Kelowna mayor wants vote on new logo

Ron Seymour 2009-09-05 Kelowna Daily Courier:

Kelowna voters could be asked this fall if they‘d like to abandon the city‘s controversial new logo. Referendum questions relating to several city issues should be added to the ballots that will be used for the Nov. 25 byelection, Mayor Sharon Shepherd said on Thursday. As well as having the chance to pass judgment on the new logo, which has aroused considerable opposition since it was introduced in July, voters might be asked if they‘d like to create a mixed-ward system for future municipal elections. “From my perspective, asking these kind of questions might help to spike interest in the byelection,” Shepherd said. She hopes to win support from her council colleagues within a few weeks to add the questions to the byelection ballots.

An overwhelming number of comments regarding the new logo, a colourful circle made up of tiny triangles said to have been inspired by a pine cone, have been negative, Shepherd said. “I would like to see a question about the logo on the ballot,” she said. “We‘re here to listen to what the public has to say, not to just ignore the dialogue that‘s going on in the community.” She also favours asking voters if they‘d like to implement a mixed-ward system to be used in the 2011 civic election. Four of the eight councillors would be elected from specific areas of the city – such as Rutland, Glenmore, the Mission and downtown – with the rest elected at-large. Shepherd believes such a system would create more interest in local elections, and establish a stronger link between citizens and councillors. Less than 20 per cent of eligible voters turned out to cast a ballot on civic election day last November. “I think it‘s very hard for any individual candidate to become well-known throughout the entire city,” she said. “But they could become well-known in specific parts of the city.”

The City of Kelowna had a ward system in the 1970s, with councillors representing different areas. Former city councillor Colin Day, who was involved in local politics for more than 30 years, said the ward system promoted “parochialism,” with some councillors more focused on helping their own area than considering city-wide interests. “The broader vision of what‘s good for the city is more important than where a councillor lives,” Day said. “The best people should be elected.” In the mid-‘70s, Kelowna voters decided to scrap the ward system and elect councillors at-large. “I think the present system is the best system,” said Day, who retired before last year‘s civic election.

Shepherd said it‘s also possible a question relating to the comprehensive development zone proposal, the city‘s plan to allow a dozen new highrises in the Lawrence-Leon corridor, might be attached to the byelection ballots. However, city staff are still awaiting a legal opinion on whether such a question could be asked.