Regular Council Meeting - July 14, 2026

City Hall front exterior

Delegation

Kendra Woodland - Professional Hockey Player

Kendra Woodland, goalie for the Professional Women's Hockey League Ottawa Charge, shared her hockey journey with Council, from watching her older brothers play hockey in rinks around Kamloops, to dreaming of playing for the Vancouver Canucks, to playing on boys teams with Kamloops Minor Hockey and representing Canada for the first time while in high school at Westsyde Secondary, through university hockey at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, and most recently, to playing in the Walter Cup final earlier this year.

Woodland reflected on what it means to be from Kamloops and highlighted the impact the city has had on her hockey career, sharing that Kamloops is special because of the people—coaches, referees, arena staff, parents, teachers, volunteers—who invest in athletes long before the athletes know what’s possible for them.

Public Submissions

Airport Development Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw

Following an opportunity for members of the public to provide their input, Council adopted Airport Development Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw No. 22-4-23, 2026, to provide tax exemptions for new indoor recreational and/or commercial developments at the Kamloops Airport. Businesses that are considered industrial under Zoning Bylaw No. 55—such as contracting services, warehousing, wholesale distribution, machine and welding shops, and light industry—must support airport operations, airport logistics, aviation activity, airport users, travellers, tourism, or airport‑related business services.

The objectives of this tax exemption program are to enhance the competitive advantage of the Kamloops Airport and to encourage new investment and economic activity within the airport property. The proposed tax exemption only includes developments with minimum new improvement values of $300,000 to support more substantial development opportunities. The tax exemption for new indoor recreational and/or commercial buildings will be 100% of the increased assessed value of improvements for a maximum of 10 years.

  • Read the full June 23, 2026, report here.

Consideration of Bylaws 

New Security Alarm System Bylaw

Council adopted Security Alarm System Bylaw No. 10-43, 2026; Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 43-24, 2026; and Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 44-20, 2026. The intent of the new Security Alarm System Bylaw is to reduce excessive false alarm calls, limit the impact on police resources, and ensure the costs associated with repeated false alarms are borne by those responsible rather than taxpayers.

The new bylaws replace the previous Security Alarm System Bylaw and introduces:

  • increased service fees for excessive false alarms
  • new cost-recovery provisions when RCMP members and equipment are required to remain on site because a responsible contact person is unavailable
  • new fines for alarm owners and monitoring companies that fail to meet bylaw requirements
    an appeals process for property owners who believe a service fee or charge has been applied incorrectly

The new bylaws will come into effect on September 1, 2026.

  • Read the full June 2, 2026, Committee of the Whole report here.

 Temporary Overnight Sheltering Regulations

Council adopted Parks and Public Lands Amendments Bylaw No. 35-104, 2026, to help reduce wildland-urban interface fire risks, establish appropriate buffer zones around areas frequented by children and families, protect critical infrastructure, and maintain clear and enforceable rules for temporary overnight sheltering on public lands by: 

  • adding “nature parks, linear parks, and open space areas” to the list of prohibited areas for temporary overnight sheltering
  • establishing buffer zones prohibiting temporary overnight sheltering
    • 25 m from playgrounds, waterparks, swimming pools, wading pools, or tot lots on public lands
    • 50 m from schools
    • 4 m from sidewalks, multi-use pathways, roads, bridges, or any form of transportation or active transportation infrastructure
  • establishing 10 m buffer zones around water intakes, reservoirs, lift stations, and any form of civic utilities infrastructure

Read the full June 23, 2026, report here. 

Unfinished Business

New Start Time for Committee of the Whole Meeting

Council approved an update to the 2026 Council Calendar, changing the start time of the July 28, 2026, Committee of the Whole meeting from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm. 

Reports to Council

Appointment of Chief Election Officer and Deputy Chief Election Officers

In response to a report from Maria Mazzotta, the City's Corporate Officer, Council appointed Alisha Beday as Chief Election Officer and Rozina Ripa and Graham Hrycan as Deputy Chief Election Officers for the 2026 general local election on October 17, 2026.

Rezoning Application for 772 Battle Street West

In response to a report from Eric Beach, the City's Current Planning Manager, Council introduced and gave initial readings to Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 55-120, 2026, to rezone 772 Battle Street West on a site-specific basis to expand the definition of a “household” from five unrelated persons to 15 unrelated persons. This change would allow the property, owned by the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation, to be used as a short- or long-term rental for two specific groups: out-of-town patients and their family members, and medical learners doing clinical rotations or visiting health care professionals doing locum work. This use is intended to be a companion to the Kamloops Cancer Center, currently being constructed as an extension of the Royal Inland Hospital.

Council also introduced and gave initial readings to Housing Agreement Bylaw No. 64-13, 2026, which is required to specify that the use being proposed is to be implemented only on behalf of the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation and that the amendment to the household size only applies to this specific configuration.

Both bylaws will be considered for adoption at a future Council meeting.

Community Engagement Activities

Council received an update on upcoming community engagement opportunities, as listed below.

Featured Engagement Opportunities

  • Love Your City: The Love Your City campaign is focused on voter engagement and ensuring residents are well informed ahead of the municipal election this fall.
    • Visit the pop-up events at Overlanders Day on July 19, 2026, and the Saturday Farmers’ Market on July 25, 2026. Stop by the City’s booth to learn more about the role of municipal government and win prizes.
    • Learn more at LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/LoveYourCity.
  • Candidate Information Session: Designed for anyone interested in learning more about local government, this dynamic and interactive session explores the roles and responsibilities of elected officials and demystifies the roles and responsibilities of local government and elected officials. Facilitated by Christina Benty, former Mayor of the Town of Golden, the session is particularly valuable for prospective candidates considering a run for Mayor or Council, but it is open to all community members. Registration is required, and attendance is limited to 50 participants.
    • Registration will open at 10:00 am on July 15 through Eventbrite. ­ The information session will take place in the Kia Lounge at Sandman Centre 4:00–8:00 pm on August 6. ­
    • For more information regarding the event and to find the recording following the information session, visit LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/LoveYourCity.

Advocacy Update

  • Council sent a letter to Christine Boyle, provincial Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, expressing concerns regarding the feasibility of meeting provincially mandated housing targets under the prevailing economic and market-based limitations impacting the City's ability to achieve these targets.
  • Council sent a letter to Thompson Rivers University advising of the City's decision to not proceed with a connection to the district energy system.
  • On July 9, 2026, City staff engaged with the 13 Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc Grassroots Families on Build Kamloops projects, specifically how they see themselves using the spaces, cultural considerations, and placemaking within the Kamloops Centre for the Arts and the arena multiplex.

Featured Engagement Opportunities

  • Kamloops Fire Rescue is inviting the community to attend a public barbecue at the Dallas and Brock fire stations. The Lions Club will be serving hamburgers, hot dogs, and refreshments. Residents are encouraged to join Sparky the Dog, meet their local firefighters, and check out the station and equipment.
    • July 25, 11:00 am–2:00 pm - Fire Station No. 6, 5300 Dallas Drive
    • July 26, 11:00 am–2:00 pm - Fire Station No. 2, 1578 Tranquille Road
  • The City is once again inviting residents to submit their best photos of the places, spaces, activities, and events they love most in Kamloops for a chance to be featured in the 2027 City Calendar and other major publications. The deadline for submissions is 4:30 pm on September 29, 2026. For more information or to submit photos, visit Kamloops.ca/Calendar.
  • The final FIFA World Cup™ matches will be shown on a large screen at the Rotary Bandshell in Riverside Park, with games on Tuesday, July 14; Wednesday, July 15; Saturday, July 18; and the final Community Activation Day on Sunday, July 19.

Follow On Let's Talk Website

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Councillors' Reports

In response to Councillor Bepple's report, Council directed staff to engage with Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc, CN Rail, and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) regarding their interest in commemorating the 100th anniversary of the CN Rail Bridge in 2027, highlighting its historical significance to the City of Kamloops and Canada's railway network.

Correspondence

Council reviewed correspondence received from Southern Interior Local Government Association President Councillor Sarai, sent to Premier David Eby on behalf of 37 municipalities and regional districts across British Columbia's southern interior, urging the Province to expand its Complex Care initiative and increase voluntary and involuntary care and treatment capacity to address the growing mental health, addiction, homelessness, and public safety challenges facing communities throughout the region.