First Vernon Council Meeting Of 2013

Written by Peter McIntyre Monday, 14 January 2013 06:00 

Public Input at 11:30 each Day

  Vernon council faces a busy agenda this afternoon at their first regular meeting of 2013.  Councillors will discuss the best site for public washrooms in Cenotaph Park, and proposed changes to the Kal Lake Lookout. The city's new budget will also be a key focus of three special meetings later this week, including an all-day session on Friday. City administration is calling for a tax hike of 1.9 percent a year, the next ten years, to fund future infrastructure upgrades.
Mayor Rob Sawatzky says council also has to deal with rising fixed costs for policing and fire protection. The issue of so called 'puppy mills' will also be before council this afternoon. A delegation led by Gina Son will ask the city to ban retail sales of dogs from puppy mills or backyard breeders in Vernon pet stores. Officials from the BC SPCA say more than 10-thousand puppy mills are in operation which they say are cruel and inhumane, even though they are legal and regulated. Richmond and Toronto are cities that have banned the sale of privately bred puppies.