We over Governed in Greater Vernon

The Greater Vernon does not have a single municipal government. I believe that we should seriously examine the possibility of having just one municipal government for our community. So what does our area now have in terms of governance?

Greater Vernon has 2 mayors, 12 councillors and 2 electoral area representatives. These 16 elected individuals are supported by their respective municipal and regional district staffs. The administrative employees strive to keep things running smoothly. The staffs are to provide recommendations to the elected officials who then set policy and budgets. Sounds pretty good: so what is problem?

This is frankly an expensive way to govern 50,000 people living in such close proximity. This situation is inherently inefficient because duplication of staff and services. Some costs like police are not being shared equitably. Businesses and individuals trying to invest in Greater Vernon often face a labyrinth of obstacles perpetuated by the number of local jurisdictions. The frustration can be palpable.

However to be fair, efforts have made to cooperate among the local jurisdictions.

Historically, an advantage was seen in working together to provide services to residents of the area that were shared across local political boundaries; Greater Vernon Parks and Recreation function being the prime example of such an endeavor. The tricky part of these agreements is the working out the details. Who owns what? Who does what? Who pays for what? And just who is in charge? Questions all easily answered if there was only one local government.

 Recently our elected officials at GVAC have spent the better part of a year endeavouring to address anew just such questions. The result is the new Parks agreement that separate us more than it unites us. It creates more players and boundaries instead of reducing them. During their protracted negotiations they missed asking a question obvious to many. We are one community. Shouldn’t we be governed as such? This question is the elephant in the room for anyone that has had to deal with local our governments.

 The option of one local municipal government has been recently raised by the Greater Vernon Governance Society. The Society has launched an online petition that has its heart the conviction that things could be run better and more efficiently if there was one municipal government in our area. For many honest individuals, amalgamation is an emotional issue and elicits an emotional response. Though understandable, this response is not desirable. A more thoughtful and detailed approach is needed so that a wise decision can be made.

The KPMG report to Vernon City Council pointed to efficiencies and cost savings that could be realized by the amalgamation of the local governments into one entity. Though the report lacked detail, KPMG recommended the option be pursued. Council chose a quick emotional response instead of thoughtful investigation. No action was taken. Lack of interest from the community was cited as the justification for doing nothing.

The ongoing interest in the GVGS online petition shows that Vernon City Council was mistaken. Citizens from all areas of Greater Vernon have signed the petition. These taxpayers would like to see a detailed proposal outlining both benefits and pitfalls of amalgamation put to a referendum. The province’s policy is that such a referendum would only come if sufficient public interest is manifest. So what then should be done?

The answer is clear. We are over governed here in the sunny North Okanagan.  If you think as do I that the option of one government for Greater Vernon should be honestly examined and put to a vote make your wishes known and sign the online petition at greatervernongovernance.ca

Cheers

Shawn Lee

 

 

Why public input now?

The recent request for public input by Vernon City Council comes at a very late stage in the development of the new recreation and programing MOU. If this group of politicians were really interested in what the public had to say on how things had been run I feel they should have been approached much earlier in the process in the process. That said, it is good agreement which clearly defines an efficient management model. The price of that efficiency is the burden future financial liabilities of these facilities falling to the Vernon taxpayer alone. This would occur if for some reason Coldstream , B and C were to withdraw from funding model. These protracted negotiations could have been avoided altogether in there were one municipal government for Greater Vernon.

This desire for public input was not demonstrated in the case of the Parks MOU which involved the city trading away Kal Beach for lower valued Kin Beach lots. Why the difference in attitude? Just the kind of thing that  make this blogger scratch his head.

Not talking to anyone

The air is getting crisp in the morning reminding us that autumn is here. Another sure sign of fall is the annual migration of local politicians to the Union of British Columbian Municipalities convention. Though the trip is sometimes criticized as political junket of little value I disagree. The provincial ministers and their staff also come to roost at UBCM convention. Their presence provides the opportunity for astute local officials to get the ear of a particular minister on subjects of local concern. There is often a very frank exchange of opinions which prove useful to both levels of government. Though brief these meetings are to the point and often result in the help sought.

As reported by Richard Rolke in the Morning Star no meetings with ministers were scheduled by our members of council in attendance.

This was a lost opportunity. Surely there must be a few items worthy of discussion. Perhaps the redesign of the 43^rd avenue and Highway 97 could have been broached? Maybe the inequitable burden born by Vernon taxpayers for the civilian employees at our RCMP detachment could have been underlined? A question regarding the apparent delay of approval Parks MOU could have been asked? Could the onerous water upgrades imposed by the Interior Health Authority been have appealed? The ministers were there ready to listen but apparently our elected officials had nothing to ask or say. I find this a disappointing state of affairs.

It is not as if there hasn’t been anything of note happening that might be of interest to the provincial officials. The recent successful launch of the Greater Vernon Governance Society Petition with the goal of a single municipal government for greater Vernon could well be the single most important issue that could have been discussed with provincial officials in recent memory. Too bad no one thought to schedule a meeting with a minister.

We were conspicuous in our absence from the appointment lists. The ministers expect to be talked to and look forward to meeting with local officials. From personal experience I know these discussions to be productive. Relationships with any given municipality and the provincial government can be warm or cold. Vernon may be in for a cold spell.

Disappointed

Shawn Lee