In 2017, in response to recommendations coming out of the Electoral Area "D" Governance Study, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen will be considering a submission to the Province recommending that Electoral Area "D" proceed with a boundary change for Electoral Area "D" by dividing the existing electoral area into two separate electoral areas.  If approved, this division would take place in early 2018, in advance of the 2018 General Local Elections in October of that year.

The application would see the current Electoral Area divided into two parts, consistent with Official Community Plan Service Areas D1 and D2.

 ELECTORAL AREA "D" GOVERNANCE STUDY 2015/2016

Get Informed, Get Involved, Have Your Say!

The Electoral Area "D" Governance Study is now complete!

The  Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen would like to thank the volunteers on the Electoral Area  "D" Governance Study Committee and the citizens of Electoral Area "D" who took the time to participate in the governance forums, complete the surveys or provide comments.

Please see the final reports here:

• Consultants Report 
• Committee Report
• Administrative Report to the Board of Directors

In 2015/2016, with a funding grant from the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen undertook a governance study to explore and propose options within the existing regional district structure to improve the way Area "D" is governed and the way the local services were delivered.

The goal of the study was to inform the RDOS Board of Directors of the range of issues that are of greatest concern to citizens in Area "D", how citizens envision future governance and services provision, and the nature of citizen feedback on proposed future options.

The study was led by the Electoral Area "D" Governance Study committee (Terms of Reference) with representatives from across Area "D", together with LeftSide Partners, a consulting firm engaged by the Committee.  The first task was to prepare Fact Sheets, summaries of all the services the RDOS provided to the communities in Electoral Area "D".  Each Fact Sheet explained the service, how it was delivered, how decisions were made, and the cost to provide the service.

Click on the links below to get the facts!

FACT SHEETS

The committee and consultants invited residents and property owners throughout Electoral Area "D" to 'Get Informed, Get Involved, Have Your Say' in a variety of ways.

SURVEY #1 RESULTS

• Survey Results Summary

• Survey Results Appendix Final

Survey #1 Results - Question 3 Breakdown

SURVEY #1 RESULTS BY COMMUNITY

• - In general I receive good value for the taxes that I pay to the regional district.

• - The number of elected officials representing Electoral Area "D" is sufficient. 

• - The number of different agencies that deliver my services is reasonable. 

• - There are sufficient opportunities to have say in decisions affecting my local services if I choose to do so.

• - I know who to contact if I have a question or concern about any of my local services.

•  Top Issues Identified in Each Community

Governance Forums

Three Governance Forum (Open Houses) were held during March 2016 in Okanagan Falls, Kaleden and Apex. The Forums were attended by approximately 60 residents - a big thank you to everyone who attended and provided thoughtful input to the study.

The poster boards on display at the forums can be viewed here:

• Electoral Area "D" Governance Study Open House

• What is the Governance Study?

• What Role Does Electoral Area "D" Play on the Regional Board?

• What Services Do I Receive from the RDOS?

• Who Else Delivers Local Government Services to Electoral Area "D"?

• What Do My Regional District Services Cost?

• How Do I Have a Voice in RDOS Decisions?

• What Tools Do We Have to Change Governance?

• Study Process and Next Steps

• How Do I Stay Involved?

Feedback from the forums can be found here:. 

• Open House Discussion and Comments

• Roundtable Discussions Representations

• Roundtable Discussions Service Providers

• Sticky Note Board - What's Working and What's Not Working

OPTION SHEETS

Introduced concepts of boundary adjustments, local community commissions and water authority collaboration:

• Boundary Changes Option Sheet

• Commissions Options Sheet

• Water Authority Option Sheet

SERVICE LEVEL TOOLKITS

Examples of how some service level concerns could be responded to by the RDOS.

• Provincial Service Levels Toolkit

• Regional District Services Levels Toolkit

SURVEY #2

A second survey followed up on the Options Sheets and Service Level Toolkits.  Hard copies were distributed through various local businesses and made available lat the Area "D" Office.

• Survey

Survey #2 Results

• Survey Results Summary

Residents were encouraged to attend the monthly meetings of the Governance Study Committee, and one dedicated resident attended virtually every meeting, and he offered words of encouragement as the committee worked through the process.  That support was invaluable!

All meetings are open to the public and will take place at the Okanagan Falls School - Club Room unless otherwise indicated.

 The committee worked hard to ensure that the lines of communication were open and that residents were in the know on how things were developing.

• Information Release - Governance Study for Electoral Area "D" Kicks Off 07/08/15

•  Information Release - Electoral Area "D" Governance Study Consulting Services Awarded 08/20/15

• Information Release - Area "D" Governance Study Committee Begins Its Work 08/2015

• Information Release - Consultants 10/14/15

• Information Release - Update 11/02/15

• Information Release -Area "D" Governance Study on Schedule 11/27/15

• Information Release - Fact Sheets 01/06/16

• Information Release - February Update 01/29/16

• Governance Study Ad - February 15/16

• Governance Study Update - April 4/16

• Governance Study News - June 2016

• Governance Study News - June 2016

• Governance Study Ad - August 2016

• Talking Points 11/15
• Governance Study Stipulation Agreement 03/25/15
• Letter to RDOS Board from Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development 11/20/14
• Terms of Reference
• Governance Committee Operational Guidelines
• Newsletter February 2016