A proposed drawing of what the proposed Greater Vernon Cultural Centre may look like.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Vernon Public Art Gallery
March 23, 2022 - 3:46 PM
The Regional District of North Okanagan is moving forward with its plan to borrow $28 million to build the Greater Vernon Cultural Centre providing 10 per cent of eligible voters don't object.
According to a Regional District of North Okanagan media release, an alternative approval process is now in place and gives members of the public until May 2 to submit in writing if they are in opposition to the project.
The Regional District will need 5,635 eligible voters to oppose the project or it will go ahead and borrow the $28 million needed for the Cultural Centre.
The move comes about because of what was said during the 2018 referendum for what was then a $40-million Cultural Centre.
At the time, the electorate was told the Regional District wouldn't go ahead and borrow $25 million if $15-million in federal and provincial grants didn't come through.
As grants from the senior governments were rejected in 2021, the Regional District didn't have the authority to borrow the $25 million without the public's approval.
While the Cultural Centre could go back to a referendum, the politicians previously said the alternative approval process was quicker and cheaper.
READ MORE: Politicians break promise, will borrow $28M for Greater Vernon Cultural Centre
The original Greater Vernon Cultural Centre, passed by referendum in 2018, was to cost $40 million and see a 39,000-square-foot building host a 200-seat performance space, room for travelling exhibits as well as being the new home for the Greater Vernon Museum and Archives and the Vernon Public Art Gallery.
The new plan for the Cultural Centre is for it to be a roughly 25,000 square foot building and house the Vernon Public Art Gallery and the Greater Vernon Museum and Archives, although the physical archives will remain where they are. A performance space will likely be part of the new building.
The location remains the same, taking up almost the entire block of 32 Avenue and 29 Street in Vernon's downtown. The building will also be built so it could be easily enlarged if future grants become available.
The cost to taxpayers was said to be $48 per household based on an assessed value of $430,000.
The Regional District now needs the approval to adopt a bylaw borrowing the $28 million. Doing nothing means an eligible elector is in favour of the proposal.
Anyone wanting to object will have to submit a signed elector response form to the Regional District by 4 p.m. May 2. If the Regional District receives 5,635 responses (10 per cent) from the electorate it will not be able to borrow the money.
The Regional District media release does not say whether it would go back to a referendum if that happened.
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