Council Highlights - Oct. 24, 2023

Regular Council Meeting

Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023

Watch Council meetings live or view the webcast archive

Council meetings are livestreamed at westkelownacity.ca/webcasts. The webcast is then posted the next business day. Find the Oct. 24 agenda and archive at pub-westkelowna.escribemeetings.com.

BC Housing purchases City-owned land at 2570 Bartley Road

Council announced that the City of West Kelowna has sold 2570 Bartley Road to BC Housing for $3.7 million, effective Oct. 31. BC Housing approached the City to help identify lands for various supportive, transitional and other social housing types. The City will lease the site from BC Housing and no changes to the existing Public Works Yard are expected until BC housing has provided its long-term development plan for the property.

Council congratulates staff on receiving health and safety excellence awards

The BC Municipal Safety Association has given the City of West Kelowna the 2023 Organizational Safety Excellence Award for leadership, dedication, and diligence in creating a safer and healthier workplace and helping injured workers recover and return to their jobs. Health, Safety and Wellness Manager Lisa Hoult was also awarded the Health and Safety Stewardship Award for extraordinary leadership in developing policies, procedures, tools, and communications in support of employees’ wellbeing. Council thanked all staff for contributing towards keeping City workplaces safe and healthy.

Remembrance Day

Council invited the community to attend the Royal Canadian Legion Westbank Branch’s Remembrance Day ceremonies in West Kelowna from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Royal LePage Place. Find more information at westkelownacity.ca/remembranceday. Council also encouraged the community to support Canada’s veterans by purchasing a poppy at various locations, including Municipal Hall, starting Thursday, Oct. 26.

Check West Kelowna’s Recreation Guide for Halloween and seasonal activities and events

Council wished everyone a safe and happy Halloween next Tuesday, Oct. 31 and encouraged the community to check out the West Kelowna Recreation Guide for fun seasonal activities at westkelownacity.ca/recguide and year-round events at westkelownacity.ca/communityevents.

Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant update

Despite McDougall Creek Wildfire impacts, all users served by the new Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant are scheduled to receive clean, safe, reliable drinking water in two phases prior to the end of December. The Rose Valley – Lakeview System will receive water in Phase 1 prior to the end of November. This area was in a more ready state before and after the wildfire and fewer impacts occurred. The West Kelowna Estates and Sunnyside/Pritchard Systems will receive water in Phase 2 prior to the end of December. These areas had to recover from a Do Not Consume Order and required larger transmission mains, valving and pump alterations, and connections to existing reservoirs to connect to the new plant. Learn more at westkelownacity.ca/rvwtp.

Third quarter statistics presented

Staff presented stats for the quarter ending Sept. 30 on progress made in achieving Council’s 2022 to 2026 Strategic Priorities and delivering programs, services, and infrastructure to the community. Find all the statistics online.

2024 permissive tax exemptions approved

Council adopted the 2023 Property Tax Exemption Bylaw, which exempts 14 places of worship and private schools, six not-for-profit organizations and two public or local authorities from 2024 property taxes. View the bylaw online.

Residential subdivision approved in the Bear Creek/Raymer neighbourhood

Council adopted an Official Community Plan amendment that removes 1045 Bear Creek Road from the Raymer Comprehensive Development Plan so that the owner can subdivide and develop the property, as a rural subdivision, independently of the larger neighbourhood in the Bear Creek/Westside Road area.

West Kelowna receives provincial Complete Communities Program funding

The City has received $149,996 under B.C.’s Complete Communities Program to create an Infill Housing Strategy that will explore ways to offer a diverse range of inclusive, attainable and affordable housing, for homeowners and renters, and allow people to comfortably age in-place in West Kelowna.

Council approves rezoning in Upper Glenrosa

Council adopted a Zoning Bylaw amendment to allow subdivision of 3349 Glenrosa Road but denied a development variance permit that would have exempted the property from required frontage improvements, or cash in lieu, at the time of subdivision.

Secondary suite development variance permit denied in Shannon Lake

Council denied a development variance permit to increase the maximum secondary suite floor area at 2516 Pinnacle Ridge Drive from 1,076 square feet to 1,432 square feet.