CITY OF WEST KELOWNA

SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES

Wednesday, December 03, 2025 at 1:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

COUNCIL CHAMBER

3731 OLD OKANAGAN HWY, WEST KELOWNA, BC

MEMBERS PRESENT:

• Mayor Gord Milsom
• Councillor Tasha Da Silva
• Councillor Rick de Jong
• Councillor Jason Friesen
• Councillor Stephen Johnston
• Councillor Garrett Millsap
• Councillor Carol Zanon

Staff Present:

• Ron Bowles, Chief Administrative Officer
• Mark Panneton, Director of Legislative & Legal Services/Corporate Officer
• Polly Palmer, Legislative Services Manager/Deputy Corporate Officer
• Jason Brolund, Fire Chief/General Manager of Protective Services
• Karla Campbell, General Manager of Corporate Services
• Brent Magnan, General Manager of Community Development
• Patrick Pulak, General Manager of Operations
• Lisa Siavashi, Financial Services Manager/Acting Chief Financial Officer
• Greg Cowan, Senior Manager of Information Services
• Rob Hillis, Senior Manager of Engineering & Capital Projects
• Chris Anderson, Public Works Manager
• Erin Goodwin, Facilities & Recreation Manager
• Eni Knaitner, Human Resources Manager
• Mark Roberts, Parks Manager
• Karen Goodridge-Nagle, Revenue Supervisor
• Andrea Mandau, Accounting Supervisor
• Joan Lui, Financial Analyst - Capital
• Krista Ramirez, Executive Coordinator

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Milsom called the meeting to order at 1:01 p.m., acknowledged that the meeting was being held on the traditional territory of the Syilx/Okanagan Peoples, stated that the meeting was open to the public, and informed that: all representations to Council form part of the public record; and the meeting was webcast live and archived on the City's website.

2.

INTRODUCTION OF LATE ITEMS

No items.

3.

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C290/25

  THAT the December 3, 2025 special Council agenda be adopted as presented.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

No items.

5.

MAYOR AND COUNCILLOR’S REPORTS

No items.

6.

PRESENTATIONS

No items.

7.

DELEGATIONS

No items.

8.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

No items.

9.

DIVISION REPORTS

9.1

2026-2030 DRAFT Financial Plan

Mayor Milsom and Ron Bowles (Chief Administrative Officer) provided introductory remarks. Mayor Milsom, with the consent of Council, deferred consideration of the proposed 2% tax increase transfer to reserves to the December 4, 2025 special Council meeting following the discussion of the capital budget.

Staff provided a presentation regarding the 2026-2030 draft Financial Plan and responded to Council's questions.

Mayor Milsom, with the consent of Council, declared a recess at 2:37 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 3:18 p.m. with all members of Council present.

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C291/25

  THAT request FTE2026-01 for a Seasonal Operator I for Parks (in the amount of $73,480) be supported.

  CARRIED; Councillor de Jong voted in the negative.
  
  

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C292/25

  THAT request FTE2026-02 for a Automotive Services Technician/Heavy Duty for Fleet (in the amount of $135,021) be supported.

  DEFEATED; Councillors Da Silva, de Jong, Johnston, Millsap, and Zanon voted in the negative.
  
  

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C293/25

  THAT the 2026 Supplemental Budget requests, as follows:

  • S2026-1 Human Resources - HR Strategy for $30,000; and
  • S2026-2 Bylaw Services - Human Bear Conflict Management Plan for $20,000;

  be supported and funded by future expenditures reserve.

  DEFEATED; Councillors de Jong, Friesen, Johnston, and Millsap voted in the negative.
  
  

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C294/25

  THAT the 2026 Supplemental Budget requests, as follows:

  • S2026-1 Human Resources - HR Strategy for $30,000; and
  • S2026-2 Bylaw Services - Human Bear Conflict Management Plan for $20,000;

  be supported and funded by taxation in 2026.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C295/25

  THAT the 2026 Supplemental Budget requests, as follows:

  • S2026-3 Fire and Rescue - Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team Training Increase for $10,000; and
  • S2026-4 Fire and Rescue - Emergency Planning Consulting for $75,000

  be supported.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C296/25

  THAT 2026 Supplemental Budget request S2026-5 for Paid on Call Wage Enhancements (Phase 2) for Fire and Rescue (in the amount of $50,000) not be supported.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C297/25

  THAT the 2026 FTE requests, as follows:

  • FTE2026-03 Planning - Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Planner II ($110,830); and
  • FTE2026-04 Planning - Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Manager ($171,615);

  be supported.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C298/25

  THAT request FTE2026-08 for a Computer & Network Technician for Police Services (in the amount of $62,461) be supported.

  CARRIED; Councillor de Jong voted in the negative.
  
  

   

• Noting the time, at 4:59 p.m. it was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C299/25

  THAT the December 3, 2025 special Council meeting be extended until 6:00 p.m.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

• Council discussed Police Services requests FTE2026-05, FTE2026-06, and FTE2026-07, and staff responded to Council's questions.

  It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C300/25

  THAT the Policing collator funding for 2.5 positions be approved.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

  Mayor Milsom, with consent of Council, declared a recess at 5:07 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 5:18 p.m. with all members of Council present.

  
  

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C301/25

  THAT request FTE2026-09 Bylaw Officer for Bylaw Services (in the amount of $123,143) be supported.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C302/25

  THAT the funds transferred to the City pursuant to the Fortis BC agreement, in the amount of $260,000, be allocated to reduce the 2026 tax rate.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C303/25

  THAT the Council budget be reduced by $36,000, as follows:

  • Reducing the public relations portion of the budget by $10,000;
  • Reducing the conferences/training portion of the budget by $25,500;
  • Reducing the mileage portion of the budget by $4,000; and
  • Increasing the dues portion of the budget by $3,500.
  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C304/25

  THAT request FTE2026-10 for a Utility Operator II for Waste Water Collections (in the amount of $114,360) be supported.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C305/25

  THAT request FTE2026-11 for a Utility Water Meter Technician for Water Distribution and Wastewater Collections (in the amount of $129,744) be denied.

  Before the question was called on the main motion, Council moved to defer consideration of the matter until the next Council meeting, as follows:

  
  

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C306/25

  THAT consideration of Resolution No. C305/25 regarding request FTE 2026-11 for a Water Meter Technician  be deferred to the December 4, 2025 special Council meeting so that request FTE 2026-11 can be considered in conjunction with the Capital request C2026-11 for the Water Meter Technician Van.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C307/25

  THAT request FTE2026-12 for a Water Treatment Operator (Operator in Training) for Water Distribution and Wastewater Collections (in the amount of $94,949) be supported.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C308/25

  THAT request FTE2026-13 for a Watershed Operator I for Water Distribution and Wastewater Collections (in the amount of $34,414) be supported.

  CARRIED; Councillors de Jong, Johnston, and Millsap voted in the negative.
  
  

10.

CORRESPONDENCE AND INFORMATION ITEMS

No items.

11.

NOTICE OF MOTION

No items.

12.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 5:56 p.m.