Penticton
November 21, 2011 presentation to Penticton City Council
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Mon, 11/21/2011 - 09:32| Update 23 Jan 2012: A presentation very similar to the one below was made to an in-camera session of Penticton City Council on Monday, 23 January, 2012. We are now waiting for the City of Penticton to decide whether to offer treatment services to the West Bench. The RDOS was not privy to Council's discussion. Please stand by for news. | |
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We (RDOS staff and I) were supposed to meet with Penticton City Council today to discuss our counter-proposal for the sale of filtered water to the West Bench. Alas, there has been some turnover as a result of the election on Saturday. Two incoming councilors (Helena Konanz and Wes Hopkin) will not attend tonight's meeting (at least not in any formal capacity) so it seems like a waste of time to make the presentation now. We have asked to be added to the agenda of the city's first "working" meeting (once orientation and all the activities of any new council are completed). I have attached the slides I had planned to present here so you can get some sense of what I am saying on your behalf (please keep in mind that the presentation is "animated" so it may not make sense in this static form--you will have to trust that it is "way better" when presented live...). Incidentally, Penticton prefers to have this meeting in camera (closed to the public). But all the material in my presentation has already been made public on this site and elsewhere. Now would be a good time comment on this process or make suggestions since it appears we will not make our presentation to Penticton City Council until early 2012.
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West Bench water boils down to dollars and cents
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Thu, 11/10/2011 - 14:54By JOHN MOORHOUSE, Penticton Herald, Tuesday, November 8, 2011 (link to article)
A proposal to link the West Bench with the City of Penticton water system could boil down to a matter of dollars and cents, says the regional district director for Area F.
Michael Brydon said there are two main options for upgrading the aging West Bench water system.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen could either build a separate ultraviolet treatment plant on the West Bench or buy "bulk" water from Penticton‘s filtered water system.
"That‘s really the decision that we‘re looking at," he said. "Do we process the water ourselves, or do we let the City of Penticton process it?"
However, Brydon said the two sides are far apart on the final tab. The RDOS option would cost $3.5 million plus almost $8 million in operating expenses over a 50-year period. The city proposal would involve $1.9 million in capital costs plus some $16 million in operating expenses over 50 years.
How much does the City of Penticton contribute to the RDOS?
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Thu, 01/27/2011 - 22:42I received a question a few days ago about Penticton's contribution to the RDOS. The issue of Penticton pulling out of the RDOS has recently appeard on Dan Albas's blog with some questions about what Penticton gets from the RDOS.
Grant money goes down the drain
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Wed, 12/22/2010 - 22:28Mark Walker in the Penticton Western News (link to editorial)
Published: December 21, 2010
[I have not had much occasion in the past to agree with Mr. Walker (global warming, diagnosis of the SOEC's woes) but I do agree with the basic thesis of this editorial: The recent West Bench water referendum was a significant economic setback for the City of Penticton.]
West Bench sewer
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Mon, 12/20/2010 - 11:09Ron Perrie, the previous Area 'F' Director, asked Stantec Engineering to conduct a high-level feasibility analysis of sewer on the West Bench in 2005. The full report is below.
Non-residents will pay more to use recreation facilities
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Fri, 06/04/2010 - 12:46By Bruce Walkinshaw - Penticton Western News May 18, 2010 (link to story)
If you want to play then you have got to pay.
Penticton council voted 4-3 to establish a two-tiered recreation fee structure that will charge non-Penticton residents more money to use city facilities.
The new fee structure will be limited to the Penticton Community Centre along with its pool and fitness room, McLaren Arena and the Cleland Community Theatre.
Region must share in facilities’ costs
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Fri, 06/04/2010 - 12:39Penticton Western News editorial Published: May 20, 2010 (link to story)
Charging a higher rate for using the city’s recreational facilities hardly seems like a neighbourly thing to do. But Penticton council was left with little choice when they approved a two-tiered fee structure earlier this week.
The threat of two-tiered user fees for recreation
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 22:24I recieved the following question recently from a concerned resident:
What is your position on the surcharging of children involved in sports when using Penticton facilities? I understand that my children will now be subjected to a user fee to engage in Penticton Minor Hockey. Are we not trying to encourage families to engage in healthy lifestyles with active bodies? This measure seems to speak against the value of involvement in physical activity. Children who live outside of the Penticton tax zone will be penalized and many will not engage as a result of being priced out of participating. This is a major step in the wrong direction. Many families on the West Bench and outlying areas are having their ability to cover costs stretched far too far. This is another of those situations.
Background on the City of Penticton's two-tier scheme can be found here.
City and band square off over KVR Trail
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Thu, 03/04/2010 - 22:24By Bruce Walkinshaw - Penticton Western News Published: March 04, 2010 6:00 PM (link to story)
The Penticton Indian Band is in a struggle with the city over control of portions of the Kettle Valley Railway trail that pass through the band’s land. Penticton Council voted 4-2 Monday to write a letter to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada stating that it is the city’s position that the roughly 139 acres of land, six parcels in all, should be maintained in its current ownership by the citizens of Canada. The letter is a response to an INAC request for any comments or concerns regarding a PIB application to have the land added to Penticton Indian Reserve.
Two-tiered user fees
Submitted by Michael Brydon on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 13:52I sent the following email to Penticton Mayor Dan Ashton regarding two-tiered user fees for recreational assets owned by the City of Penticton:
-----Original Message-----
From: "Michael Brydon"
To: "Dan Ashton"
Subject: Two-tiered recreation fees
Hi Dan,
