A brief and informal summary of the latest decisions made by Penticton City Council
Draft 2025 budget presented
The draft 2025-2029 Financial and Corporate Business Plan was presented to Council and is now out for public engagement.
It proposes the hiring of two more police officers to create a Community Safety Unit, expansion of the Remote Guard Camera Program, a Fire Inspector within the Fire Prevention Division, the creation of a Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan and a continued focus on affordable housing options.
The proposed 2025 increase includes the final year of the tax deferral that was introduced in 2022 and supported a significant increase in public safety investments which equates to 3.06 per cent. The remaining increase of 5.52 per cent is comprised of inflationary costs of 2.9 per cent, and strategic initiatives designed to support Council’s priorities of 2.62 per cent, bringing the total increase for 2025 to 8.63 per cent.
For more details on the budget and the engagement process, go to www.penticton.ca/2025-budget.
SS Sicamous Society strategic plan
Council received a strategic plan for the S.S. Sicamous Society, with a five-to-10-year Capital Project plan that included funding for the S.S. Naramata project to date.
Staff will provide a report to Council outlining the results of the Society’s proposed work plan prior to the Society moving forward with any further preservation efforts.
Housing project moves to public hearing
Council gave the green light for a public hearing on a proposed development at 955 Timmins Street for OCP and zoning amendments.
The proposed development consists of 72 residential apartment units with a mixed-use recreational facility. The proposed concept plans show two indoor ice sheets, an indoor baseball training facility, eight indoor pickleball courts and a number of outdoor courts, as well as commercial lease areas.
Council made the decision to hold the public hearing following a period of public engagement.
The public hearing will be on November 5.
Accessibility report shows progress, staff to look at Mobi-mats
An update on the work on the City’s Accessibility Plan shows steady progress has been made and more initiatives are planned.
Sarah Desrosiers, the City’s social development specialist, noted several initiatives, including the expansion of the HandyDART services to offer extended hours on Saturdays, and the Accessible Pedestrian Signals Program to improve pedestrian and driver safety by providing auditory, visual and tactile signals at intersections have been undertaken.
Council also asked staff to report back on the potential for increasing the use of mobi-mats and chairs for the upcoming summer season.
College housing gets approval, hillside permit approved
Council adopted the zoning amendment bylaw that will permit student housing at Okanagan College.
The proposal would see a total of 79 studio units, four accessible dwelling units, three two-bedroom units and three four-bedroom units.
Council also approved a hillside permit to allow for a two-lot subdivision at1530 Reservoir Road, which is the initial step in a larger land development process.
Critical water infrastructure gets more funding, Skaha Splash Pad increase approved
A budget amendment for the Penticton Avenue Pressure Reducing Valve replacement was approved by Council.
Kristin Dixon, the City’s general manager of infrastructure, says that while the costs are significantly higher than originally anticipated back in 2020, the Penticton PRV Project is a critical infrastructure initiative as it serves nearly 70 per cent of the City’s customers.
She notes there is roughly a $500,000 funding gap to meet the $8.1million budget. Staff recommended this gap be funded from the Water Capital Reserve and Council approved.
Council also approved a funding increase, with monies coming from the Growing Communities Fund, for the completion of the Skaha Splash Pad. More details on that project are available here
These highlights are intended to provide a brief summary of recent Council proceedings. The summary is not inclusive of all agenda items. For a detailed account of the full agenda, including staff reports, other supporting documents and official meeting minutes, click here. For a full video of the Council meeting, click here.