RESPONSES

Environmental

Question 1 - When development is guided by an Official Community Plan that features smart growth principles, it results in lower taxes for residents, less gridlock, cleaner air and lower GHG emissions, more green space, more housing options and preserved farmlands. Following smart growth principles results in new, high-density housing being built in the downtown and specified neighbourhood cores, enabling more sustainable and cost-effective transportation options. How will you advocate for smart growth principles in the upcoming OCP planning process?

Dawn Tucker

• Why are we approving townhomes and apartment buildings in areas where there is no nearby public transit stop, or approving new development in old neighbourhoods that impact existing roads without making available sewer to those existing homes or requiring the developer to improve old roads? Development cost charges (DCCs) ought to have been increased and not decreased, especially in the outlying areas where drainage, water, sewer, etc. are much more costly. I will advocate for smart growth, as I always have. I would also prefer to see development that pays for itself, instead of our City subsidizing development.

Question 2 - Vernon has created an ambitious new Climate Action Plan addressing both the reduction of GHG emissions and preparing the community for climate impacts, but unless Council backs it up with immediate, effective action, the goals of the plan won't be achieved. If elected, what aspects of this plan do you feel are most important and urgent, and how can you help to ensure that they are implemented as soon as possible?

DAWN TUCKER

• Our ambitious new Climate Action Plan requires implementation throughout all City processes, including development approvals. Our City is already in the process of hiring a Climate Action Coordinator, and we have started implementing flood construction standards for new development and changing our bylaws and policies to require a Flood Hazard Development Permit. More work continues to strengthen our City’s flood resilience. 

• Beyond flooding, we need to also focus on water, and specifically, on potential opportunities to improve the use of our recycled water, and the treatment of wastewater and stormwater. Stormwater is currently the number one factor impacting our lake water quality. City genetic testing shows septic pollution in every ditch in Okanagan Landing, confirming the need to connect sewer to these older neighbourhoods. Providing information to residents about these existing and on-going environmental impacts will make it easier to get the necessary buy-in. Our recycled water costs our City millions to produce each year and is sold to hilltop resorts at a rate that does not reflect the actual cost to produce this high quality water. This water could be used to irrigate food crops if only our Province would allow it, although we already import produce and wines made with recycled water from places such as California. I intend to lobby the Province to change these regulations so that high-volume users such as Frind Winery and other agricultural producers can use our high quality recycled water on grapes and other food crops.  This will save our community millions of dollars and eliminates the need to build a costly new pump-station on Okanagan Lake to serve irrigation demand.

Question 3 - What do you believe are the main risks to Vernon - its citizens, its infrastructure, its economy - from climate change impacts? What specific actions do you think the municipality should take to adapt to these risks and build a resilient community?

DAWN TUCKER

• Increasing our resilience to flooding was identified as a top priority for our City and this work is already underway. Impacts to air quality can be also quite dramatic as we have witnessed with fires these past few years, and this is an area where there remains much work to be done as we share our air-shed with many other jurisdictions, and we are often affected by smoke that originates from outside our region or city. Without an Air Quality initiative at the regional district level here in the North Okanagan, it is much more difficult for us to work together on a valley-wide Air Quality coalition with the other regional districts (RDCO, RDOS) with whom we share this valley.  So I would like to see this gap addressed at the City and regional level. For water, we must continue to work together with our valley neighbours as part of the Okanagan Basin Water Board, and with the RDNO on the safe provision of water via Greater Vernon Water.  

• Heat resilience is another concern for which the City has done some planning, and perhaps more could be done to strengthen requirements for new development, requiring air conditioning to keep temperatures lower but also, air purifiers to remove smoke and other particles?  
  

• Planting trees also helps improve the air and reduce heat islands. I look forward to hearing from the development community about building innovations that help lower emissions while addressing the expected impacts from climate change such as hotter days, stronger winds, torrential rains, intenser storms, etc.  
  

• Stormwater management is also becoming increasingly important, and there may be opportunities to generate electricity from stormwater running through pipes that could be used to power a treatment facility to remove contaminants prior to allowing the stormwater to enter the lake.

Question 4 - The largest proportion of Okanagan municipal greenhouse gas emissions comes from transportation (in particular, driving fossil-fuel powered vehicles), and the 2nd largest proportion comes from buildings. What do you see as the most effective ways of reducing the emissions in these two sectors?

DAWN TUCKER

• For me personally, reducing the number of trips is still the most effective way to reduce my GHG emissions from transportation, and walk whenever I can. I also do my best to shop locally whenever possible and I limit my online shopping - it turns out, not surprisingly, that transportation due to online shopping deliveries is now a massive contributor to GHG emissions and we need to find better ways to deliver those goods without using so much gas. Electric transport is already here and hopefully will soon start making a difference. 

• We have limited opportunities to improve the efficiency of existing buildings, but new buildings are already required to adhere to stricter standards.  We can encourage folks to invest in their older homes - Vernon is already participating in a pilot project to help folks finance improvements such as solar or geothermal.

• Priority making communities walkable, bikeable and accessible year-round, and fully implementing the BC step code.

RESPONSES

culturAL

Question 1 - What opportunities do you believe the municipality has to grow our art, culture and heritage sector?

DAWN TUCKER

• Similar to sports and recreation tourism, art, culture and heritage increasingly draw more folks to our area - while we already have much to celebrate with locals, we also have a lot to show visitors from out of town. The new Greater Vernon Cultural Centre will be the focal point for bringing us all together inside a building with amazing programming, installations, exhibits, performances and more.  But I would also love to see tie-ins with outdoor recreational amenities such as the Okanagan Rail Trail - if we are now the Trails Capital of BC, we can look forward to more visitors yet, and most of those visitors will also be keen on arts, culture and heritage. So I foresee many opportunities here, especially in working with our OKIB neighbours and the many talented indigenous artists and storytellers who make their home here. I would also like to find a solution that allows the Museum’s archives to exist in the same location as the Museum.

Question 2 - What do you think of the 2016 Greater Vernon Cultural Plan? What aspects would you prioritise and how would you implement them?

DAWN TUCKER

• One of the challenges with this plan is the apparent lack of meaningful engagement with our local indigenous communities.  Perhaps 6 years ago this was not as obviously considered, but that sure seems vital, especially now!  In the Executive Summary, one of the goals stated is to “Increase communication and collaboration with Okanagan First Nations”.  I would argue that without communication and collaboration with Okanagan First Nations, we don’t actually have much of a Cultural Plan. Vernon also needs a public arts policy to go with this plan.

• Another big-ticket item in terms of dollars is the on-going maintenance and/or potential replacement of our existing cultural/recreational facilities. According to the plan, most of these facilities are aging and require significant and regular maintenance.  How is and will all this be paid for? We worked together with our sub-regional neighbours (Coldstream and Electoral Area B&C) to build the Multiplex and the Performing Arts Centre and the extension for KalTire Place, and soon we will build the Greater Vernon Cultural Centre together. Presumably we are all on the hook for maintenance and repairs of these facilities as they age? With only Vernonites now facing a referendum on the long-term borrowing of $121 million for the Active Living Centre, some folks are starting to question our City’s tax burden. Is Greater Vernon a partnership? I will seek clarity for the taxpayers of Vernon about the exact nature of Vernon’s share. Some folks are also wondering why recreation planning isn’t considered part of our  “arts”, “cultural”, or “parks” planning, as all are vital to our quality of life. We need an integrated plan.

Question 3 - How do you personally engage with arts, culture and heritage in Greater Vernon?

DAWN TUCKER

• As someone with an education and history degree, I absolutely love delving into local history or meeting with folks who know more than I do, about any topics, to challenge myself every day to learn more. I love supporting local arts, culture and heritage - I am a big fan of Local Losers, FurHouse, Gallery Vertigo, the Museum, and many more. I purchase local art and I engage with folks of all walks of life and backgrounds every day via social media and in-person.

RESPONSES

health

Question 1 -What would you do to protect the health of members of our community who have been made vulnerable to the effects of climate change?

DAWN TUCKER

• Our City recently invested in an alert system that I hope will be able to better communicate with residents during any emergency. Making folks aware of climate risks through regular City communications is key, as is offering resources, links and information on the City website.

• Our City must work closely with Interior Health to ensure we are doing what we can to protect the health of community members who have been made vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as by providing municipal cooling stations and cooling centres during extreme heat events. 

Question 2 - What do you believe is the municipality's role in enabling and assisting ministries and non-profits as they address mental and physical health treatment issues and access, in populations affected by houselessness and the toxic drug supply? How might the municipality address the stigma that prevents people facing these challenges from seeking health services?

DAWN TUCKER

• Our City must realize that THEM is US, and WE are THEM. We must treat each other as we would like to be treated ourselves.

• This is a complex problem with no easy solutions that requires society to set aside stigma and prejudice. I will continue to promote love and acceptance.

Question 3 - How will you ensure that our Parks & Recreation facilities and programs meet the diverse needs of our population?

DAWN TUCKER

• Recreation is a massive draw in Vernon, so important to so many people in our community and also of course for tourism. Not planning for regional recreation facilities has not served us well. Some groups that were promised facilities 15 years ago are still waiting today.  Only now are we asking Vernon residents to vote on long-term borrowing for a new recreation facility that should have been built a decade ago. Programs are oversubscribed and filled up within minutes. 

• Our City ’s parks and recreation should not be divorced from each other. I would also suggest, that parks and recreation are intertwined with our culture.  I suggest rethinking our plans and ultimately deciding whether Greater Vernon is indeed, one social and one economic unit.  If so, it’s time to start acting like it!