Two More Press Release from the City of WL

From the City of Williams Lake:

 

Editor's Note - I'm not personally thrilled that the City put out press release #1 prior to WL Council discussing the Parks, Trails and Outdoor Master Plan with the Central Cariboo Joint Committee at the September 14th meeting.  My issue is optics and the fact that you shouldn't praise something before discussing it with your CRD Partners, especially when they contributed some money towards this Plan

 

1) WL Council adopts Parks, Trails, and Outdoor Master Plan

At its regular meeting August 30, City Council adopted the Parks, Trails, and Outdoor Recreation Master Plan- Imagine Our Parks 2020, which offers a road map for planning, developing, protecting, enhancing and maintaining Williams Lake’s recreation resources – both present and future. The Plan is a living document that provides the City of Williams Lake and the Central Cariboo Joint Committee with direction and guidance in the management of parks, public use of these facilities, parks infrastructure and community investment in these areas over the next ten years and beyond. A series of public engagement sessions and public data gathering techniques, personal consultations with stakeholders and staff, inventory assessments, best practices, gap analysis, trend analysis and data analysis were used to develop the plan. The preparation of the Master Plan has relied heavily on the input and participation of many individuals and organizations, residing in the City and in the surrounding Cariboo Regional District. In addition, the Official Community Plan provided important data in the formation of the Parks, Trails, and Outdoor Recreation Master Plan. The plan lays out a large number of concepts and initiatives, priorities and strategies, as well as guidelines and classifications that when adopted will help the City of Williams Lake manage, develop and grow its parks, trails and outdoor recreation opportunities. The priorities and strategies outlined within it will become the guide for all future for capital and operational planning in the recreation area. “Now that Council has adopted the Plan, staff will begin work with Council, partners such as the Cariboo Regional District, and community stakeholders to start prioritizing projects and bring them forward for discussion and at budget deliberations,” says Director of Community Services Geoff Paynton. “Our beautiful parks and our world-class recreation opportunities are part of what makes Williams Lake great,” says Mayor Kerry Cook. “This plan will set a direction to further enhance our park space and outdoor recreation for residents and visitors alike.”

2) WL Council adopts Internal Control Policy for Financial Management

At its regular meeting August 30, City Council adopted an internal control policy to set responsibilities with respect to financial management governance and capabilities. The policy arises from a recommendation earlier this year to ensure City financial management provides transparency and accountability for how the City spends public funds. While City management have always had the responsibility to ensure that internal controls are regularly reviewed in the context of risk, ensuring that those internal controls are balanced against and proportional to the risks which they mitigate, this policy will set responsibilities with respect to financial management governance and capabilities.

Under the policy:

• Any increase to the overall annual personnel budget will be brought to Council for approval.
• Council shall approve any new management/ union excluded positions and any increases to management/union excluded salaries other than those provided for in the Management Compensation Policy.
• Any material item that has a significant financial impact of over 10% of the budget or $50,000 whichever is lower will be the threshold for reporting variances.
• Council will be provided with budget status reports at the end of the second and third quarters with explanations for any revenue or expense variance over 10% and actions that will be taken to address the variance in relation to the overall Departmental or Global budget.
• Council will be advised as soon as practical of any circumstance, situation or occurrence that would affect revenues or expenses in excess of 10% of the approved budget.

“While City staff have always followed best practices to ensure prudent use of public funds and their proper reporting, this policy sets a clear direction,” says Mayor Kerry Cook. “This Council has always committed to be transparent and accountable in all of the Council’s decisions and in City operations, and this policy cements that commitment as part of the City’s day-to-day operations.”