Council Highlights - May 12, 2026

Regular Council Meeting: Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Date of issue: Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Watch meetings live or through the webcast archive

Council meetings are livestreamed at westkelownacity.ca/webcasts and archived within one business day. Please visit pub-westkelowna.escribemeetings.com to view the May 12 webcast archive.

Council thanks students for tremendous support of youth mental health services

Council congratulated students from Mount Boucherie Secondary and surrounding schools who raised more than $20,000 during the annual Walk For Mental Health on May 5 in support of the a Foundry Westside to provide mental health services for local youth and their families.

Airport Advisory Committee report presented

Councillor de Jong presented a report as the City of West Kelowna’s representative on the Kelowna International Airport Advisory Committee noting that YLW, which is undergoing expansion, served approximately 2.3 million passengers in 2025, via eight airlines, travelling to more than 200 cities, with estimated growth to 2.57 million passengers in 2026.

Okanagan College provides update

Okanagan College president Dr. Neil Fassina provided a presentation on the post secondary institution’s current trends and future trajectories, highlighting growing demands for flexible education, skilled trades and health-care training and opportunities in aerospace, manufacturing and tourism.

Okanagan Basin Water Board presents five-year strategy

The Okanagan Basin Water Board presented its 2026-2030 Strategic Direction, which focuses on science-based water management, regional collaboration and public education and a coordinated, valley-wide approach to drought, flooding, invasive mussels and watershed protection.

New chief financial officer appointed

Council appointed and congratulated long-time manager of financial services and deputy chief financial officer Lisa Siavashi, CPA, CMA, as the City of West Kelowna’s new chief financial officer.

Land Strategy will support asset management and growth

Council approved a Land Strategy, which supports asset management and growth through the strategic acquisition, sales, redevelopment and management of city-owned land, supporting key priorities such as housing, parks, public amenities, economic development and infrastructure needs, and achieving federal Housing Accelerator Fund commitments.

Cemetery bylaw enforcement amendments adopted

Council adopted amendments to the bylaw enforcement and ticket information utilization bylaws to allow officers to ticket for offences under the Cemetery Bylaw for reasons outlined at the April 14 meeting.

Westbank Urban Centre Plan update progresses

Council received a report on the Westbank Urban Centre Revitalization Plan Update. The aim is to align the update with the 2023 Official Community Plan and other recently endorsed city strategies, the current context and growth trends. Public input is a key next step, and more information on upcoming feedback opportunities will be announced via the city’s website, social media channels and e-notification service.

FireSmart grants application supported

Council supported an application requesting the maximum grant of $200,000 under the provincial Community Resiliency Investment program for 2026 and 2027 initiatives including a wildfire mitigation specialist, home assessments and grants, disposal bins, and education and awareness including FireSmart Family Day.

Mixed-use development approved in Westbank Urban Centre

Council authorized a development permit with variances for a six-story, 74-unit residential building with ground floor commercial and top-floor amenity space at 3720 Old Okanagan Highway. Variances enable 12 laneway parking spaces, 62 percent of the stalls for small cars, and modified step backs at the northwest edge, southwest corner, and east-facing entrance.

2025 Audited Financial Statements accepted

Council accepted the 2025 Audited Financial Statements. A staff summary report highlights $111.9 million in revenues, expenses of $97.7 million, and details reasons for a $14 million accounting surplus. Council also transferred $1,093,929 from the policing reserve to offset unexpected RCMP costs.

2026 Tax Rates Bylaw adopted

Council adopted the 2026 Tax Rates Bylaw, setting the property tax payment deadline as 4:30 p.m. on July 2 and generating the $52.87 million in property tax revenue needed to maintain local government services being provided to our community for the full operating year ending Dec. 31.

Single-exit stairwells prohibited in new residential buildings

At the request of the chief and general manager of community development, and in respect of a letter from the Fire Chiefs Association of BC and the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association, Council adopted a new Single Exit Stairwell Policy that prohibits new residential development from having one egress stairwell to ensure fire and life safety and efficient and effective emergency response.