Group dropping lawsuit against city
Save Skaha Park says its mission has been accomplished without having to go to court
Save Skaha Park has withdrawn its lawsuit against the City of Penticton and Trio Marine Group.
Spokeswoman Lisa Martin said Sunday the revised lease agreement between the city and Trio that was unveiled last month eliminates the potential for waterslides in the park and guarantees no net loss of green space, meaning the group’s mission has been accomplished outside of court.
The group, which boasts 5,000plus members, formed in 2015 to protect the park’s green space from the threat of commercial development.
“We have no plans to disband. There are lots of things in this (revised) agreement that need to be watched going forward,” Martin said, noting the group’s advisory committee will meet early in the new year to figure out what’s next.
Mayor Andrew Jakubeit views Save Skaha’s move as a step towards “healing the rift in the community.”
“The society was effective in their mandate to ensure no waterslide would be built and protecting green space, and despite our differences the society was willing to work towards finding some resolution with the city and always acted in a professional and respectful manner,” he said in a statement.
“There still might be some animosity out there because the issue has been divisive and it has been ongoing for a year-and-a-half, but I think the society ending their lawsuit helps us collectively to start moving forward.”
There still remains, however, another lawsuit seeking to cancel the city’s revised deals with Trio, which allow the company to run a concession and possible aquatic play amenity in Skaha Lake Park and operate the nearby Skaha Marina.
Nelson Meikle, who launched the court challenge in July, said previously he intends to carry on with it.
His main points of contention revolve around the city’s alleged failure to comply with provincial legislation related to the lease of public property and Trio’s alleged failure to have a liquor licence in place at all times while serving booze at the Skaha Marina restaurant.