-Candidates asked about building, spending limits-

OSOYOOS TIMES-November 5, 2008-

By Paul EverestrnOsoyoos Times

The 10 candidates running for the four Osoyoos town council positions faced nearly a dozen questions on topics ranging from the environment to development to the economy during their forum at the Osoyoos Secondary School Mini Theatre on Oct. 30.
Close to 250 people, more than the turnout for the mayor/Area A director candidate forum the night before, came out to listen to candidates Chris Boehm, Margaret Chadsey, Ted Cronmiller, Bob Knight, Sy Murseli, C.J. Rhodes, Michael Ryan, Christopher Scheuren, Jim Shaw and Diane Zorn.
The first question raised was about agricultural burning in the Osoyoos area and the candidates were asked what they would do to improve air quality.
Cronmiller, who is an incumbent councillor, said the Town has worked with the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen to improve its wood-chipping program.
He added that there is a need to educate more farmers to give up burning dead brush and other items.
Scheuren suggested the use of curtain burners which do not emit smoke in agricultural areas.
He also said the promotion of local chipping businesses is needed.
Knight responded to the question by saying that burning is not the problem; it's the burning of non-cured wood that's pumping unwanted smoke into the air.
And Zorn said the new council could look at imposing fines on people burning inappropriate items such as shingles while encouraging people to report anyone burning waste other than trees.
The next question focused on the problems with heavy traffic in Osoyoos's downtown core, especially in the busy summer tourist season.
Chadsey said Osoyoos is at the junction of two major highways and although she would consider long-term traffic diversions from Main Street down roads such as Kingfisher Drive, she added that congestion might be something residents have to tolerate.rnWe can't close the town, she said.
Scheuren responded by bringing up the idea of using electric cars in Osoyoos.
Such a concept was raised earlier this year by the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce, of which Scheuren is a director.
He added that a special lane for golf carts could be added around town.
Rhodes said he would consider a one-way street system for Osoyoos and brought up roads such as 74th and 76th avenues as routes that could have single-direction traffic.
But he also acknowledged that such an idea could hurt businesses and residents along any street that became a one-way corridor.
Murseli said congestion is caused by large trucks and suggested diverting them away from Main Street.
He said, however, that any re-routing of traffic from Main Street could hurt local businesses.
Ryan said a possible solution to the traffic problem could involve the encouragement of off-street parking in lots away from Main Street.
He also suggested having crossing wardens operating on Main Street to allow large groups to cross the road safely.
Another question focused on taxation in this period of economic upheaval.
Murseli responded by saying he would work to make sure the new council would spend tax money wisely while cutting superfluous staff positions at Town Hall.
He also said he would stop some of the big projects Destination Osoyoos is working on such as development of the Osoyoos Airport.
Shaw said an incoming council wouldn't know what it's in for in terms of setting budgets and predicting spending, but he added he would like to see developers pay more Development Cost Charges.
The candidates were also asked about what they would do to keep the town's youth from turning to drugs and crime since there are few recreational activities open to Osoyoos's young people.
I believe the key word these days is Taser, Knight said, later adding that the root of the problems surrounding young people is the education system.
He said it's important to keep kids interested in school and encourage them to pursue trades or brain school.rnBoehm, who presented himself as a voice for youth during the forum as the youngest of the candidates, said the key to keeping kids out of trouble was keeping them occupied.
I was always busy, he said, adding that Osoyoos's parents need to keep their kids involved and the community and local businesses have to provide parents with the ability to give children things to do.
Each candidate was also asked what they felt the maximum number of floors should be in any new development and how much tax money council could spend before calling a referendum.
Shaw said seven floors and $1 million.
Murseli said four floors and $1 million.
Ryan said it would depend on the location but added he felt uncomfortable after six floors.
Scheuren also said it depends on the development and added that $2 million should be the limit for tax spending as referendums are expensive.
Boehm said four floors and $5 million.
Cronmiller said the number of floors depends on what all of you tell me and $2 million.
Chadsey said it depends on the location but she prefers four floors and wouldn't spend more than $1 million without a referendum.
Zorn said she would allow 10 floors in order to reduce a development's environmental footprint.rnKnight said 10 floors and $500,000.
And Rhodes said four floors and $1 million.
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