Annexation Bid Splits Vernon Politicians

I believe that majority of council was acting in accordance with provincial policy. The applications previously supported by Council would result in the physical isolation of the four opposing properties from the rest of electoral area B. This type of isolation resulting from annexations is not permitted under provincial regulations. Therefore Council's choice was a difficult one. Ether support the entire application with four properties opposed or not support the majority of six properties in the application. Some of the seeds of this kind of conflict are sown in the inability of the city to provide sewer to individual properties outside its boundaries. I believe these piecemeal annexations are not the solution. Something more comprehensive needs to be done to address the ongoing concerns around boundaries, governance and the delivery of services particularly in electoral areas B and C which are the City of Vernon's closest unincorporated neighbours.

The regional district recently received the final report on a study of the challenges faced by electoral areas from these piecemeal losses to their tax base. Their concern is understandable and the report was clear but did not question the assumption particularly in the case of electoral areas B and C as to whether the current mode of delivery of services is the best one. Without putting all governance options on the table the report was reduced formulaic acrobatics in order to justify the status quo with regards to areas B and C. The report is lengthy and some places technical but for anyone interested in the future challenges the residents of B and C will face it is worth the effort to read.....
http://www.rdno.ca/docs/RDNO_Annexation_Study_Phase_II_Final_Report_-_February_2014.p