Sicamous council backtracking on its rail trail rezoning decision is a move that requires another public hearing which will be held at a different venue to accommodate the expected crowd.
At the Feb. 14 meeting, council defeated, with a 4-3 vote, the park rezoning needed to start work on the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail (SNORT).
A subsequent petition and delegation prompted Mayor Colleen Anderson to exercise her authority under Section 131 of the Community Charter to bring third reading back for another vote.
At the March 13 committee of the whole meeting, deputy corporate officer Sarah Kyllo brought forward three possible locations and their availability, with each one able to seat 120 to 150 people.
“I think we had over 50 at the one meeting, and then over 40, and they kind of represented different opinions in the community,” she explained. “So if we bring those two together… there could be a large attendance.”
In her report, Kyllo suggested the Seniors Centre and Sicamous Legion, both available on April 4 or 9, with a capacity of 150, and the Red Barn Arts Centre on April 4, 9 or 10, at a maximum of 120 people.
She added that in further discussions with the Seniors Centre, it was back on the table as they could accommodate April 10 and would just cancel that evening’s card games.
Though the Red Barn has the lowest rental rate at $25 per hour, while the other two are $40, with its new availability the Seniors Centre became the preferred choice.
“As far as Zoom goes…I think the Seniors Centre might be better because they have two or three large TVs on the wall, so it might be better suited technologically,” Coun. Malcolm Makayev said, adding that it also offers a bit more parking than the Red Barn.
The Seniors Centre, however, presented a bit of a timing challenge as council will only have access in the late afternoon, but has a committee of the whole meeting that usually takes place at 1 p.m. That would require juggling locations and trying to get the necessary sound equipment moved over in time.
Kyllo said staff have already discussed the logistics of the situation, saying they could either cancel the committee meeting if there was nothing pressing on the agenda or move it to the morning, allowing time to make the venue change. Makayev proposed an amendment to the motion to approve the date and time of the public hearing and regular meeting, and have staff further research the venues and make the choice then, which was approved unanimously.