Industry Smoke-n-Mirrors Goes to DoC Council

Mark your calendars, Coldstream residents.

Go see Mr. Allen Langdon make a MMBC recycling presentation to the Council of Coldstream on Monday, July 5th.

Or don't go.

You'll recall he's the managing director of MMBC, multi-material B.C., our area's recycling program.
Unaffectionately renamed Mini-Material B.C. by residents, by the way, because they take fewer "acceptable" items than the old blue bag system did.  And residents all loved that blue bag system!

His 9-page powerpoint presentation is here, so you can save yourself the aggravation of wanting to shout aloud against his patronizing and condescending bafflegab (remember when he suggested residents combine trips to the recycling depot with grocery errands???)


Hopefully Coldstream council will see through the smoke and mirrors.
Many of us want one question asked:

Why...when the largest Bakery in Canada is Weston...are their (and others') plastic bread bags NOT allowed in the curbside collection boxes?

  (after all, Weston is one of the big boys who bring us this decidedly-shoddy program!)

And Mr. Langdon still doesn't get it, evidenced by the last statement on his presentation:

"In addition, MMBC is willing to work

in partnership with the District of Coldstream

to help address any specific issues

with their residents through targeted education activities."

 

 

Yeah, right!  "targeted education activities".

Translation:  we residents will be further educated!

 

 

 

"How about they get Mr. Langdon up to the garbage dump--media reporter and camera as witnesses--and have Langdon do 'an audit' of garbage bags.  Place everything that could've gone into a blue bin (or taken by a resident to a recycling depot) into one ever-growing pile," offers Kia.

 

 

That'd suit residents nicely, as long as the Morning Star takes a giant panoramic shot of the pile Langdon discovers.

 

Everyone we've talked to is putting most "recyclables" into garbage bags again.

Poor Mother Earth.

And it's MMBC's fault.

And Langdon's.

 

For more on which companies are the corporate biggies who are force-feeding us with this bullshit, click here.

 

 

 

 

The Powerful Logic of Michael Tindall

Michael Tindall's letter to the editor today (Morning Star June 28/13) is compelling indeed:

"Amalgamation
So 91 individuals with the City of Vernon earned more than $75,000 in 2012.

What would that number be if we included Coldstream and RDNO employees in the count, perhaps 110 to 120, more?

At the lower number that's an annual and increasing payroll of $8.25 million.

Ask yourself how much of that is duplicated planners, chief administrative officers, fire chiefs, engineers, mayors and councils?  The list goes on.

And of course they all have expense accounts.

So let's address the elephant in the room, amalgamation.

If we draw a 30-kilometre diameter circle with Vernon in the middle, we'd have an area encompassing Vernon, Coldstream and most of Areas B and C in which we have three local governments and all of those expensive, duplicated senior staff we identified earlier.

The population is likely between 60,000 and 70,000 to be generous.

In contrast, Kamloops has a population of 85,000.
Nanaimo has a population of 83,700.
Prince George has a population of 88,000.
Chilliwack has a population of 80,000 (all numbers rounded).

And these jurisdictions get by very nicely with a single mayor and council, with a single complement of senior staff and, without the on-again, off-again interjurisdictional bickering that has shamed Greater Vernon politics for years.

Imagine the more efficient use of your tax dollars with a single mayor and council, a single set of planning regulations and a single set of senior employees.

Imagine actually beginning to replace the aging infrastructure instead of complaining about the size of the deficit.

Imagine moving ahead with planned growth throughout the area.

As a Greater Vernon taxpayer, I observe that the solution to a substantially more efficient use of our tax revenues is within each citizen's grasp.

Demand a referendum on amalgamation be included with the 2014 municipal elections and let's move on from there."
                                Michael Tindall

"Even sometime-minister Ida Chong--after calling for a governance review years ago--waffled and let the ball drop."

Public Comments from Official Community Plan review

Officials say it's been 7 years since the last OCP review of the 25 year old plan.
So they held Open Houses May 6th and 8th to gauge what the public wants to see in the years to come as the District of Coldstream moves forward.

Dispensing with the normal preamble--residents state they've heard it all before, numerous times--public comments during the open house are listed here.

Some for amusement, some for concern, some for outright disdain.

You be the judge:

Parks and Trails:

• Would like to see the Grey Canal Trail expanded out through Coldstream;
• Open up right-of-way access points to Kalamalka Lake; allow parking and parks for disabled persons;
• Open up access to the foreshore of Kalamalka Lake;
• Imagine an inter-municipal trail system from Lumby to Vernon to Oyama and north to Armstrong/Enderby, maybe along the railway;
• Establish a trail around Middleton Mountain at one elevation.

Safety:

• The walking path next to Kalamalka Road is too narrow and dangerous (needs barrier or a proper trail).
• Trail needed on Kidston Road from Torrent Drive to Kalamalka Road (steep bank is difficult and dangerous);
• Pathway down from Michael Drive should have steps (gravel surface and slope is dangerous).
• Bike path needed along Kalamalka Road from Alpine Centre to the lake;
• User friendly commuter trail system linking Lavington to Coldstream and Vernon (should be off the highway) to promote health and a greener community;
• More biking and walking paths in Lavington and bike trail into Vernon;
• Safe bike paths to connect to the school in Lavington (easements through Tolko and the glass plant site);
• Acquire rights-of-way to establish the Grey Canal Trail from Coldstream Ranch east and west;
• Lakefront should be protected and made into a public trail;
• Trail needed from Kalamalka Lake to Polson Park;
• Need a better or improved boat launch;
• Overpass to access Kalamalka Beach;
• Bigger and better boat launch (one that can better accommodate tourists);
• Ban power boats on the north end of Kalamalka Lake;
• Proper bike paths away from traffic lanes;
• Bike and walkways llinking all of Kalamalka Road;
• Existing rural parks be maintained;
• Trails need to be connected so they make sense;
• Trail connecting Lavington and Coldstream (using public easements)
• Part of glass plant property should be made into a park;
• Bike lanes for children is a priority for Learmouth;
• More green corridors; grass half of Kalamalka Lake Park;
• Ban power boats or power restrictions on north half of Kalamalka Lake;
• Road ends to lakeshore should be set back to public access.

Housing and Secondary Suites: 

• Secondary suites that are reasonable should be allowed;
• Secondary suites need to move into 21st Century, not everyone can afford a house but with standards and controls and following best practices;
• There are already a number of suites, they increase noise and parking problems;
• No secondary sites without parking; no suites in houses on septic service;
• Secondary suites should not be allowed especially if it means on-street parking;
• Secondary suites are good with proper regulations and some flexibility;
• Secondary suites must only be in owner-occupied homes with adequate parking;
• Allow secondary suites in R1 and R2 neighbourhoods (2);
• Secondary suites provide security for snowbirds going south for the winter;
• Yes, allow carriage houses in Lavington (especially on lots over one acre);
• Develop downtown area for high-end condos;
• Develop hillsides for condo developments;
• Need areas of Coldstream for high end gated villas and condos;
• Develop hillsides with high density housing;
• Definitely no small lot designs;
• Limit urban growth to Middleton Mountain and Coldstream Estates;
• Residential planning should consistently follow the same rules (i.e. setbacks);
• New housing should identify the proposed demographic (seniors or families);
• Infill existing areas before expanding to new ones (urban containment boundary);
• Higher density housing near town centre.

Agriculture and Farming:

• Not in favour of home plate regulations;
• Concerned about pesticide use and particularly how it affects our creeks;
• Concerned about noise from the new cherry orchard; understood that they are running a business but there has to be respect for the community too;
• Recognize the difference between viable and non-viable agricultural land;
• Backyard chickens should be allowed (no roosters);
• Set strict agriculture boundaries with no urban growth;
• Support farmers and community gardens and farmers' markets;
• Municipality needs to sponsor controls for geese and deer pests;
• Do not use chlorinated water for irrigation (we need separation);
• Support ALR landowners so they can produce local products;
• Ensure low cost irrigation water to insure the viability of agriculture land (2).

Commercial and Industrial Land Uses:

• Focus on land surrounding Kalamalka Lake Park; a plan with Vision (incl. parking);
• No need for a Town Centre; just a means to stay separate from Vernon which is not sensible;
• Don't need commercial on the highway (park and mix of housing instead);
• No town centre plan;  not sustainable and will undermine Vernon businesses;
• Small scale commercial at Kalamalka Lake could be supported by visitors with beach front opportunities;
• Change the glass plant property into an industrial park;
• Support town centre with a mix of commercial and residential zoning;
• Only light industrial uses on the glass plant property;
• Maximum use of the railway; railways needs to be reliable;
• Mixed use in town centre; 

Heritage and Recreational Facilities: 

• We need a community hall in Lavington;
• A community hall is needed in Coldstream for community interest and trust;
• Heritage preservation of Husband property;
• Promotion of heritage spaces (i.e. Sovereign House, Ormsby House) and a Heritage Council;
• Lack of social infrastructure for events and foster community spirit;
• Need a community hall for Coldstream that is central, modern and affordable;
• We need heritage promotion and preservation;
• There is a need for a community hall in Coldstream;
• Coldstream museum at Sovereign House;
• Protection for heritage houses and trees;
• Heritage preservation of Husband property;
• Promotion of heritage spaces (i.e. Sovereign House, Ormsby House) and a Heritage Council;

Infrastructure Planning:

• Don't extend sewer until existing serviced lots are connected, especially lots near creeks;
• Sarsons Road is dangerous for walking;
• Improvements needed at the intersection of Kalamalka and Kidston Roads;
• No sidewalks; paved lanes are fine;
• Better pathway along Kalamalka Road (people are taking risks);
• Husband Road should not be a collector road;
• There should be non-treated water on agricultural land;
• Extend sewer line up Aberdeen Road;
• Extend sewer line on Giles Road;
• Put bike lanes and pathways only in strategic areas and spend more money making these few safer (i.e. offset from roadway);
• Put sidewalks and bike lanes on all roadways.

 "I'm frankly speechless with some of the comments," admits Kia.

You're not the only one, as I recall Winston Churchill's oft-repeated quote:

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."

...nuff said.