Council meeting times stay
Photo: City of West Kelowna/webcam
count Stephen Johnston
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
That was the feeling of a majority of West Kelowna councilors who voted 5-2 to keep meeting times at 1:30 and 6 pm
The surprise decision by council comes after six of the seven councillors voted yes to first three readings of a bylaw amendment that would change the start time of afternoon meetings from 1:30 to 3:30 on a one-year trial basis.
Council changed its mind during debate on adoption of the bylaw Tuesday.
“It’s disappointing to see the flip-flop but, it is what it is,” said Coun. Stephen Johnston who along with Coun. Garrett Millsap voted to change the start time.
“It’s disappointing to see a council unwilling to try something and see if it does improve the access and opportunity for residents.”
count Rick de Jong who sought a compromise to start times of the afternoon meetings in an effort to try and attract more members of the public to attend said, while he was open to the idea at first said upon reflection he doesn’t believe changing to 3 :30 will put more people in the gallery.
“The public are going to be here because there is something on the agenda they have a stake in,” said de Jong.
count Carol Zanon added the meeting times, which have been in place for 15 years, giving different segments of the population the opportunity to attend.
She says it easier for staff and out-of-town consultants as well.
