Kelowna city council will have to decide whether or not to borrow $241 million for new recreation centres after less than 10 per cent of residents voted against the proposal.
In a vote on Friday (Oct. 13), only 4,153 residents (3.4 per cent) submitted valid forms through the Alternative Approval Process (AAP) to oppose the $241 million loan authorization bylaw, meaning not enough Kelowna residents voted against the city’s plan to borrow funds for new recreation centres and the reconstruction of sports fields.
Under the AAP, approval is obtained if the number of elector responses received is less than 10 per cent of the number of electors within the City of Kelowna (12,160 responses).
The $241 million dollar loan is to go towards the redevelopment of the Parkinson Recreation Centre and Rutland sports fields as well as the construction of Glenmore and Mission Activity Centres.
Because there wasn’t enough votes by Friday’s deadline, city council will now receive the AAP results and decide on proceeding with borrowing from the Municipal Finance Authority through the adoption of the Loan Authorization Bylaw. They will receive the results at Monday’s regular meeting.
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