Information relating to Greater Vernon Parks.

Editor's note:

Following last night's Council meeting a number of emails were exchanged trying to clarify the role of GVAC and Coldstream mainly with regards to Kalavista and Kal beach parking lot. The information is collated and presented here to those interested in the issue. Since the whole former Greater Vernon Services Committee is undergoing a service review this might be of interest to all of Coldstream.
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Hi All,

Just as a follow up note to this evening's Council meeting. Flo called and advised me that the Traffic Safety Committee is going to meet on November 3rd in the afternoon and the meeting is open to public.

Wendy or Mary, if you can be so kind to confirm the time of the meeting it would be appreciated.

Given that this subject is near and dear to many of us it may be worth while for as many of us as possible to attend.

On a separate note I would like to say a huge thanks to Norm for the wonderful work that he has done! Well done Norm!

Kind Regards,
Jim Cookson
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Yes, Mike (the chair) tells me the Traffic Safety Committee is open to the public and the next meeting is Nov 3 @ 2PM at Municipal Hall.

Mary
Councillor Mary Malerby
District of Coldstream
250-542-9579
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Jim:

As this is an Advisory Committee Meeting, the public is welcome to attend to hear the discussions of the Committee, but will not be invited to participate.

Wendy
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Wendy,

If the committee is really looking for solutions do you not think that it would be in their interest to listen for 10 to 15 minutes about the views of the residents? Your email stating that participants "will not be invited to participate" is simply a continuation of a dysfunctional style of governance. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Fortunately, many of us have reason to be optimistic as, with the upcoming elections, perhaps some of the dysfunctional governance practices can be addressed in the near future.

Jim
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Jim:

You are welcome to provide something in writing for the Committee to consider. The purpose of the public meeting was to receive input from the residents and then to provide Council a report on the input that was received by the public. Michael Stamhuis, Director of Engineering Services, has provided that report to Council based on the findings from that meeting.
As an Advisory Committee has no authority to make decisions and only provides recommendations to Council, it would be in your best interest, if you have further input than that which was submitted at tonight's Council meeting, to provide this in writing. The Traffic Safety Committee is a non-statutory committee and therefore only advisory in nature. Recommendations coming from this Committee should be addressed at a Regular Council meeting.
Your suggestion for further public input could be addressed through the establishment of a Committee specifically dealing with the Kalavista area, with resident representation, Council appointment, and a staff appointment. This suggestion could be made.

Wendy
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Thanks Wendy,

I hope you feel better. Also one question, why as a parking lot (boat parking lot) passed over to GVS? It's not a park. If we had to why was Vernon not forced to hand over the Kal beach parking? From what I understand we have no way of making GVS do anything with the parking lot. Can we remove it from there authority, legally?

Rob MacKay
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Rob:

I would have to confirm, but it is my understanding that prior to Greater Vernon Services, parks came under the jurisdiction of Greater Vernon Parks and Recreation (a function of NORD but maintained and operated by City of Vernon employees). Although the authority having jurisdiction changed Coldstream did not operate and maintain a lot of the parks in Coldstream. With the creation of Greater Vernon Services and the Master Parks Plan, all parks (with the exception of some tot lots and neighbourhood parks) were maintained and operated by Greater Vernon Services. A lot of the maintenance is contracted out.

I believe the parking lot is designated as park which basically means it is in the hands of a public body, and not necessarily green space. Coldstream owns many pieces of land designated as park, but has relinquished maintenance and operation to Grater Vernon Services through the creation of Greater Vernon Services.

The Kal Beach parking lot is owned by the City of Vernon. The only control Coldstream has on that property is the zoning.

With the ongoing Service Reviews of functions that fall under Greater Vernon Services, the disestablishment of the Greater Vernon Services Commission, and now a Committee of the Board of the Regional District, it is hard to predict where parks will end up. There is a possibility that all parks will go back to their respective jurisdictions, there may be local parks and regional parks, or some other arrangement agreed upon.

Coldstream Council can request Greater Vernon Services' consideration of a matter with respect to parks. Unless our ideas are way out there, we have been successful in the past of getting enough votes at the table to have issues addressed in Coldstream.

I had previously requested an answer to your question regarding the legal requirement to tie down your boat before leaving the launch area, but never got a response. I will be following up on this matter.

Hope this helps to answer your questions.

Wendy

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