KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK TUESDAY
LOCAL NEWS
kamloopsthisweek.com kamloopsthisweek kamthisweek
30 CENTS AT NEWSSTANDS
|
DECEMBER 12, 2017 | Volume 30 No. 148
KEEPING TABS TODAY’S WEATHER
Cloudy High -2 C Low -4 C
FULTON CUP FURY RETURNS TO CITY GYMS
Here is how city council has voted on various issues
Annual hoops tourney begins on Wednesday
A7
A29
Downtown business group wants parking fee hikes postponed ANDREA KLASSEN
STAFF REPORTER
andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com
ALLEN DOUGLAS/KTW
CHRISTMAS IN CANADA
Nelia Licuanan (middle) is showing Summer Kong (left) and Autumn Jing (right) from Tianjin, China, how bright Christmas can be in Canada with a visit to the Edwards’ home at Sixth Avenue and Pine Street in South Kamloops, which is known simply as the Christmas House and is perhaps the most-decorated abode in the city. It is the first Christmas in Canada for Kong and Jing.
OUR BEST OFFER THEOF YEAR
3 1 FOR
VISION
E X A M I N AT I O N S
Free with Minimum Purchase. * Call for Details * (not an eye health exam)
The Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association (KCBIA) is asking the city to postpone what it is calling a pointless hike to parking rates downtown. KCBIA board president Mike O’Reilly said the rate hike, which would increase the cost of parking by $0.25, to $1.50 per hour as of Jan. 1, is unnecessary if council is not willing to spend surplus funds previous rate hikes have generated. “The parking meter money is 100 per cent supposed to be spent to pay for parking, whether that’s studies or increasing more spots,” he said. “At this point, that hasn’t happened and we do have a surplus, so there’s no point in the increase.” O’Reilly said council’s decision to reject a proposed parking study with a price tag of up to $100,000 is one reason for the request to halt the planned parking rate hike. The study would have evaluated the current parking situation downtown and made recommendations on whether to build new parkades or make other modifications to parking over the next 20 years. It would have also looked at alternative rate structures that would see motorists charged lower fees for parking on less-desired blocks and other management practices. Had it been approved by council, the study would have been paid for
with parking meter revenue from previous years. Instead, council’s vote was tied 4-4, which is considered a defeat, with some councillors arguing the parking situation in the core has already improved and no studies are required. Mayor Ken Christian said councillors will assess KCBIA’s request when they meet on Dec. 12. The business association will also appear at the meeting to make its argument. Christian, who supported the parking study, said he has not decided how he will vote on the request to delay the Jan. 1 hike. “There was a report that was commissioned when those parking rates were established and it talked about funding a number of different initiatives out of the parking rate increase,” he said. “I’d have to go back and review what those were.” With no parking projects on the horizon, O’Reilly said the rate increase will deter shoppers. “It is one more barrier for a person to come downtown to do their shopping,” he said. The increase is the last of several fee hikes council approved in 2013 when it decided to replace the area’s coin-operated meters with new pay kiosks. The city increased parking rates on Jan. 1, 2016, raising the fee from $1 per hour to $1.25. O’Reilly said the KCBIA would like the pending rate increase postponed for at least one year.
Buy 1 complete pair of RX glasses at regular price & get a *FREE 2nd pair of Prescription Glasses and *$50 Gift Card! RX Glasses
+
+
2nd Pair
Gift Card
*Some restrictions apply. See in-store for complete details.
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
eyesinternationalkamloops.ca
331 Victoria St. 250-851-8992
Offer expires Dec. 31, 2017
SHARE THE SPARE PAIR! Licensed Optician
Bring a friend...can be 2 different prescriptions!