Committee of the Whole Mtg (WL Council) - Apr 30th

Present - Acting Mayor SPS Rathor and Councillors Bonnell, Bourdon, Hughes, Walters and Zacharias

Absent - Mayor Cook (on City business in PG)

Staff - G. Goodall (Acting CAO), C. Bouchard (Manager of Legislative Services) and K. MacInnis (Commiunications Coordinator)

Meeting called to order at 6:02pm

Minutes of Apr 16th COW Meeting adopted
Agenda adopted

Delegation:

Kelly McPhie and Philippa Mahon from Signal Point Gaming appeared before the Committee to discuss changes to their Liquor Primary Licence

A Question/Answer Period ensued thereon

Acting Mayor Rathor, on behalf of the Committee, thanked Ms. McPhie/Mahon for their presentation - read here

Committee Action - Delegation be received

Business:

1) Amendments to the False Alarm Bylaw

Staff presented this item to the Committee - report here
Discussion ensued thereon

Committee of the Whole recommends to Council:

That “Williams Lake Security Alarm Systems  Amendment Bylaw No. 2171” be given 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading this 7th day of May, 2013

2) Amendment to the City's Graffiti Bylaw

Staff presented this item to the Committee - report here
Discussion ensued thereon

Committee of the Whole recommends to Council:

That ”Williams Lake Graffiti Amendment Bylaw No. 2179" be read a 1st, 2nd and 3rd time this 7th day of May, 2013

3) Parking Issues on Borland Street

Staff presented this item to the Committee - report here
Discussion ensued thereon

Committee of the Whole recommends to Council:

Council approve the installation of four (4) 'restricted parking' signs on Borland Street on the block between 1st and Mackenzie Avenues

4) Noise Amendment Bylaw #2180 and Nuisance Amendment Bylaw #2181

Staff presented this item to the Committee - report here
Discussion ensued thereon

Committee of the Whole recommends to Council:

That Noise Amendment Bylaw 2180 and Nuisance Amendment Bylaw #2181 be read a first, second and third time this 7th day of May, 2013

5) Discussion on the City's Float

Staff report refers on this item here
Discussion ensued thereon

Committee of the Whole recommends to Council:

That Council approve the borrowing of a trailer that can be pulled with a City of Williams Lake truck. Design the float on an annual basis. Use minimal supplies and reuse the current float’s cowboy hat as the main prop. Further, that an ad-hoc Committee be formed as to the Float's design for consideration in early 2014 and the matter be referred to the Community Services Committee for consideration

6) Discussion on City Communications'

Councillor Bourdon requested Council to schedule a workshop on the City's internal/external communications strategy later on this year, in light of how well the City's attempt on the Place Brand was received by the public

Discussion ensued thereon

Committee of the Whole recommends to Council:

That Council request that a questionnaire go out to all City Staff and Council as part of a Communications Process which leads to a scheduled workshop between Council/Senior Staff on the topic of City Internal/External Communications

Meeting adjourned at 7:30pm

Editor's Notes:

1) This is the first time that I've seen Councillor Laurie Walters become quite passionate at a meeting, especially on the subject of the City's Float and City Communications.  At one point, it appeared that she took the suggestion from Councillor Rathor in regard to the City Page ad in the Tribune/Advisor very personal, then tauting her 25 years of marketing experience.  From my viewpoint - Councillor Rathor wants to revisit the City Page ad program.  It doesn't appear he wants to ditch the program entirely - a fact confirmed earlier this evening in discussing the COW meeting tonight with him.  It appears that Councillor Rathor and Walters may wish to discuss this item privately prior to the scheduled Communications Workshop later  this year, if not for anything else but to clear the air between these Councillors'

2) I agree with Councillor Bourdon when he says instead of spending $20,000 for a float to be used once a year - a better investment of $10,000 for Internet Cameras in Council Chambers and a portable camera for City Corporate Communications to be used year-round is a far better use of taxpayers' money.  Council did, as part of its' 2013 budget discussions, reject the purchase of this item