Group Calls For Moratorium On Water Projects

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Wednesday, 04 February 2015 17:30

Eric Jackson, Janet Green, Wayne McGrath, 

Klaus Tribes, Maria Besso, Dennis Windsor, 

Jim Bodkin, Terry Mooney. Absent: Dana Mills

A citizen's group wants local politicians to hold-off on setting water rates, or approving new water projects, to consider a new approach to the master plan. Terry Mooney from Citizens For Change says they want the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee to put less reliance on the Duteau Creek system for domestic water, which they feel would ease resident's rates. "We've gathered information from Penticton and Kelowna, comparing water rates for residents and businesses, and we are in some cases double and triple what they're paying for the same volumes of water," says Mooney. The nine member group -- which includes several former local politicians like Maria Besso, Wayne McGrath and Klaus Tribes -- will be making its case to the GVAC committee March 5, and until then, they want the board to put a moratorium on approving spending related to the failed November referendum. "It's almost as if they not paying any attention to the fact there was a referendum and are proceeding with their normal plans, says Mooney.

RDNO DRAFT BUDGET ONLINE

Financial Plan 2014 Budget Draft #1  (73 Pages)

Don Quixote Note: There will be some minor changes to the individual functions and a major change to 060 Parks and Rec function which will be increased by  about $2,235,124  (P.428)
 to make Vernon a partner in this Grant function (063) that will be requisitioned as part of 060 for 2014.

As this is a prelim budget there may be more changes in these tax requisition amounts. The total requisition are shown based on the 2013 prelim assessment #'s that will see some changes when final actual assessment rolls are used.

GREATER VERNON ADVISORY COMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING Thursday, February 13, 2014 8:00 am

http://www.rdno.ca/agendas/140213_GVAC_AGN_SP_FULL.pdf
2014 Budget Presentation – Greater Vernon Water
− Presentation to be provided

Cost savings pitched for sports facility

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: December 21, 2012 1:00 AM
Greater Vernon politicians are trying to balance costs with providing a sports complex that’s viable.
On Tuesday, staff provided the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee with details on the proposed $8.5 million running track and sports field, and options for reducing the impact on taxpayers. “It’s incumbent on us to make it a cost-effective project and then go out and say it’s a fantastic project,” said Bob Fleming, director. Directors recently instructed staff to review the conceptual design because of concerns the public may not back the project in an April referendum. Design constraints exist because of the terms of the lease agreement to use Okanagan College land. Among them is a classroom. A plan based on minimum lease requirements is $5.4 million. The primary decision points for GVAC directors in terms of possibly trimming costs are off-site works, the turf field, soccer field construction, the track surface and seating. The current plan calls for off-site works, as dictated by Coldstream, worth $1 million. That could be reduced to $392,700 if curb, gutter and sidewalk is substituted by a multi-use path. In terms of the field, the preferred synthetic surface is $1.1 million while natural grass is $525,000. “Natural grass is less expensive to construct but there is limited seasonal use and limited use because of damage from cleats,” said Keith Pinkoski, parks planner. Developing a sand-based grass soccer field would cost $195,000 while it would be $50,000 for a soil-based natural grass field. For a rubberized track, the options are mondon at $1.7 million or a polyurethane surface for $1.5 million. The life expectancy for the mondon surface is 25 years while it is 12 years for the polyurethane. The final issue is seating and whether to go with covered space for 400 people at $400,000 or open air seating for the same crowd for $200,000. Pinkoski is confident about the $8.5 million package that’s been put together, including construction, consulting fees and contingency funds. “This facility is not a Cadillac but a good, solid structure,” he said. Director Rob Sawatzky is concerned that reducing the design could negatively impact the facility’s ability to attract events and support the economy. “The B.C. Seniors Games is the one that generates revenue,” he said of athletes using local hotels and restaurants. Directors have also discussed whether some of the items can be fundraised by the facility users. “There are specific groups in the community that may wish to donate,” said Mike Macnabb, chairperson. The scope of the proposal will be discussed further Jan. 3.

Park taxes on the way up in 2013

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: December 21, 2012 1:00 AM
Recreational amenities will cost a little bit more.  Greater Vernon Advisory Committee directors decided Tuesday to increase the 2013 tax requisition by 1.87 per cent for parks, recreation and  culture. The hike is largely because of employee wages and the cost of the April sports complex referendum. “We’re trying to acknowledge the economic conditions we’re faced with while providing services,” said David Sewell, general manager of finance. However, chairperson Mike Macnabb questions some expenditures. “I’m just trying to save some money,” he said. Among the items that caught Macnabb’s eye is a new zamboni at Priest Valley Arena. “Do you go on Craig’s list and say, ‘Instead of a zamboni for $115,900, I can get one (used) for $60,000?’ They don’t get used a lot,” he said. The budget calls for three new playgrounds — $113,500 at Mission Hill Park and $56,700 at Alexis Park. “Children spend about 20 per cent of their time on the structures we go to great expense to put up for them and the rest of the time, they are running around,” said Macnabb. “Is there good value for money?” Another item of interest for Macnabb was $30,000 for umbrellas for the Boys and Girls Club playground. “That’s a big number. Can’t we just give them baseball caps?” he said of keeping the sun off the children. However, parks planner Keith Pinkoski says there is a need for the umbrellas. “We put down (rubber) surfacing which removed grass and some of the shade. It’s like a big heat trap for the kids playing in the area,” he said. Director Bob Fleming is concerned that $450,000 for change rooms at Marshall Park may not make the budget again. “All of these fields are serviced with zero change rooms,” said Fleming. “It’s a poor setup for the volume of people that use it.”

BX rep defends compensation

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 08, 2012 1:00 AM

A Regional District of North Okanagan director is urging anyone who questions his pay to run for elected office. Mike Macnabb, who represents BX-Silver Star, had total compensation of $29,543 in 2011. That includes wages of $25,081 and expenses of $4,462.His message to anyone who raises concerns is simple. “I will sign their nomination papers if they think it’s such a sweet deal,” he said. Besides attending board meetings, Macnabb is also chairperson of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee and a member of Okanagan Regional Library, the Electoral Area Advisory Committee and other committees. But Macnabb says the job doesn’t just entail meetings. In addition, there is all of the required reading to remain informed on a variety of topics. “Last year, I weighed all of the information I received from the regional district and it weighed 80 pounds,” he said. Leading the pack among RDNO directors in 2011 was Herman Halvorson, the former board chairperson and rural Enderby director. He had a salary of $37,442 and expenses of $9,693. Second was Rick Fairbairn, rural Lumby director, RDNO vice-chairperson and White Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee chairperson. He had a salary of $24,485 and expenses of $5,650. “We’re paid for the meetings we attend and with the positions I have as chairperson, I am obliged to attend meetings,” said Fairbairn. Fairbairn says his schedule includes more than 20 meetings a month. “As a rural director, I don’t have the convenience of a municipality where there are six or seven bodies to go to meetings. There’s just me,” he said. Total compensation for the other electoral area directors included  $24,041 for Cherryville’s Eugene Foisy and $23,871 for Mike Gavinchuk, the former director for BX-Swan Lake. For municipal directors, the top earning positions were held by Patrick Nicol, Vernon director and now board chairperson, at $14,586; former Vernon director and GVAC chairperson Wayne Lippert at $13,721; and Armstrong director Shirley Fowler at $12,795. In 2011, there were 23 RDNO employees who earned more than $75,000 a year in wages and expenses. The top three were finance general manager David Sewell at $126,912, former parks and recreation general manager Al McNiven at $122,654 and planning and building general manager Rob Smailes at $121,433. Trafford Hall, who began duties as administrator in May 2011, earned $106,108.
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http://vernonblog.blogspot.ca/2012/06/2011-political-remuneration-rdno.html
http://vernonblog.blogspot.ca/2012/06/2010-rdno-staff-salaries-2011-rdno.html

Consultant Hired For Rec Centre Repair

Written by Glen Morrison 107.5 KISSFM  Thursday, 07 June 2012 12:26
The repairs to Vernon's Rec Centre are getting nearer. Regional District of North Okanagan Community Development Director Tannis Nelson says a consultant has been hired. "They are in the process of reviewing the existing equipment, evaluating the repairs, and putting together a bid design." Nelson says work is expected this fall, but no firm date has been set for completion. The repairs will include the pool roof and walls, damaged by mould and rot, as well as rotting heating lines in the auditorium. She says the price tag is still near 1.7 million dollars.

Wesbild Ctr remains fiscally responsible

by Grant Scott - Castanet  May 21, 2012 / 5:00 am

 The City of Vernon is taking exception to allegations that they are not doing as good a job managing the Wesbild Centre as previous operators have. However, Doug Ross, Vernon's Recreation Service Manager, says he does not want to comment directly on how other operators handled the facility. "We would prefer to comment on how we're doing. We have no issues with Recreation Excellence (the previous operator) and I don't want to get in to what might be perceived as throwing stones," says Ross. Vernon's Wesbild Centre was operated first by Recreation Excellence and then the North Okanagan Regional District, before the city took over in 2009. Since the city's takeover, complaints have arisen that the facility is being under utilized. "To speak to the numbers that we're showing here for the last three years that we've been operating the facility, when you look at the other arenas, we had in 2009, the first year that we were involved, a $52,000 surplus, in 2010 there was a $75,000 surplus, then last year there was a $22,000 surplus on those facilities.  Those numbers speak for themselves as far as running the facilities efficiently. We're not going over budget." Ross added that when you look at the Wesbild numbers alone, they were $182,000 under budget in 2009, $68,000 over budget in 2010 and then in 2011, they showed a $90,000 surplus. "When you look at it on the whole we've run it at about a $200,000 surplus over the last three years. I think that speaks for itself that we're running the facility in a fiscally responsible way." As for not running as many events in the facility as previous operators have, Ross says that's not always a possibility. "We have a balancing act that we have to play in that we want to bring in events into the Wesbild Centre and the community, but at the same time we have to be fiscally responsible." Ross says some acts pose a huge financial risk. "When you get an act that comes across your desk and they want a $100,000 guarantee to appear, you really have to think twice about that. Will the community, with the economy the way it is, support an act of that size with the ticket prices that we would have to have in order to meet our bottom line?" Ross also pointed out that Vernon has to compete with larger facilities in the region, like Prospera Place in Kelowna, which tend to have an upper hand in attracting events. As well, he noted the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton also faces challenges in drawing enough events, but with its larger capacity, has an upper hand on Vernon. "We have to work with what we have and balance all those factors out and try and bring in some acts," says Ross. "We're always looking at to see what we can attract." Overall, Ross says, he feels the number of events has stayed pretty consistent over the years, but also admits things were different when the Centre first opened. "The first year the building opened, they really went big because they wanted to make a big splash and they had the Tragically Hip and Tom Cochran there the first year. But those kinds of acts now are asking for such large guarantees that it's pretty tough for us to bring them in here."

Tax may force service withdrawal

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: March 09, 2012 1:00 AM

Building Inspection New Tax

Solid Waste New Tax

 New taxes could force some communities to abandon a regional service. On Wednesday, Lumby, Cherryville, Armstrong and Spallumcheen opposed $150,000 in taxation to support the building inspection function, which has seen building permit revenue decline during the recession. “If this is something that’s ongoing, we’ll likely have to consider withdrawal,” said Kevin Acton, Lumby director. A possible option for Lumby could be to contract the function out to Coldstream, which does its own building inspection. Spallumcheen has also indicated it could pull out of the regional service, and that is something Cherryville director Eugene Foisy is also considering. “We need some (building inspection) regulations and we don’t want to be the wild west but there needs to be fairness,” said Foisy. All communities, except for Vernon and Coldstream, participate in the function, and up until now, expenditures have been covered by building department fees. But a $250,000 shortfall has surfaced because of decreased development in the region. Regional District of North Okanagan staff recommended using $150,000 in taxation to make up the deficit, with the remainder coming from reserves. But Spallumcheen director Janice Brown suggested that only reserves be used to make up the shortfall as well as higher permit fees. “Maybe we bring the level of service down,” she said. That view was supported by Acton, who said, “How can we keep a business floating at a certain height when consumption is not there.” RDNO administration says staffing levels within the building inspection department has already been reduced. Support for the tax came from BX-Swan Lake director Bob Fleming, who says it will mean $24,705 for his jurisdiction. “It’s about $8 per resident. It doesn’t seem to be that onerous,” he said. “It will bring continuity and balance to the service.” It was also pointed out that building inspection ensures structures are constructed properly and are safe. “I have talked to people and they say it’s the cost of living in our area,” said Jackie Pearase, rural Enderby director. Mike Macnabb, BX-Silver Star director, pointed out that reserve funds have to be replaced. “We can take from reserves but what happens next year? It will be a tax but it will be a big tax,” he said. Because the building inspection tax is part of RDNO’s 2012 budget, the financial plan was opposed by the Armstrong, Spallumcheen, Lumby and Cherryville representatives. “Armstrong is looking at a 26.5 per cent increase (in the tax requisition),” said Armstrong director Shirley Fowler of the impact from new levies for building inspection and solid waste. RDNO’s overall tax requisition is increasing 2.87 per cent, or $550,000, largely a result of the new taxes for solid waste and building inspection. The overall impact will vary from community to community, and from neighbourhood to neighbourhood, depending on the level of services received.
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RDNO TAX Requisition for Vernon $377,730 Increase 4.25%

RDNO Approves New Budget

Written by Glen Morrison  107.5 KISSFM Thursday, 08 March 2012 15:36

Regional District of North Okanagan taxpayers will see a 2.87 percent increase on that part of their tax bill after directors approved a new 19.7 million dollar budget.  Board chair Patrick Nicol says there were a number of things they couldn't control, like solid waste management (extra $400,000), water increases to cover mandated upgrades, and a new tax to help building inspection fee shortfalls. "There was a lot of hard work work done to draw down many other areas, to offset some substantive increases." Nicol says the budget includes Greater Vernon Water and Parks, White Valley Parks and Rec, solid waste and recycling. RDNO's Finance manager David Sewell says the actual tax requisitions will differ for each community with Armstrong's going up 26.5 percent due to new taxation for building inspection and solid waste, while Coldstream (minus 1%) and Area B (minus 2.1%) will decrease, based on the completed tax roll. Directors for all areas out of Vernon and Coldstream approved a combination of taxes and user fees to cover building inspections, with the municipalities voting against the electoral districts. That will mean a one percent tax hike for Lumby residents.
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RDNO TAX Requisition for Coldstream.  $22,120 Decrease  1%

RDNO TAX Requisition for Vernon $377,730 Increase 4.25%

A GVAC Functions Cheatsheet.

 The above tables show the tax requisition for the Parks & Rec. Function for 1997-2012, the Multi-plex from Inception 2000-2012 and the Community Theatre (Performing Arts Centre) from Inception 2000-2012.

The 2012 figures include Debt Payments of:

• 060 Greater Vernon Parks & Recreation  $1,214,842  ($1,217,632 in 2011)
• 062 Multi Use Facility  $1,003,176 (same as 2011) (see outstanding Debt Below)
• 065 Community Theatre $663,272 (same as 2011)  (see outstanding Debt Below)

Interest Rates have been lowered since this 2007 Post.

Most of the interest rates on these outstanding issues have been lowered to:

MFA 73: 3.15% to 2014.
MFA 74:  3.05% to 2016
MFA 75:  3.05% to 2016
MFA 77:  3.05% to 2016
MFA 78:   5.37% to Dec. 3, 2012.



The 1991 Master Plan was based partly on the results of a major public survey which provided information regarding the parks and recreation needs and interests of the general public. Since that time, several public opinion surveys have been held, dealing with specific matters (e.g., pool, arenas, referenda). In 1992 a referendum was passed which provided authority for the borrowing of funds for the upgrading and expansion of the swimming pool, and land acquisition for an arena, performing arts centre, and parks, trails and beaches. The availability of the referendum funds and capital budgets in the early 1990s allowed for significant implementation of the 1991 Parks and Recreation Master Plan. (This is the outstanding Debt Involved from 1992. Debt should come off in 2013.)

Reserve Balances:
2011 Year end:
062 Multi-Plex: $2,321,995-- 2012 (est) $2,144,326  
065 Theatre:      $   805,273--  2012 (est) $990,666
060 Parks           $ 5,583,116-- 2012 (est) $3,622,466*
* Assumes that $1,700,000 will be used for Pool Repairs in 2012.


(Parks Reserve - Statutory) There is another statutory reserve for the unspent money in the referendum funds from the 7.5 million from the 2005 referendum which totaled $7,206,015 at 2010 Year end..  This reserve must be used only for the purchase of land for Parks and Rec. use. ( $???). A good portion of this money was used in 2011 for land purchases. 2011 Balance unknown at this time.

There are also the Parks DCC reserves which totaled $7,414,552 at 2010 Year end. Parks DCC's can be used for new Park land purchases and limited buildings on existing Parkland. (The 2007 DCC changes raising DCC Rates by $800 per unit was finally adopted by the NORD Board in January of 2012 and has been given 3 readings and sent to Province. Upon its return it will be adopted. Approx. $600,000 has been foregone by not adopting this bylaw in 2008 ). 2011 Balance unknown at this time.

Community groups receive Regional District of North Okanagan funds

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: February 19, 2012 1:00 AM

There’s a significant infusion of cash going into Greater Vernon’s cultural scene. The Regional District of North Okanagan board has ratified funding for eight community groups. “What do you value as a community? It can’t be just roads and sewers,” said director Juliette Cunningham of tax money going towards these initiatives.  “If we’re going to look at economic development and attracting businesses to the area, those are the amenities they look for in a community.” Gallery Vertigo will receive $15,000 towards operations, while the 2014 Royal Bank Cup bid committee has been promised free use of Wesbild Centre if the junior A hockey championships come here. There will be a $175,000 grant to the Vernon Public Art Gallery while a $128,360 operating grant will go to the Vernon Arts Centre. A $180,034 operating grant has been designated for the Greater Vernon Museum and there’s a $66,000 grant for Teen Junction. RDNO is also providing $147,348 to the Boys and Girls Club, and there will be a $32,500 grant-in-aid to the Okanagan Science Centre. Because the number of financial requests are increasing every year, the district is developing a standardized application form which stipulates what funding has been received historically, what funding is being sought now and the reason for any increase. There will also be the ability for the RDNO board to base its decisions on how many users a group has. “We need a mechanism to review these grants and we need to hear from the public on them,” said director Mike Macnabb.

RDNO TAX Requisition for Coldstream. (Budget workshop TODAY at 2 PM)

http://vernonblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/rdno-tax-requisition-for-vernon-budget.html

GVAC Functions 

• There is a new Tax Requisition for Solid Waste (Dumps). This user pay system will be augmented with a $400,000 Tax Requisition on assessed property (Both Land & Improvements) for all regional partners. Coldstream's share based on the 2012 assessment rolls will be $48,418.
• Note that even though the Parks Tax requirement is going up $221,565 Coldstreams share is actually going down by $7, 584. Vernon's  partners in this function (Coldstream, Areas B & C) are going down by the amounts shown in Above table. This is caused by the assessments in Vernon going up at a greater rate than improvement assessments in our partners jurisdictions. (Likewise even though there is no increase in taxes for community theatre, Coldstream  will have a decrease in taxes of $6,770
  

This is the Budget Going into the Workshop Today. Any changes that are made will be updated as soon as possible.

Committee of the Whole

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 - 2:00 pm

Download PDF (565 Kb)

RDNO TAX Requisition for Vernon. (Budget workshop next Wednesday

RDNO functions in which Vernon Participates.

Don Quixote Note:

GVAC Functions

• There is a new Tax Requisition for Solid Waste (Dumps). This user pay system will be augmented with a $400,000 Tax Requisition on assessed property (Both Land & Improvements) for all regional partners. Vernon's share based on the 2012 assessment rolls will be $212,406.
• Note that even though the Parks Tax requirement is going up $221,565 Vernon's share is actually going up a higher amount $288,527. Our partners in this function (Coldstream, Areas B & C) are going down by the amounts shown in Above table. This is caused by the assessments in Vernon going up at a greater rate than improvement assessments in our partners jurisdictions. (Likewise even though there is no increase in taxes for community theatre, Vernon will pay $21,701 more and our partners will share in this as  a reduction to their taxes.
• $377,730 in increased taxes at NORD level = 377,730/243,000=  1.55% increase in taxes to the average homeowner in Vernon .