Council Highlights - Oct. 10, 2023

Regular Council Meeting

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

Watch Council meetings live or view the webcast archive

Council meetings are livestreamed at westkelownacity.ca/webcasts and the webcast archive is posted the following business day. Find the full Oct. 10 Council meeting agenda and view the webcast archive using this direct link: pub-westkelowna.escribemeetings.com.

New street banners being installed

New street banners, designed in collaboration with Westbank First Nation and the Farm Loop and Westside Wine Trail Associations, are being installed on the Westside Wine Trail, BC Ale Trail and Westside Farm Loop in the City along the Boucherie, Glencoe, Smith Creek and Elliott Road areas. Council thanked everyone who contributed to the designs, which incorporate elements that recognize the syilx/Okanagan People:

• The word way̓, which means hello/welcome in nsyilxcən
• The bear claw, which symbolizes Black Bear – one of Westbank First Nation’s Four Food Chiefs
• The yellow colour, which represents the arrowleaf balsamroot flower, which has been used as a valuable food source and an important indicator plant

West Kelowna Council and Westbank First Nation Council with updated street banner.

Emergency Support Services and regional emergency plan reviews requested

Council voted in favour of a motion asking that Mayor Milsom write the Regional District of Central Okanagan requesting an Independent Public Hearing Process regarding the McDougall Creek Wildfire with a focus on provincial Emergency Support Services and the effectiveness of the Regional District of Central Okanagan Emergency Plan.

State of Local Emergency rescinded

With the McDougall Creek Wildfire now held and no remaining, related evacuation orders in place, Council has rescinded the respective State of Local Emergency.

Council confirms water meter pit requirements for new residential construction

Council received a staff report and presentation providing more detailed information on a requirement in the recently updated Water Regulations Bylaw as to why water meters must be installed in pits for all new residential construction. Council confirmed that the meters must be installed in pits at the time of building permit to help in achieving the intended ongoing operational efficiencies.

Permissive tax exemption bylaw

Council gave first, second and third readings to the proposed 2024 Permissive Tax Exemptions Bylaw. A list of the proposed exemptions can be found online at pub-westkelowna.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=13699.

Housing Accelerator Fund application supported

Council agreed that the City should proceed with its application to Canada Mortgage and Housing’s Accelerator Fund which, if approved, will assist in increasing the housing supply in West Kelowna over the next three years.