Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Differences of opinion arise over arena process

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Oct 13, 2015 at 3:00 PM
Vernon officials back plans for a new ice sheet but it’s not a ringing endorsement. Council voted 4-2 Tuesday to support twinning of Kal Tire Place (Coun. Brian Quiring declared a conflict because his architectural firm is involved in the project). “I’ve always been a sports advocate and amenities bring families to the community and there’s an overall benefit for the community,” said Mayor Akbal Mund. Mund also insists there’s a need to twin Kal Tire Place because Civic Arena has outlived its use as an ice sheet. Besides Mund, Councillors Catherine Lord, Juliette Cunningham and Dalvir Nahal voted for twinning of the multi-use facility. However, Nahal admits she raised her hand in favour more to get the process moving towards a borrowing referendum. “It’s not about twinning of the facility. It’s about what the public wants,” she said. “I won’t be a huge champion but if this is what the community wants, I support that.” Councillors Scott Anderson and Bob Spiers voted against supporting a twin ice sheet, but they say that was done not to influence voters. “I won’t take a position. The citizens of Vernon should take a position,” said Anderson. “I’ll endorse what the public endorses.” Spiers says the twinning of Kal Tire Place should go to referendum. “When I get the full details of the estimated cost of this project and how much money will be borrowed, then I will be in a position to decide on how I will vote,” he said. “This is a great project that I personally support but it is subject to the final dollar amount required to be put up by the property taxpayers.” It’s not known when a referendum will be held in Greater Vernon as the Regional District of North Okanagan is waiting for the provincial government to sign off on the legislative requirements for a vote.
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Vernon Council Supports New Ice Sheet
Posted on 10/13/2015 by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
Vernon council has voted to support adding another ice sheet at Kal Tire Place in a regional referendum, whenever that may be held. The vote, which is being led by the Regional District of North Okanagan, is still waiting for provincial approval. Councillor Bob Spiers supports the concept of another ice sheet, but voted against the motion, not sure of what the cost will be. "And with the delay in the possibility of going to referendum until the spring possibly, if the costs go up and double, I will certainly have a different opinion on whether it should go forward," Spiers tells Kiss FM. Anderson opposed it for another reason. That's a decision best left up to the people in a referendum. I don't want to go on record as supporting it, simply because in this particular case, that's best left up to the people," says Anderson. Mayor Akbal Mund supported the motion, saying they generally know how much it will cost, about 13 million dollars. "Yes, it's still up to the public (the decision to proceed or not), but that doesn't mean I and other members of council can't support it. We're voting like everybody else. If they want to stay neutral, that's great. It doesn't mean I'm making a decision for everyone else, but I will be able to say, if people ask me, why I am supporting it. And I think that's fair," says Mund. Council has also directed staff to provide information to the public on the project that is balanced and accurate. Mayor Akbal Mund and Councillors Nahal, Lord and Cunningham voted in favour of the motion while Councillors Anderson and Spiers were opposed. Councillor Quiring did not participate in the vote as his firm, MQN Architects, is designing the proposed facility expansion.

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Council supports twin rink
by Kate Bouey CASTANET - Oct 14, 2015 / 6:28 am

Vernon city council voted Tuesday in support of the twinning of Kal Tire Place in an anticipated referendum. A second ice sheet would replace the old Civic Arena, near downtown. But not everyone expressed support. Mayor Akbal Mund and councillors Dalvir Nahal, Catherine Lord and Juliette Cunningham voted in favour of the motion, while councillors Scott Anderson and Bob Spiers were opposed. “I support the project. I would love to see the twinning, but I can't do it without seeing what it is going to cost,” Spiers said when asked why he opposed council's move. A referendum would ask Greater Vernon residents whether $13 million should be borrowed to build the rink. “I want to know what the actual estimated cost is for the actual project,” said Spiers. While Spiers said he doesn't mind taking some funds out of reserves for the project, he is concerned about costs spiralling out of control. “If we wait another year or two and things change and we go up to $20 million, I'll certainly have problems with that,” he said. Coun. Brian Quiring did not take part in the vote as his firm, MQN Architects, is designing the proposed facility expansion. Meanwhile, North Okanagan Regional District staff continue efforts to convince the provincial government to allow a borrowing referendum to take place this fall. “We don't have the certificates of approval for the establishment or the loan authorization bylaws,” David Sewell, chief administrative officer for the regional district, said last week. “We're scrambling around as best we can, trying to provide additional information.”

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