Council highlights - Oct. 21, 2025

Regular Council Meeting

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025

Date of Issue: Wednesday, Oct. 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 Oct. 21 webcast archive, please visit pub-westkelowna.escribemeetings.com.

Zoning and OCP amendments for 2211 Campbell Road adopted

Council approved reverting the land use designation and zoning for 2211 Campbell Road back to agricultural and recreational water uses.

Third quarter department statistics received

Council received the 2025 third quarter Department Statistics Reports, which track service levels and provide operational highlights from departments including Fire Rescue, RCMP, Bylaw, Community Development, Recreation and Facilities, Engineering and Operations, Human Resources and Finance.

Planning workshops begin in advance of 2026 Budget deliberations

Council held its first 2026 Budget Workshop. Key topics included timelines, a preview of the operating budget, and a review of more than 230 projects carried forward from 2025 and earlier. The City plans to prioritize completing the projects, to confirm that reserve balances reflect funding commitments. The next workshop, in November, will focus on capital funding requests and reserve balances. The draft 2026 to 2030 Financial Plan will be available at ourWK.ca on Nov. 17 and informational displays will also be set up starting that week in the City Hall lobby.

Council reviews programs aimed at incentivizing and prioritizing housing

Council provided feedback on proposed Incentives and As-of-Right Zoning for Priority Housing Programs. The first program proposes financial incentives for housing development and the second recommends as-of-right zoning for non-market housing in the City’s Westbank and Boucherie Urban Centres. Both programs are aimed at expediting housing projects in West Kelowna, in keeping with Council’s Strategic Priorities and the City’s commitments under the federal Housing Accelerator Fund.

Firefighting plan for complex buildings approved

Council approved the Plan for Firefighting in Complex Buildings to ensure West Kelowna Fire Rescue is equipped to meet the demands of mid- and high-rise development as the city grows. The plan includes recommendations and outlines a phased approach to adding a third on-duty fire company, with staff directed to bring forward a request for additional firefighters in the 2026 budget process. Council also endorsed ongoing efforts to update the fire service agreement with Westbank First Nation to fairly share future costs related to complex building response.

Energy retrofits at Royal LePage Place expenditures approved

Council approved a $1,185,544 contract to Yeti Refrigeration Inc. to complete energy retrofits at Royal LePage Place. The project, which is partially funded by FortisBC, will upgrade mechanical systems to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.

2026 property tax exemptions

Council adopted the bylaw to exempt specified, eligible properties from 2026 local government taxes.

Strategic Priorities Fund application supported

Council confirmed the City of West Kelowna’s grant application to the Union of BC Municipalities Strategic Priorities Fund, which requests 100 per cent funding for Asset Management Plan Implementation with an estimated budget of $100,000.