West Kelowna urging people to vote ‘yes’ in $7.7M city hall vote

With the West Kelowna city hall referendum next month, the city wants to make sure people know everything they can about the project.

The City of West Kelowna is asking residents if they would approve the borrowing of up to $7.7 million. The money would be included with other city revenue to help build a new city hall.

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

“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.”

The new hall would be built on Elliot Road and would be part of the West Kelowna Civic Centre Project. If approved, a new three-storey building could be constructed. It would be owned by the City of West Kelowna and would include a public square for the community, a commercial building and two residential buildings.

In May, nearly 4,000 people signed a petition to stop West Kelowna from borrowing $10.5 million to build a new city hall. Since more than 15 per cent said no to borrowing that larger, initial amount, city council was given two options.

The option they chose was to hold another referendum, which will be held on Sept. 17. This time asking for the lesser amount of $7.7 million.

“We recognize the community has a number of questions about the Civic Centre Project,” said Findlater.

“It’s critical that taxpayers are as informed as possible regarding this significant vote. We think this referendum process provides an excellent opportunity to have a thorough discussion about the project, and get those questions answered.”

City staff members and councillors will be at the Westbank Farmers’ Market for the rest of August and the first two weeks of September to answer any questions.

There will be two public open houses to talk about the project:

• Open House #1: September 6, 5 – 7 p.m. at the Mt. Boucherie Municipal Hall
• Open House #2: September 13, 5 – 7 p.m. at the Mt. Boucherie Municipal Hall

According to the City of West Kelowna, the Civic Centre Project will not result in any additional taxes and will not impact any of the projects in the current 10-year capital plan.

Mt. Boucherie Municipal Hall would also be returned back to its intended purpose of a community centre.

For more information about the project, click here.