Support from Penticton Indian Band for proposed expansion of Skaha Marina would have cost $55,000
Editor’s note: Welcome to the first in a fivepart series in which we’ll pull back part of the veil of secrecy over Penticton city council’s in camera meetings. In the first four parts, we’ll look items of community interest we think should have been public, but weren’t. In the final part, we’ll compare Penticton’s penchant for secrecy to that of other communities, and find out how the new city manager plans to improve transparency.
Obtaining support from the Penticton Indian Band for the proposed expansion of Skaha Marina would have cost at least $55,000, according to a letter city councillors discussed at a closed-door meeting in May.
“The Penticton Indian Band acknowledges the urgency of this project,” lands manager Dan Sarazin wrote on April 18, “however it is chief and council’s request that an aquatic impact assessment and an archeological assessment be completed in order to properly assess the risks and impacts before supporting the expanded marina.”
Sarazin pegged the cost of an aquatic assessment performed by the Okanagan Nation Alliance at $44,755, plus another $10,000 for the archeological assessment.
“There is high potential of impacting the ecology and critical aquatic species within Okanagan Territory and until that information is produced a letter of support cannot be issued from PIB,” wrote Sarazin.
His letter, obtained by The Herald through a freedom of information request, began by noting it was written in response to a request for support from city manager Peter Weeber during a meeting with chief and council on April 11.
The expansion of the marina from 60 to 100 slips was contemplated in a 29-year lease agreement between the City of Penticton and Trio Marine Group.
The city announced last month, however, that it will opt out of the lease at a cost of $200,000, meaning Trio will have control of the facility, as is, only through the 2018 boating season.
Mayor Andrew Jakubeit said the $55,000 cost of the assessments would have fallen to Trio to bear, but the company never ordered the work.
Trio couldn’t be reached for comment Sunday.
Jakubeit said the quote will still be helpful as the city begins public consultations later this year about the future of the marina.
“Depending on how we want to go with the marina – whether we just upgrade it for safety reasons and modernize it or upgrade and expand it – will probably dictate what we’ll need to do for the band,” said the mayor.
PIB Chief Chad Eneas couldn’t be reached for comment Sunday.
Even before Sarazin wrote his letter, the band had deep concerns about Trio’s ill-fated plans for Skaha Lake Park and Skaha Marina.
“The development site is located within a region that has been identified as having very high PIB archeological potential. This means that any ground disturbance (including pile driving in the lake if required) has a high likelihood to impact PIB cultural heritage resources,” former chief Jonathan Kruger wrote in a 2015 letter to city council.
“As you are aware, the Penticton Indian Band and Syilx Nation have invested an enormous amount of time, effort and finances to reintroduce Okanagan sockeye into Skaha Lake.”
Kruger’s letter was also discussed by council at an in camera meeting and obtained by The Herald through a previous FOI request.
In general, the B.C. Community Charter states councils “may” meet behind closed doors to discuss land, legal and labour issues.
The charter requires council pass a resolution in public beforehand explaining on what basis they’re going in camera, but the charter does not require them to report out afterwards.
Tuesday: We look at what Gateway Casinos and Entertainment was asking for a pair of lots on Eckhardt Avenue and why the price was too steep for city council.