Our organization
Our team is made up of 1,000 passionate staff members working to make Kelowna a City of the Future. Strong financial management allows us to provide core services to the residents of Kelowna, introduce new amenities and maintain valuable infrastructure. The latest Citizen Survey reports that 75 per cent of residents believe they receive good value for their tax dollars.
Council priorities 2023–2026 identifies the strategic shifts, improvements and changes that are important to Council, the community and organization. The annual Financial Plan outlines how the City invests in services that residents value, and how those services are performing. Our annual reporting highlights our yearly progress, including through our Annual Report. Corporate priorities 2023–2026 identifies how we'll continuously improve how the organization manages its finances, improves customer service, and deliver services efficiently.
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There are exciting career opportunities available with the City for creative, innovative individuals with a passion for serving the local community.
Our Armorial Bearings were officially accepted by City Council on Jan. 3, 1955 as granted in a Letter Patent by the College of Heralds in England.
The shield, with wavy blue lines on white at the base, depicts Okanagan Lake from which rise three white piles, representing mountains; above these are two apples of gold. Astride the shield, knightly armour, surrounded by a wreath, supports an apple tree bearing apples. At the base of the tree, the crosscut saw is emblematic of the lumber industry and early pioneers.
Supporters
The supporters are, on the dexter side, a grizzly bear, indicating the derivation of the city’s name, and, on the sinister side, a seahorse, which in heraldry is the closest approximation of our Ogopogo.
Motto
The Motto, “Fruitful in Unity” alludes to Kelowna’s steady progress, largely attributable to its fruit industry and the community mindedness and cooperation of its citizens.
The City of Kelowna is governed by an elected Mayor and eight Councillors for a four-year term City Council, which represents the City at large and our residents, has one employee – the City Manager - who administers City operations.
The 10-member Senior Leadership Team reports to the City Manager: seven Divisional Directors, the Deputy City Manager, the Kelowna International Airport Director and the City Clerk. Divisional teams deliver civic services based on a plan, build and operate model or corporate services that support the organization.
Provides a leadership role in enriching the social health and well-being of the community through sport, recreation, culture and community-level services.
Community & Neighbourhood Services delivers programs throughout the community that engage, activate and connect people, including Strong Neighbourhoods. Focuses on reducing barriers to participation, animating spaces, and promoting a healthy, inclusive community.
Cultural Services oversees cultural policies and plans, organizes special events and convenings, partners with cultural facility operators and community organizations, administers grant programs and operates the Kelowna Community Theatre.
Administration & Business Services is responsible for divisional financial management processes and reports, systems application and administration, business management, front-line customer service and division-wide marketing and promotion management.
Social Development leads a group of community organizations, agencies and other levels of government to address complex social issues. Aligns plans, resources, and funding to maximize efforts.
Sport & Event Services spearheads a wide variety of recreation, sport and special event initiatives. Focuses on promotion and implementation, event permitting, development and procurement, organizational development and facility operations support.
Fosters a culture of open government through corporate administrative services to Council, their Committees, and our organization. Responsibilities include Council meeting management, corporate access to legal services, corporate records and information management, public access to records and protection of privacy, elector approval processes and general local elections.
Responsible for managing, operating and maintaining the City’s infrastructure in a sustainable manner to meet the community's needs.
Building Services operates and maintains more than 100 civic buildings and facilities including arenas, pools and stadiums. Provides trade services to all City departments on an as-needed basis - such as plumbing and carpentry - and leads energy management for the City.
Civic Operations Finance and Administration is responsible for overall divisional financial administration, clerical support, budget coordination, customer call centre, customer service requests and permit administration.
Fleet Services is responsible for overall management, procurement and maintenance of the City’s fleet, in addition to contract equipment procurement and management.
Park Services is responsible for management, operations and maintenance of more than 200 parks including beaches, sports fields, natural areas and forests. Manages the Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery and helps beautify the City through work such as graffiti removal and prevention.
Public Works is responsible for managing, operating and maintaining roads, sidewalks, walkways/multi-use corridors, bike paths, City-owned parking lots, transit and bus shelters, traffic and road signs/signals, street lights and the City gravel pit. Also focuses on litter and snow/ice control and waste management.
Utility Services is responsible for delivering essential services such as water and water conservation programs, and the management, operations and maintenance of the wastewater treatment plants, the biosolids plant, the Glenmore Landfill, and the underground water and wastewater utilities and drainage systems.
Provides strategic and operational leadership to preserve and enhance safety, security, and public order in our community. The Division uses comprehensive, collaborative and proven strategies to reduce crime and increase residents’ sense of safety.
Bylaw Services follows sustained fair, but firm compliance-driven practices, working with citizens to enhance the safety of visitors and residents of the city.
Police Services includes the RCMP and Police Services Management. The Kelowna Detachment includes General Duty Officers, Investigative Services for serious and complex crime, Traffic Section and Crime Prevention. Police Services administrative management necessary for effective and responsive policing in Kelowna.
Provides citizens and staff with convenient, accurate and timely access to City services and information.
Information Services strategically considers technology solutions that reduce costs, improve revenue streams, build efficiency and improves customer service through the City’s information systems and technology infrastructure.
Corporate Strategy & Performance leads the organization-wide strategic planning, including Council and corporate priorities for Council’s term, and reports annually on the City’s progress on those priorities.
Communications & Media Relations provides strategic communications planning to inform, consult, involve, collaborate and empower internal and external stakeholders, including our residents. Manages multiple channels to keep the public informed on City decisions, programs and opportunities.
The Financial Services Division provides services to Council, City Management and staff through financial management policies that form a framework for the City's overall fiscal planning, investment and management of City assets and resources. Financial accountability is achieved through reporting, monitoring, and internal control programs managed by the Division. Annual budgets, Five-Year Financial Plans, Ten-Year Capital Plans, Twenty-Year Servicing Plans, Year-end Financial and Annual Reports and Statements provide key financial information and results to keep taxpayers, residents, business leaders and other interested parties informed on the financial performance and delivery of City programs and services. The Financial Services Division also levies and collects property taxes and utility fees, processes accounts payable and accounts receivable, develops and maintains financial systems, invests and safeguards the City's financial and tangible capital assets, manages and administers the Development Cost Charge (DCC) program and provides customer services such as transit passes, parking ticket and bylaw fee payments.
Asset Management and Capital Planning coordinate the annual and 10-year capital plans for all service areas as well as the City’s asset management plans for infrastructure renewal and the 20-Year Servicing Plan for infrastructure required to support growth. AMCP administers the Development Cost Charge program and manages the City’s Asset Management Program through the development of policy, strategy, planning and system implementation for an asset portfolio of $3.9 billion.
Deputy Chief Financial Officer is responsible for the Value for Money Review program and the Controller, Corporate Finance and Purchasing departments within Financial Services.
Controller is responsible for the operations side of Financial Services. This includes all forms of revenue collection with the most significant amount of work around collecting taxation revenue. Also responsible for administering the permissive tax exemption program, transit, financial systems, internal reporting, general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and financial services projects.
Corporate Finance is responsible for preparation and administration of corporate financial compliance and external Financial Reporting. They manage the monitoring process which reviews that corporate financial and system controls are following Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Public Sector Accounting Standards (PSAS), federal and provincial excise tax legislation, City bylaws, policies and procedures and best practices. They administer and manage the City's corporate banking controls and Treasury services ensuring the safekeeping of the City's financial assets. They provide external financial reporting that includes the Consolidated Financial Statements, Statement of Financial Information, Local Government Data Entry and the Annual Report.
Purchasing Services provides transparent, fair and effective procurement services and strategies across the organization. The Branch is responsible for the acquisition of goods, services, and construction required by all City departments. Purchasing also manages the City Yards warehouse and inventory that provides materials and supplies to City crews and work groups. Disposal of surplus materials and obsolete items are also managed by this Branch.
Financial Planning is responsible for managing the City’s budget including annual budget preparation, monitoring and and approval for all budget amendments and budget transfers. They manage the City’s reserves through application of Council Policy and reserve balance projections to ensure alignment with the ten-year capital plan. All of the City’s debt is managed and administered by this department and is closely monitored to ensure that the debt limit threshold is kept within Council policy. The City has a significant investment portfolio and this department safeguards these financial assets while also working to maximize returns and minimize risk. Long term financial models and financial planning for the City’s Wastewater, Water and Landfill models are stewarded to ensure adequate funding for ongoing City business requirements and appropriate utility rate setting. The tangible capital asset accounting, internal overhead allocations, and financial analysis/ decision support are also provided by this department.
The Fire Department provides realistic and effective fire protection and public safety services from seven fire stations located strategically throughout the City. Each station has a full compliment of modern, up-to-date vehicles and equipment. There are more than 140 full time personnel and 46 paid-on-call volunteers.
Administration, Training & Fire Prevention provides fire inspection services, fire investigations and enforcement of the Fire Services Act and the BC Fire Code. Also educates the public by working with local schools and community groups. The Training Branch ensures all members of our Fire Department meet required standards, building capacity for all members from recruit training up to Fire Officer.
Communications & Emergency Program provides fire dispatch services to over 60 fire departments from the Regional Districts of Central Okanagan, City of Vernon, Okanagan Indian Band, Okanagan Similkameen, Kootenay Boundary, Central Kootenay and East Kootenay. Also administers the Emergency Program for Central Okanagan to support any community requiring support for major incidents.
Fire Operations is responsible for fire suppression, first medical response, auto extrication, technical rescue (such as ice rescue and confined space rescue) and hazmat response. Staffed 24/7 with five, four‐person engine companies operating from five career stations in the city. The career staff are supported by two paid‐on‐call stations (East Kelowna and McKinley), as well as paid-on-call members continuing to support the Glenmore Fire Hall.
Ensures the City has the necessary talent, leadership and workplace culture for the organization to achieve its goals. Recruiting and retaining passionate public servants and helping them flourish and grow professionally in a safe, diverse and inclusive work environment is the mission of this division.
Corporate Human Resources develops and implements corporate-wide human resources programs, processes and best practices that make the City a leading employer in the community. Includes talent management, compensation & benefits, and Employee and Family Assistance and Wellness programs. Occupational Health & Safety branch is responsible for development, implementation and coordination of employee safety programs and policies as part of the Safety 8 system.
Human Resource (HR) Services supports divisions and departments with recruitment, labour and employee relations. This Branch is the primary contact for all internal human resource matters as well as for applicants, community educational institutions and various community employment agencies interested in City careers.
Risk Management is responsible for the development, implementation, and administration of the City’s risk management and security programs. This Branch leads the City’s work to minimize losses and reduce hazards within the community through prevention programs, insurance and integrated risk management.
Responsible for the planning, design and construction of all infrastructure required by the community as well as the long-term replacement of aging assets. The design and construction arm of Infrastructure uses best practices in all aspects of project delivery, including engaging stakeholders for the appropriate level of input.
Infrastructure Delivery manages the delivery of City infrastructure projects, including new construction and rehabilitation. Focuses on developing thoughtful and innovative processes and procedures to minimize the impact of City projects on residents and visitors, while ensuring compliance with Council-approved policies and all applicable acts and regulations.
Infrastructure Engineering coordinates the annual and long-term capital plans including water, wastewater, drainage and solid waste, as well as the City’s asset management plans for infrastructure renewal and the 20-Year Servicing Plan for infrastructure required to support growth.
Integrated Transportation provides a strategic multi-dimensional approach to manage and plan transportation systems. Focuses on transit administration, transit service and infrastructure planning, transportation demand management and shared mobility programs, strategic multi-modal transportation planning and prioritization, corridor conceptual planning, network planning, major traffic impact reviews and road safety planning.
Our Link to the world, YLW plays a vital role in the economic development and prosperity of the Okanagan Valley. YLW’s total economic impact is 4,545 jobs and $789 million in total economic output to the province of British Columbia. Serving over two million passengers in 2018, YLW offers daily non-stop commercial flights.
Airport Development is responsible for overseeing all capital projects at the Airport from the planning phase to the handover to Airport Operations. These capital projects include, but are not limited to, construction and renovation.
Airport Finance & Corporate Services is responsible for overseeing the financial well-being of the Airport including, but not limited to, budgeting, analytics and forward-looking modelling. Also oversees significant purchasing projects, contracts and acquisitions.
Airport Operations is responsible for the management, operations and maintenance of the day-to-day operations of the Airport. This includes management of the airlines and terminal building, groundside operations including parking, car rentals and ground transportation, safety and security, as well as air service development, non-aeronautical business development, customer service, emergency preparedness and Airport fire and rescue.
Focuses on strategic investments in real estate, including investment in parks and city buildings. The division includes a partnership office (initiatives to bring new revenue, partnership opportunities and grants to the City), as well as a focus on intergovernmental affairs.
Business & Entrepreneurial Development is the business arm of the City that seeks innovative opportunities to achieve community goals. Business and economic development, financial and business investment evaluation, strategic negotiations and governance advisory services are the strategies employed to achieve the defined goals of this program.
Parks and Buildings Planning anticipates future park, facility and public art needs with a view to providing the best value to our citizens. Individual projects are prioritized with a multiple bottom-line approach that includes financial, social, cultural and environmental aspects. The department develops asset management plans for each asset class as well as short- and long-range capital and related financial plans based upon new, renewal and growth requirements.
Real Estate Services maximizes the value and utility of City-owned real estate assets thought acquiring, developing, managing, maintaining and disposing of the City’s real estate and building assets.
Focuses on long-term planning as well as development or building-related planning and services.
Development Planning moves the city toward the Kelowna envisioned by Imagine Kelowna and the policy direction of the Official Community Plan. The department is focused on processing land use and development permit applications and providing advice and information on planning processes to Council and the public.
Development Services develops and implements operational policies, processes and practices to ensure compliance with bylaws, codes, regulations and Council policies with respect to building/development approvals and business licensing in the City.
Policy & Planning is a future-forward department that sets the course for Kelowna’s future by anticipating trends, understanding best practices and shaping policy for short- and long-term community goals.
