Council Highlights - July 9, 2019

Council Meeting

July 9, 2019

New CAO Introduced

Mayor Gord Milsom welcomed Mr. Paul Gipps, the City of West Kelowna’s new Chief Administrative Officer. Mr. Gipps has 30 years of experience as a local government professional, most recently as Chief Administrative Officer at the Fraser Valley Regional District.  

Cannabis Shops Provided

Council adopted Zoning Bylaw Amendments for five non-medical retail cannabis shops in West Kelowna. The City will now send a recommendation to the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch in support of the issuance of a non-medical cannabis retail store licenses for the five locations.

Water Supply Update

Council was provided an update on the City’s water supply and drought response plan. City staff and consultants have developed a drought response decision tree for when to elevate sprinkling regulations in the community. With less than typical precipitation in March, and warm and dry May weather, the snowpack which feeds the City’s water supplies disappeared ahead of normal timing in the Powers Creek watershed. The result is that the City’s reservoir storage is lower than normal. Reservoirs levels are preserved to ensure there is water supply in the case of drought. Staff are closely monitoring water levels but it is looking likely that Stage 2 sprinkling regulations will be put in place in the coming days to ensure water levels do not drop significantly. The City is always at Stage 1 sprinkling regulations which allows even numbered addresses to water on even calendar days, and odd numbered addresses on odd calendar days. Stage 2 requires even numbered addresses to water on Saturday and Tuesday only, and odd numbered addresses to water on Sunday and Wednesday only. Stage 3 sprinkling regulations limit watering to one day a week for all and prohibits water use like washing vehicles, driveways, eaves etc. Stage 4 prohibits any outdoor watering. The City has begun communicating to residents to consider water conservation. Water conservation has a variety of financial, environmental and system benefits. The City is a partner in the Okanagan Basin Water Board’s Waterwise initiative which promotes conservation. More information can be found at www.okwaterwise.ca. 

Multi-Sport Facility Update

Council was advised of work done on the Multi-Sport Dome Facility under construction at 2139 McDougall Road. To date the Rose Valley transmission watermain, from McDougall Road to Westlake Road, and a sanitary sewer lift station that will service the facility have been installed. Irrigation lines, electrical conduits and natural gas lines have been installed, landscaping is underway and sidewalks complete. Artificial turf installation is underway and final grading of the side and roadway paving expect to be completed this week. Substantial completion of the facility is expected October 31, 2019.