INFORMATION RELEASE

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) Board of Directors gave first, second, and third reading to a Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 3106, 2025 to authorize the borrowing up to ten million dollars ($10,000,000) to purchase a corporate building within the City of Penticton. Bylaw No. 3106, 2025 will be forwarded to the Inspector of Municipalities for approval.

Upon approval of the Inspector, approval for Bylaw No. 3106, 2025 would be obtained from the electorate within the RDOS through an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) in accordance with the Local Government Act.

Background
At the April 3, 2025, meeting of the RDOS Board of Directors, staff were directed to proceed with the Alternative Approval Process to borrow up to ten million dollars ($10,000,000) to purchase a corporate building in the City of Penticton.

RDOS staff have conducted due diligence to ensure the corporate building will better suit the needs of customers, directors, staff, and media. The corporate building would provide more functional spaces for board meetings, community information sessions, and a regional emergency operations centre. The building could also provide revenue generating opportunities by serving as a government hub.

The current corporate facility arrangement has RDOS staff distributed throughout three office spaces within Penticton. For more than five years, the RDOS has been investigating ways to create a more functional and efficient office location. An options assessment was undertaken to consider renovation of the main office, development of a new building, or acquisition of an existing building. The options assessment considered the best value for taxpayers, the best location to provide services, and the most efficient working arrangement for staff.

To develop a new building that accommodates staff or renovate and retrofit the existing office building at 101 Martin Street in Penticton would cost in excess of $20 million (land and building costs). The proposed purchase and refit of an existing building will create a long-term solution to ensure the Regional District can accommodate all staff in one location and adapt to future needs. The proposed building acquisition location is an existing structure located at 3547 Skaha Lake Road, Penticton.

AAP information
An AAP requires that ten percent (10%) or more of eligible voters register their opposition for the proposal to not proceed without a referendum. For electors who support the adoption of the bylaw, no action would be required. All eligible electors in Electoral Areas “A’, “B”, “C”, “D”, “E”, “F”, “G”, “H”, and “I”, the Village of Keremeos, Town of Oliver, Town of Osoyoos, City of Penticton, Town of Princeton, and District of Summerland would be eligible to register their objection by submitting an Elector Response Form either by mail or in-person. The deadline for submitting Elector Response Forms in relation to Bylaw No. 3106, 2025 to the Corporate Officer would be no later than 4:30 pm on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

Elector Response Forms would be available at the RDOS main office or the RDOS Regional Connections interactive website.

For further information, please visit the Alternative Approval Process project page on the RDOS Regional Connections interactive website or contact RDOS Communications.

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Mark Pendergraft, Chair
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen

Contact:

RDOS Communications
250-490-4148
Toll-free 1-877-610-3737