Watch Council meetings live or view the webcast archive
Council meetings are livestreamed at westkelownacity.ca/webcasts. The webcast is archived the next business day. Find the Jan. 23 agenda and archive at pub-westkelowna.escribemeetings.com.
Council approves appointments to Board of Variance and Agricultural Advisory Committee
Council appointed Jim Fry, Ethel Lariviere, Katalin Zsufa, Robert Mashohn and Jaret Peterson to the Board of Variance for a term ending October 2026. Council also appointed Marc Schoene to serve on the Agricultural Advisory Committee for the remainder of the current term, ending December 2024. Council thanked all who applied and congratulated the new committee members.
Chief Administrative Officer Paul Gipps thanked for service to City of West Kelowna
On behalf of Council, municipal staff and residents, Mayor Gord Milsom thanked Paul Gipps for the past 4.5 years of hard work, dedication, and compassion in serving the City of West Kelowna as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). “Your leadership and guidance of our administrative team over the past few years has led to many improvements and positive change within our community,” said Mayor Milsom. “Thank you for all your valued contributions and we wish you all the best in the future.” Mr. Gipps remains the City’s CAO until Feb. 9; however, the Jan. 23 West Kelowna Council Regular Meeting was his last prior to becoming CAO for the District of Lake Country.
Council seeks input on 2022 to 2026 Strategic Priorities: Annual Review 2024 and 2024 Budget
Council is seeking public input into the draft 2022 – 2026 Strategic Priorities: Annual Review 2024 between Jan. 25 and Feb. 9. Public consultations for the Draft 2024 Budget and 2024 to 2028 Financial Plan will also take place. Our community is invited to go online at OurWK.ca, or attend open houses on Jan. 29 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the West Kelowna Yacht Club, 4111 Gellatly Road, or on Feb. 8 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Council Chambers, 2670 Cameron Road. Community feedback will assist Council in finalizing its updated Strategic Priorities prior to adoption, in conjunction with the Five-Year Financial Plan and 2024 Budget.
Alternative Approval Process approved for Fire Hall #32 Replacement Project
Council has approved a 30-day Alternative Approval Process (AAP), beginning Feb. 15, for long-term borrowing of up to $8 million to partially fund the Fire Hall #32 Replacement Project. The AAP ensures that anyone opposed to the borrowing proposal can submit an Elector Response Form to City Hall before March 15. No new tax increases will result from the project, and funds currently being transferred to reserves for the project will cover the annual borrowing costs. Learn more at westkelownacity.ca/firehall32.
2023 fourth quarter update provided
Staff presented statistics for the 2023 fourth quarter ending Dec. 31 on progress made in achieving Council’s 2022 to 2026 Strategic Priorities and delivering programs, services, and infrastructure for the community. View the statistics in the Jan. 23 Regular Council Meeting Agenda.
2023 to 2027 Financial Plan amendments adopted
Council adopted 2023 to 2027 Financial Plan housekeeping amendments, which reflect actual capital project expenditures and confirm grant revenues approved by motion as of the City’s fiscal yearend on Dec. 31, 2023.
Council postpones third reading of proposed rezoning of manufactured home park
Council has postponed third reading of a proposed Zoning Bylaw amendment that, if adopted, would change the zoning at 2355 Marshall Road, in the West Kelowna Business Park, from Manufactured Home Park to Light Industrial. The mobile home park consists of 27 manufactured home pads and one house. Council further directed staff to bring back options and conditions, under which the landowner must also attempt to further mitigate impacts to residents who would be displaced in the event of future site redevelopment.
Hillside multifamily development permitted in Shannon Lake neighbourhood
Council authorized Multiple Family and Intensive Residential, Hillside, and Sensitive Terrestrial Ecosystem Development Permits for an apartment development at 2237 Shannon Lake Road. The retaining wall height will also be increased from 2.5 to 4.0 metres, the maximum building height will rise from 10.0 metres and three storeys to 16.69 metres and four storeys, and the front parcel boundary setback will be reduced from 4.5 to 0.0 metres.
Fan experience to be improved with new digital game display board in Royal LePage Place
Council gave early 2024 Capital Budget approval to purchase and install a new multipurpose, video display scoreboard above Royal LePage Place centre ice, with funding to come from the provincial B.C Growing Communities Fund grant. The new equipment will improve the fan experience and be useful for more events than the current 20-year-old score clock, which is at the end of its operational life. Required upgrades to the media gondola will also be completed. Royal LePage Place will be closed from May 27 to July 21 to complete the improvements.
Shannon Lake Active Transportation Project will include Asquith Road roundabout
Council directed staff to include a $1.5 million roundabout at the Shannon Lake/Asquith Road Intersection in the design of active transportation corridor (ATC) upgrades to be constructed between Westbank First Nation and the Swite Road entrance to Shannon Lake Regional Park. Council said the roundabout is required to meet growth and directed the additional required funding to come from Roads Development Cost charges and the B.C. Growing Communities Fund. The roundabout and ATC project, which includes multiuse pathways on both sides of the road, will be tendered later this year with some off-road works expected to begin in the fall and the roundabout, ATC and other works scheduled to begin in spring 2025.