Kamloops City Hall. (Photo via City of Kamloops)

A series of monthly neighbourhood Town Hall meetings are set to get underway in Kamloops this month.

Dubbed “Community + Council Conversations” the monthly meetings will allow Kamloopsians to take part in table discussions and voice their concerns around each of Council’s strategic priorities – Safety and Security, Governance and Service Excellence, Livability and Sustainability, and Economic Health.

Councillor Dale Bass says she is happy with the format which will see attendees move between stations with a facilitator followed by an open question and answer period.

“It is organized, it is focused, it has plenty of time for feedback from the communities and staff will be taking back everything they hear and analyzing it and deciding what needs to be dealt with, what should be dealt with now, and what should be dealt with later,” Bass said on the NL Noon Report.

Bass says the goal is to not only hear feedback on the plan, but also to hear from residents about areas where council should focus its efforts.

“I hope we learn a lot, I really do and the way it is formatted where the first part of it is the cafe type that we always do – based on the strategic plan – is an opportunity for the public to learn more about what our goals are for this term and maybe there will be an answer for a persons concern during that part of the meeting,” she said.

The City has been divided into six areas – north, northwest, the core, southeast, and two in the southwest – each comprising between 14 and 22 per cent of the total population.

Residents will be able to go to any of the six neighbourhood town halls – held one a month with the exception of December – or attend the virtual one scheduled for May.

Bass anticipates here council colleagues will be attending the meetings being held over the next eight months – unless there is a conflict of interest.

“For example, I might not be able to do the January one because I have a conflict of interest on the date,” she said. “I know they all want to be there. I’m not sure about the Mayor, but he has also expressed that he wants to hear from the public so I am hoping he will attend as well.”

“But I know my seven colleagues were really keen on getting this in place.”

Kamloops City councillors and Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson have both floated plans for town hall meetings, though they’ve disagreed on logistical issues like the format.

The Mayor also proposed an open mic town hall meeting – something he called KamTalk – but the idea was reject by council, who said a city committee was already working on setting up this town hall pilot project.

Input and feedback received from each meeting will be compiled and presented to the Community Engagement Select Committee and posted online.

Kamloops Community and Council Conversations schedule:

• Southeast Neighbourhood Event: Barnthartvale Hall – October 25, 2023 from 6 p.m. till 8:30 p.m.

(For residents in Juniper Ridge, Barnhartvale, Campbell Creek, Rose Hill, Valleyview, Dallas)

• North Neighbourhood Event: The Dunes Golf Course: November 23, 2023 from 6 p.m. till 8:30 p.m.

(For residents in Westsyde, Noble Creek, Rayleigh, Heffley Creek)

• Southwest 2 Neighbourhood Event: Tournament Capital Centre – January 24, 2024 from 6 p.m. till 8:30 p.m.

(For residents in Upper Sahali, Lower Sahali, Southgate, and Thompson Rivers University)

• Core Neighbourhood Event: Kamloops Kia Lounge in Sandman Centre – February 29, 2024 from 6 p.m. till 8:30 p.m.

(For residents in Downtown, West End, Mission Flats, Sagebrush and North Kamloops)

• Northwest Neighbourhood Event: Sports Centre Lounge at McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre – March 13, 2024 from 6 p.m. till 8:30 p.m.

(For residents in Batchelor Heights, Brocklehurst, and Tranquille)

• Southwest 1 Neighbourhood Event: Hal Rogers Centre – April 25, 2024 from 6 p.m. till 8:30 p.m.

(For residents in Pineview Valley, Aberdeen, Dufferin, Iron Mask and Knutsford)

• Virtual Engagement Event: Zoom – May 22, 2024 from 6 p.m. till 8:30 p.m.

A Zoom link will be posted closer to the event.

(For residents who were unable to meet with Council in person or anyone who prefers virtual engagement opportunities.)