents that fled to Alberta oil to come
home???
How much do you estimate this accident to be worth?
This accident happened in front of O'keefe Ranch Dec 22, 2007
After the ambulance and fire rescue how much do you
think this accident cost?? Do you think saving one or two
accidents would cover the cost of a snow plow?? I didn't happen to notice
there was any sand on the road. Notice the yellow trucks tip sign... you
would think they would have that hill well sanded but didn't look like it!!
Also if you have anything to add to ambulance problems in the area please
contact us and let know so we can post it here. Please use our
feedback form to tell us
your story or fill out the form below.
Complaints surface over lack of road maintenance
From the Vernon Morning Star Letters Feb 15, 2008 page A12
click article to read it
The City of Vernon is demanding that local highways be maintained to required
standards.
Listed below are some contacts for road complaints
Contact
Danny Morris Operations Manager of Vernon area office
4791 23rd St
Vernon BC, V1T-4K9
Phone: 250-503-3632
You can also contact your local representative.
Norm MacLeod at 250-260-3556 (Ceasar's Landing north to the OKIB boundary)
Roger Wood at 250-769-9355 (Ceasar's Landing south to Traders Cove)
----------------------------
Record of snow plows plowing subdivisions.
| TIME PLOWED |
DATE PLOWED |
SUBDIVISION |
| 10:40 PM |
December 4, 2007 |
Valley of the Sun (snowed on Dec 2nd) |
| 9:30 PM |
December 10, 2007 |
Valley of the Sun |
| 10:38 PM |
December 15, 2007 |
Valley of the Sun (snowed on Dec 14
about 4 inches) |
| 12:02 PM |
December 19, 2007 |
Valley of the Sun (snowed Dec 18 & 19, 2007
about 3 - 4 inches) |
| noonish-12:30 |
December 24, 2007 (grader) |
Valley of the Sun (snowed Dec 22 & 23 about 5 inches) |
| 11:58 AM |
December 27, 2007 |
Valley of the Sun (snowed Dec 24 & 25 & 26 about
2 inches) |
between
9AM - 1PM |
December 29, 2007 |
Valley of the Sun (snowed Dec 27 & 28 about
3 inches) |
| 1:35 PM |
December 30, 2007 |
Valley of the Sun (snowed Dec 29 & 30 about
2 inches) |
| 2:00 PM |
January 3 , 2008 |
Valley of the Sun (snowed January 3, 2008 about 1
inch) |
| 3:30 PM |
January 9, 2008 |
Valley of the Sun (snowed January 8 & 9, 2008 about 5
inches) |
| Afternoon |
January 13, 2008 |
Valley of the Sun (snowed January 10, 11, 12 2008 about 5
inches) |
| ? |
? |
Valley of the Sun (snowed January 20 about 2
inches) |
| Plowed Killiney Lower 2 PM |
January 31, 2008 |
Killiney Beach Lower (snowed January 29 & 30,
2008 about 6-7 inches) |
7:42 PM
11:45 AM |
February 3, 2008 &
February 4, 2008 |
Valley of the Sun (snowed between Jan 31 and Feb
2 about 1-2 inches) |
| 11:25 AM |
February 6, 2008 |
Valley of the Sun (snowed Feb 5 about 1/4 inch) |
| 8:55 AM |
February 7, 2008 |
Valley of the Sun (snowed Feb 7, 9 inches on the
ruler) |
The deeper the snow gets, the quieter the plow gets.
If you are concerned about what time snow plows come plowing through your
subdivision at night please
contact us and let us know. We will post your subdivision's plow times up
here too.
Well it looks like they are not plowing so late at night .... its just that the
plow comes late period (2 days after it snows)!
Dec 15, 2007 contact was made with Norm MacLeod which the North Westside
Communities newsletter stated that if you had any concerns regarding road
maintenance to contact Norm MacLeod 250-260-3556 for the area between Ceasar's
Landing and OKIB boundary. Norm was asked how many snow plow trucks are
out here and what their work load is. He said he doesn't know and that he
will get back to us about that. We will post the information here when we
receive it.
If you have road maintenance issues please contact:
Norm MacLeod 250-260-3556 (Ceasars Landing north to OKIB
boundary)
Roger Wood 250-769-9355 (Ceasar's Landing south to Traders Cove)
While speaking with Norm MacLeod he says that Morden
Road and Shorts Road down at Fintry Delta don't get cleared of snow at all.
Something to do with these roads not being wide enough and something about there
being no yellow line on the road. We couldn't believe our ears when we
heard of such a thing!!
Sometime in between Dec 2 and Dec 15 a complaint was made to Norm MacLeod about
the snow plow plowing through subdivisions late at night after people are
sleeping. They are so loud and why does it take two days to have a snow
plow start to clear the subdivisions anyway? It sounded like there is
nothing Norm can do ... that's the way it is because they are short on employees
to drive the snow plows he said.
It snowed on Sunday Dec 2, 2007 evening and now its Tuesday Dec 4, 2007 at 10:40
p.m. and the snow plow truck is just plowing now (and loudly I might add)
through Valley of the Sun subdivision. Are those snow plow trucks on
drugs, or is it our government?
Anyway a complaint was called in to 1-800-663-7623 at about 10:50 p.m. about
this incident described above. There was a live person on the phone, only
to take a message so we left a message.
Argo road maintenance (250) 546-3765 returned the phone call Wed Dec 5, 2007 at
8:35 a.m.. It was requested when the message was left Dec 4. 2007 that
Argo call during free cellular airtime between noon and 1 pm and so Argo was
asked to call back. Argo (250) 769-1397 called again at 8:53
a.m. too ask a question. It was repeated to Argo to call back during free
air time without answering their question. They never did call back after
that.
Is it just us, or have you noticed that the snow plow
has cut some of the corners again this year? Your driving along
on a straight stretch that seems fairly clear and then when you come to a corner
there is deep snow in your lane which can catch a person off guard, so be warned
and be careful.
TYRE-GRIP - from a spray can just spray it on your
tires to get yourself unstuck, as seen on CHBC news.
Get 300% better traction without the hassle of chains.
Good for 80 Km's.
Report a Problem:
If you see a problem on the highway that could be hazardous to other drivers,
immediately report it to the Highway Maintenance Contractor in the area where
the problem occurs. Please be ready to provide a clear description of the
problem, and accurate location information.
We know its confusing, but the correct area to contact is Okanagan-Shuswap for
Westside Road LaCasa to Okeefe.
Area 13 - Okanagan-Shuswap (Salmon Arm - Vernon)
Argo Road Maintenance North Okanagan Inc.
1-877-546-3799
http:
Okanagan-Shuswap
I myself,
 , am upset
the way the roads on the Westside of Okanagan Lake are being snow plowed. It seems that the snow plow driver is
cutting all the corners, which means cars have to drive in deep snow or slush
around the corners, or drive in the oncoming lane. The rest of the road
seems plowed until you get to the corners. These are pictures of how
the road was plowed near Fintry Provincial Park on Saturday, January 28, 2006 at approx.
11:30 AM.
The snow plow is cutting the corners and plowing the oncoming lane of traffic.
This picture was taken on Westside Road between Fintry Provincial Park turn off and LaCasa
Cantina. As you can see vehicles are cutting the corner to avoid the snow.
This is that sharp corner on Westside Road at Shorts Creek.
I put snowballs on the yellow line in this picture
so you could see how this corner was cut. The
yellow line is so faded you can barely see it, so that is why I put the snow
balls there, to point it out.
This is a closer look at the faded yellow line at Shorts Creek.
You can see how narrow the right hand lane is plowed. Are we suppose to be
blamed for driving too fast for road conditions when we get into an accident.
The road was plowed properly, until the corner where the snow plow driver cut
the corner. Or is the plow driver suppose to plow the road properly?
I would think I would take Argo to court, if I got into an accident. After
all, the road was plowed well until one of the sharpest corners on Westside
Road. Maybe the road should be painted again too?
This picture is of the entrance to Valley of the Sun
It was taken Saturday January 28, 2006 at
approx. 11:30 AM. Why wasn't this snow cleared yet?
Or are we suppose to believe people don't drive on Saturdays?
I went down Westside Road a few days before this, at approx. 10:30 AM, and Westside Road
had not yet been plowed. What's up with that? By 10:30 AM everyone
has arrived at work, or left to go to town, on a Saturday.
There should be at least two snow plow trucks, if not more ... each starting at one end of Westside
Road.
It is important to start plowing at 4 AM for workers who start driving to work
at 5:00 AM, as some workers may start work at 6 AM. By 5 AM the
subdivisions should start being cleared. By noon, I would think the Westside
should be cleared, 7 days a week.
I
personally wish ICBC would invest in snow plows working more and make the roads
safer, instead of paying money out for programs trying to change everyone's
driving habits. People make mistakes. If the road is well maintained
and built with accidents in mind, it would help reduce long term injuries,
making insurance cheaper.
In Vancouver they wait until the snow has finished falling before they plow.
By then its too late, everyone has either abandoned their car in the middle of
the road blocking traffic (not kidding), gotten home but shaking like a leaf, or gotten into
an accident. Its very wet snow there, which makes it like driving on ice.
I have personally seen cars abandoned on Columbia which is the busiest road in
New Westminster leading to the freeway and on the Alex Fraser bridge.
They really need to stop putting telephone poles right next to highways too.
Cars can be cut in half by the metal and cement filled poles, if your going fast
enough. I don't know one perfect driver, do you?
Insurance rates are about to go up 6 1/2% March 15, 2006, due to
an increase in injury claims going up 15%.
Basic Insurance
premiums will increase by $38.00 for the average customer.
In 2003 there were 2778 fatalities compared to 222,260 injuries.
The economic and
social consequences of road crashes are profound - estimated to be $25 billion a
year. This figure includes not only the direct and indirect costs but the
estimated costs of pain and suffering.
What a waste of time painting every hole on Westside Road with orange and green
paint, as if they can't tell what holes need to be filled. You can sure
tell where all our money is wasted here! Labour and paint at the very
least!
This is another waste of your money that you should complain about don't you
think? Labour, paint, and all.
This sharp corner sign was laying in the ditch on the corner at Shorts Creek on
March 12, 2008
Slow Pedestrians sign hanging upside down on the approach to LaCasa on March 12,
2008.
Central Okanagan Travel Survey Results
Driverless Cars
Someone put de-icer down in their driveway. Is it safe to use that amount
of de-icer to melt that deep of snow? What if everyone did that?
http://mdc.mo.gov/forest/features/icemelter.htm
http://www.envirosnowmelt.com/
From email we recieved from Sure-Gro
The purpose of an ice melter is to break the bond between snow/ice and
the surface it is on in order to aid in the removal of the snow and ice. Ice
melter is not designed as a replacement to shoveling. A very large amount of ice
melter would be required for the purposes you have described below. Alaskan is
safer for the environment than rock salt for the reasons described in the
attached information sheet, however over-use of any ice melter is not
recommended.
Consumer Services
Sure-Gro Inc.
150 Savannah Oaks Drive
Brantford, ON N3V 1E7
1-800-268-2806
www.spectrumbrands.com
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR
SALT USE ON PRIVATE ROADS, PARKING
LOTS AND SIDEWALKS
5.2.4 Standards, Guidelines and Regulations Affecting Ground
Water Quality in British Columbia
There is no federal or provincial legislation directly related to
the prevention of ground water contamination. There are, however, government
acts and programs at both levels that provide standards, guidelines and
regulations that have an indirect bearing on ground water quality. They can be
classified into three groups: (1) drinking water quality standards, (2) federal
statutes, and (3) provincial statutes.
The British Columbia Drinking Water Quality Standards (B.C. Ministry of Health,
1982) grew out of a federal-provincial task force that updated the 1978 Canadian
drinking water guidelines. Although they are called standards, they are actually
guidelines in that they are not legally enforceable. Two types of recommended
limits are specified: (1) Maximum Acceptable Concentration, and (2) Objective
Concentration.
gov.bc.ca/wsd/plan_protect_sustain/groundwater/gwbc/C05_contamination.html
Rona sells:
-
Sure-Gro Inc.
Alaskan Ice Melter (msds)
contains True Blue™, an environmentally
inert, highly-visible blue marker dye that clearly shows where the ice
melter has been applied and in what quantity. Contains a blend of
three ice-melting ingredients; calcium chloride,
sodium chloride and urea
as this website states. Although small mammals and birds quickly lose
interest in the urea pellets,
larger wildlife and domestic cattle are attracted to it. Ruminants
such as deer may have a similar reaction as cattle. Small doses (a few
handfuls) of urea are lethal to these animals. SECTION
9 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DATA
Spill and Leak Procedures: Stop leak, contain spill and transfer into waste
container for disposal. Clean area with broom. Prevent large spills from
entering sewers or waterways.
Waste Disposal: Dispose of empty container in household garbage. Dispose of
spilt product as a Fertilizer, in accordance with Local, State (Provincial)
or Federal government regulations.
Environmental Effects: Do not contaminate local water supplies or
environments.
-
Nu-Gro Corporation
Get a Grip (msds)
contains potassium chloride, sodium chloride and urea,
and a highly visible green marker to
show where it has been applied.
-
Bomix -
calcium chloride sold in flat particle flakes with a 77%
concentration /
bomix® Ice salt is made from sodium chloride /
Small graded angular stones, very efficient for penetrating ice /
bomix® Sand & salt is a mix of salt (sodium chloride) and dry sand
Canadian Tire sells
-
Big Everest Ice Melt Pellets, magnesium
chloride pellets, 8lb (3 kg) shaker jug with possibility of damaging
concrete.
-
Sifto Ice Melter potassium chloride
(contains calcium) with easy to see blue crystals
for easy application each time
-
Melt & Grip shaker jug, calcium chloride and
sand for added traction and will not damage concrete.
Background Regarding KD (Chloride) Issue
As a consequence of Environment Canada's declaration of salt as a CEPA toxic
substance in 2001, the BC provincial government is now working to adopt
standards for the regulation of salts under the BC Contaminated Sites Regulation
(CSR). Draft standards intended to regulate sodium and chloride were
developed for the BC Ministry of Environment (formerly BC Ministry of Water,
Land, and Air Protection) by Dr. Doug Bright and Dr. Jan Addison, and were
released for public comment in June 2002.
Environmental Management Act
Contaminated Sites Regulation
[includes amendments up to B.C. Reg. 239/2007, July 1, 2007]
Very limited research has been conducted since 2002 on the toxicity of
sodium chloride to plants and wildlife.
Seventeen relevant research papers were identified, although very few of these
were directly related to sodium chloride (NaCl) toxicity to terrestrial and
freshwater life.
Ministry of Environment -
Guidelines for water quality in BC /
Chloride in Water /
Sodium and Chloride in Soil /
Road Salt /
Hazardous Waste /
Environmental Management Act /
Land Remediation /
Magnesium Chloride as a road de-icer- A critical review regarding concrete
Potassium chloride tends to be the most toxic salt to fish and
aquatic invertebrates. Magnesium chloride is next in toxicity, followed by
calcium chloride and then sodium chloride. Fish fry may be more tolerant of
elevated concentrations of calcium compared to sodium chloride.
http:
Water Management History of Okanagan Lake
(Powerpoint .ppt file format)
http:
Water_mgmt_12-12-01_BJS.ppt
Water Quality Objectives for Okanagan Lake 2008
Although there is a clear phosphorus limitation in spring and early summer and
likely co-limitation of N and P in summer and fall, there is no evidence that
the concentration of total N and P have changed significantly over the past 30
years. A chemistry program should be implemented to monitor ammonia,
nitrate, total nitrogen, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), total dissolved
phosphorus (TDP), and total phosphorus (TP) at depths representing the whole
water column (i.e., epilimnion and top and bottom of the hypolimnion). The key
sampling time is in the spring prior to stratification with sampling on a
monthly frequency until autumn de-stratification.
www.env.gov.bc.ca/wat/wq/objectives/oklakes_update_over/ok_lakes_summary.html
Ministry of Transportation Employee Road Runner Newsletters
Argo receives
kudos for a
job well done!
Road Runner Newsletter Index
Road Rage School
Did you know?
Gasoline taxes vary considerably by province. See a chart of fuel taxes
across Canada. We pay more fuel taxes than Alberta, but Alberta has
nicer roads. Saskatchewan pays more fuel tax than we do and they have poorer
roads.
In 2005 in British Columbia, 459 people were killed* and
78,000 people** were
injured in motor vehicle crashes on our roads.
On a typical day:
There were 695 motor vehicles crashes in BC (THAT IS TOO MANY)
57 vehicles were stolen
87 vehicles were broken into
74 vehicles were vandalized
215 people were injured in crashes — including four cyclists and six
pedestrians.
At least one person died.
This means that there was one car crash approximately every two minutes and
someone was injured almost every seven minutes
*Police (TAS) Traffic Accident System Data (2005 Fatality Count
is not fixed. Fatality data continues to settle over time.)
**ICBC Data
source
http://www.icbc.com/road_safety/default.asp
In the Southern Interior of BC, data from ICBC shows that about 45% of all
collisions with wildlife occur between 7:00 p.m. and midnight.
Approximately 80% of wildlife vehicle collisions involve deer. There are
two distinct high risk times for deer crashes. May and November have the highest
rates of deer accidents.
Moose are involved in approximately 8% of all wildlife vehicle collisions.
Due to the extremely large size of these animals, (a mature bull moose may weigh
up to 500 kg - 1200 lbs), there is a 1 in 100 chance that a moose-vehicle
collision will result in a fatality. Moose collisions peak in December and
January, with the rest occurring between October and March. Accident peaks
coincide with times of high snowfall along highways that are actively cleared of
snow. There is also an accident peak in June/July, which may be due to pregnant
cows moving to calving grounds.
Approximately 3% of wildlife vehicle collisions involve elk, which have
collision patterns similar to moose. There is an accident peak between October
and February, with a secondary peak in May and June. The winter peak coincides
with times of high snowfall, when elk are found beside the highways.
Bear are involved in approximately 3% of all collisions. September and
October are the peak times for bear-vehicle collisions. There is a depletion of
natural food sources at higher elevations near the end of summer which causes
bears to move into the valley bottoms in search of food.
http://www.wildlifeaccidents.ca/when.htm
If you have comments good or bad, solutions, concerns or complaints regarding
the snow on the roads please fill out the form below and/or contact
Argo Road Maintenance
and/or the
Ministry of Transportation.
Ministry of Transportation
Murray Tekano District Manager, Transportation
KELOWNA - Okanagan Shuswap District Office
300-1358 St Paul Street
Kelowna, B.C., V1Y-2E1
Telephone 250-712-3629
Fax: 250-712-3669
Email: Murray.Tekano "at" gov.bc.ca
Danny Morris
Ministry of Transportation, District Operations Manager, Vernon
desk - (250)503-3632
cell - (250)308-8600
fax - (250)503-3631
Danny.Morris [at] gov.bc.ca
Murray.Tekano - District Manager Transportation - Murray.Tekano [at] gov.bc.ca
Area 13 - Okanagan-Shuswap (Salmon Arm - Vernon)
Argo Road Maintenance
North Okanagan Inc.
1-877-546-3799
Area 8 - South Okanagan (Penticton - Kelowna)
Argo Road Maintenance
(South Okanagan) Inc
1-800-663-7623
If the form below does not work please,
|
Comment Form
You can make any comment here that you would like,
to be posted here on this website.
|
View people's comments here.
Links on okanaganlakebc.ca
Argo Road Maintenance
Westside Road Improvement
Committee (WRIC)
Westside Road
Re-Alignment
Westside Road
Updates
Westside Road Gossip
Make a Comment
[ INDEX WR ] [ INDEX ALL ] [ Advis. Plan Comm ] [ Alt Approval ] [ Ambulance ] [ Argo Road Maint. ] [ BC Hydro ] [ Budget 2010 ] [ Budget 2011 ] [ Budget 2012 ] [ Budget 2013 ] [ Budget 2014 ] [ Budget 2015 ] [ Building Inspect ] [ Build Laws - BC ] [ Build Laws - RDCO ] [ Building Violations ] [ Bylaw Anon ] [ COW Elect. 08 ] [ COW Elect. 11 ] [ Director Edgson ] [ Dogs ] [ Easement Rds ] [ EDC ] [ Elect. Boundary ] [ Environ. Advisory ] [ ESS ] [ Finances ] [ Fintry Develop ] [ Fintry Park ] [ Fire Anon ] [ Fire Boat ] [ Fire Bylaws ] [ Fire Dept. ] [ Fire Dept FOI ] [ Fire Hydrants ] [ Fire Minutes ] [ Fires House ] [ FOI Act ] [ Friends Fintry ] [ Garbage ] [ Garbage Area ] [ Garbage Bylaws ] [ Garbage Com 08 ] [ Garbage Contracts ] [ Garbage Finance ] [ Garbage FOI ] [ Garbage FOI ] [ Garbage LaCasa ] [ Garbage Locker ] [ Garbage Minutes ] [ Garbage NOWESI ] [ Garbage Ombudsman ] [ Garbage Prob ] [ Garbage Secret ] [ Garbage Solution ] [ Garbage Survey ] [ Garbage Traders ] [ Governance Wide ] [ Government ] [ Grants-in-aid ] [ Helicopters ] [ History ] [ Killiney Beach Park ] [ Killiney Hall ] [ LaCasa ] [ Motorized Rec. ] [ NWCA ] [ NWCA FOI ] [ NW OCP ] [ NW Parks ] [ OKIB ] [ OKIB Logging ] [ OKIB Road ] [ OKIB Tax ] [ Peacocks ] [ Police Tax ] [ Property Tax ] [ RDCO ] [ RDCO Dog Minutes ] [ RDCO Jokes ] [ RDCO Policy ] [ RDCO Regs ] [ Report Animals ] [ Residents Network ] [ Septic Systems ] [ Subdiv. History ] [ T. Mnt After Fire ] [ Terrace Mount. Fire ] [ Trench Burner ] [ Vote Boxes ] [ Water Budget 08 ] [ Water Budget 09 ] [ Water Budget 10 ] [ Water Bylaws ] [ Water Construct ] [ Water FOI ] [ Water Grants ] [ Water Judgement ] [ Water L Fintry ] [ Water Laws ] [ Water Meters ] [ Water Minutes ] [ Water Rates ] [ Water Right-of-Way ] [ Water Survey ] [ Water System ] [ Water Systems ] [ Water VOS ] [ Water VOS Pics ] [ Water Wells ] [ Water Well Data ] [ Westshore Playgrnd ] [ Westshore Sports ] [ Westside Rd. ] [ WR Development ] [ WR Incorporation ] [ WR Overpass ] [ WRIC ] [ Zoning Bylaw 66 ] [ Zoning Bylaw 81 ] [ Zoning Bylaw 871 ]
Westside Road Gossip
Read Comments
[ Adv. Plan Comm. ] [ Alt. Approval ] [ Ambulance ] [ Argo Road ] [ BC Hydro ] [ Budget 2010 ] [ Budget 2011 ] [ Budget 2012 ] [ Budget 2013 ] [ Budget 2014 ] [ Budget 2015 ] [ Building Inspection ] [ Build Laws - BC ] [ Build Laws - RDCO ] [ Building Violations ] [ COW Elect 08 ] [ COW Elect. 11 ] [ Director Edgson ] [ Dogs ] [ Easement Roads ] [ EDC ] [ Elect. Boundary ] [ Environ. Advisory ] [ ESS ] [ Finance ] [ Fintry Develop ] [ Fintry Park ] [ Fire Boat ] [ Fire Bylaws ] [ Fire Dept. ] [ Fire Dept FOI ] [ Fire Hydrants ] [ Fire Minutes ] [ Fires House ] [ FOI Act ] [ Friends Fintry ] [ Garbage ] [ Garbage Area ] [ Garbage Bylaws ] [ Garb Comment 08 ] [ Garbage Contract ] [ Garbage Finance ] [ Garbage FOI ] [ Garbage FOI ] [ Garbage La Casa ] [ Garbage Locker ] [ Garbage Minutes ] [ Garbage NOWESI ] [ Garbage Ombudsman ] [ Garbage Questionaire ] [ Garbage Secret ] [ Garbage Solution ] [ Garbage Survey ] [ Garbage Traders ] [ Governance Wide ] [ Government ] [ Helicopters ] [ History ] [ Killiney Hall ] [ Killiney Park ] [ La Casa ] [ Motorized Rec. ] [ NW OCP ] [ NWCA ] [ NWCA FOI ] [ NW Parks ] [ OKIB ] [ OKIB Logging ] [ OKIB Road ] [ OKIB Tax ] [ Peacocks ] [ Police Tax ] [ Property Tax ] [ RDCO ] [ RDCO Dog Minutes ] [ RDCO Jokes ] [ RDCO Policy ] [ RDCO Regs ] [ Report Animals ] [ Septic Systems ] [ Subdiv. History ] [ T. Mtn After Fire ] [ Terrace Mnt. Fire ] [ Trench Burner ] [ Vote Box ] [ Water Budget 08 ] [ Water Budget 09 ] [ Water Budget 10 ] [ Water Bylaws ] [ Water Construct ] [ Water FOI ] [ Water Grants ] [ Water Judgements ] [ Water Laws ] [ Water Meters ] [ Water Minutes ] [ Water Rates ] [ Water Right-of-Way ] [ Water Survey ] [ Water System ] [ Water VOS ] [ Water VOS Pics ] [ Water Well Data ] [ Water Wells ] [ Westside Road ] [ WR Development ] [ WR Incorporation ] [ WR Overpass ] [ WRIC ] [ Zoning Bylaw 66 ] [ Zoning Bylaw 1981 ] [ Zoning Bylaw 871 ]
Gossip
In Other Towns
[ INDEX ALL ] [ Boucherie Rd ] [ Kaleden ] [ Kelowna ] [ Naramata ] [ Oyama ] [ Peachland ] [ Penticton ] [ Summerland ] [ Vernon ] [ West Kelowna ] [ Westside Road ] [ Winfield ]
Index
[ Boucherie Road ] [ Kaleden ] [ Kelowna ] [ Naramata ] [ Oyama ] [ Peachland ] [ Pentiction ] [ Summerland ] [ Vernon ] [ West Kelowna ] [ Westside Road ] [ Winfield ]
You will find
local North Westside Road BC businesses, services, classifieds, local arts and crafts, vacation waterfront rentals, plus much more
located near and around Okanagan Lake BC. We will be adding to this site, so come back and
check it often.
©2006-2015
okanaganlakebc.ca
|
