A group of homeless people gather at Linear Park on 25th Ave. near People Place. Council voted Monday for Vernon bylaw officials to ignore the no camping in parks between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. bylaw after 7 p.m. to allow the homeless population to set up camps before sundown. (Parker Crook/Morning Star)

A group of homeless people gather at Linear Park on 25th Ave. near People Place. Council voted Monday for Vernon bylaw officials to ignore the no camping in parks between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. bylaw after 7 p.m. to allow the homeless population to set up camps before sundown. (Parker Crook/Morning Star)

Vernon councillor calls for town hall-style meetings

Kari Gares believes such meetings would allow full transparency between council, constituents

  • Apr. 23, 2019 12:00 a.m.

Kari Gares believes in full transparency between Vernon council, business groups and residents.

The first-term councillor is bringing forth a motion at Tuesday’s regular meeting of council that will direct staff to provide a report with recommendation(s) pertaining to the ability for council to host town hall-style meetings.

Such meetings, said Gares, would allow full transparency in community between council and the citizens and businesses.

“Vernon residents and business owners will have the ability to direct concerns or issues that have a negative impact on the downtown core and surrounding neighbourhoods through an open mic dialogue,” said Gares in her motion, which will be discussed at the end of the meeting Tuesday.

“These concerns typically stem from a variety of issues such as crime, vagrancy and open drug use whereby residents and businesses feel their voices are not being heard.”

Gares said a town hall approach will allow council to have a better understanding of these direct issues so they can provide targeted solutions to help mitigate the issues.


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Vernon Morning Star