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Car festival and art event will bookend Oak Bay festivities

Collector cars will line the streets Aug. 9 to kick off Arts and Culture Week in Oak Bay
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Collector cars will line the streets Aug. 9 to kick off Arts and Culture Week in Oak Bay. Council approved the car show and the Bowker Creek Brush Up to wrap the week-long event during its meeting June 8.

Classic cars will fill Oak Bay Avenue from Monterey Avenue to Mitchell Street on Aug. 9 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for the 2015 Oak Bay Collector Car Festival.

Since 2011, the Oak Bay Tourism Committee has organized what was previously known as the Blethering Place Collector Car Festival that celebrates vintage and collector cars of all makes and models. Oak Bay Avenue is transformed into a pedestrian walkway to showcase 250 to 300 cars.

Council also approved a small grant to the Oak Bay Artists Society to cover costs of the 11th annual Bowker Creek Brush Up. The outdoor art show and sale is slated for Aug. 16 and the $285 grant covers insurance for the event.

Last year’s Bowker Creek event attracted an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 visitors.

 

 

Funding sought for arena flooring

With the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program recently announced, Oak Bay municipal staff sought out some ready projects in hopes of securing funding.

The program provides a maximum of $500,000 in funding, to a maximum of 50 per cent of eligible costs of a project. With the deadline June 17, potential projects were limited to those relatively shelf-ready. With the program largely focused on recreation centres and infrastructure, staff looked at the rubber flooring in the arena and arena lobby which is in need of replacement as they’re continually buckling up, creating tripping hazards. Cost of replacing the flooring is estimated at $58,000 plus tax.

Council tasked staff to submit an application, committing to provide its 50 per cent share of the funding upon confirmation of approval of the application.

 

 

Streetlights set for LED pilot project

Council OK’d a pilot project to replace streetlights to light emitting diodes (LED) to a maximum of $22,000 in response to a BC Hydro incentive to encourage municipalities to change their lighting to LED.

The project must reduce electrical usage by at least 20,000 kWh. Oak Bay staff anticipate the incentives could be as much as 30 per cent in the Oak Bay pilot project of 100 light fixtures. It would enable Public Works to assess whether a bigger project could be carried out using district employees, taking into account such things as the average time spent per fixture, timing of the incentive program and other claims on staff time.

 

 

APC bylaw approved

The bylaw to establish the Oak Bay Advisory Planning Commission got final reading June 8.

The long-discussed commission will be comprised of seven to nine regular members, appointed by council who will strive to achieve geographical representation from all parts of Oak Bay.

The district will also aim for both broad representation of the community and for expertise in environment, active transportation, heritage, land use and a member of the business community as well as a member under 35 years old alongside three members of the community at large.

Victoria seniors games gain support

Oak Bay will send a letter of support in principle for Victoria to host the  2017 55+ B.C. Games.

The City of Victoria sought Oak Bay’s support and commitment to a conditional financial contribution of $10,000 should the region be awarded the games. This request was also made to the District of Saanich and Township of Esquimalt.

 

 

FAR bylaw to public hearing

The zoning bylaw set to implement recommendations by the floor area review committee is set for public hearing after getting first two readings at council June 8. The public hearing is slated for June 22 at 7:30 p.m in council chambers, 2167 Oak Bay Ave. Coun. Eric Zhelka withdrew his previous intent to make a motion to hold off all development applications pertaining to the floor area ratio review recommendations based on the upcoming public hearing, and potential implementation.

cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com