(image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

DOWNTOWN PARKING CHANGES

Kamloops Central BIA hoping for increased say on proposed parking changes

Aug 18, 2025 | 5:19 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops city council is set to discuss a number of potential changes to parking rates and times downtown at a committee meeting Tuesday (Aug 19). The proposed changes come after lengthy parking management study that began six years ago, and staff say they’re hoping to implement a solution that meets the city’s evolving needs.

City staff are recommending a cost increase for parking in the downtown core of Kamloops, most notably along Victoria Street, which will see a $3 increase for those parked for three hours. How the potential changes will impact Kamloops businesses is in focus for the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association (KCBIA).

“What’s most important is that downtown is welcoming. We aren’t suggesting we want free parking, and as a matter of fact a lot of the parking revenue helps our programs, as well. We want to find a good balance,” said KCBIA Executive Director Howie Reimer.

Reimer said he’s hoping to engage in more substantial consultation with the city on the future of parking downtown in the hopes of having it support local businesses.

Week In Review

Week In Review: Week of March 2

Mar 07, 2026

TWO & OUT

PETERS: Celebration from Iranian ex-pats speaks louder than our skepticism of Trump

Mar 06, 2026

LOOPED IN

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: March 5, 2026

Mar 05, 2026

“We really need to work with the city on this, particularly to see those rates go up without first better consultation with the business owners,” stated Reimer. “One parking solution is not necessarily good for everybody. I know that in certain blocks and certain types of business they really value that business out front.”

In addition to the proposed increases in hourly costs are heftier fines for those breaking the rules — a move Reimer hopes will spur increased patrols and enforcement.

“The concern is some employees of some businesses may be using parking all day,” explained Reimer. “If they get a ticket, it’s really not terribly much, so if they get a ticket once every two or three weeks, that certainly pays for their parking. Again, I think enforcement and then perhaps we can raise the rates with some education and a grace period, as well, figured in.”

The parking study will be debated by the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday morning, beginning at 10:00 a.m.