Council will be asked to scrap failing festival

Ron Seymour 2009-11-21 Kelowna Daily Courier:

Dismal attendance and heavy financial losses look to have done in the Kelowna Music and Arts Festival. The city-supported festival should be scrapped next year, council will hear Monday, since this past summer‘s edition was a money-losing bust that failed to gain community support.
About 3,000 people bought tickets to the three-day festival, far below the 8,000 organizers were hoping for. Even after funds were shifted from other accounts to cover losses, the festival‘s deficit was $73,000. “Despite a strong marketing campaign resulting in increased awareness and a diverse lineup of well-known performing artists, attendance was significantly lower than anticipated,” reads part of a report to council by Festivals Kelowna, a city-funded agency. “Therefore, the Festivals Kelowna board of directors, in consultation with city staff, have decided to discontinue the Kelowna Music and Arts Festival.”

If council accepts the report, city funding for Festivals Kelowna in 2010 would be reduced from the $345,000 it received this year to $245,000. The intention is to apply the $100,000 difference to other arts and cultural events. The report to council blames a number of factors for the failure of the Music and Arts Festival, such as bad weather, the poor economy and the tourism-dampening effect of the West Kelowna fires. Sponsorships were down by 70 per cent compared to 2008, and the number of visual artists who participated in the festival dropped by 40 per cent from last year. Some commercial vendors who rented space at the festival, which ran from July 24 to 26, said they didn‘t even made back their booking fees. “My registration fee was $450, plus $200 for power, and I haven‘t even made a hundred bucks here,” vendor Peter Deppe said on the last day of the festival. The event had previously been known as the Life and Arts Festival, and was held in May. It was switched to mid-summer, and its focus changed to include more musicians in hopes of drawing bigger crowds. Festivals Kelowna also operates the Parks Alive program and the Canada Day festival, neither of which are affected by the recommendation to scrap the Music and Arts Festival.

NEW $12.2-MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPENS IN VERNON

VERNON – Families will have better access to affordable housing and child-care services after today’s official opening of Kickwillie Place, a new $12.2-million development, providing 40 units of affordable housing and an onsite child-care facility in Vernon, announced Eric Foster, MLA for Vernon-Monashee. “Our government is committed to providing affordable and appropriate housing to meet the needs of families and individuals in communities across British Columbia,” said Foster. “This new development will benefit our community by providing stable housing and child-care opportunities for people in need.”

The Province provided $11.2 million through the Aboriginal Housing Initiative (AHI) and a $210,000 grant through the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) for a 16-space multi-age child-care centre. The City of Vernon provided a 60-year lease on the land, valued at $900,000. “Kickwillie Place will give children an opportunity to attend child care in a safe, caring environment, close to home,” said Mary Polak, Minister of Children and Family Development and Minister Responsible for Child Care. “A project like this does more than create child-care spaces – it meets a variety of community needs at once, supports families and demonstrates the value of strong partnerships to accomplish our goals.” “Increasing affordable housing in Vernon is highly supported by our city council,” said Vernon mayor Wayne Lippert. “The City of Vernon is proud to be a partner in this development because building a better life begins with access to stable and affordable housing.”

Vernon Native Housing Society (VNHS) will operate and manage the development. The society was one of the successful proponents following a proposal call for AHI housing developments issued in 2007 in consultation with the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA). Formed in B.C. in the mid-1990s, AHMA is the only Aboriginal social housing management agency in Canada. “We strive to be innovative leaders who are committed to exploring new ways of providing supportive housing to Aboriginal people in Canada,” said Margaret Pfoh, president of AHMA, “The Aboriginal Housing Initiative provides new resources to create a range of affordable housing options. This development will give Vernon Native Housing Society the ability to help more people in need of affordable housing.”

BREAKING NEWS: Vernon vaccination clinic added for Saturday

November 20, 2009 10:00 AM Morning Star:

Interior Health has announced Friday that the combination flu clinics providing H1N1 vaccination to anyone six months or older within Interior Health that needs or wants it, as well as the seasonal flu shot to those 65 years and older and those at risk of health complications from the seasonal flu will expand in several Interior cities.

The expansion will take effect tomorrow (Saturday). A clinic will be held at Okanagan College from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Many of our clinics this week have not been running at full capacity, so it is only fair to open up the eligibility criteria for H1N1 vaccine to everyone that wants it”, says IH Senior Medical Health Officer, Dr. Andrew Larder. “We do not want to have vaccine sitting in our fridges. Our goal is to get the H1N1 vaccine into as many arms as possible.” To help meet the expected increase in demand and reach people that are busy during work or school hours, many of Interior Health’s flu clinics are being scheduled into the evening and on weekends.

WEEKEND CLINICS IN THE NORTH OKANAGAN:

FRIDAY:Enderby Enderby Seniors Complex 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

SATURDAY:Vernon Okanagan College – Vernon Campus 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

To Find the Clinic Nearest You: Details about times, dates and locations of the clinic nearest you the following week – where you can get both the H1N1 vaccine and a seasonal flu shot – will be posted by end of day Wednesday at:

Flu Clinic Locator at www.immunizebc.ca

HealthLink BC, dial 8-1-1, available 24 hours a day

Your local Public Health Centre.

For the week of Nov. 23, people living in communities where there will not be a mass clinic nearby, are directed to attend the nearest clinic to them or check with their family physician or walk-in clinics to see if they have vaccine available.

Industrial tax revolt spreading, UBCM head says

By Gordon Hamilton, VANCOUVER SUN September 30, 2009

The industrial tax revolt begun by pulp companies is spreading to resource towns throughout B.C., the president of the Union of B.C. Municipalities said Wednesday. Robert Hobson said civic leaders are reporting that their major industries are are either seeking tax concessions or are closely monitoring the legal challenge to property taxes by Catalyst Paper now working its way through B.C. Supreme Court. A decision on that case is expected this month. Three other companies, West Fraser Timber, Mercer Inc. and TimberWest Forest have also filed suits against the towns where they have operations. All three have either sued, withheld taxes or or turned over to the courts a portion of their taxes to protest what they say is an unfair, unsustainable and illegal tax rate imposed by resource towns. The issue has been simmering for years but boiled over this July when the companies did not pay all their taxes. Major industry is assessed at a rate that can be 10 times or more the residential property tax rate.

Even Hobson’s own community of Kelowna, where he sits on council, is not immune to the challenge. Major employer Tolko Industries has told the municipal council there that the industrial tax rate is a burden and that the company is having to borrow to pay its taxes, he said in an interview at the association’s annual meeting in Vancouver. Civic leaders are concerned, Hobson said. The UBCM passed a resolution Wednesday calling on the provincial government to open talks. But the municipalities want a clear framework that recognizes their right to control property taxation. If that’s interfered with, they want compensation. Hobson said a simple fix, such as a cap on the industrial tax rate, would initiate a cascading effect. Municipalities would be forced to raise taxes on other tax classes to make up the lost revenues. He said municipalities rely on property taxes for their revenues, which limits their capacity to raise money to provide services. He said UBCM needs government to address what he termed the fiscal capacity of municipalities. “Local governments are being asked to do more and do not have as wide a range of sources of revenue as senior governments have. We rely almost entirely on property taxes for our source of revenue.”

Finance Minister Colin Hansen said in an interview that government is ready to engage with municipalities. He said the government is following the tax revolt closely. “But it’s not something we can comment on now since it is before the courts. “The approach we have been taking is that we believe that the companies and the municipalities have to sort it out.” He said the ratio between residential tax rates and industrial tax rates in some communities is significant. “It’s something we certainly believe that municipalities need to address.”

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Don Quixote Note: . Mr. Jim Baskerville, Regional Manager, Okanagan Operations, Tolko Industries Ltd., re: Discussion on Property Taxes. will be at COW Meeting Monday Morning at 8:40. (P.6)

Committee of the Whole

Start Time: 8:40am
Location: Council Chambers
Agenda Index Agenda Package

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Also see http://vernonblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/industrial-tax-revolt-against-towns.html

to see effect on certain cities if heavy industrial rates were cut in 1/2. How much would residential taxes have to rise? (Vernon, Spall, Coldstream, etc.) (2008 figures)

DCC's Comments by Friday. TODAY IS LAST DAY

Mail, email or fax comments to the following until 4:30 PM Friday, November 20, 2009:

Attention DCC Update City of Vernon 3400 - 30th Street Vernon, BC V1T 5E6

emai to: eng@vernon.ca Subject Line: DCC UPDATE

Fax to 250-545-5309 Subject Line: DCC UPDATE

The City of Vernon is proposing a major revision to Development Cost Charges (DCC) Bylaw #3769 in support of Official Community Plan 2008 implementation. The major bylaw revision is proposed to be presented to City Council for initial readings on December 14th 2009.

The DCC bylaw update includes the following key components:

1. Updated projects and construction unit prices.
2. Inclusion of Transportation Demand Management (cycle & pedestrian) components.
3. Change from City wide DCC rate to specific area based rate.
4. Change from per unit charge to building area charge for Multi family.
5. New small lot single family rate.
6. New Highway Commercial rate.
7. Waiver of DCCs for non-profit rental housing units.

Public Notice - 21Kb

1. Current Vs Proposed DCC Rates - 13 Kb
2. Proposed DCC Projects - 2.62 MB
3. DCC Sector Map- 492Kb
4. Draft DCC Report - 3.32Mb

Library pay hikes raise NORD’s ire

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 19, 2009 6:00 PM

Local politicians want answers after Okanagan Regional Library staff got hefty pay hikes. The North Okanagan Regional District board is demanding ORL chairman Ted Bacigalupo appear before it to justify a two-year, eight per cent salary increase for professional librarians and nine per cent for executive director Lesley Dieno. “That’s a complete disconnect and a sense of entitlement,” said director John Trainor. “The recession has had a devastating impact in the Okanagan and major employers are struggling. I’ve heard of families where both wage earners have lost their jobs.” Dieno’s annual salary will go from $121,000 to $131,000. A total of $72,000 has been set aside over two years to bump wages for about eight administration employees. “If it keeps going like this, where will it end? In these economic times, it’s difficult to take,” said Eugene Foisy, a NORD director.

A majority of the ORL board decided to increase salaries based on a consultant’s report to look at compensation. “The consultant’s report is somewhat self-serving,” said director Mike Macnabb, who as NORD’s ORL representative voted against the higher wages. The goal of the expanded compensation is to retain staff as well as attract new employees. But Macnabb questions if that’s necessary. “How many people have left the library because of their salary? Nobody,” he said. ORL officials defend the salary increases. “We are trying to get our salaried people to the middle of the pack,” said Noreen Guenther, vice-chairwoman, of the library sector across B.C. “If you don’t keep up with the numbers, there will be a big hit all at once. We need to keep competitive in the region.” When it comes to the four per cent (each over two years) for professional librarians, Guenther s ays paramedics recently got three per cent. “When staff retires, it could be difficult to attract new people,” she said. Guenther added that Dieno has considerable responsibilities for a system that covers the Okanagan, Shuswap and Similkameen valleys. “If you look at chief executive officers at other jurisdictions in the valley, it’s in line.”

Support also came from Maria Besso, Coldstream’s ORL representative. “We want to keep good staff. It’s a very efficiently run library board,” said Besso. Besso admits that many residents may find the wage hikes difficult to accept. “It’s sad the economy is so bad but we felt the increase is justified and it’s within our budget,” she said. “It was a really tough decision and it wasn’t taken lightly.”

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Morning Star Editorial Nov. 19 Library wage hikes out of touch

Okanagan Regional Library officials need to go to their local branch and pull a dictionary off the shelf. The word they should be looking up is optics. Because the decision to bestow significant salary increases on senior staff and professional librarians is a classic example of poor optics. How are taxpayers supposed to accept a nine per cent hike for executive director Lesley Dieno when many of them have lost their jobs during the recession? And for those still working, there was no nine per cent hike. Instead, either salaries stalled or they shrunk. Other jurisdictions have tightened their belts during these tough financial times but ORL’s 2010 budget is climbing by a whopping 5.78 per cent. But the most troubling fact is ORL officials have been crying poor. They threatened that the Oyama branch would close and that all libraries would shut down for a week during the summer because the provincial government slashed its grant. If things were truly that dire, how can ORL’s board of directors raises their hands in favour of such rich wage hikes? Couldn’t that money be better spent towards programs and services?

Yes there is a need to try and retain staff and attract new workers, but just because other jurisdictions have a certain compensation range, doesn’t mean that is appropriate for Okanagan taxpayers to feed the same spectrum here. And even if a target is identified, not everything can be done at once. What ever happened to a gradual approach? Ultimately, the actions of ORL will leave residents with the perception that the global meltdown has changed nothing for the bureaucracy.

Police Seek Public's Help In Robber Hunt

Written by Peter McIntyre Thursday, 19 November 2009 12:21 107.5 KISSFM:

Police believe the same man has committed six robberies at Vernon businesses the last 11 days, and they're hoping surveillance images may help someone identify him. Mounties told a news conference they have no real leads on the suspect who started his spree November 10th at Simply Delicious, and included two robberies at Bakers Dozen over two days (Nov 12 and 14) which was revealed for the first time today. RCMP spokesman Gord Molendyk says video and photos of the man from Subway and Petro-Can have been released to the media.

"Up to now this suspect has not physically hurt any of the clerks, however he has left them visibly shaken and traumatized as a result of his actions. Police are very concerned about this rash of robberies and we're worried his actions could escalate. No weapon was produced but this individual has indicated that he has one." Molendyk says there's similarities in the suspect's height (around 5'7 to 6'), his age (30 to 40) and having either scars or a pock marked face.

Investigators also say there's a possibility the man doesn't live in Vernon. They don't know yet if he's using a vehicle. Each incident has lasted under two minutes. Police are discouraging businesses who may encounter a robber not to attempt to detain the person. Molendyk says, "Don't try to hold the suspect, follow the instructions given, we do not want anyone hurt. As soon as it occurs, immediately call 9-1-1 and then lock the business so we can secure evidence, and that means witnesses inside." Molendyk adds in some cases, businesses targeted have continued on with operations.

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Nov 10: Simply Delichious

Nov 12: Bakers Dozen

Nov 14: Bakers Dozen

Nov 15: Subway (27 Street)

Nov 16: Petro Can 27 Str-48 Ave)

Nov 17: Grillers Meats

H1N1 Shots Open To Everyone

Written by Peter McIntyre Thursday, 19 November 2009 13:38 107.5 KISSFM

Starting Friday, all British Columbians who need and want to be immunized against the H1N1 flu virus will now be eligible to receive the vaccine. Provincial Health Officer Dr Perry Kendall is encouraging every British Columbian who has not yet been vaccinated to get their shot as soon as possible. "Becoming complacent would be a mistake and, unless we get more people immunized, there is still potential for B.C. to see as many hospitalizations and deaths in the coming weeks as we have seen to date." B.C. expects to receive an additional 258,000 doses of vaccine today and anticipates receiving approximately 640,000 doses late next week. In total, 1.16 million doses of the vaccine have already been delivered to British Columbia. The vaccine will continue to be made available through public flu shot clinics, physicians' offices and, in some regions of the province, through a number of pharmacists who have been trained and licensed to administer the vaccine.

Click HERE for a list of the upcoming vaccine clinics offered by Interior Health.

Outcry Over Library Salaries

Written by Glen Morrison Thursday, 19 November 2009 12:36 107.5 KISSFM:

There will have to be some explaining after the Okanagan Regional Library board passed it's 2010 budget yesterday. While the total package amounts to close to 15 million dollars and no branches will be cut or have reduced hours, there are pay raises that are irritating some politicians. Armstrong councilor John Trainor sits on the board and says there were union pay hikes. "Raises of four percent retroactive to May of 2009, and another four percent in 2010. That works out to about 8.2 % if you compound it over two years when others are struggling to survive." Trainor also says Executive Director Leslie Dieno's salary is going from $117,000 to $131,000 a year or 11.8 %, and she's been given the authority to boost other non union staff as well.

Trainor had a motion approved at Wednesday's North Okanagan Regional District meeting to have the regional library board chair attend a NORD meeting and explain. Trainor says it's probably time the board was restructured, taking away weighted votes. As for the board's budget decisions, despite provincial cutbacks, next year won't see any real cuts for the Okanagan Regional Library system. The library board has okayed a 2010 budget that's just shy of 15-million dollars, and has ignored its own finance committee's suggestion that all the libraries close for one week next summer, to save money. Board members have approved cuts to some speciality programs, and they'll save postage money by no longer mailing overdue notices, if those patrons can be contacted by e-mail or phone.

Torch run security burns into police budgets

November 18, 2009 CBC News:

It's costing a lot of money to keep the Olympic torch secure as it makes its way across the country, and the amount spent on policing while the relay was on Vancouver Island is once again raising questions about how much the 2010 games will cost B.C. taxpayers. The Victoria police department said it spent $141,000 on training and overtime in its efforts to protect torchbearers and control crowds and traffic. The provincial minister responsible for the Games maintained Wednesday that it's not a cost that will be covered by Olympic organizers or the province. "This was done by the Victoria police department," B.C. Olympics Minister Mary McNeil told reporters. "I know there were costs that they incurred over and above for just that event but you'll have to talk to them about that." The city police department said it will trim spending in other areas to cover the cost of the relay.

Other communities were also reporting thousands of dollars spent on torch security costs. The Vancouver police department said it doesn't even have a rough estimate of how much it will cost to keep the traditional relay safe. The current plan is to use as many on-duty officers as possible. "We won't know any additional cost until likely after the torch run and our obligations to it within the city," said spokesman Const. Lindsey Houghton. "Once it gets into the city, it could be a dynamic process."

In the legislature, the B.C. NDP hammered away at trying to get the government to admit to the total price tag of the Olympics, including ancillary expenses like torch relay security. "It's no surprise to the public that the Olympics will cost money, but this government is seems to be dead set on hiding exactly how much," said opposition leader Carole James. Money spent on policing the relay should be part of the government's total cost of the Games, according to opposition Olympics critic Kathy Corrigan. "If you start asking them about individual costs that everybody in the public would automatically assume are costs related to the Olympics and therefore Olympic costs, they're saying they're not Olympic costs!" Exactly how much it will cost to keep peace and order during the torch's four-day visit to other parts of Vancouver Island is still being calculated by seven different police departments.

Letnick votes with his heart

Daily Courier Staff 2009-11-19

Allowing police to forcibly take homeless people to shelters during extreme weather could have unforeseen consequences, says Kelowna-Lake Country Liberal MLA Norm Letnick. Earlier this week, Letnick voted against the Liberal government‘s Assistance to Shelter Act, saying his opposition to his own party‘s legislation was a “matter of conscience.” In an interview posted on the Public Eye Online website, Letnick said it‘s better for homeless people to decide for themselves whether or not they will go into a shelter. “I would like to find a more peaceful way of addressing the issue, one that respects the dignity of everyone involved, the police officers as well as the homeless people,” Letnick said.

In Kelowna, Letnick said, police and representatives of various social service agencies determine where spare beds are available, and tell homeless people of their options for shelter during periods of extreme cold. “(They) inform the people on the street that there are some spaces available, so they can make their own judgment call to go to those spaces,” Letnick said. Over the objections of the opposition NDP and Letnick, the legislation has passed three readings in the legislature, and is expected to become law soon. The legislation gives police the power to use “reasonable force” to get people to the door of a shelter, though, once there, the homeless people will still have the right to decide whether they want to go inside. “The bill accomplishes nothing that needs to be addressed here,” NDP housing critic Shane Simpson has said. “It doesn‘t deal with housing issues. “Nobody wants people out on the street in extreme weather. But I don‘t think you do that in a heavy-handed manner.”

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hockeyville/communities/ab/en/index.shtml

Vees contract leaves city coffers shorthanded

Bruce Walkinshaw - Penticton Western News Published: November 17, 2009

Penticton residents who don’t care which team wins the RBC Cup (along with those that do) have a good reason to follow the Penticton Vees: their tax dollars. As of September this year, the City of Penticton has subsidized the BCHL hockey franchise’s presence at the South Okanagan Events Centre to the tune of $299,809, according to a city SOEC financial report. “Yes, we are subsidizing the Vees significantly,” Jack Kler, Penticton’s director of corporate services, told council at Monday night’s meeting.

Kler explained that when the city entered into a $650,000 a year contract with the team, paying them to play at the SOEC, there was “an expectation of a certain level of attendance.” The people coming to the Vees games were also projected to spend a certain amount of money on food, beverages and other merchandise. “Those projections haven’t panned out the way we expected them to,” said Kler. “So, by default, we are now in a position where we are not making the revenues that we thought we would and so one could term that as a subsidy that we are providing to the Vees simply because we have a loss there.” The lack of projected attendance at Vees games certainly concerns Coun. Mike Pearce, who chairs of the SOEC advisory committee. “We have taken steps at the centre to make it a more human place to go... and we lowered the prices. And people still aren’t supporting hockey at the level that was estimated would occur,” said Pearce. “There are only so many people interested in the Vees and I think the expectations might have been set too high.” Pointing out that both the payment-contract with the Vees and the inaccurate attendance projections the contract was based on were approved by the previous council, Pearce said it is a contract that the city is “stuck with right now” but that when it comes up for renegotiation after the 2010/11 hockey season, “council will probably have to make some choices about it.”“I know if I have to think about the deal, it is costing us, I am guessing, about $10,000 a game and that is not something that pleases me very much so certainly we are starting to turn our minds to that,” said Pearce. “There is no sense at all in doing anything other than trying to work this situation out with all the parties concerned.”

The $299,809 deficit due to the city’s arrangement with the Vees was not the only fiscal shortfall discussed in the report. According to Kler, the financial statements for the performance of the Memorial Arena, Penticton Trade and Convention Centre and SOEC show a combined loss of $119,000 for all three facilities during September, “bringing the total combined loss at the events centre to approximately $1.6 million.” Prior to Global Spectrum taking over, the city was already subsidizing the Memorial Arena and Penticton Trade and Convention Centre to the tune of $750,000 a year, explained Kler, so the city is spending “about $850,000 a year on the South Okanagan Events Centre alone.” Pearce said that while the SOEC advisory committee is working to bring that number down, it should not be an expectation to run the SOEC at a profit as a major part of the centre’s function is to host non-money-making events for the community. “The SOEC in all aspects is a challenge. It is a new facility. It is a good facility, provincewide and Canada-wide,” Pearce said. “And we are going to work it out to make this thing more viable for the taxpayer.”

Tax breaks could help city attract investors, committee says

JOHN MOORHOUSE Thursday, November 19, 2009 Penticton Herald:

Penticton council should introduce tax breaks and other benefits to attract new hotels, industries and downtown upgrades, suggests the city‘s economic development advisory committee. Committee chairman Jim Dunlop said in a report to council this week the city should create three “economic investment zones” to attract new investment for the hotel/motel sector, downtown and the industrial area. The proposal calls for a 100 per cent tax break for five years for any new three-star or better hotel with a minimum of 50 rooms, or renovations exceeding $100,000 to an existing hotel or motel. The committee suggests a 50 per cent reduction in building permit fees and development cost charges payable on a project. Developers should also have an opportunity to defer payment of DCCs to a later stage in the city‘s building approval process.

Similar breaks are recommended for upgrades to downtown buildings, with a 100 per cent exemption of DCCs proposed for the industrial zone. Dunlop noted the proposed tax relief would only pertain to the increase in value of a property, not the current tax bill. Construction would have to begin by Dec. 31, 2011 and be completed by the end of 2013. “The main purpose of this is to develop a competitive environment and an investment strategy for the revitalization of existing businesses and to be able to attract new investments into Penticton,” Dunlop said. Pointing to a need for more high quality hotel rooms in the city, Dunlop said the tax breaks could provide incentives for improvement of existing facilities and possible a new hotel. Downtown building upgrades would improve the entire city core, he added. “We wish to attract new businesses to downtown, new customers to downtown and to be able to create a more vibrant downtown.”

Dunlop said industrial area tax breaks would provide incentives for new construction and businesses, as well as significant renovation to existing facilities looking to expand. “We would really like to support the retention, enhancement and attraction of new jobs and opportunities within the community,” he said. Council voted unanimously to accept the report in principle and refer its recommendations to city staff for further review. Mayor Dan Ashton lauded the work of the committee, but noted there may be some adjustment to the percentages of the proposed breaks once it comes back for debate during council‘s 2010 budget deliberations.

Library board keeps lights on

The Daily Courier 2009-11-19

Okanagan libraries won‘t face summertime closures, the regional board decided on Wednesday. During the Okanagan Regional Library board‘s full-day meeting, board members approved a $14.87-million operating budget for 2010, ensuring that all branches will remain open with regular hours for the year. The board‘s finance committee had brought forward a proposed budget to deal with recent provincial government cutbacks that would involve several reductions, including a week-long system-wide closure in the summer.

However, board members voted to add $40,000 to the budget in order to prevent closures, as well as approving an additional $250,000 to a reserve fund for future buildings. While potential branch closures were not part of the debate at this meeting, board members want a complete assessment of smaller branches and how they fit with board policy to be reviewed in 2010.
Due to the reduction of provincial grants, cuts will include:
-- Summer reading clubs will have less funding for materials and promotion.
-- Babytime programs will be cancelled at seven branches.
-- The ORL will not print and mail overdue notices in cases where patrons can be notified via phone or email.
The ORL will work with branches in the coming months to implement changes with as little disruption as possible.
A new strategic planning process has been approved to begin in 2010, and members will consult with the public on how to best serve their communities.

Municipalities caught in a financial squeeze

Penticton Western Editorial November 12, 2009

When the Canadian Federation of Independent Business released its municipal spending report last week, it caused the hair on the backs of many of the province’s mayors to stand up like dobermans guarding a warehouse. And with a certain amount of good reason. For decades, municipalities have been in the unenviable position of having to provide core, front-line services without much opportunity beyond property taxes and service charges to control revenue generation for their budgets, which by law must be balanced. In the ‘90s, this predicament worsened as deficit-reducing senior governments off-loaded responsibilities: dad shared his problems with his son, who turned around and kicked the dog. But the dog fought back and slowly the province began to concede that municipalities, with their localized perspectives, could and should run programs more effectively than the province or feds, and thus needed more money to do so.

And so when a report criticizing municipalities for a province-wide average increase in operating spending 1.78 times higher than population and inflation growth between 2000 and 2007 hit the headlines, mayors got protective of the funding they have fought to get, and arguably continue to need more of. However, the health of a democracy is maintained by checks and balances. CFIB’s report is a check, presenting some valid points, for instance: should B.C.’s municipal workers earn on average 10.4 per cent (34.9 per cent including benefits) more than their private-sector counterparts?

It seems that the mayors who are the most upset with the report are the ones from municipalities who have been shown to have the biggest gap between increased spending and population-inflation growth. Luckily Penticton’s Dan Ashton is not such a mayor. Ashton defended the good work the city does while conceding that efficiencies could and should be found in the city’s operations to lower its budget in a socially responsible manner.Let’s hope the core services review he and council have initiated will do just that.

CLICK on IMAGE to ENLARGE:

Freedom of Information (FOI) received. Reveal insight into Political Intellect.

After waiting for several years and fighting with many layers of bureaucracy, the FOI request for the academic records of a leading Local Politician were finally received. The 48 page report was covered in redactions and blackout and the only part that was left untouched was the answer given by that Politician to a question on his Grade 11 Algebra Test as shown on left.

This may be a Dumb (or brilliant) Math Answer. You be the judge.

The name of the particular Politician was blacked out but the readers may recognize the handwriting.

Vancouver trying to hold property-tax increase to 2%

By Frank Luba, The ProvinceNovember 18, 2009

There will be more fees and less services in Vancouver if council goes along with the recommendations that city manager Penny Ballem presented Tuesday in her update on the 2010 budget. Despite the cuts, there's a shortfall of $11 million and because the city can't run a deficit, property taxes will have to go up two per cent overall to make up the difference. Council will get a formal report Dec. 1 and hold a public hearing at a date yet to be determined. The final decision on how much will be cut -- or the unlikely option of taxes higher than two per cent -- will be made Dec. 15. "We're in a very difficult economic situation," Ballem told council. "Everyone is facing these problems."

Despite signs the economy is recovering, the future will see continuing cuts in Vancouver. "This continues through 2011," said Ballem. Mayor Gregor Robertson conceded "none of the cuts is pleasant." "I'm satisfied at this stage that staff have done an exhaustive job to spread the load to get to a very modest tax increase," he said. Eight public meetings have been held on the budget and a web survey on the city home page will continue through to Friday. The Vancouver parks board has already voted to increase fees at community centres and are considering closing the Stanley Park children's farmyard and the 40-year-old Bloedel Conservatory. Other possible cost-saving moves include:

- The Vancouver Police Department may not fill 35 vacancies.
- Riley Park Library may be closed sooner than planned because it's being replaced by a new facility.
- The Heritage Railway by Granville Island likely won't run and the city won't put up any street banners unless they're provided by somebody else.

- And there will also be job losses -- 158 full-time equivalent positions.

Inflation above zero to 0.1 per cent in October. First positive month since May

The Canadian Press: Wed Nov 18,

OTTAWA - Canada no longer has a negative inflation rate, Statistics Canada said Wednesday. The annual inflation rate jumped a full point to edge above the zero line at 0.1 per cent in October, reversing an unusual situation that had existed since May in Canada where overall prices were lower than they had been a year earlier. And it's unlikely the inflation rate will fall below zero again for some time. For months, analysts said Canada's negative inflation situation was not worrisome because it was based solely on one phenomenon which was primed to be reversed - record gasoline prices last summer. The correction began in October, as the gap between this year's gasoline prices and the previous year closed from 23 per cent to 13.1 per cent. Statistics Canada noted that excluding energy prices, Canada's annual inflation rate would be 1.4 per cent.

Bank Of Canada Inflation Tables:

October 2009

Total CPI 114.6

Core CPI 114.2

Total CPI Change 0.1

Core CPI Change 1.8

September 2009

114.7

114.1

-0.9

1.5

November 2008

114.1

113.0

2.0

2.4

Don Quixote Note: Council Salaries are adjusted each Jan 1 for the CPI as measured in November. Last years CPI in Nov. 2008 made for a 2% adjustment upwards. This last change from a .9% decrease to a modest .1% increase probably ensures that the Politicians and any other employees that have a CPI clause in their contracts of employment will not have to give back any salary in the upcoming 2010 year.

Heads Won't Roll?

By Andrew MacLeod, Today, TheTyee.ca

BC's premier pledged to cut 'senior executive ranks' by 20 per cent, but can offer no proof it happened. Tyee calculations raise doubts.

When Premier Gordon Campbell announced during a televised speech in February that British Columbia would run two years of deficits, he stressed that the government was already finding places to save money. One of those places was from among the top ranks of the civil service. He promised to cut the positions for one in five of the province's senior bureaucrats. As he put it in that Feb. 2 speech "The senior executive ranks will be reduced by 20 per cent to contribute to this overall belt-tightening." The gesture, made at a time when British Columbians were being asked to accept deficit spending and reduced services, suggested the pain would be widespread. Within the civil service, workers in lower ranked jobs were assured the bosses' jobs would be affected as their jobs were. But nine months later it is not at all clear that the government followed through and met its target, despite having claimed that it did. In fact, it may only be halfway there. (More details)

Victoria police spent $141,000 in overtime for Olympic torch relay

Victoria Times ColonistNovember 17, 2009

VICTORIA — Victoria police bore the lion's share of security costs for south Vancouver Island police departments during last month's 2010 Olympic torch relay launch, newly released figures show. Victoria spent $141,000 on overtime alone. Finalized costs, such as those for officers' meal allowances and stables for Vancouver police horses, are still being tallied. Other districts, excluding those policed by the RCMP, had combined overtime costs of $27,500. RCMP figures are not available. Victoria police spokesman Sgt. Grant Hamilton said Victoria's higher costs were to be expected with the launch taking place in the city. He said the costs have already been absorbed into the police service's operating budget. The overtime bill included $88,000 for the day of the torch relay itself. Training, intelligence gathering and planning leading up to Oct. 30 event, as well as the post-event wrap-up added another $53,000 of overtime to that bill.

Vees shortfall adds to SOEC deficit

By JOHN MOORHOUSE Wednesday, November 18, 2009 Penticton Herald:

A $300,000 deficit in revenues from Penticton Vees games has added to a $1.2-million shortfall for the South Okanagan Events Centre over the first nine months of this year. Jack Kler, the city‘s director of corporate services, told Penticton council Monday night that the three facilities operated by Global Spectrum -- the SOEC, Memorial Arena and the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre -- showed a combined deficit of $1,559,000 as of Sept. 30. This is already more than the budgeted $1.5-million shortfall for all of 2009. The city previously subsidized the convention centre and Memorial Arena by $750,000 a year.

Coun. Mike Pearce said the city is subsidizing the Vees operation considerably. The city signed a three-year contract with the hockey club owners in 2008, which sees the city (through Global Spectrum) pay the Vees a lump sum of $650,000 for their annual operating expenses. The city then gains all ticket, concession and advertising revenues at the SOEC. The Vees also get 50 per cent of gross ticket revenues during the playoffs, with a $5,000 bonus for each playoff round they win. If the team wins the B.C. Hockey League‘s Fred Page Cup, the club receives a $10,000 bonus. However, Kler said game revenues so far have fallen short of projections. “When we first entered into the contract there was an expectation of a certain level of attendance and all of the income associated with that,” he said. “Those projections haven‘t panned out the way we expected.” The Vees‘ average home attendance over the first 12 games of the 2009-10 season is 1,560 Ð third highest in the league. Neil Jamieson, who represents the Vees on the BCHL board of governors, said Tuesday fan support has been solid. “From our perspective we have done everything we can to raise the bar to provide a top calibre Junior A hockey for the fans in Penticton,” he said.

“Global Spectrum has been working hard to understand our market in Penticton and has made some adjustments that will hopefully allow more families to enjoy our team." These include a lowering of ticket prices to $12 for adults and concession stand prices, along with other measures. Jamieson said the SOEC is a great recruiting tool for the team. “There is always growing pains -- especially in the substantial step-up in venues from the great old Memorial Arena,” he said. “We have four players that most likely will be drafted into the NHL in the June 2010 NHL draft - unheard of for a Junior A team.”

Mayor Dan Ashton said the Vees‘ contribution to the community as a whole shouldn‘t be overlooked. “The Penticton Vees are an integral part of the new Events Centre,” he said. “It‘s a new atmosphere, a new venue for the Vees and substantially bigger.” The mayor pointed to the large crowd at last Friday night‘s game against Westside, although he acknowledged that mid-week games remain a tough sell. Meanwhile, Ashton said council is trying to keep a close eye on overall operating expenses at the SOEC. “It is a brand new venture for the City of Penticton and we are working diligently to ensure that it is run the way it should be run and the benefits be received back to the people of Penticton,” he said. Pearce, who chairs the city‘s SOEC review committee, said some serious discussions will be held with Global Spectrum over the Events Centre‘s operating deficit during next few months. “We have to stop the leakage of dollars out of there, any more than what it is,” he said. “We‘re looking at the food operations to see if it‘s possible to get more money out of that.” Pearce noted October revenues were bolstered by the sold-out Brooks & Dunn concert, and the operation is expected to break even for the month.

Vernon ready to tackle a disaster

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 17, 2009 7:00 PM

It’s a place City of Vernon officials hope to avoid as much as possible, but they are reassured of its presence during a disaster. The city has officially relocated its emergency operations centre to the second floor of the Telus building on Coldstream Avenue. “You hope you don’t use it but it’s behind the scenes all of the time,” said Brent Watson, emergency program co-ordinator. Telus will use the room regularly for training, but when an emergency strikes — whether it is a fuel leak, flood or wildfire — Watson, other city staff and volunteers will converge to cope with the situation. “I can pretty much roll this out and get things going in 20 minutes,” said Watson of all of the necessary equipment being in one place. Previously, the EOC was located at the Vernon fire hall, and the cramped quarters were inadequate. “There were space concerns and stuff was stored upstairs and downstairs,” said Watson. “We couldn’t event contemplate a level three (major incident) in the other facility.”

For a standard emergency, the new EOC will house 15 to 20 people but that could climb to more than 50 during a level three scenario, such as the recent Terrace Mountain blaze. “This provides site support to fire, police, public works and ambulance,” said Watson of the EOC being in constant contact with emergency crews out in the field. Throughout the vast room, various stations are set up according to specific tasks — logistics, operations, planning and administration, where Watson would sit with the emergency director and information and risk management personnel. Communications technology has been upgraded, including installment of a giant white board allows officials to physically map areas out. A big screen TV can provide in-house information or access to the media coverage. Elsewhere in the building, there are meeting rooms and a sizable kitchen. “It’s one of the most advanced EOCs in the region, if not the Interior,” said Watson.

“It’s a major milestone for emergency preparedness. We’re well equipped for anything in the future.” The Telus building was selected as the site of the new EOC because it is central and its height provides the ability to see across the community. It’s brick construction also means it will likely remain standing during a disaster. “It’s one of the more resistant buildings in the Okanagan for earthquakes or explosions,” said Watson. Telus is providing the space free of charge to the city, and the corporation was heavily involved in ensuring up-to-date technology is in place. “This is the culmination of months of planning,” said Steve Jenkins, Telus’ Southern Interior general manager for customer solutions delivery. As a result of Telus not charging rent, the city only had to invest $9,000 in terms of communications upgrades. “It’s very efficient and much needed,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol of the EOC. “It started out as a germ of an idea and it’s worked out positively.” As Vernon and Coldstream partner in emergency programming, the facility will also serve as a backup EOC for Coldstream if its municipal office is closed because of an incident.

Teens give back to community

Cara Brady - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 17, 2009 7:00 PM

Teen Junction Youth Centre members are saying thank you for a grant that allows the centre to stay open with their 24-4-24 food drive for the food bank. The $30,000 one-time grant, approved by Vernon city council recently, will have $15,000 go to the youth centre and $15,000 towards youth and literacy programs. “The youth want to give something back so they will be here for 24 hours, watching movies, playing games, drinking lots of coffee and taking donations of food and cash from the public,” said centre youth program coordinator Michelle Freebairn. Kristyn Schoenknecht, a Grade 11 Seaton School student who has been a member of the youth centre for three years, is grateful and relieved that the centre is going to stay open. She did a presentation to city council with the grant application. “When I thought it was closing, I was in tears. I come here all the time to do homework and see friends and listen to music and just hang out,” she said. “The people here have helped me so much and I don’t know what I would do without it. I was nervous to talk to council but I would have done almost anything to help the centre stay open and I’m so happy that it did. I just want to say thank you, a major thank you to everyone.”

Mayor Wayne Lippert dropped over to the centre to meet the members. “We’ve given these young people a chance to improve themselves, and an opportunity to come together. Things like this make us a better community. Youth is our future and I’m very proud of council and the community for their support,” he said. The sleepless sleepover takes place from noon Saturday to noon Sunday at the centre at 3104-37th Ave. The youth are participating by giving $24 or 24 cans of food. The community can help by sponsoring a youth to participate, volunteering to help or bringing by donations of any amount during the event or to The Junction Literacy Centre during regular business hours. For more information call 250-307-4581 or email mfreebairn@junctionyouth.ca.

Councillor seeks way to balance city's budget without pink slips

By Andy Ivens, The Province November 17, 2009

At least one Vancouver councillor is holding out hope the city can balance its 2010 budget without having to lay off staff. "Hopefully it will not involve pink slips," Coun. David Cadman told The Province Monday. He is optimistic staff reductions will be reached through a combination of a hiring freeze, not replacing retirees and shuffling employees to fill in gaps. "The normal retirement rate every year is pretty high," said the councillor.Faced with a looming $61-million hole in the budget, council asked city staff in September to find savings that didn't slash services too heavily. That has reduced the gap to $28 million.

Budget proposals being put to council today call for a cull of 158 positions from the city's workforce of 6,700 regular employees and bumping taxes up by two per cent. The city is not allowed to run a deficit. "I want to really look and see where this is really going to bite," he said. "Are we going to have a dirtier city as a consequence? I don't think that's acceptable. "Are we going to have less active community centres or shorter library hours? These are the things that we really need some answers to," said Cadman.

Vision Coun. Raymond Louie said: "The issue is finding an appropriate balance between tax increase and maintaining jobs and services. "What staff have been trying to do for the past several months is to thread that needle . . . and close that $60-million gap we were faced with." The city has held eight neighbourhood budget-consultation sessions and Mayor Gregor Robertson has sat down with business and community leaders, he pointed out. "Close to 1,400 people provided feedback and ideas to the city," he said, adding an online forum and web survey remain open for comments. A further budget report will be put to council and a final public hearing will held before councillors finalize the budget on Dec. 15. - Cadman is expected to put a motion to council today urging the city to look at an innovative program that would recycle residents' unwanted household goods, saving them from going to the landfill. "People would put out materials either at a nominal cost or for free," he said. He is proposing to hold the "freebie" days once or twice a year on a Saturday.

MUNICIPALITIES RECEIVE $15.9 MILLION IN LIEU OF TAXES

VICTORIA – The Province, through the Ministry of Citizens’ Services, is providing $15.9 million to 63 B.C. municipalities as grants-in-lieu of property taxes for 2009, announced Minister Ben Stewart.

VERNON $76,958
Kamloops $1,266,204
Kelowna $357,722
Penticton $94,588

Secondary suites still divide council

Wayne Moore -Nov 17, 2009 CASTANET:

The issue of secondary suites returned to Kelowna Council chambers Monday, with no clear consensus on a way to proceed. At the present time, secondary suites are only permitted within homes zoned R6. Staff asked that they be allowed to explore adding secondary suites within the main single detached dwelling of homes zoned A1, RR1, RR2, RR3, RU1, RU2 and RU3. "From a planning policy perspective, a lot of secondary suites makes a lot of sense," says Land Use Management Director, Shelley Gambacort. "We have always encouraged it through policy. The stumbling block always seems to be how to allow it in more zones." Gambacort says it's hard to get the general public on the same page.

That seems to include the nine members of council as well. "I'm not sure we are ready to go to every zone of the city with blanket zoning," says Councillor Luke Stack. "When I see the way this is written, it does raise concerns because I know it is a very divisive issue and the city is not united." Stack says he likes many of the recommendations being made, but isn't sure blanket zoning will fly. Councillor Robert Hobson believes secondary suites are the most affordable way of providing housing to people with the least social impact on the community. "I'm in favour of more liberalization of secondary suites in the city. I like the principle of allowing them within existing homes, if they have adequate off-street parking, says Hobson. "If council is not united in that direction then maybe staff should come back with some step-by-step approaches where maybe we allow them only within some zones that have a certain minimum parcel size."

While most on council were in favour of changes to the system, Councillor Andre Blanleil believes it is working fine. "I don't think the system is broke. I think we support 90 or 95 per cent of those, but at the end of the day at least the public in the neighbourhood has the ability to come forward and say their piece," says Blanleil. "That's pretty much what we have been doing the last six months or a year now is re-zoning suites." The recommendations passed with Blanleil casting the lone dissenting vote.

Revelstoke’s Hockeyville bid needs your support

Gary McLaughlin - Revelstoke Times Review Published: November 16, 2009 6:00 PM

On November 5 Revelstoke entered the Kraft Hockeyville 2010 competition and was immediately accepted after the wonderful community profile submitted by the committee topped off with the fantastic photos supplied by Kip Wiley. As of now we’re in first place in Western Canada with 20 stories. But compared to communities in Ontario with 60 stories and Quebec with 110 stories we have a long way to go. There are currently 1,073 people signed up at the Revelstoke Hockeyville 2010 Facebook page and to have them all write stories would boost us even further. There’s only approximately 60 days left to post your story until the cuts to the final 12 are made. Remember, Terrace’s successful bid last year had over 700 stories.

Now the real work begins Revelstoke and it’s all up to each and every one of YOU! Here’s what you need to do: Log into www.cbcsports.ca/hockeyville, select ‘SUBMIT YOUR STORY’ then click on Revelstoke. From there you complete your story and submit your mandatory photo.

On Nov. 28 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. the Revelstoke Hockeyville Committee will be hosting a story workshop at the Community Centre for those who do not have internet access. Bring your ideas with a picture which we will scan and post on your behalf! Keep an eye out for posters advertising this event. On Dec. 5 the committee will be hosting Hockeyville Night in Revelstoke at the Forum at the Grizzlies home game. Come on out and support the bid and your hometown Grizzlies! More to come on this event. Once again I wish, on behalf of the Revelstoke Hockeyville 2010 committee, to thank all the great people that have helped us out along the way. Please take the time to write your story and show the rest of Canada that Revelstoke deserves to be called Hockeyville.

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Don Quixote Note: Vernon has been nominated in this competition but as of yet the description of our arena and pictures have not yet been posted.

• Wesbild Centre (Vernon) This community is not yet eligible. Submit a story and photo.

Besides your community having the exclusive bragging rights that come with being crowned Kraft Hockeyville 2010, the winning hockey community is also awarded prizes to help them make their mark in Canada’s hockey history.

• $100,000 from Kraft Canada dedicated to upgrading the home arena endorsed through your winning Kraft Hockeyville entry.
• An NHL® pre-season game hosted in your community arena.*
• A CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast from your community.

New rules for hillside developments

by Wayne Moore - Story: 50873 CASTANET Nov 17, 2009 / 5:00 am

Kelowna City Council has approved a new set of hillside development guidelines designed to cut down on red tape and improve the dialogue between developers and city planners. The guidelines were brought forward by Subdivision Approving Officer Ryan Smith Monday as a result of an audit done a number of years ago which indicated the hillside development guidelines be reviewed and changes recommended. "Since the early 2000's when Kelowna experienced one of the biggest development booms in our history, I think many of us have questioned the large cuts and scars in the hillsides, retaining walls, fill slopes and erosion that have all been spin-offs of the pace of development in the hillsides," says Smith. "The policy document you have in front of you is the vision and guidelines that will guide a variety of process and bylaw changes."

The consultant who worked on the report says there was never any clear expectation to the developer and their consultant as to what the city wanted. We feel this goes a long way in providing clarity to the developer and their consultants as to how do you do a geo-technical report," says consultant Bob Tordoff. "We have also provided a specific way of how to present all professional reports. All professional reports should have a certain standard. They should all be signed off and sealed by an appropriate professional so you don't have an engineer doing planning and biologists doing landscaping and so on." Smith says the approach is unique and just as the city was a leader with the original set of hillside guidelines, it will be with this as well.
He does caution though that chances will not all occur at once. "With the bylaw changes, the Official Community Plan will probably be the last document to come into place to support this document next year. That's really the umbrella that ties all of this together."

In supporting the recommendations, Councillor Robert Hobson says hillside developments need to start with a vision and clearly they didn't have one in the past. "We have approved thousands of units to occur on the hillsides so they are going to occur there, the question is how to do it in a way that maintains the hillsides as something beautiful and iconic," says Hobson. "I am hopeful that this approach which is a more cohesive approach will achieve that and we will see more respect for the natural environment that is there today and build into it rather than trying to change the natural environment to be an easy and accessible piece of flatland." While Councillor Charlie Hodge called some developments shameful, colleague Andre Blanleil took a more tempered approach. "I think there are some good examples. Some people are throwing out some insults here, but I think Dilworth is a good example of hillside development that does, after it's grown in, look very, very good," says Blanleil. "I am glad that the development community is on side. There's nothing more frustrating as when there is not a clear direction. If we are all on the same page and understand the process we will see a lot less flaws which has been part of the problem." Blanleil says getting all departments together as one focused program will make the process better for everybody. Council endorsed the recommendations as proposed.
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Item 5.1 - City of Kelowna Hillside Development Guidelines.pdf (32781kb) (2009-11-12)

Sewage plan hits new snag

Oak Bay News: Published: November 16, 2009 5:00 PM

Concern over environmental damage from spreading sewage sludge on land helped delay a decision on what to with Greater Victoria’s biosolids, as the region fine tunes its plans for a sewage treatment system. Politicians on the Capital Regional District’s core-area liquid waste management looked over a consultant’s report that recommended a mix of uses, including selling dried sludge to fuel cement kilns, as well as for use as dried fertilizer, top soil and for reclaiming mines. It also suggests building a plant at the Hartland landfill that would produce electricity by burning dried sludge and garbage.

But the prospect of spreading sewage on dry land, even after treatment and composting, shouldn’t be on the table, Victoria Coun. Philippe Lucas argued. “I have some discomfort that we’re overestimating benefits and underestimating problems,” he said. Lucas added that the treated sludge will be still be laden with heavy metals and cancer-causing chemicals that mimic human hormones and interfere with normal development. Consultant Steve Krugel, with the firm Brown and Caldwell, acknowledged that sludge contains some hazardous substances, but said it’s being used safely in land applications across North America and Europe. Other committee members voiced other concerns with the proposals before voting to delay a decision.

Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins said a decision shouldn’t be made without knowing how much carbon will be produced from trucking the sludge and what the Hartland energy plant would cost. The committee will meet Wednesday (Nov. 18) to make a decision.