City putting together UBCM meeting wish-list

“We’re really anxious to get some resolution on the cannabis revenue sharing front. So we’re really hoping to get a meeting with Carole James, Finance Minister, and talk about that,” He stresses, “Also, we’re quite keen to proceed with the Stuart Wood project, so we want to have an opportunity to talk to Forests Minister Doug Donaldson about the transfer of title.”

Another big meeting the city is hoping for is around the plans for the BC Lottery Corporation headquarters.

Plans to build a whole new headquarters to replace the existing building in Kamloops were put on hold in January. Since then, the city has been seeking assurance that the base will stay in Kamloops, and that the aging building will see some sort of improvement.

“We have a request in to speak with Minister (David) Eby about BCLC. We’ve written to them, and I’ve had an opportunity to tour the facility,” Christian explains, “We want some assurances that the organic growth that’s going to occur over the next little while for BCLC will first of all be in Kamloops, and will be accommodated either by renovations to their existing building, or by leasing properties in the downtown core.”

Among the meeting requests listed (found here), Christian says they’re hoping to get a chance to streamline the city’s communication with BC Hydro.

“We’ve had a number of issues with BC Hydro, not the least of which is the Valleyview Drive project,” Christian says, “So we want to have some clarity from them with respect to major construction projects in Kamloops, and the cost sharing of those as we go forward.”

With a number of BC Hydro projects either underway or coming up in Kamloops, Christian says the city would also like to have one project manager from BC Hydro overseeing the operations.

“We would like some consistency in terms of the construction supervision, and the way that they expedite some of these projects,” He says, “I think having someone from their construction division that was assigned to Kamloops would really be helpful in terms of the way that they would liaise, and work with our civic operations department, and our engineering department.”

The list still needs to go before council for any additions councillors may have, then Christian says a formal request will have to go through coordinators with UBCM.

City staff will find out what meetings will be happening sometime in August, and the agenda can then be made for the September convention.

by Dylana Milobar

City putting together UBCM meeting wish-list

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