Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran had glowing things to say about the current state and the future of the City at his annual State of the City Address at the Coast Capri Hotel on Friday afternoon.
Speaking to a sold out crowd for over half an hour, Basran optimistically
Some of the topics covered included:
-The growth and diversity of Kelowna's population.
-Funding plans for 2018.
-Solutions for homelessness in Kelowna.
-Social issues identified by Okanagan residents.
-Flood and disaster prevention.
-The importance of conserving both water and energy in the City.
-The implementation of the Okanagan rail trail, as well as the possibilty of a future light rail service in Kelowna.
-The retirement of City Manager Ron Mattiussi, who served 11 years in the position, and 22 years total in City Hall.
Basran praised economic scene in Kelowna, with the City's still-growing job market being ranked number one amongst Canadian cities.
He also pointed out that housing costs, while still being lower than other cities in British Columbia, are set to increase over the next decade, as 30,000 new residents are expected in Kelowna by 2030.
To conclude his speech, Basran noted that, since 2018 would be a municipal election year, this could have been his last State of the City Address. He took the time to thank his family, his team of City Councilors, and the residents of Kelowna for the support he received during his term.