Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Social Responsibility Fund will not be funded by NEW slots in 2006 !

After the Oct. 7/05 public hearing, Council passed the resolution that in my view allowed the zoning to be changed to allow a "Community Gaming Centre" in the Service Commercial Zone. Final adoption was passed Oct.24/05 with Coun. Beardsell and O'keefe opposed. http://www.vernon.ca/council/documents/2005/minutes_051024.pdf

As you can see from my older posting ( below) I queried whether this was the proper procedure and whether the Public Hearing was properly advertised etc. Because of my prodding that this resolution and process was not correct to permit Slot machines etc. in the Bingo Hall and at some of the Councillors insistence the matter was referred in late October 2005 to the B.C. Lottery Corp for clarification and ruling. Sometime in mid August 2006 the City FINALLY received word back from the B.C. Lottery Corp. They concluded that the procedure followed was not correct and that the Province had not initiated any request to sponser the Bingo Hall becoming a Community Gaming Centre. Therefore the City did not meet the Local Host approval process. In other words, back to square one for Slots in the Bingo Hall.

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FROM A PREVIOUS DON QUIXOTE POSTING OF Tuesday, October 11. 2005 Zoning amendment first step in slots coming to Bingo Hall

Despite a bylaw to add gaming facilities and delete bingo facilities in the Service Commercial Zone that passed third reading by a 4-2 vote, the move to add slot machines, a horse racing parlour and lounge at Fairweather Bingo is actually just at a starting point. This bylaw that must still pass 4th and final reading ALLOWS these type of activities to be carried on in this zone at a "Community Gaming Facility" It does not PERMIT these activities until approved by council and the province.

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