Quesnel Council Highlights - Jan 30th mtg

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

College of New Caledonia – Annual Update Council received an annual update for the College of New Caledonia “CNC”, Quesnel Campus, from Henry Reiser, President, Alyson-Gourley Cramer, Executive Director Communication Services and Morgan Ross, Campus Principal. The annual update provided an overview of: Six different CNC campuses located in the communities of Burns Lake, Fort St. James, Mackenzie, Quesnel, Prince George and Vanderhoof. CNC programs offered in the areas of: Health Sciences, Trades and Technology, Business & Management, Social Services, University Studies and Upgrading and Access. Students are reporting that 73% are in jobs directly related to CNC training, 83% are finding the CNC education they are taking useful in getting a job, and 83% say the skills and knowledge they are learning at CNC are useful in performing jobs. All of these percentages are slightly higher than the provincial average (BC Student Outcomes Dashboard 2016). CNC Quesnel currently has 19% Aboriginal declared heritage of students. The Aboriginal room, implemented in 2015, is being well-used increasing the Quesnel Campus Indigenousness learning environment. CNC allocates its budget to the campuses as follows: 83% Prince George, 7% Quesnel, 4% Burns Lake, 3% Mackenzie, 2% Vanderhoof and 1% Fort St. James. CNC Quesnel campus had 668 students enrolled in 2014/15 and in 2016/17 there were 956 student enrolled.

Emergency Operations Centres & Training Grant Council approved the City Staff to submit a grant to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Community Preparedness Fund for an Emergency Operations Centres & Training Grant that would update equipment and staff training for dealing with emergency situations. The City will submit a grant application for: City staff to receive Emergency Operations Centre training. Equipment for the Emergency Operations Centre such as telephones and laptop computers Emergency Operation Centre workers sleeping necessities such as cots, blankets and pillows Evacuation Planning Consultant to assist the City in developing an updated Evacuation Plan as part of the City’s Emergency Plan. The Evacuation Plan needs to be coordinated with Northern Health, School District #28, Cariboo Regional District, seniors groups and other community groups. The anticipated cost of this project is approximately $35,000 with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Emergency Operations Centres & Training Grant covering up to $25,000 of this project.

Quesnel Regional Airport - LED Lighting Upgrades Council approved City staff to submit a grant application to update the Quesnel Regional Airport LED runway lighting and Precision Approach Path Indicator. The estimated cost of this project is $160,000 with the grant funding covering up to 75% of this project.

Bylaw of the Month Program – Non Smoking Areas The purpose of the City of Quesnel Smoking Regulation Bylaw 1767 is to protect public health from the adverse effects of second-hand smoke in frequented public spaces, particularly for children who are more vulnerable to second-hand smoke. The public is reminded the non-smoking areas within the City are: Spirit Square Fraser River Foot Bridge (both entrances) West Fraser Timber Park and LeBourdais Park Quesnel Youth Soccer playing fields All playing fields and all playgrounds

Next Meeting 7:00 pm, February 6, 2018 – Regular Council Meeting 5:30 pm, February 13, 2018 – North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee