WEST KELOWNA–West Kelowna residents voiced enough opposition to the city’s plan to borrow $10.5 million to build a new city hall to force the city to reassess it’s options.
A total of 3,871 valid elector response forms were submitted in the Alternative Approval Process, more than the 10 per cent threshold needed to halt the plan.
“Council has certainly heard that there is opposition to the Alternative Approval Process and some questions still outstanding about the project itself,” says Mayor Doug Findlater. “Council will regroup on Tuesday and discuss next steps, but after seeing almost 15% of voters engaged with this process, there is no doubt that there is significant interest in the community about this project.”
The proposed city hall is part of a larger planned project, the West Kelowna Civic Centre to be built at 3641 Elliott Road.
Plans were to spend $14.8 million through a public-private partnership to include a new City Hall, an office building in which Interior Health had agreed to lease space, and two residential buildings.
“The project has been part of Council’s Strategic Priorities for three years as an economic development and downtown revitalization strategy,” says Mayor Findlater. “It was also a major election issue in November 2014 and most members of Council publically supported the project.”
Council will now be provided a report outlining its options and legal requirements following the Alternative Approval Process outcome.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 10 at 1:30 p.m.
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