Canada Day
Vernon council officially endorsed the plan from the Vernon Okanagan lnspired Community Events Society (VOICE) for their 2024 Canada Day celebrations.
The group was renamed recently from the North Okanagan Canada Day Society. They presented on May 13 their plans for the big day, which include concerts, skateboarding competition and a car show.
Vernon administration has been directed by council to issue a business license and events permit to VOICE, at no additional cost. Funds given to the society from council are for items such as tables, chairs, porta-potties, rental fees and keys.
Similar to last year, the once-typical fireworks show will not take place, due to concerns about wildfires.
Transit for Teens
Council will be sending a letter to provincial ministers regarding a new campaign for free transit for youth aged 13-18.
The initiative was brought up in the May 13 council meeting, as two Fulton students, Haylee Andal and Jade Ha, presented to council members on the campaign.
“What we are asking council is to write a letter of support for free transit for B.C. teens and to invest in a better transit system in Vernon,” said Andal and Ha on May 13.
Currently, fares for youths aged 12 and under are free. This new policy would mean all individuals 18 years and under would get to ride public transit in the city for free.
B.C. Transit currently provides a fare rebate back to the city for revenue losses among individuals 12 years and under. It is unknown if that would continue if the policy was expanded to those 18 and under.
In the council report, transit fares were shown as being $2.50 for a single ride in the Okanagan, a day pass costing $6 and a 10-pack costing $22.25.
Administration cited other communities across the province with enacting a similar policy.
"Saanich endorsed a resolution to UBCM to expand the Get on Board! Program, Oak Bay endorsed free transit for all youth and seniors 65 years and older, in their request to UBCM, and Kelowna’s City Council directed their Administration to explore the feasibility of expanding their program to include youth up to the age of 18."
The official recommendation passed is for a letter to the province to support the Transit for Teens initiative, via the Union of B.C Municipalities (UBCM), which will be hosting their annual meeting on Sept 16-20 in Vancouver.
RCMP funds
Council approved additional funds to the RCMP detachment in 2024, as they look to improve their workflow, and cut down on backlogs.
The funds ($220,015) are coming from the RCMP Contingency Reserve, and will fund two temporary half-time positions (court liaison officer, exhibit custodian) and one temporary full time position (crime analyst).
While all three roles are for a one-year contract, administration noted that there "may be a need for these positions to come back to Council as a Service Level Adjustment in the 2026 budget process."
Public hearing
A public hearing has been set regarding the approval of the 2023 Annual Report.
The report was officially approved on Monday, and the hearing is for "submissions and questions from the public" concerning it.
It will take place on Monday, June 24, at 1:30 p.m., which is also the same day as the next council meeting.
Additional wildfire funds
Some financial help is coming for wildfire preparedness in Vernon.
Council approved the transferal of $154,675 in funds from the 2023 unexpended uncommitted balance to the extreme wildfire reserve.
They also approved the transfer of $49,339 from the same uncommitted balance to the abandoned camp reserve.
The decision comes after administration on March 25 reported an uncommitted balance of over $3 million on the 2023 fund. Administration typically transfers funds to the two reserves, however, at the time, they were considering pumping more money into the Active Living Centre, as it needed an additional $15 million.
At the last council meeting (May 27), specific reserve funds were given to the Active Living Centre, which meant that monies can be given out to the two reserves. The abandoned camp reserve is for abandoned camp clean-ups throughout the city.
Last year, $154,675 was spent to Fire Station 3 during the wildfire season, which was funded for the extreme wildfire reserve. Administration recommended that the reserve would be topped up to its original $200,000.
