Our first in a series of candidates’ questions for West Kelowna
How important is it to you to get a City Hall built in West Kelowna and what, if anything, would you do to advance this project in the next four years?
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Daily Courier sent a series of five questions to city council and mayoral candidates in West Kelowna. The questions were supplied in writing and responses were limited to 100 words.
Today’s question: How important is it to you to get a City Hall built in West Kelowna and what, if anything, would you do to advance this project in the next four years?
MAYOR: MARY MANDARINO: Given my extensive background in the construction and development industry, Rule No. 1 is simple. You do not build a new structure on old infrastructure. Until the necessary infrastructure upgrades are undertaken, this is not the right time to build a City Hall. We have an 11-acre parcel of land on Stevens Road behind Byland’s Nursery.This was gifted to us from the Province 10 years ago. Signage indicates it to be the “The Future City Works Yards” Place a temporary structure on this land to house our maintenance crews. Include much needed office space for staff.
GORD MILSOM: The City’s administrative offices remain inadequate, although the lease of additional office space at Lakeview Village will provide some temporary relief. Due to the fact that the current Council has made commitments to several significant capital expenditures, I believe it is prudent to wait to consider building new administrative offices until after the current projects have been completed. In addition, our community needs to consider the priority of other much-needed capital projects, such as improvements to Glenrosa Road, including new sidewalks, which are very important safety issues especially for students walking to and from the Glenrosa Middle School.
CITY COUNCIL: PHILIP AKINS: A new City Hall is neither on my election platform nor an issue that residents having been raising with me during the campaign. It doesn't make my list of key priorities. I do agree, however, that some solution to the current situation (for city staff) is needed, and that one possible solution would be a completely new Civic Centre. In contrast to upgrading the existing site (certainly an option), a new development could directly contribute to our long-term vision for a revitalized downtown, while in the shorter term returning the existing site to its original use as a community centre.
JEROME CHUNG: City Hall is an asset to a city and it wise to own one just like any other cities. Again, as being proposed in 2014, we did have a budget to go ahead, but was turned down by a referendum. If our city planner(s) have recommended an ideal building and location, council (elected by the people) should approve it and go ahead without a referendum from the public who are not at the best interest of the city and/or expert in the project.
RICK deJONG: Although the City of West Kelowna needs a new city hall, should this be our top priority? The city recently entered in to a five-year rental agreement for muchneeded office space. There are other very significant projects that need to get done such as the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant, a new primary fire hall, a public works yard. These are very significant projects that are getting staff attention and will require substantial dollars to complete. At this point in time, I do not see the building of a new city hall as our top priority.
BRAD DOBBIN: Did not reply.
RUSTY ENSIGN: This is very important to me. In order to retain and attract staff, we need a functional workplace. We are currently leasing space for five years at a total cost of about $500,000. Money that could have gone towards a new City Hall. It should be built in the Westbank Town Centre on city-owned land. A design should be done that is within today’s needs. Currently, we are contributing $780,000 annually to a city hall reserve. This could fund payments for a new building. A plan needs to be brought forward that is palatable to the electorate.
DOUG FINDLATER: The current deployment of staff (excluding firefighters) working in five locations is inefficient and costly to taxpayers. That being said, the City can function and provide services to residents at an optimum level for now as office space has been leased for five years, however Council should continue to build capital reserves at $700,000 annually and look for partnership opportunities for a future city hall sometime in the next decade.
JASON FRIESEN: It is important that we do build a new city hall that we and our staff can be proud of. However, the design and location needs to be part of a larger vision for the city and until that is developed, I would not push to have it completed. I believe that the new city hall could be an anchor and key component to the downtown revitalization and would like to see that as part of the new vision. Options for a phased approach, P3 options, etc. need to be explored so that undue financial pressure is not put on taxpayers.
JOE GLUSKA: City Hall is important, but there are a few items ahead of this project. Residents have spoken clearly to council, that there are items ahead of this, and the new council can not put their personal agenda ahead of what the residents support. Council should review this project after the fresh water treatment plant is up and running.
STEPHEN JOHNSTON: It would be naive to say we don’t need a city hall at some point in the near future. We currently have over crowded offices, a poorly-situated city hall, old portables and leased space to house fractured staff. It costs almost $64,000 per year to provide offices to a handful of staff at the Lakeview Village Shopping Centre, simply because there wasn’t enough room for them at city hall. All that said, I believe we have more pressing issues like water, basic infrastructure and safety that need to take priority at this time.
ROSALIND NEIS: We have a city hall already. It is centrally located and can be expanded to accommodate all our staff — we do not need to spend taxpayer money buying land and building a fancy building that is used from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. I hope we can agree to save taxpayers money and, in turn, when we have extra funds we can build citizens a new hall and community centre that citizens could use and enjoy, not just city hall staff.
TIFFANY PARE: No, is the short answer. The long answer is until the water treatment facility is paid for and shovels are in the ground, we don’t need a new city hall. The basic needs of West Kelowna come first. If we were to have a city hall, I’d like to work with a developer who is already building and rent from them, or build a city hall and have some space that we can rent, to help pay for the project.
WINSTON WAMMER: It is not important to get a city hall built until a majority of the citizens of West Kelowna see a demand/requirement. The question then becomes what kind of city hall do you want and how much should we spend to build one. As I have said before, we need to decide on the functions of a city hall. What services would it provide would it provide? An IH office? Would it house a teen centre? Could it accommodate a conference facility, etc., etc.? If there was strong support, then I would commit to planning this venture and support the building of a city hall.
GORDON WIEBE: Citizens of West Kelowna rejected the proposed city hall by a narrow margin in the referendum held two years ago. I was on the “Yes” committee and in favour of the proposed city hall. However, the “voice of the people is never wrong” )vox populi vox Dei ). I will be in favour of a city hall once the water treatment plan is built and operational. That is priority No. 1.
BRYDEN WINSBY: I believe a city hall must continue to be a council priority. The present location is overcrowded, resulting in a poor working environment and forcing us to lease space. It must be returned to its original purpose, a community hall. Finding a suitable site is a considerable challenge, be it in Westbank Centre or elsewhere, and will not get easier. We must provide a facility that will be aesthetically pleasing and functional for decades to come. I'm tired of this and previous councils being accused of wanting to build a palatial edifice for their own aggrandizement. It's just not so.
CAROL ZANON: A new city hall for West Kelowna is important, but not immediate. It is in the plans for 2027. I must respect the voters’ decision not to borrow funds for its construction at this time. That is democracy. As a consequence, we have additional costs for rented space to house some of our staff for the next five years. Last winter, I saw a staff member fall as she ran from a portable to the main building. No one wants these conditions to last indefinitely. To advance the project would require a major change to the 10-year Capital Plan.
JAYSON ZILKIE: Having a City Hall is an important piece to improving our city. The City is already putting money aside for this project on an annual basis. I don’t believe in moving this project up at the expense of something that is a higher priority in the city. I would also like to see multiple proposals for this project, as well as significant input from the residents of West Kelowna. We need to engage our city residents on this issue and improve our current communication flow and survey process, and capture 10-25 per cent of residents responses to be able to make better informed decisions.
Tuesday: With homelessness becoming more of a problem, do you think the City of West Kelowna should support the building of a homeless shelter in the community? If so, what form should this support take?