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coldstreamer@shaw.ca******* Issues related to the District of Coldstream, local government issues, political commentary, local area photos,oddities in the news etc....
Sunday, October 24, 2010
SENS (Sustainable Environment Network Society) meeting.
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Saturday, October 23, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Mayor Garlick replies to Morning Star article.
Mr. Mitchell
I am writing in the hopes of clarifying some reporting by the Morning Star. The new publisher to the Morning Star, Mr. Weatherington, was quoted in a recent article as saying that he looked forward to providing the community with information. I hope this is possible in the future. This has not been the case with some of the opinionated and manipulative reporting on the issue of the parks review and the draft proposal put forward by the facilitator, Mr. Nielson-Welch, to this review.
It should be pointed out that the reporter, Mr. Rolke, who seems to have taken up a campaign to abandon the parks review, did not attend the last meeting in which the draft proposal was put forward by the facilitator. If he had attended he would have heard the concerns around changes to the governance and operations of the Rec Centre and Civic Arena along with other points contained in the draft proposal. He woulds also heard discussion in support of some changes. Mr. Rolke’s articles give the impression that the various parties have accepted the direction provided in the draft proposal with no thought or investigation into the consequences. I want to make it clear that this is not the approach being taken.
The District of Coldstream financial officer is working with Regional District staff to provide the appropriate information on costs and liability to Coldstream council in order to make decisions on providing service for our parks in Coldstream.
Any changes to taking responsibility for land will be accompanied by a covenant ensuring the continued use as parkland for the area.
Coldstream council would like to see Kal Beach and parking lot be a sub-regional park and explore the possibilities of including it in the parks inventory or zoning as park.
The City of Vernon voted to include the Rec Centre and Civic Arena in the service as it is now. Coldstream is agreeable. Electoral Areas B and C raised no concerns to this point at our last Greater Vernon Committee meeting. This will most likely make the suggestion in the draft proposal to change these facilities a moot point.
A separate Arts and Culture and Youth Service is being considered to provide the groups involved a higher profile.
Service reviews such as this one we have undertaken are legitimate review processes under provincial legislation. This review was brought forward first by the City of Vernon as one of 19 in January 2007 and subsequently dropped. It was then reinitiated in June 2007 by Electoral Areas B and C. It then sat dormant for 2 years. Coldstream asked that the partners complete the outstanding review to address parks service levels, the budgeting process, arts and culture issues, and servicing contracts, as well as provide closure to the process. This review has been open to the public. The documents from the review are also public.
The partners have been working cooperatively to get through this service review and make informed decisions. We do not always agree. There are shortcomings to the existing service but there is no appetite to tear the service apart or "throw any babies out with the bath water". We may decide to make some changes. This service has seen changes since its inception almost 40 years ago. To say otherwise would be misleading and uninformed.
Jim Garlick
Mayor
District of Coldstream
Email jimgarlick@msn.com
I am writing in the hopes of clarifying some reporting by the Morning Star. The new publisher to the Morning Star, Mr. Weatherington, was quoted in a recent article as saying that he looked forward to providing the community with information. I hope this is possible in the future. This has not been the case with some of the opinionated and manipulative reporting on the issue of the parks review and the draft proposal put forward by the facilitator, Mr. Nielson-Welch, to this review.
It should be pointed out that the reporter, Mr. Rolke, who seems to have taken up a campaign to abandon the parks review, did not attend the last meeting in which the draft proposal was put forward by the facilitator. If he had attended he would have heard the concerns around changes to the governance and operations of the Rec Centre and Civic Arena along with other points contained in the draft proposal. He woulds also heard discussion in support of some changes. Mr. Rolke’s articles give the impression that the various parties have accepted the direction provided in the draft proposal with no thought or investigation into the consequences. I want to make it clear that this is not the approach being taken.
The District of Coldstream financial officer is working with Regional District staff to provide the appropriate information on costs and liability to Coldstream council in order to make decisions on providing service for our parks in Coldstream.
Any changes to taking responsibility for land will be accompanied by a covenant ensuring the continued use as parkland for the area.
Coldstream council would like to see Kal Beach and parking lot be a sub-regional park and explore the possibilities of including it in the parks inventory or zoning as park.
The City of Vernon voted to include the Rec Centre and Civic Arena in the service as it is now. Coldstream is agreeable. Electoral Areas B and C raised no concerns to this point at our last Greater Vernon Committee meeting. This will most likely make the suggestion in the draft proposal to change these facilities a moot point.
A separate Arts and Culture and Youth Service is being considered to provide the groups involved a higher profile.
Service reviews such as this one we have undertaken are legitimate review processes under provincial legislation. This review was brought forward first by the City of Vernon as one of 19 in January 2007 and subsequently dropped. It was then reinitiated in June 2007 by Electoral Areas B and C. It then sat dormant for 2 years. Coldstream asked that the partners complete the outstanding review to address parks service levels, the budgeting process, arts and culture issues, and servicing contracts, as well as provide closure to the process. This review has been open to the public. The documents from the review are also public.
The partners have been working cooperatively to get through this service review and make informed decisions. We do not always agree. There are shortcomings to the existing service but there is no appetite to tear the service apart or "throw any babies out with the bath water". We may decide to make some changes. This service has seen changes since its inception almost 40 years ago. To say otherwise would be misleading and uninformed.
Jim Garlick
Mayor
District of Coldstream
Email jimgarlick@msn.com
The article in question
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Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Trial ends, B.C. Rail scandal smell lingers on -- By Paul Wilcox
The B.C. Rail scandal has cost taxpayers some thing above $15 million.
And without more answers, that looks like a very poor bargain.
The trial ended with a whimper Monday.
Dave Basi and Bob Virk, former Liberal political aides, pleaded guilty to accepting benefits in return for leaking confidential information about the B.C. Rail sale to lobbyists for one of the bidders, Omnitrax.
Virk, the ministerial assistant to former transport minister Judith Reid, took a trip to Denver to an NFL game worth about $1,500.
Basi, aide to former finance minister Gary Collins, went on the trip and received another $25,695.
They also admitted leaking information to Bruce Clark, a federal Liberal fundraiser and a lobbyist (and brother of former deputy premier Christy Clark).
In a plea bargain, they were sentenced to two years of relaxed house arrest and Basi will have to pay a fine equal to the benefits they received.
Case closed, says Premier Gordon Campbell. Two rogue political staffers caught. Justice done. No questions to answer.
That's not true though. (read more)
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Meeting schedule for NORD committees - October 20-21.
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Monday, October 18, 2010
Photo gallery -- Canada Geese escorting 7 Snow Geese into the bay on Kal Lake. Courtesy: Debbie Gibson.
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Friday, October 15, 2010
Selected Articles - Morning Star News
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Thursday, October 14, 2010
Duteau Creek water supply report - Latest report on Duteau reservoir (October 6, 2010)
Reservoir levels started to rise giving rise to optimism for a good start next spring.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Readers Write -- Parks Service Review History.
In January 2007 the City of Vernon initiated 19 Service Reviews one of which was the Parks and Recreation Service Function.
Later in April of 2007 Vernon withdrew their request for a Service Review of Parks.
Following that in June of 2007 Electoral Areas B&C re-initiated a service review of the Parks Function. The Parks Service Review sat dormant for 2 years.
In the spring/summer of 2009 Coldstream brought forth issues with the maintenance level in their local parks, the parks maintenance contract as well as issues with annual budgeting. The maintenance issue revolved around the ability to respond to issues more promptly and provide a better level of service than what was being provided. What was asked for was that Coldstream deliver the parks maintenance contract for Coldstream Parks just as Vernon delivers the parks maintenance for Vernon Parks. Vernon presently delivers the park maintenance for all parks. The budget issue was better input on a staff, political and local community level into the budget process. The existing procedure is that City of Vernon staff prepare the annual budget and then forward it onto Al McNiven, GVAC Parks Manger for oversight and presentation to GVAC and finally the NORD Board.
In the fall of 2009 NORD Administration decided to activate the dormant Parks Service Review and a facilitator was hired and started the process in December. The process has proceeded with many iterations, however the addressing of Coldstream’s original concerns remains the primary concern of Coldstream Council. As well, Coldstream requested that Arts and Culture be a separate function from Parks and Rec. What has surfaced from the City of Vernon is the desire to solely control all the facilities within their boundaries apart from the Wesbuild and Performing Arts Centres. The initial move by Vernon to take sole control of the recreation centre and civic arena resulted in Coldstream's counter offer of the reduced payment due to no representation and Electoral Area C's stand to provide only grants in the future.
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Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Anonymous letter re: Kekuli Boat Launch.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post
"GVAC meeting - October14, 2010. -- Kekuli Bay Boat Launch...":
hey Coldstreamer you are always spouting off about boats causing enviromental damage to the lake...where is your proof?
You consider peeing in the lake enviromental damage? According to the people that actually know anything about the subject, boats have very little enviromental impact on the lake and especially no impact on our drinking water.
Call the people that actually test and determine what is affecting the drinking water and they will tell you YOU ARE WRONG!
There are far greater concerns but small minded people like you and the current bunch of Coldstream councillors feel content to sit back and blame it all on boaters.
Get a life and quit interferring with mine!
Do your research and back up your claims or just get on to complaining about something else.
Your unfounded attack on boating is growing old.
"GVAC meeting - October14, 2010. -- Kekuli Bay Boat Launch...":
hey Coldstreamer you are always spouting off about boats causing enviromental damage to the lake...where is your proof?
You consider peeing in the lake enviromental damage? According to the people that actually know anything about the subject, boats have very little enviromental impact on the lake and especially no impact on our drinking water.
Call the people that actually test and determine what is affecting the drinking water and they will tell you YOU ARE WRONG!
There are far greater concerns but small minded people like you and the current bunch of Coldstream councillors feel content to sit back and blame it all on boaters.
Get a life and quit interferring with mine!
Do your research and back up your claims or just get on to complaining about something else.
Your unfounded attack on boating is growing old.
The above literary masterpiece was sent to me by an anonymous admirer in response to my post announcing the proposal to increase the Kekuli Bay boat launch facilities. Note subject: increase the boat launching facilities.
His response: “Get a life and quit interferring with mine!”
Obviously anonymous’ beef is not the lack of boat launching facilities but the “shortage”of boat launching at Kalavista where anonymous would have maximum interference with residents’ enjoyment of their properties.
Obviously, anonymous has a different definition of pollution than most of us do. Boats do not pollute despite burning up large quantities of fuel. Peeing, defecating into the water appears to be OK. Inconveniencing others is just par for the course. Nothing would satisfy anonymous but increasing the Kalavista boat launch to satisfy all comers regardless of finances and inconvenience to residents.
Council must consider all factors not just the convenience of boaters. Council has worked with GVAC and the Provincial Parks Branch to try to provide more boat launching facilities. We succeeded, enjoy the benefits!
And in future, use your spell checker!
His response: “Get a life and quit interferring with mine!”
Obviously anonymous’ beef is not the lack of boat launching facilities but the “shortage”of boat launching at Kalavista where anonymous would have maximum interference with residents’ enjoyment of their properties.
Obviously, anonymous has a different definition of pollution than most of us do. Boats do not pollute despite burning up large quantities of fuel. Peeing, defecating into the water appears to be OK. Inconveniencing others is just par for the course. Nothing would satisfy anonymous but increasing the Kalavista boat launch to satisfy all comers regardless of finances and inconvenience to residents.
Council must consider all factors not just the convenience of boaters. Council has worked with GVAC and the Provincial Parks Branch to try to provide more boat launching facilities. We succeeded, enjoy the benefits!
And in future, use your spell checker!
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Monday, October 11, 2010
GVAC meeting - October14, 2010. -- Kekuli Bay Boat launch.
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A presentation by BC Parks might be of interest to many dealing with the upgrade of the Kekuli Bay Boat Launch.
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Saturday, October 9, 2010
Duteau Creek water supply report - Latest report on Duteau reservoir (September 30, 2010)
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About Me
- Coldstreamer
- I have been a resident of Coldstream since 1976. I have had 15 years of experience on Council, 3 years as Mayor. As a current Councillor I am working to achieve fair water and sewer rates and to ensure that taxpayers get fair treatment. The current direction regarding water supply is unsustainable and I am doing all I can to get the most cost effective water supply possible.