A formal process is being demanded when it comes to Vernon absorbing rural properties.
The representatives for Areas B and C insist that there needs to be a protocol to determine if individual lots are annexed into Vernon.
“The jurisdictions need to work towards a policy of annexations. Right now, it’s ad hoc,” said Bob Fleming, BX-Swan Lake director.
Presently, property owner applies to the city for annexation and the final decision is made by the provincial government.
“There is no role for the electoral areas on input. We can say we don’t agree but it doesn’t carry any weight with the province,” said Fleming.
A new study suggests the cumulative affect of numerous individual annexations to a municipality can negatively impact an electoral area’s tax base.
“There’s a fair bit of assessment being transferred and the most impacted is the BX-Swan Lake Fire Department,” said Mike Macnabb, BX-Silver Star director.
“Our ability to fund the fire service is reduced.”
Macnabb says there is a need for the jurisdictions to sit down and fix boundaries and if annexations do occur, there should be mitigation for lost tax revenue.
He is also concerned that Vernon accepting annexation applications from property owners is impacting the relationship with the electoral areas.
“We are good neighbours so stop doing this to us. Show some respect,” he said.
“Municipalities can’t poach other municipality’s territory so why can’t we also have that.”
According to Fleming, Vernon doesn’t need the additional land that comes from annexations.
“They have 50 to 60 years of land zoned or designated for development,” he said.
Patrick Nicol, a Vernon councillor, believes there is a need for the city to consider a protocol agreement with the electoral area on annexations.
“Some of the arguments are pretty valid,” he said of the comments coming from Macnabb and Fleming.
Nicol has spent some time looking at the electoral area annexation impact study.
“It’s a really thoughtful report. It’s the only study of its type that’s been done in the province,” he said.
