There are demands on Vernon city hall to walk away from a referendum early in the new year. The Vernon Taxpayers Association believes a Jan. 26 referendum on the proposed civic complex is premature because the official community plan is not completed and there are uncertainties over tenants in the building.“The referendum shouldn’t be happening,” said Tony Stamboulieh, association spokesman.The association will hold a public meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Schubert Centre. The civic complex will be discussed as well as changes to bylaw enforcement in Vernon.On Jan. 26, the city will seek public approval to borrow between $20 and $30 million for construction of a complex that would include a new library and offices for the RCMP and civic workers.Room has also been allotted for the Vernon Public Art Gallery but gallery officials have stated the space is only half of what they require for current and long-term needs. The Greater Vernon Museum is not part of the design.
“Anyone watching the performance of this council will realize they are disconnected with the community at large,” said Stamboulieh.Stamboulieh insists it would be unfair to proceed to referendum until issues regarding the art gallery and the museum are worked out.He also believes the concept for a new building downtown flies in the face of proper land use decisions. “The OCP review is being completed in May so why rush a referendum?” he said.And while council has promised to provide information to the public about the proposed $31 million complex, Stamboulieh says there are still questions about the financial aspects of the project and the need for a larger library.“This council doesn’t offer any leadership. This is a very poor team,” he said.But one veteran politician defends the city’s actions and refutes any suggestions that the referendum should be delayed.
“The vision and ability to assemble land downtown is a good vision,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol. Nicol is adamant that a referendum should proceed in January because the RCMP and civic workers require more space and funding is in place from Okanagan Regional Library.He denies that the public art gallery is being ignored. “There’s a commitment for a $3.5 million art gallery which is a substantive investment,” he said. The city has allocated 7,200-square-feet for the gallery in the proposed complex, whereas the gallery society had requested 15,000 square-feet. It currently has 6,200-square-feet in the parkade.“Sometimes you have to go forward incrementally instead of getting the full solution,” said Nicol.Nicol believes the new civic complex will help revitalize downtown, especially if nearby lands, such as the Vernon Medical Clinic site, are also purchased.“We could connect Cenotaph Park by greenway to the civic complex,” he said.
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Editorial Nov 2: Council must delay vote
It’s unlikely city hall wants advice from the Vernon Taxpayers Association, but it may be a good idea to listen to the organization.The reality is that a referendum in January is doomed for failure and the association is right when it says such a move is premature.First off, there are still significant unknowns about the dollars and cents behind a proposed civic complex. Will it be $20 million or $30 million residents are asked to borrow? No one will know until Okanagan Regional Library confirms if it is actually bringing money to the table.And while the design includes space for the Vernon Public Art Gallery, gallery officials aren’t interested because the room being offered will barely meet their existing needs. One has to wonder why 7,200-square-feet is being set aside, when the gallery has long stated the community requires 15,000-square-feet?Coun. Patrick Nicol says incremental steps are needed, but wouldn’t it be more cost-effective to do the entire gallery project now instead of piecemeal over a period of years?
And let’s not forget that the Greater Vernon Museum has been completely ignored by the city. There is also the fact that council has placed a moratorium on any land use changes during the official community plan review. The proposed civic complex may not fit within those parameters because the site is already zoned public use, but holding off would send a message to all citizens that the rules apply to the city as well.Ultimately, the issue of a civic complex should go before the public but Jan. 26 is not the time. There is still too much homework to be done.
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