Observations from around the City council table during ‘decision day’ deliberations

NEWS/ CITY HALL — As reported in Tuesday’s Armchair Mayor News, Kamloops City council put the finishing touches on a new budget that will rise by two per cent over last year.

A wide range of items was discussed during the deliberations. Here are a few observations in council chambers during the meeting:

“I call this decision day — make some decisions and move on.” (Finance director Sally Edwards, setting the stage for the meeting.)

“It’s meant to be a signal we’re serious about trying to reduce it.” (Mayor Peter Milobar during discussion of his proposal to freeze heavy industry taxes for the coming year.)

“We have to prepare for the falling loonie.” (Coun. Marg Spina during discussion of industrial taxation and whether the City should apply to annex the New Gold mine.)

“It would be lovely to have but it’s not critical to have so I’m not going to support it.” (Coun. Tina Lange on proposal to buy two portable bleachers for special events at a cost of $90,000. The bleachers were approved.)

“I’m looking for an under two-per cent tax hike. (Coun. Arjun Singh. The final number was exactly two per cent.)

“You have very long grass and ugly parks.” (Parks, recreation and culture director Byron McCorkell when asked by Coun. Tina Lange what would happen if council didn’t approve an $80,000 mower.)

“That bad?” (Coun. Tina Lange to McCorkell after his reply about long grass and ugly parks. McCorkell then pointed out council had approved new parks and they need to be mowed. The mower was approved.)

“A park is like a house. It gets worn out.” (Coun. Pat Wallace on a staff request to spend $50,000 a year for the next few years for various upgrades to Riverside Park. Council approved $50,000 for one year to fix a drainage problem under the CN bridge.)

“If we don’t get the $15,000 it won’t be in the budget next year.” (CAO David Trawin when some councillors suggested staff could research the benefits of a money-saving automatic vehicle locating system instead of spending money on a study.)

“I’m not really sure this is something that would make a material improvement.” (Coun. Arjun Singh on a proposal to add a $7,500 video camera so viewers would be able to see how councillors vote on motions. He, Spina and Lange voted against it.)

“I really hate workshops…. I think at the end of the day we leave and we all feel good but we haven’t changed a heck of a lot.” (Coun. Pat Wallace on a proposal from Coun. Nelly Dever to have a workshop on bus service.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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