OKANAGAN VALLEY — The four member municipalities of the Intermunicipal Services Advisory Board - Kelowna, West Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton - are calling for a new approach to the way the B.C. Government passes on costs for RCMP policing.
Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd, West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater, Penticton Mayor Dan Ashton and Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert will ask their Councils to endorse a resolution, which would go to the Union of B.C. Municipalities Conference in Whistler September 27 to October 1, calling on the Provincial Government to consult with local government prior to adjusting policing costs.
The four mayors agreed policing expenses should not come as a surprise to municipal governments and a more cooperative approach would eliminate sudden charges in future and fit in better with municipalities’ budget planning processes.
The mayors discussed one notable example of surprising increases in policing costs, which occurred last fall when the Province told municipalities they would be responsible for additional charges for the RCMP’s recordkeeping system—called Police Records Information Management Environment or PRIME.
The cost of PRIME doubled from $500 to $1,000 per member inside of one year and the B.C. Public Safety and Solicitor General’s Ministry passed on those costs to municipalities with little warning or explanation.
The increased costs in Kelowna, for example, amounted to an additional $100,000, which is nearly equal to the cost of hiring one new police officer.
The UBCM resolution would call on the Province to work with municipalities to implement a consultation process, whereby local government would have input and adequate notice into policing cost adjustments.
Mayor Shepherd also committed to continue to address the issue of policing costs through a UBCM focus group she participates in. The group has been established to provide feedback to Federal and Provincial Government representatives who negotiate with RCMP.
Meanwhile, for the first time, the four municipalities have also made a joint purchase as a result of their ongoing cooperation through their Intermunicpal Services Agreement.
The municipalities arranged a cash back discount for stationary through Staples/Corporate Express. The discount is calculated based on the amount of office supplies purchased and will therefore vary by municipality. The agreement is for five years; however, the contract can be reviewed annually and each municipality has the option to continue or opt out of the deal.
The City of Vernon and the District of West Kelowna were also able to use the Joint Purchasing Agreement to purchase two vehicles this year, one for each municipality.
The Intermunicipal Services Advisory Board also discussed a variety of other issues including:
• The possibility of an Intermunicipal Emergency Planning Agreement
• Valley-wide transit initiatives
• Future improvements to Highway 97
• Landfill management and tipping fees
• Control measures for Canada Geese
• Climate change
• Liquor control policies
• Concerns related to the potential removal of rail lines
The Intermunicipal Services Advisory Board was created September 16, 2008 and is made up of the Mayors and Chief Administrative Officers of each municipality, who meet regularly to work cooperatively on a variety of issues of mutual concern.
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