Council Highlights - July 22, 2025

Regular Council Meeting

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Watch meetings live or through the webcast archive

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

RCMP provided update on School Resource Officer Program

RCMP Const. Rode gave a presentation on the West Kelowna School Resource Officer Program. View the presentation via the July 22 webcast archive.

Requirement for pit meters for new single-family homes and duplexes removed

Council removed a requirement for pit meters to be installed at new single-family and duplex units, returning to the previous arrangement that allowed for the installation of water meters within homes. Council also directed staff to bring forward the required bylaw and/or policy amendments to ensure pit meters can be installed, at the owner’s expense, for delinquent or non-compliant properties.

Second quarter departmental statistics received

Staff provided updates on operations and progress made in advancing Council’s Strategic Priorities during the second quarter of 2025, ending June 30. Find the reports via the July 22 Agenda.

New signing authorities appointed

Council appointed General Manager of Corporate Services Karla Campbell and Director of Legal and Legislative Services Mark Panneton as signing authorities for the City of West Kelowna.

Council endorsed first transit fare increases since 2015

Council endorsed new fares for the Kelowna Regional Transit System, effective October 1, 2025 as outlined in a July 22 staff report. BC Transit recommended increasing Single Ride Fares from $2.50 to $3.00, 30-Day/Monthly Passes from $70 to $80 and Semester Passes from $176 to $208 to better recover costs, in consideration of pressures such as inflation, while striking a balance with rate affordability. To learn more, see BC Transit’s Kelowna Regional Transit System Fare Review Report.

BC Transit Annual Operating Agreement approved

Council approved the City of West Kelowna entering into the BC Transit 2025/26 Annual Operating Agreement. The $2,786,945 agreement includes an annual increase of $157,454, or 6.0 per cent, with $73,409 to cover expanded service hours on Route 97 Express, starting in January 2026, and the remainder to account for higher vehicle lease rates. For more details, read the July 22 staff report.

Rental protection/relocation assistance and manufactured home park policies updated

Council directed staff to update the new Rental Protection and Tenant Relocation Assistance and Manufactured Home Park Redevelopment policies, which provide measures to prevent the loss of rental housing, and mitigate impacts on tenants in purpose-built rental housing and manufactured home park units that face risks of displacement or loss due to redevelopment. Once updated, the policies will be brought back for Council’s consideration.

Zoning Bylaw Amendment for Quails’ Gate Estate Winery adopted

Council adopted a site-specific Zoning Bylaw Amendment that reduces the minimum parcel size in the A1 zone to permit the future subdivision and reconfiguration of 3330 and 3348 Boucherie Road. The smaller homesite is intended to be subdivided from the parent lot, while the remaining lands are intended to be consolidated with the larger active agricultural property at 3348 Boucherie Road.

Fire Hall #32 Replacement Project quarterly update provided

Staff provided the fifth quarterly update on the Fire Hall #32 Replacement Project. 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.

New business licensing compliance officer appointed

Council appointed new Business Licensing Compliance Officer Albertine Fowler.

Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant Parcel Tax Review Panel members appointed

Mayor Milsom and Councillors Millsap and Zanon were appointed to a Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel for the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant Parcel Tax. The review panel will meet at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 26, in Council Chambers at 3731 Old Okanagan Highway. The City will mail a letter to all parcels, on Aug. 1, to provide more information on the parcel tax, the review panel process and options for those who wish to prepay instead of having their share transferred to the parcel tax, with a second prepayment window to be open from Sept. 17 to Oct. 1.

Draft Transportation Master Plan Update received

Staff provided Council with a report and presentation on the Draft 2025 Transportation Master Plan Update and plans on the final round of public consultation, which will take place online in late summer/early fall, to present objectives, key priorities, and a clear, actionable roadmap for future transportation investments over the next 20 years and beyond. Following public consultation, Council will consider the final plan for adoption at a meeting later this year.