The City of Kelowna

The City of Kelowna has a thriving population of 105,000 people and is located in the heart of the Okanagan Valley British Columbia. Kelowna encompasses 101 square miles of the Okanagan Valley and offers steep hillsides, Okanagan Lake, and an excellent Agricultural land base. The Committees within the City of Kelowna are very important organizations for the citizens to become involved in and Kelowna citizens are encouraged to be a part of the building and maintaining of the economic and historical growth of this magnificent area.

Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities
 
The Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities consists of five members selected from the population whom are well versed in the needs, wants, and challenges facing disabled individuals also two members of the City Council of Kelowna as liaison members. Members of this committee are appointed by council to run for a three year term and to run concurrent with the Council term. This committee meets once a month and are responsible to discuss recommendations, provisions, and implementation of needs determined during monthly meetings that are held to provide status reports to council.

Advisory Committee on Community and Women's Issues
 
The Advisory Committee on Community and Women's Issues consists of twelve representatives from the community and two members of Council. The responsibility of this council is to identify issues of concern that may include safety, transit, housing, and childcare, access to community facilities from those issues the committee will identify and focus on areas for research and improvement pertaining to women's quality of life in the City of Kelowna.

Advisory Planning Committee
 
The Advisory Planning Committee consists of nine members and two alternate members appointed by Council. Within this Committee six regular members of the Commission shall be residents of the City of Kelowna, and be appointed by Council for a three year tern to run concurrent with the Council of Kelowna term. The function of the Advisory Planning Committee is to advise Council upon request relative issues pertaining to land use, project design, landscaping or community planning also to investigate, and survey the environmental, social and economic conditions relating to any of the afore mentioned matters.

Affordable and Special Needs Housing Task Force
 
The Affordable and Special Needs Housing Task Force consists of two Council members appointed by council for a one year term from the date of recognition of the terms of reference. The responsibility of this Council is to recognize affordable and special needs housing within Kelowna. The function is to uphold existing strategies, policies and bylaws designed to support affordable and special needs. The initiatives are to achieve an appropriate mix of ownership and rental, target income levels, tenant groups and housing challenges. The Kelowna affordable and special needs housing task force will work with Social Planning and Housing Committee in respect of all issues that arise.

Agricultural Advisory Committee
 
The Agricultural Advisory Committee meets on a monthly basis and consists of eight volunteer members who are appointed by Council for a three year term. The Committee is responsible to review Kelowna application pertaining to Agricultural Land and applications to amend the Official community Plan Bylaws or Zoning Bylaws in the Agricultural Land Reserve, or within 100 metres of its boundary. The Kelowna Agricultural Advisory Committee advises Council on agricultural issues within the community.

Airport Advisory Committee
 
The Airport Advisory Committee consists of eleven chosen members that are responsible for the reviews, reports and advises on matters pertaining to the operation of the Kelowna International Airport. The Committee has invested interest in this area and represents local government, business and community interests also these meetings are held quarterly.

Audit Committee
 
The Kelowna Audit Committee consists of three members of Council whose responsibility is to make recommendations to Council pertaining to the audit function of the City of Kelowna also any matters which may impact the efficiency of Kelowna operations and the dispositions of surplus funds. The accomplishments are to review annual financial statements of the City of Kelowna. This committee will also select auditors and recommend the appointment of the auditors to the City Council of Kelowna.

Board of Variance
 
The City of Kelowna Board of Variance consists of five members and their function is to set out the responsibility of the procedures for the submission of an appeal to the Board and for the conduct of its meetings. The provisions of the municipal act in the City of Kelowna states there must be a Board of Variance Committee.

Community Heritage Commission
 
The City of Kelowna Community Heritage Commission consists of seven members including one from each of the Kelowna Museum Association, Okanagan Historical Society, and the Central Okanagan Heritage Society. Four of the members are appointed from the City of Kelowna. Two members of Council may be appointed as liaison members. All members are appointed by Council for three year terms. The Commission advises City Council on heritage related matters including development proposals affecting heritage properties, municipal designation of building, structure and sites, adaptive re use of heritage buildings and on going community heritage management initiatives.

Crime and Safety Strategic Planning Task Force
 
The City of Kelowna Crime and Safety Strategic Planning Task Force is appointed by City of Kelowna council for a one year term. The Force consists of one Councilor Chair person, two councilors and the superintendent to provide support advice. The Chairperson will report to Council on behalf of the Committee. The responsibilities of the Task Force is to recommend to citizens how to become more familiar with programs, how City can become more resistant to crime, implement new programs and initiatives, and improvement to Court system.

Downtown Centre Strategy Task Force
 
The City of Kelowna Downtown Centre Strategy Task Force consists of six members of the community and two members of council. The responsibility of this Task Force is to recommend actions to increase safety, accessibility and pedestrian friendliness to enhance downtown environment. The Kelowna Downtown Task Force provides input to Council on initiatives pertaining to types, prioritizes, and timing. This project is also closely monitored and researched on funding and budgeting. Kelowna downtown Force will recommend how transit can become more user friendly between downtown and the Cultural District. The City of Kelowna Downtown Centre Strategy Task Force has to work closely with the long term plan of the City of Kelowna to facilitate and accommodate the citizens safely and to the best interest of the public.

Kelowna Parking Committee
 
The Parking Advisory Committee consists of a Council representative (who serves as Chair), a representative from the Downtown Kelowna Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the Access Awareness Team, and two additional members-at-large selected by the Chair. The Committee receives support from City staff. This committee acts as an advisory on parking matters especially around the four established town centers of Kelowna. This Parking committee also oversees the planning, design, construction and parking facilities initiated by the City of Kelowna.

Mission Recreation Park Aquatic Facility Committee
 
The Recreation Park Aquatic Committee of Kelowna consists of three members of council who review and provide input on contract agreements, design schedules and opportunities, future operating budgets, facility cost and price proposals all of these issues are brought to Council as recommendations and are represented by a chair person from Mission Recreation Park Aquatic Committee of Kelowna.

Permissive Tax Exemption Task Force
 
The Permissive Tax Exemption Task Force of Kelowna consists of one Council member, two Business representatives, two Residents Association Representatives, and two non profit organization representatives. The organizations that are eligible for tax exemptions are as follows: volunteer groups, agencies of social, spiritual, cultural, educational and physical well being of the community of Kelowna to supply tax exemptions on properties used by these organizations. Members appointed by council and will serve for three month term.

Public Art Committee
 
The Public Art Committee of Kelowna consists of eleven members whose criteria are to reside work or own property in The City of Kelowna. The Art Committee members are appointed for a maximum of two consecutive three year terms. The responsibilities of the Art Committee of Kelowna are to encourage permanent or temporary art works that have a community benefit to showcase history and present that is to show case what a great City Kelowna is.

Recreation, Parks and Culture Task Force
 
The Recreation, Parks and Culture Task Force of the City of Kelowna consists of two members of City Council, six citizens of Kelowna appointed by City Council. The responsibility of this Task Force is to recommend to City Council current City recreation, parks and culture master plan and monitor all parks: linear parks, public open source space, and the Regional Parks System, and City owned Heritage buildings. The task force works on a ten year capital plan pertaining to cost and other financial tools to assist in funding of afore mentioned parks etc. Members are obligated to a one year term.

Rutland Town Centre Strategy Task Force
 
The Rutland Town Centre Strategy Task Force is under the umbrella of the City of Kelowna and consists of nine representatives from the community at large, considering residence, age, gender, occupation and two members of Kelowna City Council. The Rutland Task Force responsibility is to recommend safety, accessibility and enhance the urban environment in the core of Rutland. The Task Force will report to council on types of issues to be pursued and advice of time sensitive initiatives. Funding and prioritizing redevelopment, parking population influx issues between vehicular and pedestrian are to be addressed by this task force.

Social Planning and Housing Committee
 
The City of Kelowna Social Planning and Housing Committee consists of the amalgamation of former and new this committee will consist of twelve members, two council members as non voting members. The responsibility of this Social Planning and Housing Committee is to advise city of Kelowna Council social relevance to improve quality of life and to ensure citizens of Kelowna have access to adequate and suitable housing. This team has to work and resolve issues around bylaws and policies to accommodate the citizens of Kelowna.

Youth Advisory Committee
 
The City of Kelowna has a Youth Advisory Committee which consists of two council members for a three year term. The Youth Advisory Committee is responsible for providing the City of Kelowna with information on social issues, arts, culture, sports, recreation, and transportation as well as improvement of their environment incorporating the youth into relationships with institutions, businesses, and agencies, which support youth activities and interests.

By: Elaine Harrison