Bring some common sense to city council

What rational and cost benefits did Penticton city council see or use when approving the following projects:

1. Downtown parking meters. Did they consider the effect this will have on downtown merchants when people boycott downtown in favour of the shopping malls?

What about the inconvenient method of paying with pay stations that are difficult to locate and understand? This does nothing to encourage residents or welcome visitors to browse our downtown restaurants and merchants, just nickel and diming, so revenues will unlikely not offset policing and installation costs.

We trust there will be no further thought of installing meters in our parks.

2. Bike lanes. How will this generate any revenue? Did council consider that people may not chose to ride on a dangerous route shared with traffic? What about the effect of reducing traffic lanes which restrict driving and further discourage downtown shopping? What about the adverse image the metal railings and barriers present, especially to tourists?

3. Skaha Lake Park upgrades. The vote to approve an undefined lease for the marina operation was very ill-conceived. No details of terms or actual period, 5 -25 years? What are the responsibilities of the lessee or operator/manager?

What justification was provided, other than perceived aesthetics, for a sidewalk and trees planted on a parking lot which will require expensive irrigation?

Presumably these installations and changes were developed and promoted by City planners. We understand the results could cost taxpayers $8 million for the park and $10 million for the bike lanes. If so, we need a new crop of planners who can bring forward some sensible proposals.

We encourage all of council to please bring some common sense to these decisions.