Kamloops mayor and council working through mounting distractions

“If you look at what we have accomplished so far this year, we have approved 550 housing units, we added a new skating rink down at Riverside Park, which is a huge decision that has been talked about for the better part of more than a decade. Those types of things are huge. We looked at and we did approve essentially rezoning a very large chunk of the entire North Shore to allow for more multi-family and duplex units,” said O’Reilly.

Council also just published its strategic plan, the guiding document for the remainder of this council’s term. The plan released just over a month later into the term than the previous term.

“We worked really well together. Again, everything that’s going on, we worked really well together in that room and all agreed on what we are doing. And there is work that we got done even though there is other stuff going on,” said Hamer-Jackson.

The mayor noted that the outside noise at city hall began back in March, saying he has been able to work through it from the start.

“You get used to it. It was March 17, I think, the group got together and one individual got up there and said I had violated personal and professional boundaries and I’ve dealt with it fine. I’ve focused on city business,” reiterated Hamer-Jackson.

Despite the fact that work is being completed, O’Reilly stated that he is concerned about both council and staff’s ability to continue pushing through the distractions.

“Is it more challenging than it was last term? Absolutely, and I will not deny that. It’s tiresome. However we are still getting it done. My biggest concern as a councillor is the sustainability of the amount of time we are spending and the 10 times amount of work that we are doing to get the same work done,” stated O’Reilly.

by Michael Reeve

Kamloops mayor and council working through mounting distractions

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