Kamloops residents are now able to review all of the feedback that was collected during the series of monthly neighbourhood meetings held over the past few months.
The series of meetings were meant to allow Kamloopsians the chance to have their say into each of Council’s strategic priorities, as well as on issues plaguing their respective neighbourhoods.
Councillor Dale Bass says there were a number of key takeaways, including the need for more advocacy to the federal and provincial governments.
“And we’re doing that, but we have to be seen to be doing that as well. So there’s that,” Bass said, on NL Newsday. “There was a lot of talk about recycling and organics and that kind of thing. Obviously, safety and security was a big issue, but it wasn’t the overriding issue.”
Bass also says there was also a lot of misinformation as well from some residents when it came to what the role of each level of government is.
“This should be an educational opportunity as well. Its surprising how many people don’t understand even the basics of how municipal government works,” Bass said. “At one point, we talked about how some of the issues they’re raising aren’t our responsibility.”
“[Our communications [staff] reaction to that was to put out a sheet saying this is what federal people can do, this is what provincial does. I would have preferred to see more of a discussions around that because even though the province is responsible for some things, we’re doing it. but we’re doing it in an advocacy role.”
“I felt the conversations went well when people would realize that ‘yeah, we have done things.’ Here are all the things that we have done and continue to do and plan to do to deal with the social issues facing our city,” Bass added.
“We’re going to have to start rationalizing on how we make sure people know what we do.”
Photo via City of Kamloops
Bass says the city was planning to hold a virtual town hall meeting today, May 22, but decided against it because of logistical issues.
“Communications has instead posted all kinds of stuff about it on the Lets Talk Page and set it up so that people can go in and read some of the issues that were raised, and they can – they call it up vote,” Bass said. “They say ‘I like this, I like this.’ But there is also the opportunity if you don’t see your issue there to register it as well.”
People can review the information and have their say until June 2. All of the feedback will be compiled and presented to the Governance and Service Excellence Committee, which Bass chairs, before eventually going before all of Council.
Kamloops City councillors and Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson both floated plans for town hall meetings, though they’ve disagreed on logistical issues like the format.
The Mayor 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.
