Regional district refers complaint back to lease holder

Resolution of complaints stemming from the Paradise Valley Exhibition Park is up to the organization that leases the land from Powell River Regional District.

At the Thursday, July 16 committee of the whole meeting, regional directors were reviewing whether and how to deal with a complaint pertaining to the open air market at the exhibition grounds.

Russell Brewer, city director, said he did not think there was any further direction to be made or that the regional district should even be involved in the matter.

Alan Rebane, acting Electoral Area B director, where the park is situated, said matters go through the Paradise Exhibition Parks Society (PEPS) committee, by his understanding. They investigate complaints and respond, he said. Rebane is PEPS president.

“That actually has been done very well with one of the complaints already,” he said.

The PEPS organization sub-leases the exhibition grounds property from the regional district, which leases the land from the province.

A motion to refer the complaint back to PEPS was made by CaroleAnn Leishman, city director, and seconded by Rebane.

Sandy McCormick, Electoral Area D director, said there were two response options. One was for the regional district to receive the complainants as a delegation and listen to what they have to say, and the other is to get back to the complainant and say the regional district has done all it can. She said it would make sense to listen to the complainants if the regional board is truly committed to consultation.

Colin Palmer, committee of the whole chair, said the regional district had just agreed to a lease with PEPS and they are responsible for the activities of the organizations in the park.

“This complainant has an issue with the farmer’s market, which is part of an agreement with the agricultural association,” Palmer said. “If they can’t get satisfaction there they go to PEPS, which is a society that looks after the occupants. I don’t know why you would want to get involved. The complainant’s issues have got to be sorted out by PEPS.”

Patrick Brabazon, Electoral Area A director, said he had some sympathy for McCormick’s position.

“If they are not happy they are going to come back to us anyway,” he said. “Coming and letting them speak to us and telling us our concerns, I think, is valid.”

Leishman said in the lease, those matters are to be dealt with by PEPS, so hearing delegations might be perceived as interference.

“We just created a lease for this very kind of situation,” Palmer said. “If there’s a farmer’s market issue, then the issue is dealt with by the agricultural association society. That’s what we’ve agreed on.”

McCormick reiterated that it is up to the regional district to listen to constituents who come with complaints about facilities.

“It may well be after listening to them that we refer it back to PEPS, but at least we will have listened to the complainant and we would have the opportunity, should we choose, to offer some direction,” she said.

“I don’t see a problem listening to them. Hopefully, there is not going to be a whole horde of people with complaints, and even if there are, we should know about it.”

McCormick thought the board should look at option one. Palmer said the motion was for option two. The vote to refer the matter back to PEPS carried, with McCormick and Brabazon opposed.