Platform

Daily displacement of unhoused individuals from one block to another is not a long-term solution. Immediate all-hours alternatives to the street are needed. Unhoused persons should be directed to safe locations with basic amenities.

• establish dry daytime-use indoor shelter spaces open 7 days a week that offer unhoused persons access to sanitation, cooking, laundry facilities
• drive usage of OS4/Tent City for overnight outdoor sheltering by ensuring on-site access to potable water, cooking options, warming supplies
• coordinate with mutual aid groups trusted in the unhoused community to assist individuals with applications into addictions care

24/7 response to property damage, mischief & open drug use is necessary. Readiness of neighbourhood redshirts is a priority. Full spectrum prevention means business security upgrades, poverty reduction, drug trafficking disruption.

• increase city support for DKA & URBA On-Call to achieve service capacity for overnight (10pm – 6am) response in downtown, Rutland
• strengthen the Business Security Enhancement Rebate to cover full installation of roll-down shutters for businesses impacted by property crime
• prioritize resourcing of the RCMP’s Kelowna Gang Enforcement Team (KGET) to disrupt drug & sex trafficking networks that motivate street crime
• establish a specialized emergency service to divert mental health calls, de-escalation of persons in distress, overdose intervention away from RCMP

Kelowna’s stock of genuinely affordable housing is insufficient. Relief measures include minimums on affordable units in new buildings, conditional bans on new Short-Term Rentals / reevaluation of existing STRs, protection against predatory renovictions.

• make subzone approvals of investor-owned Short-Term Rentals fully conditional on sustained downward trends in the long-term rental market
• require existing residential & commercial STRs to demonstrate emergency responsiveness (<2 hrs) or license to operate is revoked
• implement inclusionary zoning that sets minimums in new builds of deeply affordable, fully accessible, family-suitable units, with functional incentives like accelerated approvals
• introduce rental protection measures that apply heavy penalties on property owners attempting renovictions, cap allowable rent increases to pre-renovation rates

Traffic congestion will only worsen without efforts to improve traffic flow and reduce car dependency. Kelowna Regional Transit frequency, reliability, hours, amenities must be improved to provide a viable & accessible substitute for vehicle use.

• implement a Coordinated Corridor System for traffic light sync to relieve transportation bottlenecks, e.g. Harvey-Abbott traffic flow onto the bridge
• untether Kelowna Regional Transit’s future operations plans from past year’s budget to allow sufficient service expansion for expanded routes and frequency, make transit a viable option for commuting on mornings/evenings/weekends from all neighbourhoods
• restore fully public control of our regional transit system w/ sustained pressure on BC Transit to end its contract with for-profit multinational Transdev
• prioritize the installation of basic seating and overhead shelters at the vast number of underdeveloped bus stops throughout Kelowna

Responsible management of public money means competitive bidding on public projects, vetting of bidders, and comprehensive internal assessment of costing/timelines on proposals. Cost overruns & surprise fees are signs of incompetence we cannot afford.

• oppose the introduction of compensation package increases for city electeds that take effect within the currently mandated period
• strict enforcement of competitive bidding and auditing of proposals on city-funded developments to maximize taxpayer value and avoid unanticipated costs
• lobby the province to restore municipal tax reform authority, with the intent to move Kelowna to a land value tax that shifts tax burden onto land speculators

Confidence is low in Kelowna City Hall’s decisions. Shifting to a ward system for electing councillors would provide Rutland and other unheard neighbourhoods a voice. The city’s online resources should include councillor voting histories.

• pursue local electoral reform to introduce a ward system or hybrid at-large/ward system to elect councillors with more focused constituencies
• develop an up-do-date searchable database of councillor votes accessible from the City of Kelowna website for use by the general public
• end usage, or greatly strengthen the community engagement requirements, of the Alternate Approval Process (AAP) for city borrowing decisions

Sustained high unemployment stokes social disorder. Youth recruitment in understaffed city depts., taking leadership on new childcare spaces, and expanded options for small businesses and vendors to operate represent opportunities for economic stimulation.

• follow the UBCM’s guide for developing municipal childcare space: expand the local care economy to create jobs, give parents freedom to return to work
• establish a city works youth jobs program to add needed human resources to City of Kelowna parks management and maintenance teams
• introduce Auxillary Commercial Units (ACUs) for simplified creation of more affordable mixed-use spaces for small footprint businesses to operate
• create a year-round indoor market site for independent vendors to operate from, sharing use for farmer’s markets, craft fairs, cultural events
• seek implementation by the BC government of limits on rental increases for commercially zoned properties operated by small businesses

Kelowna’s vibrancy as a sports and activity destination is dependent on the quality of public amenities. Budgeting for improvements should include all neighbourhoods fairly. A municipally-managed campground can support tourism.

• distribute city investment into sports & recreation projects more equitably across Kelowna neighbourhoods, i.e. Rutland Sports Field amenity cuts
• better serve diverse accommodation demands of tourists by establishing a municipally-managed campground within city limits (mill site potential)
• ensure that all public parks, sports fields, outdoor recreation areas feature accessible 24/7 bathroom facilities

Our region is experiencing a prolonged period of drought that threatens our community’s access to potable water and dramatically increases wildfire risk. Management of water resources and better fire readiness go hand-in-hand.

• coordinate with FireSmart Community Funding to better promote proactive rebate-backed safety upgrades to homeowners, like fire-resistant roofs
• strengthen water use bylaws to ensure penalties are enforceable on reckless water usage by the largest commercial abusers
• improve asset renewal efforts with support from FCM’s Asset Management Program to prioritize updates to aging infrastructure (supply pipes, irrigation systems)

Smart management of waste flowing to the Kelowna landfill can significantly extend its operational life. Revisit plans for household kitchen waste – reevaluate RDCO curbside pickup, assess feasibility of decentralized in-home composting.

• establish community repair hubs with access to tools, workstations, experienced volunteers to assist in restoring use of electronics, clothing, appliances, etc.
• work with RDCO in resolving the City of Kelowna’s logistical concerns around home organic waste pickup, modernize city waste management
• assess feasibility of a Kelowna-area residential composter pilot modelled after the FoodCycler pilot running in Nelson BC since 2022

Well-maintained greenery & trees are a major part of resident satisfaction with their neighbourhoods. Respect for our trees carries over to respect for shared resources elsewhere. Future-minded investments here build stronger community bonds.

• establish a neighbourhood stewardship / sponsorship street tree program for residents to take ownership and pride in local greenspace
• focus tree canopy expansion efforts on the many greatly underserved Rutland streets lacking shade trees or any maintained greenery to speak of
• introduce a city-wide tree protection bylaw to establish a tree registry, extend tree removal permit requirements beyond the existing Tree Cutting Permit Area

Our land and soil remain agriculturally productive. Decentralized food production via residential properties & community gardens presents opportunities for greater food security and lower household expenditures on fresh produce.

• introduce a seasonal community food processing initiative to facilitate processing (drying, pickling, canning) of locally grown food to minimize waste
• pilot a community-led fruit collection program to harvest tree fruits, berries, etc. from residential properties that are unable/unprepared to harvest
• set up small-scale community gardens within walkable distance to popular neighbourhoods by building raised planters on underutilized public parkland