The Lead Organizer of the Fight HST campaign says he has not seen any evidence showing the BC Conservatives are changing their position on the controversial tax. But Chris Delaney, who's the former Deputy Leader of the party, says if that is the case, he would change allegiances as well. "If it turns out the federal Conservatives that are joining the party are going to try to orchestrate or move the party towards a pro-HST position, I would have nothing to do with the party at that point," says Delaney. BC Conservatives First Vice President Mischa Popoff tendered his resignation, saying it appears the party is changing its position on the harmonized sales tax. Popoff cites secret meetings between the party's leadership and Federal Conservative MPs to water down their position on the tax.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
HST petition delivered to Elections BC
HST jumps to 15 per cent in Nova Scotia on Canada Day
The Canadian Press Date: Wednesday Jun. 30, 2010 10:46 AM ET
HALIFAX — Shoppers in Nova Scotia will start digging a little deeper starting Canada Day because of a two percentage point hike in the province's harmonized sales tax. The tax increase, which brings the HST to 15 per cent, has drawn outrage from opposition politicians but the government says it needs the increase in revenue from the tax to help fight its burgeoning deficit.The increase in the provincial portion of the tax from eight to 10 per cent helps make Nova Scotia one of the highest taxed jurisdictions in the country.
BC Conservative VP quits over HST
The 1st vice-president of the BC Conservative Party has resigned his position because he says his party is getting softer on the HST everyday and could soom become a pro-HST party. Mischa Popoff says that BC Conservative Party president Wayne McGrath has been holding countless secret meetings with Conservative MP Randy White and others to begin steering the party towards a pro-HST stance. Popoff says, "I always sort of knew that we were soft on the HST, that we were just sort of riding along on the coat tails of Bill Vanderzalm and Chris Delany and the last couple weeks I found out that its worst than I thought. We're not just soft on it but we're probably in favour of the damn thing." Popoff says he remains a Conservative but couldn't remain on the board in good conscience.
CARBON TAX A WIN-WIN FOR ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY
VICTORIA – British Columbians will continue to participate in the most environmentally and economically friendly tax policy in North America as the phase-in of the carbon tax continues with its annual increase July 1, Finance Minister Colin Hansen announced today. “The revenue from the carbon tax is being returned to British Columbians through tax cuts and income credits ensuring more is returned to taxpayers than government collects,” said Hansen. “The carbon tax is being phased in to give individuals and businesses time to adapt and innovate in order to reduce emissions and offset the impact of the tax.” The carbon tax puts a price on emissions to encourage British Columbians to make more environmentally responsible choices by reducing their use of fossils fuels. On July 1, 2010, the carbon tax rate on a litre of gasoline will increase by 1.12 cents to 4.45 cents per litre and by 1.27 cents to 5.11 cents per litre of light fuel oil. The B.C. Low Income Climate Action Tax Credit is paid quarterly and provides $105 per adult and $31.50 per child annually to compensate for the carbon taxes they pay. The credit is set to increase by a further 10 per cent in 2011, and is reviewed annually to ensure it continues to help offset the cost of the carbon tax for those with low incomes.
An increase of 1.12 cents per litre from 3.33 cents to 4.45 cents /litre is a 33.6% increase !!
Coldstream-UBCO
Staff at the District of Coldstream have been asked to find out how many students are using the UBC-O bus to Kelowna before money is committed for a second bus along that route. Coldstream's treasurer is now seeking those figures. Under pressure to give BC Transit an answer before the end of June, Vernon city council on Monday approved spending of approximately 100-thousand dollars a year for that bus. It had expected Coldstream to pick up some additional costs. The city is also returning to the North Okanagan Regional District for financial help.
Unsustainable City
termed the ``unsustainable cost'' of administration and salaries. Nathaniel Royko told a public session of council that the number of city employees jumped 23 percent in two years -- from 2007 to 2009. He asked for a complete list of job descriptions.``Holy Cow!'' was Downtown Vernon Association president Ruth Hoyt's reaction to the City of Vernon's annual report. Hoyt, along with two other residents, attended a public 
hearing to question the multi-million dollar cost of running the city's administration. City salaries last year cost taxpayers 18.9-million dollars. She urged council to follow some Lower Mainland communities and put a cap on the business-to-residence tax ratio.
And resident Jim Bodkin called for a core review of Vernon's pricey emergency services, including policing, bylaw and the fire department.
UBCO student claims rights violated
A UBC-Okanagan student who was arrested at the G-20 Summit is speaking out about his experience there. UBC-Okanagan Student Union rep Grayson Lepp was arrested along with colleague Kirk Chavarie Sunday morning. Lepp says they were treated inhumanely when they were imprisoned. "We were given about 4 oz of water every 4-6 hours...and a cheese sandwich every 6-8 hours, when we got there,, there was no toilet paper in the porta-potty, we asked them for toilet paper and it took them 6 hours to get us toilet paper." Lepp and Chavarie spent 36 hours in the cell with 15-20 other students. They are both facing conspiracy charges, and are due back in an Ontario Court on August 23rd.
Employment Opportunities City of Vernon
Closing Date: July 8, 2010
Job Posting - PLANNING ASSISTANT(Full-time – Temporary) Immediately – December 23, 2010
52-COV-10 Internal Applicants – June 30, 2010 External Applicants – July 8, 2010
$35.19 per hour (as per CUPE, Local 626, Vernon Civic Employees Collective Agreement) 14 – Schedule A (as per CUPE, Local 626, Vernon Civic Employees Collective Agreement) Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Reporting to the Manager, Planning and Building Services, this position performs a full range of technical planning support functions requiring skilled planning and regulatory work. This position supports the planning review process for development applications; provides information and interprets regulations/policies/processes; makes recommendations to development applicants and various internal and external clients.
Polson Park Redevelopment Comment Form
Please provide feedback on the Polson Park Redevelopment plan by downloading the comment form - 625Kb PDFComment Form Instructions:
Option 1 - Submit responses via email
Type your responses directly into the PDF form then click the Submit Form button to send send an email with your responses attached.
Option 2 - Print form
Type your responses directly into the PDF form then print OR print form and complete by hand then return to: Regional District of North Okanagan 9848 Aberdeen Road Coldstream, BC V1B 2K9
B.C. First Nations planning their own casinos, gambling authority
It would see B.C.’s only first nations-run casino, Cranbrook’s Casino of the Rockies, and two small gambling centres in Duncan and Squamish, joined by a host of large-scale casino operations focused on reserves nearest to urban centres. “Obviously geographic location is going to determine to a certain extent the potential success of the casino. So we’re looking at high-population areas,” Hall said.
The 100 greatest Canadian pop/rock songs of all-time
It‘s Canada Day and in tribute I offer my choices for the 100 best Canadian pop, rock or country songs recorded or written by a Canadian artist. A noticeable omission is any French-language songs only because I‘m not familiar with enough material. Each genre and period of music is represented. Let the debate begin.
- 1. Big Yellow Taxi (Joni Mitchell). From the guitar work to Joni‘s vocals which will never be duplicated, in two minutes, 16 seconds she made an environmental statement and recounts her own father.
- 2. My Way (Paul Anka). Sinatra and Elvis made it a hit but it was Anka who reworked a traditional French song and made it the anthem that it is today.
- 3. Heart of Gold (Neil Young). Neil‘s only No. 1 was his best. It was intended to be segued with a song called A Man Needs A Maid but he realized it could stand on its own.
- 4. Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen). It was virtually ignored when released in 1984 as part of his Various Positions album. It was only through subsequent recordings and a rousing rendition by kd Lange at the Winter Olympics that people finally took notice.
- 5. Four Strong Winds (Ian and Sylvia). Many believe this 1963 song, about a failed relationship, should be Alberta‘s official theme song.
- 6. Life Is A Highway (Tom Cochrane). Cochrane has written superior songs but he never sounded better than this song which reached No. 6 on the U.S. pop charts.
- 7. Working for the Weekend (Loverboy). The cowbell, Mike Reno‘s distinctive voice and the hilarious sketch with Chris Farley and Patrick Swayze on SNL. Rock and roll heaven.
- 8. Universal Soldier (Buffy Sainte-Marie). One of the great anti-war songs of the early 1960‘s.
- 9. Takin‘ Care of Business (Bachman Turner Overdrive). For pure rock-and-roll which is easy to sing and not too difficult to play along with.
- 10. Sometimes When We Touch (Dan Hill). Success came early for this unknown 23-year-old from Don Mills who scored a No. 3 hit and Grammy nomination (losing to Manilow).
Mayor, councillors high risers
Salaries for Kelowna‘s mayor and councillors have risen twice as fast as the average British Columbian‘s earnings over the past decade. The city‘s elected representatives have had a 50 per cent pay increase since 2000, while average wages across the province have risen 25 per cent. "I think I get fairly paid for the work I do, in comparison to other communities of similar size," Mayor Sharon Shepherd said Sunday. "Actually, if you looked at it on an hourly basis, I‘m probably down to a very minimum wage," she said. Shepherd earned $87,422 last year, one-third of it tax-free. In 1999, then-mayor Walter Grey drew $59,038, also with one-third of it tax-free. Since 1999, the pay for councillors has increased from $19,500 to just over $30,000. Again, one third of their salaries are also not subject to taxation. In 2000, the average weekly wage in British Columbia was $639, according to Statistics Canada. By last year, that had increased to $800.For the mayoral and councillor salary increases to outstrip those of average people by a two-to-one ratio is "way out of line", said Maureen Bader of the BC Taxpayer‘s Federation. "It‘s wrong for them to be giving themselves these outrageous salary increases when they‘re helping to create an economic climate in which working people are seeing their incomes stagnate, or only rising very slowly," Bader said.
Recent practice in Kelowna has been for a three-person citizen committee to be created by council every three years to examine the pay for elected representatives. The most recent adjustment was made in 2008, when a committee chaired by retired military officer Jack Dangerfield suggested pay increases for the mayor and councillors be linked to changes in the Consumer Price Index. Council accepted those recommendations and received pay increases on Jan. 1 in 2009 and again this year. A similar salary review committee will likely be created before the 2011 civic election, Shepherd said. "I think there has been a fair analysis done every few years on the salaries paid to mayor and council," said Shepherd, mayor since 2005. "Serving on council is a lot of hard work." But she doesn‘t expect pay for herself or her councillors will change significantly as a result of the next salary review. "There would likely be a recommendation coming forward based on these economic conditions to not change the amount," Shepherd said.
UBCO students caught in G20 sweep
Two student politicians from UBC Okanagan were held for more than 30 hours before being released Monday night after arrests at the University of Toronto during the G20 summit on the weekend. "All that we know right now is that they are being processed and are about to be released," Spencer Robins of the UBCO students‘ union said. "We still haven‘t heard from them (since Sunday)." UBCO students‘ union chairman Grayson Lepp and services co-ordinator Kirk Chavarie were detained with about 70 others in a gym on the university campus as police investigated Black Bloc protesters blamed for violent clashes. "They were sleeping there and they were literally swept up," said Robins. It was confirmed Lepp had contacted the students‘ union via legal aid Saturday night, but Chavarie had been unaccounted for until a judge signed a release order. The pair were to "march in solidarity" with other student politicians of the Canadian Federation of Students during G20 demonstrations. Robins said the pair were peaceful protesters. "We found photos and video ... of the two being detained, so we know that much, but we‘re still looking for answers," he said. "Other than that, we‘re still concerned." When contacted, a spokesperson for the G8/G20 Integrated Security Unit said some detainees still needed to be processed Monday, but refused to comment on individuals. More than 500 people were arrested in Toronto during the G20 weekend, with many claiming to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The gym, owned by the U of T Graduate Students‘ Union, was raided after discarded black clothing was found outside, according to the CBC, and police say they found stockpiles of "weapons of opportunity," like bricks.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
City approves UBCO route expansion
Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 29, 2010 7:00 PM
The City of Vernon has approved adding a second transit bus to UBC Okanagan, but still wants the North Okanagan Regional District to fund part of it. City council voted Monday to approve expansion of the UBCO route by adding a second bus and doubling the number of runs. “B.C. Transit has identified this as their number one priority,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol of the proposed route expansion. The cost of adding four runs and a second bus, without the regional district on board, will cost Vernon approximately $100,400, and that could increase by another $16,000 if the District of Lake Country does not contribute toward the expansion. Had the regional district agreed to expansion, they would have contributed $88,400, the City of Vernon would chip in $12,000, Lake Country would likely make a donation of $16,000 and the District of Coldstream would add $3,600. The current cost of running the route, which includes one bus and four runs to and from the campus, is $112,000.
Vernon Coun. Bob Spiers, while supporting the idea of a second bus, voted against it, citing the fact it’s only Vernon taxpayers on the hook for expansion. “I’m hoping they go back to NORD and convince them it is a regional function and should be financed out there,” said Spiers. The city did unanimously pass a motion to send the matter back to NORD for reconsideration.
The total cost of expansion was a concern for NORD Armstrong director Chris Pieper, who said at the last meeting that while he’s glad the UBC bus is full, he sees some buses that are half-full. Nicol said he gets the feeling some NORD directors would be willing to make contributions towards the expansion. Steve Harvard, southern Interior regional manager for B.C. Transit, told council the UBCO route is the authority’s highest priority because of significant demand. “The expansion will double the number of trips from four to eight, and all trips will go through the (Kelowna) airport, which is good news for passengers looking to catch a plane or a ride home from the airport,” said Harvard. The expansion, set to begin in September, will see the first bus leave Vernon at 7 a.m., arriving at UBCO at 7:45 in time for 8 a.m. classes. The last bus will leave UBCO at 7:50 p.m., arriving in Vernon at 8:39 p.m. On all return trips to Vernon, the airport stop has nine minutes timetabled to allow people to get on and off with luggage, then continue on to Vernon. City of Vernon transportation technician Amanda Watson also explained that two Vernon bus routes – Route 2 Pleasant Valley and Route 4 East Hill – have had their schedules tweaked so that all seven route’s first runs will now connect with the first bus leaving for UBCO.
The wrong approach
Last week’s jam-packed gathering in Lumby was supposed to be a chance for residents to access information and provide feedback on the prospect of a prison coming to town. And with close to 400 people in the room, there certainly was no shortage of debate. But what was lacking were any meaningful details residents could use to become better informed. If anything, parts of the two-and-a-half hour session were nothing but an infomercial moderated by an animated consultant wearing a head-set. All that was missing were some ShamWows or vegetables being sliced and diced. Council had insisted up, down and sideways that it was remaining open to all possibilities about a correctional facility until the public had spoken.
But that appeared to go out the window as Mayor Kevin Acton took to the podium. Certainly Acton spoke about his initial reluctance when the concept of a jail was put before him, and the research he has pursued by speaking to his counterparts in prison towns was not only interesting, but informative. But impartiality was left on the sidelines as Acton made it quite clear where he stood on the matter. He spoke of cash that would flow into town to help extend services to the industrial park, and how jobs and new residents would roll in. “They will bring families, fill our schools and support our businesses,” he said. The need to increase public awareness also included feel-good provincial government videos bragging about how correctional facilities are wonderful employers and dynamic places in the Best Place on Earth. Thankfully, the technology gods intervened and the sound didn’t work, forcing village staff to abandon their cinematic duties. A panel of experts was also on hand — retired guards and architects who specialize in the Big House. But no matter the questions fired at them, everything was absolutely rosy, and that situation wasn’t lost on at least one man in the crowd.
“When looking at a panel that makes a living off of it, you’re going to get one side,” he said. If the village was truly dedicated to presenting a balanced approach and wanted the public to be as educated as possible, why just have the correctional cheerleaders there? Where were the groups that have concerns about our justice system or the victims’ rights advocates? Where were the police during all of this? Some questioned why the meeting was even called. “There’s lots of things that bring economic benefits. I’ve never seen a community meeting called to bring a college campus to Lumby,” said resident Don Elzer. “This is all about selling us on a prison.” In council’s defence, it has tried to get the answers to some questions, but apparently the provincial government has been too busy to deal with it. But Victoria’s ineptness aside, the village’s approach was hollow and very one-sided. Acton and the rest of council are now back at the drawing board after realizing that considerable opposition does exist. “There won’t be a strong push to get this put into the ground but there will be a strong push for information,” he said of the village’s next steps. But let’s hope that any further consultation with the public doesn’t consist of a pre-conceived agenda, and the plug is pulled on the headset.
UBC-O Bus
For UBC-O students who couldn't take the bus from Vernon this past year because they arrived too late for that first class -- some good news. Vernon City Council has approved funding for a 2nd bus to the Kelowna campus. The new bus will leave earlier in the morning, allowing students to get to their 8 am classes on time. However, the city has been stuck with 100-thousand dollars in yearly costs for the bus and added travel time after politicians at the North Okanagan Regional District refused to help pay for the service. Councillor Bob Spiers accused the district of downloading and has recommended the city go back and ask again for the funds. Council has approved that motion.
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Don Quixote Note: Agenda Package PDF (675Kb). The details of the breakdown for the 9 Regional Partners can be found on Page 5 of the $120,000 cost if the bus remained as part of the Regional Transit function. Vernon's taxpayers share would have been $57,480. The potential subsidy to the other areas is $62,520 per year for a minimum of 2 years.
ASK on Library
A management company has been chosen for the Okanagan Regional Library project in Vernon. TASK Construction Management out of Burnaby has been awarded the contract to oversee the 11-million dollar building of the new downtown library. Councillor Shawn Lee says the company has dealt with big Vernon projects before, the Wesbild Centre and the Performing Arts Centre. Lee says the company has a good reputation in this region. TASK’s next step will be working with the O-R-L to hire an architect to design the facility. Construction is expected to begin in March 2012 with an opening date sometime in 2013.Meanwhile, library board chairman Ted Bacigalupo says the alternate approval process to borrow the funds for construction is going well. The O-R-L hopes to move quickly to hire an architect and have drawings for the board to review by fall.
Are you looking forward to a new Vernon library ? Valley Mayors
Transit throughout the Okanagan Valley and spiralling RCMP costs were also the focus of talks between Valley mayors late last week. Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert says the mayors will seek federal and provincial help to re-establish and maintain the Armstrong-to-Sicamous rail line and a line between Kelowna and Falkland. The mayor said the cost of policing remains a big concern. The mayors are reviewing a UBCM task force report looking at other options than the RCMP. Okanagan Valley mayors have expressed interest in an emergency operations model set up in Vernon. The city has signed intermunicpal agreements with all North Okanagan communities and the regional district, to co-ordinate emergency social services and operations. Mayor Wayne Lippert calls it cost effective and efficient. He says people are still remembering the Terrace Mountain Fire.
Recycling Cost Up
Written by Peter McIntyre Tuesday, 29 June 2010 04:27 107.5 KISSFM
The cost of keeping the community green is going up. Vernon council has adopted new refuse collection rates, which include 25 percent hike to recycling fees. Councillor Bob Spiers was told by staff its due to higher tipping fees at the landfill, and the first increase in the contract fee since 2008. He says it's a sort of catch up, and that it's not a lot of money but people are concerned about a 25 percent increase. Recycling per home will rise from 22 to 33 dollars a year, and also includes the clear leaf and chipping programs.-----------
Don Quixote Note: Mr. Mcintyre is correct in his annual charge going up from $22 to $33 per year. (From 5.50 per quarter to $8.28 per quarter) and this is actually a 50% increase.
Agenda Package
p.353 shows this change to the bylaw and when I read this several weeks back I mistakenly assumed that the current charge was $6.50 and therefore change was about 25%. (old eyes on a computer and assuming caused me to use the incorrect 25% increase.)Garbage rates are going up from 19.23 per quarter to 24.12 per quarter which IS a 25% increase. $19.56 per year). Interestingly as I pointed out at the June meeting the Commercial Garbage rates are increasing from $71.42 to $75.00 per quarter which IS only a 5% increase. ($14.32)
On the Bus
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Don Quixote: When Peter Mcintyre refers to 'in committee, not in the regular meeting.' he means at NORD's Committee of the whole. Agenda Package PDF (675Kb). The details of the breakdown for the 9 Regional Partners can be found on Page 5 of the $120,000 cost if the bus remained as part of the Regional Transit function. Vernon's taxpayers share would have been $57,480. The potential subsidy to the other areas is $62,520 per year for a minimum of 2 years.
Vernon Council unanimously referred this back to the Full NORD Board for reconsideration.
The other factor in my opposition to this 'downloading' or perhaps 'side-loading' is the business tax ratio factor. Business at the Regional District Level have a Provincial Mandated ratio of 2.45. At Vernon the ratio in 2010 is 2.78 . Every time a function is taken over by the city or the costs are assumed by the city (even for a valid and needed function) a disproportionate share is assumed by the non-residential taxpayer. (Recent examples where this happened were the City's taking on the Tourism and Economic Development functions)
Another of my concerns is the tax base that is used at the NORD level. In this case the Regional Transit's assessment basis for taxation is 'Land and Improvements' as it will be in the city and there is no difference in this case.
This concern will be more prominent for Fire Dispatch ('Improvements only) and especially in the Recreational Function at NORD (Parks etc) which is also assessed on the basis of Improvements only. The mandated switch over to 'Land & Improvements' will have both negative or positive repercussions to both Residential and Business taxpayers if these functions change jurisdictions. There is no net loss to the taxpayers but who assumes the change will be dependent on your property assessment breakdown in relation to all other properties and their breakdown of Land and Improvements. The most recent example of this Law of Unexpected Consequences (LUC) occurred in 2009 when the Fire Costs were changed from'Improvements Only' to 'Land and Improvements. '
New Library
Monday, June 28, 2010
Kelowna's staff good bang for buck?
103No
499 Total Votes: 602
Wayne Moore Jun 28, 2010 / 6:00 pm CASTANETKelowna's mayor says its citizens are getting a good bang for their buck in terms of staff salaries. Sharon Shepherd made the comments as City Council gets ready to accept the city's 2009 Annual Report on salaries and expenditures. The report which will be tabled Monday shows staff salaries reached $54.1 million in 2009, an increase of 10% over 2008 staff salaries of $49.2 million. "Our city has a staff of over 800," says Shepherd. "Things have slowed down in the economy and we have had to hold the line on staff vacancies. We have been working with less people when times are tough." Shepherd says the were no management salary increases in 2009 and there will be none in 2010. She says several salaries went up in 2009 after increases were agreed to late in 2008. The mayor adds that union negotiated contracts for firefighters and CUPE employees also increased significantly because of contracts negotiated several years ago. The city is currently into negotiations with CUPE on a new contract. Negotiations with firefighters will begin after the CUPE deal is hammered out.
The city is obligated through the municipal act to publicly report all salaries over $75,000. The number of staff earning $75,000 or more reached 209 in 2009, up from 153 the previous year. That number includes 93 members of the Kelowna Fire Department. "Any firefighter who works over four years will make over $75,000 and that's a fact," adds Shepherd. "That was part of the collectively bargained agreement." A portion of the salaries for Kelowna firefighters represents overtime as a result of wildfires in West Kelowna. Those monies will be reimbursed by the Provincial Emergency Program.
Full List at
Item 7.02 - 2009 Annual Report.pdf (1521kb) (2010-06-25)
Vancouver City Hall deemed arrogant, out of touch on street closures
We regularly receive emails from concerned citizens on different issues here at CityCaucus.com. When we can follow-up, it's usually with a phone call or an exchange of emails. Last Monday someone living in a neighbourhood I know well (having grown up nearby) emailed us about a bike route that had been blocked with a concrete barrier. It was a very sincere request, complete with attached images and drawings, so I asked the correspondent if we could meet.
============
As I stood on the corner that Friday afternoon I saw about eight cars attempt illegal u-turns. I watched as cyclists and pedestrians took their lives in their hands entering the intersection as cars whipped through. This used to be a corner controlled by a four-way stop, and it's been that way for about the previous five decades. It worked just fine. What Vancouver city council is doing is only listening to the tiny but vocal bike lobby, and they are ignoring communities at large. Even a cyclist riding by yelled out, "Whoever thought of this sh*t ought to be fired!" Everyone there agreed.
This story is repeating itself at other locations around the city, such as beside Riley Park on Ontario Street. Mark my words, this "bikes before people" mentality is going to be the undoing of the Vision Vancouver council. I heard it loud and clear on Friday afternoon – Mayor Robertson, listen to us or you're outta here.
107.5 KISSFM Poll of the Day (FINAL)
| Would you agree with councilor Spiers, Vernon's staff costs need to be reigned in ? | ||
|---|---|---|
| yes | ||
| 21- | 87.5% | |
| no | ||
| 2 - | 12.5% | |
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Annual Report - Public Input June 28 (5 PM)
Send to City Clerk: PBridal@vernon.ca
(If you wish you can copy any or all of the Council members)
2009 - 11MB
Annual Reports for comparison purposes can be found at :
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Saturday, June 26, 2010
Fire hall welcomes new truck into fold
June 26, 2010 12:00 PM Vernon Morning Star:
Officials anticipate a new fire truck will enhance public safety. Vernon’s fire department received a new $700,000 emergency vehicle Monday, and it can perform a number of functions including fire suppression, motor vehicle incident response and difficult rescues. “This new engine rescue design provides our firefighters with increased effectiveness by having a multi-purpose capability,” said chief Jeff Carlisle.” The truck, which is expected to be in service for 20 years, replaces the aging engine 83 that is beyond its life cycle as a frontline emergency response vehicle. “Our firefighters respond to a wide variety of emergency situations and this new vehicle provides them with the means and tools necessary to get the job done safely,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert. “In addition, engine 83 will be deployed to Predator Ridge as part of the Predator Ridge volunteer fire service initiative.”
Also new at the Vernon fire hall are three new dispatchers for emergency calls. While the dispatch system previously used firefighters, there will now be dedicated communications operators. Mayor Wayne Lippert said the change is part of council’s commitment towards a safe community. ”It is important that we place the utmost priority when it comes to our emergency response system, and this change in staffing structure for fire dispatch is an excellent step forward.”
Polson plan goes before public
Published: June 26, 2010 12:00 PM Morning Star:
The proposed plans for the redevelopment of Polson Park were put on display at the Vernon Recreation Complex on Thursday night.“We want to respect this park as the jewel of the city,” said Catherine Berris, the landscape architect who drafted the two proposals for possible upgrades to the park. Berris, along with staff from the City of Vernon and North Okanagan Regional District, were on hand on Thursday to answer questions one-on-one and gain some feedback about the two possible options. Option A is the most similar to what Polson Park looks like today. It includes a new pavilion and outdoor fitness area, improvements to the water park, the banks along the creek and the parking areas, as well as many new pedestrian paths.“Option B is a more ambitious undertaking,” said Berris. In addition to the improvements proposed in Option A, Option B would see a basketball court, a bicycle skills park, an off-leash dog area, and a large open space with loop paths to replace the track and field oval.
A few concerns were raised, most notably the problems that may arise if the internal road was closed to all motor vehicles, with the exception of emergency vehicles. “The safety factor is going to be reduced,” said Frank Anderson, member of the Vernon Lawn Bowling Club located at Polson Park. Reducing vehicle access could reduce foot traffic. And the fewer people in the park, the higher risk of illegal activity said Anderson. The Vernon Lawn Bowling Club has a vested interest in the state of the park, and has had several issues with vandalism to their clubhouse over the years. Only Option B will result in closing the road to motor vehicles, but Berris believes this option is preferable because it is a safety concern to have pedestrians and vehicles sharing so much of the park.
A decision to restrict vehicle access may also be affecting mobility throughout the park. Many in attendance on Thursday were worried that people of limited mobility like seniors or mothers with several children won’t be able to get to certain areas of the park without their vehicles. “I hope they don’t take that road out, they’ll ruin the park if they do,” said Art Lange. The proposed options are not set in stone, and with the exception of the new pavilion and the outdoor fitness area that have already been approved, everything is open for debate. Input from the community is encouraged, and a few venues have been set up to do so. Plans with comment cards can be found at the Vernon Arts Centre, the Vernon Public Library, and online at www.rdno.ca. A complete proposal to be put before NORD and the City of Vernon is expected to be complete by the end of July.
Wages concern Spiers
Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 26, 2010 12:00 PM
Residents can attend an input session at Vernon city hall Monday at 5 p.m. about the city’s 2009 annual report. morning star file photo
A Vernon politician is urging taxpayers to speak out on what he sees as soaring wages at city hall. A public input session on the city’s 2009 annual report will be held Monday at 5 p.m. in council chambers. It includes remuneration paid out to members of council as well as staff. “I’m hoping people will read the report and give their input on the future of the city,” said Coun. Bob Spiers. According to the report, $18.8 million was directed towards earnings, expenses and allowances for employees in 2009. Of that, there were 63 that took home more than $75,000 in earnings. The gross number of employees in 2009 was 299, compared to 267 in 2008 and 241 in 2007. The net cost of salaries, wages and benefits was $15.6 million in 2008. There were 41 employees who earned more than $75,000 a year in 2008.
Spiers says the increase in employees has far outpaced population growth in the community. “It’s like a straight line to the sky,” he said. “Seventy-eight per cent of the net taxes are going to salaries whereas it was 60 per cent in 2005.” Spiers continues to push for a core service review, saying it would determine if there is a better way of providing services to residents of Vernon. “Our workforce has to be examined. It’s our biggest expenditure,” he said. “The only way you can sustain something is to have revenue coming in and the main source of revenue is taxes.” The City of Vernon’s 2009 annual report is available at www.vernon.ca.
If John Les walks, so should bureaucrat
But if Les walks away in the clear, then so should the municipal staff member whose job was to execute the will of the mayor and council. Instead, the special prosecutor elected to file three breach of trust charges against then-subdivision approving officer Grant Sanborn. There are no allegations of bribery in the information provided. There are no allegations Sanborn's allegedly criminal decisions were made for money or personal gain. The prosecutor's outline says that Sanborn made the decisions based on the "pro-development, can-do" culture established in Chilliwack over the years that Les was mayor. Les went on to provincial politics and was in cabinet when this case surfaced. He properly resigned and has been waiting to be cleared for two years. Sanborn was following the prevailing ethos in Chilliwack at the time, doing what he was encouraged to do by a firm-handed mayor who was responsible for establishing the municipality's enthusiastic attitude toward growth and development. But the ex-mayor gets cleared and the ex-bureaucrat gets booked. It's not right. (more)
----Every bureaucrat should read the special prosecutor's report on Les. It's an example of how blame follows the law of gravity. It flows down in a hierarchy, not up.
HST offers 3% tax break on luxury car purchases
Owning a Beemer or a Jag will be getting a little cheaper. While July 1 means the sales tax i
s increasing on several items, the tax on luxury cars will decrease from 15 to 12 per cent on cars over $57,000. That means people wanting to splurge on fancy wheels have been waiting patiently for Canada Day. “Many of them are holding off with their purchases,” said Peter Trzewik, general manager of Victoria BMW and Three Point Motors, a Mercedes-Benz dealership. “They basically have the car picked out, but they will not pick the car up and pay for the car and do the paperwork until July. On $100,000 [cars], you’re saving $3,000. Why wouldn’t you?"
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Financial Tip of the day:
HONEYWAGON SPECIAL : Get your Septic tank pumped out before Canada Day and avoid the extra 7% HST.
Friday, June 25, 2010
B.C. First Nations say unfairly targeted by HST
By: The Canadian Press Date: Friday Jun. 25, 2010 11:18 AM PT
First Nations leaders in B.C. say the outcome of a meeting with Finance Minister Colin Hansen is encouraging. Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs met with Hansen Thursday to discuss the harmonized sales tax, due to take effect in B.C. and Ontario on July 1. B.C. aboriginals are seeking a point-of-sale exemption from the combined federal and provincial sales tax, similar to an agreement between the Ontario government and First Nations in that province. Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs president Stuart Phillip says Hansen apologized for not meeting earlier with First Nations groups and agreed to further consultations. Phillip says Hansen told the meeting he believes the HST is "net beneficial" for aboriginals. Native leaders oppose the tax because they believe it will unfairly target many First Nations communities already living below the poverty line.
Mayor defends city payroll
"Things have slowed down in the economy and we have had to hold the line on staff vacancies. We have been working with less people when times are tough." Shepherd says the were no management salary increases in 2009 and there will be none in 2010. She says several salaries went up in 2009 after increases were agreed to late in 2008. The mayor adds that union negotiated contracts for firefighters and CUPE employees also increased significantly because of contracts negotiated several years ago.The city is currently into negotiations with CUPE on a new contract. Negotiations with firefighters will begin after the CUPE deal is hammered out.
The city is obligated through the municipal act to publicly report all salaries over $75,000. The number of staff earning $75,000 or more reached 209 in 2009, up from 153 the previous year. That number includes 93 members of the Kelowna Fire Department. "Any firefighter who works over four years will make over $75,000 and that's a fact," adds Shepherd. "That was part of the collectively bargained agreement." A portion of the salaries for Kelowna firefighters represents overtime as a result of wildfires in West Kelowna. Those monies will be reimbursed by the Provincial Emergency Program.
Once again, City Manager, Ron Mattiussi is at the top of the pay scale, earning $254,904 in 2009.
The rest of the top 10 salaries includes:
"We are a major corporation and we manage millions of dollar every year. We require scrutiny and have high expectations from our citizens," says Shepherd. "We have a new management structure which is working very well, we have good people and we have to pay those people well."
Full List at
Item 7.02 - 2009 Annual Report.pdf (1521kb) (2010-06-25) To view a full copy of the 2009 Annual report, please copy and paste the following link into your browser:
http://www.kelowna.ca/CityPage/Docs/PDFs//Communications/2009_AnnualReport.pdf
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http://www.chbcnews.ca/video/index.html?releasePID=_qFeNcvVUZJqBEV2UN2BOojJxl2Kf_sX
Parking, Road Access Lead Polson Park Input
John Les cleared of wrong doing
CBC NEWS Friday, June 25, 2010 | 12:01 PM PT
Former B.C. solicitor general John Les has been cleared of wrong doing by a special prosecutor's investigation into his land dealing in Chilliwack in the 1990, but a former municipal official will face charges. Special prosecutor Robin McFee did approve charges against Grant Sanborn, as part of the investigation, according to a statement released by B.C.'s Criminal Justice Branch on Friday. Sanborn has been charged with three charges of breach of trust by a public officer and scheduled to appear in court on July 27. But McFee said the available evidence against Les did not meet the threshold of substantial likelihood that Les would be convicted of the offence of breach of trust, and that he concluded charges were should not be recommended. Sanborn was an approving officer at Chilliwack City Hall during the 1990s, who left to become a private consultant specializing in assisting with applications to remove land from the Agricultural Land Reserve. Les resigned as B.C. solicitor general in March 2008 in the wake of allegations that he and his family benefitted improperly from developers who created subdivisions' in the Chilliwack area, many of which were developed while Les was mayor. The special prosecutor was appointed following Les's resignation as part of the investigation into the allegations.
At the centre of the controversy was the Rosebank development, which was built on land where boundaries had been redrawn when Les was mayor of Chilliwack between 1987 and 1999. The special prosecutor found that Sanborn failed to fulful his public duty as an approving officer when he allowed the subdivision to proceed at Rosebank, and when he approved another subdivision known as the Trails at Longthorn Creek. At the time of his resignation Les said he was confident his name would be cleared when the investigation is complete. "I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that I'll be cleared. I know I have done nothing wrong," he said. While he resigned from cabinet, he remained a Liberal MLA during the investigation.
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Charges approved against businessman Grant Sanborn, but not John Les
Special prosecutor Robin McFee has approved criminal charges against Chilliwack businessman Grant Sanborn, who was allegedly involved in a land deal controversy linked to the resignation of former solicitor general John Les. Sanborn is facing three counts of breach of trust following an investigation into allegations of improper conduct on the part of former officials with the city of Chilliwack, the Criminal Justice Branch and the Ministry of Attorney General announced in a news release on Friday. The first court appearance for Sanborn is scheduled for July 25. McFee has not approved charges against Les. The special prosecutor has found that the evidence supports a finding that in allowing a subdivision of properties located near the intersection of Rosebank Place and Camp River to proceed, Sanborn "failed to fulfil his public duty as an approving officer." Sanborn was Chilliwack's approving officer for boundary changes during the time that Les was mayor. Les was mayor from 1987 to 1999, while Sanborn was the approving officer from 1992 until he left in 2000. In 1997, Sanborn made a boundary adjustment within ALR property owned by Les near Rosebank Place, the development under investigation by police and the ALC.Les stepped down as solicitor general in March 2008 shortly after news broke that an independent prosecutor was investigating his actions while mayor of Chilliwack.
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See copy of statement from Criminal Justice Branch here
Stage One Restrictions
The Regional District of North Okanagan has relaxed the water restrictions. General Manager of Engineering, Arnold Badke says the recent precipitation has significantly increased the flow of water into the utility’s upland reservoirs, Kalamalka Lake and Okanagan Lake. He says increased precipitation has also reduced the water demand on the storage, which means Stage 2 restrictions have been relaxed to Stage 1 effective immediately.
Residential customers are permitted to water their lawn and gardens on odd or even, alternating days based on their house address. Odd numbered houses can water on odd numbered days of the week. Even numbered house can water on even numbered days of the week. Automatic (timer) sprinklers can water between 12 midnight to 6 am. Manual sprinklers can water between the hours of 6am and 10am and 7pm and 12 midnight. Gated communities, stratas and mobile home parks should water based on the unit number if they are on a separate sprinkler system.
Kelowna Still Wants Jail
There's been a lot of talk about a jail for Lumby lately, however, the Mayor of Kelowna says the idea of building a prison in Kelowna is still very much alive. A proposed prison near lake Country was shelved a few years ago, but Sharon Shepherd says the city is still pursuing it.The Kelowna prison idea was nixed after the Okanagan Indian Band and Mayor of Lake Country complained the province did not consult with them over the concept. Shepherd says the city of Kelowna brings it up at every opportunity it has to discuss it with the provincial government. She says the city re-zoned the property, which is owned by the province, and they've been working on the idea since 1996. Hundreds of residents from the Lumby area spent two-and-a-half hours Tuesday night debating the issue. The Mayor says a straw poll at the end of the night showed they were split on the issue. It will be on the agenda for Lumby's July council meeting.
Antwerpt Springs Report
The Regional District of North Okanagan is out with their latest report on the water contamination last January in Coldstream and Lavington. The report says Antwerp Springs was contaminated by a discharge of foreign material into the water operating system, resulting in a temporary contamination of the water system. It says in the five months since this incident the RDNO, along with the Ministry of the Environment and Interior Health Authority, have taken roles in the investigation and response to this occurrence, adding they're aware of no ill effects to health as a result.The unanswered question is the specifics of the contamination. The RDNO has received the advice of MOE that it is in the process of preparing a report as to the source of the contamination, but that such report has not yet been completed.
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| Antwerp Springs Well No. 1 Investigation into Possible Contamination Pathways (8.09MB PDF) |
| Antwerp Springs Well FinalWell Closure Report (5.86MB PDF) |
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Local police helping with security at Toronto summits
There’s a North Okanagan presence at the ongoing G8 and G20 summits in and near Toronto, featuring world leaders. A handful of Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP officers are on hand as part of the $1 billion security team assigned to the events. “We have a total of eight officers assigned to the summits,” said Vernon RCMP spokesman Gord Molendyk. Several of the officers are with the Kelowna-based Southeast District’s tactical team, which is trained in riot control and to do searches of areas for security purposes. A couple of officers are with an emergency response team, and a handful are there to cover static positions. The sending of local officers to Toronto is similar to when the detachment shipped out members to help with security at the Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics. “We’re still up to strength, we’re not running short,” said Molendyk.
Tolko curtails mill activities
Some workers at Tolko Industries’ Armstrong division are getting an unexpected summer break. The Vernon-based company has announced the division’s plywood operation will take market-related downtime for a minimum of one week starting July 5. That impacts 150 employees. “We’ve had a pretty good run for a couple of months but we’re now building volume and there’s no take away,” said Pat Donnelly, Armstrong division site manager, of a lack of sales. Much of the upheaval in the market is a result of trends south of the border. “U.S. housing starts are down,” said Donnelly, adding that Tolko must adjust its operations in response to customer demand. “With the economic period we are going through, we will see significant ups and downs and we have to manage the best way we can.” Plywood production is scheduled to resume July 12 but that will depend on market conditions at the time.“It could be longer, definitely,” said Donnelly.
“Customers can be conservative and then they can jump in and purchase a couple of blocks.” Donnelly admits that the decision to cease operations temporarily wasn’t an easy one to make. “We regret the impact this will have on our employees and their families,” he said, adding that it’s not a result of anything the workers have done. “We acknowledge and thank our employees for their continuing hard work to improve productivity during this period of volatile product prices.” Beyond individual employees, Donnelly points out that the downtime has a negative impact on the company. “If you’re not running the facility, you have got a capital investment you’re not using,” he said. Tolko Industries is a private company with more than 3,500 employees in Western Canada, including in Armstrong, Lavington and Lumby.It’s a major producer and marketer of lumber, veneer, plywood, oriented strand board, and kraft papers, with manufacturing operations.
Hansma Cleared of Conflict Again
He says the panel of three justices ordered his legal costs be covered by the appellants (residents). "it was covered by the municipality so it will be recovering those costs." He says its likely in the $30,000 to 40,000 thousand dollar range. Michael Fairbrass, one of the residents involved, declined comment on the ruling when contacted by KISS FM, referring inquiries to the group's lawyer who has so far not returned a call to KISS FM News.
Click HERE to read the BC Court of Appeal judgement.
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Kate Bouey - Vernon 105.7 SUNFM: Spall Mayor Wins Appeal
The BC Court of Appeal says there is ``no basis at all to remove'' Spallumcheen Mayor Will Hansma from office. The court has dismissed a lawsuit launched by 39 Spall residents who had accused Hansma of a conflict of interest for voting in 2008 on a bylaw amendment that affected property owned by his sons. The mayor says he is relieved it is over. ``It's been a long process,'' said Hansma. ``It's just a real relief to have that final ruling from the (Court of Appeal) that I am innocent and that I was doing absolutely nothing wrong.'' The decision upholds an earlier BC Supreme Court ruling in favour of the mayor. Hansma says the Township of Spallumcheen paid his legal costs, which he believes have mounted up to around 40-thousand dollars, and much of that should now be reimbursed by the plaintiffs. And Hansma says the lawsuit has not put him off politics. When asked if he would run for mayor again, he said ``probably.'' The residents involved in the suit and their lawyers have so far refused to comment.
Polson Plans Public
Library Likely Lucky
Written by Peter McIntyre Thursday, 24 June 2010 07:19107.5 KISSFM:
There's doesn't appear to be a lot of opposition to the plan to borrow money for a new Vernon library. An approval petition at the NORD office has so far generated 50 signers with less than two weeks go in the campaign. Ten percent of the region's electors--or 63-hundred people--- are needed by July 5th, to derail the plan. If approved, NORD would borrow 11 million dollars on behalf of the Okanagan Regional Library, to build a new Vernon branch on 30th Avenue.Black conviction set aside
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has set aside a ruling that upheld the convictions of former media baron Conrad Black and two ex-colleagues for defrauding shareholders of one-time newspaper publishing giant Hollinger International Inc.
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CBC NEWS: Conrad Black fraud convictions set aside
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday overturned three fraud convictions against Montreal-born Conrad Black, and remanded his case back to the Chicago court that sentenced him. The jailed former media baron's obstruction of justice conviction remains in place.
Australia's ruling party installs first woman PM
CANBERRA, Australia — Australia got its first female prime minister on Thursday after the ruling party dumped Kevin Rudd and installed his deputy as leader. Julia Gillard will lead the government to elections due within months. She stood unopposed at a vote of the Labor Party's 112 lawmakers at a meeting Thur
sday, hours after a revolt against Ru
dd. "I feel very honoured," she told reporters afterward. Rudd didn't even stand for reappointment in the vote -- a signal that he knew his support had collapsed. Rudd had ridden high in opinion polls as one of the most popular Australian prime ministers of modern times until he made major policy backflips, including a decision in April to shelve plans to make Australia's worst polluters pay for their carbon gas emissions. The leadership change is unlikely to alter Australia's key policy positions, such as its troop commitment to Afghanistan. Since she is leader of the majority party in Parliament, Gillard's swearing in as prime minister is a formality. Rudd, who won a landslide election victory less than three years ago, appeared composed after the meeting, but declined to speak to the media.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Funding for Green Projects
Two environmental projects in Greater Vernon have got the go ahead with
the help of federal funding. Okanagan Shuswap M-P Colin Mayes used a backdrop of the Allan Brooks Nature Centre in Vernon to announce $82, 213 from the EcoAction program. About 16-thousand will go to the Society for the Protection of Kalamalka Lake to restore riparian plantings on Coldstream Creek between Kirkland Drive and McClounie Road. Group president Trina Koch says they will educate residents on the best types of plants to put into areas along the creek. "There are native plants that are roses for example or bushes that are very attractive. We want to work with people so that it will fit into their yards.The plants provide a solid base for the soils so that it doesn't create sediment to go into the creek."
The rest of the funding, about 65 thousand, will be used by the Allan Brooks Nature Centre Society to add interpretive trail signs and hold community events for the BX Creek Wetland Enhancement project. Society member Susan Latimer says the area is from 48th Ave along 20th Street where the high water wetland riparian area is, to Swan Lake. "There will be signs describing the eco-systems and some of the species that are there. I think we're even going to have a sign that points back to the heron rookery which I think is one of only two rookeries in Canada." Latimer says they will also host a series of events with the city of Vernon and regional district. "It will be around Rivers Day, Earth Day and Environment Weeek that we're going to promote the project."