Penticton City Council will consider two long-term policy planning documents at its Sept. 29 meeting that address issues residents have identified as important to the community: community safety and urban deer management.
The proposed Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan (CSWB) and Draft Urban Deer Management Strategy are the result of research, community input, and collaboration with local partners, advisory committees and stakeholders.
The Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan is intended to help guide future planning, partnership development and advocacy efforts in areas such as community safety, emergency preparedness, housing and homelessness, mental health and wellness, and community inclusion.
“Community safety is about many different factors,” says Julie Czeck, General Manager of Public Safety and Partnerships. “From emergency preparedness and crime prevention to housing, mental health and social connection. This framework brings those priorities together in one place and can help guide future conversations and decision-making.”
More than 2,200 residents, businesses, service providers, Indigenous partners and community organizations contributed feedback during development of the plan. The document identifies five priority areas and is designed to serve as a framework for future action and collaboration.
The plan does not approve future spending, staffing or projects. Any future initiatives would continue to be considered through Council’s regular planning and budget processes.
Council will also consider a draft Urban Deer Management Strategy developed with support from the Urban Deer Management Advisory Committee. The strategy focuses on public education, monitoring, data collection and evidence-based decision-making to help guide how urban deer are managed in Penticton.
“Urban deer management is a complex issue with a wide range of community perspectives,” says Blake Laven, General Manager of Development Services. “This draft strategy is intended to provide a thoughtful starting point for that conversation and help ensure future decisions are guided by evidence, local data and public input.”
If supported by Council, the draft deer strategy would be released for public review and feedback before returning to Council for further consideration. The strategy notes the importance of gathering local data and understanding community perspectives before any future management decisions are made.
Both documents are intended to support informed decision-making over the coming years and reflect input gathered from residents, community organizations, subject matter experts, Indigenous representatives and partner agencies.
Residents can review the full agenda and staff reports at penticton.ca before the Sept. 29 Council meeting. The meeting is open to the public and can also be viewed online.