REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Presentation to Barb Dionne and Don Wilson
Mayor Patrick Van Minsel and Council provided a Special Commendation to Barb Dionne and Don Wilson on their award of the King Charles III Coronation Medal. The King Charles III Coronation Medal recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional qualities and made significant contributions to their communities in remarkable ways. “Barb has been a driving force in our community for decades. As the current president of the Peachland Historical Society and a key member of the team managing the Peachland Museum and Visitor Centre, she works tirelessly to preserve our local history. However, her contributions extend far beyond that—she has been a dedicated volunteer, entrepreneur, and former Peachland Councillor, continually seeking ways to make our town even better,” said Mayor Van Minsel. “Don’s commitment to Peachland is just as extraordinary. With 30 years as the Museum’s most dedicated volunteer, he has played a crucial role in keeping our history alive. However, his service doesn’t stop there—he has also served as a volunteer fire chief and an ambulance attendant. He has spent over 25 years on the Peachland Council, consistently prioritizing the safety and well-being of our community.”
New Street: Brigade Court
Council approved the name “Brigade Court” for a new public road constructed at 4880 Princeton Avenue. The new street name for the subdivision in the Upper Princeton neighbourhood is in accordance with the District’s Street Naming Policy. Working with the Peachland Historical Society, the name was chosen as the word “brigade” appears often in Peachland’s history with the Fur Brigade Trail and the Peachland Fire Brigade established in 1909.
New Recreation Software
Council approved $15,000, to be taken from Peachland’s Capital Asset Renewal Reserve to allow modernization of recreation management software. Staff recommend switching to Xplor Recreation which presents an opportunity to significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness services offered to the community, including a more reliable, secure, user-friendly, and feature-rich system, while updating one of our District’s most important software systems.
Protective Services Project Request for Expression of Interest
Council was provided an update on the Protective Services Project and advised that, due to increasing cost estimates, there may be opportunities to leverage private capital in a Private-Public Partnership (PPP). The goal of such a partnership would be to maximize the location of the new firehall building, at 13th Street and Highway 97, with construction of a mixed-use facility that includes a fire hall. PPPs have been successful in other municipalities in implementing important community assets that would otherwise be unaffordable. The District intends to enter into a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) process where proponents will have approximately a month to submit proposals. Proponents will then be assessed using set criteria and qualifying companies will be asked to advance to a competitive design and financing process. The 2022 referendum for the Protective Services Project approved borrowing of up to $17.5 million. Cost estimates have increased by 30% and the District would not be able to absorb the additional expenditure without substantial use of its capital reserves and a multi-year tax increase.
Notice of Motion – Council Meeting Times
Mayor Van Minsel submitted a Notice of Motion to change the start time of Council meetings. The topic of this motion will be discussed at the meeting on April 22. Council’s regular meetings are currently scheduled to start at 6 pm. The motion recommends regular meetings start at 3 pm instead which is expected to result in operational efficiencies and cost savings. The move would require an amendment to the Council Procedure Bylaw.
Next Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2025, beginning at 6 pm. Council meetings are open to the public and webcast live. Find the full schedule by visiting www.peachland.ca/government/meetings. Find webcasts of past meetings at www.peachland.ca/government/meetings/archived-webcasts. Keep informed; subscribe to get news and event information emailed directly to you at www.peachland.ca/services/subscribe.