A Kamloops city councillor is skeptical that there is sufficient parking in the downtown core.

City staff briefed council on its downtown transportation choices strategy, which says there is sufficient parking downtown for at least the next five years.

But Kathy Sinclair says that doesn’t speak for everyone.

“What I hear, as a city liaison for the (Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association), is that there may be enough parking for the public, but not necessarily enough long-term parking for employees,” Sinclair says.

“And there’s also possibility of other businesses, larger businesses, who may want to relocate downtown but there just isn’t that sort of parking. We can’t ignore the fact that there is potentially a larger issue for long-term parking, and it may be just a reallocation of some of the spots, so that’s one of the things that we’ve asked.”

The report from city staff also says that only 34 per cent of employees who work downtown do receive parking from their employer.

Contractor WSP is continuing to devise the downtown transportation choices strategy plan, who the city hired for $100,000.

Public consultation will happen on Sept. 7 at the Kamloops Farmers Market, which will follow a stakeholders workshop on Sept. 6.