City of Kamloops Annual Report 2010
City of Kamloops Annual Report 2010 City of Kamloops Annual Report 2010
Message fromRandy Diehl, CAODelivering public services atthe local government level isextremely complex and hasbeen largely influenced byland use and amalgamationdecisions made more than30 years ago.Kamloops land use planning historyevolved in the early 1970s when sevendistinct municipalities were amalgamatedinto one, which is now known as the Cityof Kamloops. Generally, this was a gooddecision due to the obvious cost savings ofone governing body. However, it came withchallenges as citizens and neighbourhoodsswitched their allegiances from a smalltown to a larger city identity. One of theCity’s main goals today is to reverse theunsustainable trend of sprawl created bypoor land use decisions of the past, and byfocusing on infill and higher density developmentopportunities throughout the coreareas of the city.The amalgamation also required hugeinvestment over the past three decadesfor improved sewer and water delivery,upgrades to the City transit systems androad networks, as well as police, fire, parksand recreation services.As a result, Kamloops municipal taxes toprovide these services are marginally higherthan the BC Average. For this investment,citizens enjoy more parkland per capitathan the provincial average, some of thebest sport and recreation facilities in theprovince and country, and a low crime ratethat has been decreasing annually over thepast several years.We, as a City, are also national leaders in theprovision of affordable housing, our culturalfacilities and groups are some of mostwidely respected in Canada, we have thehighest ridership for transit in the province,and we are three-time Communities inBloom Champions – all factors that havetransposed our City from a resource-based,mill town image to a beautiful oasis inthe desert.Today our surveys inform us that citizensare proud to say they are from Kamloopsand they have an extremely high quality oflife. Kamloops has 85,000 citizens who relyon the City to invest and improve on thesequality of life expectations.We believe that Kamloops has arrived centrestage to become a preferred place tolive in British Columbia, and we are proudto say that we have a great staff who arecommitted to building this beautiful city,while serving the needs of all neighbourhoodsand citizens.RANDY DIEHL, Chief Administrative Officer26 City of Kamloops Annual Report 2010
City of Kamloops Annual Report 2010 27
- Page 6 and 7: Accomplishments2010 proved to bea y
- Page 8 and 9: One million andcounting at TCCKamlo
- Page 10 and 11: Environmentcommitment to sustainabl
- Page 12 and 13: Kamloops Children’sMuseum a first
- Page 14 and 15: Financial HighlightsTax revenue is
- Page 16 and 17: Infrastructurecommitment to growth
- Page 18 and 19: Property Tax information goes onlin
- Page 20: FinancialsOpen and ResponsibleSpend
- Page 24 and 25: FinancialsOpen and Responsible Spen
- Page 28: The City of Kamloops appreciates th
Message fromRandy Diehl, CAODelivering public services atthe local government level isextremely complex and hasbeen largely influenced byland use and amalgamationdecisions made more than30 years ago.<strong>Kamloops</strong> land use planning historyevolved in the early 1970s when sevendistinct municipalities were amalgamatedinto one, which is now known as the <strong>City</strong><strong>of</strong> <strong>Kamloops</strong>. Generally, this was a gooddecision due to the obvious cost savings <strong>of</strong>one governing body. However, it came withchallenges as citizens and neighbourhoodsswitched their allegiances from a smalltown to a larger city identity. One <strong>of</strong> the<strong>City</strong>’s main goals today is to reverse theunsustainable trend <strong>of</strong> sprawl created bypoor land use decisions <strong>of</strong> the past, and byfocusing on infill and higher density developmentopportunities throughout the coreareas <strong>of</strong> the city.The amalgamation also required hugeinvestment over the past three decadesfor improved sewer and water delivery,upgrades to the <strong>City</strong> transit systems androad networks, as well as police, fire, parksand recreation services.As a result, <strong>Kamloops</strong> municipal taxes toprovide these services are marginally higherthan the BC Average. For this investment,citizens enjoy more parkland per capitathan the provincial average, some <strong>of</strong> thebest sport and recreation facilities in theprovince and country, and a low crime ratethat has been decreasing annually over thepast several years.We, as a <strong>City</strong>, are also national leaders in theprovision <strong>of</strong> affordable housing, our culturalfacilities and groups are some <strong>of</strong> mostwidely respected in Canada, we have thehighest ridership for transit in the province,and we are three-time Communities inBloom Champions – all factors that havetransposed our <strong>City</strong> from a resource-based,mill town image to a beautiful oasis inthe desert.Today our surveys inform us that citizensare proud to say they are from <strong>Kamloops</strong>and they have an extremely high quality <strong>of</strong>life. <strong>Kamloops</strong> has 85,000 citizens who relyon the <strong>City</strong> to invest and improve on thesequality <strong>of</strong> life expectations.We believe that <strong>Kamloops</strong> has arrived centrestage to become a preferred place tolive in British Columbia, and we are proudto say that we have a great staff who arecommitted to building this beautiful city,while serving the needs <strong>of</strong> all neighbourhoodsand citizens.RANDY DIEHL, Chief Administrative Officer26 <strong>City</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Kamloops</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2010</strong>
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