Council Highlights - June 22, 2021

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Limited public attendance permitted at Council meetings in keeping with BC’s Restart Plan

In accordance with provincial health COVID-19 guidelines, West Kelowna Council meetings will now accommodate up to three members of the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. The City continues to encourage the public to watch Council Meetings via live stream at westkelownacity.ca/webcasts.

2020 annual reporting completed

Council received the 2020 Statement of Financial Information and Annual Report. The 2020 Statement of Financial Information detailed Council and staff remuneration, expenses and payments. The 2020 Annual Report provides defining moments and departmental highlights for the operating year ending Dec. 31 and includes permissive tax exemptions and audited financial statements. Learn more at westkelownacity.ca/annualreport.

Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant construction update

Staff gave a progress report on Council’s top infrastructure priority, Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant construction. Crews have now started building the three-storey, 5,100-square-metre superstructure and adjacent storage reservoir, which will provide up to 70 mega litres of clean, safe drinking water per day when commissioned in 2022.

Council receives progress report on 2021 Capital Project Program

Staff provided an update on the delivery of significant objectives under Council Strategic Priorities Invest in Infrastructure pillar, which aim to deliver jobs, strengthen our economy, ensure a vibrant, livable city and create brighter tomorrow for our community. Visit westkelownacity.ca/capitalprojects.

Council schedules brief break from busy schedule

Council canceled the Aug. 10 Regular Meeting to provide a summer break amidst a busy 2021 schedule. Council has added several Committee of the Whole and Special Meetings earlier this year to keep business moving efficiently and the break allows Council flexibility to spend time with family, friends and constituents given gradual lifting of restrictions under BC’s Restart Plan.

Transit operating agreement authorized

The annual agreement confirms service levels, revenue projections and anticipated costs for the City’s service delivery partnership with BC Transit. Estimated costs for the 2021/2022 operating agreement have risen by $246,463, due to lower ridership, and total estimated expenses are $1,413,596, which the COVID-19 Safe Restart Grant contribution will help offset. Therefore, the City’s total budget for transit in 2021 will remain stable at $1.8 million.

Reimagined Music in the Park offered this summer

West Kelowna’s popular, free Music in the Park program resumes with a twist July 1 at Kinsmen Park on Shannon Lake Road. The kick off show will offer four one-hour sets with a maximum of 50 fans per show and up to six people per group within designated zones, in keeping with the latest BC Restart Plan safe operating guidelines. Registration in advance is required. Call our Recreation Department at 778-797-8800. Find artists, show times and other details at westkelownacity.ca/musicinthepark.

Purchasing policy modernized

Council updated its Purchasing Policy to streamline efficiencies giving the Chief Administrative Officer or their designate the authority to approve all requests for proposals (RFPs) provided the items are in the five-year financial plan and within budget. Tenders, which the City awards to the lowest qualified bidders, follow the same process. Should any RFP or tender come in over budget, it would need go to Council for consideration.

Council supports application for carriage house in Lakeview Heights

Council approved a development variance permit for a carriage house at 710 Stuart Road, noting that the required parcel area merely needed to be reduced from 1,100 to 1,092.65 square metres and that the carriage house would be 1.3 metres higher than the peak of the roof of the principal dwelling, yet would remain within the neighbourhood’s character.

Council approves accessory building in West Kelowna Estates

Council permitted a development variance to allow a detached garage/studio at 932 Lloyd Jones Drive. The variance reduces the minimum front setback from 4.5 to 3.16 metres and the distance from the rear parcel boundary from three to 1.5 metres and increases the permitted building height from five to 6.5 metres.

Council authorizes development variance for City Hall/Library Building in Westbank Centre

Council allowed a development variance permit for 3731 Old Okanagan Highway increasing the maximum permitted height from 12 to 18.65 metres and reducing the minimum setback distances from land in the ALR from 15 metres for the first and second storeys, 18 for the third level, and 21 for the fourth floor, to zero. The variance also eliminates the setback and buffer requirements for parcels abutting land in the ALR and permits a portion of the required parking spaces to be located on the adjacent city-owned lot at 3737 Old Okanagan Highway.

Council considers bylaw amendments to allow licensed food trucks on agricultural properties

Council gave first, second and third readings to proposed 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. The proposed amendments would also permit the operation of a mobile restaurant on private lands for up to four hours to a maximum of ten times on a single parcel per year. The proposed amendments would also permit mobile restaurants to operate on agricultural lands as secondary or ancillary uses.

Council to next consider adoption of proposed short term accommodation regulations

On July 13, Council will consider adoption of a Zoning Bylaw amendment to regulate short term accommodations. Council gave third reading to the bylaw with minor adjustments based on feedback from a June 8 public hearing. Council will still require hosted accommodations but allow hosts to be away for up to two weeks within a given month, but for no more than 30 days in a year, provided local contact information is available.

Replacement required for BC’s Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program

Council is calling on the Province of BC to replace swiftly the carbon tax rebate for local governments. The program provides reliable, non-application-based funding for municipalities making progress towards carbon neutral operations as required under BC’s Climate Action Charter. Council will forward the resolution to the Union of BC Municipalities seeking support from other local governments.

Council considers universal water regulations bylaw

Council has given three readings to a single encompassing and comprehensive Water Regulations Bylaw that, if adopted, would replace nine bylaws that governed five water service areas that predated incorporation. The bylaw would create uniform regulations across the city for outdoor watering, metering, cross connections, fees and fines for all municipal water customers. One bylaw will create consistent and efficient operations, compliance and enforcement. Council also gave three readings to supporting amendments to the fees and charges, ticketing and enforcement bylaws.