Mayor calls for citizens committee / Mayor fights back

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - February 13, 2008

The future of key cultural and administrative agencies in Vernon could rest with the public. Mayor Wayne Lippert suggests a citizens committee be formed to determine the best way to meet the needs of the RCMP, art gallery, museum and other groups. “Now is the time to take it out to the citizens of Greater Vernon and the businesses,” he said. Considerable research has been done over the years on space requirement options for the agencies, and Lippert believes a committee made up of residents could provide a sense of direction so the issue is ultimately resolved. “Let’s put all of the information in their hands,” he said. No decision has been made by council to form such a committee, but Lippert is already looking at ways to determine who would sit on it. “It would have to be advertised and council would have to make that decision (on membership),” he said. The failed Jan. 19 borrowing referendum on a civic complex was only for Vernon residents. But Lippert says it’s time to involve residents from Coldstream and Areas B and C in the process. “The art gallery and museum are a function of the Greater Vernon Services Committee and the library serves Vernon and the extended area,” he said. On Monday, council indicated that it would continue to work with Okanagan Regional Library to try and resolve its space requirements in the community. “We should see what other options are available,” said Coun. Pat Cochrane. Had the referendum been approved, the civic complex would have included a 30,000-square-foot library. The current branch is 13,000-square-feet in size. Cochrane says the goal right now should be to address the short and medium-term requirements of ORL. “There are opportunities with the existing building to meet some of the needs,” he said. “Just because the referendum was turned down doesn’t change the fact that they still have $9 million on the table.” ORL had committed $9 million towards the civic complex project.

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Mayor fights back By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - February 13, 2008

Perhaps he’s had enough of constantly being under attack, but Mayor Wayne Lippert showed a side of himself Monday the public rarely sees. He was firm, feisty and ready to shoot down any verbal volleys tossed his way. And the tough-guy image came at the expense of the Vernon Taxpayers Association, a group that has scrutinized council’s every action. Taking to the podium, association representatives tried to throw the draft transportation plan off course. Their main claim was the process would not allow for meaningful public input, or direct debate with the politicians. “Public hearings are an opportunity for us to speak to you,” said member Kay Stamboulieh. And that opened the door for Lippert to pounce. Utilizing his knowledge of municipal law, Lippert explained that public hearings will be held as council considers bylaws related to the transportation plan. But, and rightly so, he also indicated hearings are one-sided. Residents can provide input, but council members can only listen, not debate. And once the hearing is closed, provincial legislation prevents council from taking new information. A series of open houses have been set up, as well as a public input session March 25. Through those, there is a direct ability for residents to enter into dialogue with city staff and council. “You can also give input by e-mail and letter,” said Lippert, placing direct onus on the association to get involved and not just criticize.

Obviously the association is made up of ordinary citizens and their depth of knowledge about government procedure may be limited. But if you are going to argue the process is flawed, you should actually know how it works. The association also took aim at city staff recommending a preferred bypass option, specifically the route through Mission Hill, Okanagan Landing and Bella Vista. “I would have preferred staff not recommend anything and let the public decide,” said Stamboulieh. But once again, Lippert was quick to respond, saying that a number of options have been considered and staff has only whittled them down as a way of focussing discussion. He assured Stamboulieh that public input will be considered, and that council has not pre-determined what the final outcome will be. “Everything is open right now. There is no guarantee anything will go through,” he said. The association’s final attempt to inflict damage to the transportation plan came from Jane Weixl. “Why is there not a top priority transit system in here?” she said. But that claim was brushed aside by Lippert. “There definitely are transportation options in here,” he said. Certainly there could be more detail provided, but the draft plan does include several references to alternate modes of transportation such as cycling, transit and pedestrian trails. To claim otherwise suggests the document hasn’t been read in full, or that the only issue of concern is the western bypass and nothing else. It may not be perfect, but a process has been established so residents can get informed about the transportation plan, as well as debate the concepts freely with council. At the end of the day, residents should embrace the opportunity to provide some direction to their elected officials. And if council deviates from those instructions, the public can hand out some punishment at November’s municipal election.

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Morning Star Editorial Feb 13 Reason for change obvious

When all other options fail, turn to the one you’ve been avoiding all along. That appears to be the mantra coming out of Wayne Lippert’s office as Vernon’s mayor suggests a citizens group be formed to look at the needs of cultural agencies and the RCMP. “Let’s put all of the information in their hands,” he said Monday. And certainly that’s a good idea as it is ultimately rank-and-file residents who will not only use these facilities but pay for them. They may have some ideas on both design and location that have been missed in the past. But it’s interesting how Lippert is now willing to invite residents into the process. Over the last few months, Lippert has been happy to embrace a top-down approach where city staff and consultants drew up plans and put them before the public. By the time that happened, it was virtually impossible for the bureaucrats to reverse thrusters and integrate public input in any meaningful way.It left many residents with the impression that their only role was to simply pay the bill, and nothing more.

Obviously Lippert’s newfound acceptance of public participation is a direct result of the previous process failing twice. First was when 6,000 names signed a petition blocking the city from simply borrowing funds for a civic complex, and the second came last month when a majority of voters shot down borrowing again, this time in a referendum.The public has stated that they want to be actively involved in capital expenses, and Lippert apparently has finally got the message. It’s unfortunate that it took so long.