New members welcome
The citizen's group Osoyoos Now, which officially came into existence less than a month ago, is moving forward and gaining new members.
Membership has grown to nearly 200 members, and dozens are signing up weekly, reported President Michael Ryan last week.
Osoyoos Now has also invited Mayor John Slater to attend the September 15th meeting at the High School Mini Theatre.
The mayor is going to say a few words and we will then invite the audience to ask questions, Ryan explained. We're delighted to have this kind of public forum. The focus will be on the present and the past activities of council, rather than on the future. The appropriate time to address the future will come during the election.
Ryan sees the goals of Osoyoos Now as threefold: to involve the citizens and residents in what is happening in the town, to serve as a monitor for council, and to provide a voice for the people.
We don't see this as an adversarial situation, as though we're taking on the council or the civic administration; we see it as a way of mobilizing and giving a voice to the people in the community.
Ryan said the inspiration for Osoyoos Now came after listening to reactions from people at the public hearing on the packinghouse property, reactions he referred to as a wake-up call to council.
There was a tremendous outpouring of frustration from the people, that their concerns were not being addressed or valued, and so we see ourselves as a channel for citizens' concerns and input into the community. I think people realize there were good arguments against putting a 12-storey building on the packinghouse property. Then suddenly there was this petition against the development with some 800 signatures on it, and this feeling that, 'maybe there are other people who feel the way I do.' There's a lot of energy and solidarity here. The group's motto is 'residents for a sustainable community.'rnAlthough their aim is to monitor the council's actions, Osoyoos Now wants to remain non-partisan. However, Ryan added that Osoyoos Now will be encouraging members to consider the ultimate way to be involved in the community is by becoming a candidate for town council.
We want to be able to work with any council that is elected and be a positive influence in the community. We're here for the long haul. We will continue to take an active role in participating in various public hearings, and we will be active in reviewing the Official Community Plan and encourage our members to do so.rnAlthough many citizens groups have come and gone over the years, Ryan believes the enthusiasm for Osoyoos Now will be maintained.
I think an active membership led by an active board who can respond to the direction we get from our members will help sustain Osoyoos Now.
Communication is also key. With so many rumours around town, there needs to be a good, transparent and communicative policy in place about public affairs, Ryan added.
We've already identified some immediate issues. One is a FortisBC proposed upgrade of a distribution power line along Kingfisher Drive. Osoyoos Now has obtained a commitment from Fortis to hold an open house to provide the community with more information about the project before it proceeds.
We also responded to the Casa del Lago marina moorage application to Land and Water BC and are working to bring some improvement to the situation at Rattlesnake Canyon, because that is certainly a continuing frustration to the residents who live in that area.
Osoyoos Now is also open to members of Rural A and is proposing an associate membership for people who don't live in Osoyoos but who are concerned about the community because they may have family in Osoyoos or spend time here as snowbirds.
Some of them may live outside the town but have businesses here or they may work here. And the whole issue of the town's expansion has been proposed, so in the event some areas decide to join the town, those citizens will no longer be in the rural area.
Ryan said the criticism that Osoyoos Now is anti-development is unjustified.
It's really a question of managing development. I think that we want development that is compatible with the services and the infrastructure that is in place, and right now I think we are developing ahead of our infrastructure.
We want development that can be scrutinized properly and thoroughly before it is put into place. Town Council and staff are being overwhelmed by development permits and rezoning applications, and perhaps we're moving too fast in processing these permits, Ryan said.
