Quesnel Council Highlights - March 30th mtg

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

Five Year Financial Plan review

Council had the opportunity to review the City’s proposed Five Year Financial Plan before it is brought forward as a bylaw.

The Plan outlines policies regarding revenues, the distribution of property taxes, permissive exemptions and includes proposed revenues, expenditures and transfers between funds for the next five years. It is built with the capital previously approved by Council and the following assumptions: operating as follows: 2% inflation each year, 5% growth in utility fees, and an additional 5% tax increase in 2016 to be added to the Capital Reinvestment Reserve.

Debt, reserves and an outstanding assessment appeal have also been included in the Plan to date.

Development service application

An application to amend the Zoning Designation and Official Community Plan Designation was brought forward to Council for information and direction. The property owner of Southgate Square has brought forward this application in order to permit a multi-building shopping centre at 960 Chew Road.

There are a number of pertinent sections of the Official Community Plan that directly relate to the proposed zone amendment. The full report is available online.

Council approved the recommendation that staff proceed with drafting the amending bylaws for Council consideration, subject to the following requirements:

Complete the Traffic Impact Study as required and to follow the recommendations of that study;

Draft the amending bylaws to allow more than one principle building per lot at this location;

Refine the requested zone to follow the guidelines of the OCP for a Regional Shopping Centre as a broad and general, vehicle- oriented use, and avoid the local commercial and downtown uses of offices, convenience retail and financial services, etc.

Work with the proponent on items of concern (traffic, servicing, site circulation, access) and meet the development requirements of the subdivision servicing bylaw.

A report will be returned to Council for review and confirmation of conditions and proposed bylaws.

Final adoption of bylaws

Council gave final adoption to the following four bylaws brought before Council on March 23.

Sidewalk Food Vendors’ Bylaw Amendment No. 1752,

Noise Control Bylaw Amendment No. 1753,

Interest on Advance Payment of Taxes Bylaw Amendment  No. 1754,

Soil Removal and Deposit Permit Bylaw Amendment No. 1755,

These bylaws will now be current with regulations and applicable legislation.

Other news

·         Council approved issuing an extension to May 15, 2015 to proponents whose property located on Oval Road has been identified as being in contravention of the City’s Building Regulations. A Notice of Title will be filed with the Land Titles Office if the extension period expires and the proponents have not brought the property into compliance. Council recommended that the proponents notify the City of any potential sale of the property.

·         Council approved the proposed changes to the Zone and Fee Schedule for HandyDART. Fees for many rural residents will increase from $4 to $6 per trip with these changes and some rural residents outside of the boundary may see their fees decrease or will have access to the service when they previously didn’t. Fees to City residents or Area A residents who contribute to conventional transit service (Zone 1) will not be impacted by the changes.

·         A written request has been made by Council to the Honourable Coralee Oakes, MLA for Cariboo-North, for $30,000 towards the development of a crosswalk light installation on North Fraser Drive at the end of the footbridge on the west end. The request is subject to Council approval and partnered funding for this project.

·         Council received a report on the City’s 2014 Surplus showing unallocated general surplus at $454,744. As per the Reserves and Deferred Revenue Policy, these funds will be allocated to the Capital Reinvestment Fund.

·         Council had requested consideration for a Community Forest Agreement for the City from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Operations. A letter received from Minister Steve Thomson states “The concept of a Community Forest Agreement for the City does resonate with me and I remain hopeful that the ministry will be able to accommodate you at some level. I look forward to continuing to work with you and other local interests on this initiative in the months ahead.”

ADDITIONAL MEETING:

Tuesday, Apr. 7 @ 6:15 p.m.
Special Open Meeting of Council to discuss Strategic Planning, 

Vision-Mission-Values Statement, and the 2015-2018 Corporate Strategic Plan

NEXT MEETINGS:Monday Apr. 13 @ 7 p.m.
Regular Meeting

Tuesday, Apr. 14 @ 5:30 p.m.North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee Meeting

Monday Apr. 20 @ 7 p.m.
Committee of the Whole Session