Regular Council Meeting–September 09, 2025

City Hall front exterior

Delegations

BC Nurses Union

Julie Bodden, Thompson North Okanagan Region Lobby Coordinator for the BC Nurses Union, provided Council with information on minimum nurse-patient ratios and how local governments can help solve the nursing shortage. Health regions across BC are in the initial phases of implementing minimum nurse-patient ratios throughout health care facilities. The BC Nurses Union feels it is important for local governments to have an understanding of minimum nurse-patient ratios, how ratios will impact local health care, and how local governments can be allies with the BC Nurses Union in advocating for high-quality healthcare.

Kamloops Terry Fox Run

Sue Steenson, Run Organizer, and her Terry Fox Run colleagues Tracy Clarke, Karla Hawes, and Roberto Klarich provided Council with information on the 2025 Kamloops Terry Fox Run taking place on Sunday, September 14, at Riverside Park. The delegation encouraged Council and local residents to participate and contribute to the cause.

Public Submissions

Entertainment at the Prestige Aberdeen Lodge and Moon Wok Chinese Restaurant

Council authorized a resolution of support for the Prestige Aberdeen Lodge and Moon Wok Chinese Restaurant, located on Rogers Place in the Aberdeen neighbourhood, to amend their food primary liquor licence. The amendment would permit activities such as small music events, artistic performances, and dancing within the restaurant’s ballroom space.

Provincial liquor licensing regulations require local governments to comment on entertainment endorsement applications and address the potential for noise or other impacts on the community. In its resolution, Council stipulated that all patron participation activities must be located indoors. 

  • View the full report from the August 12, 2025, regular Council meeting.

Unfinished Business

Council adopted an updated 2025 Council Calendar reflecting a new Committee of the Whole Meeting on October 21, 2025. 

Reports to Council

Alternative Approval Process Mail-Out Costs

Kristen Rodrigue, the City's Communications Manager, provided Council with estimates for the cost of mailing information about alternative approval processes to eligible electors. These mailings would be in addition to any statutory notice or other communications about the alternative approval processes or related projects.

Kamloops Transit Service Expansion

Michael Lu, the City’s Transportation Planner, provided Council with a report seeking authorization to sign a memorandum of understanding with BC Transit to expand transit service effective January 2027. This report outlines the service plans for the expansion of the Kamloops Transit System, developed collaboratively by BC Transit and City staff to reflect local needs. Guided by the City’s 2020 Transit Future Action Plan and informed by ridership feedback and community engagement, the plan emphasizes improved service reliability and accessibility.

Year 1 (2027) includes the planned launch of two new routes—Route 98 (Valleyview to Thompson Rivers University via Downtown) and Route 99 (Southwest Loop)—along with enhancements to existing services. A total of 28,500 additional conventional transit hours and 2,500 custom transit hours are proposed to increase core route frequency, improve on-time performance, expand service coverage, and address growing demand for handyDART services.

Kelson Group Mural Application

Dušan Magdolen, the City's Cultural Services and Events Manager, provided Council with a report seeking authorization for the Kelson Group to add a mural to the alley side of the Beckman Building at the corner of 3rd Avenue and Seymour Street. The 24 ft. wide by 8 ft. high mural will be painted on plywood pieces so it can be dismantled and reused when the property is redeveloped. The mural’s wildlife panoramic design, featuring a bighorn sheep on the rocky terrain of Mount Paul, has been chosen to promote the beauty of the Kamloops region.

Council authorized staff to grant permission for the mural to be installed.

Draft 2025 Official Community Plan

Stephen Bentley, the City's Community Planning Manager, provided Council with the draft KAMPLAN: Official Community Plan 2025 for information and feedback before final community engagement. Following changes to provincial legislation in 2023, local governments are required to update their official community plans by December 31, 2025, to accommodate anticipated housing needs over the next 20 years and to address specific types of housing.

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 2025 Official Community Plan will divide the existing Urban land use designation into Low-Rise Urban, Mid-Rise Urban, and High-Rise Urban. It will also divide the 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. Future Development Areas have been updated to reflect recent development applications, developer interest, and feedback from the Agricultural Land Commission. The plan’s housing policies have been updated in line with legislative requirements.

Community engagement on the Official Community Plan update took place from May to June 2025. The August 19, 2025, report to the Committee of the Whole provided a summary of engagement feedback. Next steps include a legal review and more public engagement before a final draft is presented to Council for consideration.

Shipping Container Enforcement

Ken Uzeloc, the City's Protective Services Director/Fire Chief, provided Council with information on the growing use of shipping containers (also known as sea cans or inter-modal containers) in the community for storage. The memo identifies safety and regulatory challenges associated with their use and advises of the corrective actions being taken to address risks related to fire, structural integrity, zoning, and community aesthetics. Zoning regulations dictate the number of containers permitted, size, placement, and screening. They also must comply with zoning requirements for accessory buildings, including height, lot coverage, and setbacks. They cannot be used for human or animal occupancy and must not contain flammable or explosive materials.

Community Services regularly receives complaints from residents and businesses concerning the excessive number of shipping containers on private properties. By working with property owners, the City aims to strike a balance between fire safety, community standards, and the practical storage needs of residents and businesses while ultimately bringing all properties into compliance.

Public Engagement Opportunities

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

Featured Engagement Opportunities

  • Arena Multiplex: The City will be hosting a pop-up information session at the main entrance of Kenna Cartwright Park, adjacent to the site of the new arena multiplex. Staff will be available to answer questions and share information regarding the new facility. 
    • September 20, 2025, 10:00 am–12:00 pm
    • Kenna Cartwright Park Parking Lot, 2000 Hillside Drive
    • A survey will also be available online at LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/ArenaMultiplex from September 11 to October 14, 2025.
  • KAMPLAN: Official Community Plan: A draft of the updated Official Community Plan will be available for public feedback starting September 10, until October 1, 2025. This draft incorporates feedback from the first round of engagement this spring. View the draft plan at LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/Kamplan.
  •  Responsible Liquor Consumption Pilot Project: The City of Kamloops has launched a pilot program to allow responsible liquor consumption in a designated area of Riverside Park. Residents are invited to provide feedback throughout the pilot program, which will be accepted online until October 1, 2025. 
    • Provide feedback at LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/ResponsibleLiquorConsumption.
    • Full details on the bylaw are available at Kamloops.ca/ResponsibleLiquor.

Follow On Let's Talk Website

Subscribe to ongoing projects to be notified when engagement opportunities arise:

Community Collaboration Activities

  • Call for photos! Residents of all skill levels and ages are invited to submit their digital photos for a chance to be featured in the 2026 City Calendar. We encourage submissions that highlight our City's diverse population, urban landmarks, breathtaking environment, and variety of leisure activities. The deadline to submit your photos is September 29, 2025. Visit Kamloops.ca/Calendar for details.

Notices of Motion

Councilor Bass presented two notices of motion, which will be up for consideration at a future regular Council meeting: 

Committee Reports

  • In response to recommendations from the August 19, 2025, Committee of the Whole meeting, Council authorized staff to use Provincial Housing Capacity Building Grant funds to develop an implementation plan for short-term strategies identified in the Parking Management Study outside of the proposed increases to parking rates, fines, and event parking. Council further directed staff to prepare amendments to the following bylaws to reflect the adjustments to parking rates, fines, and event parking outlined in the Parking Management Plan report: 
    • Traffic Bylaw No. 23-30, Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 44-14
    • Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 43-15
    • Parks and Public Lands Bylaw No. 35-66
  • In response to other recommendations from the August 19, 2025, Committee of the Whole meeting, Council authorized staff to initiate a major amendment to the Development Cost Charge Bylaw, as outlined in option 3 of the Development Cost Charges Bylaw Amendment Options report, and to bring the resulting bylaw amendment proposals forward to a regular Council meeting for consideration.
  • In response to recommendations from the August 28, 2025, Build Kamloops Select Committee meeting, Council: 
    • endorsed the proposed governance structure and operating model for the Kamloops Centre for the Arts, as outlined in the Kamloops Centre for the Arts Governance and Operating Model report
    • directed staff to establish a not-for-profit society responsible for operating and managing the Kamloops Centre for the Arts and to work with community partners to recruit a board of directors for the society
    • directed staff to return to a future Build Kamloops Select Committee meeting with detailed information regarding the society’s board composition, governance and operational timelines and milestones, financial considerations, and proposed funding model