A photo of a handout depicting a rendering of a new performing arts centre in downtown Kamloops distributed at the Jan. 8, 2019 city council meeting.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/CHP Architects

The timeline for Kamloops voters to sign a counter petition on a City request to borrow $275 million has yet to be decided as it waits for a decision from the province.

It's a two-part request as the City of Kamloops has plans for both a new performing arts centre and a new ice rink that, combined, come with $275 million in loans. Instead of going to referendum, voters opposed to the idea will have to sign the counter petition.

Council unanimously voted to go the route of a counter petition, or alternate approval process as it's also called, last month.

"There's been a lot of conversation in the community about it being undemocratic, that it's never used or we've never seen this. The truth is it's been used over and over and over again," Coun. Mike O'Reilly said at a July 22, build Kamloops committee meeting.

It's been used six times in the past 21 years in BC for projects like a $9 million repair to Overlanders Bridge and the $48 million water treatment centre. Meanwhile, Kelowna went through with its $240 million Parkinson Recreation Centre plans after a counter petition last year and Prince George has one ongoing for its new aquatic centre.

Exactly when the counter petition timeline will be set isn't clear as the City is waiting for the province to approve it. Those opposed to the loans could have until Sept. 6 or Sept. 20 to express their opinion.

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Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson has changed his position on the plan for a counter petition citing "new information." Although he voted alongside the rest of council on June 25, he now says he's considering whether or not to force a second vote on the alternate approval process after he heard from residents upset over the plan.

It's not clear if that could delay the counter petition further, but it appears he may be out of time as the BC Community Charter gives mayors a 30-day deadline to recall a vote and the next council meeting is July 30.

He isn't on the committee and wasn't at the meeting on Monday to voice his new opinion.

Hamer-Jackson has also indicated to iNFOnews.ca previouly that he didn't like the location chosen for the facility.

All of council, including the mayor, said they supported the proposed performing arts centre before the 2022 election, but no one has questioned the downtown location which has been eyed for years.

Last month, Hamer-Jackson suggested it should be in a more car-friendly location than downtown. He cited concerns over the loss of parking spaces, as the performing arts centre would be built on what was once the Kamloops Daily News property and now serves as a parking lot. No one on council agreed with his concern and he backed down on trying to change the location.

The counter petition would need signatures from 10% of the electorate to be successful, just a few more votes than the nearly 7,300 Hamer-Jackson received in the 2022 election. Successful petition could force a referendum on the proposed loans.

READ MORE: Kamloops council wants public approval for $275M loan for new arts centre, sports facility by fall

Once the petition is open, those opposed can go to city hall to add their names to the list. To vote from home, the City will have printable forms available on its website. Those opposed can print the form and email it back with their signature, full name and their address.

Although the City is looking to borrow a total $275 million, the petition will be split for a vote on each project. The performing arts centre will include a loan of up to $140 million, while the arena will need up to $125 million.

Both projects are still years away from seeing shovels in the ground, but council did give the OK to spend $7 million on design work for the downtown performing arts centre earlier this year, while planning for the ice rink is still in its infancy. That project only has a location chosen which is in the Dufferin area near the Kamloops Correctional Centre and Kenna Cartwright park.

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