Economic Development & Tourism Contracts

[Madtaxi]

Oh no another blunder by mayor and council. :ohmygod:

[-fluffy-]

Oh no another blunder by mayor and council. :ohmygod:

I don't think so Madtaxi, from the sounds of it it's a petty power struggle emanating from the Hospitality Association. This morning's article said that they declined comment but will be issuing a press release within a few days. Take that for what you will but from my experience that usually means they are reluctant to answer questions without time to ensure their answer has the right "spin".

[twobits]

I think petty power struggle sums it up quite well. The city, in the interest of being transparent and prudent with taxpayer dollars, puts this out to tender rather than just award it to the Chamber without any competition and it's called a blunder. Perhaps the accomodation association could have been consulted more for their 450k contribution, but at face value this does seem rather petty and they could have at least gave it a go for a year. They were offered representation on the board after all. It would be interesting to know the vote breakdown.......large hotels vs the smaller motel players.

[-fluffy-]

They were offered representation on the board after all.

I hadn't heard about that at all, but that does supply fuel to the power struggle theory. There was mention by the Hospitality Association of "insufficient representation" of accomodators on the board but no details as to just what the extent of their desired "representation" was.

[FourtyFour]

Oh no another blunder by mayor and council. :ohmygod:

I don't think so Madtaxi, from the sounds of it it's a petty power struggle emanating from the Hospitality Association. This morning's article said that they declined comment but will be issuing a press release within a few days. Take that for what you will but from my experience that usually means they are reluctant to answer questions without time to ensure their answer has the right "spin".

It doesn't sound "petty" to me... The stakes are pretty high. The hotels and motels of Penticton contribute $420,000 to the tourism budget annually and the city contributes $160,000. The city didn't consult the tourism industry before deciding to rework the delivery of tourism services. If the city had consulted the industry that contributes 80% of the budget... the outcome would have been totally different and there wouldn't be this stuff going on now.

The truth is city council, city staff and members of the group that was awarded the contract were eyeing the hotel contribution to pay for commitments the city has made (and cant afford) like paying Ironman to stay here. The hotels rightfully disagreed with that and are ensuring that the money they collect is spent the way it was intended. To market Penticton... not to bail out city hall

[-fluffy-]

The city didn't consult the tourism industry before deciding to rework the delivery of tourism services. If the city had consulted the industry that contributes 80% of the budget... the outcome would have been totally different and there wouldn't be this stuff going on now.

It was my understanding that the contract was awarded in an open tender situation, and that the Chamber of Commerce, the former holders of the contract were bidding as well?

[FourtyFour]

The city didn't consult the tourism industry before deciding to rework the delivery of tourism services. If the city had consulted the industry that contributes 80% of the budget... the outcome would have been totally different and there wouldn't be this stuff going on now.

It was my understanding that the contract was awarded in an open tender situation, and that the Chamber of Commerce, the former holders of the contract were bidding as well?

That depends how you define "open".... any person or organization was open to make a bid. From what I know, the Chamber and the PBDG applied (there may have been others, I don't know).

What wasn't open was the decision making process. The selection committee was a closed group of city hall staff (including Annette Antoniak) who made their recommendation to council. Neither the selection committee nor council went to the accommodators for input on the decision. It was a closed decision process.

[-fluffy-]

What wasn't open was the decision making process. The selection committee was a closed group of city hall staff (including Annette Antoniak) who made their recommendation to council. Neither the selection committee nor council went to the accommodators for input on the decision. It was a closed decision process.

Isn't that par for the course when bidding on contracts? It keeps the playing field level.

Do you know if there was a large spread between the two bids?

There were some former Chamber employees that were part of the PBDG. Do you know if that may have resulted from internal stresses within in the Chamber of Commerce? I'm also wondering if the Schneiderat's, both Barb and Cary, ties to both the Chamber and the Hospitality Association may have led to some personal resentment at the "new kids on the block" winning a contract that had been Chamber territory for some years.

[nepal]

:ohmygod:............................... :coffeecanuck:

[Tero]

http://www.pentictonherald.ca/stories.php?i=388596&a=146322&d=12983&k=be5c277757f502ea77a4019aaf8a5119

Anyone else see conflict with this? The President of the OHA and OHS (Andy Oakes) is also involved with the Penticton Business Development Group (PBDG) as their "spokesperson." So the city sold a piece of PUBLIC property to the OHA last week, and this week awards a huge contract to the same ties?

Wow... it's not what you know, it's who you know. I am so tired of paying higher taxes and rates for everything in this city, to be left feeling that there are certain Pentictonites who will prosper while the rest struggle to keep their heads above water.

I don’t know that any media information has reported that the OHS is related to the “unnamed” company that is looking to purchase the property in question. I would be careful throwing out an accusation that an individual is in a conflict of interest unless you have some personal factual evidence that would confirm your accusation.

Personally I remain disappointed that the City has not disclosed who the purchaser/developer is and I believe this is a mistake on the part of the City administration but that is just a personal opinion on my part.

After living here for twenty years, there's something I know for sure... this city if full of back scratching dirty deals.

And it's not accusation, it's theory and suspicion, just to be clear.

First posted this on November 3rd... This town is corrupt... I stand by my case!

[-fluffy-]

First posted this on November 3rd... This town is corrupt... I stand by my case!

But Tero, you don't have a "case", by your own admission all you have is theory and suspicion, and dangerously close to libel at that.

[glassmaster]

First posted this on November 3rd... This town is corrupt... I stand by my case!

But Tero, you don't have a "case", by your own admission all you have is theory and suspicion, and dangerously close to libel at that.

He has a case alright ... a case of paranoid-I'm not in touch with reality disorder.

[Tero]

First posted this on November 3rd... This town is corrupt... I stand by my case!

But Tero, you don't have a "case", by your own admission all you have is theory and suspicion, and dangerously close to libel at that.

He has a case alright ... a case of paranoid-I'm not in touch with reality disorder.

Fair enough (well, not the paranoid thing... I have plenty of tin foil hats, so I'm good there....) but I WILL stand by one thing: It's not what you know in Penticton, it's who you bl*w. I have actually cancelled my subscription to the Herald, as each day it's another layer of BS being peeled away. I can't have my blood pressure continue to rise like that in the morning - it's just not good for me. BTW, I'm not a he, I'm a she, and I am well under 40 years old. (just in case you were trying to pigeon hole me.) :sunshine:

[glassmaster]

First posted this on November 3rd... This town is corrupt... I stand by my case!

But Tero, you don't have a "case", by your own admission all you have is theory and suspicion, and dangerously close to libel at that.

He has a case alright ... a case of paranoid-I'm not in touch with reality disorder.

Fair enough (well, not the paranoid thing... I have plenty of tin foil hats, so I'm good there....) but I WILL stand by one thing: It's not what you know in Penticton, it's who you bl*w. I have actually cancelled my subscription to the Herald, as each day it's another layer of BS being peeled away. I can't have my blood pressure continue to rise like that in the morning - it's just not good for me. BTW, I'm not a he, I'm a she, and I am well under 40 years old. (just in case you were trying to pigeon hole me.) :sunshine:

My apology for assuming that you were a HE rather than a SHE. Certainly no intention of pigeon holing you based on gender or age. It is your attitude and comments that will get you pigeon holed. How does someone allow themselves to become so consumed with mistrust & negativity? In this post you refer to the city leaders as being corrupt. In yet another post you agreed with somebody who was saying that Penticton is an ugly and dying town.You have said elsewhere that you and your husband have good jobs (and you are at no risk of losing them) ... and you have also said that you are living in your own home. So, what's your deal? What makes you hate this Mayor and Council so much? Were you against the prison? Was a friend or family member laid off from City Hall? Are you politically motivated to wanting pro union folks as our elected officials? I don't get it ... but there has to be a reason for you being focused in your belief that that the city leaders are corrupt. Would honestly like to know if you have a reason for feeling the way that you do ... or if you just get off on thinking the worst.

[Jamesie]

Corruption may be exaggerated, but there is definitely a lot of back scratching and nepotism going on. But that is par for the course in a town this size with a group of 'old boys and girls' and a smallish group of people giving each other jobs and pushing board memberships of one sort or another each other's way. It is to a certain extent inherent in the system.

Some good cases in point are Dan Albas's selection as Tory candidate and the whole mess around the prison, the dorm and the tourism contract (to name just a few recent ones). Don't forget that apart from being upset at losing first the prison and then the contract both Schneiderat and his law partner Pearce lost in the school board/municipal elections. These people, who consider themselves makers and shakers in Penticton and feel that they have some sort of 'entitlement' must have been seething after losing three in a row. So they came back fighting.

It is indeed sad that the local paper is part of the whole mess and cannot take a more neutral objective stance.

Only good solid untainted leadership can break the mold and unfortunately that is not what we have been getting, just a bunch of people vying for jobs, a bit of influence and a lucrative side-gig.