Bit of a hiring spree to wind up 2020

More employees were hired by the City of West Kelowna during the last three months of 2020 than in the same period a year earlier.

Fourteen new staffers were hired between October and December, compared to five who were brought on board in the last quarter of 2019, according to information to be presented to city council on Tuesday.

The regular operations update also indicates that $120.3 million worth of new construction was approved last year, down from $140.3 million in 2019. However, the report says 2020 was an “anomaly with a large proportion of construction values coming from large multi-family units.”

A total of 504 new business licences were issued by the City of West Kelowna last year, compared to 362 in 2019. There was an increase in "home-based business applications in 2020.” the report says.

Total “bylaw activities” last year were put at 5,418, up from 5,381 in 2019. From October through December, bylaw “activities” included 175 public health orders, the report said. These are described as “complaints and pro-active inspections of businesses, parks, and trails’.”