Sink the Bridge

[CynicAl]

I say demolish or sink the existing bridge and don't bother building another one. Automobiles are destroying the quality of life in our valley already. Highway 97 could be re-routed through Westside Road, the cost of a highway upgrade would be a fraction of building a new bridge. We could bring back a ferry service for the cheapskates that elect to buy homes on Native-owned land in Westbank, work in Kelowna, and expect everyone else to pay for their convenience.
Or they can find work in Peachland!
Highway 97 has a maximum of four lanes from Penticton to Vernon. What would an additional two lanes serve? Those malcontents on the Westside who all want to get to and from work in Kelowna AT THE SAME TIME, that's who. Let them swim!

[okanog]

Obviously, you are no longer part of the workforce.
Which is 90% of the problem with cranky people.
We already got Ferry Problems in the province. Who needs more?

[ecs]

CynicAl said:

I say demolish or sink the existing bridge and don't bother building another one. Automobiles are destroying the quality of life in our valley already. Highway 97 could be re-routed through Westside Road, the cost of a highway upgrade would be a fraction of building a new bridge. We could bring back a ferry service for the cheapskates that elect to buy homes on Native-owned land in Westbank, work in Kelowna, and expect everyone else to pay for their convenience.
Or they can find work in Peachland!
Highway 97 has a maximum of four lanes from Penticton to Vernon. What would an additional two lanes serve? Those malcontents on the Westside who all want to get to and from work in Kelowna AT THE SAME TIME, that's who. Let them swim!

Apparently, you do not realize that the district of Westside is actually Kelowna. As residents of Kelowna, we have every right to go into town whenever we wish. Oh and by the way, I do not live on native land.

Perhaps you should try learning about the topics that you choose to debate. It would add alot more weight to your supposed arguments.

If you don't like it, deal.

- e

[wally]

"Highway 97 could be re-routed through Westside Road, the cost of a highway upgrade would be a fraction of building a new bridge."
You really think it would be cheaper to put a four lane highway down westside road?Have you ever been all the way down that road? We'd have to build a new hospital just to take the crash victims.
The other day I was driving to westbank and traffic was barely moving from ethel.It crawled all the way across the bridge and up to westside road.That's were the problem was, no accident just that red light every 2 minutes.How will a new bridge fix that?Iv'e been working in Kelowna and living in westbank for 9 yrs and do not believe a new bridge will solve the traffic problems on it.Sometimes it's a bit slow but the only times Iv'e seen major delays they were due to weather or accidents, both of which would not be helped by a new bridge.

[pend]

Als pathetic website seems to sum you up very well. Many people on the west side are retired and do not want to live in a 'work environment' which you seem to enjoy. We pay taxes to the district and need a bridge to attend plays, concerts and support the many activities that are available. I guess you have never enjoyed anything cultural because you have a warped outlook on life. Get a life.

[pissant]

Ok.......a new bridge to solve the congestion problems....guess none of you have lived inthe big city. Try being stuck for an hour or more in traffic. It is a fine waste of money, but cynical-your ideas are completely illogical. & if you dont like cars and the pollution...why promote them to drive even farther to get back and forth?

I've waited maybe a half -hour to get over...if that. Its really not a big deal. Leave earlier...or hook up on some anti-anxiety pills.

[Shiva]

ecs said:

Apparently, you do not realize that the district of Westside is actually Kelowna. As residents of Kelowna, we have every right to go into town whenever we wish. Oh and by the way, I do not live on native land.

FACT: The Westside is NOT part of Kelowna. Kelowna is an incorporated municiplity separate from the Westsde. Electoral Area Westside is governed by the Regional District of Central Okanagan, better known as CORD. It has 3 politicians elected to represent the residents of the Westside. Some city councilors sit on the regional board along with Lake Country, the Joe Rich - Ellison Electoral Area, Peachland and Westside Electoral Area.

While areas of the Westide have a Kelowna address, the Post Office set that, not the local government. Every three years we, like the residents in Kelowna go to the polls to elect or politicians. Kelowna elects theirs, we elect ours. Like Burnaby to Vancouver, Surrey to Vancouver.

For these reasons, and many more, residents of the Westside are being asked to participate in a governance restructure study. Residents are being asked if they think the Westside should split up and parts amalgamate with Kelowna, Peachland, one municipality, or - what ever. If you live on the Westside and think you are part of Kelowna - you should review your map.

Learn about who your government is Westside Governance Issues

[Shiva]

pend said:

Als pathetic website seems to sum you up very well. Get a life.

I think Al is just a disgruntled wanna-be-Westsider and you know how pickey we are over here about what we let in.

Al -- put down the hammer Al -

[ecs]

Shiva said:

FACT: The Westside is NOT part of Kelowna. Kelowna is an incorporated municiplity separate from the Westsde. Electoral Area Westside is governed by the Regional District of Central Okanagan, better known as CORD. It has 3 politicians elected to represent the residents of the Westside. Some city councilors sit on the regional board along with Lake Country, the Joe Rich - Ellison Electoral Area, Peachland and Westside Electoral Area.

While areas of the Westide have a Kelowna address, the Post Office set that, not the local government. Every three years we, like the residents in Kelowna go to the polls to elect or politicians. Kelowna elects theirs, we elect ours. Like Burnaby to Vancouver, Surrey to Vancouver.

For these reasons, and many more, residents of the Westside are being asked to participate in a governance restructure study. Residents are being asked if they think the Westside should split up and parts amalgamate with Kelowna, Peachland, one municipality, or - what ever. If you live on the Westside and think you are part of Kelowna - you should review your map.

Learn about who your government is Westside Governance Issues

since you have neglected to mention Westbank, which is it's own town, in all that, i'm assuming that you are mixing up westbank with the district of westside. is that so? westbank and westside are not the same thing.

and please, no need to be so condescending. it's not very nice of you.

[Shiva]

ecs said:

since you have neglected to mention Westbank, which is it's own town, in all that, i'm assuming that you are mixing up westbank with the district of westside. is that so? westbank and westside are not the same thing.

.

Westbank is not a city - nor is it Town. Until, I think it was June 11 of 2001, it was nothing more than Electoral Area H (often called Electoral Area Westbank). Then, the politicinas merged the two electroal areas, Electoral Area H (Westbank) with Electoral Area G (Lakeview which includes Casa Loma, up to and including Fintry) into Electoral Area Westside - UNincorporated. Westbank is part of the Westside, and all of it under the Regional District of Central Okanagan. Westbank from it's border with Peachland to the bridge and up to Fintry is one electoral area - Westside. Westbank is no more than a name for an area. Not city, town or village.

Westbank and Westside ARE the same area - with Westbank a part of it.

Didn't mean to appear "condensending" but my goodness - you are way off base with your geography and politiical boundaries.

The boundaries will be drawn though for incorporation or amalgamation over the next few months via the Westside Governance Committee (which still includes Westbank) click here for the facts. Check the minutes of the governance committee or better yet, the Terms of Reference - they are listed.

It may seem unfair of me to seem 'condensending', but at least I don't spout misnomers misleading readers into thinking one thing when its another.

[ecs]

Shiva said:

Westbank is not a city - nor is it Town. Until, I think it was June 11 of 2001, it was nothing more than Electoral Area H (often called Electoral Area Westbank). Then, the politicinas merged the two electroal areas, Electoral Area H (Westbank) with Electoral Area G (Lakeview which includes Casa Loma, up to and including Fintry) into Electoral Area Westside - UNincorporated. Westbank is part of the Westside, and all of it under the Regional District of Central Okanagan. Westbank from it's border with Peachland to the bridge and up to Fintry is one electoral area - Westside. Westbank is no more than a name for an area. Not city, town or village.

Westbank and Westside ARE the same area - with Westbank a part of it.

Didn't mean to appear "condensending" but my goodness - you are way off base with your geography and politiical boundaries.

The boundaries will be drawn though for incorporation or amalgamation over the next few months via the Westside Governance Committee (which still includes Westbank) click here for the facts. Check the minutes of the governance committee or better yet, the Terms of Reference - they are listed.

It may seem unfair of me to seem 'condensending', but at least I don't spout misnomers misleading readers into thinking one thing when its another.

when one's address says KELOWNA, one tends to think perhaps, they may even live in KELOWNA. if we're all the same electoral area, why is there a boundary?

can you point me to an actually faq page, instead of a forum with directions in every which way. i haven't all night to search through threads.

thanks, and btw. if all this is so, why doesn't anyone actually know about this?

- e

[Shiva]

ecs said:

when one's address says KELOWNA, one tends to think perhaps, they may even live in KELOWNA. if we're all the same electoral area, why is there a boundary?

I hear ya. It's as confusing for those that live on IR 9 bordering between Casa Loma and Lakeview Heights. Or, how about Lakeview (without the Heights) that takes in Casa Loma, Lakeview Heights and Wests Kelowna Estates over to, but not including Shannon Lake but includes Sunnyside. Similar to Vancouver - as mentioned. You don't know you've gone from Burnaby to Vancouver or New Westminister unless you read the small signs.

The governance issue is not going to change the confusion. We may have to change the Kelowna addresses on the Westside if we incorporate or leave them if we amalgamate.

I've been here a long time. When I first paid property taxes is when I first discovered our boundary. I've been learning ever since

can you point me to an actually faq page, instead of a forum with directions in every which way. i haven't all night to search through threads.

Sure - start with your local government web site map and mosey around in there. Although they say "incorporated", we were incorporated a sa regional District a long time ago which was a move by the province to offer up a more provincially controlled form of local govewrnance without falling under municipal status. We still pay our propert taxes to the Province. In Kelowna, they pay it to the City of Kelowna.

btw. if all this is so, why doesn't anyone actually know about this?
- e

People do know about it - at least in the circles I gravitate. Let's face it - how many people are involved enough in local government issues that they need to know about their boundary's, electorals and who is in charge. Not a lot. Many people I know, don't care, or don't want to know as involvement with the political arena can be depressing, frustrating, and all too educational

The Westside, including Westbank, isn't entirely on it's own. From the map and web site I directed you to, you will see that it is like a city council in many ways doesn't have the same authority to tax. For example, Storm Water management. On the Westside, because we are unincorporated, have to work under different rules. We have Local Service Areas (LSA). If your community wanted sidewalks for example, or Storm Water Management via storm drains, they would apply for this through the local government and your LSA pays for it.

The JBMac pool is a good example. It was built and is operated under a local service area bylaw - adopted by the people of Westbank LSA. In Kelowna, an incorporated city, the sewer department requests a budget for storm water management, gets it and taxes go up - done. Over here, bylaws have to be approved, adopted and passed by the Board and in many cases, the Province - there are some ways around it, like Taxation by Default,

In Kelowna, the fire department is run by the city. Over here, the fire department and our water is controlled by the fire department Improvement District and water by water improvement districts Lakeview and Westbank - but that's another story and I've probably bordered you already.