Quesnel Council Highlights - Feb 5th mtg

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

College of New Caledonia – Annual Community Update

Henry Reiser, President, and Sonia Spiers, Operations Manager, provided a community update regarding the Quesnel campus by providing updates on the Strategic Plan Update, the Education Plan, the Aboriginal Education Plan, and the Community programming and events. For more information, please view the College of New Caledonia Institutional Accountability Plan and Report, 2017-2018 Reporting Cycle, that was released in July 2018.

2019 Capital Budget

Council approved the 2019 Capital Budget with highlights as follows:

• 2019 Capital Budget is $21,621,361.
• The Public Works Facility is the largest capital project at $10.975 million being funded by debt and the Capital Reinvestment Reserve.
• The budget is based on grants of $5.0 million for 2019 (the largest being $3.8 million for the Two Mile Flat Water Main) with the rest of the funding coming from reserves, utility fees and taxation.

Next steps include City staff to build the Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw with capital projects and funding sources proposed over 2019 – 2023.

BC Air Access Program – Grant Applications

Council approved City staff submitting a British Columbia Air Access Program grant application that will cover 75% of the project costs.  The projects are to replace the airside sidewalk, and new siding for the Airport Operations Building.

Community Group Budget Amounts

As per the Budget Principles Policy criteria, Council considers funding various community groups from the Community Support Budget.  Council approved funding for the following community groups:

• SkyFest – use of airport and airport office space, and in-kind assistance of City crews
• $12,250 - North Cariboo Highway Rescue (2019 – 2022)
• $12,250 – Quesnel Search and Rescue (2019 – 2022)
• $10,000 – Baker Creek Enhancement Society (2019 – 2022)
• $  4,000 – Quesnel Ambassadors Program + $1,000 in 2019 for new branding
• $  5,000 – Quesnel Foundation (2019)

CleanBC Strategy – Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Council approved Staff submitting a grant application, through the CleanBC Community Fund, that would provide up to 73% of capital costs to install two electric vehicle charging stations at the Quesnel & District Visitors Information Centre.  The Charge North Rural Electric Vehicle Network represents six regional districts and 37 municipalities along Highways 16, 97 and 5 that aim to have electric vehicle charging stations over 2,780 km of highway from south of Kamloops to Haida Gwaii.  The CleanBC Strategy regulations aim to mandate that by 2040 every new car sold in BC will be electric.

Bylaws

• 1859 – City of Quesnel Council Procedure – Final Adoption
• 1861 – 2018 Financial Plan Amendment – Final Adoption
• 1863 – Cannabis Zoning Amendment – Retail Outlets and Production Facilities – Second and Third Readings

Next Meetings

6 pm – February 19, 2019 - Regular Council Meeting
6 pm – February 26, 2019 - Regular Council Meeting