Important information for Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant Local Area Service property owners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 26, 2020

More than 8,200 future Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant (RVWTP) property owners will soon receive a mailed package about the recommended option to borrow long-term to design, build and finance the plant, and determine if there is sufficient petition against.

The Council Initiative – Subject to Petition Against is a legislative process that will occur through October 2, 2020. It applies to future RVWTP property owners in the Lakeview-Rose Valley, Pritchard, Sunnyside and West Kelowna Estates Water Systems, and not in the Powers Creek or Westbank First Nation service areas.

The increase to RVWTP users will be $34, plus the $116 per year that property owners currently pay. The total $150 is required to design, build and finance the RVWTP and would remain the same during the 25-year borrowing period. In 2022, the $150 will be shifted from water bills onto a parcel tax, which allows some residents to defer their taxes. If residents prefer to pay a lump sum instead of long-term borrowing in 2022, they can pay a one-time payment of $2,815.

If users agree with long-term borrowing – they do nothing. The City will contact them in 2022.

Any who oppose long-term borrowing must complete the petition against form and submit it to the City in-person or by mail no later than 4 p.m. Oct. 2, 2020.

If the City receives sufficient petition against, Council will consider short-term borrowing, which will result in a fee of $600 annually per property for five years or a one-time payment of $2,815. The City felt this option would create hardships for seniors and those experiencing financial challenges due to COVID-19. As the RVWTP will proceed, this process is about how users prefer to pay for their water service. Canada and British Columbia have contributed a $41 million grant, in addition to City water reserves and development cost charge contributions.

Learn more on the City’s website at westkelownacity.ca/rvwtp or sign up to receive updates at westkelownacity.ca/subscribe. Staff are available to answer questions throughout the process.