City of Kamloops Annual Report 2010

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Property Tax information goes onlineMore than 2,500 Kamloops property owners registered for the online system “MyCity” in 2010 to access and process property tax information.The City added the property tax section early in the year, making it easy and convenient for residents to access their accounts. The site, which isavailable through www.mycity.kamloops.ca, allows customers to check and update information any time, claim home owner grants, view levyinformation for current and previous years, view assessment information, transactions and verify payments. The MyCity system also gives access toDevelopment and Engineering Services permit applications, business licenses, and dog license accounts.Municipal property salesSales activity levels were up 14% in 2010 compared to the year previous with 40 activefiles versus 35 in 2009. Activity included the sale of the former Scoopz lot on Lorne Streetto Northland Properties for $2.25 million, the sale of the former Mission Flats CentralMaintenance Yard to the Thompson-Nicola Regional District for $450,000, and two smallopen space sales resulting in $44,500. In addition, six road closures and sales to adjoiningproperty owners in 2010 amounted to $151,500. Between 2008-2010 total sales proceedswere more than $6.7 million.18 City of Kamloops Annual Report 2010
Good Governmentimproving ourorganization andcitizens’ quality of lifeEmergency responseexercises prepare city staffAs an integral partner in facilitating safetymeasures during an emergency situation,the City focused efforts in 2010 on practicingemergency operation proceduresacross various municipal departments.Because of the number of forest fires inthe region in the past few years, the Citytook advantage of funding through theJoint Emergency Preparedness Programto ramp up training protocol and procedures,and to update equipment. Duringa true emergency, various first-respondersand provincial organizations such as theBC Fire Service have an immediate role toplay in an incident itself, while the City’sEmergency Management Program focuseson what comes next. Several departmentsparticipated in a Kamloops Fire and Rescueday-long fire simulation exercise in Erin Valleylast spring, to practice management ofevacuations, communications, and supportservices. This preparation proved valuablewhen an interface wildfire broke out in anearby area a few weeks later.Uji delegation enjoys 20thcelebration with sister cityKamloops has enjoyed more than twodecades of sharing in the benefits ofsocial, cultural and education opportunitieswith its sister city, Uji, Japan. To markthe 20th anniversary, the City hosted agroup of 24 Uji representatives who weretreated to a multi-day cultural celebration.The delegation, including Mayor IsamuKubota, two city councillors and 18 citizens,were involved in a formal presentation atCity Hall, then took part in a tour of theMcQueen Lake Environmental EducationCentre, Tournament Capital Centre, TRUHorticulture Gardens and the SecwepemcMuseum. The group also traveled to SunPeaks and were able to enjoy Canada Daycelebrations at Riverside Park as well as thegrand opening of the Kamloops Children’sMuseum on July 1.Online business licenseprocess increases efficiencyA City move to implement online creditcard payment options for business licensepurchases and renewals has taken whatwas once a multi-day process and boiledit down to minutes. Since November,businesses can purchase or renew licensesthrough the “MyCity” online portal and havetheir payments processed right away. Futureplans for further streamlined improvementsinclude an online business licenseapplication form that can be filled in andsent with the credit card payment.City honours dedicated citizensWhat does it mean to make a positivedifference in our community? For fivespecial people who were honoured atthe Distinguished Service and Freemanof the City Awards in 2010, it coversa scope of kindness and good deeds,from haunted-house fundraising forthe food bank to volunteering timefor hospital and healthy-communityevents to involvement in local serviceclubs, furthering cultural initiatives andsupporting sport and recreation at alllevels. Sue Adams, Jan Cook, Elizabeth(Liz) Lyne and Izzy McQueen were 2010’sDistinguished Service recipients, whilelongtime Kamloops resident and localbusinessman Ron Maguire received theFreeman of the City Award, the highestaward the municipality can bestowon a Kamloops resident. Criteria forDistinguished Service Awards includevolunteer service that contributes tothe well-being of Kamloops citizensand to the growth and developmentof the community, while the Freedomof the City is a designation awardedinfrequently and only with theunanimous support of the Mayor andCouncil Members.City of Kamloops Annual Report 2010 19
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 20: FinancialsOpen and ResponsibleSpend
Page 24 and 25: FinancialsOpen and Responsible Spen
Page 26 and 27: Message fromRandy Diehl, CAODeliver
Page 28: The City of Kamloops appreciates th

City of Kamloops Annual Report 2010

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