Room for 150 people at meeting tonight about Trio

Decision expected on proposed deals at Skaha Marina and in Skaha Lake Park

Only the first 150 people through the doors will be allowed into City Hall tonight as council decides the fate of Skaha Lake Park.

The special meeting will be held in council chambers at 7 p.m., not off site as had been speculated.

“A special council meeting to receive public input was held Nov. 23 and council received almost five hours of public input from over 700 who attended,” city spokesman Mark Parker said in a press release Wednesday.

“Council is now ready to move on to discussing the issue, and the usual City Hall location best facilitates council discussions and allows for the best quality, cost-efficient live video streaming of the debate and a video record of the proceedings.”

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Those who can’t squeeze into the gallery in council chambers can sit in a nearby conference room and watch the proceedings on a video screen.

Council is expected to finally decide on a course of action regarding its proposed agreements with Trio related to the company’s operations at Skaha Marina and in Skaha Lake Park.

Staff has presented four options: proceed with a revised agreement that eliminates a controversial waterpark; reject the revised agreement; go back to the negotiating table; or let the original deal play out and see if Trio has the ability to meet commitments contained in that agreement.

Council also met behind closed doors Tuesday night, although the subject of deliberations has not been made public.

Parker said the meeting was held in camera under sections of the Community Charter related to land and legal issues.