Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Penticton City Council

City of Penticton rate review says utility rates must go up

PENTICTON - A key finding of a recently completed review of Penticton’s utility rates is annual rate increases are needed in future years in order for the city to maintain infrastructure and financial sustainability. If the recommendations from the review are adopted, residents will be paying an additional $34 dollars per month on average for...

Penticton council to look at utility rate review tonight

PENTICTON - Penticton city council will be discussing the results of a rate review of the city’s utilities tonight. The rate review was undertaken earlier this year and looks at how the rates for electric, water and sewer services compare with other municipalities and service providers such as BC Hydro and Fortis. The city also...

City hopes economic investment zone keeps casino in Penticton

PENTICTON - City hall staff hope to build on the success of Penticton’s Economic Incentive Zones with the introduction of a new city-wide tax break for developers which is aimed at keeping Gateway Casino in town. After hearing the Penticton Lakeside Resort will not renew the Lake City Casino lease when it expires in May...

City seeks to smooth out casino relocation with bylaw amendment

PENTICTON - City Council is smoothing the way for Gateway Casinos to relocate on city-taxed property. A zoning amendment that would include casino operation as a defined use was requested by staff at a council meeting earlier this week. Director of Development Services Jules Hall said staff were alerted through media reports the Penticton Lakeside...

Penticton set to add more snow removal equipment to roster

PENTICTON - City staff are preparing for winter with a pitch to city council for more snow removal equipment. Buiding and Permitting Manager Ken Kunka asked council for an additional $20,000 to purchase more ice and snow clearing equipment. The request was made to facilitate clearing of nearly 10 kilometres of city lanes that will...

Vacant Penticton lot will become a car dealership

PENTICTON - A large, empty lot on Westminster Avenue in Penticton will be enhanced and put to use as a car dealership. Penticton city council has approved a temporary use permit for the former Fraserview RV site at 249 Westminster Avenue West. Fraserview RV ceased operations in 2014 and prior to that the lot had been...

Penticton city council asked to restrict new liquor licenses

PENTICTON - Local liquor and wine purveyors reacted to potential changes to the province’s liquor licensing laws by paying Penticton city council a visit. Lee Keller of Cherry Lane Liquor Store appeared before council at council's regular meeting, Sept. 8, to request council pass a bylaw stating any new liquor license, including wine in grocery...

Concern over density of Wilson Street development

PENTICTON - It's just too much for the small residential area, neighbours of a proposed Wilson Street development told council this week. A zoning amendment is required to rezone the property from duplex housing to low density multiple housing, in addition to a site specific amendment to increase the maximum density. Variances will also be...

Much of Penticton’s aging water infrastructure facing corrosive buildup

PENTICTON - Penticton’s aging water delivery infrastructure has forced city staff to rethink a recently introduced maintenance program for its cast iron water pipes. Public Works Manager Len Robson asked council to reallocate the remaining 2015 budget for the city’s cast iron water main cleaning and inspection program in order to implement a water utility...

Penticton seeks to be a more inclusive community

RAINBOW CROSSWALKS? PENTICTON - Penticton City Council wants to be an inclusive community, and they are seeking ways to demonstrate that idea. Noting the recent installation of rainbow crosswalks in nearby communities such as Princeton, Summerland and Kelowna to demonstrate inclusivity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community, council recently asked city staff...

Penticton Regional Hospital gets temporary parking lot

PENTICTON - A temporary parking lot has been approved by Penticton city council for use during construction of the new patient care tower at Penticton Regional Hospital. The parking lot on Camrose Street will be for construction workers, but there won't be a crosswalk in the middle of Industrial Avenue as originally proposed by Interior...

Former mayor blasts council for waterpark decision

PENTICTON -  Penticton mayor and council received an earful in council chambers last night as those opposed to the proposed waterpark development at Skaha Park addressed council once more. A deal was signed earlier in the month for redevelopment of the Skaha Marina area, but council agreed to hear, once more, from those opposed to...

Highrise development moves forward in Penticton

PENTICTON - A proposed highrise residential development in the city’s south end will continue to move forward after Penticton City Council approved the necessary amendments this week. The proposal, which involves the development of three residential towers, will see one 12-storey and two 14-storey towers built in three phases at 3388 Skaha Lake Rd. Councillors...

Another rally to protest Skaha Lake development

PENTICTON – Penticton city council and the proposed Skaha Lake waterfront development will be the target of a rally planned for Tuesday. Organizer Lisa Martin says she is hoping for a big turnout at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 4, on the steps of city hall, which she says will include several speakers. Several hundred protestors rallied...

No last minute change of heart for Penticton council

PENTICTON - Penticton city council continues to stand firm in its decision not to revisit the Skaha waterpark issue and plans to allow the development to move forward. Council met before the public at noon today, July 29, to deliver the verdict on their decision whether or not to revisit the issue following a strong negative...

Council unwavering in spite of opposition to waterfront development

PENTICTON - Penticton Council gave the go-ahead for Skaha Lake waterfront development Monday, but citizen approval was anything but unanimous. Plans for a major waterfront facelift at the south end of the city were first unveiled at the May 19 council meeting. According to all reports, including postings on social media sites and a series...

Council pedals bike park on Munson Mountain

PENTICTON - The prospect of a BMX track and mountain biking skills park on Munson Mountain isn’t sitting to well with some area residents. A number of landowners surrounding Munson Mountain turned out in front of city hall prior to the start of Tuesday's council meeting on May 19, placards in hand, to protest use...

Another increase in electrical rates on council’s agenda

PENTICTON - Penticton City Council faces an ambitious agenda tonight as they face two presentations and five delegations in addition to dealing with a number of potentially contentious issues including another electrical rate increase. The city was recently advised of Fortis's plans for a 2.2 per cent electrical rate increase effective July 1. Staff will...

Dispute over concrete retaining wall moves toward resolution

PENTICTON - A long running dispute over a deteriorating concrete retaining wall, and the associated drainage problems, in Penticton’s industrial area may be on the way to resolution. City communication officer Simone Blais says the two parties involved in the issue met with city staff and legal council earlier this month and came up with...

Resident wants drawbows removed from firearms bylaw

PENTICTON - A request from a resident to allow manual bow and arrow usage within city limits may get a serious look as the city prepares to host the B.C. Winter Games, which includes archery sports. Penticton resident Rick Hamilton wants to see a change made to the City of Penticton’s bylaw that regulates or...

On-site hotel could boost business at Penticton Convention Centre

PENTICTON - A premium hotel would help pull in more bookings for the underultilized 60,000-square-foot Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, according to city staff. In a report to council Monday, April 20, staff recommended council move forward on a zoning amendment that would add 'tourist accommodation' as a site-specific use to the city owned property...

Aquatic species ‘musselling’ in on Three Mile Beach

PENTICTON - Three Mile Beach is back on city councillor's minds, but not because of clothing optional issues. The beach also happens to be home to an aquatic species in need of help. Not to be confused with invasive zebra and quagga mussels, which governments are trying to keep out of the lake, the province will...

Council delays legal action against property owners

PENTICTON - Two property owners have been given two more weeks to resolve their issues before the city against takes legal action against both of them. The injunctive action planned against Action Steel (2365 Barnes St.) and Penticton Self Storage Ltd. (2360 Government St.) stems from a number of long-standing issues regarding a retaining wall...