Petition process proceeds

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff Jul 15 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

Council’s first major challenge since coming to power will be waged door-to-door. With the city launching an alternate approval process Monday to borrow $20 million for a new library/office complex, the Vernon Taxpayers Association is prepared for battle. “We will go full out against this proposal and we’ll see what happens,” said Tony Stamboulieh, with the association. The association’s goal is to collect the names of at least 10 per cent of Vernon’s voters, or 2,777 names. If that happens, the city’s attempts to long-term borrow the $20 million are blocked and other routes must be considered. “We have arranged to have enough petitions done up for 5,000 names,” said Stamboulieh. “There’s a very strong will to make this happen by taxpayers.” The association objects to the alternate approval process, claiming that it’s not understood by voters and a referendum would be more transparent. “They (city) should show respect for the people they are serving,” said Stamboulieh. Until Aug. 15, the association will collect petition signatures by visiting neighbourhoods and setting up tables outside city hall, Butcher Boys, the Vernon Recreation Complex, the Towne Cinema, the Schubert Centre and at the Vernon Farmers Market.

Watching the association closely will be Mayor Wayne Lippert. “That’s their right to do so (collect names) but I want to make sure people have the information necessary,” he said. We’ve had three information sessions and I didn’t see any of their executive there.” With the exception of Coun. Barry Beardsell, all of council has endorsed the alternate approval process instead of going to referendum. “Council agonized over this issue. We would have liked a referendum but the timeline didn’t fit,” said Lippert. The city insists a referendum would have delayed a funding commitment to Okanagan Regional Library for a new building, while jeopardizing access to government grants.

If the alternate approval process fails, council has considered options to keep the project on track, including going to referendum, short-term financing or selling property. Lippert points out that the alternate approval process is only seeking approval to long-term borrow up to $20 million and it’s not about the complex itself. In fact, planning for the building is under way, with contracts issued last week for architectural services and quantity surveying work. As of Monday, alternate approval petitions are available at city hall, the library and art gallery. “All forms have to be back in by 4:30 p.m. Aug. 15,” said Patti Bridal, city clerk. Petitions can also be printed off the city’s website (www.vernon.ca) but the form is double-sided and both sides are required to be accepted. With canvassers going door-to-door, Bridal says there is an onus on residents to be familiar with the rules. “Legally, you are only allowed to sign the petition once,” she said. After Aug. 15, all names and addresses will be processed to ensure they are from Vernon. “People in Areas B and C and Coldstream have no say on this matter,” said Bridal.

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Decision time is here Jul 15 2007 EDITORIAL http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

After considerable debate, the City of Vernon will now learn first-hand if it correctly gauged public opinion or if it’s headed for failure. The alternate approval process begins Monday and runs until Aug. 15. Through it, residents will be asked if they favour long-term borrowing of up to $20 million to construct a new library/civic building. And residents must be clear that the question only deals with how to finance the project, not whether the project is necessary. But that aside, the city continues to ignore the fact that the alternate approval process is flawed and highly undemocratic. It puts all of the onus on residents to organize opposition and it’s a system that is largely not understood by the general public. The preferred option would have been the traditional referendum, and the city’s excuses that there isn’t enough time for a referendum are just that, excuses. If there is such a push to access government grants, why wasn’t public opinion solicited months ago?

The other flaw with the alternate approval process is it’s possibly open to abuse by anyone who takes a petition and goes door-to-door seeking names. It is incumbent on both the canvassers and the voter to have all of the information on the city’s proposal and to consider both the pros and cons. Remember that while the alternate approval system is foreign to us, it is same as voting and, as such, it should be treated with importance. If you sign a petition without understanding what you are signing, you undermine the process. With all of this in mind, we would encourage all Vernon residents to become active in the process, either signing the petition in opposition or not signing if they favour city hall’s actions.