VANCOUVER – Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell presented awards today to the province’s top high school graduates last year – chosen for their excellent grades, service to their communities and involvement in extra-curricular activities – and announced a new category for a student with a disability.“The Premier’s Excellence Awards recognize young British Columbians from all over the province who are both outstanding students and model citizens,” Coell said. “I congratulate each of this year’s winners for what they have already achieved, and look forward to the contributions they will make as they progress through their post-secondary education and on to exceptional careers.”The awards include a medal of recognition and a $15,000 scholarship to attend a public post-secondary institution in B.C.
----------------
Erin Crockett of Vernon graduated from Kalamalka secondary school. He was a freestyle ski instructor and a leader on the school’s senior soccer team, as well as being a nationally ranked tennis player, member of the Tennis BC provincial team, and volunteer tennis coach for children and wheelchair athletes. He played piano in the school senior jazz band and combo, performing at fundraisers, jazz festivals and community events. He has served on his school’s student council, organized activities for Grade 8 students as a member of the Safe Schools Team, and raised money for charity through SPAM, the Social Political Awareness Movement. His academic awards include the BMO Financial Group National Major Entrance Scholarship to UBC, the Shad International Merit Scholarship and the B.C. Hydro Scholarship. Erin’s goal is to become a doctor or a veterinarian.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Vernon Student Wins Premier’s Excellence Award
Bunny rally Saturday (KELOWNA)
A rally to save Kelowna's growing wild rabbit population from imminent demise is set for Saturday. The peaceful rally has been coordinated by a local citizen's group, which hopes enough people will show up, sign a petition and force City Council to revisit the issue. Earlier this month, council awarded a $54,000 contract to EBB Environmental Consulting to take care of the rabbit population. A press release states in part, "Mayor Shepherd and her council has 30 days to bring the issue back to the table. The fate of Kelowna's rabbits rests with them and any changes they can make, including cancelling the contract with EBB." The group claims the extermination of the rabbits by EBB could begin any day.
They say EBB has confirmed they will use one of three methods to kill the rabbits:
"Ask them to re-visit their usual practices and not use lethal means on these innocent animals. Tell them that killing is not acceptable in Kelowna and that their public image will suffer as a result of using these methods." The Responsible Animal Care Society is interested in viewing any video footage of live trapping methods for any animal welfare violations. Saturday's protest will be held on Enterprise way across from the main fire hall from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Repeated calls to the owner of EBB Environmental Consulting were not returned.
Hospital Petition Blanks (Now available at CITY HALL )
Just a few more days to sign hospital petition
The deadline to sign a health care petition is drawing near. Saturday is the last day for the petition campaign which is demanding more provincial resources for Vernon Jubilee Hospital, including acute care beds. One last push for the campaign came at Vernon council Monday. “I would encourage all to sign the petition,” said Coun. Barry Beardsell. The petition — which was launched by the Vernon Taxpayers Association — is available throughout the North Okanagan.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Governance put on hold
One of the North Okanagan's top politicians admits he's disappointed in the province's decision to ground the study into valley governance. After reviewing a task force's report on the issue, Community Services Minister Ida Chong decided it's not possible to make changes to the current structure at this time. Chong says she won't ask the task force for further study to avoid taking up too much of their time leading up to the municipal elections in November. Task force vice chairman, NORD chair and Armstrong mayor Jerry Oglow says a lot of work went into the study and he questions the government's motives. Oglow tells KISS FM, "It is a bit disappointing. It's basically a 180 degree turn from the priority she and her ministry gave the project last fall when we met with her. It's a little bit discouraging that way, but hopefully the work we've done won't go onto some back shelf somewhere." Oglow expects the province will put the issue on hold until after the BC election in May, so as not to upset any valley voters. Task Force chairman Robert Hobson of Kelowna says it appears Chongs is deferring a decision until more information is gathered. "Our report suggested a couple of options be worked on in more detail including looking at the cost and benefits and she has agreed to do that work." Hobson says at the same time the four major Okanagan city mayors have already agreed to work together on a number of similar issues which may also satisfy Chong's governance desire. Hobson agrees with Oglow that nothing more will take place on the matter until after the provincial election next May.
No changes to valley governance
On May 29, 2008 The Honourable Ida Chong, Minister of Community Services advised the Regional Governance Committee that, at this time she has decided it would not be possible to effectively make any changes to the current governance structure. She has advised that follow-up work is required by the Ministry and she is still interested in a governance model that works for the Okanagan and Similkameen areas as a whole. The Minister stated that once input was received on rural values, and following the outcomes of the Memorandum of Understanding between the valleys’ four largest municipalities, the Greater Vernon service reviews as well as the November local government elections, she will consult with the new municipal and regional district elected officials. Minister Chong has identified First Nation and public consultation as important elements for any new governance structure.
“The Minister is giving us an opportunity to show we can work collectively on issues that will benefit both the citizens of municipalities and rural areas and through further collaboration with the First Nations we can make the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys the 'best' in Canada," says RDOS Chair, Dan Ashton. The three Regional Districts (Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen, Regional District of Central Okanagan and Regional District of North Okanagan) appointed four representatives to a working committee that looked at growth management and governance options for the Okanagan Valley. The 12-member body was tasked with looking at common services and functions that could perhaps be provided by an amalgamated, single local governance model. The committee presented a final report to the Minister of Community Services on March 28, 2008.
Casino workers ratify deal
Workers at four Lake City Casino operations in the interior have voted 70 per cent in favour of a new contract. Workers in Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon and Kamloops voted on the tentative agreement earlier this week. "We're pleased with the results of this vote, given the difficult round of negotiations," says BCGEU President, George Heyman. "Our goal was to reach a negotiated settlement and we were able to do that." The new three-year deal includes additional adjustments for the lowest paid employees and greater flexibility on scheduling of work. Casino workers rejected an earlier agreement reached with the help of a mediator back in March. The new contract is retroactive to September, 2007 and expires September 4, 2010.
CMA's vs. CA's in a battle for Accounting Supremacy !
The Certified Management Accountants (CMA) have decided to capture the brand label "Creative Accountants" back from its long journey through the shady side of
the profession as epitomized by the likes of Aurthur Anderson and the Enron debacle. The ads are quite clever as they show the positive side of 'Creative Accounting'The Chartered Accountants (CA) have countered with ads suggesting their adaptability and the slogan 'CAs do so much more'.
What will the CGA's come up with to counter these two bold campaigns to recruit new beancounters? (stay tuned).
City of Vernon and Regional District of North Okanagan receive award for collaborative enterprise implementation
The City of Vernon, with a population of 35,944, is the largest municipality within the Regional District of North Okanagan. While the Regional District represents a broad area encompassing the rural needs of residents that live within its border. Despite having some differing interests and concerns these two organizations worked together to reduce overhead costs and duplication of effort by developing a means to share and access their respective datasets for the betterment of all.
Newest red zone pays off instantly
By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star - May 30, 2008
Vernon RCMP have created a second downtown red zone in an effort to curb criminal activity. The new zone covers an area from 30th Avenue to the north; east to 32nd Street; south to 25th Avenue, and west to 35th Street. Sentences against criminals can include a condition that states if they are found to be in this particular zone, they can be arrested again. Or they can be released on conditions that prevent them from returning to the zone until their court cases are concluded. “We’ve been meeting with provincial and federal Crown counsels since earlier, and we came to an understanding of a zone that will be utilized for our next test case,” said Vernon RCMP Insp. Steve McVarnock. Test day came on Tuesday. Four people were arrested Wednesday after the Community Response Unit did a small drug operation in the area of the People Place, Upper Room Mission and surrounding businesses.
As a result of the sting, a 36-year-old Vernon female is expected to face charges of trafficking. A 58-year-old Vernon male will be facing charges of trafficking and possession of stolen property, and a 41-year-old Vernon female is expected to face charges of possession of stolen property. A fourth male is expected to face drug possession charges. All four suspects were released and are expected to appear in court at a later date. Two of the four were arrested for trafficking within the new red zone boundaries, but were released on conditions that prevent them from returning to this area until their court cases are concluded. Vernon first established a red zone near Cenotaph Park in 2007 with great results. “That zone is working very well,” said McVarnock. “We have seen a significant change in the amount of criminal activity since it was established. We hope this new zone will also have a significant impact.“Time will tell.”
McVarnock states that creating red zones is not “a magic pill for the city.”“What happens is, the criminals are displaced from this area and they move to another coordinate around the city,” he said.
---------
Don Quixote Note: I have often sat next to a reporter for this newspaper who lives in Coldstream and in jest have suggested that Vernon extend the Red Zone to the Vernon Boundaries so as to leave the rest of Greater Vernon (Coldstream and areas B and C) with this problem.
Politicians discuss company’s future
By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - May 30, 2008
Efforts are underway to try and keep a large employer firmly in Vernon. North Okanagan Regional District officials met Wednesday with Sutherland Global Services to ensure the call centre and its 150 jobs will remain in place. “There’s concerns about Sutherland possibly closing and moving because it’s happened in other Okanagan communities,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert. “We wanted to verify what their plans are and to let them know that we are willing to work with them to address any issues.” Sutherland officials insist there aren’t plans to close the operation, but they admit there are financial pressures. “Sutherland is challenged with the ever changing foreign exchange rate and the increasing cost of doing business in Canada,” said Tom Stuewe, senior vice-president, in a written statement from his New York office. “This is multiplied in Vernon by a lack of affordable housing or training programs.” Specifically, the strength of the Canadian dollar makes it difficult to attract foreign clients, when call centre services are less costly in countries such as India. “The big issue is trying to get the right client in here that will pay for the service,” said Lippert.
One option that was discussed Wednesday is providing call centre services to Canadian-based companies so labour costs and the value of the dollar aren’t factors. “Sutherland is currently running a marketing campaign specifically targeted to attract Canadian businesses to our Canadian locations,” said Stuewe. Sutherland has promised to bring back some information to NORD, and then the regional district will look at how to handle the situation. “We want to be proactive and if there is something we can do, we should do it,” said Jerry Oglow, NORD chairman. Oglow has suggested that discussions may be needed with the provincial government. Lippert also agrees that civic leaders should be accessing their contacts. “We have opportunities to open certain doors that private business always can’t,” he said. Sutherland’s operations in Ontario have worked with governments there to create apprenticeship programs. “These programs create a deep pool of candidates and a community wide relationship with the cities. Sutherland would welcome this type of program in Vernon,” said Stuewe. Lippert insists that it’s crucial to keep people employed at Sutherland.“It’s more effective to try and keep an employer than let them go and try and recruit a new one,” he said.
Call centre to hang up for good
By Wolf Depner - Penticton Western News - May 30, 2008
The Excell Services call centre — one of the largest and recognized private employers — is closing its doors this October because it could not find enough staff, presumably at wages which the company could afford to pay. The company — which promised to make a formal announcement today — said it is leaving because it it is centralizing operations in areas with a much larger pool of potential staff members than what Penticton can offer, according to company officials. Information from the U.S.-based company which runs the centre did not say whether the appreciation of the Canadian dollar played a role in the closure. Local economic development officer Wayne Tebbutt, who helped attract the centre, could not be reached for comment. It is estimated that the closure will impact just under 200 employees, whom the company has promised to help in their job search between now and the closure. Employees approached inside and outside of the facility for comment refused to answer questions, citing company policy. The closure of the call centre is the latest in a string of local call centres closing, and on a more broader level, another sign that the region is not immune from the economic turmoil affecting other parts of the North America. Two Kelowna-based call centres closed their doors earlier this year, laying off hundreds of workers. A Vernon-based call centre also announced jobs cuts earlier this year.
Few governance changes anticipated
By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - May 30, 2008
No radical changes in Okanagan governance are expected. It’s anticipated that Community Services Minister Ida Chong will provide a response by Saturday on the valley-wide governance report completed in March. “The minister will be contacting the communities in the timeline previously committed — by month’s end,” said Marc Black, with the ministry’s communications branch. But some North Okanagan politicians anticipate the announcement will be a non-event. “I’ve heard she’s going to say nothing until after the provincial election (spring 2009),” said Rick Fairbairn, the rural Lumby director who sat on the governance task force. “If there is a plan, they (ministry) aren’t saying anything.”
The task force recommended to Chong that there either be a single regional district for the Okanagan or that the three current regional districts remain with new authorities created to oversee common issues. Wayne Lippert, Vernon’s mayor, also doesn’t expect an announcement until after the provincial election. “They don’t want to upset the electorate any more than they have to,” said Lippert, who was also part of the task force. “They are starting to get ready for the election and it (governance changes) is not a top priority.” Lippert expects that Chong’s ability to make a decision was made difficult because there wasn’t a single recommendation, and because of political lobbying. “She is feeling the pressure from electoral areas,” he said.
Herman Halvorson, rural Enderby director and task force member, believes an announcement now would be premature. “There wasn’t enough information to make a decision. No one knew what it would look like and the First Nations weren’t involved,” he said. “I think things will remain with the three regional districts because of the elections this fall (civic) and in the spring (provincial).” Jerry Oglow, Armstrong mayor and task force member, isn’t predicting any dramatic actions from Chong because research is needed on governance options, including costs. “There needs to be more work done to make an informed choice and I hope her recommendation will say that,” he said. But if the process continues, Halvorson insists it needs to be different than the first phase which provided little opportunity for residents to be directly involved. “If there is a phase two, we need more involvement from Joe Public,” he said. At press time, there were no details on when Chong will make an announcement.
Bunny lovers to rally for critters
May 30A rally to save the rabbits will be held Saturday along the bunnies‘ favourite stomping grounds. Critics of the City of
Kelowna‘s decision to award a contract expected to lead to the rabbits‘ eradication will be out by 9 a.m. at the corner of Enterprise Way and Dilworth Drive. That area is considered to be ground zero in the ongoing rabbit tale, the place where colonies of the feral animals were first established and from which they‘re said to have spread to other parts of Kelowna. “We‘re hoping for a good crowd of people to come out and show their support for the city taking another look at this issue,” Roxanne Woldenga, one of the event organizers, said Thursday. An estimated 2,000 people have signed a petition calling on the city to back away from a decision taken in early May to award a $54,000 contract to EBB Environmental Solutions to control the rabbits. The company is expected to trap and then kill most of the rabbits.“The killing of rabbits, particularly when relocation options have been offered, is abhorrent to many voters and citizens of the valley,” reads part of a letter to Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd from Sinikka Crosland, president of The Responsible Animal Care Society. Critics believe bylaws allow city council to reconsider a decision within 30 days. June 9 would be the last council date to fall within that time frame. On May 12, Shepherd and Coun. Michele Rule voted against awarding the contract to EBB. Councillors Norm Letnick, Brian Given, Colin Day and Andre Blanleil voted in favour. Councillors Barrie Clark, Robert Hobson and Carol Gran were away.
---------------
Don Quixote Note: In Contrast the local rabbit Control Group has applied for a Grant from the Vernon Discretionary Grant Fund and the recommendation from the Finance Committee Thursday for a $5000 Grant will be forwarded to the next Council meeting for approval. This Group spends their money to spay and neuter rabbits rather than making them into hassenpfeffer. Of course this limits the job opportunities for Dick Cheney.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Vernon on Governance
Starlee Speers, Astral Media Radio - Vernon
We're very close to the end of May and there's been no word so far on the direction Okanagan governance is going to take. BC's Community Services Minister is expected to deliver her decision on the future of valley governance before the end of the month. Vernon mayor Wayne Lippert says, he doesn't expect any big changes will be announced until after the next Provincial election in 2009. Lippert says, in the meantime inter-municipal collaboration has already begun, with discussions being held on regional water issues. Earlier this month Chong told reporters that even if status quo was maintained, she wouldn't call the review a waste.
Property Tax Review
Starlee Speers, Astral Media Radio - Vernon
If Vernon council has it's way, the BC government will conduct a Property Tax Review. Councillor Barry Beardsell says, a review is needed because homeowners are paying more and more to the government each year, and the community hasn't seen a increase in the money returned from the Province. Beardsell says, the system should be changed so a percentage of the property transfer tax goes back into the area is was collected from. He points to homeowners, especially those on the lake, who have seen their property taxes increase every year, but likely don't use any more services or resources than residents living elsewhere. Council approved sending the motion to the Union of BC municipalities for consideration.
Audit Committee and Finance Meeting at 1 PM TODAY
May 29, Thursday:
Audit Committee 1:00 pm Kalamalka Lake Room
Finance Committee Following Audit Com.
----------------------------
Don Quixote Note: I expect that the Auditors will present and explain the 2007 City Financial Statements at the Audit meeting. At the finance meeting I would anticipate the Grant policy procedures and protocol will be refined and discussion on the interim reserve policy will follow. I would expect some discussion on the $1.3 million or about 8% tax increase that will follow in 2009 from the decisions to support the first two parts of the Transportation Plan.
Free Coffee, Public and Media Welcome. This is not a DARK SIDE meeting !
BUSINESS TAX EXEMPTION WILL PROCEED TO UBCM AGAIN.
This is the motion that was introduced by City Council and ENDORSED by UBCM last year. the Province response was:
Respo
nse: Ministry of Community Services The property tax exemptions for Class 4, Industrial, 5, Light Industrial and 6, Business, improvements were prescribed by regulation in 1984 in response to a severe downturn in the general economy of the Province of British Columbia (Province). The exemptions were intended to provide assistance to small business enterprises throughout the Province. Although not all areas of the Province share in the current economic wellbeing, the present economic outlook is extremely promising for the Province as a whole. There is no need to provide such assistance province wide at this time.
Amendments enacted to Section 226 of the Community Charter provide municipalities with the opportunity to provide for revitalization tax exemptions for any revitalization objectives, including economic revitalization. These provisions will allow a municipality to target the kinds of economic activities and investment which will be in the best interests of the community.
-----------------------
A detailed posting on the recent history of this proposal can be found at: BUSINESS TAX EXEMPTION to be pushed by Council ?
The Net effect on a business can be seen in the table on the left.
Hopefully the City of Vernon will elicit the written support of the Local Chamber of Commerce and their related counterparts in other cities. The written and public support of the DVA for the first time would also be helpful in making the Province wake up and smell the roses.
An articulate spokesman who can understand this resolution and who can intellectually persuade the government must be drafted to go to UBCM.
This motion to proceed was introduced and passed unanimously at Council last Monday as well as a resolution that the Province reexamine its entire property assessment system. Lets get it adopted by the Province in the last year of this Council. It could be one of the few enduring legacies of this Mayor and Council.
B.C. Lottery to report all suspicious casino transactionsLindsay Kines, Canwest News Service
Lindsay Kines, Canwest News Service Thursday, May 29, 2008
The B.C. Lottery Corporation will begin reporting all suspicious money transactions at casinos to federal authorities, Solicitor-General John van Dongen said Wedneday. In the past, the agency submitted only those cases that it believed involved actual money laundering to the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada. Cases such as those involving counterfeit bills were left out. Van Dongen said the corporation has its own money-laundering experts who reviewed the reports before deciding which ones to send to the federal agency, which tracks money laundering. "The B.C. Lottery Corporation was following a procedure that they felt reflected FINTRAC's needs," he said. "They were doing that with the approval of FINTRAC." But van Dongen has asked the corporation to improve transparency by giving federal officials every report of suspicious money transactions at a casino.The announcement follows media reports last week that B.C. casino workers routinely observe dozens of suspicious transactions, but only a fraction get reported to the federal agency that tracks money laundering.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Go To KISSFM to VOTE
| ||||||
In search of a solution
Forget exhaust-spewing SUVs and industrial stacks pumping God only knows what into the atmosphere. A major cause of global warming Monday was the hot air at Vernon city hall. Considerable debate over the transportation plan heated up chambers for much of the four-hour meeting. And things really started to smolder when Councillors Juliette Cunningham and Barry Beardsell took on each other. “When I have colleagues on council who don’t believe in climate change, I have concerns,” said Cunningham, who wanted a commitment that everything possible would be done to cut down on traffic and the need for more roads. “For people to say it’s not happening, they are in la la land.” Cunningham never specifically identified Beardsell by name, but you know who she meant, especially after he joined the fray.
“This isn’t a debate about that goofy (Al) Gore. This is about a 
long-range plan,” he said of establishing potential transportation routes. But the most ironic part of all of this is that Cunningham and Beardsell ultimately teamed up to support preserving a corridor for the controversial western bypass. And that alone shows the entire complexity of climate change. Global warming is a fact that we can’t ignore, and if our children and grandchildren are to have much of a life, we need to change our habits. However, the reality is that so much of our society — from transporting commercial goods to delivering services to the needy — depends on vehicles. And despite skyrocketing fuel prices, that’s not likely to change until the very last drop of dinosaur juice has been pumped out of the ground. The other complex issue is where a future bypass should go. Determining such a route would be easy if we were working with a clean slate, but we’re not. No matter whether it’s the western bypass or the eastern bypass, there are well-established neighbourhoods, farm land and natural ecosystems — the very things that give the Vernon area its special identity. It shouldn’t shock anyone that council is split as there are no easy solutions. And deciding Monday to consult with the Ministry of Transportation was only an expedient way to end a painful, difficult discussion that was going nowhere. But the ministry will have no magic bullet, and ultimately council will have to make some kind of decision at its next meeting June 9. If it doesn’t, there will be a major hole in the official community plan review, which is almost completed.
I bring no constructive solutions to the table, but the option I keep leaning towards is absolutely no bypass at all. Is it ideal? No? But the sooner that we accept that 32nd Street is always going to be the main arterial highway through town and we find ways around it, the better. And that can only happen if some of the short and medium-term goals of the transportation plan are enacted. Those include substantial financial resources going towards transit, cycling paths and walking trails. Vehicles are always going to be a reality, but alternate modes of transportation would be viable in many cases, especially for office workers. What would also help is extending some roads, such as 48th Avenue to Old Kamloops Road, to take traffic off 32nd Street.
One part of the plan that I’m not crazy about is extending 27th Street to Highway 97 by the army camp. That would place downtown between two highways and make revitalization a distant dream. In the end, though, there are no easy solutions and that means the hot air will continue to flow at city hall.
B.C. Conservatives vow to kill carbon tax
By Jeremy Deutsch - Kamloops This Week - May 28, 2008
One B.C. political party plans to quash the province’s new carbon tax if it wins the May 2009 provincial election. The B.C. Conservative Party — which has no affiliation with the federal Conservative Party — has come out against the carbon tax, arguing it won’t have any beneficial effect on global warming. And the party plans to make it an election issue next spring. “I think the majority of British Columbians are unhappy about taxation in general and the carbon tax in particular,” B.C. Conservative Leader Wilf Hanni told KTW. The B.C. Liberals have introduced a carbon tax on fossil fuels, adding an estimated 2.4 cents to a litre of gasoline effective July 1. Instead, the B.C. Conservatives are suggesting incentives or subsidies for industry to develop alternative sources of energy. Hanni said the tax is an attempt to force people out their cars, but the problem as he sees it is that 95 per cent of B.C.’s geographical area doesn’t have adequate public transit. “You can’t force people out of their cars into transit when you don’t have public transit,” he said, adding the Interior and North will end up subsidizing public transit in the Lower Mainland.
While acknowledging the tax isn’t as high as the increased cost of gas in the free market, Hanni said the tax does make a bad situation worse. “All it will do is cost people more money to drive their cars and heat their homes,” he said. Hanni said his party wants to see a cleaner environment, but would rather concentrate efforts on encouraging individuals and industry to find and develop alternate sources of energy through positive re-enforcement, not punitive measures. “We are concerned the emphasis on global warming and the steps being proposed to deal with the so-called global warming are going to bankrupt the economy of the world,” he said. The B.C. Conservatives are also promising to eliminate the top three personal income-tax rates and reduce the remaining rate to eight per cent for income greater than $16,000 per year, reduce corporate income tax rates and reduce provincial sales tax by one per cent.
City places limit on slots
By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - May 28, 2008
Lake City Casinos’ expanded operation could be in contravention of bylaws as a result of council actions. On Monday, council proposed limiting the number of slot machines within the city to 300 despite Lake City planning for 400 machines in its Anderson Way outlet, which is currently under construction. “If there is a plan to allow us to move ahead while being legally non-conforming (to bylaws), it doesn’t affect us,” said Steve Kumpf, the company’s vice-president of operations. However, Kumpf admits that such a policy could create challenges if Lake City ever wanted to install more than 400 slot machines. City staff insists council’s decision to limit the number of slot machines in Vernon to 300 doesn’t derail Lake City’s activities. “They can probably do 400 machines and be legally non-conforming because that’s what they showed in their plans,” said Leon Gous, chief administrative officer.
The goal of the proposed bylaw, which must go through a public hearing, appears to be placing pressure on Lake City to provide money for a social responsibility fund. “It could give us the ability to say what’s in it for the community?” said Gous of council possibly sanctioning 400 slots. Lake City has previously indicated it won’t finance a social responsibility fund, and Kumpf is questioning the city’s strategy. “Making us non-conforming to solicit more money when they’ve approved us (building permit and relocation) doesn’t make sense,” he said. Coun. Barry Beardsell favoured a limit on slots, saying Lake City must justify the need for so many machines. “It (300) is more than they have now,” he said, adding that gambling creates significant negative challenges for individuals, families and the community.
“The matter of a social responsibility fund must be resolved.” Opposition to limiting the number of slot machines came from Coun. Jack Gilroy. “We are taking the right away from other businesses to have slot machines,” he said. “The business is viable and the city gets quite a bit of money from it.” The city currently receives about $1.2 million a year in casino revenue under provincial legislation. That figure is expected to increase once the new casino opens.
GVSC goes over the top
Leave it to the Greater Vernon Services Committee to take the fun out of Grade 12 graduation. A longstanding tradition in Vernon is for grads to have pictures taken in Polson Park while they are all decked out in their gowns and tuxedos. The setting helps create special memories that the grads and their families will treasure for decades to come. But GVSC has laid down the law, informing schools that there is no parking along the curb in Polson Park and bylaw officers will ticket offenders. No one can blame GVSC for reminding schools or grads of the regulations as vehicles parked along the curb makes it difficult for traffic to get through the narrow lane. There is not only a risk of vehicles being hit, but more importantly, pedestrians being injured. There is an onus on grads to follow the law and park in a responsible manner, but threatening tickets is completely over-reaction on the part of GVSC. Instead of the heavy hand, GVSC could have been proactive and approached all schools in an attempt to allow the tradition to continue while ensuring vehicle access and safety is paramount. In fact, it’s such a good idea, GVSC is throwing it out there now.But it’s too late for meetings now as grad season is already here. The best route for GVSC would be to show tolerance this year when it comes to parking, and to only take action in those cases where safety and access are severely impeded. After that, negotiations could begin with schools and grad committees to prepare for next year. There was a right way and a wrong way for GVSC to handle this situation, and GVSC failed with flying colours.
-----------------
GVSC raises council’s ire with grad parking edict
By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - May 28, 2008
Grads are getting
a rough ride over parking in Polson Park. City politicians are upset that the Greater Vernon Services Committee is coming down heavy on secondary school graduates who leave their vehicles in no-parking zones while having photos taken at Polson Park. “It’s totally unnecessary,” said Coun. Pat Cochrane of the bylaw crackdown. Grads having their pictures taken in Polson Park is a longstanding tradition, but GVSC recently informed all high schools that there is no parking along the curb within the park and there are two main parking areas there. “With the limited parking spots, please let your grads know that they will most likely need to walk into the park,” states the GVSC letter. “The City of Vernon bylaw officers will be in the park ticketing any offenders.” While the bylaw enforcement officers are Vernon employees, they are enforcing NORD bylaws and the city has no jurisdiction in the matter.
But council decided Monday to ask GVSC to show “maximum flexibility” over parking during the current grad season, and that a policy be set for future years. Cochrane accuses GVSC of over-reacting and says grads are usually only in Polson Park for about an hour. “It’s a great picture opportunity and traffic can still get through. They aren’t creating any harm,” he said. Cochrane also points out that the parking lots within the park provide very few spaces and nearby commercial parking lots are full during the week. “Where are the grads supposed to park?” City hall became aware of the matter after receiving a letter from parent Don Aoki.
“Surely the parking requirements could be overlooked for the five high schools that would likely use this park on their special day,” he wrote. “The photo times take up only part of the day, and traffic congestion would be created for such a short period of time. Remember what it was like to be a grad, and what a damper receiving a parking ticket could be.” GVSC officials defend their actions. “We understand that it’s grad but it’s a matter of making the situation as safe as possible,” said Al McNiven, parks and recreation administrator. During the grad photo events, vehicles often line both sides of the narrow road, making it difficult for other vehicles to get through. McNiven says he is concerned that such a scene may make it difficult for emergency vehicles to get through the park and that pedestrians may be at risk. “There needs to be some order to the traffic and parking.” McNiven isn’t sure if any parking tickets have been issued during this grad season. How to handle these events in future is being considered, and that could include discussions with the grad committees at each school. “One option is to ask them if they have the resources for traffic control,” said McNiven.
Split vote puts corridor plans on hold
A critical component of Vernon’s transportation plan has hit a roadblock. Uncertainty over which long-term bypass route, if any, should be in the plan arose after a motion to protect land for a western bypass died in a tie-vote Monday. The issue will come back June 9 after talks with the Ministry of Transportation. “Council is split and looking for some indication from the ministry to help make a decision,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert. “I don’t believe we will get it. At the next meeting, council will have to make a decision on a corridor option or nothing.”
A tie vote occurred because Coun. Buffy Baumbrough has declared a conflict of interest (her family’s land could be impacted by the western bypass). A similar situation could occur again June 9. “I hope councillors will think about it because we need to make a decision,” said Lippert. Lippert and Councillors Pat Cochrane and Patrick Nicol opposed the motion, while it drew support from Councillors Barry Beardsell, Juliette Cunningham and Jack Gilroy. “There’s going to be traffic and where else are you going to put it?” said Cunningham. Beardsell insisted that the motion only protected land for a bypass in a 25-plus year scenario, and didn’t mean the project would happen. “Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Leave the baby in the bath, and make a determination later,” he said, adding that the matter can be revisited every five years as part of the city’s review of the official community plan. Gilroy believes the western bypass through Mission Hill, Okanagan Landing and Bella Vista would have less disruption than a route through East Hill and the BX.
But that’s not the view of Nicol, who says Mission Hill is a well-established neighbourhood that plays a crucial role in the success of downtown. “The community’s sense of downtown and neighbourhood strength, says no to the western bypass.” Cochrane said that just preserving a corridor could lead to the western bypass taking place. “This is a development corridor. There is a tremendous impact on existing property owners,” he said. That was also the argument from Lippert, who said that designating a corridor would hurt property values for residents in the area. Lippert is in favour of an eastern bypass because he says there isn’t as much development in the rural areas. Like Lippert, Cunningham isn’t convinced that the matter is going to be resolved by June 9. Waiting two weeks isn’t going to make it any easier,” she said.
Gilroy admits that the process has been challenging. “This is the toughest decision we’ve made in my three years on council,” he said. While the 25-plus year component of the transportation plan is in limbo, other parts are moving ahead. Council unanimously endorsed the short and medium-term chapters, which included expanded finances for transit and bicycle paths. The medium-term component (10 to 25 years) includes extending 27th Street to Highway 97 through Polson Park.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Abbott to seek fourth term
George Abbott isn't ready to give up provincial politics just yet. The MLA for Shuswap and Health Minister has confirmed he'll run in the next provincial election a year from now. The former berry farmer and political science instructor from Sicamous has held the Shuswap riding since 1996. "The reasons I made the decision (to run again) are probably the same reasons that brought me into politics many years ago. I think I have something to offer as a representative. I'm excited about trying to make the Shuswap and BC a better place." Premier Gordon Campbell had asked all Liberal MLA's for their election plans before the end of this month. Abbott is refusing to publicly acknowledge a reported dispute with the premier in caucus.
Embattled Port Coquitlam mayor refuses council demands to resign
Port Coquitlam's embattled mayor has once again refused to resign following his conviction on two counts of assault last week. Mayor Scott Young was asked by council to hand in a letter of resignation at his first council meeting on Monday night following his guilty plea last week on two charges of assaulting his former girlfriend and her boyfriend at her home last year. It was the third time his fellow councillors had demanded his resignation since the mayor was arrested last year and spent Easter weekend in jail. The latest motion, brought forth by all six of Port Coquitlam's councillors, read: "Now that Scott Young has admitted guilt, the city councillors are once again requesting that the mayor resign immediately." All of the city council, except Young, voted for the motion. Coun. Michael Wright said he was not surprised at Young's refusal and said working with the mayor had become very awkward for the councillors. "Most people are absolutely incredulous that he is still the mayor of the city of Port Coquitlam and has not resigned," said Wright.
Apart from asking Young to resign voluntarily, the council has no legal options to force the mayor out. But he will have to answer to the public if he decides to run again in the November civic election. Young did not speak to the media following the meeting. He has been involved in municipal politics in Port Coquitlam since 1990, when he was elected as a school trustee. He was elected as a city councillor in 1996 and became the city's 14th mayor in 2001. Young pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and one charge of breaching the conditions of an undertaking, all stemming from an incident at the home of his former girlfriend last year. The B.C. mayor had faced a total of seven charges, including assault, criminal harassment and breaking and entering, following his arrest on April 4, 2007. The Crown stayed the proceedings on the remaining four charges last week when Young appeared in Port Coquitlam provincial court. He will be sentenced at a later date.
Western bypass hits roadblock
The controversial western bypass has hit a roadblock at Vernon city hall. A motion to protect the highway corridor in the 25-plus-year transportation plan ended in a three-three vote Monday at city council, meaning it was defeated. The issue will return to council in two weeks after the city finds out if the Transportation Ministry has any interest in funding the project at some point. Councillor Patrick Nicol was among the three against protecting the route, over concerns about the impact on neighborhoods. "I think there's other options that make just as much sense and cost a whole lot less money and can actually function a lot better. "You preserve critical neighborhoods, Mission Hill and Okanagan Landing, and overall, the public that attended those (input) hearings, voted against it, so if these hearings are going to have any kind of substance to them, you have to respect that."
Councillor Pat Cochrane and Mayor Wayne Lippert were also against protecting the corridor. Councillors Barry Beardsell, Jack Gilroy and Juliette Cunningham were in favour.Councillor Buffy Baumbrough was not at Monday's meeting. Council spent close to two hours on the plan, including hearing staff's report and then debating it. Several councillors, including Gilroy, called it the toughest decision they've had to make on council the last three years.
Meantime, council unanimously endorsed the other two parts of the plan covering the next 25 years. Those call for more public transit, sidewalks and cycling lanes, along with extending 27-th Street through Polson Park. The transit plan is to increase the city's yearly investment to $500,000 for the next ten years which would add a bus a year and increase the service. Sidewalk installation spending will increase from the current $100,000 to $400,000 a year, allowing for the addition of 34 kilometers of sidewalk the next 20 to 30 years. Bike and trail network spending will each rise from $100,000 to $200,000 annually, with ten trails added and 52 km of bike lanes.
Hesperia Meeting
Betty Selin, Astral Media Radio - Vernon
The development corporation that is charged with putting attainable housing on the Hesperia Lands is going to the public. Committee Spokesperson, Ken Stewart says they need input regarding the 69 acres above Apollo Road. That meeting is tonight from 5pm till 8pm at Paddlewheel Park Hall. Stewart says development is likely two years away on the property that was city owned, till it was transferred to the Corporation in January. He expects density and access to be the biggest issues.
Council Bypasses Decision
Starlee Speers, Astral Media Radio - Vernon
After a nearly two hour discussion on Vernon's proposed Transportation plan, Council finished where they started on the issue of preserving a Western bypass corridor. Council unanimously approved the zero to ten year and ten to twenty- five year strategies, but were split on the twenty-five year plus option. Mayor Wayne Lippert says, he voted against the Western bypass option because he thinks an Eastern route makes more sense. Barry Beardsell voted in favour of protecting the bypass because he says, at least it gives future generations transportation options. Juliette Cunningham says what's really needed is more sustainable transportation options so a bypass is never needed. Council has voted to send the three options to the Ministry of Transportation for their opinion on the best option. Councillors Pat Cochrane, Patrick Nicol and the Mayor voted against the Western bypass, while Barry Beardsell, Jack Gilroy and Juliette Cunningham voted in favour. Buffy Baumbrough is in eligible to vote because she'd be in conflict of interest. In approving the first 25 years of the strategy council committed one point 3 million dollars a year to improving transit, and pedestrian and cycling routes.
Western Bypass Deadlocks Council.
The 10 year Strategy bolstered by the additional $500,000 proposed each year for Transit, extra $300,000 for sidewalks, and extra $100,000 for both trails and cycling pathways (Total $1,000,000 or about 6% in extra taxes and maybe more if Coun. Beardsell's figure of $1.3 million is correct) and the 10-25 years Strategy passed easily in a 6-0 vote. (Baumbrough absent).
The fireworks erupted when the debate about the 25+ Year Strategy and its contentious 'protection of the West Bypass Corridor' was debated and finally voted on. A resolution of Coun. Beardsell, seconded by Coun. Gilroy on accepting the staff recommendation of protecting the West Bypass corridor and the Mackay Connector Corridor was proposed and was lost on a tie vote of 3-3. Coun. Cunningham (after agonizing over her decision) joined the mover and seconder proving once again that politics makes strange bedfellows. The other 3 voting down the motion for various reasons were Couns. Cochrane, Nicol and Mayor Lippert. Lippert particularly liked the Eastern Bypass to remain in the plan and dismissed NORD's objections by arguing that they would be non existent in 25 years.
Staff unveiled a compromise position that would have have protected the Turtle Mountain proposed road section in the North and the proposed Scott Road section in the south and left the connection part of these two segments "UNPROTECTED" (about 70% of the Western Bypass) This seemed to be a compromise by staff that would enshrine a decision in 25+ year portion of the transportation plan so as to make sure that the OCP could go forward in June to final public hearings.
Coun. Cunningham proposed support of this compromise resolution but this also was defeated in a tie vote of 3-3 with Beardsell, Cochrane and Nicol on one side with Lippert, Cunningham and Gilroy on the other. (I will have to watch this debate on Shaw at Noon today to confirm this voting pattern. By this time most of the audience including myself didn't know if they were screwed or bored and our attention spans shortened and our eyes glazed over.)
The final compromise vote was to turn the 3-3 split vote over to the Province for their consideration and to get some clarification and direction on whether there was support by the senior government for any of the bypasses or the transportation plan. This was passed by an unanimous vote.
At the rate that the Provincial Government moves the OCP will be pushed back into the distant future and indeed the first vote of a new Council after the November Civic election may to decide its fate.
City Puts a Limit on Slot Machines
The newly relocated Casino that will open in the fall has indicated that they will have 400 slot machines, 6 table games, 2 poker tables and 2 electronic tables with a 70 seat pub-style restaurant/bar and a stage area for entertainment. The building permit (that has not yet being published on the City's website ?) apparently was taken out and stated that they will have 400 slot machines. When the business license is amended at the opening to the actual number of slots in place, this will grandfather the Lake City Casino into a legal non-conforming position that they will be allowed to maintain but not change without returning to Council for permission.
-----------------------
The Council failed to limit the number of table games to the existing 8 tables that are at the present casino and this will increase to 10 with no City Limit imposed yet. The discussion that Destination Casinos have more than 500 slots put forward by some Councillors was bogus. Presently the 3 remaining Destination Casinos have the Following configurations:
- Cranbrook-- 225 slots--11 tables--revenue of $14,362,294 (2007 Fiscal)$1,534,266 Host
- Penticton ---224 slots--11 tables--revenue of $27,196,038 (2007 Fiscal)$2,543,797 Host
- New West---341 slots--18 tables--revenue of $35,342,654 (2007 Fiscal)$3,399,656 Host
- Vernon------210 slots--8 Tables--revenue of $28,540,144 (2007 Fiscal)$1,763,005 Host
---------------
This limiting of the Slots in Vernon will place Vernon in a better negotiating position when any further expansion or modifications are needed at the Casino. A Social Responsibility Fund may yet be negotiated ?
Monday, May 26, 2008
Suspect shot by police
An RCMP high-speed pursuit of a stolen vehicle that started in Enderby Friday night ended on a forest-service road between Grindrod and Mara with the suspect driver being shot by police. The force was used after the suspect, who had a female passenger, tried to ram an RCMP vehicle over a 55-foot embankment on the forest service road, and ended up ramming two other police vehicles involved in the chase. It's believed two officers fired shots into the stolen pick-up truck, striking the driver and causing the vehicle to go over the embankment.The male suspect was hit by one bullet in the upper shoulder area. He was taken to Kelowna General Hospital, treated and released into RCMP custody, where he remains. The female passenger was not seriously injured. She also remains in police custody. Two RCMP officers suffered minor injuries. Vernon RCMP Insp. Steve McVarnock said an independent review of the shooting will take place, which is standard RCMP procedure. McVarnock also said he fully backed his officers' use of force in this incident. You can read full details of the incident in Wednesday's Morning Star.
--------------------
Dangerous suspect shot by police Rachael Kimola - May 26, 2008 Castanet
A man called “an extreme danger to the public” has been taken off the streets in the north Okanagan, but RCMP had to face a very dangerous situation in order to make the arrest. Officers from several north Okanagan detachments became involved in a high speed chase with a stolen truck in the Sicamous area near Enderby Friday evening. The chase ended with the suspect vehicle ramming several police cruisers and the driver being shot by officers. Police found several large butcher knifes in the truck, as well as crack pipes and stolen license plates. Both the driver and his companion are facing numerous charges. Gord Molendyk of the Vernon RCMP says the driver, John Wesley Shaw, was arrested after trying to escape a police blockade on Forrest Service Road by ramming his way through three police cars which had him cornered against a dead end. “He was determined not to be arrested. An attempt to intercept the stolen truck resulted in Shaw doing a loop through a farmers field back onto Highway 97A going eastbound towards Grindrod. Three RCMP vehicles pursued Shaw up the service road which came to a dead end. Shaw turned around and proceeded back down the road and came across the first of the cruisers. He rammed into the front of the first car, pushing it back towards the edge of a very steep embankment,” says Molendyk.
He say the police vehicle became lodged onto a rock ledge that kept it from going over the embankment while the officer was still inside. “He then rammed a second cruiser, pushing it into a third. At that point, the officers fired at Shaw.” Molendyk says Shaw was still trying to escape arrest and in trying to drive past officers, he drove on the edge of an embankment causing the truck to roll over, coming to rest against a tree. He says Shaw was treated at Kelowna General Hospital for a gun shot wound to his upper chest/shoulder area and was released to RCMP custody shortly after. Shaw’s passenger, Svetlana Nenasheff, 37, was wanted on several outstanding warrants including breach of probation, possession of stolen property and obstruction. She received only minor injuries from the rollover. Shaw will face charges including assault with a weapon, dangerous driving causing a pursuit, driving while prohibited and possession of stolen property. Inspector Steve McVarnock says Shaw was wanted on a Canada wide warrant for operating a motor vehicle while prohibited and this wasn’t the first time he had rammed police cars. “The suspect in this matter was involved in a similar incident in Vernon during 2007. At that time, he rammed into several police vehicles in an attempt to escape being arrested. This individual is an extreme danger to the general public and it was believed that the subsequent arrest of this individual would result in a very dangerous set of circumstances,” says McVarnock. The RCMP officers involved in the incident suffered minor injuries related to the ramming, such as whiplash. One of the cruisers is considered a total write-off while the other two will be repaired. Both Shaw and Nenasheff are scheduled to appear in court Monday to face their various charges.
Lake City Casino Employees Cast Ballots
Whitney Deane - Astral Media Radio News (Kelowna)
Voting has started for Lake City Casino employees on the tentative agreement. The BC Government and Service Employees says they are recommending acceptance of the agreement to their members saying they are happy with the higher wages offered, flexibility with shifts, paid training and improved benefits. Employees in Kamloops are casting their ballots today (Mon.) The vote then moves to Vernon Tuesday, Penticton Wednesday, Kelowna Thursday, and the results will be announced on Friday.The current contract for Lake City Casino employees expired in December.
Transportation Brouhaha
Starlee Speers, Astral Media Radio - Vernon
After much contentious public debate, it's time for Vernon council to decide on the city's proposed Transportation Plan. Despite a slight majority of the public favouring the no-bypass option, Vernon city staff are recommending protection of the Western bypass corridor. Long-term planner Kim Flick says, protection of the corridor doesn't mean construction of a by-pass. Flick says the no- bypass option is not a good choice should trend vehicle use continue. Staff is also recommending council endorse the ten year and ten to 25 year Transportation strategies at this afternoon's meeting. Flick says, the plan emphasizes alternatives to single occupancy vehicles like pedestrian, trail, and cycling networks.Staff is also recommending the city add a new bus to the transit system each year.
Surcharge for High Strength Wastes to be changed today but will any enforcement follow?
"At present, the surcharge for BOD and TSS occurs once levels of high strength waste exceed 500 mgtl of BOD and 500 mgtl of TSS. Although for most customers this surcharge will not apply, one customer in Vernon is presently contributing waste in the range of 2500 to 5000 mgtl of BOD and up to 1500 mgtl of TSS. In order to discourage the continued discharge of high strength waste, a sliding scale for the surcharge has been suggested as a means of encouragement to reducing high strength concentrations. "
The extended deadline with the one customer (as illustrated in brief history below) will expire June 30, 2008. Will it be enforced then or will it once again be extended. (Council must shit or get off pot.)
"BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:
Based on the Bylaw amendments imposing a new rate structure for high strength wastes and a provision for sewer charges to be calculated on actual metered flows, there could be a net revenue increase to the City of approximately $300,000 annually to offset the higher treatment costs. It is likely that these additional costs will trigger implementation of further programs and processes by businesses to reduce the levels of high strength waste they are producing. "
-----------------------
Dec 10,2007:
Today at the Cow meeting the original deadline of Dec. 31,2006 will be once again extended to June 30,2008. Left unreported in the staff's report is the cost estimation that would be incurred by Okanagan Springs Brewery if this bylaw had been enforced. (last Spring the estimation was in excess of $100,000 at the old rates.) The Staff is also recommending that they change the bylaw in the strength area of bylaw 4863 to reduce the onerous burden on this plant !
OKANAGAN SPRING BREWERY ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENT (P. 33)
(i) THAT the Enforcement Agreement between the City of Vernon and Sleeman Breweries Ltd. be extended to June 30, 2008, to allow for further modifications to the facilities and operation of the Okanagan Springs Brewery;
Surcharge for High Strength Wastes (From bylaw 3909) Increases to 1.19 per KG in March 2007 (?)
$0.885 per kg of Biochemical Oxygen Demand in excess of the limits contained in the Sanitary Sewer Use Bylaw discharged to the City of Vernon sanitary sewer system.
$0.885 per kg of Total Suspended Solids in excess of the limits contained in the Sanitary Sewer Use Bylaw discharged to the City of Vernon sanitary sewer system
Roundabout Poll at KissFM
| ||||||||
Sunday, May 25, 2008
SLOT MACHINES to be Limited to 400- NO increase recommended in Slot Machine Licencing fee.
Reposting of a April 26 article. This particular item was put off pending receipt of
information from Mr. Tom Christensen, MLA. On the agenda for the meeting is:THAT Council support an amendment to the Zoning Bylaw #5000 to limit the number of slot machines in the
City to 400. Agenda - 235Kb Agenda Package - 8.35MB (p.35- )
It appears that info from our MLA has been received so this part of the Casino package can proceed. Hopefully they will look at the fees that should be charged to raise the money to perpetuate a Social Responsibility Fund. The City's Lawyers use of a case about Provincial probate fees is clearly not pertinent to this discussion. At the very least, matching the Provincial fee(s) for a class B Casino plus a per worker charge would seem an interim solution until Council does some more research on this fee that should be charged.
If Fee's are charged only to cover costs for Casino Business Licence Fee, How does City Council Explain the Terasen Gas Franchise fee ?
See the link above to illustrate this double think on fees. Section 194 (4) of the Community Charter requires a municipality to make available to the public, on request, the basis for calculation of a fee. (Hopefully my request for a justification of the franchise fee charged to natural gas users imposed by the city and collected by Terasen Gas on their behalf will now be forthcoming?)----------------------------------
Original Apr. 26 Posting:
Agenda Package - 9.93MB (p.66-68
)
Purpose:
Council, at its January 28, 2008 Committee of the Whole meeting, directed staff to review business license fees for casinos. This report provides Council with information on services are currently provided in the community and the legal implications of imposing an increased business license fee on casinos.
Recommendation:
That Council support an amendment to Zoning Bylaw #5000 to limit the number of slot machines in the City to 400
-------------------------------------
Don Quixote Note:
- Provincial Fees Required: REGISTRATION CLASSES APPLICATION FEE AND ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE
• Class A Casino (500 or more slots) $ 35,000 per site
• Class B Casino (less than 500 slots) $ 15,000 per site
The Application Fee is required to initiate a new or renewal application. The Annual Registration Fee is a yearly fee required to maintain registration. It is remitted to GPEB each year on or before the anniversary date (the date registration was approved by GPEB) for the term of the registration. The Application Fee and the Annual Registration Fee is the same. Gaming Workers $ 45 for 3 years / Senior Employees $ 250per year/ Senior Officials $ 250 per year - Vernon FEES : 08 Casino ............................................................................................ 110.00 +
+ $20.00/table/slot machine - 02 Arcade .............................................................................................. 50.00 +
+ Variable - See Table A-I
Arcade Vending Machine 8 – 10 $50.00 /20 – 22 $150.00/62 – 64 $500.00/71 + $600.00 - http://www.lawsociety.bc.ca/publications_forms/notices/98-11-09_probate.html
Appears that the case cited by the City of Vernon's lawyers is one involving probate fees in Ontario. The fees involved were ones that can only be prescribed by legislation rather than mere regulation. This case seems to have limited application and relevance to the fees imposed by a municipal government. Controlling Governments’ Taxing Powers (Re Eurig): Acted as co-counsel for Mrs. Eurig in this landmark case. The Supreme Court of Canada declared Ontario’s probate fee invalid on constitutional and administrative law grounds. The Supreme Court held that Ontario had charged a tax, rather than a fee, and that such a tax could only be imposed by the provincial legislature. The Court ordered that the appellant’s probate fee be refunded to her. The decision now constrains governments from imposing taxes by means other than a Bill originating in Parliament or one of the provincial legislatures. See Re Eurig Estate, [1998] 2 S.C.R. 565, 165 D.L.R. (4th) 1, 114 O.A.C. 55, 23 E.T.R. 1, 40 O.R. (3d) 160 (S.C.C.), rev’g (1997), 31 O.R. (3d) 777, 96 O.A.C. 354 (C.A.). - Section 194 (4) of the Community Charter requires a municipality to make available to the public, on request, the basis for calculation of a fee. (Hopefully my request for a justification of the franchise fee charged to natural gas users imposed by the city and collected by Terasen Gas on their behalf will now be forthcoming?)
- Section 194 (2) of the Community Charter;(b) base the fee on any factor specified in the bylaw and, in addition to the authority under section 12 (1) [variation authority], establish different rates or levels of fees in relation to different factors;
- Section 12 (1) of the Community Charter: A municipal bylaw under this Act may do one or more of the following:(a) make different provisions for different areas, times, conditions or circumstances as described by bylaw;(b) establish different classes of persons, places, activities, property or things; (c) make different provisions, including exceptions, for different classes established under paragraph (b). (2) A council may, in exercising its powers under section 8 (1) [natural person powers], establish any terms and conditions it considers appropriate.
- From the Report on page 67: Council, through Zoning Bylaw #5000, has the ability to place a limit on the number of slot machines in the City. Setting a limit at the current number of slots in the casino would put future Councils in a better negotiating position in the event of another expansion, and would effectively prevent creation of additional casinos. Setting the limit below the current number of slots would put the casino in a lawfully non-conforming condition, which could allow other opportunities for negotiation. (Don. Quixote Aside: We had a winning hand to negotiate a $50,000 per year Social Responsibility fund and we threw it away when we allowed the expansion and then tried to negotiate. This is the City's way of getting a new deal I guess !)
VJH administration comes under fire
By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - May 25, 2008
A Vernon Jubilee Hospital official is accused of hindering a petition demanding improved health care. The Vernon Taxpayers Association is upset that VJH administrator Peter Du Toit ordered a petition organized by the group removed from the emergency department’s waiting room. “He has no right to deny people access to the petition, especially when it deals with the hospital,” said Tony Stamboulieh, association spokesman. “He is interfering in the process and the free flow of information.” The petition calls on the provincial government to provide more resources for acute care beds as well as nurses and operating rooms. Stamboulieh points out that Du Toit is a public servant and VJH is a taxpayer-funded facility. “He has no right to interfere with the process,” said Stamboulieh. Du Toit acknowledges that he asked staff to remove the petition from the emergency waiting room.“We don’t think the hospital or staff should be involved in political issues,” he said.
Du Toit also believes the presence of the petition could take away from staff duties. “What happens is people ask questions and engage staff to answer questions, that could take away from time to provide care,” he said. The petition campaign will wrap up Saturday, and Stamboulieh says the number of names grows daily. “We are seeing strong support throughout the region,” he said. Stamboulieh would not speculate on how many names have been collected to date, but he says the final figure will be revealed after the deadline. However, he is confident that the petition will send a strong message to the provincial government and Interior Health Authority. “There is a disconnection between the people entrusted to run the government and the people who pay the money — the taxpayers,” he said, VJH is regularly at code purple (full) status, and Stamboulieh insists that is impacting patient care.“The stories we hear are hair-raising,” he said. “The people who sign the petition know what the facts are personally or through family members.”
The petition is available at Armstrong Bakery, Armstrong city hall, the Ashton Creek Store, Askew’s in Armstrong, Butcher Boys, the Coldstream municipal office, Hungry Jack’s in Enderby, the Enderby Credit Union, Enderby IDA Pharmacy, the Falkland Store, the Halina Centre, the Lumby Pharmacy, North Valley Echo in Enderby, Pleasant Valley Quilting in Armstrong, Serenity Tanning, Shepherd’s Hardware in Armstrong, Spallumcheen municipal office, Towne Cinema, Vernon city hall, the downtown Safeway pharmacy, Okanagan Sausage on 30th Avenue and at doctor’s offices.Volunteers will also have petition-signing tables at the Swan Lake Nurseryland, the Vernon Farmers’ Market, and Buy-Low Foods.
Anyone wishing to download the petition can find it at vernonblog.blogspot.com.
East Hill plan draws a crowd
By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - May 25, 2008
East Hill residents are demanding that their safety become a priority. About 100 people crammed into city hall Thursday, and while opinions varied on plans for a roundabout at Pleasant Valley Road and closing Suicide Hill, the common theme was slowing traffic down and making it easier for pedestrians to navigate the residential area. “One day, someone’s child will be hit by a vehicle,” said resident Laurie-Anne Salvino of current problems with speed. City staff is proposing to install a roundabout at 32nd Avenue and Pleasant Valley Road and closing off the section of 30th Avenue commonly known as Suicide Hill. Many speakers, though, expressed concern that closing Suicide Hill would force traffic on to side streets. “We have so much traffic going on 26th Street already. It’s at capacity,” said resident Hope Ritchie.That was also the view of Chris Cooper.
“If you block Suicide Hill, everything will go over to 32nd Avenue,” she said. Others indicated that 30th Avenue is the easiest way for them to get home from other parts of the city. “Gas is going up in price and you want me to drive further to go to my home,” said Margaret Heater. However, others insisted that something must be done with Suicide Hill, especially with vehicles going beyond the posted 30-kilometre-an-hour limit. “It’s common to see it doubled and tripled, and it’s common to see motorcycles get 50 feet of air,” said Keith Anderson. Many pedestrians expressed fear about walking across the top of Suicide Hill because of vehicles coming up. “They’re always burning their tires on the hill,” said Dan Stark. Andrea Thorburn called for pedestrian safety to be included in any changes. “We need to make sure there are proper walking routes first,” she said. Many demanded that speed limits be enforced.
“The problem isn’t the road. The problem is it’s not being policed,” said Larry Guenther.The concept of a roundabout at Pleasant Valley Road and 32nd Avenue also fostered a lot of debate. “A traffic circle (downtown) has been an abysmal failure in our community. It’s a bird-brained idea,” said Gary Delgarno. Most speakers didn’t contest the need to make improvements at the intersection to reduce accidents. They just don’t want a roundabout. “The problem will be solved with a proper red-green stop light,” said Fred Hartley.
City staff, though, did receive some praise for the plans being considered.“The engineers have done something that will reduce traffic and increase sidewalks,” said Marta Green. Input from the meeting will now be considered by city staff and council before a final decision is made.“Nothing is written in stone and these are just proposals,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert.