Mayor Slater held his own.

Nearly 250 people turned out for the Osoyoos Now Society meeting last Thursday evening at the High School Mini Theatre.
Osoyoos Now President Michael Ryan invited Mayor John Slater to attend and answer questions from the audience.
Many of those questions dealt with hot issues such as development, the rising cost of housing (especially noting new condo developments which are selling for as much as $800,00 along Cottonwood Drive), sewers, boundary expansion, Destination Osoyoos, Rattlesnake Canyon, the OCP, zoning amendments, traffic plans, concerns about Osoyoos Lake and council's past policies and practices.
Prior to Slater's address, Ryan reported on what had been happening in the organization in terms of meetings with other groups and individuals, membership drives, communications to Land and Water B.C., and research into various issues.
Secretary/Treasurer Robin Gubby then outlined some bylaw amendments to relax the society's membership policies, including allowing members of the Rural A District, and those whose principal residence is Osoyoos and District, to become members.
We want to make it very clear and continue to reaffirm that Osoyoos Now is not against development, and anyone who says that we are, doesn't know much about what we're trying to do, Ryan explained.
We are for certain kinds of development. We want sensible development, responsible development, and development that is respectful and prudent. That's what we're trying to work for and to bring into the community.
All that we ask of our elected officials and the people who work in the community is that they listen attentively, they decide fairly, they explain clearly, they plan carefully, they implement wisely and they constantly seek to improve the way things are done, Ryan said.
Mayor John Slater congratulated the Osoyoos Now Society, saying there is no better tool for a council to use than public input.
We value your input and we certainly are open to listening to you. We realize development affects everybody. Growth can be painful but we also need to look at the local economy, Slater said, adding he agrees with the concept of smart growth.
Criticisms that the Town of Osoyoos is putting boundary expansion before the health of the lake were raised by more than one in the audience.
Slater said he is standing firm on the condition that any area wishing sewer hook-up must come into the town.
As most of you are aware, I am adamant about getting sewers all around the lake. But there has never been a service agreement for a sewer extension outside of a municipal boundary that has been approved by the B.C./Canadian infrastructure program, so that's why we are tying it to our boundary expansion. It's the only way it's going to happen.rnOthers queried what the developers are asked to give back to the town, in terms of parks, sidewalks and beach access.
Slater explained that developers must supply works and services to the centre of the road on that property.
Parks is a different issue. Council takes a development cost charge fee from any development to put toward the parks system, in lieu of asking for a certain percentage of the property to be set aside as park. This is used to improve our parks and to buy parkland further down the road, Slater explained, adding that part of the money collected went toward recreation and upgrading the Sonora Centre.
Ryan pointed out that the old walnut grove along Lakeshore Drive would be a perfect place to require land in lieu of money from a developer.
That's definitely an option that maybe in the OCP we should look at: identifying areas where parks would be more advantageous, Slater said.
Ryan said that he was pleased with the turnout at the meeting.
I think the members appreciated the Mayor's interest in attending our meeting and the extensive time he spent in answering questions. This was a unique opportunity for residents to question the mayor on a wide range of concerns, Ryan said.
However, Ryan added he felt that although the meeting was useful, it was also unsatisfying.
The mayor didn't seem to identify with the concerns of the citizens, and also showed a lack of enthusiasm for some of the recommendations and alternate approaches that were suggested or implied by the audience. His responses provided important background and analysis but didn't go beyond council's past approach to problems.