Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 05, 2010 12:00 PM
Restructuring Greater Vernon’s parks, recreation and culture function is gaining steam. Representatives from Vernon, Coldstream and Areas B and C resumed discussions Friday to discuss possible ways of changing the service. “We’re coming close to wrapping this up. We’ve made a lot of progress,” said Allan Neilson-Welch, a consultant who has been facilitating the process. “It sounds like we have some ability to find a solution.” There was common agreement Friday that a restructured function would include the Performing Arts Centre, Wesbild Centre, future joint facilities, Kal Beach, Kin Beach, Swan Lake Park and the Grey Canal trail network, joint planning and land acquisition and an annual grant for the Boys and Girls Club. Other parks and facilities would be controlled and funded by their respective jurisdictions. In terms of Kal Beach and the adjacent parking lot, Neilson-Welch has suggested that the North Okanagan Regional District take control from the city, which owns the sites, through a long-term lease. But Coldstream and the electoral areas prefer that ownership actually be transferred over to NORD.
All parties have agreed the current funding formula for facilities in the new function would continue. But for those outside of the service, differences exist. Coldstream and Area B have indicated they will make annual payments to Vernon, which would operate the recreation complex and Civic Arena, because their residents use them. But it’s been suggested that contributions would be reduced by half because they would not have a vote at the table. “Taking the decision-making ability away has a cost,” said Jim Garlick, Coldstream mayor. Area C has stated it may consider occasional grants to the recreation complex and Civic Arena, but it does not want to be tied to annual funding. “If I can I will (provide money) and if I can’t, I won’t,” said director Mike Macnabb, adding that he is concerned that his taxpayers could be significantly impacted by possible changes to the water utility.
Wayne Lippert, Vernon mayor, disagrees with linking parks and recreation issues to water. “Not all of our residents are water utility users, and parks and recreation are for everyone,” he said. Lippert believes the city is open to any of the models suggested by Neilson-Welch as long as the interest of residents is considered. “We’re there for the community and we need to recognize that,” he said. The next step in the process will be for Neilson-Welch to attach dollar figures to some of the proposed changes.
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3 comments:
Is there anything that Neilson-Welch isn't getting a cut off.
If he is so good, perhaps we could get rid of about 52 politico's and save a lot of money.
If Lippert agrees to this,then he should be impeached. Everything is falling apart under Lippert and Gous-first Greater vernon services,then Greater Vernon Water,now Parks and Rec.,and we still pay more than our fair share at Nord!
We pay so much, not because things are falling apart, but because the City of Vernon is taking things over.
CONTROL versus COST-SHARING
- Is Tourism any better off, now that it is 100% funded by the City of Vernon?
- Is Economic Development any better off, now that it is 100% funded by the City of Vernon?
- Will Water, or Parks, be any better?
Under "Greater Vernon", the City COST-SHARED with those other jurisdictions that inevitably benefitted from those services. But now, the City of Vernon is funding these activities ALL BY ITSELF, 100%.
- How is this better for Vernon taxpayers?
- How does this show Mr. Lippert's and Mr. Gous's respect for taxpayer dollars?
- Who decided that our priority should be CONTROL, and not COST-SHARING?
Why is it that CSRD can contract out Fire Dispatch to Surrey, cutting costs to merely 10%, while Vernon is still ramping up staff and buying equipment and forcing other municipalities to help them pay for it?
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