Kelowna News

Kelowna City Council will begin taking a second run at crafting a downtown Comprehensive Development Plan Monday.

Councillors will be provided with a 'high level' review of the history of the CD-21 Zone process to date when it meets Monday morning.

A little over two weeks ago, council voted 6-3 to rescind second and third readings of the downtown redevelopment plan.

The major stumbling block was a hotel which would sit on a portion of Kerry Park.

In rescinding second and third readings, council asked that a formal workshop be held to allow councillors an opportunity to discuss and propose possible changes.

The workshop will be held Monday, March 29.

The proposed agenda for the workshop includes:

Historical context

Process and time-lines

Mechanics of the plan

Public consultation

Community, stakeholder and previous council concerns

Plan amendments

The final product

Q and A

Real Estate and Building Services Manager Doug Gilchrest says no budget or staff time have been allocated should council determine changes to the current redevelopment plan are needed.

"Any subsequent changes to the existing CD-21 bylaws may result in the need for first reading to also be rescinded," says Gilchrest.

"All four readings of the new bylaws (and a public hearing) will need to take place. This would in turn trigger a new review of the bylaws by MoT."

The Okanagan Business Students’ Association is presenting the 31st Annual Business Banquet at the Coast Capri Hotel.

This year's event features keynote speaker Bill Rancic, winner of the first season of Donald Trump’s 'The Apprentice.'

The Business Banquet will take place on the evening of March 18 from 5 – 9 p.m. and is the most prominent public function for Okanagan College business students, giving students the opportunity to interact and network on a professional level with members of the business community.

An entrepreneurial expert, Rancic will reveal how to use challenging times to your advantage in a business environment as well as how to think long-term in a short-term world.

Rancic will draw on his experience teaching individuals how to manage and lead teams in times of uncertainty.

“Bill Rancic radiates the entrepreneurial spirit that we’re sure many in the community will find motivating,” says Erin Chmiel, President of the O.B.S.A. “We are looking forward to promoting the talents of the business students at Okanagan College and the beautiful Okanagan Valley itself.”

The Okanagan Business Students' Association consists of current students enrolled in Business Administration at Okanagan College.

As a not-for-profit organization, the O.B.S.A.’s goal is to provide a platform for students to learn in a non-competitive environment, to raise funds for student bursaries and scholarships, and to connect the business students with the community.

This year the student association has also included developmental workshops that focus on techniques for resumes, interviews, and public speaking, says Chmiel.

Attendance at this year’s Business Banquet is expected to exceed 250 people, including students, faculty, and community members.

The event begins with networking at 5 p.m. followed by dinner and presentations by Okanagan College and Rancic.

Tickets are now available through Select Your Tickets.

Link: Select Your Tickets website

A changing weather system means the Okanagan could get some snow over the next day or two, but it won't stick around.

A Pacific weather system is moving over the Okanagan Valley and it is bringing with it some flurries.

David Jones with Environment Canada says the Kelowna area will see a chance of showers Thursday, which could turn into snow by Friday morning.

“There is no accumulation expected, so the snow won't stick around,” says Jones.

He says the weather will clear by the weekend with sun and temperatures around 10 degrees expected for Saturday.

“Travelling on the highways could be problematic the next couple of days. It is snowing on the higher elevations now and we are forecasting an accumulation of a couple of centimetres on the Connector by Friday.”

Jones says the temperature in the Kelowna area is expected to reach highs of about eight and a low of about -1 for Thursday night and Friday morning.

Link: Castanet Weather Pge

Central Okanagan Traffic Services are investigating a serious injury motor vehicle collision that occurred Wednesday at approximately 1:57 p.m. on Springfield Road at Belgo Road in Kelowna, B.C.

Initial investigation revealed that a northbound Ford Festiva was struck by an eastbound Jeep that was crossing Springfield Road on Belgo Road.

As a result, the 48 year old male driver of the Ford was transported to Kelowna General Hospital with serious chest injuries.

The 44 year old female driver of the Jeep was also transported to Kelowna General Hospital with minor injuries.

Central Okanagan Traffic Services are requesting any witnesses who may have observed this collision to contact them at (250)980-5353.

The Canadian Cancer Society is extremely excited to announce that Olympic Gold medalist, Jon Montgomery will be attending the 6th annual Gala of Hope.

The Gala of Hope is set for Saturday April 10 at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort and promises to be a night of fun, in the fight against cancer.

While Jon’s recent achievement has been winning the Olympic gold medal in the men’s skeleton event, his “other” job is that of an auctioneer.

Jon will be helping the Canadian Cancer Society run the auction portion of the evening and adding a bit of fun and flare to the night.

"I am really looking forward to coming to Kelowna to be a part of the Gala of Hope and have some fun raising money for this great charity," says Montgomery in a news release.

The Gala of Hope is a major fundraising initiative of the Canadian Cancer Society. The event is expected to attract 350 guests including numerous Kelowna business and community leaders and hopes to raise $250,000 for the 2010 event.

These funds will support the Canadian Cancer Society’s mission of eradicating cancer and improving the quality of life for those living with cancer.

“Having an entertaining and inspiring Olympic Gold Medalist in attendance will bring even more excitement and fun to our Gala,” says Gala of Hope coordinator Teresa Johnston.

“Jon Montgomery is a celebrity, an amazing athlete, a talented auctioneer, and a true Canadian hero. His presence will help us to draw a large crowd, and this will translate into raising more funds for the Canadian Cancer Society and the programs and services we provide in the fight against cancer.”

While visiting Kelowna, Montgomery will also be making a public appearance at the Brick on McCurdy Road on April 10.

Tickets for the Gala of Hope are now on sale. For more information, go online or call Teresa Johnston at (250)469-2928.

Link: Gala of Hope website

Talking about putting the proverbial cart before the horse.

A 15-year-old Abbotsford girl may have a hefty bill waiting for her if and when she applies for a driver's licence.

The girl was pulled over in a silver Acura sedan recently, clocked at going 80km in a 50km zone at about 1 a.m.

According to police there were three 15-year-old girls in the vehicle at the time it was pulled over.

Not only was the girl too young to drive, Constable Steve Holmes says officers also detected the smell of alcohol on her breath.

"The officer performed a roadside alcohol screening device test which resulted in 'warn' for the driver," says Holmes.

The driver was given a ticket for driving without a license, and although she was too young to obtain a licence, Holmes says she was also handed a 24-hour driving prohibition.

Holmes says the 24-hour suspension is standard because it goes on a drivers record. He says a second such incident can result in harsher penalties.

"This information will be documented by ICBC for when the unlicensed driver attempts to apply for a licence in the future."

He says ICBC can impose any one of a number of penalties on the girl when she applies to get a licence, including fines or a suspension.

Holmes says the Acura, which belongs to a member of the girl's family, was towed away.

The girl was handed over to an adult guardian.

Cameron Simpson has been sentenced to four years in jail after being found guilty of manslaughter.

With time served, Simpson will spend 44 months in prison.

The 33-year-old man was found guilty in December of last year for the 2007 death of Robert Blake Isaac.

The sentence was handed out by Mister Justice Peter Rogers Tuesday afternoon.

Lawyers for both sides provided submissions to the court Tuesday morning.

Crown Prosecutor Duncan Campbell asked for a sentence of seven to 10 years while defense attorney Grant Gray sought a term of between 18 months and four years.

Simpson and Issac, 34, were roommates living in a rental home on Stevens Road in West Kelowna at the time of Issac's death, on November 3, 2007.

The two got into an argument, apparently over a party, and as a result, Issac was stabbed.

During the trial, the Crown said Simpson invited a couple of friends over, but Isaac took exception seeing that he was using the living room as his bedroom.

Simpson was originally charged with second degree murder, but the jury settled on a charge of manslaughter.

Police arrested have Trevor Nilsson, who was wanted on a Canada wide warrant.

Nilsson, 28, was arrested at a Kelowna restaurant Monday.

He was wanted for failing to report to his parole officer in Kamloops.

He has a history of Criminal Code and violence related offenses.

Thanks to some astute and observant Loss Prevention Officers from a nearby mall, Nilsson was tracked down to a restaurant in the 1900 block of Cooper Road where he was arrested without incident.

Nilsson will be returned to the Kamloops Regional Correctional Facility Tuesday.

A 52-year-old Kelowna man learned the hard way it's not a good idea to drive to a liquor store when drunk.

Constable Steve Holmes says a traffic member parked on Roxby Road in Rutland, observed a Blue GMC pick-up pull into the parking lot of the liquor store.

After the man left the store, Holmes says the officer attempted to pull the vehicle over to check the driver for a valid driver's license.

"After activating his emergency lights and sirens on his marked cruiser, the officer realized the man was not pulling over," says Holmes.

"The officer followed the vehicle at a speed of 30 km/hr for two blocks before pulling up beside the truck to get the driver's attention. The officer found the driver's side window rolled down and, despite the flashing lights and wailing sirens, the driver continued to ignore the officer."

Holmes says the officer had to pull in front of the truck and slow his cruiser down in order to get the truck to stop.

"While dealing with the driver who was driving with a suspended license, the officer noted obvious signs of alcohol intoxication. The driver was detained for an impaired investigation and taken to the Kelowna Detachment to provide samples of his breath."

He says the man blew nearly three times the legal limit of .08.

The man faces numerous alcohol related charges.

Holmes says the Liquor Control Branch was also advised that the driver had purchased alcohol from a liquor store while intoxicated.

Just two weeks after nixing one downtown development, another was given the go ahead by Kelowna City Council.

Monday, council agreed to new standards for the Central Green project, a proposed 13 acre development on the former Kelowna Secondary School site at Richter and Harvey avenues.

Two weeks ago, a large redevelopment plan slated for the downtown core was pushed back to first reading by council.

In taking the next step in the development of Central Green, council relented to staff's recommendation that 15% of the estimated 700 apartment units be set aside as affordable and to achieve a LEED Certified standard.

It was the same presentation submitted by staff five months ago.

Council had wanted 20% of units set aside as affordable while achieving a LEED Gold Standard.

"The Central Green project will not be viable unless changes are made to this mandate. I know that's a pretty strong statement but that's one that, we have said before, and this is one that we do believe," says Strategic Land Development Manager, Derek Edstrom.

"As we said before, mandating LEED Gold and 20% affordable housing I believe will bring this land value to zero. Beyond this, there will be no monies available to fund park development or site preparation."

He says those would have to be funded on the backs of taxpayers as opposed to the development community.

The development area has been designed to include five acres of park with the development, broken out into seven separate complexes, on the remaining eight acres.

One of the seven development parcels would include 70 affordable housing units provided by BC Housing with the other 35 spread among the other six complexes.

"This is where the numbers start to fall apart for me because BC Housing, that's their job, that's what they do, build affordable housing," says Councillor Michele Rule.

"I think that should be a separate property and a separate project. That leaves us at 15% with only 35 units for the rest of the development and that seems really low. The developers are not baring the brunt of 105 units, they are only baring the brunt of 35."

Rule says she was willing to compromise on the LEED standards but was uncomfortable compromising on affordable housing.

"LEED, we will see it come up on its own because it's marketable. If we back down on the affordable housing side, nobody is going to pick up the slack."

Councillor Luke Stack countered that 20% of nothing is still nothing and, with the site empty, the city has nothing.

"At the end of the day I feel you are better to move ahead with what you can afford to do and make small steps forward, rather than wait for the mother lode," says Stack.

"I think a compromise from 20% to 15% is a reasonable compromise because I would sure like to see 105 affordable housing units on Central Green versus putting this on the shelf and leaving it with the potential of not seeing any."

Stack adds that with the market slow and many developments on hold and units un-sold, this is the perfect time to go through this exercise.

"We don't know when the market is going to pick up again but we certainly don't want to wait until the market gets hot and then try to catch the wave. The best time to do this long term planning is now when things are quiet."

The city has owned the former KSS site for eight year. An original Request for Proposal (RFP) was rejected a few years ago by the council of the day.

Mayor Sharon Shepherd says given the time that has lapsed, it's time to move ahead.

"I think we have to move ahead. It's going to take some time and I agree we should be moving ahead," says Shepherd.

"I am in support of the park being developed in some way. It might be a phased approach. The public have already seen the plan, they voted on it two or three years ago. I think that neighbourhood was anticipating that they would see something happen."

The proposal passed 8-1 with Councillor Charlie Hodge casting the lone dissenting vote.

Unlike Councillor Rule, Hodge was not willing to bend on the sustainability factor.

"I feel once again we have had a world class project and now we are lowering the bar. I think we could have looked at doing the Gold projects and I'm disappointed we are not," says Hodge.

"I don't have a problem necessarily with going from 20% to 15% affordable housing simply because we do have other affordable housing projects going on in the community. I thought we were making a mistake in lowering the bar on our expectations and we could have found a financial way to make it work."

Edstrom says staff is completing the new zoning requirements for the development parcel and hope to have it before council very soon.