Council's Kumbaya moment

Photo: Contributed - City of Kelowna

The outgoing Kelowna City Council took a moment to savour its accomplishments Monday

All that was missing was a campfire, a bag of marshmallows and the Council octet humming Kumbaya in the background.

One by one, many on Kelowna Council took turns Monday lauding their accomplishments of the past three years.

Many of those accomplishments, Bernard Avenue Revitalization, Pandosy Waterfront Plan, downtown pier, expanded pedestrian and cycling networks and Central Green were started by the previous council and, in some cases, many councils before it.

"Nothing gets done by one council. Everything gets built on the shoulders of others, whether it's the financial plans or reserves or zoning or strategic land acquisitions," says veteran Councillor, Robert Hobson.

"Many of the things done by this council I think two or three previous councils can take credit for. Every time you put money into reserves you are essentially giving a future council the opportunity to look good and avoiding the opportunity to grandstand yourself because you're not cutting the ribbon."

While lauding the groundwork and initiative of previous elected bodies, Hobson did take the opportunity to laud the work of his own council.

He says some of the projects couldn't be completed by any previous council.

"That's partly because of circumstances, but it's also partly due to your leadership your worship (Mayor Walter Gray) and because of the collective vision of council and staff."

Hobson cited progress made on a potential second crossing as an example. Hobson says he was skeptical council would get very far on the second crossing as a priority.

"I am just astonished at the extent at which you grabbed onto it, hugged the premier at every opportunity...and low and behold it's become a provincial priority," says Hobson.

"It's just magic really."

He also pointed at the CN Rail opportunity which fell into council's lap over the previous 12 months or so.

"On that cheery note, I think I'll carry on. I've likened our council to a team of horses where we have one wagon but we have eight horses pulling in the same direction," says Councillor, Luke Stack.

"When you are all pulling in the same direction you can really get something done and I think we've seen that."

Stack pointed to the newly proposed downtown Interior Health building which also came to this council part way through its mandate.

"It took a very clear focus of seeing the opportunity of IHA coming downtown...but staff are the ones that had to get out there and meet with them and work out the details.

That led into us having to figure out what to do with parking and the parkade. There was just a myriad of things that came out of that."

Stack also applauded city staff led by City Manager Ron Mattiussi, saying it's amazing what can be accomplished when everyone is pulling in the same direction.

Councillor Andre Blanleil, who is not seeking re-election, echoed those comments saying it takes leadership from council to enable staff to have the confidence and the ability to do their job.

"That's the big difference I see in this council. Staff is given direction and the freedom to make something happen...and I don't think that happens by accident," says Blanleil.

We do have some exceptional young staff who are doing a fantastic job but I think it's also that this council has supported them. They come in front of us and know they aren't going to get beat up for an idea and I think that's a key to what's going on.

I know there are going to be comments made that we are just talking about all these successes, but it really has been an incredible three years of getting these things done."

The current council has just a handful or regular meetings and public hearings left before its mandate ends Nov 15.

At that point, a new council will be elected which will feature at least four new councillors.