Council Highlights - April 22, 2025

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Date of Issue: Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Watch meetings live or via the webcast archive

Council meetings are livestreamed at westkelownacity.ca/webcasts and archived within one business day. To view the April 22 webcast archive, please visit pub-westkelowna.escribemeetings.com.

Deadline approaches for Economic Development Corporation Board applications

Council reminded those interested in serving on the West Kelowna Economic Development Corporation (WKEDC) Board of the 4 p.m. Friday, April 25 application deadline. The WKEDC will pursue economic growth and prosperity for our community and the City is seeking top-tier, motivated and experienced business owners, leaders, and senior managers who can provide strategic direction and help shape a vibrant and thriving economy. Interested applicants are encouraged to learn more and apply at westkelownacity.ca/wkedc.

Snow Stars recognized

Council thanked our community’s 2025 Snow Stars, who helped clear neighbours’ drives and walkways this past winter. In recognition of their good deeds, each Snow Star received a gift card to a local business:

• Sandra Andrews
• Jack Prosello
• Jarrod Brodsky
• Steve (last name not provided)
• Greg Hendricks

Energy retrofits for Royal LePage Place approved

Council approved four recommended energy retrofit projects for Royal LePage Place: Controls optimization; dehumidifier operations optimization, 100-ton heat pump; and desuperheater. FortisBC will provide $540,428. The City intends to contribute $859,572. Five projects were tendered in 2024, but bids came in high. Staff have amended the scope to reflect market costs for energy retrofits, and will re-tender the project this spring in hopes of receiving more competitive bids.

Council receives first quarter update

Staff provided updates on City operations and progress made in advancing Council’s Strategic Priorities during the first quarter of 2025, ending March 31. Find all the reports via the April 22 agenda.

Staff report outlines tariffs’ impacts on City operations

Chief Financial Officer Warren Everton provided Council with a tariff update, outlining the impacts of the U.S.’s trade levies, and Canadian counter measures, on municipal operations. The City procures 99.6 per cent from Canadian suppliers and 0.4 per cent from U.S. providers. The City also reviewed the potential impacts of tariffs on budgets for capital projects for 2025 and 2026 and carry forwards from previous years, projecting a tariff-related price escalation risk of less than 7.0 per cent. Tariffs do not impact recent fleet orders or two fire truck chassis under construction in the U.S. although it’s currently unclear what impacts changing tariffs may have on these types of purchases in the future.

2025 parcel tax bylaws adopted

Council adopted the required Transfer Station, Sterile Insect Release and Solid Waste and Recycling Program Parcel Tax Bylaws. The respective parcel taxes fund the City of West Kelowna’s share for: Westside Residential Disposal and Recycling Centre operations at 2640 Asquith Road; controlling the codling moth that can impact pear and apple crops; and education and services related to curbside collection, composting, recycling and other waste reduction initiatives.

2025 tax rate bylaw adopted

Council adopted the 2025 Tax Rates Bylaw, which establishes the tax rate that each class of property fairly and equitably shares in the annual budget, which was adopted at the March 11 Council meeting.

Scheduled Development Cost Charge amendments adopted

Council adopted the Development Cost Charges Amendment Bylaw, with a 2.5 per cent increase in DCCs for 2025 based on Canada and B.C.’s consumer price index averages. DCCs are charged per lot, dwelling unit, or square meter of new development to provide the primary funding for growth-related drainage, parks, roads, sewer, and water infrastructure. Annual CPI-based increases are easier for the City and developers to manage versus higher one-time increases every few years.

New Zoning Bylaw adopted

Council adopted Zoning Bylaw No. 320, which builds off of the Community Vision, incorporates recommendations in the new Official Community Plan, and considers the City’s rapid growth and housing objectives. The new bylaw represents a significant shift in regulations, which support increased heights and densities in the City’s Urban and Neighbourhood Centres, providing ample opportunity for growth over the next 20 years.

Bylaws related to new Zoning Bylaw amended

Council adopted four amended bylaws, and one new bylaw, in respect of the new Zoning Bylaw. First, second and third readings were given on Dec. 10, 2024 and adoption needed to occur after the new Zoning Bylaw was adopted. The new and amended bylaws also align with the new Official Community Plan, and provincial regulations: Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw; Ticket Information Utilization Amendment Bylaw; Development Applications Procedures Amendment Bylaw; and, Affordable and Special Needs Housing Reserve Fund Bylaw.

Fire Hall #32 Replacement Project quarterly update provided

Staff provided the fourth quarterly update on the Fire Hall #32 Replacement Project. The report states that the project remains on budget however the remaining contingency is $48,000 and staff continues to work closely with the project team to deliver the project on-time and within budget. The three-level, 1,579-square-metre complex will provide required safe operations for firefighters, which the current 50-year-old hall lacks, a community centre and public amenities such as a playground, pickleball courts and sport court.

Notice of motion presented regarding pit meter installation

Councillors Johnston and Millsap provided a Notice of Motion which proposes to remove the requirement to install pit meters for single family homes and duplexes. The motion asks Council to consider reinstating the previous regulation, which allowed for the installation of water meters inside single family homes and duplexes. Council may consider the motion at a future meeting.