By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 01, 2013 1:00 AM
The City of Vernon will spend money on an anti-idling education campaign that could include posters and paper handouts. But how much money the city spends will be up to council at budget time. A recommendation was put forth to council to direct administration to include a budget amount of $5,450 for the first year and an additional $4,500 per year thereafter to implement the proposed anti-idling campaign. The campaign would be funded from taxation. “It’s a great idea to have people stop idling, and obviously I support that, but I have a problem spending money on making posters and paper handouts to tell people to stop polluting with their cars,” said Coun. Brian Quiring. “I’d rather see more emphasis be put on placing signs around schools or where people do have a tendency to wait for people, like at the rec centre when picking up kids from swimming. “Everyone sits there idling, I do too.” Staff pointed out there are existing signs in place at schools, around town, and possibly already at the rec centre, but it was felt that an education campaign was needed to raise the profile and awareness of the importance of reducing vehicle idling. That’s when Coun. Patrick Nicol called for the question on the original motion, ending discussion. Council voted 4-2 in favour of the staff recommendations with Couns. Bob Spiers and Catherine Lord opposed. Lord then made a new motion to have the recommendation be included in budget deliberations for 2014, adding the word deliberation to the motion. City administrator Will Pearce pointed out that the $5,450 approved in the original motion is not an obligation. “It will be included in the draft proposal for budget consideration, this is not a commitment,” said Pearce. “At budget time, we can change our mind and change the funding,” added Mayor Rob Sawatzky.
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Don Quixote Note: The Council agreed to consider the use of the funds within the upcoming budget deliberations. The original allocation (that I opposed) from the agenda package (P.69) had written material and paid ads in local publications. The most effective use of this money is for signage in correct areas and radio ads at designated times of the year.
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