Residents asked to explore governance

By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star Published: October 23, 2008

Rural residents have three options. 1. Remain as status quo, as an electoral area under the North Okanagan Regional District. 2. Incorporate as a municipality, whether that be individually or as a joint incorporation with one or more electoral areas. 3. Amalgamate by joining an existing municipality – Vernon.

All of NORD’s electoral area residences should be receiving a questionnaire pertaining to these options this week. “It’s not a vote. It’s for information only of the rural directors,” said Greg Betts, NORD electoral area services general manager. “They wanted to get a sense of what their residents wanted in terms of governance.” Betts explained the situation to approximately 100 BX Swan Lake residents who turned out for an informational meeting Tuesday at BX Elementary. The BX/Swan Lake Community Association organized the meeting to shed some light on what the future could hold for Area B and Area C.

The meeting was specifically sparked from the City of Vernon’s Official Community Plan, which was recently adopted with future boundary plans to extend into the rural communities. “While it encompasses most of area B and C, it doesn’t encompass it all,” said Ray Ivey, association resident. With these plans, plus the provincial government’s initiative to look into governance options for rural areas, the BX meeting was called in hopes of providing some information.

Kim Flick, Vernon’s manager of planning and building, says that if the city does not receive timely direction from the provincial government, it will start looking at the situation on its own. In doing so, the city has two annexation policy goals: 1. complete a study of phased amalgamation and 2. define the process for consideration of amalgamation. That will include examining the cost of servicing new lands (of which the foothills has been targeted as a development area), looking at the urban/rural interface and consulting property owners and residents. The city is also working on a policy for no net loss of agricultural lands and it does not want to see apartment buildings on the east boundary of the city.“There are no plans for annexation. But we have a plan to respond to requests of annexation,” said Flick, as annexation is motivated by individual property owners.

NORD has now requested, for the second time, a restructuring study, which is an extensive process. Betts admits that without completing a restructuring study there are many questions left unanswered. “Why can’t you tell me which option I should choose? Why can’t you tell me if my taxes will go up or down?” said Betts. Ivey adds: “These options are not black and white. There’s many things to explore.”

Alan Hill, the former Area A (Okanagan Landing) director, warns that the city isn’t always fulfilling of its promises. In the early ‘90s, Hill says his area was the first target in Vernon’s plans to make one government for all of Greater Vernon. At first, a majority of residents were against the idea and defeated a democratic resolution, says Hill. “So the field guns were brought out and the carrots were brought with them,” said Hill, as the city promised sewer at no cost, taxes at a rural rate for 10 years, and more. When the vote came up, a majority of residents voted to amalgamate. “You know donkeys go for carrots,” said Hill. “There were too many donkeys in the Landing at the time.” Despite the promises, and even a letter from the mayor saying access to trunk sewer lines would be provided at no cost, Hill says the city failed to keep their word. Ivey reminds BX residents that promises are not legally binding unless they are voted on and become a bylaw. “Don’t bank on promises and letters.” Hill goes on to say that the Landing has seen urban sprawl at its worst form and the beauty of the area has been destroyed.“Are we happy? Well, you guess.”