LETTER – Some questions about ‘what work is getting done’ by City council

Re: CITY COUNCIL – Answers to the question, ‘What work is getting done’?

This is long but I wanted to add my two cents worth on Coun. Kelly Hall’s recent opinion in local press. Kelly Hall, I would like to comment on your article, “What City work is getting done?”

Municipal councils are empowered to address the existing and future needs of a community by making collective decisions that are recorded in bylaws and resolutions.

“This work, along with so much more, is being done by your elected council working with staff, provincial and federal leaders, positioning Kamloops for economic growth.”

“Your elected council” also includes the Mayor. The Mayor was also ELECTED by the citizens of Kamloops. I find it very hypocritical of all council members saying that they are working well with staff and all levels of government.

During the election campaign all of the existing council were asked questions through a local media outlet.

Question put to Dale Bass (and all councillors). “What do you think is the best way to resolve disagreements or conflicts with your peers, those in a different department or those in a different jurisdiction?”

LISTEN, BE OPEN TO OTHER VIEWPOINTS, RESEARCH ISSUES YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH. BE RESPECTFUL. ACCEPT YOU MIGHT BE WRONG.

Economic Health Select Committee

• Implement an electronic application program for building permits
How many applications have been processed through this application process?

• Implement an electronic application for business licenses
Same question as above – how many applications have been processed through this application process?

• Work with Kamloops Airport Authority Society and Kamloops Airport on developing airport lands
Redevelopment has been approved – what businesses does the city anticipate will be established on this land?

• Establish the Kamloops Land Trust Foundation
This was approved on July 25, 2023. A board of directors was to be formed – has this been done? What lands have the city confirmed to be part of the Kamloops Land Trust Foundation? How does the public access information on this Trust?

• Finalize and open an employee daycare with a private operator
Why are City of Kamloops employees receiving preferential treatment for daycare, when there are numerous families in Kamloops that require daycare services?

• Conduct a gap analysis to determine which city assets do not have asset management plans
An asset management plan was included in the City of Kamloops council strategic plan 2019 – 2022.

• Evaluate the current online engagement platform against new and best practices
How can council say that they have engagement with the community? The only online engagement that the City of Kamloops currently has is Let’s Talk Kamloops; council is limiting the access time the public has to speak at council meetings without being told they are out of order and asked to leave council chambers. The public cannot comment on any of the City of Kamloops social media channels, the “conversations with council” were not conversations with the council – they were conversations with City staff.

• Include members of the public on working groups for the Build Kamloops project
Interesting to see some of the committee members are also city residents that provided campaign funds to certain councillors – how can these individuals be on this committee as the entire reason you dissolved the mayor’s committee was because council felt he had appointed his buddies?

• Review the operating structure of the Community Services Officer (CSO) program and identify gaps
Review of this program definitely needs to be done. Conflicts of interest of council and City employees also need to be reviewed. (There is legislation in the Local Government Act that has regulations on potential staff / family conflicts.)

• Implement City council town halls
These “council town halls” did take place. However, they were not conversations with the council – they were conversations with City staff.

Liveability and Sustainability Select Committee

• Implement bus shelter program to increase bus shelter coverage throughout the city
How many bus shelters have increased since the implementation of this program?

• Advocate to BC Transit for increased services and routes
What routes and services is council advocating for and are you obtaining any feedback from Kamloops residents where routes are needed?

Safety and Security Select Committee

• Increase CSO joint patrols and community outreach to 24/7 operation
Where are the funds coming from to fund this program?

• Increase public communication of Safe and Secure Kamloops Meetings and indicatives
What and where is this public communication?

• Work with BC Housing and IH to improve access to treatment facilities and supportive recovery housing for unhoused individuals struggling with substance use disorder
The City staff / council need to put the pressure of BC Housing for the opening of the housing on Cherry Avenue. This housing was to open in April 2024.

• Continue to press provincial and federal governments for funding community needs
The City of Kamloops needs to budget appropriately and not rely on provincial / federal funding – if I recall correctly, the Mayor asked council to pursue funding from both levels of government and was told that the city cannot rely on these funds – so why has this changed now? What projects are the city pursuing for government funds?

• Send letters to ministers advocating for housing funds both provincially and federally to assist Kamloops in building the infrastructure needed to hit provincially-mandated housing numbers
Why is staff saying one thing and council saying another – On May 14 in a Castanet new story a report that was to be presented to council “Overall, the city is on track to meet the first year’s housing target of 679 units by Oct. 1, 2024,” the report said.” Nowhere in this article does it say the Kamloops needs to advocate for housing funds from provincial / federal governments.

Your comment on the “dysfunctional mayor” — council also needs:
To remember that Reid Hamer-Jackson was also elected by the citizens of Kamloops.
To take note of Braun’s recommendations to council members.

I find it appalling that during Braun’s presentation during the Q & A, a council member reprimanded the mayor for not watching for other council members’ questions.

Comments on “dysfunctional” mayor, “likes to climb around the river-banks.”
I think that all of council needs to read and follow your own Code of Conduct bylaw.

Code of Conduct – 2.1 The key statements of principle that underline this Bylaw are as follows:
(a) Council Members shall serve and be seen to serve their constituents in a conscientious and diligent manner;
(b) Members shall be committed to performing their duties and functions with INTEGRITY and shall avoid improper use or influence of their office, and conflicts of interest;
(c) Members are expected to perform their duties in office and arrange their private affairs in a manner that promotes public confidence and will bear close public scrutiny; and
(d) Members shall seek to serve the public interest by upholding both the letter and spirit of the laws of the Federal Parliament and British Columbia Legislature, and the laws and policies adopted by Council.

I go back to an answer given by a council during the election campaign.

LISTEN, BE OPEN TO OTHER VIEWPOINTS, RESEARCH ISSUES YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH. BE RESPECTFUL. ACCEPT YOU MIGHT BE WRONG.

TRISH CARLSON