Photo: Contributed - Conceptual Drawing

A proposed referendum question concerning funding for West Kelowna's new Civic Centre won't be ready in time for the November election.

While negotiations continue with New Town/Sturgess Group, the necessary funding information won't be ready in time to be included as part of the ballot.

“We want the best possible project for West Kelowna taxpayers. Council was unanimous on this point,” says Mayor Doug Findlater.

"We don’t want to rush any part of this key component of our economic development strategy and important municipal amenity. With the election just a few weeks away and complex negotiations with the developer and planning still well underway, we are not ready to include the Civic Centre question on this year’s ballot.”

In June, West Kelowna Council announced that it had chosen 3641 Elliott Road as the preferred location for the development of a Civic Centre and entered into negotiations with the selected proponent, New Town/Sturgess Group.

Concurrently, the District is actively pursuing public sector tenant partnerships and exploring funding opportunities to help offset the costs of the project.

“These complex financial negotiations, although very promising and exciting, are taking some time to get through,” says Findlater.

“Our Council is very cautious and dedicated to ensuring that the costs of this project remain in tight control, that we are getting out of it what this community needs and that when taxpayers are asked this important funding question, we present the most comprehensive information we can for them. We want to have absolutely accurate and firm cost information before it moves forward. It is too important a project to push through at this time.”

Mayor Findlater says the question of the electoral assent process for borrowing will be a decision of the new Council in 2015.