Four Year Terms for Fall Elections

The Provincial government recently introduced legislation that would increase the terms of office for elected municipal officials from three to four years. This change has been considered for years but with the successful passing of a likeminded resolution at last year’s UBCM convention the government feels it can proceed with some confidence.

Fewer elections in a ten year period (3 to 2) will save money in the long term. We citizens sometime forget that frequently asking the people to go the polls for whatever reason is not done without cost. We must find ways to do more with less as municipal and provincial budgets continue to be strained. But I think there is a stronger argument for the increased term. Being able to see a project to term while still in office provide a measure of continuity that is of benefit to the community.

In my experience on Vernon City Council very early in our tenure we held a visioning meeting to set priorities for our coming term. Interesting enough we were all in agreement on a major project that would be of benefit to the citizens of Greater Vernon for years to come. The political will was there and unusually so was the funding. The expectation was that this project could be completed within a year or so well within our three year term office. I remember at one point despairing that it would be completed before our term was up. The wheels of government do move slowly when the staff correctly focus of the long term. Happily the recent renovation of Polson Park was completed and well before our term was ended.

Let us consider future scenario; perhaps the redesign of a major intersection in our community that is the source of much backup and congestion during the busy summer season. The intersection of Highway 97 and 43^rd ave comes immediately to mind. The province would have to be involved in the design as well as the city as it a shared responsibility. Funding the project could also involve both levels of government and their budget deliberations and perhaps a third level government if Federal money was sought. Bidding on the project could occupy several months. Time becomes a factor for those in office pursuing such a worthy goal.

I believe what would really be necessary for our community to achieve the benefit of more efficient traffic flow at the north end of town would be a city council who thought this intersection really needs improvement and with time enough to apply the political will to see it to completion.

Happily the new four year terms if passed by the provincial government should be time enough. Now we need to find those with the political will and the time to give.

Cheers

Shawn Lee

Does the City of Vernon Have Too Many Committees?

The contemplated review of the City Vernon’s committee system is to be commended. I understand it is one of the responsibilities of council to assure the mandates of the various advisory committees are being fulfilled by the volunteers who so willing give of their time and several abilities to make Vernon a better place to live and work.

Apparently what has drawn Council’s attention is the sheer number of committees that meet on a regular basis. Perhaps we have too many? Some committees are statutory meaning their existence is mandated by provincial legislation and so council has little room for reducing their demand on staff time and resources. However many of the committees function purely at the behest of Council and are not required by legislation. It with these committees that council may some have room to move. Nevertheless I believe that Council should proceed cautiously.

The present system committees has evolved over the years as past Councils saw the benefit of receiving informed advice on various aspects of making our City a better place to live. The philosophy is simply “two heads are better than one”.

Depending on the changing priorities of staff and elected officials various committees may seem more or less relevant at the moment their continued function is being considered. A case in point may prove instructive.

The City of Vernon used to have a Land Use Advisory Committee which I believe predated the hiring of the current fulltime the real estate position. The purpose of this in camera committee was to offer real estate expertise to Council on proposed land transactions that could involve the city. During the heady days of development leading up to the fall of 2008 it was a very busy committee indeed. Since the recession its activity slowed until the committee met only at the call of the chair and at the specific request of council: sometimes only three times a year: the perception being a committee no Longer useful to the city.

When the writer first became aware of the restructuring deal with Greater Vernon Parks and Recreation involving Vernon giving up is ownership of Kalamalka Beach in what I thought was an inequitable land wasp with the regional district the first question that came to my mind was: did Council get any input from the Vernon Land Use Advisory Committee? I was informed by the Mayor that no input was received or requested because Council had disbanded that committee the previous January. This was unfortunate. Having served on that committee particular committee I am sure there would have been some useful advice available. Who gave the Council any advice on the biggest Vernon land deal of the last decade? Certainly not the committee perfectly suited to advise Council on such a venture because it no longer existed. So Council had unwittingly decided to go it alone forgetting that two heads are better than one. I still have questions about that deal.

I believe that some review of the committees is warranted but as the reader may guess it is with some trepidation I look forward to what this present Council will do to the city’s committee system as it embarks on this task. Do away a committee today and you may well need it tomorrow.

Good city government I believe comes from the collaborative efforts of dedicated staff, informed citizens and elected officials. A robust committee system at City Hall provides the best opportunity for such collaborations to take place.

Cheers,

Shawn Lee a Vernon Taxpayer

Put your Best Foot Forward

Lately Vernon City Council has come under some criticism for a decision to operate a single Tourist Information facility in a to be renovated building adjacent to the Civic Arena on 39 th street near the city core. They felt that it would more efficient and cost effective to operate just one center. Council is probably right. Two information centers for a community our size are luxuries that we can no longer afford. Still a lot of effort and resources have been invested in the two buildings that have served our community and visitors for many years. It seems a shame to let it all go. In my opinion what replaces these two facilities should be pretty eye catchingly special.

Most communities do position their tourist info centers close to the center of town to be close to accommodations that rely on visitor business: hotels and restaurants. The advantage claimed is that visitors actually do stop in your town. This thinking was likely part of the recommendation of the tourist advisory committee to council.

Council intends to spend over $300,000 to “gussy up” probably one of the least attractive buildings in the city core in the hopes of putting our best foot forward for the visitors upon which much our local economy depends. I hope the contractor has an impeccable reputation of turning a sow’s ear into a silk purse because surely that is the challenge to be faced.

Putting all the questions about difficult access, lack of visibility and inappropriate traffic in a downtown residential neighborhood associated with the new site aside: my question would be, after all the money spent will we indeed have something to be proud of that truly represents how wonderful an experience our visitors can have when they choose to spend their precious vacation time in our community?

I don’t think so. I have not seen any drawings. Is it just going be new floors and paint? I would have hoped for the something more special for the visitors to our city than a single story cinder brick building at the end of an unpaved parking lot.

I think the most important question to be asked and answered regarding the new tourist information center is: are we putting our best foot forward?

Cheers Shawn Lee a Vernon Taxpayer blog

Water Water Everywhere and its going to cost more.

People tend to think infrastructure grants come from some magic pot of "other" money but in reality the only sources of funding infrastructure in Canada are fees or taxes or some combination of the two. Why aren't there reserves to help with the latest infrastructure needs at Greater Vernon Water? Cheers Shawn Lee a Vernon taxpayer blog

Of Two Minds At Coldstearm

To this more than casual observer I am fascinated by Councillor Kiss fighting for unbiased information and evaluation of the master water plan. On the subject of water in Greater Vernon, Councillor Kiss is held in high esteem. For the good of our future when it comes to water he would like an unbiased second opinion. Good for him and it could be good for us .And yet he votes not to request a current study on Governance in Greater Vernon.  Why you ask? Because he is content with an almost 20 year old study. Let’s just plug in the new numbers into an old template. None of the communities in Greater Vernon are the same as they were twenty years ago: and that fact is to be applauded.  Greater Vernon has experienced much residential growth and many changes over the past twenty years. Regrettably Coldstream Municipal District Council continues to advocate the status quo and glories in the provincial financial policies that make the municipal district appear to be a viable option for the future. Perhaps the province needs to take a closer look at communities who claim rural status but in the opinion of many; have over the years have become suburbs to their larger urban neighbours.

Cheers

Shawn Lee a Vernon Taxpayer blog

Letter to the Vernon Morning Star

Recently Vernon city council voted unanimously to request that the provincial government fund a study on governance options for Greater Vernon. For those of us that think that decisions on how we are governed should be based on sound and unbiased information its action was gratifying. That satisfaction however has proved to be short lived.

At more recent gathering at the Regional District as reported in the Vernon Morning Star by unanimous vote the Regional District Board of Directors declined to forward a request to the ministry to fund a study on governance in Greater Vernon. To this more than casual observer this decision did not come as a surprise but why was the motion unopposed? It seems that the members of Vernon City council who serve as directors did an about face and joined with others at the regional table in supporting the negative motion put forward by the electoral areas.

I know the argument can be made that their support of the electoral advisory recommendation was just defending the electoral areas B and C right to refuse to request the study and avoid the appearance of democratic bullying. But if persuasion and argument did not lead the electoral areas to change their mind on the matter of the governance study why did Vernon’s directors capitulate and vote the motion and perhaps weaken the power of their own request to the provincial government?

They missed a chance to affirm their decision to request a study on governance.  Instead they seem too willing to dance to the tune at the regional district table; but in so doing they forget who brought them to the party in the first place. Surely it is not unreasonable for the citizens of Vernon to expect some consistency with previously taken decisions when our elected officials are at the Regional District? In my opinion the credibility of Vernon’s present regional district directors comes into question. Do what degree do they actually represent Vernon at the regional table?

I am confused by this mixed message sent by the Vernon directors. They did an about face after their efforts at persuasion fell upon deaf ears. Why give up?

Perhaps in reality our own representatives wish the whole issue of Greater Vernon Governance would just go away. That seems to be message they are sending by their recent actions. Actions always speak louder than words.

Cheers

Shawn Lee Vernon Taxpayer

Unpublished letter to the Vernon Morning Star

To many, the recent decision by Coldsream municipal district council not to ask the provincial government to study the single municipal government model for Greater Vernon came as no surprise. However, I was surprised that the elected officials of the Municipal district gave more credence to a group of fifty or so vocal residents opposed to even considering issue and less or no credence to the over 800 hundred Coldstream residents who signed the recent Greater Vernon Governance Society petition. This current Coldstream Council was unwilling to risk their political capital in an election year for what they perceive as an unnecessary move. Perhaps their lack of action is understandable but their lack of fortitude is unfortunate for the area. I believe is better to really know than think you know.

Following the rejection of the recent petition’s premise by the acclaimed representatives of Electoral Areas B and C one could be forgiven for thinking that the recent few months of political action by the Greater Vernon Governance Society while admirable has been futile. The need for unanimity among Greater Vernon’s regional partners certainly made the task seem doomed from the start. The question has recently been asked of writer; if you knew all along that they could pull the plug on your whole effort why did you even bother? Indeed. But I believe this issue will not and should not go away.

 People who move to Greater Vernon think that we need to give our heads a shake when they become aware of how many jurisdictions exist in our area: a system that we have inherited from the old ranching days of the North Okanagan. Change needs to come and will come eventually when elected officials have the courage to ask of the provincial government is there better way?

There yet remains one more voice to be heard; that of Vernon City Council. While the reception the Governance Society Leadership received when they presented the petition was warm and supportive no decision was taken at that time. It appeared that Council didn’t want to take that first step at the risk of offending our regional partners. This was certainly consistent action on the part our present Vernon City Council particularly when one considers the concessions made by Vernon in the new parks agreement. However let us return to the concept of political capital.

A very credible sample of the Vernon electorate supported a detailed look at how Greater Vernon is governed with a viable option put to a referendum. Our city council may choose not to offend the sensibilities of our neighbours by declining to make a request to the provincial government to look at the possibility of one municipality for Greater Vernon; but in so doing they would be forgetting that it was not the residents of Coldstream and B and C who elected them but rather the citizens of Vernon. Will our council be willing to ignore the petition as did Coldstream and face the criticism and perception that Vernon now dances to the tune of its regional partners? I think that Council certainly has better political option.

I believe that Vernon Council should respond to their own citizens by forwarding a request to the Provincial Government to look at the way the Greater Vernon is governed. Yes I know our Mayor thinks it would be illogical to make such a request without regional support but in light of the recent attention this issue has drawn, not to make the request would send the message that the citizens of Vernon think that things are just fine the way they are. This is certainly not the case as evidenced by the recent petition. Even if the request results in a polite letter from the ministry declining a study it could not hurt to ask. Making the request to truly understand the issues can only result in closer provincial scrutiny of the goings on at our Regional district and may lead the province to look at their own financial policies that help to perpetuate of our cumbersome system of local Governance. All in all a better way, I think, to spend political capital in an election year.

Cheers Shawn

Vernon Taxpayer