Quesnel Council Highlights - Jan 19th mtg

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

Past Council members honoured

Councillor Roodenburg, on behalf of City Council presented outgoing Mayor Mary Sjostrom and Councillor Mike Cave with a gift in appreciation for their years of service to the community. MLA Coralee Oakes also gave a speech honouring the two guests.

The first on the 2015 budget

Council’s Budget Principles Policy sets out direction for staff to prepare the budget. The Financial Sustainability and Audit Committee has recommended that staff prepare five scenarios for the budget.a

Sec. 165 of the Community Charter requires that the municipality must have a five-year financial plan adopted by bylaw before the annual property tax bylaw is adopted. This bylaw must set out the objectives and policies of the municipality as well as proposed expenditures, funding sources and transfer between funds. The total proposed expenditures must not exceed the funding sources and transfers.

Sec. 197 of the Community Charter requires Council to impose property taxes by bylaw before May 15th. The rates are set to raise the revenue outlined in the financial plan based on the assessments of the various property classes.

For a look at the full report, visit https://quesnel.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=55053. The next budget meeting is scheduled for January 26 to review the Operating Budget Package/Supplementals/Review of Legislative/Community Support/Fees for Service.

Council Procedure Bylaw adopted

Council gave final adoption to the Council Procedure Bylaw 1750 of 2015 which highlights the following changes to the Bylaw:

* In addition to the regular Public Posting Places, Public Meeting Notices, when practicable, will now be posted to the City’s website and social media sites;

* In an Election year, the first Council meeting will be held on the first Monday in November;

* Notice of the Annual Council Meeting Schedule will now be prepared on or before December 10th annually;

* Members of Council may now attend Council Meetings/Committee of the Whole Sessions via electronic means should up to two Council Member(s) otherwise be unable to attend. This does not apply to Special Closed Meetings;

* In addition to Question Period being regularly held at Regular Meetings of Council, Question Period will now be held at Committee of the Whole Sessions.

* Delegation groups must provide documentation the Wednesday prior to the Monday Council Meeting/Session;

* Conduct and debate during Council Meetings/Sessions has been adapted to be less formal, but a speaker must always be recognized by the presiding member before speaking.

Council’s Bylaws and Policies are available on the City’s website at www.quesnel.ca. Click on the Agendas/Minutes link at the right of the page and “search” for the bylaw or policy you are looking for.

The Ride Across Canada event

Council welcomed locals Paul and Terry Nichols to hear about their awareness campaign through Communities For Veterans Foundation. On April 11, the Nichols are leaving from Victoria on a horseback ride across Canada. They hope to shed some light on the trouble that military personnel have transitioning back to regular civilian life after their service. Working with veterans’ groups and riding clubs to coordinate a relay of Canadian Military Veterans they aim to change the face of Canadian Veterans. They plan to gather Veteran’s stories to encourage discussion of the challenges that our Veterans face and to leave a legacy that will last for generations with over 700 stories from Canadian Veterans. Council unanimously agreed to support the event by providing some administration and technical support.

A kick-off event is planned in Quesnel for March 28, 2015. For more details, visit their Facebook page The Ride Across Canada.

Other News

Council approved entering into a five-year agreement with Cariboo Pulp and Paper for continued secondary sewage treatment to December 31, 2019.

Council approved sending a letter to the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations in support of the District of Wells’ request to keep the Purden Lake Road Connector and Indian Creek Bridge open as a transportation route to Cariboo communities and tourism expansion. The BC Government had expressed their plans to decommission the Indian Creek Bridge.

Council also approved sending a letter to the BC Government in support of Hudson’s Hope request for a one year moratorium on the proposed Site C Dam Project. This would allow time to refer Site C to the BC Utilities Commission for an inquiry and public hearing into its economic effects, including potentially less costly alternatives.

Coast Mental Health Foundation is once again sponsoring the Courage to Come Back Awards, celebrating ordinary people who have demonstrated extra-ordinary courage in their recovery from illness, injury or adversity. Deadline for nominations is February 13, 2015. Visit couragetocomeback.ca for more information.

     

NEXT MEETINGS: (All meetings held in Quesnel Council Chambers)

Monday Jan. 19, 2015 @ 7 p.m.
Regular Meeting/Committee of the Whole Session

Monday Jan. 19, 2015 @ 7 p.m.
Committee of the Whole Session/Preliminary Operating Budget

NEXT North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee Meeting:
Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015 @ 5:30 p.m.