Image Credit: (SOURCE/City of Kelowna)
February 20, 2013 - 11:51 AM
The type of green Kelowna is being recognized for these days has little to do with the maintenance of city parks.
It's all about the environment, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has given the city a national award for two plans developed to tackle greenhouse gas emissions. One plan outlines what the city as an organization will do and the other plan outlines the broader community objectives.
Sustainability coordinator for the City, Michelle Kam says the plan is to reduce community greenhouse emissions by 33 per cent below 2007 levels by 2020.
Strategies to achieve goals include promoting active transportation such as walking and cycling and using public transit, which Mayor Walter Gray says will get residents accustomed to relying less on cars to get around.
Other highlights from the Feb. 18 Kelowna City Council meeting:
Heritage Grants
Council directed staff to increase funding for the City of Kelowna Heritage Grants program to $35,000 from $30,000 om the 2014 budget.
UCBM Host Bid
Council directed staff to submit a bid to host the 2014 Union of B.C. Municipalities convention which is attended by approximately 1,700 municipal staff and elected officials.
SILGA Resolutions
Council discussed and approved to resolutions for the Southern Interior Local Government Association. One expresses concern with proposed changes to beach water quality sampling procedures. A second resolution asks SILGA to encourage changes to the Provincial Motor Vehicle Act to provide police officers with the legislative tools to enforce excessive noise laws for motorized vehicles.
Video Credit: City of Kelowna/Youtube
Mayor Walter Gray offers an overview of how the city is working toward reducing greenhouse emissions.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013