WL Council Highlights - Feb 21st mtg

Present: Mayor SPS Rathor; Councillors Boehm, Delainey, Flaspohler, Lyons, Nelson and Moses (via Zoom)

Meeting called to order at 6:00pm (Meeting Agenda here/Meeting Video here)

Mayor Rathor recognized that the meeting was taking place on the traditional, unceded territory of the Williams Lake First Nation within Secwepemculecw

Meeting Agenda adopted

Minutes of the Regular Council Meetings held February 7th (Regular) and 15th (Special) were both received and adopted

Delegation:

Glenda Winger from the WL Seniors' Activity Centre appeared before Council to discuss a proposal for Increased Accessible Parking

Following her presentation - a Question/Answer ensued... 

Mayor Rathor - on behalf of Council - thanked Ms. Winger for her time/information

Resolved: That the letter from the Seniors' Activity Centre dated January 30, 2023 regarding a proposal for increased accessible parking spaces adjacent to their building be received and that staff be requested to meet with representatives of the Seniors Activity Centre to discuss their proposal and options for additional accessible parking on the site and bring a report back to Council.

Business:

1) Council received for information the accounts payable computer cheque and EFT listings dated February 2, 9, 13 and 16, 2023

2) Council approved compensation, registration, and associated travel expenses for interested Council members to attend the North Central Local Government Association's 2023 AGM & Convention in Dawson Creek from May 9 to 12, 2023

3) Council approved the new Animal Shelter Operations Contract with the BC SPCA for a three-year term, effective March 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025, at an annual cost of $23,779.68 with an annual increase in accordance with the Consumer Price Index, paid in monthly installments of $1981.64, plus CPI in subsequent years; and further, that the Mayor and Corporate Officer be authorized to sign the Agreement on behalf of the City

4) Council ratified an email poll authorizing Council to proclaim the week of February 13 to 17, 2023 as “Chamber of Commerce Week” in the City of Williams Lake, pursuant to City Policy

5) Council gave 2nd Reading to OCP Amendment Bylaw No. 2378 and Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2379 for property at 575 Wotkze Drive and the Public Hearing be set for March 21st, 2023 at 6pm in Williams Lake Council Chambers 

6) Council approve the disposition (write-off) of $3,662.78 uncollectable property taxes receivable, including penalty and interest amounts, on the manufactured home property, identified as:

 

Tax Roll/Folio # 0070490.020, manufactured home registry #022873, civic address: 2A-1406 Broadway Ave S, Williams Lake BC V2G 0A1

7) Williams Lake Council adopted 2 Recommendations from a recent meeting of the Central Cariboo Joint Committee:

a) That pursuant to Central Cariboo Joint Committee Report #01-2023, the report of the Manager of Recreation and Leisure Services dated January 16, 2023 regarding renewal of the Joint Use Facilities Agreement between the City of Williams Lake, Cariboo Regional District, District of 100 Mile House, School District No. 27 and Thompson Rivers University - Williams Lake Campus be received and Council approve renewal of the Agreement as presented; and further, the Mayor and Corporate Officer be authorized to sign the Agreement on behalf of the City

b) That Central Cariboo Joint Committee Report #02-2023 regarding an amendment to the Central Cariboo Joint Committee Terms of Reference to reflect that delegations be provided with 15 minutes for their presentations be received and endorsed

8) Council received for information a report of the Planner dated January 9, 2023 regarding overdose prevention and safe consumption site review and that lines of communications continue between the City and Interior Health on this topic

9) Council approved a recommendation from its' Community Services Committee, as follows:

a) That pursuant to the Community Services Committee Report #01-2023, staff be directed to provide examples of what other local jurisdictions (including Kamloops and Vancouver) are doing to further Indigenous relations and reconciliation; and further, that staff provide this information to Council prior to Council’s March 8th Strategic Planning session

10) Council adopted Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 2384, 2023

11) Council received the Minutes of the Central Cariboo Joint Committee meeting held January 25th, 2023

12) Council received a letter from the Minister of Municipal Affairs dated February 10, 2023 regarding the Province' new $1-billion Growing Communities Fund

13) Council supported the DWLBIA’s (Downtown Williams Lake BIA) application to the NDIT Marketing Initiatives funding program toward their wayfinding sign and downtown walking tour brochure projects

14) Council authorized the Lakers Car Club 27th Annual Spring Round-Up Show & Shine to take place on Sunday, May 28, 2023 from 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM

15) Council received a letter from the Williams Lake Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) Chair dated February 13, 2023 requesting Council consider designating additional accessible parking spaces in the City's off-street parking lots in the downtown core and Staff were directed to work with the AAC in identifying locations and options for consideration in a report back to Council

16) Council directed staff to display purple lights on the exterior of City Hall the week of April 4 to 10, 2023 in support of "National Dental Hygienists Week" for 'Oral Health for Total Health' as part of the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association’s national “Put Your Purple On!” campaign

17) Council received In-Camera Report #2-2023 reporting the following adopted Resolution from a Special In-Camera Council Meeting held February 15th, 2023 as follows:

“That the letter from the Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin Society Board of Directors dated February 2, 2023 requesting a one-time increase to its City of Williams Lake Fee for Service of $80,000 for 2023 be received, Council Policy No. 152 be waived to allow the first and second quarter payments for 2023 to be paid as soon as possible, and staff be directed to meet with the Museum Board to assist in identifying grant funding and other opportunities moving forward.” 

18) Late Item: Council endorsed the newly formed Interior Rodeo Event Association in organizing the upcoming Indoor Spring Classic Rodeo event taking place at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex in April.

19) Council received the "Council Information Package" as of February 21st, 2023

Members of Council reported on their recent activities including noting that tomorrow (Wednesday, Feb 22nd, 2023) is "Pink Shirt Day" (Anti-Bullying Day)

Resolved -- That Staff set up a meeting with Interior Health to discuss concerns about doctors leaving Williams Lake and how Interior Health plans to deal with this matter... 

Motion to Close Meeting:

That Council now resolve into a Closed Meeting, following adjournment of the Open Meeting of Council, in accordance with Section 92 of the Community Charter for discussion of items identified under Section 90 (1) (c) labour relations or other employee relations, and (k) negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the council, could reasonably be expected to harm the interest of the municipality if they were held in public.

Council adjourned at 7:48pm