Okanagan Municipalities to Tackle Tough Issues Together

City Of Vernon Press Release:

Four Okanagan municipalities are embarking on an historic agreement to join forces when tackling issues like affordable housing, global warming and sustainable development. Beginning Monday, July 21, Municipal Councils of Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton and the Westside will consider bylaws that will allow the development of intermunicipal service agreements for these matters and two others, transit and harmonization of regulations. Once bylaws are in place in each of the participating municipalities, agreements can be struck between any partner. “This is a ground-breaking undertaking,’ says Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd. “We all understand that some issues, like the ones we’ve identified, have no borders and that the fair sharing of skills, energy and knowledge will lead to stronger services for all the participants.” “With these bylaws and agreements, we’ve built the framework we need to move forward on these regional concerns with the most common sense, working together and not separately, towards these common goals,” says Westside Mayor Rosalind Neis. “Duplication of effort makes no sense; we are often looking for solutions to the same problems,” says Penticton Mayor Jake Kimberley. “This undertaking is intended to help all the partners make the most efficient effort.” “We’ve agreed to ensure that partners can withdraw, that other municipalities can join and that more subjects of concern can be added. The goal is to make these agreements as mutually beneficial as possible,” says Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert. These agreements, named Intermunicipal Services Schemes, are authorized under the Community Charter, and the Okanagan Councils are endeavouring to use them to work on regional concerns, tearing down jurisdictional constraints. For several months, the chief administrative officers of each municipality have been meeting to develop the legal documents and background information that will form the foundation of service agreements. These top administrators will also play a key role in the administration of service agreements. The proposed bylaws will establish an Intermunicipal Advisory Board comprised of the four Okanagan mayors and chief administrative officers. This board will provide direction to Kelowna, Westside, Penticton and Vernon councils and advise on the issues of the partnership for decision making at the council level. The bylaws provide for administrative services that may be required to carry out the agreements. The four local governments have agreed to provide services using existing staff as needed and determined within agreements. With each municipality dedicated to providing the most efficient delivery of services and meeting the needs of as many residents as possible, this move to work together on common issues is expected to save time, effort and expense.