Open house draws few

By STACIE SNOW Morning Star Staff Jun 24 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

If the modest turnout during an open house regarding the proposed civic complex block in the downtown core is any indication of the number of Vernonites opposed to the project, the complex will go ahead. Few individuals turned out at City Hall on Wednesday to speak with the city staff, RCMP, architects, library and art gallery representatives about an alternative approval process that would allow the City to borrow $20 million over a 25-year period for the construction of a civic complex. The complex would incorporate facilities for the City Hall, Okanagan Regional Library, RCMP headquarters, Public Art Gallery and Vernon Museum and Archives.

“You will see a significant update to the current structure,” said Leon Gous, chief administrative officer for the City of Vernon. “The building itself is not finalized, we are working on the detailed design right now. We are trying to reduce the footprint and make less of an impact. We will work with the site and make it a point of pride for the city.” Maureen Kuch, the Vernon Library head librarian, said the library will be housed on the main level and will require 30,000 square feet. “We are bursting at the seams and our tax payers are not getting the services they are paying for,” said Kuch. The library will pay $9 million towards the construction, with the city contributing another $20 million for a total of $29 million. It is estimated that the cost to the average homeowner would be $38 per year.

“We just can’t afford it,” said Brian Vince-Smith, referring to the library, art gallery and museum aspects of the projects. “They are a luxury that we do not need. Our safety is what is important and we need to give the money to the RCMP so we can be safe to walk the streets at night.” Cpl. Henry Proce of the Vernon RCMP said the extra space that the complex would provide is desperately needed. “We are really squeezed for space,” he said. “We have people coming in and no where to put them. We have had to convert garage and storage space to offices and it is a challenge to work like that.”

Mary Vince-Smith is adamantly against the alternate approval process that requires individuals to pick up an elector response form and vote against the borrowing, if they are opposed. “It is a slimy way of doing things,” she said, adding that a referendum would be an acceptable solution. “It is not moral. What about older people who have no way to get down here and vote?” City Clerk Patti Bridal said the process is more effective than a referendum because it gives people the option to bring the electoral response form to those who are unable to pick it up from the library, art gallery or City Hall. Beginning on July 16, electors of the City of Vernon who are opposed to the borrowing may sign an Alternative Approval process Elector Response form. Electors will have 30 days to express their opinion to the bylaw. All Elector Response forms must be received by the City Clerk before 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 15. The number of electors of the City of Vernon is estimated to be 27,772. If 10 per cent of the estimated number of electors sign an alternative approval process form against the proposal, City Council will not be able to proceed with long-term borrowing.

Former Coldstream mayor Gyula Kiss said this process is not democratic. “They should bring the topic to the public,” he said. “You need to say ‘This is how much it is going to cost. Do you want to pay?’ And if 50 per cent plus one say yes then do it. If not, pay attention. We need to start practising democracy,” he said.

Marg Bailey, deputy chief administrative officer for the City of Vernon, said the issue is no longer whether the proposal will go on, now it is about the method of payment. “Whether this is going to happen is not the question, it is just about the borrowing aspect.” The City will hold two more open houses on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and June 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.