Quesnel Council Highlights - Aug 24th mtg

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

Miss Quesnel Royalty

Outgoing 2014 Miss Quesnel Royalty members, Mierie Sabbarwal (Miss Quesnel) and Sierra Cook (Princess) as well as incoming 2015 Miss Quesnel Royalty members, Telise Gauthier (Miss Quesnel), Courtney Moore and Maneesha Johal (Princesses), were recognized and presented with gifts from Council.  The Royalty members thanked Council for their continued support and for the many opportunities this self-development program provides for youth in the City.

Cariboo Regional District – Realignment of Administrative Costs

The Cariboo Regional District passed a resolution at the August 21, 2015 Board meeting to realign the Administrative Services Tax Rates between Municipal and Rural residents.  This will equate to $3.25/$100,000 assessment in savings to City residents, while Electoral Area Residents will see an increase of $5.00/$100,000 assessment.

Second Quarterly Report for 2015

The following are brief highlights from the Corporation’s second quarter report on its 2015 to 2018 Strategic Plan:

·   $7.2 million in funding has been confirmed for Phase II of the West Quesnel Land Stability Project with a 1/3 share provided by the Federal, Provincial and Local government bodies;

·   we have a successful physician attraction and retention initiative underway and Northern Health is moving ahead with plans to open a Primary Care Clinic  at Family Health Centre on Front Street (old Avery Clinic location); 

·   the development of a Community Forest proposal is ongoing with the City’s consultant having completed first-round discussions with community, industry, and first nation stakeholders, as well as developing geographic layouts to ensure community values for wildfire protection and recreational uses are considered;

·   80% of the 2015 Paving Program has been completed.  This program’s budget was doubled for 2015 ($784,000);

·   the report lists many works completed by the three active Council Standing Committees (Executive, Policy and Bylaw Review, and Financial Sustainability and Audit).

Residential Garbage Truck Purchase 

Council approved the $329,083 purchase of a new automated residential garbage truck.  The City is scheduled to receive this piece of equipment in May 2016.

2014/15 Transit Performance Summary

The summary denoted that transit ridership is up 1.7%, transit revenue increased by 5.4% and the City’s paratransit system operates more efficiently than the majority of similar systems in similar sized communities. 

Transit Services - North Cariboo Community Campus

Council passed a resolution directing City staff to bring back a report regarding the feasibility and potential implications of providing free transit service as an interim measure to users of the North Cariboo Community Campus.  A Special Open Meeting of Council has been scheduled for Monday, September 28, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. in Council Chambers with the College President, Mr. Henry Reiser, and Board Chair, Mr. Vince Prince, to discuss the College’s pay-parking initiative that commenced August 1, 2015.  

Bylaws

- Bylaw 1769 – Secondary Suite for 545 Jones Street – Received Third Reading

- Bylaw 1770 – Secondary Suite for 791 Beaubien Avenue – Third Reading Defeated

  

Office Space Lease – MLA Cariboo North

As of September 1, 2015, the MLA Cariboo North’s office space will be located on the fourth floor of City Hall.  Council approved this lease which will generate approximately $28,000 in annual revenue. 

Community Garden – South Quesnel

A request for a community garden by the Quesnel Community Living Association will move forward.  This community garden is to be located at 464 Racing Road with a scheduled start-up for the spring of 2016.