Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 09, 2010 7:00 PM
Vernon is taking a unified approach on parks. In advance of a meeting with its regional partners Tuesday, council voted Monday not to support a major restructuring of the Greater Vernon parks, recreation and culture function. “We want to keep this service together,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert.
Council insists that issues of concern can be addressed through contract, and for the city, those matters include tot lots/neighbourhood parks and protection and maintenance of city-owned assets. Greater Vernon’s jurisdictions have been in the midst of restructuring talks for a number of months. Under the proposed model, some facilities would remain regional assets, including the Vernon Performing Arts Centre, Wesbild Centre, Swan Lake Park and the Grey Canal trail. All other parks and facilities would be considered local and be the sole responsibility of their host jurisdiction. “I’d like to stop this service review,” said Coun. Bob Spiers. “The implications to the taxpayers of Vernon and Coldstream are horrendous.” Currently, all four jurisdictions contribute to capital and operations. Under restructuring, a one per cent tax increase may be required for Vernon to operate facilities under its mandate, and it would be 100 per cent responsible for capital enhancements. “If working together is better for our taxpayers, that’s what we should do,” said Coun. Shawn Lee. Coun. Buffy Baumbrough supported the motion, but has some reluctance. “I need to be reassured that as the owners of the building, we can ensure maintenance is done,” she said of the recreation complex. “We need to address issues around neighbourhood parks and tot lots and that is lacking with the (current) structure.”
Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe suggested that the other Greater Vernon partners don’t take the recreational interests of the city seriously. “If it happens to be in Vernon, they outvote it every time. They have not been that supportive of our citizens,” she said. Vernon council has also decided that it favours the voting structure at the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee and the North Okanagan Regional District being the same as stipulated in provincial legislation. “Coldstream says it wants an extra vote, and we want a good reason as to why,” said Lippert. The results of Tuesday’s meeting between Vernon, Coldstream and electoral areas weren’t known before deadline.
1 comment:
MJ, so you don't like something that benefits all used as a political football so they can appear to their constituents that they are actually doing something???
Got news for you, this has been the M-O for Vernon politicians ever since anybody, including your father Vince could remember.
If you want to be taken seriously at the bargaining table, come to the table with some meaningful input and prepare to give as good as you get. Nothing gets done on an inter-jurisdictional level unless somebody is willing to negotiate in good faith.
Think about this while you are debating withdrawing from any service that was set up to take advantage of economies of scale.
It's big picture stuff, but you should be able to wrap your head around it.
Post a Comment