West Kelowna mayor voices need for new city hall

The mayor of West Kelowna isn't going to let the issue go quietly. He's speaking up — loudly — for a new city hall.

“We need a city hall. After much consideration we’ve placed it in the most appropriate location for our community,” explained Doug Findlater.

“We’ve budgeted very carefully for this important investment and we have incorporated economic development and improved health services for the community with it. Now, we need every West Kelowna voter to vote.”

People in West Kelowna are being asked to vote on whether they approve the city borrowing up to $7.7 million for the construction of a new city hall. The new hall would be built on Elliot Road.

The new building would be three stories and would be part of the larger West Kelowna Civic Centre Project.

People in West Kelowna voted no to borrowing $10.5 million for the project earlier this year in the alternative approval process. More than 3,870 people submitted signatures in opposition of borrowing the money.

Because of the vote being denied, the city had to restart the process and rescinded the first three readings of the bylaw.

Voters will now be asked on Sept. 17, whether they agree with the city borrowing a lesser amount of money.

The question will be:

“Are you in favour of the City of West Kelowna adopting the City of West Kelowna City Hall Project Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 0234, 2016 to authorize the borrowing of up to Seven Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($7,700,000.00) to be repaid over a period not exceeding 20 years, for the construction of a new City Hall and related project work?”

According to the City of West Kelowna, polling stations and information about mail-in ballots and advance polls will be made available soon.