Kamloops Council has been able to push back on plans for a provincially backed transition housing project in the City, which clearly did not have the backing of municipal officials.

Following a Wednesday meeting with Housing and Municipal Affairs Minister Ravi Kahlon, Kamloops Council has issued a statement, letting BC Housing officials know that a shelter or transitional housing on River Street is a non-starter for the City.

“Kamloops City Council has informed BC Housing that we are not interested in a shelter or general population transitional housing at 1286, 1292, and 1298 River Street as presented to media,” read the statement issued on Thursday by Council.

February’s Deputy Mayor Katie Neustaeter has suggested BC Housing and the Province appeared to have been side-stepping a Memorandum of Understanding the City and the BC government have had in place on issues around social housing projects dating back to the previous Council.

Neustaeter tells Radio NL the initial planning for the project, which was first revealed to iNFOnews.ca reporter Levi Landry earlier this month, “missed the mark” in a number of ways in what the City was interested in seeing for the site.

“Council has made our position clear, particularly as we consider riverfront property and its appropriate uses,” Neustaeter told Radio NL on Thursday.  “This does not fit either the community or Council’s perspective.”

“Additionally, this is City owned property,” she noted.  “While we’re interested in continuing to engage in a conversation about what appropriate leasing temporary opportunities might be, we certainly are not open to a conversation about a shelter or the other proposed uses,” she added.

The Thursday release issued by Council does express a level of frustration which Neustaeter did not elaborate on.

However, it would suggest a level of disconnect between the City and BC Housing when it comes to project information and approvals.

“Council also expresses our regret for the disruptions to community that this has caused and thanks our residents for your patience as we address it on your behalf,” stated the last line of Thursday’s release.

Council conducts meeting without Mayor

It does appear Council was able to walk away somewhat satisfied following their virtual meeting with the Housing Minister on Wednesday.

Describing the session as “productive,” the release from Council suggests the message from the City was made, as well as heard.

“Council expressed that we do not consider the project on River Street to be viable in its currently proposed form,” said Thursday’s statement.  “We are grateful for the quick response to our Council by the Minister and trust that additional information will be forthcoming.”

Speaking with Radio NL, Neustaeter suggested the BC government’s involvement with the River Street properties is still an option going forward.

“Kamloops is obviously in a housing crisis like much of the province,” said Neustaeter. “These 56 units would be more than welcome here in Kamloops, but how they are used and who they are used for is a very vital part of the conversation.”

The meeting among members of Council and Minister Kahlon on Wednesday did not include the Mayor of Kamloops, even though he has expressed concerns about the project.

Neustaeter says Reid Hamer-Jackson was opposed to the meeting being held in a private setting and opted not to attend.

“As far as I’m aware, he hasn’t worked with Council, City staff, the [Housing] Ministry or BC Housing on this matter,” Neustaeter told Radio NL.  “But much like many other [issues], we do align on these sorts of principles and concepts about what is best for our community and what we want to see.”

“Unfortunately, he was not in attendance, and didn’t participate in this matter,” she added.

She did say that concerns Hamer-Jackson and other members of the community have expressed around this proposal, and others such as a supportive housing project on Fortune Drive, are being heard very clearly by the Councillors.

“I’m grateful for a Council that continues to move forward together, to listen to our communities, community and the residents as they express what they feel they need in their neighborhood,” said Neustaeter.  “It’s a tricky balance between providing what vulnerable people need and also respecting people who have built homes in areas like this.”