Quesnel Council Highlights - Apr 7th mtg

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

2014 Tax rates

Council received an update on the 2014 tax rates. The operating and capital budgets are now complete and the expected municipal residential tax rates have been calculated. The average family home in Quesnel will see an increase of $16.98 to their municipal property tax bill. Total property taxes are still to be determined pending the rates from other taxing authorities such as the School District, Cariboo Regional District, etc.

The tax rate bylaw and five year financial plan bylaw will be presented to Council for consideration on April 28.

Spring Clean-Up week

Council declared the week of April 28 to May 2 as Spring Clean-Up Week. This annual clean up has been an ongoing project of the City’s for more than twenty years.

Transit agreement approved

Council approved entering into the 2014/2015 Annual Operating Agreement for the provision of conventional and handyDART services. The forecast increase to the municipality’s share is approximately $52,000 over last year mainly due to the replacement of buses. Quesnel Transit operates a scheduled service Monday to Saturday and handyDART service Monday to Friday throughout the City and Red Bluff area. Weekly service is provided to Wells and Nazko twice a month, both at full cost recovery. There are a total of seven buses in the fleet. Three buses will be replaced this year providing the system with all low-floor easily accessible buses.

Citizen of the Year nominees

Council congratulated two of the three nominees at the regular meeting. Heather Hartridge and Liane Kimmie were present to receive a Certificate of Congratulations. The third nominee, Lynda Atkinson was not available to attend the Council meeting as she was attending the annual general meeting down south of one of the organizations she is dedicated to.

The event will take place on Tuesday, April 22 at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall. This date has been chosen to coincide with Canada’s National Volunteer Week. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the front desk of city hall.

Other news

Council has permitted the installation of ashtrays to deal with cigarette debris in the downtown area of Spirit Square. The request came from the Downtown Business Association at a recent Committee of the Whole meeting. These ashtrays will contain a locking device that prevents vandalism of the ashtrays and scavenging of cigarette debris.

Council approved the inclusion of the following objective and policy in the Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw: The City will review opportunities to encourage economic diversification through the use of  revitalization exemptions under Sec. 226 of the Community Charter; and review and potentially implement a 226 permissive tax exemption for new construction on the airport lands to support the economic diversification of the airport and community.

Council approved all thirty-three of the proposed 2014 Capital Budget projects totaling $829,100; reducing the 2014 transfer from Casino Funds by $30,900; and the proposed Capital Projects from the following reserves:

            

            - $1,160,000 from the Capital Reinvestment Reserve for four projects;

            - $588,000 from the Public Works Equipment Reserve for six projects;

            - $70,000 from the Gas Tax Reserve for three projects;

            - $897,815 from the New Public Works Complex/Other Reserves for five projects;

            - $856,200 from the Water Utility Fund for ten projects;

            - $710,000 from the Sewer Utility Fund for four projects.

NEXT Regular Council Meeting:Monday Apr. 28, 7 p.m.
NEXT Delegation/Committee of the Whole Meeting: 
Monday May 12, 7 p.m. 

NEXT North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee Meeting:
Tuesday May 13, 5:30 p.m.

Above 3 meetings held in Quesnel Council Chambers - 2nd Floor, 410 Kinchant Street