Juicy Topics Open House

The findings from the update to the 2015 SOEC Parking Study will be one of the topics at the upcoming open house on August 28. In addition to the preliminary findings shared at an open house in June, the City now has information about the parking demand during a special event as well more details about how some of the options being explored could impact the overall availability and management of parking at the site. The next step is to determine which of the full range of options offer the greatest value in terms of improving parking at the lowest possible cost. The City will prepare recommendations to review with Council and the community in the fall.

Third of four 'juicy' topics - Modernizing the building bylaw

More energy-efficient construction is one of the goals of the City’s new Building Bylaw. The City is planning to replace the current Building Bylaw created in 1994 with a new version that phases in the recommendations from the BC Energy Step Code. The new version provides greater clarity around administrative authority and responsibilities, permit requirements for each building type, expectations for enforcement action and design criteria that is unique to Penticton, and incorporates recent changes in the BC Building Act that standardize regulations across the province.

A draft of the new version, including the implementation plan for the BC Energy Step Code, is now available on shapeyourcitypenticton.ca. The proposed bylaw applies to the design, construction or occupancy of new buildings or structures, and the alteration, reconstruction, demolition, removal, relocation or occupancy or change of use or occupancy of existing buildings and structure. Anyone interested in residential and commercial construction is encouraged to familiarize themselves with these new requirements in preparation for implementation anticipated this fall. A summary and a copy of the report with the detailed changes are now available at shapeyourcitypenticton.ca.

The results of a review of the options for handling the solids from the advanced wastewater treatment plant are now available. The City published an executive summary and the complete results of the review on shapeyourcitypenticton.ca in preparation for the upcoming open house. The City announced plans for the review in April to determine if the current system of composting the solids at the Campbell Mountain Landfill is the best investment for the future given recent changes in the regulations for compost sites, the age of the City’s site at the landfill, and a drop in the local market for the City’s compost.

The results of the wastewater solids handling review is one of the four ‘juicy’ topics that will be discussed at the open house on August 28 at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre. Residents are invited to drop in between 4 pm and 7 pm, enjoy a fresh juice or smoothie and share their thoughts on the wastewater solids review as well as the legalization of cannabis, the modernization of the building bylaw and the findings from the SOEC parking study. Anyone not able to attend the open house can review the materials and share their feedback on shapeyourcitypenticton.ca beginning August 24.

The proposed framework for introducing cannabis retail sales in Penticton is now available for residents to review. The framework was developed based on results of a city-wide survey this past spring and was first shared with Council at a meeting on July 3. A summary of the framework along with a map are now on shapeyourcitypenticton.ca in preparation for community engagement activities later this month. The proposed cannabis framework is one of four topics that will be discussed at an open house on August 28 at the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre between 4 pm and 7 pm. The City is providing more information about the proposed cannabis framework in preparation for the upcoming open house. Residents are invited to review the framework and share their feedback in person or online at shapeyourcitypenticton.ca. Watch for a feedback form to be published on August 24.

The City of Penticton is blending four ‘juicy’ topics in one open house later this month. Residents are invited to drop in at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre on August 28 to discuss the legalization of cannabis in the city, the future of wastewater solids management, the findings from the SOEC parking study and proposed changes to the Building Bylaw. The open house will run from 4 pm to 7 pm and will feature four separate stations, one for each of the key topics. Attendees are invited to enjoy a complimentary fresh juice or smoothie while they review the materials.

“These are four important projects that are in various stages of development but all at a point of needing input from the community,” says JoAnne Kleb, Engagement Strategist. “Blending the topics into a single event is an effective use of residents’ time and City resources and should create a great environment for juicy dialogue.”

Over the next few weeks, staff will provide more information about each topic leading up to the open house. An overview of the topics and the information that will be shared is provided below. Anyone not able to attend the open house will have the opportunity to review the information and share their feedback online at shapeyourcitypenticton.ca beginning August 21.

“Our hope is that residents may come for one topic but will stay to learn more about the other three,” says Kleb. “It is a bit of an experiment so if we find that citizens need more time to discuss one or more of the topics, we will make that happen.”

Open House Topics

An overview of each of the topics that will be discussed at the open house is provided below:

Cannabis Framework

• The City is involving the community in determining the rules for the retail sales and public use of cannabis in Penticton when it is legalized in October.

• Citizens were asked to complete a community survey that kicked off on April 16.

• The results of the survey and a proposed framework were shared with Council on July 3.

• Residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on the proposed framework at the open house.

• Feedback collected will be used to refine the framework and prepare the necessary policies and procedures to review with Council in the fall.

SOEC Parking Study

• The City announced plans to update a 2015 parking study at the SOEC complex on May 23 in order to address parking pressures in the area.

• The goal of the study is to collect current data on parking demand in order to identify opportunities to better manage available parking.

• The City conducted a survey to gather feedback from users of the facilities and area residents and traffic counts during typical and busy weekends at the site.

• The survey results and some of the initial findings from the counts were shared during an Open House on June 25.

• An additional parking count was completed on July 14 during the John Fogerty concert to capture data during a special event.

• Residents will have the opportunity to review the complete findings and discuss the recommendations at the open house.

Waste Water Solids Study

• The City announced plans to review the options for managing the solids from the waste water treatment process on April 13.

• Solids from the waste water treatment plant are currently trucked to the Campbell Mountain Landfill and composted.

• The compost site is aging and needs a significant investment to bring it into compliance with current regulations.

• The purpose of the review is to determine whether or not the current process is the best investment for the future.

• The City reviewed 23 different processes for treating the wastewater solids and is developing a shortlist of options to discuss with the community.

• Staff will be on hand to discuss the findings from the review and gather feedback on the shortlist in order to prepare a recommendation for Council in the fall.

Building Bylaw Modernization

• The City announced plans to modernize the Building Bylaw on May 8.

• A new bylaw will reflect recent changes in the Building Act and other industry codes and phase in the recommendations from the new BC Energy Step Code.

• The changes will affect the requirements for residential and commercial construction.

• The City would like to review the changes with residents and gather feedback on the plan to phase in the recommendations before taking the bylaw to Council this fall.