LETTERS – DM Hall responds, Kamloops Citizens United responds back

Thank you for your recent email with respect to our last public meeting January 13,2026 .
Your comments are well presented and very thoughtful. It’s not a secret that our council chambers need renovations to address some of the deficiencies you have mentioned. We are hopeful later we can address this challenge . The public have an opportunity to participate online if they so desire . As you both saw nobody was online .

The Public can also participate via correspondence. Which I believe you two supplied a lengthy list through correspondence.

Staff, CSOs are eager to assist to all requests,
Thanks, so much for your email highlighting some concerns. We all appreciate comments as well as suggestions.. Respectfully, DM Hall

And KCU’s answer:

Dear Councillor Hall,

Thank you for your response. Respectfully, it does not address the questions raised in our letter.

Our concern is not the condition of the Council Chambers, nor the availability of online or written participation, which does not provide equivalent access for all residents.

It is that residents who arrived in person and on time were denied physical entry to a statutory public hearing, despite the City having previously accommodated overflow attendance when it chose to do so.

We specifically asked whether the City will treat overflow or alternative viewing arrangements as a standing requirement for all meetings open to the public, rather than relying on attendance estimates that can result in residents being turned away.

While this incident occurred at a statutory public hearing, the access concerns raised apply to all meetings open to the public, including Council meetings, where limited seating has on occasion resulted in residents being denied in-person entry.

We also requested clarification on what steps will be taken to ensure that access to future public meetings is administered in a manner that prioritizes public service and accessibility, rather than restrictive practices.

We note as well that while our original correspondence was addressed to Council, the Mayor, the CAO, the Corporate Officer, and copied to the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs and local media, your response was distributed only to Council and did not include the Mayor or senior administration. We have included a copy of our original letter below for clarity, as your reply was sent separately, and we are re-circulating this correspondence to ensure all original recipients are included.

We would appreciate a direct response to the questions raised.

Sincerely,
Coley Ecker and Kathrine Wunderlich
Kamloops Citizens United