Council Highlights - Oct. 26, 2021
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021
Remembrance Day Ceremony and Poppy Campaign to begin in West Kelowna
Council joined Royal Canadian Legion Westbank Branch President Anne Fox in an official pinning of the first poppy ceremony to launch the 2021 campaign, which begins Friday, Oct. 29. This year marks the Remembrance Day Poppy’s 100th year in Canada. Council encouraged everyone to buy a poppy and attend a Remembrance Day ceremony, in person or virtually, in memory of those who sacrificed for our country, and to honour those who have served and continue to serve today. The Westbank Legion will host the 2021 Remembrance Day service, with City support, at Royal LePage Place Thursday, Nov. 11 from 10:45 a.m. to noon, in keeping with public health orders. More details will follow soon; sign up to receive City news and alerts at westkelownacity.ca/subscribe.
Council congratulates Fire Chief on 25 years of service
West Kelowna Fire Rescue and Westbank First Nation Fire Chief Jason Brolund received a 25-year service medal and recognition certificate from the Office of the Fire Commissioner and Emergency Management BC. Council noted that Chief Brolund joined West Kelowna Fire Rescue in March 2015, and thanked him for his service and dedication to the community and his calmness under pressure including his excellent leadership in structural and life safety protection during the Mt. Law Wildfire.
Council welcomes new Inspector of West Kelowna RCMP Detachment
RCMP Insp. Robert Pikola has joined the West Kelowna Detachment with oversight of 54 West Kelowna officers, which includes the City’s municipal force, Westbank First Nation Indigenous Policing Services unit and provincial members.
Third quarter statistics presented to Council
Staff provided third quarter statistics showing progress in achieving Council’s 2021 – 2022 Strategic Priorities objectives and providing programs, service and infrastructure to the City of West Kelowna and the Greater Westside for the period ending Sept. 30. View the statistics under the Oct. 26 meeting agenda at calendar.westkelownacity.ca/councilcommittee.
Council adopts procedural amendment bylaw
Council adopted a Procedure Amendment Bylaw that permits electronic participation or hybrid meetings, permitting both in person and electronic participation, as an exception, with mayoral authorization. In person attendance at committee, regular and special meetings remains the standard, preferred option. View a copy of the adopted Bylaw at calendar.westkelownacity.ca/councilcommittee.
Shannon Lake development application proceeds to public hearing
Council gave first and second readings to a Zoning Bylaw amendment that, if adopted, would rezone 2082 Shannon Ridge Drive from Single Detached Residential (R1) to Compact Single Detached Residential (RC3) in order to accommodate a proposed subdivision. Staff will schedule a public hearing for a future Council meeting.
Future development to be added to Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant local area service
Council adopted a bylaw that will add 58 future townhomes, at 2735 Shannon Lake Road, to the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant Local Area Service. Expanding the local area service adds future new customers to the system, thereby increasing the number of ratepayers contributing to the debt servicing costs for the new treatment plant that will provide clean, safe drinking water.
Update given on Official Community Plan Review public engagement process
Council received the Official Community Plan (OCP) Update Phase Two What We Heard Report. With an additional 12,000 residents expected to call West Kelowna home over the next 20 years, the community was invited to take part online and at in-person pop-up stations to share their feedback on how and where they would like to see West Kelowna’s growth occur. See the What We Heard summary report and learn more about next steps at ourwk.ca/ocp.
Provincial funding sought to further FireSmart wildfire mitigation actions in West Kelowna
Council supported an application to the Province of BC’s FireSmart Community Funding and Supports Program seeking a grant to hire a coordinator to provide education, awareness and support for property owners seeking to protect their homes from wildfires. If approved, a coordinator would host the anticipated return of the annual FireSmart Family Day, help administer the grant program that provides residents up to $500 for eligible mitigation work conducted on their properties, and support efforts for fire mitigation in high-risk interface neighbourhoods. Lean more about West Kelowna’s ongoing FireSmart initiatives at westkelownacity.ca/firesmart.
Permissive tax exemptions granted for 2022
Council adopted the 2021 Property Tax Exemption Bylaw, which will grant full or partial exemptions from City property taxes, in 2022, to 14 places of worship and private schools and six not-for-profit organizations. The exemptions will total $230,135 for 2022, compared to $223,955 in 2021.
Procedural temporary borrowing bylaw adopted for City Hall/Library Building construction
As a matter of procedure, Council adopted a temporary borrowing bylaw, which enables the City to borrow only what is required, up to $11 million to build the first purpose-built City Hall/Library Building. Once completed, the funding used from the temporary borrowing will be converted into long-term borrowing up to the $11 million, in keeping with the financing that Council approved one year ago. The annual transfers to the City Hall Reserve will then be used to repay the long-term loan, resulting in no new tax increases, as planned.
Management agreement for Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre renewed
Council approved a five-year extension of the Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre (JBMAC) management agreement to Active Living Enterprises, effective Jan. 1, 2022 and expiring Dec. 31, 2026. Starting in 2022, the annual management fee will increase five per cent to $123,500 from $117,513 in 2021. The management company worked closely with City staff to curtail expenses as aquatic centre activities and respective revenues declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. The City will use COVID-19 BC Restart grant funds, in the interim, to help offset pandemic-related losses of $56,122 and move forward working with Active Living Enterprises to increase programming and restore revenues as public health orders permit.
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