Showing posts with label 2018 RDNO Budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2018 RDNO Budget. Show all posts
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thursday, March 01, 2018
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Free bus route proposal delayed Idea to increase ridership of Enderby and Lumby to Vernon transit routes
BARRY GERDINGFeb. 8, 2018 6:30 p.m.LOCAL NEWS Morning Star
A proposal for a one-year pilot project to offer free transit service for two cross-region bus routes to encourage more ridership has hit a roadblock. The Regional District of North Okanagan board opted to refer the issue back for further discussion after concerns were raised by several directors.
The two bus routes would be #60 route from Enderby to Vernon and #61 route from Lumby to Vernon.
Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund said he had concerns that some people might get free rides and others may not depending on where they boarded the bus.“If that is what we are talking about here, I think that raises some serious issues,” Mund said. Director Catherine Lord, who like Mund represents the City of Vernon on the board, agreed with the mayor, saying the pilot project needs more thought given to it before being implemented.The recommendation to proceed with it was forwarded to the board from the regional transit review committee.
Lumby Mayor Kevin Acton didn’t speak to the resolution at the board meeting, but stated Lumby’s position at the committee meeting, that since transit is heavily funded through taxation, his village council was supportive of consideration for a major reduction to the Route 61 fare charged to encourage increased ridership.David Sewell, chief administrative officer for RDNO, said waiving the $2.50 transit fee was intended to generate more ridership, with the cost off-set by a $335,000 transit reserve fund. He cautioned that the free ridership on routes 60 and 61 would not carry over when bus transfers are required to carry on to other jurisdictions.
A proposal for a one-year pilot project to offer free transit service for two cross-region bus routes to encourage more ridership has hit a roadblock. The Regional District of North Okanagan board opted to refer the issue back for further discussion after concerns were raised by several directors.
The two bus routes would be #60 route from Enderby to Vernon and #61 route from Lumby to Vernon.
Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund said he had concerns that some people might get free rides and others may not depending on where they boarded the bus.“If that is what we are talking about here, I think that raises some serious issues,” Mund said. Director Catherine Lord, who like Mund represents the City of Vernon on the board, agreed with the mayor, saying the pilot project needs more thought given to it before being implemented.The recommendation to proceed with it was forwarded to the board from the regional transit review committee.
Lumby Mayor Kevin Acton didn’t speak to the resolution at the board meeting, but stated Lumby’s position at the committee meeting, that since transit is heavily funded through taxation, his village council was supportive of consideration for a major reduction to the Route 61 fare charged to encourage increased ridership.David Sewell, chief administrative officer for RDNO, said waiving the $2.50 transit fee was intended to generate more ridership, with the cost off-set by a $335,000 transit reserve fund. He cautioned that the free ridership on routes 60 and 61 would not carry over when bus transfers are required to carry on to other jurisdictions.
Monday, January 29, 2018
RDNO Considers Bus Ridership Study
Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Tom Mark January 29, 2018 08:11 am
The Regional District of North Okanagan may study how people are using buses in the region. RDNO Board Chair Bob Fleming says the idea came out of a meeting directors had at a transit service review meeting. “We’ll spend a little bit of money out of reserve, so this wouldn’t affect taxes, to investigate ridership. And the how has to be determined because it’s always ever a snapshot.” Fleming says it needs to be timed carefully so there are no distortions. “Usually do it in two week blocks. So you have to decide, okay, two weeks in June or May or whatever month they recommend and then trying to split it so you get a better snapshot.” Total ridership is known, but the District wants to see where people are coming from and where they are going. Fleming says another suggestion is to offer free service for a time on the Vernon to Lumby and Vernon to Enderby runs. “I don’t mean just a week or two. I mean a matter of months or even up to a year of free ridership to see if the ridership can be increased, or what effect that has on the ridership.” The idea still has to be discussed at the full board level for approval, as does the ridership survey itself. He doesn’t believe there would be much of an effect on revenue from fares since taxes pay for about 90 per cent of the service.
The Regional District of North Okanagan may study how people are using buses in the region. RDNO Board Chair Bob Fleming says the idea came out of a meeting directors had at a transit service review meeting. “We’ll spend a little bit of money out of reserve, so this wouldn’t affect taxes, to investigate ridership. And the how has to be determined because it’s always ever a snapshot.” Fleming says it needs to be timed carefully so there are no distortions. “Usually do it in two week blocks. So you have to decide, okay, two weeks in June or May or whatever month they recommend and then trying to split it so you get a better snapshot.” Total ridership is known, but the District wants to see where people are coming from and where they are going. Fleming says another suggestion is to offer free service for a time on the Vernon to Lumby and Vernon to Enderby runs. “I don’t mean just a week or two. I mean a matter of months or even up to a year of free ridership to see if the ridership can be increased, or what effect that has on the ridership.” The idea still has to be discussed at the full board level for approval, as does the ridership survey itself. He doesn’t believe there would be much of an effect on revenue from fares since taxes pay for about 90 per cent of the service.
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Transit Cost Reduced For City
Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Tom Mark January 25, 2018 12:15 pm
Regional District of North Okanagan directors have informally agreed to adjust the cost sharing arrangement for regional transit service. They met Wednesday for a service review at the request of the City of Armstrong, which felt it might be paying too much. Board Chair Bob Fleming says those attending agreed. “Ultimately, there was a motion approved, which is subject to board approval, that will redistribute things a little bit and take a little bit of the burden off Armstrong, and that can only happen through the cooperation of other communities that were currently paying less.” Fleming says the matter was well discussed around the table at Wednesday’s meeting. He says it’s an example of all the communities working together on a point of fairness. “And redistribute it among other members in a sort of equal fashion. So it would mean some of the smaller communities were paying just slightly more in order that Armstrong pay slightly less.” Those other communities also have to approve it through their councils. Fleming says Armstrong’s share would drop about 7 points, which will be made up through small increases to other areas.
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Present distribution costs:
Regional District of North Okanagan directors have informally agreed to adjust the cost sharing arrangement for regional transit service. They met Wednesday for a service review at the request of the City of Armstrong, which felt it might be paying too much. Board Chair Bob Fleming says those attending agreed. “Ultimately, there was a motion approved, which is subject to board approval, that will redistribute things a little bit and take a little bit of the burden off Armstrong, and that can only happen through the cooperation of other communities that were currently paying less.” Fleming says the matter was well discussed around the table at Wednesday’s meeting. He says it’s an example of all the communities working together on a point of fairness. “And redistribute it among other members in a sort of equal fashion. So it would mean some of the smaller communities were paying just slightly more in order that Armstrong pay slightly less.” Those other communities also have to approve it through their councils. Fleming says Armstrong’s share would drop about 7 points, which will be made up through small increases to other areas.
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Present distribution costs:
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
RDNO Discusses Transit Service
Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Tom Mark January 24, 2018 07:56 am
Directors with the Regional District of North Okanagan will sit down this afternoon for a formal service review of the regional transit service.The meeting was called over concerns expressed by the City of Armstrong.Armstrong Mayor Chris Pieper says there are large variances in who pays for the service.“We wanted to sit down and review how the funding formula is going to be divided up among all the users going forward.” Pieper says there’s no question about wanting the service, It’s just a matter of equity. “We’re not coming in with any notions of getting out of the service or anything like that. We’re just looking for equity and providing a good service going forward.” Armstrong pays about 25 per cent of the cost now.
Asked if he feels the city is getting value for its money? “Well, I think everybody’s getting value, but some people are getting a lot more value for a lot less money. I think when a service such as transit goes through your community there’s a benefit to everybody in the community.” Previous formulas were based on ridership. Pieper says he’s not demanding a a lesser fee for Armstrong, just a fair look at who pays what.
He says there may be some other issues discussed as well, but he expects a positive review.The meeting is being billed as preliminary with the purpose of reviewing the terms and conditions of the service and establishing a negotiation process for addressing the issues raised.
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http://www.rdno.ca/docs/2017_FP_Presentation_to_CoW.pdf
Asked if he feels the city is getting value for its money? “Well, I think everybody’s getting value, but some people are getting a lot more value for a lot less money. I think when a service such as transit goes through your community there’s a benefit to everybody in the community.” Previous formulas were based on ridership. Pieper says he’s not demanding a a lesser fee for Armstrong, just a fair look at who pays what.
He says there may be some other issues discussed as well, but he expects a positive review.The meeting is being billed as preliminary with the purpose of reviewing the terms and conditions of the service and establishing a negotiation process for addressing the issues raised.
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http://www.rdno.ca/docs/2017_FP_Presentation_to_CoW.pdf
Friday, December 22, 2017
Sterile Insect Release (SIR) Program
The actual fruit growers acreage to which this program applies is charged on the property tax bill is a per acre charge of $139.26. Total acreage for the RDNO fruit growers is 1165.15 acres and a total charge of $162,259 in 2016. Vernon fruit growers had 135.85 (11.66%) of the total acreage and were taxed $18,919.
If the taxpayers of Vernon were charged on the basis of fruit acreage in their jurisdiction rather than assessed land values as is the present formula the taxes required would be reduced by $157,064. In 2009 the difference was calculated to be a $157,906 reduction.
Naturally if this formula changed to Fruit acreage only other areas would be effected.
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Friday, December 08, 2017
BX Ranch proposed as agricultural park
BARRY GERDING Dec. 7, 2017 6:00 p.m.LOCAL NEWS MORNING Star
Two community groups made their pitch Thursday to the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee to have the BX Ranchlands property turned into an agricultural park.The BX Ranchlands Task Force and the BX/Swan Lake Community Association, backed by a supportive petition with more than 1,300 signatures, are advocating the historic 137-acre site be preserved as a working farm, habitat conservation area and a focal point to both celebrate and raise awareness through public education initiatives of agriculture’s significance to the area.Paul Williamson, a BX Ranchlands Task Force member, said the agricultural park concept exists in other B.C. communities such as Saanich, Salt Spring Island, Pemberton and most recently the Ceres Circle Farm in Kelowna, a 37-acre sheep farm gifted by its owner and currently under transition to a land trust. Besides preserving historic farmlands, Williamson said those initiatives have found ways to generate revenue from tourism and access to public land use and agriculture programs.“It takes vision and people to make a change in our community,” Williamson said. “We are at a pivotal point in the history of the last remaining piece of the BX Ranchlands.”Agrologist Melanie Piorecky told the advisory committee the agricultural park concept complements the food sustainability objectives for the area while providing the opportunity to create incubator farm plots, community gardens, post-secondary agrology research programs and a dedicated location for a farmers’ market.She said the habitat enhancement aspect would help preserve the wetlands portion of the BX Ranchlands already exposed to impact from a neighbouring residential development.The BX future land use has been disputed at times since the land parcel was purchased in 2016 for $2.3 million, with the idea being 36 acres could be kept as park and the remainder sold for development to recoup the land investment costs.If sold, the 36-acre park portion would create a park between BX Ranch and Mutrie Road parks.But the land still remains within the Agricultural Land Reserve, something the BX Ranchlands Task Force and BX/Swan Lake Community Association don’t want to see changed.The Regional District of North Okanagan board has already approved the rezoning of the BX Ranchlands from country residential to large holding, which means the land would be agricultural and residential subdivision development would not be allowed unless there was a further rezoning process considered by the regional district.GVAC chair Juliette Cunningham said the committee will address the agricultural park proposal at their next meeting Jan. 4, which will be held at the Coldstream Municipal Hall
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Also See: https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/news/bx-ranch-generates-debate/
Two community groups made their pitch Thursday to the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee to have the BX Ranchlands property turned into an agricultural park.The BX Ranchlands Task Force and the BX/Swan Lake Community Association, backed by a supportive petition with more than 1,300 signatures, are advocating the historic 137-acre site be preserved as a working farm, habitat conservation area and a focal point to both celebrate and raise awareness through public education initiatives of agriculture’s significance to the area.Paul Williamson, a BX Ranchlands Task Force member, said the agricultural park concept exists in other B.C. communities such as Saanich, Salt Spring Island, Pemberton and most recently the Ceres Circle Farm in Kelowna, a 37-acre sheep farm gifted by its owner and currently under transition to a land trust. Besides preserving historic farmlands, Williamson said those initiatives have found ways to generate revenue from tourism and access to public land use and agriculture programs.“It takes vision and people to make a change in our community,” Williamson said. “We are at a pivotal point in the history of the last remaining piece of the BX Ranchlands.”Agrologist Melanie Piorecky told the advisory committee the agricultural park concept complements the food sustainability objectives for the area while providing the opportunity to create incubator farm plots, community gardens, post-secondary agrology research programs and a dedicated location for a farmers’ market.She said the habitat enhancement aspect would help preserve the wetlands portion of the BX Ranchlands already exposed to impact from a neighbouring residential development.The BX future land use has been disputed at times since the land parcel was purchased in 2016 for $2.3 million, with the idea being 36 acres could be kept as park and the remainder sold for development to recoup the land investment costs.If sold, the 36-acre park portion would create a park between BX Ranch and Mutrie Road parks.But the land still remains within the Agricultural Land Reserve, something the BX Ranchlands Task Force and BX/Swan Lake Community Association don’t want to see changed.The Regional District of North Okanagan board has already approved the rezoning of the BX Ranchlands from country residential to large holding, which means the land would be agricultural and residential subdivision development would not be allowed unless there was a further rezoning process considered by the regional district.GVAC chair Juliette Cunningham said the committee will address the agricultural park proposal at their next meeting Jan. 4, which will be held at the Coldstream Municipal Hall
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Also See: https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/news/bx-ranch-generates-debate/
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