Last week, City Council directed Administration to move forward with a City of Vernon referendum for the proposed Active Living Centre, in conjunction with the 2022 municipal election. Information on the planning process for the project was then shared with the community.
To help residents learn more about the proposed project, the amenities that are included in the conceptual design for the multi-use facility, and how the funding process would work, the City is providing a list of frequently asked questions that have been raised throughout the public and stakeholder engagement processes related to the Greater Vernon Recreation Master Plan and the Greater Vernon Active Living Centre Feasibility Study.
Greater Vernon Recreation Master Plan engagement
The Recreation Master Plan was developed between January 2018 and October 2018. It was designed to help guide Greater Vernon Recreation Services in the provision of recreation space and opportunities for years to come. It was built upon input and engagement from the citizens of Greater Vernon and under the guidance of decision makers from throughout the Greater Vernon area.
The general public, as well as a number of community stakeholders and partners, were involved throughout the development of the Master Plan. Some of the engagement activities included: receiving nearly 2,200 survey responses from various survey methods (controlled access; open access; student-specific; stakeholder-specific); public meetings; in-person interviews with 96 individuals representing 56 organizations; online engagement; community events; and questionnaires.
The Master Plan notes that the level of engagement from that planning process far exceeded levels experienced by the consulting team in other communities.
Greater Vernon Active Living Centre Feasibility Study engagement
The Active Living Centre Feasibility Study was conducted between August 2019 and May 2020. The goal of the study was “to find an indoor facility mix that meets the current and future needs of a growing community and has the opportunity to attract new residents and visitors to the Greater Vernon area.” One of the guiding principles of the study was to design a facility that would accommodate the everyday needs of the community and have the ability to host events.
Engagement activities for the Feasibility Study included: an Elected Officials workshop; a direct mail random sample survey; an open house; three online surveys – one of which specifically sought input from youth; six focus groups that included 86 participants representing more than 20 user groups; and 10 pop-up events.
In the link provided below, you will find a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) that came from the engagement activities noted above. The City of Vernon will continue to provide information on the proposed Active Living Centre project over the next several months, and will update the City’s website when new information is available.
Residents are encouraged to visit the Active Living Centre information page on a regular basis, and follow the City on its social media channels (@CityofVernon) on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn more about the project, the referendum process, and how City of Vernon residents can participate.
frequently asked questions
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