Decision delayed on North Westside governance study

Decision delayed on North Westside governance study was the story in the Vernon Morning Star. Senior staff members from the Ministry of Community, rx Sport & Culture came to the Monday night RDCO Regional Board Meeting to answer Board Members questions. This delegation was a result of a Board request for information following the August 22 NWCA Presentation  to the Board with their request and petition for a Governance Study for their North Westside Fire Protection District. The Board also instructed the CAO to prepare a Staff Report for the Board on the implications to RDCO and North Westside should the Governance Study proceed.

Some interesting items came up during the 2.5 hours the Ministry Staff answered questions and the audio though long is worth listening to if the issue concerns you.

•  The estimated cost for the study is $10-20, story 000 and funding is currently available in the Ministry Budget for this fiscal year (ends Mar/31/17). An application should be submitted quickly as funding does not last forever.
• Alternatives to full incorporation were explained.
  • LCC – Local Community Commissions – No existing successful models exist.
  • Electoral Area Committee – Turned down early 2015 when inquires made to Board Chair & Vice Chair by EA Directors. We were told the concept was not Democracy and would not be supported by the board although it was never actually presented to the Board.
  • Renew the relationship with the RDCO to achieve a more inclusive and transparent partnership in the scope and management of the services owned by the community and residents those functions serve. Best I not comment on this possibility.
• 50% of Incorporation Referendums actually fail. e.g. Lake Country went twice and West Kelowna needed three tries to Incorporate. Sometimes the Studies bring bad news … major infrastructure needing large investment, remedy service additions (roads, police, sewer, etc.) unaffordable to the available tax base, or many other impacts that make these Studies unique to the community they are reviewing This why the Provincially funded Studies are so important in the education and safeguarding of the residents so they can make the right decision for their community. 
• Turns out the Terms of Reference that I borrowed and fixed were originally written by the Ministry representative in charge of the Branch and there answering the questions for the Board. Really hoping that will be helpful to the cause. Turns out she wrote them for Okanagan Falls and the copy I used came from Sorrento so they should be well-tried and tested.

 A number of time Board Members can be heard on audio saying they could support the Governance Study for North Westside but they wanted to receive the Staff Report requested on August 22 and still not ready for this important meeting with Ministry Staff present.

Nonetheless I proceeded to move a Motion of Support (I think this is about the fifth time) for a

Resolution of Support by the RDCO Board requesting a full Governance Study on behalf of the North Westside Fire Protection District with a focus on a diagnostic inventory and to direct staff to prepare an application to the Minister of Community, Sport & Culture for the funding of a Governance Study.

My motion was seconded by Director Bartyik and during discussion a deferral motion took precedence over my motion and a deferral was made to the December 12 Board Meeting by a 9 to 3 vote. The only consolation is there was a proviso included that the long-awaited Staff Report be made available for the December 12 meeting.

As the issue of compensation for the “in kind” contribution came up during the resolution deliberations I would expect the Staff Report to address this as a priority. This in kind aspect is required by the Ministry for the RDCO employees needed to provide the information required for the Study to the Independent contractor. As the Ministry Representative stated “All the information you need (for the Study contemplated) is in this building”

So we try again  on the December 12 Board Meeting; maybe it will come as an early Christmas present for the North Westside.