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Archive Notices - Press Releases
Four Okanagan municipalities are embarking on an historic agreement to join forces when tackling issues like affordable housing, global warming and sustainable development. Beginning Monday, July 21, Municipal Councils of Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton and the Westside will consider bylaws that will allow the development of intermunicipal service agreements for these matters and two others, transit and harmonization of regulations. Once bylaws are in place in each of the participating municipalities, agreements can be struck between any partner. “This is a ground-breaking undertaking,’ says Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd. “We all understand that some issues, like the ones weve identified, have no borders and that the fair sharing of skills, energy and knowledge will lead to stronger services for all the participants. “With these bylaws and agreements, we’ve built the framework we need to move forward on these regional concerns with the most common sense, working together and not separately, towards these common goals,” says Westside Mayor Rosalind Neis. “Duplication of effort makes no sense; we are often looking for solutions to the same problems,” says Penticton Mayor Jake Kimberley. “This undertaking is intended to help all the partners make the most efficient effort.” “We’ve agreed to ensure that partners can withdraw, that other municipalities can join and that more subjects of concern can be added. The goal is to make these agreements as mutually beneficial as possible,” says Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert. These agreements, named Intermunicipal Services Schemes, are authorized under the Community Charter, and the Okanagan Councils are endeavouring to use them to work on regional concerns, tearing down jurisdictional constraints. For several months, the chief administrative officers of each municipality have been meeting to develop the legal documents and background information that will form the foundation of service agreements. These top administrators will also play a key role in the administration of service agreements. The proposed bylaws will establish an Intermunicipal Advisory Board comprised of the four Okanagan mayors and chief administrative officers. This board will provide direction to Kelowna, Westside, Penticton and Vernon councils and advise on the issues of the partnership for decision making at the council level. The bylaws provide for administrative services that may be required to carry out the agreements. The four local governments have agreed to provide services using existing staff as needed and determined within agreements. With each municipality dedicated to providing the most efficient delivery of services and meeting the needs of as many residents as possible, this move to work together on common issues is expected to save time, effort and expense. Media Contacts:
Posted: July 21, 2008 The City of Vernon is pleased to announce that a secure bike lockup facility with video surveillance is now available for use in the downtown area, first level of the City parkade located at 3005 33rd Street. To make use of this facility, prepayment at the City Hall cashier is required. Upon payment you will be provided with a security button to access the bike cage. It is recommended that you lock your bike inside the bike cage as the lockup area is common for all users. For more information on user fees and facility location please check out the following links: For further information please contact Engineering Services at 250-550-3634 or eng@vernon.ca. Posted: July 14, 2008
Wesbild Holdings, Funtastic and the City of Vernon invite the public to join in celebrating our nations birthday by attending the Westbild Canada Day Fire Works Show. Starting at 10:00 at the DND Grounds, the show promises to be spectacular, with about $10,000 worth of fireworks scheduled into the shoot.
The City of Vernon and Vernon Fire Rescue Services thanks Wesbild and Funtastic for their financial assistance, and the fire departments of Coldstream, Bx Swan Lake and Okanagan Landing for their assistance with all aspects of operations for the show. For information, please contact: Posted: June 24, 2008
The City of Vernons commitment to promoting sustainable transportation continues this week as City staff and Council participate in the Commuter Challenge and Bike to Work Week, which takes place June 1st to 7th. During this week, participating staff and Council will be cycling, walking, carpooling and taking transit into work to reduce their carbon footprint. Vernon residents are encouraged to participate. By engaging in alternative modes of transportation, reducing gas emissions and easing traffic congestion, citizens can respond positively to the critical issue of climate change, while improving not only their own personal health, but that of their whole community. On Friday, June 6th, the City will be hosting a morning breakfast for registered participants at the Civic Plaza at City Hall. The City, in partnership with the Greater Vernon Cycling Advisory Committee, has partnered with a number of sponsors including Save-On Foods, Canadian Tire, Ingenious Webdesign, Skyride Cycle, Olympia Cycle, Sun Country Cycle, Goodlife Fitness, Bagel Lane and The Starting Block. Local event sponsors will have displays on hand and staff from City Hall will be there to answer questions. The breakfast will start at 7:00 AM and run until 9:00 AM. Residents who are interested in participating in Bike to Work Week can register at http://www.vernonlocalmotion.ca/green.php Posted: June 2, 2008
Take part in the Commuter Challenge and Bike to Work Week, June 1-7, 2008. Track your distance traveled by walking, cycling, taking transit, carpooling or tele-working instead of driving alone to work. Visit www.vernonlocalmotion.ca for more information and to register.
The purpose of the kickoff is to promote public participation in the Challenge. By engaging in alternative modes of transportation, reducing gas emissions and easing traffic congestion, citizens can respond positively to the critical issue of climate change, while improving not only their own personal health, but that of their whole community. A main feature of the event will be a Bike Tour that will start at City Hall, run north along 30th St. to the Civic Centre on 39th , north to 27th Street, then south to 32nd Ave. and back to City Hall. “It is hoped that at least 100 or more cyclists will turn out for the event”, said event coordinator Rob Miles. “At Noon, we’ll be on the Plaza staffing the registration booth to register the public for the Commuter Challenge. At around 12:30 pm, we’ll be providing a great free lunch to all members of the public who sign up for the Challenge.” Local event sponsors will have displays on hand and staff from City Hall will be there to answer questions. For information, please contact: Posted: May 9, 2008
Effective May 1, 2008, three City of Vernon staff members will move into new management positions. The restructure clearly aligns the City’s services more efficiently and allows increased responsibility and compensation in two key professional positions. Long Range Planner, Kim Flick, who has guided the OCP process for the City this past year moves to Manager, Planning and Building Services with responsibility for Planning, Building Inspections, and Business Licenses. Sharing PD&E responsibilities with Flick, Rob Dickinson will now serve as Manager, Engineering Services and as the designated City Engineer. Streamlining still further is the new appointment for Deputy CAO, Marg Bailey, as she becomes Manager, Administration Services, with responsibility for Human Resources, Information Services, Corporate Services, Bylaws, Community Policing, Media Relations and Real Estate Services. With the recent departure of Jeremy Kinch, Manager of Planning, Development and Engineering Services, some management responsibilities are being adjusted at City Hall. Clarifying the restructure further, CAO Leon Gous noted that , “the Planning, Development and Engineering department has, by necessity, been growing in size and scope of work in recent years. The department is a much more complex one than when created “ Gous paid tribute to Kinch’s skills, noting that “Jeremy’s departure highlights the difficulty with regard to competitive compensation for skilled professionals such as Senior Planner and Senior Engineer. “We wish Marg, Kim and Rob our congratulations and I have great confidence in the skills and abilities that they all bring to their new positions”, said Gous. For information, please contact Liz Williams, Media Liaison 250-550-3539.
At a meeting during this week’s Southern Interior Local Government Association annual convention in Vernon, the mayors of the four largest Okanagan municipalities instructed senior staff to draft a bylaw that would facilitate inter-municipal collaboration on pressing issues impacting the entire Okanagan Valley. This is a concept that has been considered in the past but due to the complexity and cost in providing municipal services to our citizens this concept and the implementation thereof has become more compelling. The Provincial government’s Climate Action plan initiative prompted the Mayor’s to collaborate on the most cost effective way to accomplish these objectives through cooperation. The Mayor’s recognized that a cooperative approach also applies to affordable housing, sustainability, economic development, water and air quality and transit – some of the major issues impacting all four jurisdictions – where cooperation could result in efficient action and a potential savings to taxpayers. The Mayor’s have instructed their respective chief administrative officers to begin work on a mechanism that would result in an action-oriented, transparent and ‘ultra-light’ approach – one that makes use of existing resources rather than creating another level of bureaucracy and an additional burden for taxpayers. The four chief administrative officers were instructed to identify how their jurisdictions and the Valley as a whole would benefit from this type of collaboration and to present their findings to the mayors’ committee. A collaborative approach would allow the four municipalities – as well as any other local governments interested in participating – to partner for funding opportunities, share ideas and resources and, as a result, avoid the cost and time delays associated with “recreating the wheel” since cities facing similar pressures will likely be required to deal with them in similar ways. Additionally, the inter-municipal services initiative would enable municipalities within the Okanagan Valley to “harmonize” their regulations, creating continuity, a level playing field and a cohesive approach that helps communities avoid developing regulations that simply shift a problem from one jurisdiction to another. Examples could include bylaws related to drug houses, hillside development regulations, business licensing, and building regulations. The initiative would also allow for inter-municipal services such as transit. A Inter-Municipal Service and Regulation Bylaw that would give the cities of Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon and Westside the authority under the Community Charter or Local Government Act to work together to provide inter-municipal services, address environmental and other issues of mutual concern and harmonize their regulations will be developed and later this month, the four mayors will take this bylaw to their respective councils for consideration and approval in principal. For more information, please contact:
Posted: May 2, 2008
Since 1970, Earth Day has been celebrated around the world to encourage and promote the creation of a sustainable society through community involvement. This year, the City of Vernon joins the global community on April 22nd to celebrate Earth Day, raise awareness of environmental issues and promote sustainable choices that involve the entire community. Councillor Buffy Baumbrough, Chair of the City’s Environmental Advisory Committee, will formally commemorate Earth Day by planting two mature tree in Rotary Park. This event will happen at 2:00 p.m. on Earth Day (April 22nd), and everyone is welcome to attend. Free seedlings will be given to all members of the public in attendance. Free tree seedlings, courtesy of the BC Forest Service Kalamalka Forestry Centre, will be available for all community members at the Library on Earth Day from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. These trees are available to community members as part of an effort to mitigate the loss of pine trees to beetle kill and in support of Earth Day. Collaboratively, the City of Vernon, the District of Coldstream and the Ministry of Forests are supplying seedling ponderosa pine trees at no charge to Greater Vernon residents. Seedlings are frozen and packaged in groups of ten and will be available on a first come, first served basis, with maximum of ten seedlings per household. The City is also pleased to announce the launching of the Enviro Bag Initiative which is intended to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags. The bags contribute to energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and solid waste issues. The energy used to manufacture just 8.7plastic bags is equivalent to driving a car one kilometer. Across the country, Canadians use 9 to 15 billion plastic bags annually, the equivalent of between 132,270 to 220,450 individual trips across Canada on the Trans Canada Highway. The Enviro Bag initiative will have several phases, all intended to culminate during the 2009 Earth Day Celebration. The first is to challenge local retailers to promote the sale and use of reusable shipping bags. Many of the major retailers currently have their own reusable bags for sale and are promoting their own corporate initiatives to decrease plastic bag use. The City will be highlighting these initiatives over the next year, and promoting several events to engage all Vernon residents in this community-wide initiative. For information, please contact Liz Williams, Media Liaison 250-550-3539.
Vernon City Council has advised the North Okanagan Regional District that it will withdraw from the Fire Training Service as of December 31st, 2008. Reasons cited for the decision were communicated to NORD on March 31st, 2008, almost 1 year after the City first asked the NORD committee for a “fair and equitable solution” to the Fire Service Training costs of all the jurisdictions. Originally requesting a Service Review from N.O.R.D. in April of 2007, the City asked the other jurisdictions to consider making some changes to the fee structure for fire fighter training services and come back to the table with some fair and equitable solutions for all parties. To date, N.O.R.D. has rejected changes and directed Vernon to find its own solution. A major concern to Council was the disproportionate share of the cost of training, when compared to other jurisdictions and the lack of service it receives in relation to those costs. For instance over 6 training sessions were cancelled in a four week period this past year. In clarifying Council’s decision to withdraw from the service, Mayor Lippert noted, “We’ve reached a point in our population and size of firefighting staff where we can provide this service to Vernon taxpayers more cost effectively on our own. In fact, it may be that other issues could arise from the service reviews that the City will have to address in the near future. It is important to realize that the citizens of Vernon have been subsidizing the other jurisdictions within NORD for some time now, and we will continue to work to reduce the gross inequities of these current formulas to reduce the burden to our taxpayers. “ In clarifying the actual fire training service costs, Councilor Barry Beardsell noted that, “In 2007, the total cost of all requisitions and fees was $212,300, of which $116,762 was charged to the City of Vernon. Based on the existing formula (apportioned to land and improvements), and given Vernon’s growth rate, it can be expected that our costs will rise disproportionately to the other jurisdictions.” The current formula establishes the per/firefighter training costs in the City of Vernon based on 75 firefighters at $1,556.83 per firefighter. There are 270 firefighters within the region with access to the service. If the total of 270 firefighters were averaged against the total requisition and fees of $212,300., the per/firefighter cost would have been $786.30 to all jurisdictions. Therefore, it can be shown that the present training cost to Vernon is nearly 200% more than it should be. The City of Vernon expects to be in a position to provide training to its own firefighters at a reduced cost, and may consider offering those training services to other interested parties. Beardsell added, “I believe that Council has been more than effective in making this decision. It is, after all, our primary responsibility, and I know that we have given this issue more than due consideration. Council spent a good deal of time discussing alternatives, but in the end took the responsible direction. Tax dollars have to be spent wisely, and it’s our job to see that they are!” For information, please contact Liz Williams, Media Liaison 250-550-3539.
Mayor Wayne Lippert presented the unprecedented $55 million dollar building permit today to owner, Hans Peter Mayr,at a Media Conference at the site. Sparkling Hill joins Predator Ridge and The Rise as one of three international caliber developments in Vernon. A resort of this significance will have a tremendous impact on tourism for Vernon, consolidating the city’s reputation as a world-class destination. The project benefits business and property owners in the Okanagan Landing area with the multiple enhancements to water and sewer project that have been financially supported by the Sparkling Hill development. These projects include the Mount Royce water reservoir extension and the Smith Creek gravity sanitary and sewer project. Fees paid by Sparkling Hill have been in excess of $1.6 million. These improvements to the vital services infrastructure benefit the entire community. Sparkling Hill Resort is slated to open in 2009. Posted: April 8, 2008
In celebration of Emergency Preparedness week, the public is invited to attend the Vernon/Coldstream Emergency Preparedness Day on Sunday May 4, 2008 at the Vernon Recreation Center. You can tour the display booths inside the Recreation Center auditorium and view emergency equipment located in the parking area. Representatives from Terasen Gas, Red Cross, Emergency Social Services (ESS), Ministry of Forests, Salvation Army, Search & Rescue, St. John Ambulance, Amateur Radio, RCMP, Vernon Fire & Rescue Services, Community Policing, BC Ambulance and others will be onsite. These groups will be available to discuss emergency preparedness topics such as building an emergency plan and “grab and go kit” for your home. All Emergency Preparedness Week activities reinforce the idea that we can reduce the risks and lessen the consequences of a disaster by being better prepared. More Information on emergency preparedness can be found on the Provincial Emergency Program website at www.pep.bc.ca and the Canada website www.getprepared.ca VERNON/COLDSTREAM EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DAY For information, please contact Pat Cantner, Safety & Emergency Coordinator 250-550-3596. Originally from Owen Sound, Ontario, Chief Carlisle joined the Canadian Forces and received his firefighter training at the Canadian Forces Fire Academy. Over the past 24 years, he has served in posts across Canada and Lahr, West Germany, as well as two years with the Navy. A commissioned officer since 1988, he also completed his training as Military Engineer. Highlights of Chief Carlisle’s career include serving as the Canadian Fire Service delegation leader for Nato, and developing aircraft rescue and fire fighting standards for National Defense. Retired from the Canadian Forces Fire Services in 1998, Carlisle has gone on to serve as Deputy Chief in Fort McMurray and in 2001 was appointed to the position of Regional Fire Chief, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. In 2003, Chief Carlisle received a ministerial appointment to the Alberta Fire Service Advisory Committee. In January, 2008, he completed a Master of Arts, Leadership degree. His thesis, “Creating the Alberta Fire Service Leadership Framework”, will be published this summer. He is the recipient of the Premier’s Award of Excellence and Alberta Centennial Medal for his contribution to the Alberta Fire Service. When contacted for comment in Fort McMurray this morning, Chief Carlisle praised the Vernon department noting that “The City of Vernon Fire Rescue Department has a strong and solid history of valued service. My hope is to assist them in building on that record by meeting the challenges that face the city as it experiences inevitable growth over the next few years. ” Chief Carlisle begins his duties in Vernon on April 28, 2008. For information, please contact Liz Williams, Media Liaison 250-550-3539.
The City of Vernon announces the resignation of Jeremy Kinch, Manager, Planning Development & Engineering, effective April 17, 2008. Mr. Kinch has accepted a position in Edmonton, Alberta and will begin his duties there on May 1, 2008. In leaving the City of Vernon, Mr. Kinch stated that “I am very excited about my new opportunity and wish City Staff and Council the best. I am confident that I am leaving the Planning, Engineering and Development Services Division in good hands.” Mr. Kinch took on the engineering management position for the City eighteen months ago after spending several years at the Regional District. Since his appointment, the PD& E staff have spearheaded the OCP which is nearing conclusion. City Administrative Officer, Leon Gous, remarked that, “Jeremy will be missed by all of us and we wish him well on the next phase of his career. I know he will be a great asset to any company he chooses to work with in the future.” For information, please contact Liz Williams, Media Liaison 250-550-3539. The City of Vernon announces the retirement of Fire Chief, Johnny Lysholm. Since May of 2003, Lysholm has not only led the Vernon Fire-Rescue Services team, but has volunteered for several community and charity events and represents the Services on the Vernon Public Safety Committee. Prior to arriving in Vernon, Johnny served 30 years as a firefighter and Chief Officer with the Richmond and Delta Fire Departments. Praising Lyshom for a job well done, Mayor Lippert said. I want to thank Chief Lysholm for the outstanding contribution hes made to the Vernon Fire-Rescue Services, and all of us wish him well in his future retirement. Hes done a great job for us. Although he retires from the Services, I trust we will continue to see Johnny as active as ever at the many community events he volunteers for. In addition to establishing computerized records for the Fire Hall, one of Johnnys early personal mandates was to increase training opportunities for the firefighters and several of the new programs hes introduced have that strong training component. Among the new programs established are the Community Wildfire Plan, the First Response Medical Program, the Critical Incidence Team and the very successful Large Operation Exercise, a multi-agency exercise recently mounted as Endless Summer, to name a few. When asked what he views as his primary achievement, Lysholm cites the development of a 10-year Strategic Plan for the Service that will shortly be reviewed by Council. What hes proudest of, though, is the development of a strong and dynamic team that he calls the Ghostbusters, who serve the community as if their lives depended on it.! They are a great bunch of firefighters and I have the utmost respect for them. I have every confidence that this team, together with my successor, will see the Plan through. I will miss them all! CAO, Leon Gous noted that John has been a valuable member of the Senior Management Team and leaves the Vernon Fire-Rescue Services well prepared to face the challenges of our growing community. For information, please contact Liz Williams, Media Liaison 250-550-3539.
On Saturday October 20 2007, the City of Vernon and District of Coldstream Emergency Response and Recovery Plan was tested as emergency personnel responded to a simulated Wildland/Interface fire. Fire Departments located within the North Okanagan Regional District and the Okanagan Indian Band as well as personnel the Forestry Protection Branch, RCMP, Community Policing, Search & Rescue, Amateur Radio, Emergency Social Services, Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, Salvation Army and the SPCA participated in the event. The exercise was a tremendous success and the City of Vernon and District of Coldstream would like to thank all staff and volunteers that participated in the "Endless Summer" exercise. As a reminder, families should prepare an emergency preparedness action plan in the event that they receive an evacuation alert or order during a real emergency. Information on emergency preparedness can be found on the Provincial Emergency Program website at www.pep.bc.ca and/or the Public Safety Canada website at www.getprepared.gc.ca. For more information on Wildland/Interface Fires, contact Johnny Lysholm, Fire Chief, Vernon Fire-Rescue Services at 550-3561. For information on Vernon/Coldstream Emergency Response and Recovery Plan, contact Pat Cantner, Emergency Coordinator at 550-3596.
On Saturday October 20, 2007 between 9:00 AM and 12 noon emergency response personnel will be converging on the Okanagan Landing area in response to a mock emergency of a simulated Wildland/Interface fire that will start at Ellison Park and move into the City boundaries. The Emergency Operation Center (EOC) will be activated at the Vernon Fire Hall and EOC staff will provide support for the incident command. The Vernon/Coldstream Emergency Social Services (ESS) Reception Center will be activated at the Halina Center located inside the Vernon Recreation Center. The public are encouraged to visit the Recreation Center (Halina Center) between 9:00 AM and noon where they can receive emergency preparedness information from ESS personnel, Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, Salvation Army and the SPCA. As a reminder, families should prepare an emergency preparedness action plan in the event that they receive an evacuation alert or order during a real emergency. Information on emergency preparedness can be found on the Provincial Emergency Program website at www.pep.bc.ca and/or the Public Safety Canada website at www.getprepared.gc.ca. For more information on Wildland/Interface Fires, contact Johnny Lysholm, Fire Chief, Vernon Fire-Rescue Services at 550-3561. For information on Vernon/Coldstream Emergency Response and Recovery Plan, contact Pat Cantner, Emergency Coordinator at 550-3596.
The City of Vernon and negotiators for Vernon Civic Employees' Union Local 626 are pleased to announce that over 78% of city employees voted to accept the new contract. Landmarks of the new agreement are a wage increase of 16% over 5 years along with improved benefits and a $500.00 signing bonus. The new term of the agreement is retroactive to January 1, 2007 and ends December 31, 2011. In announcing the ratification this morning, the City's Chief Administrative Officer, Leon Gous, commended all involved in negotiations for a positive and co-operative process.
Council announced the establishment of the Captain Bailey Way (CBW) Development Corporation which will pursue unique development opportunities at the airport to meet the needs of the aviation community. The new Corporation will develop approximately one acre of land at the Vernon Regional Airport creating 9 hangars with a residential component. This development will allow pilots to own their own hangar and also have a residence at the airport. The lands will be transferred into the name of the Captain Bailey Way Development Corporation and all shares in the Corporation will be owned by the City of Vernon. The Captain Bailey Way Development Corporation will consist of the following five Directors appointed by Council:
Councillor Cochrane, notes that "Over the last few years the demand for hangars at the airport has increased dramatically and this type of development will appeal to many aircraft owners who are looking to participate more fully in the Okanagan lifestyle." "The Captain Bailey Way Development Corporation will be engaging appropriate consultants to pursue design, engineering and to create new zoning for the property to allow the development, and the process will allow the opportunity for public input on the development" commented Mayor Wayne Lippert.
Fire Chief Johnny Lysholm is pleased to announce that, effective 6:00 AM Monday, August 20, 2007, Vernon Fire - Rescue Services will commence participation in the B.C. First Responder program as approved by City of Vernon Council. The primary objective of Vernon Fire-Rescue participation in the First Responder Medical program is to enhance the continuity of pre-hospital patient care provided to the residents in, and visitors to, the City of Vernon. By recognizing that fire department personnel are often available to assist patients prior to arrival of ambulance personnel, basic medical training provides first responders with knowledge and the capability to deal with critical situations involving airway, breathing and/or circulation concerns until higher levels of medical training and equipment arrive. Firefighters at Vernon Fire-Rescue Services maintain Level III First Medical Responder certification, the highest level available to firefighter first responders. It is estimated that the First Responder Program will result in an additional 1500 responses annually using existing apparatus, equipment and staff, effectively doubling the current emergency response to our community. Regional BC Ambulance Superintendent Norm Bickel fully endorses the program indicating "the citizens and visitors in Vernon will receive the best response possible because call takers will better match the health concern with the right response and resource, and the municipality can be assured that first responder resources are triggered based on medical needs". Chief Lysholm is completely confident that full participation in the program is an excellent complement to emergency pre-hospital care and will be an efficient and effective additional level of service.
Based upon legal advice, City Council today adopted a resolution not to allow scrutineers to be present when the City's Corporate Officer is reviewing the elector response forms received opposing the City's intent to borrow $20 million for the construction of a new Library/Civic Building. City Council's decision against permitting scrutineers to be present during the review and determination of the elector response forms is based upon the following:
To date, there are no wildland fires of significant concern in the Central Okanagan region; however, representatives from the Provincial Emergency Program have indicated that with the continued hot weather conditions over the next few weeks extreme caution must be taken to prevent fires from starting. In cooperation with the Coldstream/Vernon Emergency Plan, your local Fire Departments and the BC Forest Fire Zone, we are asking citizens and visitors to the Coldstream/Vernon areas to be extremely fire conscious/safe, especially during this time of the year. We are asking people in our communities to help us reduce the opportunities for Wildfires. The following measures will go a long way in keeping our communities as fire safe as possible:
For more information on this Wildfire Advisory, contact Johnny Lysholm, Fire Chief, Vernon Fire-Rescue Services, 550-3561. For information on Coldstream/Vernon Emergency Plan, contact Pat Cantner, Emergency Coordinator at 550-3596.
The City has determined there is a need in the community for housing that incorporates Smart Growth principles, green space, a mix of housing types, and is accessible for individuals, couples and families at lower costs than are currently available in most neighborhoods in Vernon. Council has therefore established a new Corporation to undertake the development and sale of land known as the Hesperia Lands. The 28 ha (69 acre) site is located south of Okanagan Avenue and Apollo Road. The lands will be transferred into the name of the Hesperia Land Corporation and all shares in the Corporation will be owned by the City of Vernon. The Hesperia Land Corporation will consist of the following five Directors appointed by Council:
Councillor Cunningham, a resident of the area, notes that "although the Hesperia Land Corporation will act in an independent capacity, its mandate for development of the lands will clearly reflect Council's vision for an environmentally sustainable development that meets a variety of housing needs". "The Hesperia lands will be developed in a thoughtful and strategic manner, providing an opportunity to showcase the principles of Smart Growth and be a benefit to all citizens of the City" commented Mayor Lippert.
On a per capita basis, the Vernon branch of the Okanagan Regional Library has been underserviced and has outgrown its current building. The City has also outgrown its space at City Hall and houses several divisions in the Corporate Services Building on the Coldstream Hotel site. In addition, other public sector organizations, including the RCMP have expressed a need for office space. To accommodate the needs of a growing community, the City has committed to constructing a library/civic building on the civic complex site. Site enhancements will include the relocation and increase in parking stalls under the proposed new building to allow for increased pedestrian and green space on the civic site. The objectives in redeveloping the civic complex site include:
The City has a number of options to raise funds to construct the building, including borrowing, through the Municipal Finance Authority. To reduce the impact on the average taxpayer and spread the costs over the life of the facility, Council has decided to borrow the funds. Public assent for the borrowing will proceed by way of the Alternate Approval Process, a duly authorized process under the Community Charter. The City of Kelowna has obtained borrowing authority under the Alternate Approval Process for many projects, including most recently, a 44 million dollar aquatic centre, 30 million dollars of which was approved for borrowing under the Alternate Approval Process. Based on borrowing over 25 years, financing the construction of the new building, less lease revenue, will cost the average home owner $38 per year. Alternatively, short term financing of the project would cost $160 per average household over 4 years. Further information on the Alternate Approval Process, including petition locations and eligibility to sign will be provided to the public at the Open Houses and in the newspaper. The public will be provided three opportunities within the next two weeks to view site concepts for the inclusion of the proposed library/civic building on the civic complex block. The Open Houses will be held at City Hall on the following dates: Wednesday, June 20th, 2007 - 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 23rd, 2007 - 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 27th, 2007 - 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Library and Art Gallery representatives, City Staff, RCMP, and Architects will be available to provide information on the preliminary design, cost and borrowing bylaw approval process. Mayor Sharon Shepherd of Kelowna, Mayor Jake Kimberley of Penticton and Mayor Wayne Lippert of Vernon, along with the three City Administrators, participated in a three hour meeting at Vernon City Hall on Tuesday, June 12th, 2007 where they shared information on issues of mutual interest to all valley communities. Topics included sustainability and climate change, Regional Transit, Pine Beetle infestation and the single Business Licence initiative proposed by the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue. The three Mayors agreed that they would investigate initiatives that the three municipalities could work together regarding Okanagan sustainability and climate change priorities. Mayors Shepherd, Kimberley and Lippert also agreed on the need for funding from senior government to assist valley residents in the removal of pine beetle infested trees. The three Mayors will keep each other updated on discussions with senior levels of government in this regard. A discussion was held on the comprehensive transportation plan being conducted by the Cities of Vernon and Kelowna in partnership with the Regional Districts of North Okanagan and Central Okanagan, with the Mayors agreeing for the need to explore strategies to deal with commuter traffic between the three municipalities. "It is extremely beneficial to our communities for the Mayors of Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton to meet and discuss issues of mutual interest. " commented Mayor Lippert. "All three municipalities face many of the same issues and through meetings such as this; we can share our experiences and work towards solutions."
Vernon - Building on the success of the early phases of the Plan Vernon; Official Community Plan (OCP) Review, the City of Vernon has announced it will hold two key stakeholder meetings next month. On June 9th at Okanagan Landing School 1-4pm, and June 16th at the Performing Art Centre 1-4pm public stakeholders are invited to gather to discuss, share, and debate the success, or lack of success of translating community principles, priorities, issues, and values into land use preference options. "Preference maps" have been generated and will be used to outline development preferences, ranging from the location of new employment, or commercial centre's to residential development areas. In recent months, City Council, staff, and community leaders have participated in a range of OCP review activities. Visioning workshops, a community survey, and more recently, focus groups, as well as the website feedback form have facilitated lively and engaging dialogue about key issues facing Vernon. A set of Guiding Principles has been drafted to direct the policy and OCP writing. Key Issues Papers were published to the website and have since been visited by over 3,000 people. Far from being over, the community consultation phase of the OCP Review is just gearing up. At this point, the City of Vernon is moving forward with the next stage of the OCP review process. A key priority is to develop an evaluation framework that will provide City Council, staff, and the general public with direction as they consider the many available policy and land use options. The Vernon Stakeholder Meetings on June 9th and 16th are another key opportunity for city residents to play an active and positive role in shaping Vernon's future. For more information on how to become involved please contact:
On behalf of Her Excellency, the Right Honorable Michalle Jean; Governor General of Canada, Mayor Wayne Lippert will present the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award to Vernon resident, Nancy Ingersoll. The ceremony will take place at Vernon City Hall on February 26th 2007 at 1.30pm during the Open Meeting of Council. The Award is presented to individuals whose unpaid, voluntary contributions provide extraordinary help or care to people in the community. Recipients have usually served over a number of years and have not usually been previously recognized by a national or provincial honour. Determined to address local needs in education, Nancy Ingersoll co founded the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) in 1993, where her effective communication skills established positive relationships among trustees, school administrators and teachers. Also keenly interested in poverty and health issues, Mrs Ingersoll has devoted 20 years to volunteering with the People in Need Crisis Line Intervention Society, Teens Talk Line and the Good Morning Program for Seniors. She has tutored adults in literacy skills, been Captain Canvasser for the Canadian Society for the past 13 years and has helped the United Way with special events. A committed youth advocate, she has served on the Advisory Committee of the Social Planning Council providing support for young people in the community. Mrs. Ingersoll joins a prestigious line up of former Vernon recipients who have been presented with for the awards since it was first established in 1995 by the Right Honorable Romeo Le Blanc. Mr. Joe Brown - 1998, Mr. Edward Fred - 1999, Mr. Nicolas Shaigec - 2003. Kevin Bertles has been appointed the position of Finance Manager f Rob, who has accepted a new challenge with the City of Kelowna; effective February 15th, took over the Finance Manager's position at the City of Vernon from Bernd Fehrmann who retired from his post last summer after serving more than 21 years. Kevin is delighted to be taking on the new role "I look forward to serving the citizens of Vernon in this new role within the Finance Team. We will continue to deliver financial services with integrity and refine our financial budgeting and reporting systems." Jody Drope, Human Resources Manager, has accepted a new challenge with the City of Kelowna's Human Resources Department effective February 5th. Jody, a Kelowna resident, and former employee of the City of Kelowna, has enjoyed her 3 years working for the City of Vernon but family commitments have forced her to return to her roots." It was a really difficult decision to make, but the motivation to return to Kelowna is for my young family." Everyone at City Hall will be working together to ensure the transition runs as smoothly as possible for the organization. Recruitment for a new HR Manager is underway, in the interim Marg Bailey, Deputy CAO will act as the HR Manager. Council by resolution has voted to dissolve the Land & Airport Corporations effective January 1st 2007. The two Corporations will be established as committees and all Directors of the Corporations will be asked to continue on as committee members. This decision has been made as Council felt there was no additional benefit from having a corporation that could not be achieved through a committee. Mayor, Wayne Lippert, stated that "in many ways the Corporations functioned no differently than an advisory committee to Council and Council voted to regularize the operations as part of the City." Jack Borden, President for the Vernon Land Corporation said; "The concept of structuring Vernon Land as a Corporation has not proven to provide any real benefit. Restructuring Vernon Land as a committee of Council will continue to allow Vernon Land to pursue its mandate and objectives." Ian Hawes, President for the Vernon Airport Corporation is also positive about the change. "Directors of the Airport Corporation are justifiably proud of the work they have done on behalf of all of Vernon in their operation and management of the airport. The directors respect the decision of council and feel a sense of accomplishment in returning the operation of the airport to City Hall in considerably better shape than it was three years ago." At its December 11th meeting, Council declassified from 'in camera' its decision to authorize the City's solicitor to address a number of historic court actions and agreements that need to come under review at this time with respect to the beneficial use of reclaimed water. This review has become timely given the recent $30 million upgrade to the City's sewer treatment plant which produces very high quality reclaimed water for beneficial use. The City is in a unique situation where even if it strictly complies with Provincial legislation, it is bound by a court undertaking and agreement, one of which has been in place since 1987, and which holds the City to a different standard than other B.C. municipalities. Since the 1970's, the City of Vernon has been a leader in the beneficial reuse of reclaimed water, currently supplying reclaimed water for use as irrigation to more than 800 hectares (2000 acres) of agricultural, silvicultural and recreational land. The City is proud to have been able to put the reclaimed water to exceptional use and so avoid having to use the deep lake outfall pipe. "The message is clear" said Mayor Wayne Lippert, for the City of Vernon "the City is committed to continuing beneficial re-use of reclaimed water. The fact that we have only had to discharge reclaimed water to Okanagan Lake once in 20 years really is remarkable. I hope we can continue this practice in the years to come, but our City should not be treated differently than other Okanagan municipalities."
Plans to construct a new state of the art library facility are underway following Monday's Council meeting when approval was granted for staff to proceed with preliminary designs to construct the new facility. In partnership with the Okanagan Regional Library, The City of Vernon is looking to make application from the recently announced Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund; Cultural grant opportunity to assist with the construction costs for the 90,000 sq. ft. building on the Civic Complex site. The library, which will be housed on the main level, will constitute 30,000 sq. ft. of the space; with the remaining area being used for offices. Underground parking will be provided. "The existing library of 13,000 sq. ft. is only 52% of the size is should be in accordance with the 2001 census" states Ms. Lesley Dieno, Executive Director of the Okanagan Regional Library Board. " Vernon is our busiest library. But having less space, Vernon citizens have a lot less choice on the shelf than they should have and half the internet resources they need." With increased space, the Okanagan Regional Library will be able to deliver improved services to the Vernon community, including additional collections, increased children's programs, an adequate meeting room and above all more choice. At a meeting held this week in Kelowna , members of the Okanagan Regional Library Board, which represents 25 communities in the region, unanimously supported working with the City to provide this facility " Vernon and Summerland are the two facilities that are high priorities for the library system. These two libraries are at 50% of the space that their citizens are paying for" said Patrick Nicol, City of Vernon representative for the Okanagan Regional Library Board.  Kalamalka Rotary Club partners with Vernon Fire - Rescue Services To Enhance Response
Thanks to a generous donation of $10,565.00 from the Kalamalka Rotary Club, Vernon Fire-Rescue Services will be purchasing two automated external defibrillators (AED) and training materials, to certify twenty four of their firefighters. This exciting opportunity to partner with the Kalamalka Rotary Club provides enhanced service to residents and visitors in our response area. The service will provide an automated external defibrillator (AED) program to supplement existing emergency response capabilities at public functions and emergency incidents. Engine 78 and Rescue 87, the two "first out" fire apparatus will be equipped with the AED's. These vehicles respond to a variety of emergency incidents within our response area. Incidents include fire calls, ambulance assists, regional auto extrication incidents, mutual aid calls and a variety of public service calls. AED's will help us fulfill one of the passions shared by all first responders: saving more lives. "If just one life can be saved as a result of AED equipment and training, then the value of this emergency program is priceless and we are extremely grateful to Kalamalka Rotary for their donation" Rick Owens, Deputy Chief, Operations. An AED is a small, portable device that analyzes the heart's rhythm and prompts the user to deliver a defibrillation shock if it determines one is needed. Once turned on, the AED guides the user through each step of the defibrillation process by providing voice and/or visual prompts. AED's are specially designed for easy use by a "first medical responder", who would be the first person to typically arrive on the scene of an emergency. Time lapse to defibrillation, the most critical factor in sudden cardiac arrest survival, will be reduced as the fire apparatus will now have the AED's on site quickly. This is one of the reasons that survival rates improve in communities with active AED programs. Every minute that passes prior to defibrillation reduces survival rates by 7-10 percent. "Life safety is a priority and our goal is to continue to provide excellent emergency services, with the addition of AED's we can make the difference"
Rick Owens, Deputy Chief, Operations. Mr. Lorne HolowchukNew City of Vernon Transportation Specialist This position will enable Lorne to develop the City of Vernon's transportation plan and policy, support the development of the Official Community Plan, Growth Management Strategy, Transit Plan and provide transportation engineering expertise. Lorne brings to the City more than 30 years of transportation expertise which he looks forward to applying in consultation with the community and to the external agencies. Formally Manager of Planning, Development and Engineering Services, this effective succession plan allows Lorne the opportunity to dedicate his expertise to Strategic Transportation Planning in conjunction with the recently announced Official Community Plan update. 'The opportunity to work with this dynamic and dedicated team is very exciting. I look providing strategic direction and leadership in the areas of transportation, growth management and transit planning” Lorne Holowachuk. Mr.
Jeremy Kinch
New City of Vernon Manager Planning, Development and Engineering Services
The City of Vernon is pleased to announce, effective October 12, 2006, the appointment of Mr. Jeremy Kinch, P.Eng. to Manager, Planning, Development and Engineering Services. Jeremy brings to the City 13 years of construction and engineering experience in both the private and public sectors. Prior to this appointment Jeremy was a Project Manager with the Regional District of North Okanagan. Together with, his wife Kelly and their two daughters Jeremy resides in Vernon. "I am very excited to be leading the Planning, Engineering and Development Services team. I am ready to meet the challenges that the current level of growth and development in Vernon presents and I promise to serve the citizens of Vernon and Council with respect and integrity." Mr. Doug Ross New City of Vernon Manager of Recreation Services Doug brings 23 years of experience as a City of Vernon Recreation Programmer. Doug has been most recently been working on the volley ball, and soccer programs for the City, as well as the Playschool/Preschool Tiny Tots programs. Some highlights of his Programming years include organizing the Dinosaur Days in 1996 as well as coordinating the Silver Lining Hockey Game in 1994 - both of which raised over 81 thousand dollars for children's programs for the community. Doug and his wife Toni, have lived in Vernon for almost 24 years. Together with their daughters Meghan (14) and Delaney (12) they enjoy the community and all it offers. “I am looking forward to this opportunity to work with the great team at Recreation Services in my new role as Manager, and to continue supplying the citizens of Greater Vernon with a wide variety of quality leisure activities.”
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NOTICE File No. ME-12215 Application for an Amendment to a Ministry of Environment Operational Certificate Under the Provisions of the Environmental Management Act The Corporation of the City of Vernon, 3400 30th Street, Vernon BC, V1T 5E6, has submitted an application to the Director to amend Operational Certificate (OC) ME-12215, issued October 31, 1997 and last amended February 25, 1999 which authorizes the discharge of reclaimed wastewater to ground by irrigation, and effluent that is surplus to the needs of the irrigation system to Okanagan Lake, from a municipal sewage collection system and sewage treatment system. The land upon which the sewage treatment facility is situated is legally described as Lot 1, Plan 6857, PID 010067124; 2799, exc. Plans B4919, B4944 and 6846, PID 010542191; Lot 10, Plan 1744, PID 011396369; Parts of D.L. 66 and 75; Lot 1, Plan 30973, PID 003821510 located at 2100 43rd Street within the City of Vernon. The lands to which reclaimed water is discharged to ground by irrigation are generally located within the areas of the City of Vernon and the Regional District of North Okanagan commonly known as Commonage, Bella Vista, Kalamalka Research Station, Vernon Golf and Country Club, Predator Ridge, DND Playing Fields and Marshall Playing Fields. The location of the point of discharge of effluent that is surplus to the needs of the irrigation system is an outfall pipe and diffuser located at a depth of approximately 60m at a point approximately 5,600m west of the point where Vernon Creek enters Okanagan Lake. The City has requested that OC ME-12215 be amended to reflect the recent commissioning of the new Vernon Water Reclamation Centre. A copy of the City of Vernon letter dated July 7, 2006, formally requesting the amendment of OC ME-12215, is available through the link below. Any person who may be adversely affected by the proposed amendment and wishes to provide relevant information may, within 30 days after the last date of posting, publishing, service or display, send written comments to the City of Vernon at 3400 30th Street, Vernon BC, V1T 5E6, with a copy of the written comments to be provided to the Assistant Regional Manager, Ministry of Environment, Environmental Protection Division at 102 Industrial Place, Penticton, BC, V2A 7C8. The identity of any respondents and the contents of anything submitted in relation to this application will become part of the public record. Dated this 26rd day of July, 2006. Posted: July 26, 2006 Wildfire Advisory - Wildland/Urban Interface areas
Recent communications with the Provincial Emergency Program has indicated that the Coldstream/Vernon areas are now in a very high risk category for the potential of Wildland Fires. Expected weather patterns over the next few weeks in these areas indicate we will reach extreme fire hazard levels. In cooperation with the Coldstream/Vernon Emergency Plan, your local Fire Departments and the BC Forest Vernon Fire Zone, we are asking citizens and visitors to the Coldstream/Vernon areas to be extremely fire conscious/safe, especially during this time of the year. Since Friday, July 14, 2006, the Vernon Fire Zone has experienced six wild land fires, all human caused. We are asking people in our communities to help us reduce the opportunities for Wildfires. The following measures will go a long way in keeping our communities as fire safe as possible:
For more information on this Wildfire Advisory, contact Johnny Lysholm, Fire Chief, Vernon Fire-Rescue Services, 550-3561. Physical Activity Measurement is Underway
The City of Vernon is utilizing a measurement tool created by the BC Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA) to assist registered Active Communities in measuring and monitoring community physical activity levels. The tool incorporates the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and collects information from participants on all forms of energy expenditure done in the previous week (e.g., leisure time physical activity, domestic and gardening (yard) activities, work-related physical activity, and transport-related physical activity). The tool was developed for the Active Communities Initiative in consultation with pilot communities and experts from the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI), University of Victoria School of Physical Education, and Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). The purpose of this measurement tool is to allow registered Active Communities across British Columbia to obtain comparable data on physical activity and support communities in working towards increasing physical activity rates of British Columbians by 20% by the year 2010. This tool is being used in a telephone survey format and surveys are being conducted by Discovery Research. “Physical inactivity is a major contributing factor to a number of chronic diseases, and according to the Canadian Community Health Survey, 40% of British Columbians are physically inactive,” commented BCRPA Chief Executive Officer Suzanne Allard Strutt. “The BC Recreation and Parks Association is pleased to be supporting registered Active Communities to monitor and increase physical activity levels.” Betty-Jean Goodwin, Recreation Programmer for the City of Vernon, is pleased this tool is being implemented. “This initiative focuses on increasing activity levels in our province by 20% by the year 2010. Any initiative that increased activity, making us a healthier community, should be given our full support.” For more information, visit:
Posted: June 26, 2006 Mr. James Rice New City of Vernon Manager of Public Works Mr. Rice brings to the City 15 years of experience in the engineering and construction industry both in the private and public sectors. Mr. Rice previously held the position of Engineering Design Technician with the City of Vernon where he was responsible for the implementation of the City’s capital works program. Mr. Rice will be reporting to Shirley Koenig, Manager, Operations. James, his wife Sheri and their four daughters have lived in the City of Vernon for 12 years and enjoy the community and all it offers. “The Operations Department has a history of providing exemplary service to both internal and external customers. I look forward to working with this group of dedicated employees and becoming a part of their team.” Mr. Rob Mayne New City of Vernon Finance Manager Mr. Mayne brings to the City 20 years of experience in Finance, including 15 years within the municipal government sector. Mr. Mayne previously held the position of Financial Accounting and Systems Manager with the City of Kelowna where he was responsible for financial systems, internal audit and the preparation of the City's Annual Financial Report; a Report which received the prestigious Government Finance Officers' Association's "Canadian Award for Financial Reporting" in three consecutive years. Mr. Mayne, his wife Lisa and their three boys already enjoy the Vernon area from their family cabin on the West Side. "The opportunity to work with this dynamic and dedicated team is very exciting. I look forward to serving the citizens of Vernon and Council with integrity and respect, providing sound, fiscally responsible decision making, leadership and direction." Staff Recognized at Annual Event
Appreciated employees are happy and productive employees. The City of Vernon provides an annual staff luncheon to appreciate and recognize the value of its workers. Awards are also given out for long-service and exceptional achievement. This year’s event was held on Monday, May 29. “City of Vernon staff continue to impressed me with their caliber of expertise, initiatives, and overall personality,” says Mayor Wayne Lippert. “People coming to City Hall and people meeting me on the street so often compliment me on our staff for being personable, knowledgeable and helpful. Every person and every position adds great value to this organization and I am honoured to be able to give something back to the staff in this form of appreciation.” 11th Annual Emergency Preparedness Week - May 7 – 13, 2006
Is Your Family Prepared? If a disaster happens in your community, first responders will be busy helping those in desperate need. It may take some time for them to get to you. By taking a few simple steps today, we can all become better prepared if disaster strikes tomorrow. The activities planned and the information available during Emergency Preparedness Week will provide tools to help families cope for the first crucial hours during an emergency. Most disasters are beyond our control. However, with a little planning and preparation, there are ways to minimize the impacts to your family and community. Here are a few simple things you can do now:
Emergency Preparedness Week is a national awareness campaign coordinated by Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada with provincial and territorial emergency management organizations. For more information:
On March 27, 2006 Council approved a 2% increase to garbage and recycling fees. This increase reflects the change in cost of providing the service. Council also approved a 7.2% increase in the sanitary sewer rates. This increase is required to meet the annual debt cost of the recently completed $29,000,000.00 treatment plant plus its operating costs. These new rates will be implemented with the billings for the first quarter of 2006 which covers January 1 to March 31, 2006 and are scheduled for mailing by mid-April. Remember, if you are a residential metered sewer customer your first quarter water consumption will be the basis of your sewer charge for each quarterly billing in 2006. Please contact the Finance Department of the City of Vernon at 545-1361 if you require further clarification.
Council of the City of Vernon will be considering final adoption of the “City of Vernon Development Cost Charges Amendment Bylaw #4984, at the April 10th, 2006 Regular Open Meeting. Upon adoption of the Bylaw, all development applications received for processing after the April 10th, 2006 adoption will be subject to the rates in Bylaw #4984 which are slated to increase. Subdivision and Building Permit applications received prior to April 10th, must be complete.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the City Planner, Mr. Dale Rintoul, at 550-3575. The City of Vernon is joining other municipalities across the province in working with 2010 Legacies Now and the Provincial Government to help meet the target of increasing physical activity amongst its citizens and employees by 20% by 2010. “The City of Vernon is thrilled to be a part of the 20% Physical Activity Challenge. Vernon is known for being a hotbed of hockey. Silver Star and Sovereign Lake are meccas for downhill cross-country skiers,” said City of Vernon Councillor Patrick Nicol. “Vernon had five — count em ' — five Olympians and Paralympians in Torino competing in the 2006 Winter Games. Plus, we have the Schubert Centre, the most active seniors’ center in the Okanagan. Vernon will surpass the 20% challenge, guaranteed. We are ready to go for 2010.” To coincide with Council passing the motion to participate in the 20% Physical Activity Challenge, the City of Vernon plans to pursue a major pedometer/active living project with support from community and business partners in Greater Vernon. Residents can register for the Try-Active Project, which was launched on March 5. Participants will receive a pedometer that enables them to record their steps to better health. In addition, workshops on goal setting will be held, free guided walks in Kal Provincial Park will be available, and a Move for Health Day is planned for May 10, 2006. “One of our government’s goals is for British Columbia to lead the way in North America in healthy living and physical fitness. With the positive attitude Vernon has shown by taking up this challenge, I know our community will be leading the way in helping our province meet this goal and I’m confident we’ll easily complete the 20% challenge,” said Okanagan-Vernon MLA Tom Christensen. In 2004, the Canadian Medical Association passed a resolution calling on provincial governments to commit to increasing the physical activity levels of all Canadians by 10% by 2010. In response, the Province of British Columbia was the first jurisdiction in Canada to announce that it will work with 2010 Legacies Now to double the target to 20% and is encouraging all municipalities to become more physically active by 2010. “Activities providing 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per day, such as brisk walking or cycling are enough to maintain an active lifestyle,” said Marion Lay, President of 2010 Legacies Now. “As well, physical activity contributes positively to a person's overall well-being and can lead to a more productive and healthier community and work force. Our team at 2010 Legacies Now is looking forward to working with all municipalities across the province in meeting the Province’s challenge of increasing physical activity in every region of British Columbia.” According to the Canadian Community Health Survey, 2003 by Statistics Canada, 38 per cent of British Columbians are not active enough to achieve the health benefits associated with an active lifestyle. As a result, inactive British Columbians are at a greater risk for chronic diseases including coronary artery disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, breast cancer and osteoporosis.
The numbers are in. Project Engineer for the Vernon Water Reclamation Centre (VWRC), Bill Di Pasquale, has announced that the final project cost for the VWRC have come in $95,290 below original project estimates. The final project cost of $29,079,710 came in shy of the anticipated $29,175,000 price tag.
The City of Vernon announced today that an agreement has been reached to purchase lands and buildings known as the McDonald Realty property located at 3102 – 32nd Avenue and exchange such lands for lands and improvements owned by the North Okanagan Youth and Family Services located at 2900 32nd Avenue. The agreement with the North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society also includes payment by the City of $50,000 to assist in relocation and legal fees and payment of the balance of taxes on their new premises at 3102 – 32nd Avenue from June 3rd, 2006 to December 31st, 2006 as the tax exemption which they currently receive cannot be transferred to their new premises. The agreement with the North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society will result in the City acquiring ownership of a key property in the Coldstream Hotel block.
City of Vernon Council, at the Friday, February 3 Special Council Meeting, has adopted the new 2011 Vision & Strategic Plan.
Download the City of Vernon Tax Exemption Bylaw # 4979 - 1.51MB PDF The Corporation of the City of Vernon is the proud winner of the 2006 Winter Carnival award for the best dressed government premise. The theme of City Hall, in keeping with the Carnival of the Roaring 20’s theme, is Vernon in the 1920’s. City Hall was adorned in items from the era, using such items as a wagon, apple crates, accordion, telephone, gramophone, butter churner and railroad signal lights. A big poster of the hills depicts the area before the Bella Vista area was developed. The upstairs area of City Hall was decorated as a train station because the train was vital to the area. The downstairs area of City Hall was decorated as a steam ship, as this was the other main source of transport. Oh, and we can’t forget the flappers; the lovely ladies of City Hall dressed up in keeping with the spirit of the time. The front display cabinets have now been filled with trophies garnered from previous years, some of them dating back to1979. The win in 2006 marks the first time in six years that the City of Vernon has participated in decorating for Winter Carnival. “We are very proud of our staff for committing their own time to decorating City Hall and dressing up for this event,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert. “The spirit of City Hall has vastly improved and this was a feel-good event for everyone.”
Posted: February 3, 2006
The City of Vernon Athletic Commission has continued to meet since its inaugural meeting in December, 2005. The Athletic Commission has now completed its final draft of Rules and Regulations with regard to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competitions that may be held in the Vernon area. The next step will be City Council’s review and approval of the recommendations of the Commission. “Our meetings have been focused on designing a set of guidelines for fighters and promoters which will best ensure the safety of the participants and to protect the City from potential liability”, said Kyle Watts, a lawyer and Chair of the Athletic Commission. City Council next meets on Monday, February 13, 2006 at the Recreation Centre, and it is expected that the Athletic Commission’s proposals will be on the Regular Meeting Agenda for their consideration. “MMA promoters have been contacting us, and are eager to confirm dates for their proposed events”, said Chair Kyle Watts. The City of Vernon Athletic Commission can be contacted through the City’s Committee Clerk, Gail Mrazek, at 550-3517 or gmrazek@vernon.ca.
The City of Vernon Athletic Commission recently held its inaugural meeting. Kyle Watts was appointed as Chairman. The other Commissioners include Saleem Taj, Brian Jones, and Edward Anger. Councillor Jack Gilroy was appointed earlier this year as the City appointee under the terms of the Athletic Commission Bylaw. “The group has a valuable array of backgrounds in combative sports– Brian is heavily involved in boxing, Saleem in martial arts, and Edward has an extensive background in amateur wrestling. Jack was an excellent appointment given his experience and interest in sports” said Kyle Watts, who also noted that he trains in mixed martial arts (MMA). The Commission’s mandate is to regulate professional combative sports such as Boxing and MMA in the Vernon area. “We have heard rumblings from a couple of promoters regarding desires to hold MMA events in Vernon in the near future, so we may focus our attention to that sport first.” The Commission will be adopting governing rules and regulations in the new year. The Commission can be contacted through the City’s Committee Clerk, Gail Mrazek, at 550-3517 or gmrazek@vernon.ca
The City of Vernon has commissioned the work of Dean Cebuliak, also known as Digital Dean, of Digital Dean Photo Studios, to produce for City Hall a landscape photo of Vernon. The framed photo, sized at 90 x 30 inches, is proudly displayed in the Administration office at City Hall.
The internal 2005 City of Vernon Harassment Investigation has concluded and the Final Report has been issued. The City is satisfied that the investigation was thorough. This internal matter is now concluded. The harassment complaints against Vernon City Councillor Cochrane and former Councillor O’Keefe failed as neither’s conduct breached the provisions of the City’s Harassment Policy. No further statement will be issued by any of the parties involved. Click here to download Official Election results for the City of Vernon 2005 General Local Election - 50Kb PDF MAYOR
COUNCIL
The City of Vernon’s Cultural Centre Committee hosted an open house on November 1, 2005. Residents had a chance to discuss and review the Strategic Action Plan for the proposed new Cultural Centre, examine the proposals, and meet with the committee and consultants to ask questions and provide feedback.
Leon Gous, Chief Administrative Officer, today announced the structure of the new management team for the City of Vernon. The Community and Corporate Services General Manager positions have been eliminated and Marg Bailey has been promoted to Deputy Chief Administrative Officer. Eight Division Managers will now report directly to Mr. Gous and Ms. Bailey.
City Council was unanimous in its decision to appoint Mr. Leon Gous as Chief Administrative Officer with the City of Vernon, subject to the successful conclusion of contact negotiations.
May 30 - Vernon City Council has endorsed in principle a bylaw to
regulate materials which can be discharged into the City of Vernon
sanitary sewer system.The proposed bylaw, designated as “City of Vernon Sanitary Sewer Use Bylaw Number 4863, 2005” will ensure that materials which may be detrimental to the sewage collection system and the Vernon Water Reclamation Centre are not discharged into the sanitary sewer system. Most sewer utility customers will already comply with the bylaw. In order to provide information regarding the bylaw, and to provide the public with an opportunity for input, the City of Vernon is hosting a public information session on Thursday, June 9, 2005 at 5:00pm in the Council Chambers at Vernon City Hall. Copies of the bylaw will also be available at this meeting. If you are unable to attend the public information
session and require information regarding the bylaw, please contact
Dale Danallanko, Manager, Environmental Services at 550-3591. Written
comments will also be accepted at Vernon City Hall until 4:30pm,
Friday, June 10, 2005.
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The largest building permit in the history of the City of Vernon has been issued to Sparkling Hill Resort, a luxury, European-style wellness hotel being built next to the prestigious Predator Ridge Golf Resort and south of the city of Vernon.
The City of Vernon is pleased to announce the appointment of its new fire chief, Jeffrey Carlisle. In announcing his appointment, CAO, Leon Gous said, “Chief Carlisle comes to us with a wealth of experience and expertise, and we look forward to working with him”. 
or the City of Vernon. Previously Accounting Supervisor/Deputy Finance Manager, Kevin was a strong candidate in the recent recruitment which resulted in the appointment of Rob Mayne.
The City of Vernon is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Lorne Holowachuk to the position of Transportation Specialist, effective October 11 2006. 
The City of Vernon is pleased to announce, effective September 5, 2006, the appointment of Mr. Doug Ross, to the position of Manager of Recreation Services. 
The City of Vernon is pleased to announce, effective June 12, 2006, the appointment of Mr. James Rice, to the position of Manager of Public Works replacing the previous Public Works Manager, Mr. Ed Forslund, who retired after 35 years of service to the City. 
The City of Vernon is pleased to announce, effective July 17, 2006, the appointment of Mr. Rob Mayne, Certified Management Accountant, to the position of Finance Manager replacing Mr. Bernie Fehrmann, who will be retiring after 21 years with the City. )
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