A task force, to be selected by Mayor Peter Waterman, will examine economic development in Summerland.
The terms of reference for the committee were approved at the municipal council meeting on Monday evening and the committee is expected to begin its six-month work at the beginning of 2016.
The task force will consult with community stakeholders and develop recommendations to council on how the municipality can best support economic development in Summerland. The recommendations are to be presented to council by June.
A year ago, during the municipal election campaign, Waterman included the task force as part of his platform.
“We will be discussing how we can work together to make things happen in Summerland,” he said after the municipal election. “We have a tremendous opportunity here.”
Waterman will serve as chair and one other member of council will serve on the committee.
In addition, the committee will include representatives from technology, agri-business, tourism, downtown business, community economic development, manufacturing, development and arts and culture, as well as one youth representative and one senior representative.
“We want to work with key individuals in the community,” Waterman said. “We’re looking at business leaders.”
The committee will come up with recommendations which will then come before council.
Waterman hopes to see good ideas and creative suggestions as a result of the task force’s work.
“This will be a high-powered committee,” he said.