Council Highlights - June 14, 2022

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Happy Pride Month

Council wished everyone in West Kelowna and around the world a happy Pride Month. After the past two years of COVID-19-related isolation, Council recognizes the importance of reuniting as a community, ensuring acceptance and inclusivity for the LGBT2Q+ community and celebrating equality and love.

National Indigenous History Month and Indigenous People’s Day recognized

Council recognizes the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Metis Peoples. The community is encouraged to spend time during National Indigenous History Month in June learning more about their outstanding and unique contributions to our country and to take part in celebrating National Indigenous People’s Day on June 21. The City of West Kelowna looks forward to continuing to travel along the path of truth and reconciliation together with our good neighbours, Westbank First Nation.

The 100^th Anniversary of the Powers Creek Water Service Area celebrated

Council acknowledged the Powers Creek Water Service Area’s 100 years of service and thanked everyone who has played pivotal roles in its development, leadership, operations and improvements. Originally incorporated June 15, 1922 as the Westbank Irrigation District, the system was transferred to the City of West Kelowna Jan. 1, 2011 and was renamed Powers Creek Water Service Area after the primary water source. It serves 4,548 domestic customers and 385 hectares of agricultural land. 

Remember to provide input on Mt. Boucherie Community Centre restoration

Public consultation for the restoration of Mt. Boucherie Community Centre remains open until June 20 at OurWK.ca/restoreMBCC. Input will help the City develop a facility plan and shape future programming and activities when, in 2024, the City returns the building to the Greater Westside for its original purpose as a community centre. It has served as a temporary Municipal Hall since 2009.

Council remuneration increases proposed starting Jan. 1, 2023

Staff will incorporate community task force recommendations into the Council Remuneration Bylaw. Bea Kline, Lin Klick, Craig Garries, Maureen O’Hanley Doucette and Sandy Gilfillan sat on the Remuneration Task Force. Their research determined that Mayor and Council have been under compensated for several years and that the remuneration should increase based on averages from regionally comparative municipalities, such as Penticton and Vernon. If the bylaw amendments are adopted, the Mayor’s annual salary would increase from $76,203 to $88,240 and Councillors’ salaries would go from $25,439 to $30,884 to encourage and attract diversity at the table. The new remuneration would take effect for the next elected Council, starting Jan. 1, 2023. 

FortisBC gives presentation on renewable natural gas

FortisBC is seeking regulatory approval to supply all customers living in newly constructed homes with renewable natural gas by 2023 to help communities in their efforts to become carbon neutral. The process includes giving presentations to local governments and seeking their input. View the June 14 PowerPoint presentation online or watch via webcast archives at westkelownacity.ca/webcasts.  

Council provided update on Central Okanagan Poverty and Wellness and Housing Strategies

Council received presentations on the Central Okanagan Poverty and Wellness and the Regional Housing Strategies, which received input during rounds of public and stakeholder consultations earlier this year. The feedback will be incorporated into a final draft, which will prioritize actions for Regional District of Central Okanagan Board consideration of final adoption and implementation for the region. View the full presentations on Council webcast archives at westkelownacity.ca/webcasts. 

Council postpones further consideration of Phase 1 rezoning in the Smith Creek CDP area

After a public hearing, Council postponed consideration of third reading of Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments for unaddressed property in the Smith Creek Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) area. The pause gives staff more time to confirm required off-site improvements such as transportation. If approved, the amendments would facilitate the first of multi-phased development in the CDP area.

Okanagan Lake floodplain exemption issued for Westside Road property

Council issued an Aquatic and Sensitive Terrestrial Ecosystem Development Permit for the reconstruction of a single-family house at 639 Westside Road, and approved variances to increase the maximum height of a single building wall from 9.0 to 12.5 metres and to reduce the minimum setback between the residence’s garage and access easement from 6.0 to 3.0 metres. Council also approved a Floodplain Exemption to permit the foundation to be setback within 15 metres of Okanagan Lake, subject to conditions in a hazard assessment report and a covenant absolving the City of indemnity.

Council approves secondary suite in South Boucherie neighbourhood

Council authorized a Development Variance Permit for 1119 Menu Road to increase the permitted size of a secondary suite from 90 to 97.4 square metres.

Council receives update on Casa Loma Evacuation Plan

West Kelowna Fire Rescue continues to work with the Casa Loma neighbourhood to improve emergency preparedness and response. A new evacuation plan contains several recommendations and includes key maps, which emergency officials can distribute in advance to residents, to show muster points and road, pedestrian and cycling egress routes and other critical response factors. Emergency crews held incident command drills in May to confirm the plan’s effectiveness. The plan recommends that the City continue to try to create a secondary egress from the neighbourhood, require that development permits consider wildfire mitigation, install signs and a neighbourhood warning siren and create no parking zones along Campbell Road to ensure safe flow for exiting traffic. View the presentation on webcast archives at westkelownacity.ca/webcasts or find maps and other information on the Council Agenda webpage.

Council approves annual transit operating agreement

Council approved the annual operating agreement with BC Transit confirming continued levels of service for 2022-2023. While ridership is gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels of 2019-2020, expenses have increased by $453,389, bringing the City’s total transit cost to $1,866,985 for the new operating year. Cost increases include rising fuel prices, higher insurance premiums, and modernized information technology systems for riders. Ridership fares cover approximately one-third of annual costs, with West Kelowna taxpayers subsidizing the remaining costs.