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municipal politics

Performing arts centre report released this week

KAMLOOPS - Six months after a $233,000 study looking at the hows, whys and whats of a potential performing arts centre, the public will finally get a peek at the results. The preliminary business case will be presented by the Performing Arts Centre Committee on Thursday, April 9. The work done to date, including what...

Province overrules city; transit service increases put on hold

KAMLOOPS - In 2014 Kamloops city council members agreed to adding new transit buses and more service hours but a decision by the province to put a freeze on B.C. Transit funding means there will not be any additional services added this year, or for the next three years. B.C. Transit representatives were before council...

How City Hall is making it easier to pay your taxes this year

KAMLOOPS - When paying your property taxes, the City of Kamloops is offering you another option: Charge it. A Thompson Rivers University team recently looked at what options the city could provide to make paying taxes easier including drop boxes, credit card payment, self-service kiosks and more advertising.  More property owners paid their taxes online...

Opinions wanted on local election spending

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Fresh off the heels of the fall municipal election a special committee is now looking at whether spending limits should be put in place for candidates and third party advertisers. The provincial government committee will speak with stakeholders and the public over the coming weeks to discuss whether a limit should be put...

Falling loonie could impact Vernon’s plan to buy new fire truck

VERNON – City council had promised Vernon Fire Rescue a new water tender for firefighters at the Okanagan Landing fire hall, but the falling value of the Canadian dollar is impacting the price tag. Council approved the purchase of the new fire truck last fall, but since then, the loonie has taken a beating on...

Construction season set to start with awarding of Overlanders Bridge contract

KAMLOOPS - Expect to see roadwork begin in as little as a month as crews prepare to undertake the six-month $10.3-million Overlanders Bridge project. The contract, which was approved by council today, Tuesday, March 10, will include work on the connecting roads, the bridge deck and the west sidewalk. Work on the connecting roads will...

Millions promised for pipeline construction inconvenience

KAMLOOPS - The Kinder Morgan crude oil pipeline expansion has yet to be approved but it's not stopping the company from signing millions of dollars worth agreements with communities that will be affected by the project. Kamloops and four parts of the Thompson Nicola Regional District signed agreements with the company Thursday, Feb. 26, joining...

What are DCCs and why Habitat for Humanity wants them waived

KAMLOOPS - The confusion over development cost charges and the complexity of the mandatory charge came to a head Tuesday with Habitat for Humanity asking to have the charges waived on affordable home ownership projects and members of the public questioning how they affect larger capital projects. Development cost charges, commonly referred to as DCCs...

Snow clearing remains top of mind in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS - It may be all but gone from our yards, but snow is still leading the discussion at council and budget meetings this week. Stan Stewart recently asked city council to have a policy to remove snow from designated handicap parking stalls as well as the adjacent curb and edge of the sidewalk. There...

Tethering a bone of contention for city council

KAMLOOPS - The hows, whens and ifs of tethering dogs took a back seat to whether it would actually change the behaviour of bad dog owners and how much it would cost the city if a bylaw was in place to limit tethering practices. Claudine Sleik sent a letter to council urging for a tethering...

Orchards Walk turns focus to seniors

KAMLOOPS - A development at the east end of Valleyview continues to grow at a quick rate with a 193-unit seniors' housing development next on the agenda for the ever-growing neighbourhood of Orchards Walk. The independent living complex, which developers are currently seeking a development permit for, will be situated on just over 15 hectares...

Anti-tethering activists to take another shot at Kamloops council

KAMLOOPS - A petition asking city council to impose a time limit on tethering of dogs has garnered more than 2,200 signatures and is set to be presented to council Feb. 24. At the beginning of January council members discussed the practicality of looking into an anti-tethering bylaw. A letter from Claudine Sleik was the...

City hopes to solve quorum issues with technology

KAMLOOPS - Last year the city tried to fix an ongoing problem of getting enough members to show up for the meetings by merging the arts and heritage committees but when there was pushback staff was asked to look at another way to fix the problem. Now city committees do have another tool in their...

Kamloops set to boost rent bank

KAMLOOPS - A program aimed at helping working people struggling to pay their rent is set to get a boost from the city through affordable housing funding. Administered by the Elizabeth Fry Society, the rent bank has been helping individuals and families by providing loans to help cover rental costs for just over two years....

Strong start to 2015 construction year

KAMLOOPS - With 28 new residential units approved through the permitting process in January, Kamloops has kicked off 2015 with some strong numbers. In total eight single family and 20 multi-family units were approved last month, up from a total of just five units in January 2014. Permit values for just residential units were valued...