By ROY WOOD

The annual takeover of Lions Park by seasonal agricultural workers has led Oliver council to agree to a public meeting to allow residents “to vent and be heard.”

At the same time, council approved a bylaw amendment to deal with inappropriate activity in public parks.

Councillor Maureen Doerr told council Monday that she has been getting feedback from residents about the issue and they are not happy.

She described the parking lot this weekend as “a gong show,” with cars filling the lot and parking on the grass and along the highway.

During discussion of the issue, Mayor Ron Hovanes said that the parking problems are the primary concern, but he has also received complaints about: large crowds in the park; dogs off their leashes; piles of garbage left behind; and public urination.

Two weeks ago, council approved a move by ribs and pork vendor Hammers House of Hog into the parking lot at Lions Park. But, said Doerr, it was so congested on the weekend that no one could get near the hut.

Council agreed to ask the Parks and Recreation Society to host a July 15 public meeting at which members of the public will be able to express their views on the issue of “controlling the transients’ use of Lions Park to ensure all people using the park feel safe.”

Doerr said she is concerned about how angry people are about not feeling safe or welcome at the park and that the meeting “could get real ugly … in a lynch mob mentality kind of way.”

She said the meeting will need to be carefully run, like a public hearing with participants being allowed to make a statement without outbursts or interruptions from the audience.

Councillor Jack Bennest pointed out that although there are more cars in town this year than in previous years, the influx of “summer residents” has been going on for decades.

He said the problems are most apparent in June and July when the cherry season gets under way. He suggested the way to deal with the large number of itinerant fruit pickers is through “more engagement, not more enforcement.”

Hovanes echoed the notion that this is a situation with a long history. “We’ve had Quebecois and other people coming here (in picking season) since before 1970.”

Council approved three readings of the Park Regulation Amendment Bylaw, which prohibits loitering in or near park washrooms and limits the size of groups congregating in parks to 25 people.

Groups larger than 25 will need a permit to gather for any reason.

The bylaw also stipulates that parks are closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Hovanes assured council that the bylaw is a tool that will allow bylaw enforcement officers and the police to disperse large groups in the parks; they will employ a “common sense approach” in enforcement.

The bylaw is scheduled for adoption at the July 13 meeting.