Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Slot Machines Limited to 300 Citywide. Public input in August.

The zoning change for the number of slot machines allowed in the City will proceed with a maximum of 300 Slots being allowed in the City. They will NOT be tied to one location. A vote to increase the number of slots that would go forward to the public hearing scheduled for sometime in August from 300 to 400 was defeated with Council members Baumbrough, Cochrane, Cunningham and Beardsell voting against that change. The BCLC and local Casino will be allowed to have 400 machines as was in their original relocation literature as a non conforming use. (Grandfathered in in effect.) The city will inform these two interested parties in writing of this acknowledgment of legal non-conformity.

A decision to accept the BCLC offer to join the B.C. Partnership for Responsible Gambling (ironically the only place where 'gambling' rather than 'gaming' is used by BCLC) was accepted by council in a 7-0 vote subject to an ANNUAL contribution of $50,000 towards the Social Responsibility Fund to be used for responsible gambling initiative(s) in Vernon. It seems to be the intention of the City of Vernon to match this $50,000 annually from future gaming monies that will be realized from the increase in the number of slots at the Casino. This $100,000 annual Fund would be used as defined by the City in a Socially Responsible manner.

The public input session in August at which the BCLC and Lake City Casino is expected to attend and speak will bring more clarity to the zoning change and hopefully the consummation of a externally funded annual Social Responsibility contribution matched by the City.

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