Despite being just a few days before Christmas, Penticton city council has a full agenda for their Dec. 20 meeting.
Penticton’s park land may grow substantially, thanks to one item council is considering. Staff is recommending Penticton take out a 30-year lease on Crown Lands around Campbell Mountain. The area already has a network of trails used by hikers, cyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts — the proposed lease would not change that use, but would allow the city some oversight, and allow the area to be improved.
Related: Campbell Mountain Trail Map
It may seem like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted, but one of the notable items on the agenda is an increase to the snow removal budget in 2017 to accommodate additional parking lots, including the Lakawanna Park and Riverside Drive lots, which were converted to pay parking earlier this year. Public Works usually spends about $305,000 annually on snow and ice control.
Parking features in another staff recommendation, putting the expansion of the resident only parking on hold pending more public engagement. The city has received complaints from the public that more consultation should have been done on the changes, that residents shouldn’t have to pay to park on their own streets, even that there shouldn’t be a residents-only program at all.
Council is also expected to vote on a two-year lease with Trio Marine Group on city-owned premises for the operation of a licensed restaurant. This lease is specific to the Marina Restaurant, required by the province for Trio to continue selling liquor in the restaurant until the conditions in the revised marina lease agreement are met and the long term lease begins.
City council will also receive updates on the 100 Homes project in Penticton from Tanya Behardien of the Community Resources Society and an update on the community engagement process from engagement consultant Joanne Kleb.