An architectural report suggests there are potentially far more cons than pros when it comes to having the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) consider operating out of the board rooom across the street at Penticton City Hall.
At that last meeting of the RDOS on June 7, there was a long, and at times heated, debate over whether the RDOS board should accept an offer by Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit to use to City Hall boardroom.
Jakubeit said the City Hall boardroom is “dead space” that sits vacant most of the time and he thought it would be a smart idea to move RDOS board meetings to that location, considering it’s located right across the street.
Several rural RDOS directors, including veteran Tom Siddon, argued vehemently that the regional district and City of Penticton have separate identities and RDOS residents would be upset if board meetings were moved to City Hall.
A report by Landform Architecture Ltd., that has been prepared for the next RDOS board meeting next Thursday, June 21, lists four pros and more than a dozen cons to switching locations.
The four pros listed in the report include:
- Potential for cost savings
- Frees up space for the RDOS Emergency Operations Centre (which operates out of the same boardroom the RDOS board uses for its regular meetings)
- Staff reductions may be possible
- May lead to closer co-operation between the two levels of government
The cons listed in the report include:
- The room would have to be configured as it is currently used by seven Penticton councillors. The RDOS board has 19 board members
- RDOS board meetings would not be happening at the RDOS building, leading to public confusion, both physically and in terms of respective jurisdictions
- There would likely be frequent scheduling conflicts, so schedules would need to be reconciled
- Space for public attendance would be greatly reduced or lost
- Other RDOS municipalities may feel there is an appearance of bias towards Penticton
- Availability of the City Hall boardroom will be dependent on City of Penticton staff and that they will get priority over the RDOS
- Cost of space unlikely to be “free” for the RDOS
- Penticton’s council chambers are not high quality with a flat ceiling, flat floor, plain materials and limited exits and washrooms
- Proximity of RDOS staff to board meetings would be lost as would the ability to pull people into meetings quickly as soon and to go bac to work promptly
- RDOS building would lose its largest meeting room
Chief administrative officer Robert Newell said discussions about the RDOS board pursuing partnership opportunities with the City of Penticton have taken place from time to time on numerous occasions over the years.
The RDOS has identified a requirement for additional space and moving the boardroom over to City Hall would open up the potential smaller meeting rooms or office space, relieving the pressure throughout the rest of the RDOS building, he said.
The City of Penticton has officially been advised of the board’s interest, said Newell.
The RDOS has used Landform Architects for boardroom renovations in the past, so they were contacted and, based on knowledge of both boardrooms, provided the list of pros and conts the board could consider, he said.
Besides the initial report by Landform, the RDOS still has additional questions about parking and who pays; additional janitorial requirements and who pays; availability for small meeting rooms for shared services and constituent meetings; lack of certainty on meeting space availability may lead to more off-site commercial rentals; additional traffic through Penticton City Hall’s reception area; and expansion of the sound system.
