Regular Council Meeting–November 4, 2025

City Hall front exterior

Delegations

Canadian Alcohol Use Disorder Society and United Way BC

Jan Biega from the Canadian Alcohol Use Disorder Society and Kristi Rintoul from the United Way BC provided Council with policy recommendations and partnership opportunities related to reducing individual and community harms associated with alcohol use.

Alcohol use in British Columbia costs taxpayers $2.81 billion in healthcare, criminal justice, and lost productivity, and is linked to seven types of cancer and other social, mental and physical health implications. The interior region has the highest number of licensed liquor establishments in BC, has the highest consumption rates and the highest hospitalization rates due to alcohol (almost double the national average).

A Way Home Kamloops

Nicole Larsen, Housing Coordinator, and Tre Rhiness, Harm Reduction Coordinator, from A Way Home Kamloops were joined by two Thompson Rivers University Human Service practicum students, Farjad Chowdhury and Nikita Dhakal, to present on the Campout to End Youth Homelessness and provide updates on A Way Home Kamloops and Katherine's Place.

The 9th annual Campout to End Youth Homelessness is taking place on Dec 5, 2025. This is a fundraiser for youth programs where community members sleep out in MacDonald Park with a goal of raising $100,000 and to raise awareness about youth homelessness.

Consideration of Bylaws

Qu’Appelle Boulevard Extension

Council adopted Qu’Appelle Boulevard Extension Development Works Agreement Bylaw No. 47-101, 2025  authorizing a development works agreement to fund the construction of Qu’Appelle Boulevard through undeveloped lands owned by Juniper West Developments Ltd. The new road connecting Qu’Appelle Boulevard westward to Rose Hill Road will be constructed at the City's initial expense and Juniper West Developments Ltd. will be contractually obligated to repay the full amount of the cost of the road on their lands to the City by December 31, 2032.

  • View the full report from the October 21, 2025 regular Council meeting.

New Townhouse Development in Westsyde

Council adopted Bylaw No. 55-101 to rezone properties at 3015 Westsyde Road and 3030 Bank Road to allow a new 34-unit townhouse development. The development consists of 17 two-bedroom units and 17 three-bedroom units, which will help diversify the neighbourhood’s housing stock. Council also authorize issuance of Development Permit No. DPM01031 to regulate the form and character of the development in accordance with the Multi-Family Residential Development Permit Area Guidelines.

  • View the full report from the October 21, 2025 regular Council meeting. 

Unfinished Business 

Council Schedule Change

Council authorized the Open Committee of the Whole Meeting scheduled for November 18, 2025, at 10:00 am to be rescheduled to 1:30 pm that day.

  • View the up-to-date Council calendar here. 

Reports to Council

Official Community Plan Update

Stephen Bentley, the City's Community Planning Manager, provided Council with an update on the City's Official Community Plan. Provincial legislation requires local governments 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. Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 68 includes updated land use policies and designations to focus growth in town centres and mixed-use areas. It also divides the existing Urban land use designation into Low-Rise Urban, Mid-Rise Urban, and High-Rise Urban, and 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.

Council confirmed that the consultation requirements in section 475 of the Local Government Act have been satisfied through implementation of the City’s Official Community Plan engagement program and authorized a public hearing for the plan, which is anticipated for December 9, 2025.

2025 Emergency Support Services Response Update

Jillian Zielinski, the City's Emergency Support Services Coordinator, provided Council with a report on the City’s Emergency Support Services team and its 2025 activities highlighting the spring and summer pre-engagement work and Kamloops’ host community response to the Dean Complex wildfires between September 3 and 21, 2025. Kamloops fulfilled its host community role for 19 days, providing support to 208 evacuees (89 households) from five communities impacted by the Dean Complex wildfires, including the Dusty Lake and Beef Trail Creek fires. This response was supported by 96 volunteers who contributed over 1,822 hours. The response required close coordination among City staff, Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc’s Emergency and Community Support team, cultural facilitators, and Knowledge Keepers.

Provincial Housing Targets Progress Report

Eric Beach, the City's Current Planning Manager, provided Council with an update on the progress the City has made toward the provincial housing targets established by the Ministry of Housing under the Housing Supply Act. The City's housing target order came into effect on October 1, 2023, and set a total five-year housing target of 4,236 units to be met by September 30, 2028.

For the second year of reporting (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025), the City has issued occupancy to 433 residential units, which is below the annual target of 735 established by the Province. The cumulative total for the two-year reporting period is 882 units, which is also below the overall target of 1,414 units. However, during this reporting period, Council has approved 410 residential units through rezoning applications and 790 through development permits, and 682 units have been approved or issued building permits.

Several factors have contributed to the decline in the number of occupancy permits granted, including higher interest rates, economic uncertainty due to United States tariffs, and new federal policies that restricted the number of international students and immigrants permitted to enter the country. These factors have increased the economic risk for developers and builders, so projects are being put on hold until the situation improves. The report outlined a number of initiatives the City has pursued to advance housing throughout the community.

Council authorized Administration to submit the Year 2 Housing Targets Progress Report to the Ministry of Housing. Council further passed a motion to provide a letter to the Minister of Housing, Christine Boyle, requesting a meeting to discuss a range of issues of mutual concern and advising on the extent to which the targets and reporting process imposed by the Province fail to reflect market realities making them both unachievable and unproductive.

Free Downtown Weekend On-Street Parking

Birtin Baidya, the City's Indigenous and External Relations Liaison, provided Council with a report seeking authorization to provide free downtown weekend on-street parking from November 20 to December 20, 2025, essentially adding five Saturdays of free parking, which is estimated to cost between $55,000 and $60,000. This period captures the peak of holiday shopping, when residents frequently visit downtown businesses. The request is made on behalf of the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association to help support small businesses. Similar requests were approved in previous years, including in 2023 and 2024.

Council authorized Administration to offer free Downtown on-street weekend parking beginning November 20, and passed an amendment to extend the timeline for an additional week to include December 27, 2025.

Public Engagement Opportunities

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

Featured Engagement Opportunities

  • Budget 2026: Public engagement on the provisional budget and supplemental business cases will take place in November and December this year. 
    • In-Person Budget Information Session: November 19, 2025, 6:00–8:00 pm, at Kia Lounge, Sandman Centre.
    • Feedback will also be collected online November 20–December 19, 2025, at LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/Budget2026.

Follow On Let's Talk Website

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

Notices of Motion

  • Mayor Hamer-Jackson's Notice of Motion - Support for an Independent Performance Audit, presented at the October 21, 2025, Council meeting was considered. In response, Council resolved to: 
    • write to the Premier of British Columbia, the Minister of Housing, the Minister of Health, and all other relevant ministers and agencies requesting that they commission an independent external performance audit of taxpayer-funded BC Housing programs and that the purpose of this audit be to: 
      • assess whether these programs are delivering the outcomes they are funded and mandated to achieve;
      • review safety and emergency call data to identify systemic challenges; and
      • recommend improvements to coordination, accountability, and measurable community results.
    • emphasize that we recognize the vital work of local non-profit social agencies while also recognizing that taxpayer-funded programs are structured to effectively support residents, staff, and the surrounding community; and
    • Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson be authorized to collaborate with the members of Council’s Safety and Security Select Committee on   advocating in support of this request and advancing the community's concerns for urgent and coordinated action. 
  • Councillor Sarai’s Notice of Motion - Pilot Shortage, which was presented at the October 21, 2025 Council Meeting, was considered. In response, Council resolved to: 
    • request that the Government of British Columbia, through the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth, and the Ministry of Labour, explore mechanisms to:  
      • recognize flight training as an eligible program under provincial financial aid systems;
      • establish pilot training bursaries, incentives, or partnerships with accredited flight schools; and
      • collaborate with the federal government and industry stakeholders to develop a sustainable strategy for aviation workforce development.
    • urge the Government of Canada, through Transport Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada, to develop or extend financial assistance programs - including student loans, grants, or cost-sharing initiatives  to support accessible and affordable pilot training.
    • forward copies of this resolution to: 
      • The Honourable Ministers of the above-named federal and provincial Ministries and departments;
      • The Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) for consideration of submission to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) for consideration and endorsement;
      • The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM); and
      • Premier David Eby; Member of Parliament Frank Caputo; Member of Parliament Mel Arnold; Member of the Legislative Assembly for Kamloops Centre Peter Milobar; and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Kamloops-North Thompson Ward Stamer.
  • Councillor Hall presented a Notice of Motion: Recovery Housing, DCCs, and Minister Meeting, which is up for consideration at the December 9, 2025, regular Council meeting.

Committee Reports

In response to recommendations from the October 21, 2025, Committee of the Whole meeting, Council passed motions to: 

  • support a three-phased approach to multi-family organics collection. (View original report.)
  • increase the service level for snow clearing beginning in 2026 for the 25 accessible on-street parking stalls throughout Kamloops. This service level increase costs $22,500 and provides an overnight crew to hand-shovel each stall within 24 hours of a snow event. Council opted not to include funding to remove the windrows adjacent to the accessible stalls which would have cost an additional $68,000. (View original report.)

Correspondence

Council reviewed correspondence received from Trans Mountain about the application of a Drag Reducing Agent along their pipeline. Council discussed recent news stories and letters from other local governments that pointed out a confusing situation: On one hand, this project is improving pipeline infrastructure and increasing its value, but at the same time, BC Assessment has announced changes to how pipelines like Trans Mountain will be assessed. These changes could lower the value of the pipelines and shift a large portion of the tax burden from the company to local residents. The change will result in an anticipated loss of $600,000 in City of Kamloops revenue. In response Council passed a motion to: 

  • send a letter to BC Assessment requesting representatives appear as a delegation before Council;
  • send a letter to Premier David Eby and Minister of Finance Brenda Bailey asking for a review of the proposed BC Assessment valuation changes to pipeline assets.