Kelowna adds quality of life, economy to its list of key priorities
The City of Kelowna is looking at improving quality of life for residents and bolstering the economy in the coming years.
Kelowna City Council endorsed an update to its Council Priorities 2023-2026, reaffirming the new priorities of quality of life and economy, at the regular meeting Monday, July 22.
“We’ve accomplished many of the original actions, added new actions that we can significantly advance, as well as realigned some of our priority outcomes based on what we’ve learned,” Mayor Tom Dyas stated.
“The new priority area focuses on the economy and is grounded in what we’ve heard from residents, businesses and the communities we serve. It acknowledges that a thriving and resilient economy underpins a good quality of life today and in the future.”
The new priority areas are in addition to the existing goals of addressing crime and safety, affordable housing, homelessness, transportation, agriculture, and climate and environment.
The city noted there were plans to undertake multiple actions to address the existing and new priorities, such as:
- Advocating for a regional drug addiction care facility
- Assessing the city’s supply of employment lands
- Attracting new employment and supporting existing business growth
- Completing the Climate Resilient Kelowna Strategy
- Completing the delivery of tiny home units
- Completing the functional design of the Highway 33 multi-modal traffic corridor
- Completing the Housing Action Plan
- Considering the city’s investments into economic development
- Enhancing traffic safety
- Ensuring sufficient and high-quality agricultural water supply
- Identifying opportunities to enhance economic diversification
- Implementing the Mayor’s Task Force on Crime Reduction recommendations
- Meeting provincial and local housing targets
- Securing funds for a new transit operations centre
“We are an entrepreneurial city and have a lot to build on,” Dyas added.
“We’ll also stay focused on what we started because residents want a safe city where they can rent or purchase a place to call home. They want to protect Kelowna’s natural environment and move around the city more easily.”
Kelowna City Council will continually monitor progress made on the priorities through regular reviews, and make adjustments to the plans as needed.