Kelowna/westside Possible Amalgamation

Feb 28 2007

Kelowna Residents to be Consulted on Possible Amalgamation 
 
The City of Kelowna has developed a Communications Plan aimed at informing and consulting with residents about the potential impact of a boundary extension to include Westside communities. The consultation component has been designed to ensure Kelowna residents have several opportunities to express their views.

City Council approved the Communications Plan at its regular meeting Monday February 19, 2007. The Plan includes newspaper advertisements in local newspapers, radio and internet advertising, a statistically-accurate telephone survey, an online survey (available through the City's website at www.kelowna.ca and Castanet) and mall displays.

Information will be available on the City's website, and a Question and Answer section here will accept questions from the public submitted to ask@kelowna.ca.

Consultation will begin the week of March 19 with the launch of the on-line survey. A display at Orchard Park Mall, attended by City staff and Council members, will be set up between Thursday March 29 and Sunday April 1 to provide information and seek public input. Survey forms will be available on site. It is expected the telephone survey will be conducted during the first week of April.

In January Kelowna City Council gave support in principle to an extension of the City's boundaries to include the Westside, believing one government to be in the best long term interest of the region. Should Westside residents choose to join the City, Council agreed it will welcome the extension subject to:

Confirmation that the boundary extension will not adversely impact Kelowna taxpayers;
The results of a consultation process with Kelowna citizens.

The impact analysis will be presented to Council on Monday March 12 at the regular afternoon meeting. Results of the consultation process will be presented to Council at a special meeting on Tuesday April 10 at 7 p.m.

Residents of the Westside are expected to vote in a referendum this spring on whether they wish to join Kelowna, remain unincorporated or become a stand-alone municipality.


http://www.kelowna.ca/iNews/scripts/nws002.cfm?News_ID=786&Category=CURRENT

These items are intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or relied upon as legal advice. The legal issues addressed in these items are subject to changes in the applicable law. You should always seek legal advice concerning any specific issues affecting you or your business.