Council Highlights - April 20, 2021

Council Meeting

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Council recognizes the difference makers who volunteer in our community

April 18 to 24 is National Volunteer Week and Council thanked the many people who invest their time and effort into service on committees, neighbourhood associations, not-for-profit societies and many other organizations. Volunteers lift our community with their continued kindness and compassion improving our overall health and well-being, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presentation given on efforts to help people experiencing homelessness

Under Council’s 2021- 2022 Strategic Priorities Foster Safety and Well-being pillar, the City partners with non-profit groups to help people experiencing homelessness. The City received a grant under BC’s Community Wellness and Harm Reduction Grant Program and worked with Urban Matters to create a West Kelowna Survival Guide and to provide employment for people with lived experience to help those currently needing services. View the presentation at westkelownacity.ca/webcasts.

City Hall Project update provided

The City is working with the Okanagan Regional Library and consultants in the early stages of the preliminary design of the City Hall/Library Building. Public consultation on the preliminary design is expected in the spring. Input into the design for the skatepark has concluded. Thanks to everyone who participated. Results will be shared with the design team and an update is planned for this spring on the final design of the skatepark. Learn more at westkelownacity.ca/cityhall and sign up to receive updates atwestkelownacity.ca/subscribe.

First Quarter Update for 2021

Development Services reported that staff processed permits totaling more than $50 million in construction value in the first quarter of 2021, representing the highest volume of any quarter in the City’s 13-year history. View 2021 first quarter updates from various City Departments online in the April 20 agenda.

2021 to 2025 Financial Plan adopted

Council adopted the 2021 to 2025 Financial Plan including the 2021 Budget, which includes a 4.05 per cent tax increase, or $84 more per year on the average West Kelowna home assessed at $655,000. Council originally considered a tax increase of 4.75 per cent and then lowered that to 4.05 per cent when the non-market assessment growth came in at 0.7 per cent higher than originally projected. The tax increase includes a one per cent Infrastructure Levy to support community investments like roads, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, drainage, and other capital improvements. For more information, go to westkelownacity.ca/news. Property tax notices will go out the last week in May. Taxes are due July 2.

Council adopts its updated Strategic Priorities
Council adopted its 2021 to 2022 Strategic Priorities, which reflects significant investment in priority projects under all four pillars, which are Invest in Infrastructure, Economic Growth and Prosperity, Strengthen our Community and Foster Safety and Well-Being. Our Year In Review can also be viewed and downloaded online atwestkelownacity.ca/strategicpriorities.

Council approves policing priorities

Council adopted its 2021 to 2022 Policing Priorities. Council worked with West Kelowna RCMP to establish four priorities: Road safety, crime reduction, violence in relationships and police/community relations. See the full report in the April 20 agenda.

Hayman Road subdivision application denied

Council opposed a Zoning Bylaw amendment to permit compact housing to facilitate a two-lot subdivision at 2485 Hayman Road.

Thacker Drive subdivision proposal proceeds to public hearing

Council gave first and second readings to a Zoning Bylaw amendment that proposes to rezone approximately one-third of a 65,093-square-metre property at 2377 Thacker Drive to permit a requested 10-lot single family subdivision. The proposal will go to public hearing.

Scott Crescent carriage house permitted

Council authorized a Development Variance Permit at 1526 Scott Crescent to convert an existing accessory building to a carriage house.

Higher fines for repeat nuisance calls

Council adopted the increase in fees for frequent calls for police, fire and other municipal response such as bylaw compliance. Repeat nuisance calls will now be charged $500 rather than between $75 and $100 to better reflect the actual costs of excessive calls.

Council receives presentation on natural assets

Council was updated on efforts to create an inventory of the City’s natural assets, which would complement similar work done for the City’s infrastructure. The process identifies natural resources or ecosystems and their locations, risks, challenges and opportunities. From the inventory a Natural Asset Management Plan could be created to ensure sustainable municipal operations.

Council reviews public hearing procedures

Staff presented Council with options for revising its post public hearing process, which currently requires waiting until a future meeting, before giving further readings to a development proposal. An alternative would be to consider further readings immediately after the close of the public hearing. Council will revisit the various options at the May 25 meeting.