Results of a public vote asking Penticton residents whether they are in favour of a proposed Correctional Centre will be none binding for City Councillors. The city announced Tuesday a planned June referendum, on the issue, will be replaced by a 'community opinion poll,' similar to one held in Lumby last month. Council made the decision after receiving further legal advice from attorney Richard P. Thompson. Thompson advised council that, under Section 83 of the Community Charter:
- 83.(1) A Council may seek community OPINION on a question that the Council believes affects the municipality by voting or any other process the council considers appropriate.
- (2) The results of a process under this section are NOT BINDING on the Council.
Thompson states that Section 83 only authorizes Council to seek community OPINION, not the assent of the community. The change means councillors will be able to vote as they wish, regardless of the results of the opinion poll. Changing the vote style means a savings of about $44,000 to the taxpayers. A typical referendum can cost up to $50,000 while conducting an opinion poll at City Hall will cost about $6,000. Council has also decided to hold the survey over a number of days, not just one day in an effort to obtain greater community input. Voters meeting the eligibility requirement will be able to make their opinion known in Council Chambers June 14 to 18 from 8:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Penticton Council is already on record as supporting the Correctional Facility in order to take advantage of the jobs and significant economic spinoffs such a facility would generate. "We all feel that giving the citizens the opportunity to vote is the best option for the community which is divided on the proposed facility," says Mayor, Dan Ashton. "This is a serious matter for our citizens and we recognize that we are a close-knit community and this is an issue that goes beyond the normal course of attracting new business opportunities." Council's decision came on the same day a citizen's group was to present a petition with more than 3,500 signatures opposed to the proposed facility.
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