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.
91裸聊视频淪ome of the major initiatives we91裸聊视频檝e tackled so far in this first year have been difficult to put into place but I91裸聊视频檓 really excited about the fact that they will benefit the community long after I91裸聊视频檓 gone from office,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淭his past year has been a real challenge, but over the long term, the things we91裸聊视频檝e done in this first year are going to serve our community well.
91裸聊视频滻91裸聊视频檓 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 they91裸聊视频檙e choosing the longer-term vision.91裸聊视频�
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 city91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淲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,91裸聊视频� said Basran, estimating the price-tag of such projects will add up to around $500 million.
91裸聊视频淭his infrastructure levy will help pay for some of those projects that before we would not have been able to undertake.
91裸聊视频淚f we don91裸聊视频檛 deal with some of the infrastructure deficit we91裸聊视频檙e just pushing off projects that are only going to get more expensive down the road and we91裸聊视频檙e just going to increase the burden financially on future generations of our city.91裸聊视频�
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 91裸聊视频� specifically of the Rutland area where many of the projects have been proposed 91裸聊视频� being very vocal about their disdain.
91裸聊视频淎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,91裸聊视频� said Basran.
91裸聊视频淲e will continue to do that, but certainly that91裸聊视频檚 been the biggest challenge this year so far and I don91裸聊视频檛 see it going away anytime soon.91裸聊视频�
READ MORE: Petition against 91裸聊视频榳et91裸聊视频� housing project in Rutland surpasses 15,000 signatures
Basran attributed the unpopularity of some decisions made by himself and city council to people being 91裸聊视频渞esistant to change.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淪ome of the things that we91裸聊视频檙e implementing are changing the way that things have been done in our city in the past,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a different way of doing things. Until people see the results, they91裸聊视频檒l be skeptical or unhappy with it.
91裸聊视频淏ut we know we can91裸聊视频檛 continue to do nothing about climate change.We can no longer continue to ignore our social problems.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 unacceptable to me, it91裸聊视频檚 unacceptable to my family and I am sure it91裸聊视频檚 unacceptable to the majority of society,91裸聊视频� said Basran during a press conference on May 15.
91裸聊视频淒emocracy is sometimes messy, and controversial issues sometimes generate strong feelings. But that91裸聊视频檚 what makes our community strong 91裸聊视频� exercising an open mind, humility and mutual respect and especially with those with whom we disagree.
91裸聊视频淭he bigger issue here is about civility and a collective commitment to civil discourse. More than ever, it91裸聊视频檚 vital to challenge those who use personal attacks, online bullying, or vulgar language to stifle opposing points of view.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淔amily for me in this past year has been absolutely essential,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淚n this last year, I91裸聊视频檝e become more cognizant of the fact that I couldn91裸聊视频檛 be doing this job without my family and while this job is important, my family is far more important.
91裸聊视频淢y time in this chair will come and go but I only have one opportunity with my family.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 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.91裸聊视频�
While Basran said it is 91裸聊视频渨ay too early to tell91裸聊视频� whether his name will be on the ballot for the 2022 election, his family will play an integral role in that decision.
91裸聊视频淪tay tuned,91裸聊视频� he smiled.
READ MORE: Thirteen-storey condo tower, community threatre proposed for old Kelowna RCMP site
michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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