Mitigating flooding, fire, and heat risks in our community.

Mitigating the disastrous effects of forest fires, floods, and heat domes is a critical part of the city's public safety mandate. 

Urban Forest:

• Protect, prioritize, and plant trees where everyone can enjoy them. As Kelowna grows, we need to prioritize planting shade trees along streets, sidewalks, and boulevards.  Support directing staff to enact policies to improve the city's urban tree canopy to 30% by 2035, from the current 23%.  This will decrease the urban heat island effect. This includes the protection of mature native trees, and improved street tree design standards.

Fire:

• Phased implementation of mandatory FireSmart provisions in rural and suburban areas. 
• Fire resistant material standards for in rural and suburban areas.
• Push for increased Provincial investment in preventative burning and financially feasible forest management.
• Lobbying FortisBC for burying all neighbourhood-type powerlines in suburban areas.
•  Reviewing and implementing the 2022 Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan to prevent tragedies like what happened in Paradise, California. 
• Emergency egress transportation analysis on suburban neighbourhoods.
• Supporting repair, renewal, and expansion of Kelowna fire halls in the 10-year capital plan.

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Heat:

• ​Public advocacy on removing solar panel tariffs, along with permitting reform to allow balcony solar.
• Maintaining air conditioning requirements for new developments.
• Native and drought-resistant tree priority for public tree planting & new developments.
• Improved street urbanization design standards to improve urban tree canopies along transportation routes.
• Improved "Parks on Streets" Greenway and Superblock programs.

Flood:

• Focus on linear park creation along riverfronts to reduce overland flood risk while creating new recreational amenities. The San Antonio riverwalk is a good guiding light of how to integrate water features into walkable commercial / retail while self-funding land acquisition through zoning policy.
• Consult with stakeholders on reforms to zoning bylaws to manage allowable impermeable lot coverage and ensure adequate rainfall management.
• Direct City of Kelowna staff to investigate permeable paver, urban bioswale, and parklet programs to reduce overland water runoff. ​​