Protect residents and communities

Dear editor: Part 2 of what my platform would be if running for Penticton city council: Equalizing costs with benefits: Implement a fee system for out-of-city users of city facilities, including Penticton Indian Band, to help city taxpayers with costs of these facilities and services.

Investigate, and ideally implement, an infrastructure support tax or fee on the PIB for replacement of taxes lost to PIB residential development which then depends on Penticton for all its services.

Implement environmental and social impact assessment for all significant projects, and hold public hearings in the community outside council chambers Parks protection and expansion Bring parks protection and expansion to a referendum that asks simply: do you want parks protected or commercialized / privatized, do you want industrial or vehicle use in public park land, and should the city actively expand the system?

Naturalize Skaha Lake Park, remove the marina, and turn boat use into a day launch system. Protect residents and communities No one likes to have their lives turned upside down by some arbitrary city hall decision that changes their lives forever.

We need to reduce development and building variances (aim for 90 per cent); If you want to build in a district, you should fit in no matter how “exceptional” your circumstance is, or how important you think you are. There would be no amendments to the OCP simply to pacify a developer.

Implement rules that limit city hall lobbying and behind closed-door cultivation of favoritism. Start with a lobby register for council and mayor; cut down city managers’ capacity to “haul baggage” for private interests looking to exploit taxpayers.

City-forced promotion of consumption and exploitation through what has turned into “no limits” development has resulted in oversaturation and overuse of services and facilities. We should protect taxpayers by limiting population density and spatial creep; one step is strict, virtually immutable, zoning, with limits on building height to six floors.

My perspective is that of “citizens and taxpayers for reforming Penticton government”. Implementation will require a critical mass of reformers and unequivocal public interest thinking on council; only time will tell if voters intend to pick people that pledge to do something about it.

This platform emphasizes allegiance to taxpayers and citizens, protection of taxpayers’ money and assets, and structural change in city hall, reining in their ability to manipulate the public’s vision and expectations.

If you agree, then please organize a slate, or question candidates to pledge to fundamental reform, tell the Herald, and tell your circle of friends. Brian L. Horejsi Penticton