Delegations
Kamloops Ambassador Society
Jennifer Harbaruk, Program Coordinator, joined 2025/2026 Kamloops Ambassadors Peyton Woods and Shea Sparks for a presentation on the Kamloops Ambassador Society program’s activities. The society’s mandate is to promote and enable youth to be future leaders in our community. Their goal is to develop young adults in Kamloops who have a strong sense of civic responsibility, a commitment to their communities, an awareness of current issues, and a strong desire to expand their interpersonal skills, promoting mutual understanding, respect, and collaboration.
Tourism Kamloops
Erik Fisher, CEO of Tourism Kamloops, provided the Committee of the Whole with an update highlighting tourism’s role as a key contributor to the community’s economic health and livability. The presentation noted that Kamloops welcomes approximately two million visitors annually and that 94% of residents identify tourism as an important local industry.
Council was briefed on how tourism priorities align with the City’s Official Community Plan and economic development policies as well as on current collaborations, investment opportunities, events and cultural initiatives, and destination marketing efforts. The delegation also shared data demonstrating the economic impact of outdoor recreation, including mountain biking, which generated approximately $18 million in economic activity between July 2024 and June 2025, along with ongoing stewardship initiatives to support sustainable use of natural spaces. The Committee of the Whole received the update as part of its ongoing consideration of tourism’s contribution to Kamloops’ economy, community vitality, and long-term growth.
- View the delegation presentations within the Committee of the Whole meeting slide deck.
Administrative Reports
Council Governance Framework
Byron McCorkell, the City's Chief Administrative Officer, provided the Committee of the Whole with an overview of how the City’s engagement groups support Council’s select committee structure and contribute to informed municipal decision making. In summary:
- Staff prepare reports or memos regarding an issue or program.
- Select committees review staff input, integrate engagement group insights, and make recommendations.
- The Committee of the Whole considers broader implications and determines whether the item should advance to Council or if additional information is required.
- Council makes final decisions.
- Staff implement Council’s direction and report back as required.
This workflow ensures that policy and program development are comprehensive, transparent, and informed by both internal expertise and community input. Engagement groups enrich this governance process by ensuring that decisions are grounded in technical analysis and the lived experiences and values of Kamloops residents.
The Committee of the Whole recommended that staff incorporate an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens into the terms of reference of all engagement groups.
- View the full memo.
- View the presentation within the Council meeting slide deck.
- Contact for further information:
Byron McCorkell | 250-828-3498
Council Strategic Plan Update
The Chief Administrative Officer also provided the Committee of the Whole with an update on progress made towards the 2023–2026 Council Strategic Plan. Since the plan was adopted, staff have completed several actions within each of Council’s strategic priorities.
| Strategic Priority | Complete | In Progress | Ongoing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety and Security | 17 | 9 | 19 |
| Governance and Service Excellence | 20 | 14 | 12 |
| Livability and Sustainability | 11 | 9 | 21 |
| Economic Health | 13 | 9 | 7 |
| Total | 61 | 41 | 59 |
| 2024 total for comparison | 34 | 55 | 50 |
Items identified as “Ongoing” have been built into ongoing operations. Administration will continue to work on the remaining actions in Council’s Strategic Plan.
- View the full memo.
- View the presentation within the Council meeting slide deck.
- Contact for further information:
Byron McCorkell | 250-828-3498
Council Advocacy Update
Sarah Candido, the City's Indigenous and External Relations Manager, provided the Committee of the Whole with an update on advocacy activities undertaken between September 2025 and January 2026, in alignment with the 2022–2026 Council Strategic Plan. In early 2025, intergovernmental relations were consolidated within the Indigenous and External Relations Division, with ongoing work to strengthen coordinated advocacy, as directed by Council, and transparent public reporting.
Looking ahead to 2026, Council can build on previous advocacy efforts, specifically:
- advancing coordinated solutions for housing and community supports (including recovery-oriented supportive housing and day spaces)
- strengthening sustainable funding models for community safety and policing
- pursuing infrastructure and transit investments that support the City’s role as a regional service centre
- continuing joint advocacy with Tḱemlúps te Secwépemc and neighbouring governments on shared priorities, such as emergency management, health services, and reconciliation-based partnerships.
The Committee of the Whole recommended that staff provide additional reporting on the progress of advocacy items brought forward in Notices of Motion from 2023 until present, and prioritize advocacy regarding the following for the remainder of the term:
- BC Assessment and the oil pipelines assessment model
- simplifying access to provincial lands for capital projects
- RCMP contracts and local government engagement
- replacing the Red Bridge
- public safety
- recovery-focused housing needs
- land, heritage, and reconciliation-related advocacy
- Build Kamloops and infrastructure growth funding
- statements of financial information report thresholds
View the full report.
View the presentation within the Council meeting slide deck.
Contact for further information:
Sarah Candido | scandido@kamloops.ca
Technology Update 2026
Kuldeep Bath, the City's Information Technology Manager, provided the Committee of the Whole with a technology update. The 2018 Digital Strategy is nearing completion. Completed initiatives that are in the scaling phase include several internal system updates and integrations, a system to track street snow removal and sweeping work in real time, and an ePermit system to streamline how residents and businesses apply for building, planning, and development permits.
The City is also in the prototype phase for several initiatives, including several implementations of artificial intelligence.
View the full report.
View the presentation within the Council meeting slide deck.
Contact for further information:
Kuldeep Bath | kbath@kamloops.ca
2026 Council Budget Consideration
David Hallinan, the City's Corporate Services Director, provided the Committee of the Whole with a memo regarding items presented during a closed Council meeting and that impact the 2026 budget.
In response to the various factors affecting the 2026 budget, Council directed Administration to explore all opportunities to reduce the initially proposed 10.76% property tax increase. At the December 16, 2025, closed Council meeting, Administration presented more than 35 potential options to reduce, modify, or eliminate items within the annual operating budget. These initiatives identified impacts on service delivery, operations, staffing, and residents and were presented in a closed meeting due to their nature and potential impacts.
| Item (potential savings) | Council Direction |
|---|---|
| Graffiti and Camp Clean Up Services ($345,000) | Not Removed from Budget |
| Social Program Agreements ($430,000) | Not Removed from Budget |
| Build Kamloops Funding Partial Deferral ($810,000) | Not Removed from Budget |
| Service Agreement Reserve Contribution Pause ($162,000) | Not Removed from Budget |
| Snow Clearing Adjustments ($295,000) | Not Removed from Budget |
| Flower Bed and Weed Control Reductions ($335,000) | Not Removed from Budget |
| Sidewalk Maintenance Service Level Adjustment ($250,000) | Not Removed from Budget |
| Reduce Temperature in City Facilities ($200,000) | Not Removed from Budget |
| Optimize Opportunities at Westsyde Pool and Fitness Centre ($ Unknown) | Investigate/ Report |
| Vacancy Management ($ Unknown) | Implement |
| Exempt Staff Wage Freeze ($650,000) | Not Removed from Budget |
| Maintaining and Meeting Current Service Delivery ($ Unknown) | Investigate/ Report |
| Potential Revenue Expansion through addition of staff ($ Unknown) | Not Removed from Budget |
- View the full memo.
- View the presentation within the Council meeting slide deck.
- Contact for further information:
David Hallinan | dhallinan@kamloops.ca
2026-2030 Updated Five-Year Plan
Dustin Rutsatz, the City's Planning and Procurement Manager, provided the Committee of the Whole with an update on the 2026–2030 Five-Year Financial Plan (the budget).
On January 20, 2026, Administration presented the Committee of the Whole with an update to the 2026 provisional budget that considered various expense line changes, revenue changes, and updated BC Assessment information. The total reduction in taxation from these budget changes was $2,211,372. Administration then presented the Committee of the Whole with options to further reduce the 2026 provisional budget by deferring, pausing, or feathering in various cost items. The Committee of the Whole chose to reduce the budget by an additional $3,536,500, bringing the updated provisional tax rate to 7.21%.
The report outlined a few additional changes identified since the last Committee of the Whole meeting, which would further reduce the provisional tax rate. The presentation also included feedback from public engagement on nine areas of potential cost savings collected both in person on January 20, 2026, and on the City's Let's Talk online engagement platform from January 20 to February 6, 2026.
The Committee of the Whole made recommendations on some of those changes, including deferring the planned RCMP staffing increase to 2027, resulting in a 100% reduction in 2026 and $1,621,000 in savings from the original provisional budget. With the addition of this recommendation, Administration will be bringing the Financial Plan Bylaw to Council with a 2026 provisional tax rate of 5.70%.
The Committee of the Whole further recommended moving forward with two supplemental items related to an apprenticeship funding program and a new Kamloops Fire Rescue Station 6 in Dallas – a community experiencing increasing growth and emergency call volume. These items may have tax implications beginning in 2027. The Committee of the Whole did not recommend moving forward with a Protective Services training centre.
- View the full report.
- View the presentation within the Council meeting slide deck.
- Contact for further information:
Dustin Rutsatz | drutsatz@kamloops.ca
