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Experience matters. Leadership is about more than making decisions. It's about earning trust, building partnerships, and bringing people together to move our community forward. My experience on Council has prepared me to lead Vernon with integrity, accountability, and a clear vision for our future.
Leadership That Delivers
Listening Before Deciding
For eight years, I have taken the time to listen to residents, research the issues, and make informed decisions in the best interests of Vernon. Good leadership begins with understanding the people and community you serve.
Growing Vernon Responsibly
Vernon needs more housing, a strong and diverse local economy, and development processes that are clear, fair, and efficient. I will support responsible growth that creates opportunity while protecting our neighbourhoods, parks, trails, and natural environment.
Planning for the Future
Strong communities invest wisely in the facilities, infrastructure, and public spaces people rely on. From recreation and parks to housing and essential services, I will work collaboratively to ensure Vernon is prepared for the needs of today and tomorrow.
I'm running for Mayor because Vernon deserves thoughtful leadership, responsible decision-making, and a clear vision for our future. Together, we can build a stronger economy, safer neighbourhoods, and a city where families, businesses, and future generations thrive.
Get to Know Kari
Smart Growth Development
A financial case being made for why development is important to a growing community such as our.
"Rising costs are impacting everyone, including cities. Municipalities are not allowed to run deficits, they must ensure that revenue matches expenses. A city's ability to raise revenue is almost exclusively limited to property taxes. That means to increase revenue to council has to raise the mill rate or increase the value of each property.
Increasing the mill rate means that every Vernon homeowner pays higher taxes.
Increasing the value of each property is done by ensuring properties are improved to their highest and best use, following city building best practices. Not every property is a candidate for re-development and the OCP clearly identifies where density is appropriate.
For example, if you took a 3.75-acre parcel under-improved with a single house built in 1950. This parcel is on a busy road, close to commercial, and the services are appropriately sized to handle increased densification to 90 townhomes—a candidate for re-development.
Unimproved, this parcel is paying $2554.00 in municipal taxes, with total taxes of $5050.
When improved with 90 townhomes this same property now generates $150,869 in municipal taxes and $314,460 in total taxes, assuming an average value of $550,000 each. That is a 60 x annuity to the city, for the same sized parcel, without increasing the mill rate which impacts all Vernon residents.
Now, 90 new ratepayers are contributing to the already constructed services. If offsite upgrades are required, they are paid by the developer, who will also contribute $1,103,000 in DCCs. What's more, this is now a strata, so there are no operating costs to the city for maintenance of the roads or pipes and garbage is private pick-up. Encouraging re-development this is the most financial responsible way to grow a city.
This is just the financial business case. It does not take into consideration the social benefits of increasing housing options in Vernon in a missing middle format or the environmental benefits of building a tighter denser city—the triple net bottom line of city building. " - Voter
Until we recognize that housing is a core need we will continue to fall behind the demand. In turn, costs will continue to rise as will market values. Taxes will continue to rise and our citizens will continue to feel the effects of our delayed response to a growing problem.
Development does not have to be the bad guy in the equation. When following smart growth principles and utilizing best practices we can build a more greener, cleaner, sustainable community where we all benefit.
Putting Youth and Family First
Although this video was done for the 2018 election, its statement is as relevant today as it was then. It also goes to heart of my pledge last election which was to build facilities and amenities that would help to keep our youth engaged.
Can I stand behind this statement? Absolutely! Here are the things that this Council has done to put families and youth first in our Community:
1. Bringing a new Active Living Centre to a referendum this October. This new facility will house a new 50m body of water that can me modified depending on the programs being offered. In so doing, we will help to increase program capacity so that more youth can have access to this very important facility! As mentioned previously, a local pool is one such amenity that allows a variety of users under more equitable and affordable conditions. We have a responsibility to provide affordable recreational facilities to all members of our Community.
2. This Council has set aside 10 million from the Legacy Fund, in addition to another 6 million over the next 3 years, to help design and construction the new Kin Race Track Athletic Park. This new facility will see a variety of recreational uses such as 2 new ball diamonds, 2 new artificial turf fields, basketball and volleyball courts, walking trails and a dog park to name only a few. As a parent with 2 young boys, we saw our fair share of travelling - especially when our boys found themselves at opposite ends of town. A newly created Athletic Park will provide much reprieve to those families who find themselves in the same situation. We are building a lasting Legacy for our Community.
3. We worked hard to bring an artificial turf floor to Kal Tire North. We have now seen, first hand, the economic benefits of investing in such amenities. Vernon was finally able to host a Provincial Lacrosse tournament that used both Kal Tire Place and Kal Tire North. This tournament brought 28 Teams to our area. And because they did not have to travel between Vernon & Armstrong, we saw many of these families attend many events such as the Farmer's Market; enjoyed our beaches, stayed in our hotels, and frequented our shops and eateries.
4. We have invested in trail connections and new parks. One such park is the newly created Jumpstart Accessible Park at Marshall Fields. This park will allow all children with varying abilities to engage, learn and play. Investing in our children needs to be a priority.
5. Constructing the new Civic Memorial Park (in honor of the Civic Arena). By constructing a park in the heart of down town, we are ensuring that local children will have a safe a secure place to play. With the connector routes: pedestrian paths and bike paths, we have created an environment that allows our youth to access these facilities in a more secure mode of transportation.
6. In collaboration with the RDNO, we have added numerous green spaces to our trail system including: a 2 acre parcel of land just North of the Alpine Centre; 4 acres of parkland along Davison Rd and 3.6 acres of trail right away for the Grey Canal Trail. These important connector pieces will provide a continuous trail system from Polson Park to Kal Beach and from Turtle Mountain to Bella Vista/Okanagan Hills.
7. A new walking trail that will connect the Foothills Development to the City (which will also include BX Elementary School). This project provides a safe and accessible pathway that will allow children to walk to and from school safely.
This Council has committed to youth and families through their 4 Year Strategic Plan. But it takes vision and dedication to forge ahead. First, you must understand the importance of such facilities and have the fortitude to push forward. By building a more accessible and inclusive Community that sees our Youth as an important aspect to this vision, we can continue to stay focused on what would be required to meet this objective.
So for me, putting Family and Youth first is equally important today as it was yesterday and I will continue to fight for our children through the important initiatives that will continue to provide safe, accessible and affordable recreational amenities.
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