Penticton opts out of regional conservation fund

PENTICTON – Penticton is opting out of participating in a regional conservation fund but is looking at developing its own.

Conservation Program Manager Bryn White is happy the city is talking about developing their own autonomous conservation fund, nonetheless.

Calling the fund 'cutting edge leadership in the environment', White says she is proud to be part of the conversation with Penticton.

Penticton City Council decided they would not participate in a regional conservation fund at a June 6 meeting.

"(The vote is) practising against what we preach, with respect to maintaining silos of interest,” Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit said, but the majority of council saw more advantage in being part of a fund they control.

The fund could be used to support such initiatives as the Penticton Creek restoration project.

White first came before the board in October 2015 to present the idea of participating in a regional conservation program through the South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program, where households would contribute $10 annually to a fund which can be leveraged from other sources to support regional environmental initiatives.

The regional district board is expected to discuss the fund and assess other partner participation interest on a sub-regional level at the June 16 regional board meeting.

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