What to do with the Civic Arena?

If the referendum on borrowing $13 Million for the proposed additional ice sheet is successful the politicians will still face the slippery question of what to do with aging Civic Arena.

Many long-time residents will favor its retention for heritage and nostalgic reasons. After all if we don’t preserve our historical building we lose in some measure our connection with those who have gone before.

There will be some who favor tearing down the structure with the hope of something of benefit being put in its place. Hope being the key word here. The Vernon area voters may feel a little fatigued after this fall’s referenda.($83,000,000+) So a new project would undoubtedly face funding issues that would have to be dealt with.

The Civic Arena could be reconfigured (to borrow a Star Trek term) to serve our community in yet to be envisioned ways. It would be fun to be part that debate. The new purpose was attractive enough to the community would ensure the  useful preservation of the building for many years to come.

Cheers

Shawn Lee a Vernon Taxpayer

Yet more stuff on governance....

Back in 2008 when RDNO formulated the questions sent out to the electoral areas in the non-binding survey it missed the opportunity to ask non ambiguous questions in order to get non ambiguous information. Another error was to assume that all electoral areas are identical and should be all asked the same questions. The EAs are not identical. Some electoral areas in the RDNO are truly rural in nature while others for reasons of proximity are more like suburbs to their more populous and larger urban neighbours. This is not good or bad it is just the situation.

What is unfortunate over the years this situation has fostered a we /they mentality between Vernon and its neighbours. Because the four political units function under different financial rules they are able to provide differing level of service to their residents. Though we are told that everyone is happy with things as are in the EAs Vernon receives annually several requests to be annexed into the city; so not everyone is happy. As a recent RDNO commissioned report accurately points out these piecemeal annexations are an erosion of the EAs tax base. Though some mitigation the from province is possible the EA is faced with having to provide its residents the services they expect with an ever shrinking number of folios.(taxable parcels or businesses)They face the hard choice of either providing fewer services or increase the tax rate. Neither option seems palatable

Reasons for requesting annexation to the city in vary detail but a common theme is a desire to be provided sanitary sewer service; a service not provided by the Regional District to the EA. Those who make these applications are willing to pay the increase in taxes and fees to receive this service. There are rules of that govern these annexations that must be followed. The city has time tested rules as to who it can deliver sewer services. In some instances the actual cost to the city for the annexation is greater than the benefit gained by the added folios. What is to be done?

The recent report to RDNO outlines in detail the problem that I have only sketched above and offers some mental acrobatics (something I am sometimes accused of performing) as solutions. I agree that with Mr. Edwards that all should read this report to gain an understanding of the challenges faced by Electoral Areas in the face of what has been termed “death by a thousand   cuts”. The report has as an assumption somewhat unspoken. The assumption is that the continuing viability of the electoral areas is desirable and a good thing and possible. As I studied the report I came to the conclusion that something needs to done. I think the whole study needs to be repeated at least in the case of EAs B and C with a different assumption. Assume one larger Municipality including Vernon B and C. Something like this was done in 1991 in the Sussex Report which looked at many Governance options for Greater Vernon. Like all reports there were assumptions. Some remain valid today some do not but after over twenty years the issues remain the same and unfortunately with no end in sight. The results of this new study could provide an as yet unthought-of solution that could be presented to the electorate.

The people have as yet not been granted an effective voice in all this.

Cheers, Shawn Lee a Vernon Taxpayer   

Water and its Management

My youngest sister, who I suspect is a lot smarter than I, once defined home ownership as “Water and its management”. If this management task is done well the one of the potential headaches of owning our little piece of heaven is eliminated. If neglected…  well then please pass the Tylenol.

Most of us urban dwellers have a limited understanding of how the water that flows so readily and conveniently from our faucets gets there. We can reflect vaguely about some big body of water, and some pipes and maybe a treatment plant but as to listing the details involved in assuring a safe and renewable supply of water most of us would draw a blank. We are however, very aware of the cost of this service to us personally and these costs seem to be on the rise.

We will face a referendum question in the fall involving the initial borrowing of $70,000,000 to begin the infrastructure of the Greater Vernon Master Plan. We will be assured by professional engineers and by most politicians that we should vote yes; and that may well be the way to go but I fear that the referendum question will be answered by the general public considering only the magnitude of the numbers and not from having a clear understanding of the pros and cons of the plan.

We need clear reasons and clear language from those who know and understand the issues and processes best. I understand that someone has prepared 200 questions with answers. Such information could prove very useful. It may be a lot to ask but wouldn’t be great if we voted on this issue from a position of understanding rather than one of emotion. No matter what class of water user we are we are all in this decision together. It is like we are living in one house when it comes to water.

Greater Vernon may well be defined someday by “water and its management “. Let us hope in that day such a definition will be a complement.

Cheers

Shawn Lee a Vernon Taxpayer

The field is still very small for the Conservative Nomination

So the field of hopefuls for the Conservative nomination has increased to a couple of brave individuals. It takes great courage to put yourself “out there” to run for political office. I am convinced that such individuals must sincerely believe that they can make a real contribution to the communities and in the case of Federal politics to the country we all call home. They are to be commended. All the eventual candidates (perhaps as many as five according to the media) for the Conservative nomination will face in all likelihood a lively contest to win the nomination.

Speaking as a Vernon resident I hope that we have representation in this yet small field of candidates for the Conservative nomination. Several strong candidates come to my mind. Time will tell.

Cheers, Shawn Lee a Vernon Taxpayer

Proposed Changes Applauded- or Wrong Way to Go ?

Nothing will spark debate like a plan to alter the use or function a road in the City of Vernon. It seems we that have a real sense of ownership of the road particularly the road that goes by our home or business. As odd as it sounds we resent the free use of it and access to it by just anyone. The resentment turns to real concern if we perceive the use of our street by non-neighbourhood residents disturbs our peace and creates increased risk for those we love. Vernon is reaping problems from the serendipitous manner the city grew in the late 50’s and early 60’s. So when we moved to East Hill soon after locating to Vernon I experienced some driving frustration in trying to get from A to B for which there seemed to be very few direct routes. Fortunately those had lived here for years began to share their secret routes with this new comer. Their instructions invariably included an inquiry as to whether I knew how to get to Butcher Boys. The long-time residents were just checking my understanding of the labyrinth that is the East Hill. One of the secrets was 25^th st.  which soon became my go to street to get the mall particularly when the old 27^th was backed up during the summer. For a residential street it is unusually wide which continues to make this alternate route appealing. Times have changed and so has 27th. 

The existing road diet on 27^th (43ave to 48ave) has for years allowed for more efficient flow of traffic particularly from North to South (the right hand turn onto 48^th ave. headed east to Silver Star still needs some work). So in spite of the improvements to 27^th apparently the use of 25^th as a short cut persists.Old habits die hard .The residents have complained and the City has listened. The proposed plan will removes the north south option by forced left hand turns at selected intersections. I believe that this really heavy handed and that when implemented the change in traffic pattern will lead to frustration both to residents of and visitors to the effected neighborhoods. I am not a traffic engineer but surely there other viable alternatives for traffic calming for this street and affected neighborhoods that would not entirely eliminate this North South route. I am trying to imagine the complexity of the instructions visitors to this neighborhood will need to receive from friends and family. The future will tell the tale. Will they still have to know how to get to Butcher Boys?

We have since moved from the East Hill and now my go to route in that part of town is Pleasant Valley Road (Skiing at Silver Star) which is currently undergoing some long awaited improvements at the posting of this blog. What we all hope for when it comes to traffic management in the City is efficiency and safety. For the most part road safety lies with us who are behind the wheel.

Cheers Shawn Lee a Vernon Taxpayer