(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - A request to move a bus stop near a North Shore medical clinic will come back before council next month.

The council resolution is coming back to the table Dec. 1 thanks to Coun. Marg Spina. Claiming parties involved were not given an opportunity to speak, Spina lobbied her fellow council members to reconsider their previous vote to not move the bus stop near the Norkam Health Centre.

The centre’s manager, Patti Aldrich, originally spoke before council Sept. 15 and asked for a designated patient drop off zone to be created in front of the clinic on 370 Tranquille Dr. The problem, as Aldrich explained it, was an existing bus stop located where the clinic wished a drop off to be. She asked council to consider moving the stop slightly up or down the street.

Council asked staff for further information and on Oct. 20 engineering manager Deven Matkowski explained why staff did not recommend moving the bus stop. He said it would be a huge undertaking, noting trees and planters would need to be removed, and gave the option instead to change the current signage.

The same day, two residents speaking on behalf of nearby Tranquille businesses argued against moving the bus stop as well, saying it would eliminate their street parking. Council sided with both residents and staff and voted to keep the bus stop where it was.

Yesterday, Nov. 3, Spina said doctors at the Norkam Centre felt they were left out of the process and council should reopen the matter of a drop-off zone.

According to the doctors, they were told by city staff that they could not speak to the issue. Spina said the debate was less about transit, and more about creating a safe public access point.

Coun. Ken Christian argued not being happy with a council decision is not valid reason to re-examine the same issue, while Coun. Arjun Singh said not understanding city process was not a valid reason either. Despite objections, the matter was reconsidered.

The real dilemma was deciding what to do with the issue once it was reopened. After considerable confusion, with Mayor Peter Milobar asking councillor Spina three times what she wanted, Chief Administrative Officer David Trawin suggested a process similar to a public hearing. 

Everyone within 100 meters of the Norkam Clinic will receive a mailout explaining the previous resolution and ask for feedback on the request. Residents, whether they are in support of or against the resolution, will be allowed to address council Dec. 1 under the public submissions part of the agenda.

Trawin admits this process is rare, adding only 'one in a blue moon' comes before council.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Dana Reynolds at dreynolds@infonews.ca or call 250-819-6089. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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