New parks bylaw, master plan finally on agenda
In what’s being hailed as a “major win” by advocates, Penticton city council is today scheduled to give preliminary approval to a new parks dedication bylaw that specifically requires the electorate to approve new leases on public land.
Also on the agenda for today’s council meeting is the new Parks and Recreation Master Plan and a proposal for a new parks and recreation advisory committee. Like the bylaw, they also arose from discontent surrounding the aborted plan to lease out a portion of Skaha Lake Park for a commercial waterslides development.
“The proposed bylaw and process by which it is to be approved is considered to respond to the needs of the community and direction of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Steering Committee,” development services director Antony Haddad writes in his report to council.
“After much discussion with stakeholders and the committee, staff are confident that the proposed bylaw will ensure the appropriate levels of public engagement to occur with regard to any future lease or disposition of these lands and not negatively impact the use of parks in our community.”
The new bylaw received a vote of confidence Monday from the Protect Penticton Parks Society.
“While not perfect, (it) is a significant improvement over the former bylaw as it contains the key phrase ‘prior to granting a lease of all or part of the land dedicated as park under this bylaw, the city shall first obtain the approval of the electors.’ This is a major win,” the society’s advisory committee said in a note to members.
The new master plan also got an endorsement, with it being described to PPPS members as “a comprehensive overview and plan for park usage and recreation planning for the City of Penticton for the foreseeable future.”
Farther down on today’s agenda is the city’s 2017 statement of financial information, which includes the Sunshine List of all employees who made over $75,000, plus pay and expenses for politicians.
The regular meeting will be preceded at 1 p.m. by committee of the whole, which is expected to hear the city’s so-called infrastructure deficit has been recalculated at $117 million, down from $175 million in 2016.
Three public hearings are set to begin at 6 p.m.
The first concerns a plan to build seven units of multi-family housing at 783 Martin St., the second regards a proposal to add a one-bedroom apartment to a commercial property at 456 Main St., and the last item is a proactive zoning amendment proposed by staff that would allow up to three dwelling units on small urban lots.