File photo (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET

Kamloops council to consider widespread closed circuit cameras during supplemental budget discussion

Feb 10, 2025 | 4:44 PM

KAMLOOPS — On Tuesday (Feb. 11) at a Committee of the Whole meeting, Kamloops council will ponder a number of supplemental budget items, including the creation of a corporate security model.

The request from staff is to provide increased security internally within the city, including through the addition of CCTV cameras on city-owned infrastructure. With Community Service Officers moving toward peace officer status, cameras are a natural step toward improving response times and adding a potential deterrent.

“At the end of the day, when it comes down to it, it is a lot easier to detect and potentially deter folks from doing things in the downtown core, in any of the business districts, if they know there is going to be footage and they have that high probability of being caught for something that they are doing,” said Will Beatty, Community Services Manager. “And for officers as well — the wellbeing of our officers on the road is very critical so knowing that kind of situation they may be going into before they even get there.”

If approved, the ask comes with a tax increase of just shy of one per cent to the average Kamloops homeowner.

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While the city is still investigating where best to place the cameras, it would likely include consultation with the local business associations and the chamber.

“What it really comes down to, again, is we would be looking to protect our infrastructure first. You look at our parkades, you look at even certain city lampposts of some sort, that is civic infrastructure still. Pay stations, as well, are all civically owned pieces of infrastructure that cameras could be place on. But again, we are not necessarily looking at the placement of those right now. We are just understanding, is this a route that council wants to go down? If it is, then we can put together that task force to best place those cameras,” said Beatty.

The city is cognizant of potential privacy concerns, but the expectation of privacy in public areas is limited.

In addition to the committee meeting on Tuesday, a public budget meeting is scheduled for Thursday (Feb 13) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the McArthur Island Sports Centre Lounge, where residents will be able to weigh in on all supplemental items.