Kelowna councillors have several concerns with a new code of conduct that applies to them.

The draft document, which is mandated by the provincial government, sets out rules council must follow in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities.

There are also provisions in the code outlining how councillors are to interact with each other, city staff, the public and the media.

Several councillors felt it was too lengthy, duplicated the community charter, and that some of the wording could be open to interpretation.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檇 like to see it tightened,乌鸦传媒� said Coun. Mohini Singh. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檇 like to see it direct, and I乌鸦传媒檇 also want staff to recognize that we are grown adults and we know what our responsibility is.乌鸦传媒�

Coun. Loyal Wooldridge, who chairs the Regional District Central Okanagan Board, said the document feels punitive.

乌鸦传媒淲hen I reflect on the Regional Districts乌鸦传媒� (code of conduct) it starts with values, it starts with why we work this way. This one seems like it乌鸦传媒檚 a law we乌鸦传媒檙e imposing because there乌鸦传媒檚 all this terrible stuff going on, which I don乌鸦传媒檛 believe is the case.乌鸦传媒�

Coun. Luke Stack said he didn乌鸦传媒檛 feel the code, as currently drafted, would add to what council is already doing.

乌鸦传媒淚 actually believe we already are accountable and transparent,乌鸦传媒� he said.

In agreeing with other councillors, Maxine DeHart added she felt the code also had to be reworked.

乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 think any of us around here are children,乌鸦传媒� she said. I think we all realize what we have to do.乌鸦传媒�

Coun. Charlie Hodge also took issue with what he called ambiguity in parts of the code.

乌鸦传媒淟et乌鸦传媒檚 be absolutely clear about what we乌鸦传媒檙e saying.乌鸦传媒�

READ MORE: City lowering flags to half-mast in honour of former Kelowna councillor Horning

Mayor Tom Dyas commented that he was surprised that council spent nearly 90 minutes debating the issue.

乌鸦传媒淭his came out so that we are as transparent as possible with regards to being a council,乌鸦传媒� said Dyas. 乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 see anything in here that would cause any great concern for anyone because, at the end of the day, we truly police ourselves other than us going completely offside where it乌鸦传媒檚 a criminal offence.乌鸦传媒�

The code also lays out complaint and resolution procedures which would include a preliminary assessment and, if a complaint is accepted for investigation, a referral to a third-party investigator.

乌鸦传媒淎ny formal sanctions would be a decision of council,乌鸦传媒� said Laura Bentley, deputy city clerk.

Council voted to receive the report for information, with councillors Stack, DeHart, Hodge and Singh opposed.

Staff was requested to bring back a revised code of conduct based on council input.

READ MORE: Wildfire near Peachland grows to 8 hectares and considered 乌鸦传媒榦ut of control乌鸦传媒�

gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on and subscribe to our daily and subscribe to our daily newsletter.