PENTICTON –A water park project in Penticton is making a splash again, this time over comments the mayor made to a local newspaper.
The Penticton Western newspaper asked Andrew Jakubeit why no one from the Save Skaha Park Society, a group representing those opposed to a waterslide development, got a spot to serve on the city’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan Steering Committee.
In response, Jakubeit said:
“I would say that if you sue the city, you would negate your right to sit on one of their committees.”
Gerry Karr, the society’s president, says this comment sounded alarm bells.
“He’s the leader. When he can use that power to shut people out of the process, that’s tyrannical.”
Karr applied for one of four vacant spots, but was turned down.
He’s been outspoken on his position against the development. When protests failed to change council’s mind, the society launched a lawsuit last September.
READ MORE: Penticton waterslide park moves forward despite vocal opposition
Jakubeit says it’s because of the legal action, and Karr’s position as an executive member of the society, that Karr’s application was rejected.
“It was a poor choice of words on my part. I should’ve articulated that there’s a conflict if you sue the city and you’re also trying to be on a committee on the same issue, which is park use,” he says.
But Karr criticizes this explanation.
“Number one, this is anti-democratic. Number two, if he wants to get the best results, he should include all points of view.”
Karr took this issue up to the B.C. Civil Liberties Association.
Michael Vonn, the group’s policy director, says the mayor’s comment was concerning.
“Every single citizen who would like to apply to be a part of that committee deserves an adjudication and not an outright dismissal,” says Vonn.
The mayor says the four members of the public chosen offer a well-rounded, wide range of voices, whereas Karr is deeply entrenched in his bias.
“It was council’s decision that basically thought maybe there’s a bit too much of a conflict here and potentially for a bias or a jaded view,” says Jakubeit.
“I think it is problematic in terms of this notion that some members of the society have some sort of bias or they have some kind of view that is illegitimate. Surely what you want is a diversity of viewpoints,” says Vonn.
Jakubeit says the public will be able to offer their feedback and participate in shaping the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
Meanwhile the society is expecting a response from the city regarding a lawsuit it launched five months ago, asking the development to be put to a referendum so electors can vote whether they support or oppose the project.
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