Don Urquhart, Times-Chronicle
Desert Park Exhibition Society (DPES) and the Town of Osoyoos are entering into a partnering agreement in order to provide equestrian and related recreational activities.
This includes an improved aesthetic, and the ability to showcase and expand on equestrian and non-equestrian events for locals and visitors, the town said.
With DPES’ current licence to occupy expiring on Dec. 5, 2021, town staff has been re-negotiating a new agreement but because of the limited commercial activity onsite, a partnering agreement was deemed more appropriate. The new agreement will also run for a longer period of 10 years.
Key to the negotiations were outstanding issues with the infrastructure including water, sewer and electrical repairs and improvements and how this would impact the way in which the society operated.
The improvements were estimated at about $193,000, which will be sourced from water and sewer reserve funds. This amount is currently in the town’s 2021 budget and has been approved subject to this new agreement getting the go-ahead. The repayment of the improvements will take place over a 20-year period with 75 per cent of the cost covered by the DPES with the town chipping in the remainder.
Another key change that the agreement entails is the ability for the society to rent out RV sites for events other than equestrian, but equestrian-related use must remain the priority. Without the rental income, the Society would not be able to remain operational, according to the briefing document, presented by Gerald Davis, Director of Community Services.
An annual meeting will be conducted to review the agreement between the Town and the Society to ensure the terms are adhered to.
Among the infrastructure issues needing repair are current RV sites where two of the sites’ sewer services are not operational. Town staff has confirmed the cost and the design with True Engineering, and the site layout will include new services for water, sewer and electrical.
Once completed, Davis says the RV sites will be “an improvement that will last for many years.” The RV site improvements include the creation of three additional sites that will assist the Society in raising revenues to operate and maintain Desert Park alongside repaying their share of the improvement costs.
After 20 years (assuming an additional 10-year partnering agreement is entered into with the Society), the Town will retain ownership of the improvements and they will “continue to have economic value to the Town and the operator of Desert Park.”
Due to the scope of the improvements a draft agreement with a start date of Sept. 1, 2021, has been drawn up which Davis emphasizes “should enable the infrastructure renewal to take place before thoroughbred training season at Desert Park starts near the end of the year.”
In previous discussions, council learned that town staff solicited views from other RV park operators in Osoyoos to ascertain whether they saw this as unfair competition. As no issues were found the decision was made to continue with the RV site improvements and expansion as part of the plan.
Approval was granted by council last Tuesday, and tender documents for the work are now being drawn up.
Davis also touched on historical problems which included a “major problem related to ‘derelict’ trailers that created an unsightly environment.” This was remedied when a new board came on, with these types of trailers removed and various improvements to the aesthetics surrounding the RV sites being made.
There had also been an issue of long-term occupancy of those sites that was discussed at length, according to Davis.
Among the possible strategies: fees based on daily rates rather than monthly rates and limiting the amount of time an RV site can be occupied.
