CITY OF WEST KELOWNA

REGULAR COUNCIL MINUTES

Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 6:00 P.m. - 10:00 P.m.

COUNCIL CHAMBERS

3731 OLD OKANAGAN HWY, WEST KELOWNA, BC

MEMBERS PRESENT:

• Councillor Tasha Da Silva
• Councillor Rick de Jong (entered the meeting at 6:05 p.m. via electronic communication facilities)
• Councillor Jason Friesen
• Councillor Stephen Johnston (Acting Mayor)
• Councillor Garrett Millsap
• Councillor Carol Zanon

MEMBER ABSENT:

• Mayor Gord Milsom

Staff Present:

• Ron Bowles, Chief Administrative Officer
• Mark Panneton, Director of Legislative & Legal Services/Corporate Officer
• Rob Hillis, Acting Director of Engineering & Operations
• Jason Brolund, Fire Chief/General Manager of Protective Services
• Brent Magnan, General Manager of Community Development
• Lisa Siavashi, Financial Services Manager/Deputy Chief Financial Officer
• Polly Palmer, Legislative Services Manager/Deputy Corporate Officer
• Rebecca Narinesingh, Deputy Corporate Officer
• Melissa Hunt-Anderson, Community & Social Development Coordinator
• Angele Clarke, Long Range Planning Manager

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.

It was acknowledged that this meeting was held on the traditional territory of the Syilx/Okanagan Peoples.

This meeting was open to the public. All representations to Council form part of the public record. This meeting was webcast live and archived on the City's website.

2.

INTRODUCTION OF LATE ITEMS

2.1

Rose Valley Water (Item 9.5.1)

3.

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C123/25

  THAT the May 27, 2025 regular Council agenda be amended by:

  • adding new item 9.5.1 regarding Rose Valley Water;

  AND THAT the May 27, 2025 regular Council agenda be adopted as amended.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

4.1

May 13, 2025 Special and Regular Council Minutes

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C124/25

  THAT the May 13, 2025 special and regular Council minutes be adopted.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

5.

MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS' REPORTS

Acting Mayor Johnston informed that:

• May 18 to 24 was National Public Works Week. Council thanked crews and staff for their hard work, year-round, to serve our community, operate and maintain our arenas, parks, trails, roads, sidewalks, water and sewer infrastructure and make West Kelowna a great place to live, work and play; and
• A record 1,110 people attended FireSmart Family Day at Fire Hall #31 on May 24. Council thanked the community for their tremendous support and West Kelowna Fire Rescue firefighters, staff and special guest for making this year’s event a great success. To learn about home assessments, grants for homeowners and ways to FireSmart your home, visit westkelownacity.ca/firesmart. 

6.

PRESENTATIONS

6.1

United Way British Columbia - Addressing Complex Social Issues In and With Communities

Naomi Woodland  (Housing Initiatives Manager, United Way British Columbia) provided a presentation regarding: local responses to homelessness; multi-sector collaboration; and prevention and ways for moving forward on complex social issues in our community; and responded to Council's questions.

Councillor de Jong entered the meeting at 6:05 p.m.

7.

DELEGATIONS

No items.

8.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

No items.

9.

DIVISION REPORTS

9.1

CORPORATE SERVICES

No items.

9.2

LEGISLATIVE & LEGAL

9.2.1

Appointment of Deputy Corporate Officer

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C125/25

  THAT Council appoint Polly Palmer, Manager of Legislative Services as the Deputy Corporate Officer pursuant to Section 148 of the Community Charter effective May 27, 2025.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

9.3

FINANCE

No items.

9.4

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

9.4.1

Amenity Cost Charges Bylaw – Program Overview

Nancy Henderson (Senior Local Government Advisor, Urban Systems) provided a PowerPoint presentation on the Amenity Cost Charge Program Overview. Staff and Nancy Henderson responded to Council's questions.

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C126/25

  THAT Council direct staff to conduct exploratory work regarding a potential future amenity cost charge program; 

  AND THAT staff schedule additional discussions with Council relative to the scope and intent of a potential future amenity cost charge program.

  CARRIED; Councillor Millsap voted in the negative

  Acting Mayor Johnston declared a recess at 7:20 p.m.

  The meeting reconvened at 7:30 p.m. with the following Council members present: Acting Mayor Johnson and Councillors Da Silva, de Jong (via electronic communication facilities), Friesen, Millsap and Zanon.

  
  

9.5

OPERATIONS

9.5.1

Rose Valley Water

• It was moved and seconded

  Resolution No. C127/25

  THAT Council direct staff to prepare public reports regarding the Rose Valley Water System, as follows:

  1. Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant funding reconciliation;
  2. Second intake potential and related legislative process;
  3. An independent review of the Water Utility Master Plan; and
  4. The aeration project, including how the work can be completed in 2025.
  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

9.6

FIRE RESCUE

No items.

10.

CORRESPONDENCE AND INFORMATION ITEMS

No items.

11.

NOTICE OF MOTION

No items.

12.

ADJOURNMENT OF THE REGULAR MEETING

The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m.