A brief and informal summary of the latest decisions made by Penticton City Council
Public Safety Advisory Committee approved
Council approved the formation of the 10-member committee and the public can now apply to become a member.
The committee will provide input and make recommendations on such topics as residential safety; business safety; public nuisance matters; graffiti and vandalism; traffic safety; and enhancing public safety and community well-being. Also, the committee will also advise on the creation and implementation of the Community Safety and Well-being Plan.
For more details, click here
Code of conduct updated
Council approved an update to the Code of Conduct, which includes procedural efficiencies, clarity in roles, and strengthened transparency measures.
Over the past year, there have been no formal complaints submitted through City channels under the existing policy, and the remuneration bylaw associated with financial implications arising from formal investigations has not yet been enacted.
The RDOS and several member municipalities have now also adopted amendments to their remuneration bylaw to align with Penticton’s approach, recognizing the principal purpose of such penalties is to promote high standards of conduct.
The updated code strengthens procedural clarity and introduces tools for addressing concerns more efficiently. Key changes include the introduction of leave of absence guidelines for elected officials pursuing external office, enhancements to resolution processes for simplicity and refined language to ensure clear understanding of roles and responsibilities.
Approval for Cleland Theatre lighting upgrade
An application for federal funding is being sought to improve the lighting at Cleland Theatre.
Council approved the funding application which would cover 50 per cent of the overall cost.
Joanne Malar, the City’s manager of recreation, arts and culture, told Council the needed equipment needs to be ordered now in order to ensure a timely completion of the project without knowing whether the grant application is successful. As such, Council agreed to earmark $200,000 to ensure completion of the project.
”Should the grant not be successful, staff will be able to refine the full project costs to not exceed $611,500, which is $200,000 above the confirmed capital allocation of $411,500,” Malar Said. ”Should council choose to allocate $200,000 additional funds from the Growing Communities Reserve that would enable staff to proceed with the full project scope and order the specialized equipment on time for an August/ September 2025 installation to mitigate impact on theatre bookings”
The new lights at the Cleland Theatre will be better for energy efficiency, bring the theatre up to industry standards and address concerns regarding fire risks.
FireSmart grant sought
Council has green lit an application to secure funding up to $400,000 for FireSmart projects.
Wes Swaren, the acting assistant fire chief, says the grant from the Community Resiliency Investment program is intended to reduce the risk and impact of wildfire on communities within British Columbia through community funding, supports and priority fuel management activities on provincial Crown land, and funding requests for FireSmart activities.
The application for 2025 and 2026 funding is to continue the success and momentum of the City of Penticton FireSmart program. This includes continued funding of the FireSmart Coordinator position, providing education for City residents, hazard assessments for residential homes and neighbourhoods within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), and fuel management at the local homeowner level.
Proclamations declared
Penticton city council has declared January Alzheimer's Awareness Month, as the Medical Arts Health Research Centre prepares to host a "Memory Cafe" in the city.
Penticton city council has also officially recognized January as "Crime Stoppers Month," aiming to raise awareness of the organization and its goals.
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.