Circling the Wagons post-Petition and post-Core Services Review

Didn't find KPMG's core services review when it hit the streets...
But the 325-page report is indeed available to the public, here.

There is a whack of other links, including the administration report from the City of Vernon.  All links can be accessed from this page:  http://www.vernon.ca/core_review/

Conspicuous by its absence is an administration report from the District of Coldstream.
(Kia wagers 4 cups of kibbles such a [full] report will never be featured on Coldstream's website.)

Directors of Areas "B" and "C" have been relatively vocal against amalgamation via the local newspaper, and they've made some salient points that only the Province of British Columbia could really screw up (which they probably will, in an attempt to prevent a precedent being set in other areas of British Columbia regarding highway maintenance).

Oft-mentioned is how this governance configuration was created:  throwing an open box of push-pins into the air seems entirely plausible.  

Before Coldstream's chief administrative officer Michael Stamhuis retired, he likely did just such a report to Coldstream mayor and council, and it probably ended up not for public consumption.  Stamhuis' successor, Trevor Seibel, moved straight into his new duties but has remained mute on the topic.
Or hushed.

Wagon circling began at Coldstream Council's in-camera meeting on October 21, 2013

However, a rare visit to Coldstream's mayor and council was made by Vernon's mayor and council and chief administrative officer on October 21st, 2013.  
The "special meeting" convened at 3:30; two hours later it was over.

Again conspicuous by its absence was the local newspaper, despite the 3:30 p.m. start time.
Guessing that they were told 99% of the meeting would be held in-camera, i.e. "nothing to report here, folks, move along".

What could all these elected officials have been discussing?
Only a stray tourist would guess it wasn't amalgamation.

Discussions would have focused on the +2,900-name petition from the Greater Vernon Governance Society and whether elected officials will "take it to the province", as Eric Foster MLA indicated is "the process to be taken."

Even IF--and that's a mighty if--elected officials agree to do a study on the pros and cons of unification/amalgamation, the critical component is who will do the study...obviously employees of the City of Vernon, the Regional District and the District of Coldstream can't be expected to be objective on a topic that may affect their and their coworkers' job descriptions.
That'd be a recipe from hell.
But apparently there's no money for KPMG (the authors of the CS review) to do the in-depth plan.

No minutes are ever released from in-camera, but the special meeting's agenda did cover:

• the security of the property of the municipality, and/or;
• the acquisition, disposition, or expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality, and/or
• negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the council, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality if they were held in public.

Assisting Coldstream Mayor Garlick and council to circle his wagons were:  Vernon Mayor Sawatsky, Councillors Cunningham, Lord, Nicol, O'Keefe, and Spiers; Vernon's chief admin officer Will Pearce, Vernon's finance manager Kevin Bertles, Vernon's manager of public works James Rice, Vernon's recreation services manager Doug Ross, and regional directors:  "B", Bob Fleming, and "C" Mike McNabb.  Also present were RDNO's chief admin officer Trafford Hall and Ms. Mellott, electoral area admin manager, both of whom directed wagon traffic. 

"I'll put away the municipal hall's For Sale sign for now," offers Kia, "but I'm not going to dust it."

a note concerning a comment overheard today in Vernon:
A fellow said "the only reason people want into the city is to hook up to sewer."
His friend replied:  "why don't they simply have their septic system pumped every couple of years?"  
 

The Empire Strikes Back

All this kerfuffle over whether to HOLD a referendum so voters can decide whether Coldstream, Vernon and the electoral areas should unite.

It's not whether to amalgamate.

It's just whether to have a referendum on it.

Vernon mayor Sawatzky says of the Society's petition results that a study into amalgamation would determine whether the benefits of merging four jurisdictions would outweigh any possible negatives, as reported in the Morning Star.

Waxing negative because he doesn't want the empire risked during his watch, Coldstream mayor Jim Garlick was yesterday quoted in the Morning Star:   "They fell short of their 4,000 names and this is just six per cent of the total voters."  (Some time ago, Garlick said that the Society needed 10 per cent of the voters in each area--"if any one area has less than 10 per cent of registered voters, it fails."  But Eric Foster, MLA told me "no, that's not true.")

Of the 2,930 people who signed the petition, 2032 are in the City (31,693 registered voters, 31% voted in the last election), 611 in the District (7,424 registered voters, with 33% voter turnout in the last election in 2011), with 287 in the two electoral areas (5,550 registered voters, no electoral area election in 2011).

Thinking of the recent referendum on the sports facility, where only 18% of registered voters marked a ballot, 47.65 per cent said No, with 52.35 per cent saying Yes to borrowing $7.5 million.  Neither mayor saw the significance of the thin-win margin.  And neither mayor made reference to the number of registered voters.

The Society has gauged interest based on voter turnout, not the numbers registered to vote.

Considerable interest was shown:  25.3% Coldstream, 22.9% Vernon, 23.7 in the electoral areas.

But since a high turnout is generally seen as legitimacy of the current system, we'll go with Garlick's number.  Six per cent it is then.

High or low voter turnout each can mean something significant depending on whether you're a mayor or a taxpayer.  Especially when mayors have a heavy hand in writing referendum questions (where they reverse-engineer their vision so that it produces the desired result.)

 

So if a study is the focus of any new referendum, many folks are leery of  "local government" (in conjunction with the province) doing the study.   A reliable source said there is no money for KPMG--who conducted the core services review--to do the study. 

But it has to be an "arms-length" group doing the study!
Without objectivity, there's no point.


"Otherwise it's akin to asking the wolf if the fence around the chicken house should be taller," says Kia.

The poor chickens!

Politicians' Self-Sabotage

Area politicians have consistently and continuously expressed negative opinions regarding the Vernon area's push for amalgamation (recently rephrased as "unification").

"The very politicians against unification are featured in news articles that actually support the unification cause."  Blog

Never more so than with the latest impetus to unify three administrations by the Society for the Future Governance of Greater Vernon.

We called it fear-mongering.

Everything from "it'd cost a million dollars alone to look after Silver Star Road" from a regional district director, "taxes would go up" from a mayor, "we're rural; we don't want curbs and streetlights" from another director, and on and on.

Yet one need only look at the very topics covered by local Morning Star newspaper and an enigma presents itself::  The very politicians against unification are quoted in articles, and their comments actually support the unification cause.

"...there is a need for the jurisdictions to sit down and fix boundaries and if annexations do occur, there should be mitigation for lost tax revenue."  Mike McNabb, BX-Silver Star director

The irony isn't lost on residents.

Examples of that irony are found in every issue of the newspaper...these from November 10th, 2013:

• Annex policy sought:  "a formal process is being demanded when it comes to Vernon absorbing rural properties."

Seems that some disgruntled property owners in Coldstream have taken the initiative and contacted the City of Vernon with a request to annex their Coldstream property (out of Coldstream, and into Vernon).  Same with some properties in the BX area.  But Vernon "can't poach another municipality's territory," says a director.

Crying foul, one director is quoted: "there is a need for the jurisdictions to sit down and fix boundaries and if annexations do occur, there should be mitigation for lost tax revenue."  The same director states "Vernon accepting annexation applications from property owners is impacting the relationship with the electoral areas."

"We are good neighbours so stop doing this to us.

Show some respect."  Mike McNabb

• Greater Vernon Advisory Committee:  "...spending $30,000 on an engineering assessment of Vernon's Civic Arena."  Yet another study commissioned by people we elect to make decisions on our behalf.  Elected officials simply turn everything over to consultants.

• Kin Race Track changes hands:   "Ownership of a contentious piece of property is being streamlined," begins the story, justifying the change by saying that it's part of "parks restructuring".  Land titles for the track are being transferred to the City of Vernon from the Regional District of North Okanagan. 

• Similar jostling a while ago where Coldstream now owns Kalamalka Beach, thanks to Vernon's bequest.  Turns out under Vernon's ownership, the beach was zoned R2 Residential.  (Gasp! says a resident).  So Coldstream, not one minute after receiving ownership of the beach, immediately rezoned the Beach to parks and open spaces.  And Coldstream now gets to look after its own parks, i.e. Lavington Park.  Whew!

Is the irony lost on some people?  Apparently so.
All the huffing and puffing and chest-pounding.

"From the outset, the Society believed that the minimum requirement, for a substantial and credible representation of the citizens of Greater Vernon, we required at least 10% of the voter turnout from the 2011 Municipal election. We are very pleased that we have surpassed 20% of that threshold in ALL jurisdictions. (and still counting)."  Society

 

It's not just residents, either, who want unification and a streamlined, smaller government.

The unification plan has also received the endorsement of the 650-plus businesses within the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce.

 

No small feat.  If 650 business owners and ~3,000 residents actually "see" the unification benefit, why are bureaucrats and elected officials immune to that clarity?   

"Because they're not looking ahead," offers Kia.

 

 They're looking down at where they've shot themselves in the foot."

...from the internet

 

Start Packin', Negative Nellies

Congratulations to the Society for the Future Governance of Greater Vernon!

The first hurdle's been cleared.
And the current slate of elected officials are circling the wagons.
They should instead be preparing to decamp.

I can't improve on The Morning Star's story today (yeah, for a change...) so here's the unencumbered, unabridged, unaltered, unbastardized, untouched lift:

"Governance bid moves to next stage, by Richard Rolke

Organizers of a petition are confident there’s broad support for tearing down boundaries in Greater Vernon.
As of Thursday, the Society for the Future Governance of Greater Vernon had more than 3,000 names on a petition which urges local and provincial authorities to develop a plan to combine Vernon, Coldstream and Areas B and C into a single entity.
“Our ultimate goal was 4,000 but at the end of the day, we always had a base goal to have any authority moving ahead and we’ve reached that,” said Bruce Shepherd, society president.
The society hoped to have at least 10 per cent of the voter turnout from the 2011 municipal election.
“We are very pleased that we have surpassed 20 per cent of that threshhold in all jurisdictions and still counting,” said Shepherd.
Currently, society members are trying to determine the addresses of signatories so interest is known among the four jurisdictions.
Once that process is completed, the society will review all of the comments received from residents and determine the next course of action.
“We had to assess what kind of broad support there is and now that we have it, we have to plan where we go,” said Shepherd.
“Before Christmas, we can then be before the appropriate people to find out what next steps have to be taken.”
The society’s goal is to have a referendum question during the November 2014 civic election asking if residents of Greater Vernon would support a new governance structure.
Society members have discussed their plans with the provincial government but Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster insists that the society must first go to local civic leaders to see if there is an interest in moving ahead.
“We would see what the result of that is and then we’ll go from there,” said Foster, adding that the provincial government will not mandate amalgamation on the area.
“This is a ground-up, local issue and I’m cautious to be seen as influencing one way or the other, but that is certainly a significant number of signatures,” said Foster.
However, Coldstream Mayor Jim Garlick points out that there are 45,000 eligible voters in Greater Vernon.
“When people come forward, we (council) have to have an open mind but what I’ve heard so far isn’t convincing,” he said of the society’s arguments that a single entity would create financial and operational efficiencies.
Garlick suggests that amalgamation could lead to higher taxes in Vernon and Coldstream.
“There is maintenance of the roads in the electoral areas and there would be three (volunteer) fire halls that we would have to change into professional halls,” he said.
Garlick says a discussion with provincial officials indicates that a formal study into governance could not be completed by November 2014.
Mayor Rob Sawatzky won’t speculate on how Vernon council may respond to a request to pursue a study on amalgamation.
“We have our own views but we are part of a collective group,” he said of council making a decision.
“We need to see what the final tallies are but they (society) are approaching some significance.”
Mike Macnabb, Area C director, is not impressed with the society’s claims that it has 20 per cent of the voter turnout.
“Voter turnout is not population,” he said.
“It’s a citizen’s right to bring things forward but this (petition) has been vague. There have been no financial figures. Taxes won’t go down and services won’t improve.”
Macnabb isn’t sure how many of his constituents support changing governance.
“I have not had one call supporting amalgamation but I have had calls from people who say don’t do it,” he said, adding that many of his residents want to protect what they see as the rural character of the jurisdiction."

"Residents are grateful the positive Nellies are persevering," offers Kia.

Kiss' Self-Assessment

And District of Coldstream councillor Gyula Kiss passes his introspection.

Not surprising, as his introspection lacks external observation which Wikipedia states can be mistaken as testimony for knowledge.

First, his letter to the editor, published November 3, 2013, under "Councillor Responds":

"This letter is in response to the letter published in The Morning Star on Oct. 27 'Greater Vernon is over governed'.

It is very arrogant of a former city councillor to tell the taxpayers of Coldstream that they should give up their chosen form of governance and join the City of Vernon.

He should have learned from the debates of 2008 (website URL provided, but omitted here) that these debates do not work unless each one of the jurisdictions agree to proceed based on demonstrated, tangible benefits to each.

As a Coldstream resident I get the services I need:  water from GVW, sewer services for which I pay the going rate to the city of Vernon and the collection fees to Coldstream. I pay my share for recreation, culture etc. for which I pay the regional district.

My property taxes in 2013 were 10.25 per cent lower than it would have been had my property been located in the city (that's about $2.90 in real figures).

You may think Vernon is over governed and that you have to take up with your council.

Coldstream is not over governed and tries to keep taxes at a level its taxpayers can afford.

So do not covet our way of life from the outside.  If you wish to join Coldstream you may purchase a property and move to Coldstream.  Otherwise let us live as we please."

Gyula Kiss, Coldstream councillor

Apart from the initial surprise of Councillor Kiss using the word "arrogant" to reference a counterpart's opinion, Kiss' introspection is indeed false testimony for knowledge.

"Coldstream’s population grew 10 per cent between 2000 and 2010 but per capita spending...climbed 32 per cent...in Vernon, the population increased 13 per cent and spending per capita went up 53 per cent."

Society for the Future Governance of Greater Vernon

Councillor Kiss would rather circle the wagons.

And he'd rather gouge residents locally than admit provincial money is available --in the form of a one-time grant-- for the ever-increasing infrastructure deficit.

 "That grant is not available under the present local government structure."

Michael Tindall

Councillor Kiss won't tell you that he'd rather tax you locally--and/or reduce services--for the increasing infrastructure deficit than admit there is money available from the provincial government.

But the money is only available if the area forms a single regional municipality.   It's not available under the present local government structure.

"And covet our way of life?" asks Kia, adding "talk about arrogance!" 

Covet means yearning to possess...Coldstream's empire building?  We think not. 

 

We've all seen what Coldstream does to people they think can afford stuff.

Discontent versus Complacency

Today's Morning Star story on the amalgamation petition's deadline had Bruce Shepherd, society rep, stating the group would work through the weekend tabulating results and prepare for next week's meeting with Eric Foster, MLA.

"(Bruce) would not speculate on how many signatures have been received," offers the newspaper.

Mr. Shepherd was quoted to say "Total-wise, I think we're good.  If you look at the turnouts for the last few elections, for what we did I think we have a good turnout compared to those."

Excellent point.

In fact, low numbers might even be better.

Huh?
How so?

Look back at voter turnout during the City of Vernon elections in 2011...a dismal 31% of eligible voters chose to exercise their right.

Only slightly higher, the District of Coldstream saw a 33% voter turnout that year, down a staggering 19% from the 2008 local election.

How could a low turnout/signatures be considered a good thing?

Well, scientists and researchers have concluded that a high turnout is generally seen as evidence of the legitimacy of the current system.

So, the natural extension then--as it applies to the amalgamation petition--is that a low collection of signatures is evidence of dissatisfaction with the current system.

Or is that a double negative?

Even Wikipedia knows amalgamation--or the newer word "unification"--is cheaper:    "The act of merging two or more municipalities into a single new municipality may be done for a variety of reasons, including urban growth, reducing the cost of local government and improving the efficiency of municipal service delivery."


A big tip of the wine glass to officials of the Society for the Future Governance of Greater Vernon. 

"Their work has only just begun," offers Kia.

Comments from the online petition are listed in this blog entry started on September 12, 2013.

Zerospeak

Worse than doublespeak.

"This is a community issue...those decisions need to come from the bottom up," replied British Columbia Premier Christy Clark when asked by the media whether government--in light of the citizen petition to amalgamate local areas--will force amalgamation of Vernon, Coldstream and Areas B and C.

Bottom up?

Local MLA Eric Foster recently told me "the people have to convince their Mayors/Councils that their citizens want to amalgamate, and the Mayors/Councils, and area reps then approach me.  That's the process."

Thinking of the bottom up comment, I asked him "what if our Mayors/Councils won't do that?"  Eric replied:  "Then you can express your dissatisfaction in November 2014" (during the election).

So it remains pecking order, no matter how displeased the bottom-up people are.
And local governments can then stymie the wishes of residents...at least put it off for a year.
Mayors Sawatzky and Garlick--and areas B and C directors, led by RDNO Chairman Nicol--obviously know that, and have absolutely Zero to say when asked about amalgamation.

Zero.

"The absolute silence from local municipal politicians is interesting..." offers a Letter to the Editor from Michael Tindall, adding "Are citizens to assume they would rather continue wasting taxpayers' money than ask a simple question about future governance?"

Eric added, as reported in the Morning Star, "If there is a large groundswell of support for this, it will be important for local government to take it seriously."

Large groundswell.

Redundant.

Today's the day the petition timeline ends.
"If any one area has less than 10 per cent signatures, the petition fails," Coldstream Mayor Garlick was quoted as saying some time ago.  "Not so," affirms a canvasser for the Society.

Michael's letter closes with "You were all elected to govern; staying silent is not an acceptable option."

Another citizen wrote "...I do know that I don't want to see my taxes go up because the City of Vernon cannot rein in its spending habits."

Fear...something the Society for Future Governance of Vernon hasn't been able to assuage to date.
Yet I trust the Society.

But I fear something too.

That governments--all of them--are ignoring an entire segment called Citizens.
Citizens--and not mayors and councils--are what "bottom up" means.

"The zero-speaking mayors will receive a reminder," affirms Kia.

Amalgamation isn't going to go away by ignoring it.

Shawn Lee KNOWS What Over-Governance Is...

...as only a former councillor would.

"Four separate jurisdictions is an expensive way to govern only 50,000 people living in such close proximity."   Shawn Lee, former Vernon city councillor 

We'll begin with his closing, in the Letter to the Editor printed October 27th.

"The answer is clear.  We are over governed here in the sunny North Okanagan.  If you think, as I do, that the option of one government for Greater Vernon should be thoroughly examined and then put to a vote, make your wishes known and sign the online petition."

He provides a good explanation in the rest of his letter:

"The frustration can be palpable."

"Greater Vernon does not have a single municipal government.  What does our area now have in terms of governance?

Greater Vernon has two mayors, 12 councillors and two electoral area representatives.  These 16 elected individuals are supported by their respective municipal and regional district staffs.  The administrative employees strive to keep things running smoothly.  The staff are to provide recommendations to the elected officials who then set policy and budgets.  Sounds pretty good, so what is (sic) problem?

Four separate jurisdictions is an expensive way to govern only 50,000 people living in such close proximity.  This situation is inherently inefficient because of duplication of staff and services.  Some costs, like policing are not being shared equitably.  Businesses and individuals trying to invest in Greater Vernon often face a labyrinth of obstacles perpetuated by the number of local jurisdictions.  The frustration can be palpable.

To be fair, efforts have been made to cooperate among local jurisdictions.

"We are one community.  Shouldn't we be governed as such?"

Historically, an advantage was seen in working together to provide services to residents of the area that were shared across local political boundaries, the Greater Vernon parks and recreation function being the prime example of such an endeavor. 

"Who owns what?

  Who does what?  Who pays for what? 

And just who is in charge?"

The tricky part of these types of agreements is the working out of the details.  Who owns what?  Who does what?  Who pays for what?  And just who is in charge?  Questions all more readily answered if there was only one local government.

"..the new parks agreement...separates us more

than it unites us." 

Recently, our elected officials at GVAC have spent the better part of a year endeavouring to address anew just such questions.  The result is the new parks agreement that separates us more than it unites us.  It creates more players and boundaries instead of reducing them.  During their protracted negotiations, they missed asking a question obvious to many.  We are one community.  Shouldn't we be governed as such?

This question is the elephant in the room for anyone that has had to deal with our local governments.

The option of one local municipal government has been recently raised by the Greater Vernon Governance Society.  The society has launched an online petition that has at its heart the premise that things could be run better and more efficiently if there was one municipal government in our area.  For many individuals, amalgamation is an emotional issue and elicits an emotional response.  Though honest and understandable, this response is not desirable.  A more thoughtful and detailed approach is required so that a wise decision can be made. 

The KPMG report to Vernon council pointed to efficiencies and cost savings that could be realized by the amalgamation of the local governments into one entity.  Though the report lacked detail, KPMG recommended the option be pursued.  Council chose a quick, emotional response instead of thoughtful investigation.  No action was taken.  Lack of interest from the community was cited as the justification for doing nothing.

The ongoing interest in the GVGS online petition shows that Vernon City Council was mistaken.  Citizens from all areas of Greater Vernon have signed this petition.  These taxpayers would like to see a detailed proposal outlining both benefits and pitfalls of amalgamation put to a referendum.  The province's policy is that such a referendum would only come if sufficient public support is manifest.  So what then should be done?

The answer is clear..."

Shawn Lee, former city councillor, Vernon

 

"Despicable that Council chose a quick and emotional response," says Kia, adding "but that's OK, those folks won't form the new governance as they've shown they're not suited to the task."

Newspaper Tips their Hand

...contributing to the Amalgamation fear-mongering.

Today's front page headline is "Vernon considers tax hike".

Nothing unusual about taxes increasing, no matter which jurisdiction.  (Vernon's projected increase of 3.7 per cent is comprised of 1.8 for operations--"most of it for collective agreements"--and 1.9 for infrastructure).

But it's the timing of this article--three to six months earlier than any previous years' stories on budget deliberations--that is easily read to promote the status quo on the amalgamation issue.

"We are talking about very broad, generic numbers at this point."  Will Pearce, Vernon's chief administrative officer

Sure it's early; that's why the numbers are very broad and generic.

It isn't as though Coldstream taxes haven't gone up year after year.
But somehow, to someone somewhere, it seemed important that yet another tax increase for Vernon were made public this early.
Because it plays into the fear-mongering.

Coldstream councillors have been quoted as saying "taxes would increase" if amalgamation occurred.  Area directors also stated "we're rural, we don't want curbs and streetlights" and "Silver Star Road would cost us $1 million a year to maintain if Victoria weren't responsible for it within the regional district".

But read it carefully, folks, and the answer is right there.
In plain sight.

One-point-eight per cent of a 3.7 per cent increase "most of it for collective agreements" is the answer.

That 50 per cent of what we pay that goes to wages and benefits.
For three bureaucracies, year after year.


What the Society for the Future Governance of Greater Vernon hasn't said at all until today, let alone not said it well, is that there would be fewer government employees if amalgamation occurred when three bureaucracies are gutted and a new Greater Vernon municipality is formed.
Expensive government employees.

Yes, that's the only way the amalgamation idea will work as KPMG proposed.
 
That's the whole idea.
Eliminate dupllicate / overlapping services and costs, as KPMG's core services review recommended.

"We are looking for a new municipality and not just an absorption by Vernon of the other jurisdictions."  Peter Moore

But until Bruce Shepherd and Peter Moore actually talk plainly about things on peoples' minds, people will be swayed by the fear-mongering.

Peter did so today at the conclusion of the Society's story:  "We are looking for a new municipality and not just an absorption by Vernon of the other jurisdictions."

The Society still has a considerable distance to travel to sway people.

Presuming that the "new municipality" won't have the same mayor and council as Vernon now does, who will orchestrate the redefinition of boundaries and representation?
KPMG?

To keep the rural areas as they want, rural, will require an entirely new Official Community Plan for the greater Vernon area...one that allows rural areas to say "no" to curbs, sidewalks and streetlights.
Because that's what they want, to remain rural.
So does that mean Bylaws won't apply to the rural areas if they can say "no" to development pressures?

Does the Local Government Act actually allow that?
Or is the the LGA a dinosaur that prevents the evolution to, say, a ward system?

And what about Bylaws?  (not that many of us love them).
Whose bylaws are "best practices"?
Would those prevail over others?
Do we throw out all bylaws and start again from scratch?


Someone, some agency, some....ok, I'll say it....consultant....at arm's length from the current situation will need to be in a position of authority during the transition.
Who will grant that authority?
And will it be legal?

Sounds like a lot of lawyers and lawyer fees.
And time.

Can the area afford the severance packages that will arise?
Word has it that defined benefit pension plans are still being offered new hires in local governments.
Word also has it that local government pension plans remain an unfunded liability.
Where will that money come from?

"...an almost immediate saving of more than $2.3 million dollars just in salaries and expenses for the Coldstream elected officials and staff alone."

Doug Vincent, letter to editor.

The Society needs to state just how they'll convince Victoria to change legislation that the former RDNO's highways will still be maintained by Victoria, even if the regional district disappears.  The Local Government Act will be impacted, and Victoria will balk at that simply because the B.C. government doesn't want the amalgamation theme to spread to other areas of the province.

They'll need to convince MLA Eric Foster that a streamlined local government is desirable.
Streamlined by two-thirds.

Just guessing...but we think Eric isn't showing his hand.
He's hoping the amalgamation push will fail as it did previously.


"I'll tip my paw that amalgamation will succeed," offers Kia.

Greater Vernon Governance Society website:  http://www.greatervernongovernance.ca/

The petition is here:  http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/greater-vernon-governance-society/

An updated list of "amalgamation comments" from the public is found on this blog, just scroll down....

Bartalk

Bartenders do hear everything...

Since the amalgamation issue was raised by the Greater Vernon Governance Society, there's been no shortage of opinions as folks spend time on the patio and at the bar at Highlands Golf.

Knowing there would be considerable discussion among residents of Coldstream, Vernon and the Regional District areas, I was amazed--gobsmacked, as any Brit would put it--at the discussions that occurred.  Especially when lips were loosened after a beer, the person obviously comfortable among friends.
Or at least like-minded individuals, hard-working family people who were having a few hours of fun in their busy week.

One person said "write them down"; others agreed, saying "nobody will say these things on the petition."

"As long as you don't use our names," was the proviso.

Okay.   Here goes (relying solely on memory). 

• Coldstream's new mechanic shop:  they spent $78,000 on an engineering study for the cranes and equipment the shop needs.  They could've had ALL that stuff for about $18,000 total...installed.  Without the engineer.  Jeez, they study everything to death, why?  So no-one gets blamed for the screw ups that still occur, even with consultants.
• Consultants get our tax dollars with their grossly-inflated cost for studies.  But it gets the bureaucrats off the hook, nobody's responsible for anything.
• Both Coldstream and Vernon are proof that good knowledgeable smart people don't run for office anymore.
• Why stop at Areas B & C?  Give Cherryville to Lumby, they can use the tax dollars.  Give Enderby to Armstrong for the same reason.  Give unorganized regional district areas to their closest city.  Presto, no need for a regional district at all. 
• These days, it's government departments charging other government departments, all of whom we pay for.  And they don't care.  There's only one of us!  Far too many of 'em.
• Sure, keep the workers...the roads and water guys, they actually do something.  Get rid of two councils and three administrations.
• No way do I want Vernon's (existing) mayor running things in my area!  (which led to the following:)
• They have to start from scratch, a whole new GVA (Greater Vernon Area) mayor and council over the entire area.  
• We taxpayers can force Victoria to change laws that they still have to look after the main highways and road that leads to Silver Star Park.  They work for us; time we tell them that.
• Fear-mongering from B says they don't want curbs and street-lights and higher taxes.  That's a rural area and the new GVA (amalgamated) has to do a new community plan that designates that area won't get curbs and street-lights, therefore, taxes won't surge.
• Ten or 15 years ago there was a Vernon planner that screwed around so long with a software company that wanted to locate here that they finally got fed up with all the delays and lack of decision-making and went to Kelowna.  They were up and running in half the time it would've taken in Vernon.
• All the young people have gone north 'cause they're sick of flipping burgers or pumping gas.  University grads have no work here, but they'll come back to retire (laughing).
• If it weren't for Tolko and Kal Tire, the average age of residents here would be "deceased" (more laughter).
• Dying town, and hiring an economic development guy doesn't change anything, just adds another expense account that has to be paid.  And a desk and a computer.  That reminds me:  "traffic demand coordinator" -- what the hell is that anyway?  Probably somebody else making $100K.
• Had amalgamation occurred years ago, Coldstream would have a hitching rail outside of a small office, with only a rural manager and a clerk. Would prefer that to the new municipal hall and all the debt that brings.
• If DoC amalgamates, can we put a For Sale sign on the muni hall and get our money back?
• Look at Coldstream and Vernon councils...can't find one person with real business/life experience, they're either consultants or a lawyer, or ... what?  a teacher for a mayor, yeah, like that'll ever work.  Most of 'em have nothing better to do so they run for office.
• The way this area is going, we must've taken a lesson from Kenora.  Reminds me of what happened to Tolko in Kenora, Ontario.  Tolko wanted to build a strand board plant, 700 employees.  They got so dinked around by local government they said bugger it and built the plant in N.Manitoba.  And you'd think Kenora would've learned how to treat business differently from what happened earlier when their paper plant left town to the tune of eight hundred employees.  That's 1,500 in a town of 15,000.  But you can bet the bureaucrats kept their jobs.  Incredible!
• Coldstream and Vernon learned from Ottawa's senators how to keep ripping us off.  Don't forget the regional district, someone added.
• Who's the government idiot who read the book called "The Road Diet"?  Enough bike lanes already.  Yeah, and heaven forbid, we--driving a 2,000 pound vehicle--would have the right of way.  Nope, they do.  Now you can't even turn right on a red because some biker is sittin' in the right lane sipping chai tea in his painfully tight speedo bike suit.
• They're all crooks, jealous of what people have so they put everyone through the ringer.  
• Empire building, power trips by people who'd never have power if they were on their own; couldn't achieve crap on their own, yet they relish in putting roadblocks in front of people that have achieved something.
• Good people don't run anymore...have a look at wishy-washy today.
• Didn't that guy...Coldstream councillor say that "we (Coldstream) own all the land in Coldstream?"  He'd never say that to my face, I've got 6 acres.
• Yeah, and they tried to rezone acreages here.  (Reminded them the RU10/RU30 isn't dead yet).
• Bureaucrats, ALL of 'em, hate ALL the elected officials.  And the public hates bureaucrats 'coz of the cost.  So much for what we thought was democracy; it's dead, especially in B.C.  Christy will fall over, she's leaning so far left, some Liberal, eh?
• ICBC and Hydro bank accounts emptied by Victoria, so look at who our local governments are learning from.  Some role model about fairness to taxpayers, eh?  They all stink, no matter who's in.
• You used to be able to go to a desk and get help from government...building a house or barn, they'd help you fill in the ONE form.  And you could start building it.  You didn't need an engineer's report or an environment study.  We even scribbled our barn plan on a napkin and the guy at the desk laughed and said after we explained it, "yeah, okay".  We walked out with our plan.  And it was cheap, a few bucks.  Now it costs a fortune to build a dog house.
• Permits for everything, sick of it.  I'm old and remember when we burned our acreage fencelines to keep the place nice.  Kids would jump in the leaf piles before we burned those.  But now there's 2 people with asthma that don't want anyone to burn, got nothing to do with earth warming.  And people's places look like s**t.
• Permits?  don't get 'em anymore, for anything!  (Laughter).
• Didn't Coldstream Mayor get quoted in paper saying "you can still PAINT your house without a permit."  Everything else needs a permit?  Ya right.  He can paint my house alright.
• And he thinks somebody's going to need the old Consumers Glass plant for a movie.  Wait until it falls down on the crew and DoC will be liable for it falling apart, meaning taxpayers have to pay...again.
• Look what you (me!) went through to get a liquor license!  (No comment!  Either about the original application and public hearing, nor the liquor license change years later!)
• What's with that town centre thing?  who the hell wants that?!?  They don't want business, look at how they treat the few businesses they have!  
• Glad the Coldstream Ranch kept all their subdivided lots the way they were, after the socialists asked them to put it back into one parcel.  Keith would've been insane to buckle under to them.  What a bunch of socialists! 
• The Ranch should sell all their little parcels off to people looking for small acreage; I hope they do sell them.  That'll show that councillor who REALLY owns the land in Coldstream, certainly not the bloody council!
• They piss away so much money.  I could do those jobs for one third the price they pay with our money.
• Look at what Coldstream paid for those 2 traffic islands outside Kal General Store, think it was $16,000, with 25 plants.  Jeez, where do I get a job paying 800 percent over cost like that?
• Bureaucrats are all crooks, making up the rules depending on who you are.  So much for fairness.
• Water things drive me crazy...now they're not making enough money because people are conserving, so they raise the prices.  There's places in Kelowna that aren't even on a water meter today.  They've got so much water 'coz they've worked to satisfy their customers!  I wish we had moved to Kelowna's outskirts instead of here.
• And some group runs watershed issues here (Okanagan Basin Water Board), yeah, that's who.  So they want everyone to grow cactus.  We're losing historical trees because of their advice and the high cost of water.  Yeah, that'll cool the place down as temps climb...dead trees, no shade.  Who can afford to water 'em?
• Everybody in government is an expert.  And they think we're all dumb.  It's the other way around.  Ya, we are dumb for electing them and for not getting rid of bureaucrats sooner.  But good people don't run any more, so what can you expect?  Mindless lefties.  Pissing off everyone except one or two in their circle.
• Yes amalgamate, please.  Get rid of 'em all, start again.  And this time, keep watching 'em.  If the new bunch screws up, toss them.  And if our MLA doesn't like things, he can go with them.
• They're all in cahoots, from BC Assessment to Victoria, to local government.  Assessment is BS, and Victoria won't give our governments more money, because they're all broke.  There oughta be a law.
• (reply)  There's enough laws already!
• Half what we pay goes to wages, never that way years ago.  We actually got something for our money then.  Now the government boys get new offices.  Whoopee!

 "I heard that, too, and that's what taxpayers said," confirms Kia.

 I was right; these comments would never make the official petition Comments page.

Society for the Future Governance of Greater Vernon

(Note:  Petition comments updated daily, and are found immediately below this document)

(Highlighting by blog author)

Single government structure, “Long overdue”

MEDIA RELEASE

September 13th, 2013

For Immediate Use

The Society for the Future Governance of Greater Vernon has been collecting signatures for less than one week, and already there is a general theme coming forward from citizens. The Societies website www.greatervernongovernance.ca is collecting signatures from citizens who want local and provincial authorities to review the opportunity of combining local governments into a single entity, for the purpose of more efficient use of our local tax dollars.  

Society President Bruce Shepherd says “The most frequent comment is that investigating the concept of one local government entity is LONG OVERDUE. In addition, we’ve heard that citizens are tired of the ineffective and inconsistent way in which governance of the area is handled.”

“We keep hearing that a unified government structure is of no interest to Coldstream citizens” said Shepherd “but clearly that is NOT the case. Based on the first few days of on line petition signatures, over 30% of respondents are Citizens in the District of Coldstream, just over 10% from Areas B & C with the balance from the City of Vernon.”

He went on to say that some concerns being expressed about increased costs for taxpayers in Coldstream appear to be unfounded.  Some costs may increase such as policing but what about the cost savings of not having three separate administration structures to fund? To use Coldstream as just one example, from 2006 to 2011, the cost of remuneration and expenses for Council, Administration and Staffing rose by $805,210.  That’s an increase of 45% in 5 years.

We reiterate, who is taking the initiative to find cost and efficiency savings in Greater Vernon?  There will be no shortage of need for taxpayer dollars in the future for infrastructure, transit, recreation and cultural facilities. Equally as important, the area needs a unified vision to promote economic development so that job growth can return to the area. 

The society expects to soon be adding mail in petitions as well as petitions lists being collected by volunteer canvassers to our results.  This is a very healthy discussion which has just begun amongst the citizens of Greater Vernon.

For Further Information:    Bruce Shepherd 250-503-0663 or Peter Moore 250-545-2432