RODEO TIME | The 95th Falkland Stampede is a May long weekend tradition [A16]
Morning gStar
The
Friday, May 17, 2013
P R O U D L Y
S E R V I N G
O U R
N O R T H
w w w. v e r n o n m o r n i n g s t a r. c o m
O K A N A G A N
C O M M U N I T I E S
F O R
O V E R
2 0
Y E A R S
TIRE SALE on NOW! 4612 27 TH STREET 1830 Hwy 6
Time limit for ranch funding
MARKET MUSIC
RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
LISA VANDERVELDE/ MORNING STAR
Stephanie Wade and her son Corbin, 22 months, dance along to Don Monty’s music at the Vernon Farmers Market Thursday morning in the Wesbild Centre parking lot.
Changes made, but no net cuts RICHARD ROLKE
A Vernon politician is accusing his colleagues of shuffling the deck chairs instead of making a serious effort to reduce staffing. It was revealed Thursday that, as part of a core services review, restructuring is occurring within two departments. Some positions will disappear but others will be created, meaning no net change to the number of personnel. “I don’t agree with this reorganization,” said Coun. Bob Spiers. “It’s just moving positions around instead of creating a new dynamic.” Restructuring of community development will include the creation of an economic development planner and a manager of longrange planning and sustainability. They will be funded through the elimination of the environmental planner position, the transfer
VERNON TOYOTA
on the core services report produced by KPMG. “The report says we’re not overstaffed compared to other jurisdictions and we’re understaffed in planning,” she said. There has been some anxiety among city employees since the core services review was initiated last year. Some were concerned that there could be widespread layoffs. However, that hasn’t occurred and CUPE president Ken Juniper believes most workers will accept the process. “We were never fat to start with and the KPMG report satisfied council,” he said. KPMG had recommended combining operations and engineering into one department but that has been rejected. Current staffing levels in the human resources department will also be maintained.
“It’s moving positions around instead of creating a new dynamic.”
Morning Star Staff
— Bob Spiers
of 0.5 time of the transportation demand management co-ordinator to engineering, reallocation of the 0.35 building inspector funding from a 2014 carry-forward and reallocation of a portion of the economic development project and planning budget. Council will also consider the creation of a parks planner during the 2014 budget process. Beyond Spiers, the new community development structure was also opposed by Councillors Catherine Lord and Patrick Nicol. In the safe communities unit, there will be a reduction of possi-
bly one staff position. The unit will be refocused on the core services of a community policing office by providing educational and safety programs. All council members supported changes within the safe communities unit. Mayor Rob Sawatzky supports the direction the city has taken overall with spending. “The organization has already reduced staff over the past year and we will continue with that effort,” he said. Coun. Juliette Cunningham says staffing decisions were based
O’Keefe Ranch is being warned that taxpayer funding is on a short leash. As part of the core services review, a majority of council voted Thursday to continue with a $150,000 annual grant for the city-owned historic site. But in 2016, that will drop to $100,000, followed by $50,000 in 2015 and $10,000 in 2016. “This thing needs a critical path,” said Coun. Brian Quiring. There is a hope that by establishing a timeline, other options for revenue generation will materialize. “It may be an impetus for other partners to support the ranch when they realize this (city funding levels) isn’t a forever thing,” said Coun. Juliette Cunningham referring to agencies like the regional district. City administration had recommended curtailing the grant schedule in 2014, with $10,000 being the end-point in 2016. Staff says $10,000 was selected because it’s outlined in a contract between the city and the O’Keefe Ranch Society. However, Coun. Catherine Lord, a former ranch manager, disagrees with that interpretation. “The $10,000 contract is for capital only and not operations,” she said. Opposition to reducing the grant starting in 2016 came from Mayor Rob Sawatzky and Councillors Bob Spiers and Patrick Nicol. Sawatzky believes reductions in the taxpayer subsidy should have begun in 2014. “This has been going on for more than 18 years,” he said of financial challenges at the ranch. “It has to be rationalized in some other ways.”
HURRY IN!
CE LEGENDARY PERFORMAN & RELIABILITY
VEHICLES MUST BE DELIVERED BY MAY 31/13
2013 TOYOTA
DL# 30382
3401 - 48th Ave • Phone (250) 545-0687 VISIT US 24/7 AT WWW.VERNONTOYOTA.COM
PAGE
COROLLA
2013 TOYOTA
RAV 4
CASH INCENTIVES
UP TO
6,000
$
†
†
SEE OUR AD ON
See dealer for full details.
A-13