What is with Vernon council

[bob vernon]

I agree Vernon need a indoor recreation centre but doesn't mean that it has be built by borrowing . $90 million for construction+running cost +over head + maintainence cost which is paid by Vernon property owners but the facility will be used by neighbouring communities too,instead of borrowing why can't it be built under private government partnership so that cost will be shared & which ever community uses it, will pay for it,will be maintained professionally instead of elected officials,attracting more investors,more advertising etc. If required the city can subsidize the fees to low income persons.

Private/government "partnerships" always wind up costing the taxpayers. It's just another way to funnel dollars into the pockets of the already rich who own the private companies. Consider Penticton and their rink. The private company is hauling money out of town and Penticton can't keep the other recreation facilities repaired and running because they have to subsidize private profits.

[DetectivePikachu]

I agree Vernon need a indoor recreation centre but doesn't mean that it has be built by borrowing . $90 million for construction+running cost +over head + maintainence cost which is paid by Vernon property owners but the facility will be used by neighbouring communities too,instead of borrowing why can't it be built under private government partnership so that cost will be shared & which ever community uses it, will pay for it,will be maintained professionally instead of elected officials,attracting more investors,more advertising etc. If required the city can subsidize the fees to low income persons.

The neighboring municipalities pay their share via RDNO.

http://www.rdno.ca/index.php/about/rdno


The Regional District functions as a partnership of the six municipalities (Armstrong, Coldstream, Enderby, Lumby, Spallumcheen, and Vernon) and the five electoral areas (B – BX/Swan Lake, C – BX/Silver Star, D – Rural Lumby, E-Cherryville, and F- Rural Enderby) within its boundaries.
Local governments in the North Okanagan work together through the Regional District to provide and coordinate services in both urban and rural areas.

Services provided by the RDNO include, but are not limited to:
Building Inspection
Planning and Development services
Parks, Recreation and Culture programs and facilities
Greater Vernon Water
Animal Control
Regional Transit
Fire Protection
Invasive Plant Control
Solid Waste Management
Recycling & Waste Reduction
Victims Assistance

[nicholas p]

[

The neighboring municipalities pay their share via RDNO.

http://www.rdno.ca/index.php/about/rdno


The Regional District functions as a partnership of the six municipalities (Armstrong, Coldstream, Enderby, Lumby, Spallumcheen, and Vernon) and the five electoral areas (B – BX/Swan Lake, C – BX/Silver Star, D – Rural Lumby, E-Cherryville, and F- Rural Enderby) within its boundaries.
Local governments in the North Okanagan work together through the Regional District to provide and coordinate services in both urban and rural areas.

Services provided by the RDNO include, but are not limited to:
Building Inspection
Planning and Development services
Parks, Recreation and Culture programs and facilities
Greater Vernon Water
Animal Control
Regional Transit
Fire Protection
Invasive Plant Control
Solid Waste Management
Recycling & Waste Reduction
Victims Assistance[/quote]
But this project is not built by RDNO but merely by City of Vernon as other municipalities don't accept a new recreation is needed.

[nicholas p]

Private/government "partnerships" always wind up costing the taxpayers. It's just another way to funnel dollars into the pockets of the already rich who own the private companies. Consider Penticton and their rink. The private company is hauling money out of town and Penticton can't keep the other recreation facilities repaired and running because they have to subsidize private profits.

It doesn't always end up taxpayer's paying, then why did we build the rink in Okanagan college.it depends on the city & private signed contract. If contract is not drafted favouring the cities improvement it can't be blamed on private firm its the appointed city councillors and mayor. No private companies sign contract to go into loss they want to be in profit & to attain that goal they try to keep up with technology & attract more events .When these events are advertised extensively to attract visitor which in directly increases tourism and money flow.

[DetectivePikachu]

But this project is not built by RDNO but merely by City of Vernon as other municipalities don't accept a new recreation is needed.

Coldstream wants to pump the breaks, but just to make sure the Culture Centre is started before they start mega project #2.

From July 2nd.

https://globalnews.ca/news/7134355/vern ... -facility/

Garlick stressed that Coldstream is interested in a new aquatic centre, but wants to see the cultural centre project dealt with first.

“We have a lot of things on our plate there with the cultural centre that we need to take care of before moving ahead on a $90-million project,” he said.

Vernon is still hoping other jurisdictions will join the project later on.

[dontrump]

I dont think we need either one or at least not near the magnitude of what the citys and RD are proposing however the rec center would be fist and foremost in my opinion you look at the huge money Vernon spent on the new library and then look at the actual number of RATE PAYERS that use it and its very low

[tabubil]

We seem to be getting off my purpose for this letter and that was that the Mayor and council are asking us and usually getting our approval to borrow and spend large sums of money with out giving us the full and complete story even when asked as I have done on many of the major projects.
All councils must be crystal clear transparent in everything they do, especially with what is happened and continues.
No what do you think of this lawsuit against the city for the East Hill project, it would be nice to know who really was at fault and if the city is how many millions is this fiasco going to cost us the good hard working taxpayers of Vernon.
We have make the Mayor and council aware that we do want and expect true transparency not later but NOW, write to the papers, email the council and mayor. But let you voice be heard that what you do with our money must be clearly laid out in black and white before you ask us to let you borrow the money.
DO NOT FORGET MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL YOU ARE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE TAXPAYERS WHO PAY YOUR WAGES.

[dontrump]

https://www.castanet.net/news/Vernon/306635/Local-developer-sues-City-of-Vernon-over-failed-East-Hill-project

If this is what actually really did happen then the city out and out lied to the press because the city clearly claims that the reason the deal fell through was the company could not come up with the required funding for permits
when you read this story its not a true at all the city was being disingenuous

[tabubil]

Well here we go again, I just read on that the council and downtown business want to get this cultural centre back up again and finalize the sale so they can build. We the public have yet to see a business plan for the proposal, and I think that before anything gets done the Mayor and council owe it to us the taxpayers (their employers) an up to date financial account on how we stand on the budget this year and the prospects for next year before they go and borrow a bunch of money for this and the recreation center.
Taxpayers of Vernon we should all want the transparency from this council that we are due. Then have another referendum where all the costs are out in the open and see what the public really thinks of all this spending.