Council sets its priorities for the coming year
West Kelowna has settled on developing infrastructure and the economy as top priorities for 2011.
The district’s strategic priorities for 2011 will include economic development, community enhancement, infrastructure works, water system and targeted road improvements.
Community enhancement involves work on the waterfront area, improving relations with other governments and land inventory and acquisition. The district sees economic development as needing work on their plans for agriculture, arts and culture and the Westbank town centre.
Mayor Doug Findlater noted each year council engages in a strategic planning process to set long-term goals and objectives for the community. West Kelowna’s strategic priorities outline the district’s focus for the coming year, he said.
“These are things we felt needed more attention this year.”
Findlater said the district’s unique challenge as a new municipality is to transition from a rural form of governance to an urban one.
Completing the Westbank centre plan is seen as a critical piece to economic development, and the district would like to rejuvenate the area.
Findlater added the district needs to upgrade infrastructure to meet the long-term needs of the community, from roads and sewer to water and storm drainage systems.
He pointed out the district is now the proud owner and operator of five different water utilities. There is a need to look at how some of them can work together, and improve operations in light of Interior Health requirements for water quality.
Findlater said the strategic priorities set a vision for the community, and the process has worked well for the past three years.
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