West Kelowna Applicant Questionnaire | Rosalind Neis for metropolis councilor

KelownaNow reached out to all mayor, council and school administrators candidates running in the 2014 Kelowna and West Kelowna Citizenship Elections and asked them questions submitted by you, the reader.

The responses of those who have chosen to participate will be published between November 3rdapprox and November 14thNS in a randomly selected order.

Rosalind Neis – West Kelowna City Council candidate

1. What professional experience do you need as a councilor for West Kelowna District? Please provide a specific example of a decision you have made that affects the community.

I previously had the honor of being the first elected mayor of West Kelowna, and after that tenure I was a West Kelowna City Councilor. I have also been on the board of the Greater Westside Board of Trade for three years. As a councilor, I fought hard to get a police liaison officer at Mount Boucherie High School, which was met with opposition from some councilors. The grammar school supported this program with open arms and is very grateful that there is this addition at its school.

2. How will you attract businesses, residents and visitors to downtown West Kelowna?

First, I don’t think we have a traditional downtown area, and the vast majority of our citizens are known to live in West Kelowna but work in neighboring jurisdictions. I think we need to take a new approach to attracting businesses for local jobs and tax hikes. We need to provide incentives that are at least equivalent, if not better, than neighboring municipal incentives, such as: license costs; Signage statute; and avoid lengthy delays in approval and other local government bureaucracy. Having multiple local neighborhood hubs instead of a traditional hub can be the most logical and inexpensive alternative. Incentivizing key types of businesses that are missing from our community could be a method to encourage the necessary development, and by making our waterfront more diverse we could attract visitors and residents to support local initiatives driven by our gem … benefit from Lake Okanagan. Finally, the community hall needs to implement a buy-local program.

3. What do you think of West Kelowna’s current road network and what needs improvement in the short term?

Our road network is adequate with the exception of Glenrosa Road and a few others which I believe need to be fully upgraded to urban standards. What we are missing is proper maintenance in terms of road clearing, sweeping, and line painting. There needs to be a fair contract with permanent labor performance guarantees so that road and maintenance contracts are not paid out at the highest rates without ongoing support or recourse if roads or works are dismantled prematurely.

Image Credit: KelownaNow

4. As West Kelowna continues to grow, how do you plan to keep pace with the provision of adequate educational facilities?

Luckily we just opened a new school in Rose Valley. To meet the growing needs of our communities, an honest and ongoing dialogue must be conducted with School District 23 and the Department of Education. The closure of the Lakeview Heights Elementary School is an example of what NOT to do. As a local government, we can exert influence as long as we are informed and involved in decision-making. Each local PAC could be invited to the council annually to share what they see on the front lines and tell the council how we can help with decisions that affect all levels of education in West Kelowna.

5. Do you think the West Kelowna waterfront is being used properly as a tourist destination? What changes would you like to see?

We have what every community in the Okanagan has, but we lack the facilities to attract tourists and locals to enjoy the beauty of Lake Okanagan. I want to take transit to our waterfront to give the public access to this area. Parking is limited and we should look to public transport to alleviate this problem. The old Canarian site offers enormous potential and the developer has drawn up several development plans, but for some reason they stalled in the town hall. This could be the location of a wonderful mixed use development that would provide services and housing to the community along with much-needed revenue. There is potential for outdoor activities like a fitness trail along the waterway as well as the opportunity to partner with the West Kelowna Yacht Club to create a one-of-a-kind travel destination. Let’s not forget that the Fintry Queen may still be looking for a home, and I believe that would be a huge draw for tourists and residents of our waterfront.

6. Where would West Kelowna residents benefit most from a second bridge crossing?

I am not convinced that West Kelowna residents would benefit from a second crossing. I see huge tax increases in the provinces and the potential for a toll bridge.

Lane controls on the existing bridge, which meet the requirements of traffic times and volumes, and the abolition of traffic lights at Boucherie and Abbot on the Kelowna side could make more sense. These things should be looked at now because with the current traffic collapse that occurs with heavy traffic and times, we cannot wait another twenty years.

7. How do you plan to develop agrotourism in West Kelowna?

I admit this is not a specialty for me. I believe that we need to maintain high quality agricultural land and promote and expand our local markets for products. We are fortunate to have experts in this valley on these issues and I would rely on their words and suggestions from local farmers and breeders to advise the council on short and long term planning.

Rosalind Neis – West Kelowna City Councilor nominee

8. West Kelowna is growing rapidly, what are your top priorities to keep up with the increasing demands on infrastructure?

The council must convey to residents the true state of our infrastructure and the real cost of ignoring, updating, or replacing those systems. So that we can afford the inevitable costs, we need to pay off our municipal debt and increase reserves so as not to burden the next generation with this massive problem. We shouldn’t put major projects on hold that deplete reserves and focus on water, sewage, roads, sidewalks and street lighting, to name a few.

9. What will you do to strengthen the partnership between West Kelowna District and the West Bank First Nation?

The partnership or absence (depending on which government you ask) can vary widely. My observations have led me to believe that the best way to develop a relationship with West Bank First Nation is to start over with an honest, open, and respectful conversation among councils. West Bank First Nations is here to stay and should be West Kelowna’s greatest ally, not our greatest enemy. If we are honest, inclusive, and persistent, we will be respected and that will benefit both governments.

10. What would be your top priority for the next four years as a councilor for West Kelowna District?

In 2017, the service contract signed by the Regional District of the Central Okanagan and Westbank First Nations expires. This agreement will have a huge financial impact on the residents of West Kelowna. We need to rewrite this agreement in a language that reflects fairness and fair financial compensation for all parties in terms of services and the value of services provided and received. Hopefully this will add to the top priority that I would focus on and that is the financial health of our community. We have to pay off our debts and build up our reserves. Spending needs to be contained and departments within the community need to be accountable for every penny, including the community. No more scholarships or allowances. No more high paying positions that are not delivering results.

The general election is Saturday, November 15thNS, 2014.

The most up-to-date and up-to-date information can be found on our 2014 elections page.

For the latest information on candidates running in your community, visit the following websites:

Kelowna votes, West Kelowna votes, Lake Country votes, or Peachland votes.

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