The Town of Osoyoos has selected a contractor to develop a Community Services Master Plan for the next decade.
Staff developed a Request For Proposal (RFP) for the plan and advertised over the Christmas holidays.
The town received five proposals, all within the allocated budget of $55,000 and staff has recommended Lees and Associates, with a bid of $54,000, be granted the contract, said Gerald Davis, the town’s director of community services during a presentation to town council Monday.
While there were two slightly lower bids, the one from Lees and Associates clearly rose to the top as the business has impressive experience in past related projects and one of their lead people is a resident of the Okanagan Valley (Okanagan Falls) and has a good understanding of the region, said Davis.
Their methodology is also very clear and concise and meets the time deadlines to have the plan in place by September of this year and they have an excellent understanding of what the town’s expectations are, he said.
This company has also done good work with other resort municipalities like Fernie and Tofino, he said.
The new community services master plan will set a clear and detailed plan about such initiatives as environmental and social programming in the town, identifying trails and connectivity in town and across the region and a high-level review of departmental policies, fees and charges bylaws and facility analysis, said Davis.
This master plan will assist residents, staff and service clubs for the next 10 years and will allow for members of this community to provide input and help shape the needs of the town moving forward, he said.
The project is expected to start in late February or early March and be completed by the end of September, he said.
“This master plan has many aspects of sustainability for the long term, including environmental impacts, healthy living initiatives and facility life cycle improvements,” he said.
The master plan will look at all of the fees being charged for programs offered through the community development department and recommend increases or decreases, he said.
Barry Romanko, the town’s chief administrative officer, said upcoming changes to Gyro Park lakefront property were a direct result of a series of meetings held almost two years ago involving stakeholders across the community.
Having a community development master plan will allow the town to hold similar meetings to discuss key issues like green space, trails and programs offered to citizens to allow for quality long-term planning, he said.
Mayor Stu Wells said he looks forward to the development of a 10-year community development master plan and believes it will help set a path for developing policies and programs over the next decade.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
