Kelowna Mayor Joins Rutland Business Board
Tom Dyas takes seat on Uptown Rutland Business Association board amid concerns of residents feeling overlooked, while appointing Brady Rogers to Downtown Kelowna Association board
Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas has taken a seat on the Uptown Rutland Business Association (URBA) board, aiming to address concerns of residents feeling overlooked. This move comes after the recent election where Dyas won the mayor's race overall but received fewer votes in some Rutland polling stations, with Ron Cannan receiving more votes in those areas.
Brady Rogers, a council newcomer and downtown business owner, has been appointed to the Downtown Kelowna Association board. Todd Daniels, owner of Gallery Streetwear, supports Rogers' appointment, stating that he is the right person for the job. Daniels has been vocal about the impact of crime and street disorder on business, having made a social media video in January pleading for help from the city.
The video led to an uptick in police force and bylaw presence for about a month, but the increased presence later decreased. Daniels hopes that Rogers can bring about meaningful change to address the issues facing downtown businesses.
However, some residents feel that the mayor's appointment to the URBA board is not enough. Chris Bocskei, a longtime Rutland resident, wants the mayor to be involved in other community organizations besides the URBA board. Bocskei also wants to see a concrete plan to address the issues facing Rutland, stating that the mayor should have a plan to tackle the problems.
## What it means for the community The appointments come as the city council is getting down to work, with committee and board appointments among its first orders of business. The move is seen as an attempt to address the concerns of residents in Rutland, who have long felt overlooked. The involvement of the mayor in the URBA board and the appointment of Rogers to the Downtown Kelowna Association board are expected to bring about positive changes to the community.
## Next steps The city council will continue to work on addressing the issues facing the community, with the mayor's appointment to the URBA board being a step in that direction. The success of these efforts will depend on the ability of the council to work together and come up with effective solutions to the problems facing Kelowna.
