Kelowna council to consider $130,000 grant to start Rutland business patrol

Kelowna city council is being asked to approve a one-time grant of $130,000 to establish a Uptown Rutland Business Association on-call team.

The hope is the team will help improve the safety, cleanliness and overall appeal of Uptown Rutland.

A report going to council on Monday, Feb. 26 said the new program will address specific challenges in Uptown Rutland and contribute to its economic and social revitalization.

Since 2008, the City has provided an annual grant of $70,000 to support the Downtown Kelowna on-call program, also known as the Red Shirt Program. 

In 2023, this funding was increased to $100,000.

A one-time grant to the Uptown Rutland Business Association of $130,000 is being recommended to support the creation and operation of the new project.

The pilot project will employ four full-time staff and a supervisor to patrol the area and respond to incidents.

These staff will work 15-hour days in the summer and 12-hour days in the winter.

The first year of the pilot is estimated to cost $305,000. The Uptown Rutland Business Association is paying $50,000 and is seeking $125,000 through alternate grants and community sponsorship.

Each year, the downtown Kelowna program conducts an average of 7,000 proactive interactions which include calls addressing loitering and rendering first aid. 

These are calls that might have otherwise required the services of the RCMP or Bylaw Officers.

Kelowna RCMP and the City’s Community Safety and Social Development Department support the initiative.

City staff are also suggesting a new policy indicating how future related grants will be assessed and awarded.

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