New group to fight downtown parkade
As the province reviews the city’s borrowing bylaw for the Lorne Street parkade, a group of residents is getting ready to officially fight the project.
Bob Gamble, a member of the Kamloops Voters Society, confirmed a separate group of about 20 residents will lead opposition through the alternative-approval process (AAP).
On Tuesday, Aug. 9, council sent the bylaw to a third reading, which will allow the city to borrow $8 million to complete construction of the controversial parkade at Riverside Park.
When the bylaw gets the final thumbs-up from council on Aug. 30, it will trigger the AAP, which gives opponents 30 days to gather 10 per cent of the electorate’s signatures, forcing a referendum.
There were 64,310 eligible voters in Kamloops in 2008.
It will mean the group opposed to the parkade will need about 6,500 signatures.
Gamble acknowledged the job will not be easy.
“It will be tough, but it’s doable,” he said.
“If you don’t try, you’ll never know.”
The effort will be made slightly easier as council decided to make the petition available online through the city’s website.
Signatures will still need to be gathered in person.
Gamble asked council to consider letting opposition groups set up in city buildings and events to get signatures, but the request was denied.
In May, council decided to proceed with a two-level, 350-stall parkade in the Lorne Street parking lot adjacent to Riverside Park.
The parkade is estimated to cost $7.8 million, with the project expected to go out to tender in late December.
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