Kelowna Councillor Ron Cannan含羞草研究社檚 push to take the borrowing of $241 million for future recreation to public referendum fell flat at Monday regular meeting.
The loan will help pay for redevelopment of the Parkinson Recreation Centre as well as the Glenmore and Mission activity centres and Rutland Recreation Park.
含羞草研究社淭his is the largest capital project the city has ever undertaken for borrowing, why would you recommend not going to a public referendum rather than the alternative approval method (AAP),含羞草研究社� he asked staff.
The cost to conduct an AAP is approximately $2,500 compared to $150,000-$250,000 for a referendum, according to staff.
含羞草研究社淐ouncil advanced the direction to staff in our previous meeting to proceed with an AAP, a little surprised we含羞草研究社檙e having debate at this stage,含羞草研究社� said Doug Gilchrist, city manager.
Cannan voted against an AAP at that meeting which took place last month.
READ MORE: Kelowna council eager to move forward with Parkinson Recreation Centre replacement
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 not against redeveloping Parkinson,含羞草研究社� added Cannan. 含羞草研究社淲e need to live within our means. That含羞草研究社檚 what I含羞草研究社檓 hearing from the public.含羞草研究社�
Cannan also said he felt there was a lack of information from staff.
含羞草研究社淚 don含羞草研究社檛 like how it含羞草研究社檚 being proposed. If you want to railroad it through go ahead.含羞草研究社�
Councillors Gord Lovegrove and Charlie Hodge also voiced concerns about an AAP versus a referendum, however, they did vote in favour with most of council in giving consideration to a loan authorization bylaw to borrow the $241 million.
Cannan was the only one opposed.
Staff told council that the AAP would require 12,160 signatures from Kelowna residents opposed to borrowing the money.
If that happened council would have a decision to make, explained Stephen Flemming, city clerk.
含羞草研究社淵ou could not adopt the bylaw. Your options would be to send it to referendum or to come up with a different funding strategy.含羞草研究社�
The AAP is expected to be conducted in late August to early September.
READ MORE: Okanagan Connector expecting 5 cm of snow, rain
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on and subscribe to our daily and subscribe to our daily newsletter.
