Consideration of Bylaws

Fees and Charges Amendments

Council adopted three amendments to the Fees and Charges Bylaw related to:

• Recreational facility fees (Bylaw No. 44-16)
• RCMP municipal service fees (Bylaw No. 44-17)
• 2026 utility rates (Bylaw No. 44-18)

A report on recreational facility fees was presented to Council on November 4, 2025, following a comprehensive review that compared six similarly sized municipalities across British Columbia. The review prioritized ensuring that recreation opportunities remain accessible and affordable for children, youth, and families in our community. Rates and admission fees for children, youth, and preschoolers are largely unchanged. Most of the adjustments have been made to adult and commercial rates, and local organizations with existing service agreements will have the opportunity to negotiate terms to manage any rate increases effectively. To enhance predictability for user groups and support improved cost recovery, recreation fees will be subject to an annual 2.5% increase in future years.

A  report on RCMP municipal service fees was also presented to Council on November 4, 2025, following a review of the services offered by comparable municipalities. These fees were last reviewed in 2019, and since then, the costs of providing the services under the bylaw have increased substantially. This is due, in part, to staffing resources, increased wages, increased volumes of requests, additional processing requirements, and additional staff time to process requests due to the complexity of the requested information. Additional changes to the RCMP municipal service fees include charging for increased staff time to research and review complex disclosure requests and removing the special occasion licence fee, as these permits are handled by the Province.

The 2026 utility rates are based on Council’s direction from the October 7, 2025, regular Council meeting. The utilities (water, sewer, and solid waste) are stand-alone municipal services that are accounted for, budgeted for, and funded separately from the City's general operating and capital funds. In 2024, based on identified funding gaps, Council directed Administration to implement substantial increases to the water, sewer, and solid waste utilities of 15%, 5%, and 10%, respectively. After careful consideration of revenues, expenses, and capital projects, Administration identified cost savings and recommended a 10% revenue increase for the water utility, a 3% revenue increase for the sewer utility, and a 10% revenue increase for the solid waste utility. For the water utility, the 10% revenue increase is made up of a 15% increase in variable rates and a 5% increase in fixed charges, giving residents more control over their water levies based on water usage.

Covenant Discharge for Housing Cooperative

Council adopted Housing Agreement Repeal Bylaw No. 64-5, 2025, releasing the RareBirds Housing Co-operative from their housing agreement so they can sell the property at 772 Battle Street West as potential rental housing. View the full report from the November 4, 2025, regular Council meeting.

Note: Consideration of bylaws reconvened after the 7:00 pm public hearing

Update to KAMPLAN, City of Kamloops Official Community Plan

Council adopted Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 68, 2025, fulfilling provincial requirements of all local governments to update their official community plans by December 31, 2025. Proposed changes to the Official Community Plan include updated land use policies and designations to focus growth in town centres and mixed-use areas. The new plan divides the existing Urban land use designation into Low-Rise Urban, Mid-Rise Urban, and High-Rise Urban. It also divides the current Commercial land use designation into Local Commercial, Highway and Service Commercial, and Mid-Rise Commercial. These distinctions provide clearer guidance on how the City should accommodate growth.

One alteration to the bylaw authorized by Council before adoption was the removal of the Flood Hazard Development Permit Area. Under the proposed new flood hazard guidelines, new development activity for all land use types would have been required to be built above the minimum flood construction level and comply with flood plain setbacks. Council opted to maintain the existing approach to managing flood hazards, which only applies to new multi-unit residential developments, garden and carriage suites, and new subdivisions.

Council also authorized rescinding the no-longer-relevant Council Policy No. EDS-16, Technical Criteria for Development Conditions in the Aberdeen Hills Neighbourhood. The policy was rescinded because its intent is now reflected in the Official Community Plan as a development permit area.

View the full report from the November 4, 2025, regular Council meeting.

Unfinished Business 

Revisiting Public Input at Council Meetings

After revisiting the current suspension of public input at regular Council meetings and the various approaches to public inquiries and input tried during this Council term, Council directed staff to continue the suspension of public input until the end of its term.

Deputy Mayor Schedule

Council adopted the following Deputy Mayor Schedule for 2026.