Council notification period

The explanation given by Kelowna’s City Clerk as to why the many, many letters and representations made by Kelowna citizens against the proposed location of the new Tourism Centre is ridiculous.
 
Citizen opposition to the proposed location has been part of the public dialogue for months, in fact as long as the public became aware of the plan to construct this building on our waterfront. There have been innumerable letters sent to editors and mayor and council, and to have these dismissed because they were not received within the 12 day notification period of the public hearing is nonsense, and an easy out for council. It is a total disregard and dismissal of the wishes of the citizens of this community. 
 
If this in fact, is in the legislation, then the legislation need to be changed. One has to assume – which may be erroneous – that the mayor and council members are aware that the general public consensus is against this building in this location, and if they accepted the information from the clerk’s office that there was very little opposition, then they have forgotten they have been elected to listen to all their constituents and act accordingly.
 
This isn’t a contest where you had to apply between January 11 and January 23… and then be told that – whoops – you lost. Kelowna’s citizens have been telling council that this building in this location is not in the community’s best interests for months – and this council has chosen not to listen. We should be mad - it is, after all, our lakeshore.

Sharron J. Simpson