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Council considers new advisory group

In the spring, Penticton city council’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of parks and recreation.
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Tourists abound on the beaches of Skaha Lake in the summertime. Penticton’s parks and recreation figures in council’s March 7 meeting agenda File photo

With spring just around the corner, council is going to be thinking about parks, recreation and tourism at their March 7 regular meeting.

Council will consider whether or not to reinstate a Parks and Recreation Advisory committee in advance of the final parks master plan, expected in late June.

Chair Ron Ramsay suggested the advisor committee at the Feb. 8 Parks & Recreation Master Plan Steering Committee meeting, with Mayor Andrew Jakubeit confirmed a committee would be needed to work with the recommendations contained in the master plan, as well as deal with upcoming projects and issues.

Penticton residents should be seeing a second draft of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan at the beginning of May.

The city’s foreshore rights at Sudbury Beach are also up for renewal, with a recommendation the city apply for a new 29-year lease on the Skaha Lake property, “containing 4.68 hectares more or less for recreational purposes, including the operation of a seasonal snack concession.”

Chad Douglas, sports and events project manager, is introducing the Eventful Penticton vetting strategy for event opportunities and requests beyond the municipal grant process.

The new five-year financial plan, which council gave the nod to after three days of discussion in late February, is on the agenda for its first three readings. The bylaw contains an expected 4.32 per cent increase in property taxes.

The city is also moving forward on the Local Area parcel tax related to the 100 and 200-block revitalization on Main St. It’s also on the agenda for three readings, with the formation of a three-member review panel, expected to sit on April 11. Affected property owners will be notified by mail with details of their portion of revitalization project costs.

Cascade Casino, due to open in the spring, is applying for their liquor primary licence, and council is reviewing a recommendation staff begin a public notification process, reporting back at the March 21 council meeting with the results.