By Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
Sad, frustrating, and polarizing. These were sentiments expressed during last week’s budget meeting in Oliver.
The debate continued around the Station Street Master Plan with a proposed $1 million pavilion and where it should be located – on Station Street or in Lion’s Park? Council recently voted to shelve the community plaza initiative because it was costing too much money ($1.5 million).
Mayor Martin Johansen said he didn’t see the Station Street location as ideal for the pavilion, noting he favours the venue north of the Oliver Visitor Centre. In any case, council needs to go back to the drawing board, he stressed.
“I’d really like to see council come together on this but it’s going to be challenging; there’s definitely different opinions here; a very polarizing issue with people on different sides of the fence.”
Johansen also reminded council that Oliver already has a pavilion at the north end of Lion’s Park, adding that he has seen only “one little event there” in four years. “It makes me wonder, we’re spending a million dollars to create another pavilion. How much activity are we really going to see?”
However, Coun. Petra Veintimilla said she didn’t think the issue is that polarizing at all since council supported the Station Street Master Plan three years ago by spending a lot of money and engaging the community. She said the plaza/pavilion plan was “a piece of the puzzle that council agreed fit.” She noted that scrapping the plan now and starting over is not following through with their vision.
Councilor Dave Mattes said he doesn’t really support the pavilion, particularly on Station Street, but is willing to compromise to revitalize the downtown core and entice people to come here. He also commented that he’d like to see more community engagement this time, to which Veintimilla said there was plenty; the most she had ever seen in Oliver.
During the emotional discussion, it was stated that placing the pavilion in Lion’s Park did not coincide with the vision of Parks and Recreation staff. But Mattes said it’s the town’s property, not parks and recreation’s property. “They may have all the plans they want, but it’s our land.”
Councilor Aimee Grice was blunt in saying she wasn’t feeling good about the discussion. “I can’t fathom how we got from where we were in 2020 to where we are now.” She said council decided to scrap everything else back then to focus on this legacy project with a grant from the province. “To not go ahead with a piece of the puzzle here and to start all over again, I mean, it just seems nonsensical.”
Councilor Terry Schafer said he doesn’t like the pavilion’s current design, but agreed it would be more welcoming in Lion’s Park near the Oliver Visitor Centre where weddings and other functions could be held.
A long silence ensued, with Veintimilla putting her face in her hands. Looking at Grice and Veintimilla, Mattes piped up and said, “you can get your pavilion but you can’t get your location.”
Veintimilla agreed with Grice in feeling sad and frustrated with the whole affair.
Schafer proposed that council stop and take a “walkabout” in the area to get a better feel for the plan. Veintimilla agreed that would be a good idea.
In other news, council is proceeding with an $80,000 Airport Master Plan among other projects in this year’s $15 million budget.
Chief Financial Officer Wayne Anderson said the town is looking at a nine per cent tax increase this year for operations, and even with that hike, the budgeted operating surplus (in 2023) is $374,000 lower than the 2022 budget. “We will look to offset some of the cost increases by utilizing the $247,000 of outstanding COVID-19 Safe Restart funding in 2023.”
Anderson said the next meeting on April 11 will be council’s final opportunity to review and suggest changes to the five-year plan prior to the first three readings on April 24. “We are seeking the public’s input between now and the meeting on April 11,” he noted.
