SPCA
An update from the B.C. SPCA branch was provided to council by Ashley Fontaine, senior manager for the SPCA. Last year, the Community Animal Centre in Vernon was closed. However, a new position was recently created, in an effort to maintain the presence and services of the SPCA in Vernon.
The position is a Community Services Coordinator, whose responsibilities are to maintain and ensure the SPCA services in Vernon are successful. These programs include the pet food bank, animal transfers, volunteer coordination, veterinary partnership and relationship-building.
An open house for the Vernon SPCA will be on Saturday, April 27, while their Adopt-a-Shelter-Pet-Day is Tuesday, April 30. The SPCA is offering 50 per cent off adoption fees from Thursday, April 25 to Sunday, May 5 at all of its locations.
Pleasant Valley Roundabout
Council approved a motion to re-allocate funding from the Pleasant Valley Road roundabout project, to the reconstruction of the 32nd Avenue- 15th St- 18th St.
The roundabout project has seen significant delays, due to the need for relocating powerlines. The original design complex has changed, which is now much more complex. The project will now go ahead a year later, in spring of 2025, as attempting to go through with the project in the fall would cause significant traffic challenges in the winter.
In lieu of the rescheduling, the funds set aside for Pleasant Valley Road will be reallocated to the final phase of the 32nd Avenue corridor project, which will mean its completion one year early.
The 32nd Avenue- 15th St- 18th St Reconstruction project will see sanitary, storm main replacement along with a new curb, gutter and sidewalk installed.
Rec Services
A quarterly report on Vernon’s Recreation Services was provided to council. Among the intriguing stats provided was one on user visits being down. In the first quarter of 2023, 44,191 people visited drop-in swim and fitness programs, while in 2024 the number was at 36,263. Additionally, drop-in sports programs numbers were down, with 430 user visits in 2023 to just 265 in 2024. January of 2024 was the first phase of the new, two-tier fee structure, along with the Vernon Resident Pass for those who reside within the city.
Emergency Support Grant
Council received news that their $30,000 grant from the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) Emergency Preparedness Fund was accepted. The monies will go towards the Vernon Emergency Support Services Preparedness project, in an effort to better prepare the city for emergencies. Further information on specifics was not provided.
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