By Sebastian Kanally, Times Chronicle
Affordable housing, mapping the town’s vacant land, and whether the town needs a full-time social development coordinator were among the topics discussed at the town’s strategic plan update.
At the town’s June 2 committee of the whole meeting chief administrative officer Wayne Anderson updated council on the progress the town is making on items in the strategic plan, and which items are rising to the top in importance.
Identified again as a key priority for the town is how the town can support affordable housing.
“In 2025/2026 ways that we can create opportunities for affordable homes is one of the key ones identified,” Anderson underlined in his presentation.
Councillor Aimee Grice noted that “I am glad to see this has risen to the top of this category, I’m hopeful with the new government in place that there is going to be some funding that we can leverage. So working with senior levels of government is going to be key here, even though there is going to probably be some bureaucracy to swim through.”
In the social and economic development priorities section of the plan Anderson explained that the role of social development coordinator with the town may have to be taken on by existing staff instead of hiring a new person.
Back in 2023 council debated the need for a social development coordinator role. Ultimately, they decided to create a position that deals with social issues including affordable housing, crime, homelessness, childcare, but also act as an emergency management coordinator (EMC), and a grant coordinator.
The town now has a contract grant coordinator, and the EMC position has been passed on to the Regional District of the Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS).
“This leaves us with a gap in the area of social development,” Anderson explained.
Grice was not supportive of this idea.
“I would not be in favour of this position being filled by existing staff, because I think social development is going to end up sitting on the side of someone’s desk and I think it needs to be prioritized and having a dedicated coordinator position in the past created some momentum in this area that’s going to be lost if it’s given to a department that has a different focus.”
Councillor Petra Veintimilla supported Grice’s comments and suggested that within the next couple meetings they get an update on staff capacity and what the plan is going forward.
Councillor David Mattes on the other hand did not want an update on staff capacity but “what the goals are and what we have accomplished against those goals. I’m not clear on what we have accomplished. I know Councillor Grice feels we have gained some momentum. I would like to know what that momentum is because I’m not sure.”
When it comes to public communication priorities the town hosted a walk with the mayor on June 4, 2025.
There is also an upcoming library coffee with council to be held on June 23 from 1:30 – 3 p.m. to encourage open dialogue and transparency with the community.
Other priorities that have been identified for the town are revisiting the downtown priorities with the upcoming Official Community Plan (OCP) update.
The town is also working with the RDOS Geographic information systems (GIS) department to map the town’s vacant land (town owned and private) for future development. This would be made available to the public.
When it comes to walkable communities’ priorities the town is also pursuing more traffic calming measures. Town staff are currently working on the temporary speed bump installation plan, including bumps on Meadows Drive near Heritage House.
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT) will also be reviewing the town’s request for a flashing crossing at Hillcrest Ave for Lions Park access. This would go across Highway 97 as there have been issues identified with speeding coming around the corner into town.
