Year one. Round two.
Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran has had a turbulent year since taking office for his second term in October 2018.
After a year laden with community outcry and even a death threat, Basran said he is trying his best to look on the bright side.
害羞草研究所淪ome of the major initiatives we害羞草研究所檝e tackled so far in this first year have been difficult to put into place but I害羞草研究所檓 really excited about the fact that they will benefit the community long after I害羞草研究所檓 gone from office,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淭his past year has been a real challenge, but over the long term, the things we害羞草研究所檝e done in this first year are going to serve our community well.
害羞草研究所滻害羞草研究所檓 really proud of my council for the fact that it would be easy to sacrifice the long term vision of the community for short term personal gain, but they害羞草研究所檙e choosing the longer-term vision.害羞草研究所�
When asked for specifics, the mayor pointed to the recently implemented infrastructure levy as a high point of council thus far.
The levy was part of the city害羞草研究所檚 2019 budget as a means of tackling infrastructure needs the city estimates will rise in the coming decades. The levy was part of the overall 4.1 per cent increase on property taxes, accounting for 2.27 per cent of the total.
害羞草研究所淲e know that in the next 20 years our community is going to need infrastructure to keep up with growth, as well as aging infrastructure that needs to be renewed,害羞草研究所� said Basran, estimating the price-tag of such projects will add up to around $500 million.
害羞草研究所淭his infrastructure levy will help pay for some of those projects that before we would not have been able to undertake.
害羞草研究所淚f we don害羞草研究所檛 deal with some of the infrastructure deficit we害羞草研究所檙e just pushing off projects that are only going to get more expensive down the road and we害羞草研究所檙e just going to increase the burden financially on future generations of our city.害羞草研究所�
On the flip side, Basran said the lowest point of the last 12 months has been on supportive housing projects.
Supportive housing has proven to be a contentious topic within Kelowna, with residents 害羞草研究所� specifically of the Rutland area where many of the projects have been proposed 害羞草研究所� being very vocal about their disdain.
害羞草研究所淎ll we can do is do the best we can, stay the course, try to get people housed and continue to advocate for more supports,害羞草研究所� said Basran.
害羞草研究所淲e will continue to do that, but certainly that害羞草研究所檚 been the biggest challenge this year so far and I don害羞草研究所檛 see it going away anytime soon.害羞草研究所�
READ MORE: Petition against 害羞草研究所榳et害羞草研究所� housing project in Rutland surpasses 15,000 signatures
Basran attributed the unpopularity of some decisions made by himself and city council to people being 害羞草研究所渞esistant to change.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淪ome of the things that we害羞草研究所檙e implementing are changing the way that things have been done in our city in the past,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a different way of doing things. Until people see the results, they害羞草研究所檒l be skeptical or unhappy with it.
害羞草研究所淏ut we know we can害羞草研究所檛 continue to do nothing about climate change.We can no longer continue to ignore our social problems.害羞草研究所�
In April, divisive community opinion about the mayor led to a death threat on Facebook, which led to the arrest of a 52-year-old Kelowna man.
At the time, the mayor, flanked by his wife, mother, two young children and two city councillors, made a plea for civility.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 unacceptable to me, it害羞草研究所檚 unacceptable to my family and I am sure it害羞草研究所檚 unacceptable to the majority of society,害羞草研究所� said Basran during a press conference on May 15.
害羞草研究所淒emocracy is sometimes messy, and controversial issues sometimes generate strong feelings. But that害羞草研究所檚 what makes our community strong 害羞草研究所� exercising an open mind, humility and mutual respect and especially with those with whom we disagree.
害羞草研究所淭he bigger issue here is about civility and a collective commitment to civil discourse. More than ever, it害羞草研究所檚 vital to challenge those who use personal attacks, online bullying, or vulgar language to stifle opposing points of view.害羞草研究所�
READ MORE: Kelowna mayor calls for civility in light of online threat against him
Basran said that experience and the past year overall has made him realize his family is what is most important to him.
害羞草研究所淔amily for me in this past year has been absolutely essential,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淚n this last year, I害羞草研究所檝e become more cognizant of the fact that I couldn害羞草研究所檛 be doing this job without my family and while this job is important, my family is far more important.
害羞草研究所淢y time in this chair will come and go but I only have one opportunity with my family.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been a huge eye-opener and a lot of personal growth for me to recognize. While this job is great, nothing is more important than my family.害羞草研究所�
While Basran said it is 害羞草研究所渨ay too early to tell害羞草研究所� whether his name will be on the ballot for the 2022 election, his family will play an integral role in that decision.
害羞草研究所淪tay tuned,害羞草研究所� he smiled.
READ MORE: Thirteen-storey condo tower, community threatre proposed for old Kelowna RCMP site
michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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