Council Highlights - July 13, 2021

On behalf of Council, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and coworkers of those individuals who lost their lives during the devastating crane collapse in downtown Kelowna. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragic incident.

Council authorized Temporary Use Permit for up to three years for 2515 Bartley Rd. to replace the emergency shelter located at the West Kelowna United Church due to the sale of the property. The BC Housing led temporary shelter and associated support services provided by operator, Turning Points Collaborative Society, will operate the 38-individual rooms providing safe and secure place to sleep, food to eat and access to services for residents experiencing homelessness. The shelter is scheduled to open this fall. Updates on the temporary shelter, including how to contact BC Housing can be found at: letstalkhousingbc.ca/west-kelowna-bartley

Council adopted the Zoning Bylaw amendment to permit Short Term Accommodations and regulations will come into effect on July 14, 2021. For the latest information on Short Term Accommodations guidelines, applications and other details, visit westkelownacity.ca/shorttermaccommodations.

Council adopted the amendments to the Business Licensing and Regulations Bylaw to permit the operation of a mobile restaurant to operate on public lands for no longer than four hours and not within a distance of 100 metres of a restaurant on a parcel of land. It also permits the operation of a mobile restaurant on private lands for up to four hours to a maximum of 10 times on a single parcel per year. Mobile restaurants are permitted to operate on agricultural lands as secondary or ancillary uses.

Council approved a Development Variance Permit to reduce the setback for 3122 Elliott Rd. currently zoned as A1 Agricultural. The proposed variance is required in order to build a structure to cover the existing riding arena and will require setback from 14m to 3m (east) and 8.4m (north). The proposed structure is approximately 7.0 m height, covering an area of 1,278 sq. m.

Council supported the application to the Agricultural Land Commission for a Non-Farm Use located at Barona Beach Resort on 4026 Pritchard Dr., to accommodate 10 seasonal parking stalls from June to September as part of an 18-plot community garden and shared use parking with visitors and residents of the resort.

Council gave first, second and third readings to bylaws related to the Sanitary Sewer Use Bylaw to include a schedule for ticketing, which would enable the issuance of fines for non-compliance. A typical progressive enforcement continuum would occur during non-compliance. The maximum penalty for an Offence Actprosecution of $50,000 ensures that the available penalty can be proportionate to the seriousness of the infraction.

Council adopted a single encompassing and comprehensive Water Regulations Bylaw replacing nine bylaws that governed five water service areas that predated incorporation. The bylaw creates uniform regulations across the city for outdoor watering, metering, cross connections, fees and fines for all municipal water customers. The bylaw will create consistent and efficient operations, compliance and enforcement.

Water conservation during drought conditions remain extremely important for everyone to participate in. Let’s all work together to conserve our water! To learn more including indoor and outdoor conservation tips, visit westkelownacity.ca/water. In addition, the community is also invited to make a pledge as part of the Make Water Work Campaign led by the Okanagan Basin Water Board.

Council approved the amendment to the 2021 Budget for an additional $125,000 to be funded from the Sanitary Sewer Reserves for the Inverness Lift Station Decommissioning project. This work will create efficiencies with gravity connections and increase the longevity of infrastructure.

Council gave first, second, and third readings to the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant Temporary Borrowing Bylaw as a matter of procedure. Taking the next step of establishing a temporary borrowing bylaw allows the City to complete the main construction stage of the Project by funding progressively throughout the projected timeline without causing cash constraints.

Council approved the execution of a five-year lease agreement with the JMRH Hockey Development (Warriors) to operate at the Mount Boucherie Complex starting September 1 and expiring August 31, 2026. The Warriors organization was recognized for their development programs and as a major community service contributor to West Kelowna and the Greater Westside.