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Local Okanagan Community Comments
Index for West Kelowna (formerly Westbank)
LAST UPDATE
July 16, 2017
Click on your refresh button in the top menu, to
be sure you see any updates.

The left side of this section lists each subject with a form the community
can fill out to comment on a subject, and on the right side of this
section lists the subject with comments the community has made.
Alternative Approval
and
Alternative Approval Comments
Carbon Tax and
Carbon Tax Comments
Democracy Petition and
Democracy Petition
Comments
Democracy Petition to
Parliament and
Democracy Petition to Parliament Comments
Dictatorship and
Dictatorship
Comments
Dogs and
Dog Comments
Environmental
Petition and
Environmental Petition Comments
Food and
Food Comments
Garbage Laws
and
Garbage Laws Comments
Global Warming and
Global Warming
Comments
Government Recommendations and
Government Recommendations
Comments
Great Ideas and
Great Ideas
Comments
Handy Home Tips
and
Handy Home Tips Comments
Healthcare and
Healthcare Comments
Homelessness and
Homelessness
Comments
ICBC and
ICBC Comments
Legal System and
Legal System
Comments
Local Area Services
and Local
Area Services Comments
Motorized Recreation and
Motorized Recreation
Comments
Okanagan
Aggregate Task Force and
Okanagan Aggregate Task Force Comments
OKIB Logging and
OKIB
Logging Comments
OKIB Road and
OKIB Road
Comments
OKIB Tax and
OKIB Tax
Comments
Old Bridge Pontoons
and Old
Bridge Pontoons Comments
Road Rage and
Road Rage
Comments
Smoking and Tobacco and
Smoking and
Tobacco Comments
SSP and
Security Prosperity
Partnership Comments
Taser Guns and
Taser Gun Comments
Tussock Moth and
Tussock Moth
Comments
Valley-Wide Governance and
Valley-Wide Governance
Comments
Vernon's Western Bypass and
Vernon's Western
Bypass Comments
Western
Spruce Budworm and
Western Spruce Budworm Comments
Wrong
and
Wrong Comments

Flood
review requested
Castanet.net - Wayne Moore - Jul 13,
2017 | Story: 201651
The City of West Kelowna is calling on the provincial
government to conduct a flood review following this
spring's emergency.
At its regular meeting Tuesday, council unanimously
agreed to ask the province to review all possible
factors leading to the flooding and mitigation efforts.
Council asked the review look at eight specific areas,
including:
the timing of the spring freshet in relation to the
release of water from the Okanagan Lake system at
various dams
the need for additional data collection stations related
to weather, snowpack and streamflow
climate change impacts and freshet management
fishery needs
flood plain building
upland logging impacts
the banning of power boats during times of declared
state of emergency
the capacity of municipalities and first nations to
respond to emergencies.
Politicians and residents alike up and down the valley
have also called for a review of how Okanagan Lake
levels were handled this spring.
However, the man at the controls of the dam in Penticton
stated more than a month ago that review was going to
happen regardless.
“After any extreme event, be it wildfire, be it a flood
year or drought year, when all is said and done, we go
back and we look and go over our decisions,” said Shaun
Reimer, public safety and protection section head with
the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource
Operations.
Source: http://www.castanet.net/news/West-Kelowna/201651/Flood-review-requested |

Councillor in conflict?
Castanet.net - Wayne Moore - Nov 23,
2015 - Story: 152379
A West Kelowna councillor has found himself in a
possible conflict of interest.
First-term councillor Rusty Ensign allegedly voted on a
development project while having a contractual
relationship, said Mayor Doug Findlater.
Because of that relationship with developers, council is
being asked to rescind second and third readings of OCP
and zoning amendments for a low-density,
multiple-residential development and tourist
accommodation on West Bay Road.
Council gave second reading to the amendments in early
September and, following a public hearing Sept. 29, gave
it third reading.
"This recommendation (to rescind) is made to ensure the
process for adoption of the bylaws, if council
proceeds to do so, is transparent and fair, and
ultimately to protect the integrity of the process,"
stated a report council will review Tuesday.
"We are correcting the process," said Findlater.
The mayor said people sitting through a public hearing
must know those hearing the information do not have a
conflict.
The report before council further stated,
"On Oct. 27, 2015 the city received an action plan from
West Bay Beach Resort which states Ensign has a
demolition contract with West Bay Beach Resort.
"The city sought legal advice regarding a potential
conflict of interest for Coun. Ensign, in regards to
bylaw No. 0100.04 and bylaw No. 154.26, and council
directed that, to ensure their validity, the bylaws be
brought back to first reading and for.consideration
of.second reading."
Ensign owns a company which, among other services,
provides demolition work.
This means a public hearing will also have to be
scheduled again.
Findlater said council would decide at a later date
whether it would entertain discussion of possible
sanctions against Ensign.
This is the second time in recent weeks a Central
Okanagan elected official has found themselves at odds
with those around the table.
Central Okanagan East Director Patty Hanson has been
accused of relaying information from a confidential
meeting of the regional board.
A hearing on possible censure or sanctions was postponed
indefinitely last week to allow Hanson to have her
attorney present at the proceedings.
Source: http://www.castanet.net/news/West-Kelowna/152379/Councillor-in-conflict |

On
their way to city-hood
Castanet.net - by Carmen Weld | Story:
139717 - May 12, 2015
Welcome to the District of... no, wait – the City of
West Kelowna.
After an alternative approval process did not meet the
requirement to halt the effort, West Kelowna council can
now seek provincial approval to reclassify as a city
instead of a district municipality.
According to council, only 166 elector response forms
were turned in indicating an objection to the change.
A total of 2,306 forms (10 per cent of eligible voters)
would have been needed to defeat the AAP, which began
April 1 and closed Monday.
If council agrees, the municipality will then apply to
the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural
Development for official reclassification from a
district to a city.
If approved, the District of West Kelowna says the
change will cost the
district about $3,000, which includes:
Public Process - $1,500
Alternative approval process including staff time,
printing and advertising costs
Signage/stationary - $1,500
Fleet decals (to be changed during normal wear and tear)
Door lettering logos
Directional signage (change only those that say
"District" of West Kelowna)
Letterhead, business cards, etc. for the most part would
be phased-in on re-order to reduce costs.
You can
read the entire question and answer page about the
proposed change, as prepared by the District of West
Kelowna, here. |




District of West Kelowna responds to former assistant
fire chief's lawsuit
by Kathy Michaels - Kelowna Capital
News - Jun 5, 2014
The District of West Kelowna is
flatly denying the former assistant fire chief was
dismissed without reasonable notice or owed any
financial compensation, in court documents filed this
week.
Kerry Klonteig filed the civil claim against the
district last month, asking for more than $150,000 in
damages following what he deemed to be a hasty
dismissal. The gist of his legal argument was that he
was let go with little notice for "an administrative
driving prohibition," and it's caused him significant
hardship.
"Based on his qualifications, experience, age and the
difficulty he will encounter in finding similar and
alternate or alternative employment, a notice period of
18 months is appropriate," writes his lawyer, Terry
McCaffrey in a notice of claim.
"Since he was terminated by the district, Mr. Klonteig
has sought other reasonably comparable positions without
success. Mr. Klonteig therefore claims his job search
expense and any relocation expenses he may incur as
special damages. The plaintiff will prove his statement
of special damages in advance of the trial."
District representatives declined an offer to comment on
the case at that time, but filed a response to the civil
claim in Supreme Court this Wednesday.
"The plaintiff (Klonteig) held a position of leadership
and authority with the district in a role devoted to the
protection of public safety. By driving a district fire
department vehicle while having a blood alcohol level
that resulted in a 90-day suspension of his driver's
licence and a district fire department vehicle being
impounded, the plaintiff posed a significant threat to
his own safety and that of others and exposed the
district to liability," reads the document, signed by
lawyer Carolyn M. MacEachern.
"The district was entitled to terminate the plaintiff's
employment for just cause and, therefore, the plaintiff
is not entitled to notice or payment in lieu thereof."
They add further light to the nature of Klonteig's
dismissal throughout the document.
"On or about Oct. 6 2013, the plaintiff, while off duty,
drove the fire chief's truck, a district fire department
vehicle, to a restaurant and a casino where he consumed
alcohol," the document reads.
"After leaving the casino late at night, the plaintiff
was pulled over by the RCMP at approximately 1:30 a.m.
and was required to provide a breath or blood sample to
measure his blood alcohol level, which the plaintiff
advised the district he had failed."
It's alleged the sample taken read above .08 and the
Mounties immediately seized Klonteig's driver's licence
and suspended his driving privileges for 90 days. They
also as impounded the district vehicle.
"District practice, of which the plaintiff was aware,
prohibits the personal use of district fire department
vehicles vehicles in these types of circumstances," it
reads. |

The
following is a list of the 59 employees with the city who earned
$100,000 or more in 2012. The employees were either
management or firefighters. No CUPE worker pulled in six figures.
•Van Vliet, Kevin - Utility & Building Projects Mgr. $100,390
•Sourisseau, Paul - HR Manager - Community Svcs. $101,494
•Butchart, Brian - Systems Development Manager $102,174
•Shaw, Joel - Capital Assets & Investments Mgr. $102,220
•Irani, Purvez - Roads, Drainage & Solid Waste Projects Mgr.
$102,535
•Fleming, Stephen - City Clerk $103,474
•Patan, Douglas - Building & Permitting Manager $103,989
•Graham, David - Strategic Initiatives $104,762
•Wilson, Ian - Parks Services Manager $107,024
•Smith, Ryan - Subdivision Approval Manager $107,391
•Entwistle, Robert - Information Services Manager $114,225
•Carr, Eric - Strategic Initiatives Department Manager $114,577
•Fuller, David - Airport Operations Deputy Dir. $115,459
•Muenz, Steven - Development Engineering Mgr. $120,378
•Weaden, Carla M - Communications Director $120,753
•Doherty, Thomas - Dep. F/Chief, Adm,Trg & Fire Prev. $121,045
•Brolund, Jason - Dep. F/Chief, Comm. & Emerg Prog. $123,154
•Leatherdale, Stuart - Human Resources Director $123,482
•Bayat, Mo - Development Services Director $124,864
•Cleveland, Randy - Infrastructure Planning Director $125,010
•Gambacort, Shelley - Policy & Planning Director $125,311
•Bagh, Signe - Infrastructure Planning Director $125,657
•Wilde, Louis - Deputy Fire Chief $126,112
•Berry, William - Design & Construction Services Director $126,899
•Mayne, Rob - Corporate Services Director $126,946
•Westlake, Ronald - Regional Services Director $130,729
•Grayston, Keith - Financial Services Director $131,875
•Gabriel, Jim - Recreation & Cultural Services Director $134,528
•Gilchrist, Douglas - Community Sustainability GM $136,023
•Carlisle, Jeffrey - Fire Chief $136,691
•Creron, Joe Civic - Operations Director $144,363
•Samaddar, Sam - Airport Director $156,268
•Paterson, Jim - Executive Director of Business Development $167,547
•Macklem,
Paul - Corporate Sustainability GM $188,796
•Vos, John - Community Services GM $188,868
•Mattiussi, Ronald - City Manager $254,554 |


June 27, 2011 Regional District of Central Okanagan Regular Board
Meeting Agenda
Item 11.1 Tourism Westside Intellectual Property.pdf
*Note: This is only a snippet, please click link above
for entire contents.
Agenda NO: 11.1
Mtg Date: June 27, 2011
REPORT TO THE REGIONAL BOARD
TO: Regional Board
DATE: June 20, 2011
RE: Tourism Westside Intellectual Property
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Regional District of Central Okanagan as requested hereby releases the
Westbank & District Chamber of Commerce ("Tourism Westside") of any past,
present or future liabilities in all regards to Tourism Westside and the
transferring of the Tourism Westside intellectual property ownership from the
Chamber of Commerce to the District of West Kelowna for its sole use and for no
other purpose.
BACKGROUND:
In 2006, the Regional Board supported an application for community tourism
program funding to the Union of BC Municipalities for the development of a
business plan for community tourism development in the Westside Electoral Area
(now known as the District of West Kelowna). Funding was received and the
Regional District completed all reporting requirements in regard to the funding.
Since that time, the Regional District has had no further dealing with the
Westbank & District Chamber of Commerce in regard to Tourism Westside.
The Westbank & District Chamber of Commerce in its letter of June 15, 2011
requested a written request releasing the Chamber and its members to be
protected from any and all past or future liabilities pertaining to Tourism
Westside and the transferring of the Tourism Westside intellectual property
ownership from the Chamber to the District of West Kelowna.
This is for your consideration.
-------------------------------
June 27, 2011 audio of entire RDCO Board meeting - .mp3 (208 MB)
June 27, 2011 audio of RDCO Board meeting only about
West Kelowna Tourism - .wma (2.06 MB) |

June 27, 2011 Regional District of Central Okanagan Regular Board
Meeting Minutes11. NEW
BUSINESS 11.1 Tourism Westside Intellectual
Property (All Directors - Unweighted Vote) The
Westbank & District Chamber of Commerce in its letter of June 15, 2011 requested
a written request releasing the Chamber and its members to be protected from any
and all past or future liabilities pertaining to Tourism Westside and the
transferring of the Tourism Westside intellectual property ownership from the
Chamber to the District of West Kelowna. In 2006,
the Regional Board supported an application for community tourism program
funding to UBCM for the development of a business plan for community tourism
development in the Westside Electoral Area (now known as the District of West
Kelowna). Funding was received and the Regional District completed all reporting
requirements in regard to the funding. Since that time, the Regional District
has had no further dealing with the Westbank & District Chamber of Commerce in
regard to Tourism Westside. Director Findlater
explained the District of West Kelowna's position noting that they have received
a similar letter. SHEPHERD/EDGSON
THAT the Regional District of Central Okanagan, subject to the District of West
Kelowna agreeing to the same provision, hereby releases the Westbank & District
Chamber of Commerce ("Tourism Westside") of any past, present or future
liabilities in all regards to Tourism Westside and the transferring of the
Tourism Westside intellectual property ownership from the Chamber of Commerce to
the District of West Kelowna for its sole use and for no other purpose.
CARRIED
-------------------------------
June 27, 2011 audio of entire RDCO Board meeting - .mp3 (208 MB)
June 27, 2011 audio of RDCO Board meeting only about
West Kelowna Tourism - .wma (2.06 MB) |

Face-to-face
with a bear? Here are some tips
By Mike Raptis, The Province - July 3, 2011
Christine Miller of Bear Aware shows a
bear-resistant garbage can sold by the District of North Vancouver
outside her North Vancouver home. The cans sell for $199 including
delivery. Bear Aware works to raise awareness about bears.

$199.00 BEAR PROOF GARBAGE CAN (North Vancouver,
B.C.)
Learn how to avoid unnecessary confrontation with bears, says
Christine Miller, the Bear Aware educator for the North Shore.
If you encounter a bear in your yard, find a safe place and claim
your territory, she advises.
“Often why they’re in the yard is because there’s some odorous food
they can smell. It could be garbage, bird feed, a dirty barbecue, or
dog food,” said Miller, noting that in 2010, a spate of bears
targeted outdoor fridges and freezers.
It the bear is not eating, people should claim their territory “like
a bear would — make it an unfriendly environment from a safe spot.”
Yell, bang pots and pans, and throw objects at the bear, Miller
advises.
But if a bear is eating and makes a groaning noise, it means
“they’re really stressed, they really need the food, and they want
the food,” she said.
Remember the four s’s, says Miller:
Stay calm, stay still, speak calmly, and slowly back away.
In the wild, be aware of your surroundings, stay audible, and take
note of indicators a bear may be close, such as fresh droppings or
tracks, B.C. conservation officer Rod Olsen said. If you come across
a bear, try not to look directly in its eyes.
“Surprise is a time of conflict for bears . . . whether they’re
close to noisy rivers or if the wind is noisy,” Olsen noted.
Carry bear spray, and practise spraying it in the woods to
understand how it works.
“It’s not a good time to be learning how to use it when it’s the
real situation,” Olsen said.
mraptis "at" theprovince.com
twitter.com/mike_raptis
© Copyright (c) The Province
|

Neis seeks Mayor's chair -- again
Castanet.net - by Wayne Moore - Story: 62757 - Jun
22, 2011
There will be a race for the mayor's chair in West Kelowna.
Former Mayor and current Councillor Rosalind Neis is throwing her
hat in the ring.
Neis, who sat in the mayor's chair immediately after incorporation
in 2007 and current mayor, Doug Findlater will go head-to-head when
voters go to the polls to elect a new council November 19.
She decided against running for a second term in 2008 in order to
spend more time with her family and concentrate on her nursing
career.
"I am ready to get back into politics full time," says Neis of her
decision.
"Two of my boys graduated last year so things have settled down. I
feel I have a lot more to give back to the community."
Neis says she believes Premier Christy Clark has the right focus
with a 'Families First' philosophy and believes that approach can
work in West Kelowna.
"We all want the same things. We all want a community that's safe,
that we can afford to live in, that provides a future for our
children and I think sometimes those things get missed. Really focus
on the people that live here. we don't have every amenity known to
man just because it's out there."
She says that is the type of leadership she hopes to bring.
Neis was an unknown political entity when she vaulted onto the scene
four years ago.
Running on a platform of disincorporation, Neis won a five person
race to become the first mayor of the newly incorporated
municipality.
One year later in the first three term municipal election, Neis
again topped the polls, winning one of six Councillor seats.
Neis says the municipality has changed dramatically since she last
served as mayor.
She says in a lot of ways the municipality is now run by city
employees who are "very good at what they do." |

DWK garbage fees going up
Castanet.net - by Wayne Moore - Story: 61961 - May
11, 2011
West Kelowna homeowners will have to pay an extra $4.62 a year to
have their garbage inspected and sorted at the Kelowna Landfill.
The charge is being added after the municipality said no to
implementation of a Radio Frequency Identification System (RFID).
West Kelowna homeowners will pay an additional $4.62 on their
garbage bill to have their trash inspected and sorted.
The RFID, which would scan each cart as it is being tipped using
on-board cameras, computers and software.
The system collects data such as which cart is being tipped, the
address, owner, date and whether the load was contaminated.
RFID would have cost homeowners an additional $1.68 per year.
While the regional district and all other municipalities involved in
the new Automated Cart Program in the Central Okanagan approved RFID,
West Kelowna did not.
According to the City of Kelowna, West Kelowna yard waste would need
to be inspected separately for contaminants at an annual estimated
cost of $46,575 ($4.62 per household per year) if the municipality
did not come on board with
the program.
Tuesday's decision by the municipality means each household will
have to pay the difference or $2.96 a year.
"I am not surprised to see this report come forward but I am
disappointed. This $4.62 charge is completely unnecessary and is
totally as a result of the council decision not to get on board with
the RFID system," says Councillor, Duane Ophus.
"What we really need to be doing is gathering all of the information
that can be gathered through this process so that at the time the
contract comes up for renewal in a few that we will have the
information we need to negotiate a better
contract."
Councillor Rosalind Neis, noted that Summerland, which is also on
the Automated Cart Program, pays about $75 per household per year,
which is about a third of what West Kelowna residents pay.
While Summerland has its own landfill, Neis also noted the
municipality has not gravitated to the RFID system. |

West Kelowna land swap deal dead
Castanet.net - by Wayne Moore - Story: 61977 - May
11, 2011
Ken Mitchell's offer of a land swap with the District of West
Kelowna is officially dead -- for a second time.
West Kelowna Council voted 4-3 Tuesday to say thanks, but no thanks
to the controversial land swap.
Councillors Knowles, Milsom and Zanon voted against the motion and
in favour of going ahead with the land swap.
Mitchell had proposed to swap property he owns next to Marina Park
on Gellatly Road in exchange for a portion of a beach access (road
end) on Whitworth Road owned by the municipality.
He also agreed to kick in an additional $300,000 to sweeten the
deal.
Mitchell's original proposal first came before council in September,
2009.
Council agreed to move ahead with that proposal and gave it first
and second readings in December, 2009.
A month later, the bylaw was abandoned.
On August 25, 2010, Mitchell made a second offer, this time adding
an additional $600,000 to the deal, $100,000 for the expansion of
Marina Park and $500,000 for the municipality to use for other
projects.
The municipality undertook a series of negotiations with the
Mitchell's as the offer continued to change slightly.
In order to go ahead, the municipality asked that a 12 foot
right-of-way be included in the Whitworth Road property allowing
public access to the beach.
In the end, Mayor Doug Findlater believes the right-of-way wasn't
enough to sway council to accept the
"This has been a long journey with many twists and turns but a
statutory right-of-way which would allow access to the public really
didn't have much use for public recreation in any way and it could
be kind of transient in that there could be an appeal to a future
council to simply lift it," says Findlater.
"It didn't meet the needs of the community in terms of the
recreation aspect and it really wasn't that good a deal."
Findlater, who has been against the deal for the better part of a
year now says the process has been hard on everyone -- municipal
staff, the Mitchell's and councillors.
He says members of the public, on both sides of the land swap have
been very passionate and vocal as have members of council.
"There were very strong feelings on council and people toward one
another. There have been some hard feelings through this process."
Findlater says the West Kelowna Council have always worked well
together and he believes councillors will be able to put the matter
behind them and continue to work together. |

DWK Council seeks budget input
Castanet.net - by Contributed - Story: 60660 - Mar
8, 2011
West Kelowna Council is looking for public input into its 2011 Draft
Budget and five year financial plan.
Members of the public can discuss the budget with councillors
Tuesday, March 15 at the Westbank Lions Community Hall beginning at
6 p.m.
Highlights of the provisional 2011-2015 Financial Plan include:
4.07 Per Cent Tax Increase in 2011: Initially a five per cent tax
increase was proposed, as recommended in the 2007 governance study.
Council reduced the increase by nearly one per cent as a result of
deliberations on January 18.
Property Owner Impact: A residential property in West Kelowna, with
an average assessed value of $475,000, would
pay an extra $57 on the municipal portion of taxes this year.
Total Requisition: The total municipal tax requisition in 2011 is
$22.7 million. This represents 29 per cent of the District’s total
revenue.
The other 71 per cent of revenues consist of:
•$21.4 million, or 28 per cent, from sale of municipal services
•$21.3 million, or 27 per cent, collected for other levels of
government
•$3.9 million, or five per cent, transferred from reserves
•$3.3 million, or four per cent, from grants from senior government
•$3.1 million, or four per cent, from miscellaneous revenues
•$2.3 million, or three per cent, from transfers from senior
government
Reserves: $7.8 million will be put in reserves in 2011 bringing
total reserves to $21.8 million by the end of the year. Reserves are
forecast to be $34.1 million at the end of 2015.
Capital Budget: Council supports $3.8 million in capital projects
this year, including:
•Gellatly Road upgrades from Powers Creek going north: $1.25 million
•Road rehabilitation: $1.25 million
•Westbank Centre revitalization: amount to be determined
•HVAC installation at Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre:
$195,000
•HVAC equipment for the new Westbank Museum building: $65,000
•Beach cleaner: $50,000
•Greenways and Greenbelts Master Plan: $41,000
•Funds to assist in completing the Rotary Children's Water Park in
Westbank Town Centre Park: $30,000
•Playground upgrades: $25,000
•Tennis court resurfacing: $20,000
•Accessibility ramp at CNB Sports Fields: $6,500
Supplemental Requests: Services will be added or improved in the
following areas:
•Support new Bylaw Adjudication process
•Increase contingency fund for Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic
Centre
•Develop a sustainable asset management strategy
•Improve the streetlight replacement program
•Improve parking lot maintenance program
•Increase funding to hire consultants and testing labs for any
urgent issues that arise
•Increase services at Lakeview Heights Community Hall
Three additional, permanent, full time staff will be hired:
•Facility Operator
•Irrigation Systems Specialist
•Land Agent and Intergovernmental Liaison Officer
•Summer students will also be hired in some departments, accounting
for a total of three FTEs (full time equivalent positions)
The supplemental requests break down as follows:
•$331,513 in the 2011 tax year
•$470,697 in the 2012 tax year
•$289,075 in the 2013 tax year
•$248,673 in the 2014 tax year
•$208,138 in the 2015 tax year
Tax Multiplier Adjustments: The Utilities Multiplier will increase
from 6 to 7, meaning a utility pays $7 in municipal taxes for every
$1 a residential property owner pays. The Light Industry Multiplier
will decrease from 3 to 2.8. The rates are similar to those in
nearby municipalities.
Grants In Aid: Council supports requests for financial assistance
from the following nonprofit organizations:
•Bridge Youth and Family Services: $3,000
•Gellatly Bay Trails and Parks Society: $2,000
•Okanagan Boys' and Girls' Club Restorative Justice: $3,500
•West Kelowna Citizens Patrol Society: $5,000
•West Kelowna Yacht Club:
$5,000
•Westside Canadian Red Cross: $11,700
•Westside Celebration Society (Westside Daze): $16,000
•Westside Health Network Society: $7,000
•Westside Parent Participation Preschool: $1,000
•Westside Residents and Business Association: $600
•Okanagan Symphony Orchestra: $5,000 (from Council’s 2010
Contingency Fund)
Non-cash Grants In Aid: Facility rental fees will be waived for
these nonprofit organizations:
•Emergency Social Services: $205
•Girl Guides of Canada: $672
•Lakeview Heights Thursday Nighters’ AA Group: $1,000
•Mount Boucherie Figure Skating Club: $41,000
•Royal Canadian Legion (Remembrance Day Ceremonies): $1,600
•Westside Girls' Softball: $400
•Westside Minor Baseball: $5,400
•Westside Minor Football: $800
•Westside Minor Hockey:
$142,400
•Westside Ringette: $26,200
•Westside Youth Soccer: $1,200
Council Remuneration: Council’s remuneration will remain the same in
2011 as it was in 2010. Council’s Remuneration and Expenses
Provisions Policy suggests remuneration be reviewed in January each
year using the median salaries of Mayors and Councillors in a
comparative group of municipalities. The review indicated salaries
should increase for West Kelowna Mayor and Council but
Council waived the policy and
declined a raise in 2011.
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West Kelowna council highlights
Castanet.net - by Contributed - Story: 59104 - Dec
22, 2010
The following are highlights from the District of West Kelowna
Council meeting held December 14, 2010.
2010 Citizens’ Survey - Council was provided a report on the 2010
Citizens’ Survey. The District received 399 completed surveys in its
3rd annual Citizens’ Survey. The survey was mailed to 1,000
randomly-selected West Kelowna taxpayers and is statistically
accurate. The 2010 Survey indicates the following services may
require more emphasis:
Road Maintenance
•Roads
•Snow Control
•Noise Control
•Sidewalks
•Illegal Dumping, Cleaning Program
•Dedicated Bicycle Lanes
The 2010 Survey indicates the following services may require less
emphasis:
•Swimming Pool
•Arenas
•Sports Field—Soccer
•Sports Field—Baseball/Softball
•Electronic Services provided on line
•Tennis Courts/Squash Courts
Approximately 73% of respondents rated the overall quality of
life in the District of West Kelowna as Very High or High. |

West Kelowna council rejects garbage can spy tags
Kelowna Capital News - By Dave Preston - October
29, 2010The District of West Kelowna has gone against
the garbage grain by turning down a proposal to monitor residential
waste collection.
The regional district, on behalf of the two electoral areas, and the
Districts of Lake Country and Peachland voted in favour of expanding
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in the curbside
waste collection system. The City of Kelowna has yet to decide what
it will do.
West Kelowna council took more than an hour earlier this week before
voting five to two to reject the optionto allow the regional
district’s private waste hauler to monitor what goes inside curbside
bins.
“Currently each waste collection cart includes an RFID ticket that
is in the cart,” Peter Rotheisler, regional waste reduction
supervisor, told council. “That sticker, each time a bin is tipped,
can be read by an operational system.”
Rotheisler explained that the RFID tag stores a small amount of
information and can be read on waste pickup days. Information that
can be recorded includes who the cart belongs to, the address
corresponding to the cart, the cart’s serial number and the type of
waste associated with that cart.
A computer on board the collection truck would record the date and
time a cart is emptied and any other information the driver wants to
input onto a touch computer screen. Additional information could
include that the cart was found in the middle of the street, was
turned upside down or contained the wrong type of material for the
cart.
“The tags are in place. The readers are in place,” said Rotheisler.
“The onboard system and the software are not in place.”
Rotheisler has been going to each municipality in the Central
Okanagan, looking for approval for an expanded RFID system, which
would cost each household between $1.50 and $1.70 per year.
In total, the regional district needs to raise $450,000 to $500,000
to implement the upgraded RFID system.
The new system would allow for improvements to the current waste
collection system, according to Rotheisler, including:
• Implementing a user pay system where residents are charged for
waste collection based on what they set out at the curb;
• Monitoring how much work the contractor is doing, which would
enable the regional district to justify increases or decreases in
charges;
• Collecting data on how households manage their waste, including
visits from staff to specific homes that put out a lot of garbage
but little recycling;
• Ability to enforce the Solid Waste Management Bylaw by identifying
banned materials that are put in collection carts.
Currently the regional district is receiving higher than expected
revenues on recyclables, said Rotheisler. In the first half of 2010,
$100,000 more was received for recyclables and Rotheisler said that
translates to about $4 annually per household, which he said would
offset the required increase for the new RFID system.
“There’s a certain big brotherliness to this,” said Coun. Bryden
Winsby. He asked exactly how the new system would work and how it
differs with what is done currently.
Rotheisler said the new system would see a 15 inch monitor put in
collection trucks, which are already equipped with cameras. If a
driver sees an infraction, he would press a button, which would
record a photo of the cart’s contents and be associated with the
date, time and other information collected.
As it stands today, if a driver sees the wrong material in a cart,
he has to pull out a pen and paper and then try to figure out which
house the cart came from. Rotheisler said that is nearly impossible
in some instances, because carts are all put together in some areas
for pick up.
“They can’t capture an image,” said Rotheisler, adding the driver
has no hard evidence currently that an infraction has taken place.
Rotheisler said currently homeowners are being charged between
$70,000 and $80,000 per year to sort garbage out of recyclables and
several hundred thousand dollars per year to clean up contaminated
yard waste.
“I don’t want to focus on the savings. I think they’re alleged at
this point in time,” said Coun. Carol Zanon.
“I do feel a burning resentment about what we were told about these
carts in the beginning,” Zanon said, adding she does not recall
during the launch of the new curbside collection system anyone
mentioning anything about an RFID system.
“I think this is a draconian invasion of privacy,” said Zanon.
Rotheisler responded that the RFID tags were seen as a way of
keeping inventory of the carts. Coun. Rosalind Neis agreed with
Zanon.
“I think this was the intent all along and it was never shared with
municipalities and the public,” she said.”
“I’m concerned with regards to privacy,” said Mel Chapman, who
appeared before council as a delegation. “I see it very clearly as
coming down to creating a police state.”
“My message is educate, don’t dominate,” said Chapman. |

Call it Westbank
From Kelowna Capital News March 02, 2008
To the editor:
One often wonders how the editor of this newspaper chooses to publish stories
and editorials submitted by writers.
Some lengthy articles are forever appearing with little interest pertaining to a
name change for the new municipality across the lake.
Most of those persons do not realize that low and behold should a name change
take place that would result in costs to hundreds of citizens to change their
respective addresses and, especially costly to businesses to print new letter
heads, business cards, etc.
As suggested before by numerous persons, leave the name we have known for years
and are familiar with—namely, Westbank.
Peter Anutooshkin,
Westside

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