Facebook post (photo credit: Myrika Godard)

By Kevin Rothwell

Legacy debate at council

Council may discuss using legacy funds to help downtown restaurants

Apr 20, 2021 | 2:00 PM

Vernon City Council is debating today (April 20) what to do with $13 million dollars in funds gifted to the city by Fortis B.C.

Coun. Dalvir Nahal told Vernon Matters there could be discussion about using some of the funds to help out downtown restaurants that are struggling, which she says was suggested by another councillor.

Council has discussed the idea before, and is in favour of it, but there wasn’t much uptake when the Downtown Vernon Association canvassed member businesses.

The idea took foot again after a resident, Myrika Godard, posted to Facebook questioning why 30th Avenue couldn’t be shut down on weekend nights, to allow restaurants without patios, and those with limited space to expand into the street.

“With the new COVID restrictions, my heart breaks for the restaurants. Unfortunately with skip [delivery services] pricing being so expensive, the restaurants are having to raise their prices and that’s being passed to the consumers and not everyone can afford to pay more. It’s a no win/win situation,” Nahal said.

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Nahal notes the idea actually came up prior to COVID-19, and now the current public health orders are putting additional pressure on restaurants.

“I am hopeful that once the restrictions are lifted, restaurants will choose to stay open later and do more of an outside event. Having many friends and family visiting from the coast every year, they are shocked that most places call last call at 10 p.m.,” Nahal noted.