COUNCIL – Hall accuses RHJ of being ‘weak-kneed’ as PAC money approved

The proposed Kamloops performing arts centre will go to the next step after City council today (Feb. 6, 2024) approved borrowing $7 million for detailed design.

Proponent Ron Fawcett told the council the new centre will meet the needs of the city for at least 50 years and, with that in mind, the $120-million cost is “not onerous.”

He said the PAC would make it easier for the city to attract professionals and tourists and make the downtown more active.

Fawcett said the project is almost ready to go to contract so the City can get definite costing in six months. “It’s not just a concept as previous versions have been.”

When it came time to vote on the funding for design, Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson questioned the need to spend $7 million since Fawcett said the project is pretty much ready to go.

He also wondered if the Build Kamloops committee had looked at the parking issue. That set off a testy exchange with Coun. Kelly Hall despite the fact the mayor said it’s a “great project” and he supports it.

Hall said he was “astonished” at the mayor’s questions, noting that Hamer-Jackson had refused to sit on the committee dealing with the project or on working groups. The mayor should join those groups so he can understand the scope and magnitude to the project, said Hall, adding that it was “weak-kneed” for him to say he supports it but then to ask questions.

“Let’s stick to the program here,” Hamer-Jackson said.

Coun. Mike O’Reilly said the $7 million is needed to bring more detail to the cost estimate and that staff has been asked to “look at parking options.”

Staff said one option is to borrow from unallocated capital reserves.

Hamer-Jackson was the only council member to vote against the borrowing. The project will likely have to go to a referendum to approve borrowing for construction.