Vernon Pickleball Association lighting
Upgrades are coming to the parking lot at the Vernon Pickleball Association (VPA).
Council approved additional lighting to the parking lot area of the VPA. Lights will be installed on the south outside wall of the indoor soccer facility (Vernon Toyota Indoor Sports Centre) to light up the pathway from the parking lot to the Pickleball Complex.
Coun. Akbal Mund inquired into the potential cost of paving the one gravel parking area near the Pickleball Complex. The cost is estimated to be $583,000 for paving of the one lot, according to manager of public works, James Rice.
The VPA board has acknowledged that the paving of all three gravel parking areas that surround the complex have been identified in the Parks Asset Management Plan, but have not been included in the Five Year Rolling Infrastructure Plan.
Scoreboard
Council passed a motion for a new scoreboard at Kal Tire Place, but it wasn't without concerns.
The current scoreboard at the arena is 23 years old, and a new board has been on the minds of council since the April 8, 2024 budget meeting, where council directed administration to request up to $350,000 to purchase a new one.
However, at the Feb. 24, 2025 meeting, the cost of a new scoreboard is now slated to be "up to" $600,000.
The $600,000 fee does not include a broadcast system component, which would be required should the city want to live-stream events such as Remembrance Day and graduations. That fee is estimated at $225,000.
Coun. Mund thought combing both costs and paying for it now would be the right move to make.
"If we are going to do this, let's do it right," he said. "The funds are coming from the Kin Race Track Legacy fund, which includes funding the broadcast aspect of it."
Coun. Brian Guy pushed back on using the funds from the Kin Race Track.
"Funds should go to the Kin Race Track and not the KTP," he said. "A reserve is the same thing as a bank account and we would be drawing it down which will reduce our financial resilience and will make it difficult to keep a lid on the tax increases from now and in the future."
Coun. Teresa Durning chimed in that the city has already made a decision on getting a new scoreclock.
"There is potential for future revenue and it will help keep the Vernon Vipers there," she said.
Coun. Kari Gares cautioned that the price of the scoreclock has already ballooned, and it would be prudent to act now.
"The scoreclock is something that is needed, and if we have already seen a 50 per cent price increase, it is clear that if we wait another year, it will be even higher," she said. "The Legacy Fund mandate is to leave something that the community is proud of. This will enhance the facility and if we replace it once, we won't have to worry about it. It is a lot of money but it is a legacy fund, not taxation issue."
The Kin Race Track Legacy Fund currently has $4.2 million in it.
"Money has been set aside for the Kin Race Track and it isn't being replenished so we shouldn't use it," said Coun. Kelly Fehr. "I agree with Guy. Now is not the time to spend unnecessarily."
At a previous council meeting, council authorized administration to draw up to $100,000 for a passive park at the Kin Race Track. Those funds will be drawn from the Kin Race Track Legacy Fund. Previously, the Kin Race Track parklands had been slated to be turned into a large-scale athletic park, but ballooning costs ($50 million) caused council to pivot.
Mund explained to Fehr and Guy that the monies in the fund are from a legacy source and not taxation.
"We approved a plan for the Kin Race Track, which we can't do, which means that we have $4.2 million dollars wasting time, which we don't need so let's put money back into legacy and do this right."
Council passed the $600,000 motion for the new scoreclock. Councillors Guy and Fehr opposed the motion.
Farmer's Market
A program helping to feed the less-fortunate got support from Vernon council once again.
A letter to Vernon council asked for support in helping fund the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
Launched in 2024, the program was accessed by the Archway Society for Domestic Peace and the North Okanagan Friendship Centre, helping provide lower-income individuals and families with coupons to purchase fresh, local food.
According to the letter to council, $80,136 was redeemed by Vernon residents to local farmers and the Vernon Farmers Market.
"Local farmers received an economic boost, helping them sustain and grow their farms, strengthening our local and regional food system, and contributing to a healthier, more connected community," the letter reads.
The program currently does not have funding secured for 2025, but Vernon council approved the motion for a letter of support to the B.C. Minister of Health.
