Public input sought on Greater Vernon recreation deal

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Updated: September 23, 2013 5:39 PM
Vernon politicians want to hear from their constituents on a new recreation model. Instead of endorsing a memorandum of understanding on Greater Vernon recreation facilities and programming, city council decided instead Monday to pursue public input before making a decision. "I believe all of this should have public input before we approve it," said Coun. Bob Spiers. With the MOU, the city would officially take over care and control of all regional facilities, while Coldstream and Areas B and C would contribute funds to the function. Currently, all facilities are under the jurisdiction of the Regional District of North Okanagan. Spiers says residents should know how the agreement will impact their investment. "They may have directed us to make a better deal," he said. The MOU details will be posted on the city website (www.vernon.ca) and comments can be provided there. Council will then review any public input and make a decision on the MOU Oct. 15. While he wants feedback from residents, Spiers favours the agreement. "It serves the taxpayers of Vernon well," he said. Spiers had also pushed for public input a few months ago on a similar agreement involving Greater Vernon parks but his colleagues did not support that move.
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Don Quixote Note:  Some of the costs and allocation of those costs for the participants can be found at http://vernonblog.blogspot.ca/2013/09/mou-greater-vernon-recreation.html.

A link to the the proposed MOU from Mondays Agenda can be found at above link.  The City will put the official version on their website shortly with a means to e-mail comments etc.

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Rec Facilities Deal Put To Public
Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Tuesday, 24 September 2013 06:00
The public wil get a chance to comment on the proposed Greater Vernon Recreation Facilities agreement, before it's finalized. Councillor Bob Spiers convinced council to approve putting the memorandum of understanding on the city's website, and to delay endorsing it for a few weeks. Spiers says he's been pushing for public input from the start of the process. "I think the public should have had some input because its got some great financial implications towards them, and they might have directed us to make a better deal," says Spiers. Mayor Rob Sawatzky says public input, in this case, wasn't mandatory, but it's a good idea. "I suspect when you spend as many hours in open public meetings discussing things as we do, we lose sight of the fact that perhaps the public isn't aware of that end," says Sawatzky. The memorandum of understanding shifts ownership and management of Kal Tire Place and other rec facilities from RDNO to Vernon, starting in January. In return, Coldstream and Areas B and C will pay the city a service fee to allow its residents to use them.