Parcel Tax to Support CSRD Electoral Area G Community Halls

By Jo Boxwell

Notch Hill Community Center. (photo: Scoop Staff)

At the October 16, 2025 CSRD Regular Board Meeting, the Board approved a parcel tax for an annual financial contribution to the five community halls in Area G (Blind Bay, Carlin, Cedar Heights, Notch Hill and Sorrento). The maximum annual taxation rate is $61,000, which amounts to an average parcel tax of $16.54 per parcel per annum (based on 3,882 taxable parcels in the service area) according to the Board Report. CSRD General Manager, Financial Services Jeremy Sundin explained that the halls will receive a significantly smaller amount in the first year of taxation as the referendum costs need to be repaid.

Blind Bay Memorial Hall. (photo: Scoop Staff)

Area E Director Rhona Martin said, “The financial stability is really important, but what’s also really becoming a problem is the human capacity,” with older and long-time volunteers aging out while others aren’t able or willing to step up. Area G Director Natalya Melnychuk said that in Area G, some halls continue to be “extraordinarily well supported” with a very strong sense of volunteerism, while others struggle to find enough volunteer support.

In Other Business at the Meeting:

Shuswap Tourism - The Board received a report from the Shuswap Economic Development/Tourism Participant Review committee. Director Gibbons discusses tourism in more detail on page 4 of the November issue of the Scoop.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program – Area A Director Karen Cathcart asked the Board to write a letter of support to Premier Eby for the establishment of a non-partisan roundtable to discuss the federal Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The request received a mixed response from the Board, with some highlighting the program’s ability to address labour shortages that cause business closures and reduced hours. Others expressed concerns such as youth unemployment rates and housing availability. Director Gibbons discusses his concerns in more detail on page 4 of the November issue of the Scoop. An amended motion was passed for a draft letter to be brought to the November regular board meeting for discussion.

Chair’s Report – Board Chair Natalya Melnychuk highlighted the meetings she attended with ministers and CSRD directors at the Union of BC Municipalities Annual Convention. In total, Director Melnychuk attended 13 meetings with ministers on topics ranging from provincial enforcement of illegal buoys and docks on Shuswap Lake to new Community Works Fund requirements impacting third party access to those funds (affecting local community halls).

At the October 28 Electoral Area Directors Meeting:

Highlights included a discussion on public information meetings, a staff report on the time it takes to process building permits (Director Gibbons and Director Melnychuk have discussed this in their Scoop updates this month) and an update on parks master plans.

Parks Master Plans - The Board received a report from Fiona Barton, Manager, Community Services, that included an update on the Electoral Areas Parks Plan project. The report states that the project was awarded to Urban Systems for $623,909, and work began with a start-up meeting on October 16. Work on plans for all electoral areas will begin simultaneously.

Directors noted that they wanted to be engaged during the process. Director Gibbons said, “We are the decision makers in the end and it’s going to be a wasted report if we are not there to observe.” Public engagement is scheduled to begin in early 2026 and completion of the plans is anticipated in June 2027.

At the October 30 Committee of the Whole Meeting:

Short-Term Rentals – A report from Gerald Christie, General Manager Development Services regarding creating bylaw amendments to allow Short-Term Rentals (STRs) at principal residences was received by the Board for information. The report states that the process of creating these zoning amendments would be very onerous for staff. The report adds that, “Allowing STRs as a permitted use without requiring a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) would eliminate critical oversight mechanisms currently in place. TUPs enable staff to review servicing adequacy, parking availability, maximum number of guests, and environmental impacts, particularly near sensitive areas like Shuswap Lake.”

Staff propose a TUP model similar to the one adopted by the Regional District of East Kootenay, which allows staff to approve STRs at principal residences based on requirements set out in a policy. The report states, “The policy ensures transparency and provides a framework for ensuring public safety and environmental and servicing oversight which blanket zoning amendments do not.”

Director Gibbons raised several concerns, including the cost of TUPs for applicants and the potential negative effects of requiring TUPs on economic development. He added, “We’re on a merry-go-round with these,” since TUPs have to be renewed every three years and properties eventually need to be rezoned. Electoral Area B Director David Brooks-Hill suggested considering business licensing as an alternative to TUPs. A staff report on business licensing will be provided at a future meeting.

2026 Work Plans – Draft work plans were presented to the Board for information for Community and Protective Services, Environmental and Utility Services, Development Services, Financial Services and Corporate Services.

Current challenges identified by staff include construction cost increases affecting projects like the rebuild of the Scotch Creek Lee Creek Fire Hall. Cost escalations are also impacting reserve funds, with funds often inadequate when compared to current costs. Staff identified 2025 highlights such as the Shuswap-North Okanagan Rail Trail, the completion of Eagle Bay Park, the establishment of a road rescue service in the North and South Shuswap (beginning January 1, 2026) and geohazard mapping.