Questions I hope to hear at the COW meeting Monday.

Tomorrow at the COW Meeting in the Morning Mr. Greg Walker of the BC Lottery Corporation will attend, at Council’s request to provide information regarding local casinos.

Questions that I hope to hear the answers to are:

1. Has the Council already approved the zoning for the expansion and relocation of the Casino? (During the first quarter of 2007 Lake City Casinos entered into an offer to lease a 30,000 sq. ft. single purpose building to be constructed at the Silverstar Shopping Center located at 100-400 Anderson Way in Vernon. The new casino is anticipated to contain up to 400 slot machines, 6 live tables, 2 electronic tables and a small poker room with 2 poker tables.)
2. Will this expanded Casino receive an additional FDC (Facilty Development Commission) amount equal to 2% of the gross win from the redeveloped casino property on projects approved by the BCLC after July 1, 2006? ( Burnaby example) Accordingly, beginning with the opening of the new casino in late spring 2008, the Fund will receive total FDC for Burnaby equal to 5% of the gross win from the new casino. Once all approved eligible costs have been recovered, FDC will accumulate at a rate of 3% of gross revenue, to be applied against future eligible approved expenditures.)
3. Since this is an additional 2% of Gross and it affects the City of Vernon's 10% of net take, will the 10% be adjusted upwards to compensate for this introduction of a contract change approved only by the BCLC and not the City ?
4. Will the The Revenue Agreement signed by the City of Penticton, Lake City Casinos, the BC Lottery Corp (BCLC) and the provincial Government in the summer of 2006 re the South Okanagan Centre be released to the public ?
5. When the Casino agrees to give up their 1/6 cut of Gross from the Destination Assistance Compensation (DAC) funding as they did in their destination Casino in Penticton over the next 13 years what was their consideration to sign such a deal? Based on the Fiscal year end March 31 ,2007 this would be (2,543,797 x 13 = $33,069,361) Over the same 13 period City of Penticton was dedicating 6 2/3% of their 16/23% take to the project. 2,543,797x 6 2/3%/ 16 2/3% x 13 = $13,231,711.
6. Can Vernon arrange the same kind of deal ?
7. Does BCLC stand by the Dec. 14, 2005 letter from Solicitor General John Les that states " The Government will no longer be concerned whether the revenue to support these grants are generated from the Bingo Hall or from other forms of gaming in what has historically referred to as a "top-up" ? (Copy of letter at Allow slots or risk losing cash source? )
8. Is the Casino relocation Policy regarding public consulatation still in full force and effect?

http://www.bclc.com/cm/aboutbclc/mediacentre/relocation.htm

Casino relocation policy B.C. Lottery Corporation

Some of the steps as described in the BCLC Policy Include:

The first step in a casino relocation is BCLC's identification of a desirable relocation opportunity. If a suitable relocation opportunity is identified, BCLC contacts the municipality, regional district or First Nation with authority over land use planning (referred to as a "Local Government") in the preferred market area to determine whether the Local Government is interested in hosting a relocated casino.

In addition to identifying a Preferred Host Local Government, the Corporation contacts the casino service provider at the casino BCLC is considering relocating (referred to as the "Service Provider") to discuss whether the Service Provider is interested in providing operational services at a relocated casino.

If the Corporation is satisfied with the preliminary business plan presented by the Service Provider, BCLC will request development of a more detailed proposal for the relocated casino. The detailed proposal must be satisfactory to both BCLC and the Preferred Host Local Government.

Following its preliminary review of the relocation, if BCLC decides to continue with the potential relocation, BCLC will ask the Preferred Host Local Government for its approval.Prior to providing its approval to BCLC, the Preferred Host Local Government must undertake a public consultation process which allows the opportunity for community input.

The Preferred Host Local Government must also consult with other Local Governments as required by s.19(1)(b) of the Gaming Control Act. The specific processes to be used for these consultations will be determined by the Preferred Host Local Government but must comply with the requirements of the Gaming Control Act and the Regulations.Following completion of its consultations, the Preferred Host Local Government notifies BCLC whether it is prepared to approve BCLC's proposed casino relocation. The approval must be in the form required by s.13 of the Regulations. A copy of the approval is to be provided to any Local Governments consulted as described above.

If the Preferred Host Local Government is not prepared to approve BCLC's proposed casino relocation then BCLC will not complete the proposed casino relocation to that preferred market area.BCLC makes the final decision regarding any potential relocation and may take into account any factors that it considers relevant. Prior to finalizing its decision and completing the proposed casino relocation, BCLC must be satisfied that all of the statutory prerequisites for a relocation have been met.