Council priorities

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2023-2026 Council Priorities

Council Priorities 2023–2026 identifies the strategic shifts, improvements and changes that are important to Council, the community and organization. The approach is designed to take immediate action on what is important to residents and guide the City’s business planning and investment decisions. It outlines six priority areas and 22 actions to increase citizens’ quality of life. Council will receive a public progress report on the priorities every six, 12 and 18 months.

 

The Priorities

Working alongside other pivotal city strategies—such as the Official Community Plan, 10-Year Capital Plan, 20-Year Servicing Plan, and Imagine Kelowna—the approved council priorities are:

Crime & Safety
  • Strategy to address property crime; including break and enters and theft
  • Provide local Business Improvement Areas support for urban centre safety issues
  • Establish a safety task force with stakeholders
  • Partner with Provincial ministries responsible for mental health and problematic substance use on initiatives that improve local conditions
Affordable Housing
  • Acquire city owned land to build affordable housing
  • Increase number of rental units with below market rents
  • Partner on the creation of a low-cost affordable housing pilot project
Homelessness
  • Advocate for additional Complex Care Centre
  • Explore partnership opportunities for alternative forms of sheltering
  • Advocate for purpose-built permanent shelter with ‘wrap-around’ supports and graduated housing options
  • Develop an emergency winter shelter program
Transportation
  • Explore alternative modes of transportation between UBCO/YLW and downtown
  • Improve transit service including expanding the transit pass program
  • Improve traffic flow and capacity on major road networks
  • Complete the functional design of the Hwy 33 multi-modal traffic corridor
  • Enhance traffic safety presence
Agriculture
  • Facilitate the creation of a permanent home for the farmer's market
  • Review the Agriculture Plan with respect to secondary uses
  • Expand enforcement/bylaw officers
Climate & Environment
  • Include ‘climate lens’ in decision making to assess mitigation and adaptation
  • Increase urban tree canopy
  • Pilot energy concierge program to enable retrofits in buildings