WL Council Highlights - Jan 12th mtg

Present - Mayor Cobb; Councillors I. Bonnell, S. Nelson, J. Ryll, C. Smith, L. Walters and S. Zacharias

Meeting called to order at 6pm
Meeting Agenda adopted/Dec 15th WL Council Meeting Minutes received/adopted

Delegation:

1) Sharon Taylor from the Immigrant & Multicultural Services Society & Margaret Anne Enders/Marilyn Livingston from the Multiculturalism Program, Canadian Mental Health Association appeared before Council to give an update as to the activities of the Williams Lake Refugee Sponsorship Group

A Question/Answer period ensued
Mayor Cobb, on behalf of Council, thanked the delegation for their presentation

Resolved - That the City of Williams Lake declares that it is committed to supporting refugees and all others who wish to make Williams Lake their home to come to Williams Lake and begin new lives here, and to supporting a safe, welcoming and diverse community, and is proud of Williams Lake's successful history of settling and retaining immigrants from a wide range of cultures, faiths and backgrounds.

Business:

1) Council received for information the accounts payable computer cheque listings for the periods ending December 18, 23 and 31, 2015 and January 7, 2016

2) Council agreed to refer the award of the 153 Mile Store Relocation contract to McGinn Engineering and Preservation Ltd to the January 27th, 2016 meeting of the Central Cariboo/City of Williams Lake Joint Committee meeting for consideration of Joint Committee Members (WL Council/CRD Directors for Areas D, E, F, J and K)

3) Council authorized the signing of the New Building Canada Fund - Small Communities Fund funding agreement between the City of Williams Lake and the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development for the River Valley Trunk Sewer Upgrades project.

4) Council proclaimed the week of February 15 to 19, 2016 as "Chamber of Commerce Week" in the City of Williams Lake and Council proclaimed the week of January 24 to 30, 2016 as "Family Literacy Week" in the City of Williams Lake

5) Late Item #1 - Council received a letter from the Museum of the Cariboo-Chillcotin's in regards to their funding application to the Central Cariboo Arts & Culture Society for a grant towards the Museum's 25th Birthday Celebration being held on August 7, 2016 in Boitanio Park.

6) Late Item #2 -  Council approved travel and associated expenses for Councillor Jason Ryll to attend the BC Ferry Working Group Meeting being held in Richmond, BC on Thursday, January 28, 2016

7) Council received the 'Council Information Package' as of Jan 12th, 2016 as follows:

• December 3, 2015 - Immigrant & Multicultural Services Society of Prince George, Williams Lake Branch re Free Workplace Essential Skills Language Training;
• December 11, 2015 - CRD Board Highlights.

Members of Council gave oral reports on their recent activities

At 7:01pm - Council adjourned to an In-Camera Session as per Sections 90(1a,c,g,i - appointment, labour, potential/actual litigation and communications from/to lawyer) of the Community Charter