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The Regional District of Central Okanagan will write to its North Okanagan counterpart about the future of the North Westside on Okanagan Lake.

The RDCO board has authorized chair Loyal Wooldridge to send letters to the Regional District of North Okanagan and Ministry of Municipal Affairs regarding next steps involved with exploring a possible boundary change.

The restive area has long sought change in governance, and a study this year came up with just one recommendation – that the region should be transferred to the RDNO.

The letter to Municipal Affairs Minister Nathan Cullen will request provincial staff "proceed with further assessments and studies needed regarding a potential boundary change and governance restructuring for North Westside communities," the RDCO says.

Correspondence to RDNO chair Kevin Acton will seek input on any proposed boundary change.

An independent consultant's report for the North Westside Study Committee recommended "a further study to explore in detail the services, governance and financial implications of removing the North Westside from the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area and RDCO boundary and create a separate electoral area within the Regional District of North Okanagan."

This fall, however, RDNO vice-chair Amanda Shatzko said any change is likely still a long way off.

Residents of the North Westside have long expressed dissatisfaction with how the area is governed and have lobbied to be self-governed.

The area spans from Westshore Estates, to Killiney Beach, Fintry, and La Casa, and stretches as far south as Caesar's Landing.

Communities north of Fintry in particular are more economically and culturally tied to Vernon.

A statement from the RDNO in September said: "To date, the RDNO board of directors has not been a participant in this process, and as such, has not had the opportunity to discuss the implications of this matter yet. As the RDNO has recently received the report, we will review the study and are willing to work with the RDCO and the province as this progresses."