I am appalled that Penticton council should even be considering the sale of such a valuable community asset as the lands on Munson Mountain.

It makes no economical or environmental sense. It has taken years to acquire these valuable pieces of property within a prime natural parkland setting.

There are members on council now who in a previous term considered selling Okanagan Lake Park to a developer. If they had achieved their way, the park would now be covered in a concrete structure. Okanagan Lake Park is now one of our most prestigious and dedicated parks enjoyed by area residents and tourists alike. The community has not forgotten that certain members on council now are the very same who would have allowed a developer to build a cabana on Skaha Lake parkland. Sadly there is a familiar pattern at play here.

A lack of vision and the inability to consider the future green space parkland growth of this city will be this council’s legacy.

In 2004, the community voted no to ball fields. They did not vote against these lands being used for future passive parkland. Let me also remind council that in 2002 the community voted an overwhelming 83 per cent for the preservation and protection of parklands.

The city parks department’s own mission statement is “To achieve socially worthwhile goals through the provision and protection of public open spaces ...”

In 2002, the parks inventory total stood at 311.64 acres, below the recommended population formula ratio. It didn’t take into account a population increase during the tourist season. Since then we have been chipping away and reducing our parkland even further.

As far back as 1992, in the Future Parks Acquisition Plan, these area lands were listed for intended community-wide park use. A long-term plan for this area will be needed. This process will require the commitment of many councils, hopefully with the participation of our visionary and dedicated service clubs.

Our natural environment and future parkland is our heritage. It’s our main tourist attraction. It’s an economic generator in and of itself. If we continue eliminating opportunities to preserve our natural parkland heritage, we will ultimately be taking away the very reason people live here and retire here. The Okanagan’s natural setting is without a doubt our greatest attribute. Open space and conservation are investments not costs.

The city’s parks and recreation advisory committee endorsed a recommendation for these lands to be retained. The city’s asset committee did not support the sale either. The opinion of these members and their input has been blatantly ignored, their energy and time wasted.

This leads me to ask council: Why do people volunteer their precious time to serve on advisory committees? I believe their reason to be honourable. They wish to make a worthwhile contribution to their community. Committee members do not owe any allegiance to a small, noisy special-interest group — so-called protectors of agricultural land, who I might add were noticeably quiet over the years as food-producing lands morphed into winery estates.

Mayor and councillors, you were elected to represent all of the people in this community, not a select few. We the taxpayers expect you to provide an accountable and transparent municipal government — nothing less.

Shame on you for attempting to pull a fast one on the taxpaying citizens of Penticton. To entertain the disposal of these lands via a notice of motion, thereby disallowing any public input on this matter is distasteful and totally undemocratic. This motion needs to be rescinded. Endorse the recommendations of your advisory committees.

Jeanette Wood

Penticton