AAP: Okanagan Regional Library Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 1558, 2024

Effective April 1, 2025, the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) is conducting an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) for proposed borrowing to cover construction costs associated with the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) branch in West Kelowna.

The Regional Board approved the use of an AAP for borrowing on behalf of the library during its meeting on March 20, 2025. The purpose of the AAP is to gauge elector support before authorizing bylaws that would permit the RDCO to borrow $2,500,000 on behalf of the ORL. Previously, an AAP was conducted for the ORL, resulting in $8,000,000 being borrowed to finance the build. An additional $2,500,000 is now required to cover the remaining construction costs.

There will be no financial impact on the RDCO, as the Okanagan Regional Library has agreed to pay all debt and costs associated with the borrowing process, given its inability to directly access Municipal Finance Authority financing.

It is estimated that there are 208,385 qualified electors within the proposed Service Area boundaries of the RDCO, which include the Central Okanagan East and West Electoral Areas, the City of Kelowna, the City of West Kelowna, the District of Lake Country, and the District of Peachland. Residents of Westbank First Nation reserves #9 and #10 are not eligible to participate in this process.

Before approving the proposed Service Area Establishment Bylaw No. 1477 and Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 1478, elector approval is required. Residents who support the proposed borrowing do not need to take any action.

View the Notice of AAP

The Proposal & Benefits:

• The Okanagan Regional Library Board would like to borrow up to $2,500,000 for the West Kelowna library, and have agreed to pay all debt and costs associated with this process.
• The West Kelowna branch of the Okanagan Regional Library was previously in leased space that was undersized to service the growing community and required increasing maintenance costs to maintain.
• The Okanagan Regional Library Board partnered with the City of West Kelowna to build a new library, connected to the West Kelowna City Hall in 2021.
• Previously, $8,000,000 was borrowed to finance the build. An additional $2,500,000 is required to finance the build costs.
• There will be no financial impact to the Regional District of Central Okanagan.

Informing the Community:

• In addition to this webpage, advertising the Alternative Approval Process will occur on our website under www.rdco.com/publicnotices and through our e-subscription service. Visit rdco.com/subscribe to subscribe for email notifications.

Registering your support:

• If you support the adoption of the bylaw, you do not need to do anything.

Registering your objection:

• If you object to the adoption of the bylaw, you must sign an Elector Response Form and submit, with an original signature, to the Regional District of Central Okanagan, 1450 KLO Road, Kelowna, BC before the deadline of May 1, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
• The form is available at the following locations:
  1. Regional District of Central Okanagan office at 1450 KLO Road, Kelowna.
  2. City of West Kelowna office at 3731 Old Okanagan Highway, West Kelowna.
  3. West Kelowna Library Branch at 3731 Old Okanagan Highway, West Kelowna.
  4. Under the documents section of this page
     
     
• If 10%, or 20,835 of the qualified electors object to the adoption of the bylaw, the Regional Board cannot adopt the bylaw without going to a referendum.

For more information on the alternative approval process please contact:

Sandi Horning, Deputy Corporate Officer l 250-469-6204 corporate.officer@rdco.com