Rememberance Day Video - A Pittance of Time

A Remembrance Day ceremony will be held at Kal Tire Place in Vernon. Doors open for seating at 9:30 a.m. and the ceremony begins at 10:15 a.m. A moment of silence will be observed at 11 a.m.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kX_3y3u5Uo On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store's PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us. Terry was impressed with the store's leadership role in adopting the Legion's "two minutes of silence" initiative. He felt that the store's contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.

When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the "two minutes of silence" to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect. Terry's anger towards the father for trying to engage the store's clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was later channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, "A Pittance of Time". Terry later recorded "A Pittance of Time" and included it on his full-length music CD, "The Power of the Dream".
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A Pittance of Time  (lyrics) Written by Terry Kelly Published by Jefter Publishing

Lucy and Diefenbaker (16 and 4 years old -best buddies)

Federal Cannabis Legislation Bill C-045

BILL C-45
 http://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/C-45/third-reading
An Act respecting cannabis and to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and other Acts
AS PASSED
BY THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
NOVEMBER 27, 2017

Pot Legal prior to B.C. Municipal election.

https://www.castanet.net/news/Canada/229336/Legal-weed-as-of-Oct-17
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says recreational marijuana will be legal in Canada as of Oct. 17. Trudeau made the announcement during question period in the House of Commons, which is expected to rise for the summer break after today. He says the government has delayed the legalization schedule in order to give the provinces and territories more time to implement their regimes.
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Raises Proposed for Mayor & Councillors In Coldstream

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Tom Mark June 20, 2018 09:55 am
Raises could be in store for the mayor and councillors in Coldstream for the next council. A motion going to council next week proposes raises of 11 per cent for councillors and 13 per cent for the Mayor to make up for a tax free allowance being taken away next year under the federal budget. Mayor Jim Garlick says careful thought was given to this. “We didn’t want to be seen by the public as oh you’re just taking advantage of this and bumping the amount up considerably because of the uh, once our tax being removed.”
Garlick says that essentially is downloading from the federal government. “What they’re going to be doing is taking those taxes from what’s paid to the local politicians and use at the federal level rather than them being kept at the local level because then you wouldn’t pay that out to the politicians.”

Currently, one third of their salary is tax free. “That was seen to cover expenses at local government levels as far as driving, like day-to-day expenses, not going to conventions and that, but day-to-day expenses. If you had to go out and meet with people, if you had to buy somebody lunch.” The proposal would see the Mayor’s salary rise from 30 thousand dollars a year to 34 thousand, while councillor’s salaries would increase to 15 thousand from thirteen and a half thousand dollars. This would go into effect January 1st of 2019.
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Staff Recommendation from COW Meeting:

http://vernonblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/coldstream-council-remuneration.html
Current Council direction is to amend the Council Remuneration Bylaw to increase the Mayor
compensation to $30,000 and the Councillor remuneration to $13,500, both effective January 1, 2019. These amendments were determined after the compensation review completed in 2016. Should Council wish to adjust the compensation for Council members to account for the nonaccountable allowance being eliminated, then the Mayor remuneration would be set at $31,200 and the Councillor remuneration $13,740 both effective January 1, 2019.

Coldstream Council Remuneration adjustment on the Table on Monday

District of Coldstream Committee of the Whole Meeting Agenda for June 18, 2018
Municipal Hall, 9901 Kalamalka Road, Coldstream, BC 6:00 PM
3.b. Mayor/Council Remuneration 2019 Adjustment

 Report from the Director of Financial Administration dated June 5, 2018
Council Remuneration Adjustment

Recommendation

THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends to Council, that staff be directed to amend the Council Remuneration Bylaw by increasing the Mayor's remuneration to $31,200 effective January 1, 2019;
AND THAT the Committee of the Whole recommends to Council that staff be directed to amend the Council Remuneration Bylaw by increasing Council remuneration to $13,740 effective January 1, 2019.
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The elimination of the Municipal Officers' Allowance in 2019 will decrease the net pay received by the Mayor and Councillors, as tax and source deductions will be applied to their full remuneration.
Increasing the annual remuneration levels starting in 2019 for the Mayor and Councillors (approx. $1,200 annually for the Mayor; $240 annually for each Councillor that contributes to CPP), would compensate for the income tax effect of the elimination of the one-third non-accountable Municipal Officers' Allowance. The increase would result in approximately the same net pay all members of Council would have received if the allowance was still applicable. The increase was calculated using 2018 Canada Pension Plan and income tax rates and takes into consideration District income only. The increase does not consider other sources of income that Mayor and Council may receive, which may change the level of taxes payable.

Current Council direction is to amend the Council Remuneration Bylaw to increase the Mayor
compensation to $30,000 and the Councillor remuneration to $13,500, both effective January 1, 2019. These amendments were determined after the compensation review completed in 2016. Should Council wish to adjust the compensation for Council members to account for the nonaccountable allowance being eliminated, then the Mayor remuneration would be set at $31,200  and the Councillor remuneration $13,740 both effective January 1, 2019.
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https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/1963/1640%20Council%20Remuneration.pdf?handle=3710208BC41C4DA395D4172A2E89BB57

2017 Casino Data Fiscal 2017

http://corporate.bclc.com/content/dam/bclc/corporate/documents/corporate-reports/bclc-2016-2017-cir.pdf

Vernon Backs AAP For Search & Rescue Building

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Pete McIntyre June 12, 2018 06:36 am

The biggest partner in the Regional District of North Okanagan has given its support to using an alternative approval process on the Vernon Search and Rescue borrowing question. Vernon council says it will support that process, as long as all the other RDNO partners do as well. “It’s happened in the past where the City of Vernon will support something and sometimes our partners don’t come on board. And when they don’t come on board, we get left holding the tab, as Vernon residents. So we want to make sure everybody is going to be on board,” Mund tells Beach Radio News. Councillor Juliette Cunningham says they have to take a stance. “We find ourselves being in part of functions that others aren’t, and all that means is it it costs our residents more.We’re just trying to make sure that everybody’s contributing to a service that is probably benefiting everybody,” says Cunningham. Mund feels there is a very good chance the measure will pass. “I don’t think there is an argument there (against the borrowing). You’ve got volunteers going out and rescuing people. That’s a pretty simple formula for people to support,” says Mund. The A-A-P — which still needs RDNO board approval — will determine if 3.5 million dollars is borrowed for land and a new building for the busy search group. Opponents of the plan would have to go to the RDNO office — or another location — during the process, and sign a form, saying they are opposed, with 10 percent of resident electors needed to derail the borrowing bylaw.
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2018 budget for Search and Rescue:

2017 Annual Report draft

https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/financial/annual_reports/2017_annual_report_draft.pdf

At Monday's council meeting the draft annual report will be approved:
THAT Council receive and approve the 2017 Annual Report for the City of Vernon as attached to the Internal Memorandum of the same title, dated May 31, 2018 and respectfully submitted by the Director of Financial Services; AND FURTHER, that Council scheduled a Public Meeting to receive submissions and questions from the public concerning the 2017 Annual Report on Monday, June 25, 2018 at 5:00 pm in Council Chambers.

Mortar Found in Park Detonated

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Pete McIntyre June 05, 2018 05:00 pm

Pictured: File photo of mortar
found near Predator Ridge
several years ago

A recent discovery in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park is another reminder of one of the former uses of the popular recreation area. A mortar was discovered in an unspecified part of the park last month. Lieutenant Mike St-Pierre, an explosive ordnance explosives technician from the Department of National Defence, says the site was used for military training during the second world war. “Even to this day, we are facing the legacy of that era, and on occasion, these things will come up in various places in Canada, and in the local community here,” St-Pierre tells Beach Radio News. St-Pierre says the mortar was collected from the park by a specialized technician, taken to a safe disposal area, and detonated. “So all of the explosive hazard is gone, and the situation has been returned to normal.” St-Pierre has this advice should you see something unusual in the park, or another area. “If you do suspect it’s an ordnance, don’t touch it, don’t engage with it, and notify local authorities who will provide a better assessment of the situation,” says St-Pierre.

RDNO SOFI to be approved Wednesday May 6

https://rdno.civicweb.net/document/92721/180606_RPT_BoD_SOFI_Memo_FULL.pdf?handle=E674720681344F64BD6152DC86468A2C

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GVAC Political Salaries 2017:

Vernon Mayor Suggests Pay Hike For Council

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Pete McIntyre May 31, 2018 06:23 am
If you ask the mayor, he says yes. Akbal Mund was responding to concerns from cities like Kelowna, about Ottawa ending the one-third tax exemption that civic politicians get in January. Mund if you want quality people to run for council, you have to pay them adequately. “You’re going to have a tough time attracting people in a few years here, because everything is changing, and people are going to start going, ‘Why would I do that (run for/be on council)?” Mund told Beach Radio News. To make up for the tax change, Kelowna council has increased its councillor’s pay by three thousand dollars, and the mayor’s by over 11-thousand. Vernon councillors have a base pay around 24-thousand dollars a year, while the mayor was paid 72-thousand dollars last year. “People sometimes have it in their mind that we get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars, maybe because (they compare it to what they are paid) in bigger communities like Vancouver,” says Mund. A committee — which includes former mayor Rob Sawatzky — is looking into council’s remuneration, and will report back to the city later this year.
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Beach Radio Poll results as at 6:30 AM:

Do you think Vernon council members should be paid more in order to attract more candidates?

•  
  Yes (12)
•  
  No (54)

Voting ends: Jun. 1, 2018 @ 7:00 AM

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Police Warn About ‘Bank Investigator Scam’

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Pete McIntyre May 25, 2018 01:24 pm
'
Police say more people in the Okanagan appear to be getting calls about what is called the ‘Bank Investigator Scam.’ Victims are called on their landline phone and informed of a non-existent suspicious charge, often times for an online purchase, processed on their personal credit card. The victim is then asked to provide their credit card number in order to cancel the made-up transaction, and are transferred to a pretend investigator. “More disturbingly, the fraudster will often prompt the card holder to immediately call the toll-free number on the back of their credit card. The scam artist will not hang up and will remain on the open telephone line, while the victim dials, then he/she represents themselves as the victim’s financial institution or re-directs them to yet another scam artist who extracts even more personal information,” says Kelowna RCMP Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey. In some cases victims have been convinced to transfer their funds to an external bank account to safe guard their funds until the investigation into the matter is complete, or victims grant these criminals full remote access to their computers to ‘continue’ their investigation.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website offers the following tips:

-Calls to landlines from scammers in the Bank Investigator Scam tend to happen in the early morning, oftentimes when a victim is still asleep and or not yet fully alert. Be sure to be alert when dealing with important financial matters;

-Financial institutions will never request transferring funds to an external account for security reasons;
-Criminals are known to use “Call-Spoofing” technology, which is readily available, to mislead victims. Do not assume that phone numbers appearing on call display are accurate;
-Never provide remote access to your computer systems to anyone at any time.

RCMP in Kelowna have been made aware of these scamming attempts locally, but say there are no documented police reports of a successful defrauding taking place.

Two Sites Considered For Complex

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Pete McIntyre May 25, 2018 03:30 pm

The chair of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee says it’s basically down to two sites for a proposed new cultural complex. Plans for the 40 million dollar multi purpose facility were unveiled this week by the Regional District of North Okanagan. Juliette Cunningham says the former Coldstream Hotel parking lot on 32nd Avenue and 29th Street, and the Civic Arena site are the preferred locations. She says both are owned by the city of Vernon. “We’ve sent a letter to the city, asking for them to confirm the site they would prefer to give up for the project,” Cunningham tells Beach Radio News. Cunningham says another possible site, the former Flower Shop on 31st Avenue, is not practical. “The configuration of that is not practical. It’s kind of a small piece that jots out towards 32nd Avenue, so it’s just awkward layout of a site.” Cunningham says they are working towards a joint facility, with also some space for community groups. “Basically it could be used for smaller events. That’s what we found when we did the cultural master plan was the need for a venue like that because the Performing Arts Centre is too big for some of the groups.” She says they are trying to organize a referendum for this October, on borrowing 25 million dollars for the 40 million dollar project. “Probably by the end of June we’ll have an idea is that’s feasible or not. We would like to do that because it’s quite cost effective.”

Vernon SOFI to be approved at Monday's Council meeting.

In accordance with the requirements of the Financial Information Act, the City must annually
submit to the Province a Statement of Financial Information (SOFI) upon approval by Council.
P.65 of Council Agenda Package: https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/meetings/agendas/180528_regular_agenda_pkg_rev_0.pdf
• Council Remuneration & Expenses
• Employee Remuneration & Expenses
• Payments to Vendors
• Statement of Severance Agreements & Statement of Guarantees
• Grant Payments to Organizations

Kelowna mayor and council should get raises to make up for loss of tax-free status: Staff

By John McDonald May 24, 2018 - 4:00 PM INFOTEL News.ca
KELOWNA - Salaries paid to Kelowna’s mayor and councillors next year will be losing their one-third tax-free status and staff are recommending they get a raise to make up for it. Staff are also recommending an annual Consumer Price Index inflation adjustment begin in 2020. Effective January 1, 2019, elected officials across Canada are scheduled to lose a "non-accountable expense allowance” intended to allow them to recover incidental expenses without submitting receipts.

In a report to council, director of financial services Genelle Davidson says the immediate result of the federal government’s move would be a loss in net pay for both the mayor and councillor positions. She is recommending an increase of $11,380 for the mayor’s position and $3,050 for each of the eight council positions. Current Mayor Colin Basran makes $95,695 and Kelowna councillors make a base rate of $33,493 before additional stipends for other governance and deputy work. Davidson looked at 22 Canadian municipalities and found that two-thirds have approved similar increases in response to the accounting change. If approved by mayor and council, the change will take effect next January, after October’s municipal election. Basran announced today, May 24, that he will seek reelection as mayor in the 2018 municipal election. The total cost to the 2019 provisional budget will be $44,660, Davidson writes, and will include another $5,000 for employer paid source deductions. Kelowna council will consider the request at its next public council meeting 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 28, in Kelowna council chambers.
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https://kelownapublishing.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=13976   P.510

New Vernon art gallery and museum given $40M price tag

May 23, 2018 - 12:48 PM Infotel News.Ca
VERNON - The cost of a new cultural centre for Vernon’s museum and art gallery would cost an estimated $40 million. The new facility has been in the works for years and would be built somewhere in Vernon’s city centre. Today, the Regional District of North Okanagan released a preliminary funding strategy for the building. With a proposed facility size of 58,000 square feet, the total project budget is pegged at $40 million with construction starting in 2020. The preliminary funding strategy approved by the Board of Directors proposes using project timing to moderate the tax impact on Greater Vernon residents, states the release. The Regional District has agreed to go to referendum for up to $25 million for the project, which is $1.2 million more than the $23.8 million in debt that will come off of the books from the construction of Kal Tire Place and the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre by 2022, the district says. “By timing this project with the elimination of the debt from Kal Tire Place and the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre, we can aim to complete this amazing community project while minimizing the impact on taxpayers,” board chair Bob Fleming says in the release. Within the $40 million budget is $3.34 million for pre-construction and project management costs, $29.38 million for construction, $5.78 million for construction contingency and $1.5 million for a land purchase contingency.

“The Greater Vernon cultural facility will be more than a community asset,” Juliette Cunningham, chair of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee says. “It will be an investment in our city. A cultural destination like this will draw people downtown. When more people are downtown people feel safer, restaurants and businesses are busier, and we see a greater economic benefit to our region.” While the ability to borrow will need to be approved through referendum, the district hopes that approval of the funding strategy will provide the community with the confidence to begin fundraising efforts for the project. The funding strategy for the project, which has been approved in principle, is subject to the selection of the site and finalization of the project budget, the district says. It is proposed that the project funding be made up of $25 million from regional district borrowing, $6 million from infrastructure grants, $5 million through partnership contributions, and $4 million through fundraising and donations. “The regional district is now working with the community partners and the City of Vernon to evaluate sites for the facility. Once a site has been selected, the preliminary concept plan and budget can be adjusted for the site and taken out for public consultation, and a timeline for the project, including all funding requirements, can be developed,” the district says.

Mayor Delays Decision On Re-election Campaign

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Pete McIntyreMay 22, 2018 06:20 am

Vernon’s mayor is going to keep people guessing as to whether he will — or won’t — run for a second term in October. Akbal Mund tells Beach Radio News says he’s in no hurry to announce his intentions, and may even run for councillor instead of mayor. “You kind of go, ‘Do I need to announce right now? No, I don’t. I can wait.. And who knows? Maybe I don’t do mayor, maybe (I run) for councillor to to keep some continuity on council, depending on what else everybody else officially decides. It’s a lot less work,” says Mund, a former partner in Wendy’s restaurants in the Interior. Mund is targeting this summer for a decision. “I’ll put it off for a while. We haven’t heard a lot in our community which is good. Maybe people are waiting for me to announce, I don’t know. If that’s the case, maybe I’ll hold off a little bit longer.”  Two people have so far stated an interest in running for Vernon mayor: Art Gourley and former mayor Wayne Lippert. Mund was the last of the five candidates to announce a run for mayor in the 2014 elections.The official nomination period for municipal candidates is from September 4-14, with voting day around BC on October 20.

Employer Health Tax Impact on Local Governments Survey Results and Analysis Union of BC Municipalities May 2018

http://www.ubcm.ca/assets/Resolutions~and~Policy/Policy/Finance/Employer%20Health%20Tax%20Impact%20on%20Local%20Govt%20-%20Final.pdf

Vernon's numbers will show an increase of $448,500 in 2019 and with the elimination of the MSP premium charge in 2020 will show a $220,000 decrease in taxes.  Assuming tht a 1% increase is approx. $360,000 then we will have a 1.25% increase in 2019 and then a .61%  tax reduction in 2020.
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This does not calculate the effect if the RCMP stationed in B.C. are also subject to the 2019 Payroll tax of 1.95% . Vernons approx. cost of $5,000,000 for the RCMP payroll will add about $97,500 (.27%) to our tax requirement in 2019.
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The effect on school taxes and Hospital taxes is unknown as of yet as to amount but this will be another increase to your property tax bill. Also the Transit additional costs as well as the Regional District additional costs will also be added to property tax bill.