Regular Council Meeting

Minutes

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City of Penticton, Council Chambers
171 Main Street, Penticton, B.C.
Council Present:
  • Mayor Bloomfield
  • Councillor Watt
  • Councillor Graham
  • Councillor Gilbert
  • Councillor Reynen
  • Councillor Stewart
Council Absent:
  • Councillor Miller
Staff Present:
  • Anthony Haddad, City Manager
  • Angie Collison, Corporate Officer
  • Angela Campbell, General Manager of Corporate Services
  • Kristen Dixon, General Manager of Infrastructure
  • Blake Laven, General Manager of Development Services
  • Kelsey Johnson, General Manager of Community Services
  • Julie Czeck, General Manager of Public Safety and Partnerships
  • Hayley Anderson, Legislative Assistant
  • Cheryl Hardisty, Manager of Intergovernmental Relations

The Mayor called the Regular Council Meeting to order at 1:02 p.m.

  • 49/2026

    THAT Council Adopt the Agenda for the Regular Council Meeting held on March 3, 2026 as presented.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
  • 50/2026

    THAT Council Recess to a Committee of the Whole meeting at 1:03 p.m. 

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Mayor called the Committee of the Whole meeting to order at 1:03 p.m.

  • THAT Council adopt the agenda for the Committee of the Whole Meeting held on March 3, 2026.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Brett Turner, Downtown Penticton Business Improvement Association (DPBIA), provided Council with a presentation outlining their Neighbourhood Branding Project and Front Street Improvements. These projects include updating light poles with flag hardware and improving safety of pedestrians and reducing traffic speed.

  • THAT Council adjourn the March 3, 2026 Committee of the Whole Meeting.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Council Reconvened the Regular Council Meeting at 1:10 p.m.

  • 51/2026

    THAT Council adopt the Regular Council Meeting Minutes of February 17, 2026 as presented.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
  • 52/2026

    THAT Council approve the Consent Agenda:

    1. February 18, 2026 Public Safety Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes; and

    2. Release of Items from Closed Meeting:

    • Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
      • THAT Council accept the resignation of Carla Kildaw from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee; AND as there are only two regularly scheduled meetings remaining in the Committee term, waive the requirement to advertise the vacancy.
    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
  • THAT Council direct staff to prepare a letter on behalf of the City of Penticton to all relevant provincial partners including the Premier, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Interior Health, BC Housing and local MLA requesting the development of a detox and recovery centre in Penticton to address current gaps in the continuum of care.

  • Amendment:
    53/2026

    THAT the motion be amended by updating ministry titles and include "and services" after recovery centre.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
  • 54/2026

    THAT Council direct staff to prepare a letter on behalf of the City of Penticton to all relevant provincial partners including the Premier, Minister of Housing Municipal Affairs, Minister of Health , Interior Health, BC Housing and local MLA requesting the development of a detox and recovery centre and services in Penticton to address current gaps in the continuum of care.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
  • 55/2026

    THAT Council direct staff to seek Provincial support and investment to strengthen the detox, treatment and recovery continuum in Penticton, with a focus on;

    1. Establishing lower‑barrier transitional housing;

    2. Establishing local inpatient withdrawal management; and

    3. Expanding treatment and recovery housing.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
  • 56/2026

    THAT Council receive into the record the report dated March 3, 2026 titled “2024-2026 Council Priorities – Quarter 4 2025 Update”.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
  • 58/2026

    THAT Council endorse the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre (PTCC) Attached Hotel Engagement Strategy as outlined in the report dated March 3, 2026.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
  • 59/2026

    THAT Council support an application for $100,000 to the Local Government Development Approvals Program (LGDAP) for the 2026 intake, for a third party external assessment of the development services division, focusing on actionable steps to improve development approvals processes, customer service and digital integrations;

    AND THAT Council direct staff to provide overall grant management, if successful with the grant application, to meet the LGDAP program requirements;

    AND THAT the 2026-2030 Financial Plan be amended accordingly to incorporate the grant if approved.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Re: 2510 and 2490 Government Street

The owner of 2510 and 2490 Government Street was provided an opportunity to make representation to Council and spoke in support of their application.

  • 60/2026

    THAT Council, following the Community Engagement for OCP Amendments Procedure, direct staff to commence public engagement for a proposed Official Community Plan amendment to change the future land use designation from ‘Industrial’ to ‘Mixed Use’ at 2510 and 2490 Government Street. 

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Re: 425 Heales Avenue

  • 61/2026

    THAT Council approve “Development Variance Permit PL2025-10124” for Lot 1 District Lot 4 Group 7 Similkameen Division Yale (Formerly Yale-Lytton) District Plan EPP149039, located at 425 Heales Avenue, a permit to vary the following sections of Zoning Bylaw 2024-22:

    1. Section 8.2.3.3.b to increase the maximum building footprint for a carriage house in the R4-S (Small-Scale Multi-Unit Residential: Small Lot) zone from 15% of the lot to 16.3% of the lot area;
    2. Section 8.2.3.10.b to allow a deck on a carriage house in the R4-S (Small-Scale Multi-Unit Residential: Small Lot) zone;
    3. Section 5.4.1.b to allow a screen 2.13 m in height on the carriage house deck for privacy;

    AND THAT Council direct staff to issue the permit.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

If you would like to ask Council a question with respect to items that are on the current agenda, please visit our website at
www.penticton.ca to find the telephone number or Zoom link to ask your question before the conclusion of the meeting. Use the raise hand feature and you will be given the opportunity to turn on your camera and unmute your microphone and ask Council your questions. Please note that the meeting is streaming live and recorded, access to recordings can be found on the City’s website. 

The Regular meeting recessed to a Closed Meeting at 4:41 p.m.

  • 62/2026

    THAT Council recess to a Closed Council Meeting pursuant to the provisions of the Community Charter as follows: Section 90 (1)

    (e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality;

    (j) information that is prohibited, or information that if it were presented in a document would be prohibited, from disclosure under section 21 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act;

    (k) negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the council, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality if they were held in public; and Section 90 (2)

    (b) (i) the consideration of information received and held in confidence relating to negotiations between the municipality and a provincial government or the federal government, or both, or between a provincial government  or the federal government, or both, and a third party.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Regular Council Meeting reconvened at 6:23 p.m.

Re: Pro-Active Planning Additional Updates

  • 63/2026

    THAT Council give second and third reading to "Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 2026-07";

    AND THAT Council give second and third reading to "Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2026-08".

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
  • 64/2026

    THAT Council give second and third reading to "Tenant Protection Bylaw No. 2026-12";

    AND THAT Council give second and third reading to "Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 2026-13";

    AND THAT Council give second and third reading to "Development Procedures and Delegation Amendment Bylaw No. 2026-14".

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Business Arising from Committee of the Whole

  • 65/2026

    THAT Council support “The Blocks” branding project, proposed by the DPBIA, by procuring and installing the additional required banner arms at an estimated capital cost of $20,000, and approve approximately $4,000 of in-kind services to install the banners and decals being provided by the DPBIA;

    AND THAT staff report back through a quarterly financial update with appropriate funding sources for “The Blocks” branding project;

    AND THAT Council direct staff to report back on funding options for the design and installation of curb extensions and a raised crosswalk at Front Street/Lakeshore Drive, a raised crosswalk mid-block on Front Street, and removal of the decorative fencing along the Front Street planter beds, all as requested by the DPBIA, at an estimated cost of $325,000.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Regular Council Meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

  • 66/2026

    THAT Council adjourn the March 3, 2026 Regular Council Meeting.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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