Cariboo Chilcotin Local Government Meetings - Week of Oct 7-11, 2024

During the week of October 7-11, 2024 -- the following Boards' of Education or Local Governments' of the Cariboo-Chilcotin will be holding meetings as follows:

Wells - Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, October 8th at 3pm in Wells Council Chambers/via Zoom (4243 Sanders Avenue).  On the Agenda:

* In-Camera Session (Oct 8th, 2024 from 1-2:30pm) as per Sections 92 + 90(1a,l - appointment and strategic planning) of the Community Charter.  View the closed meeting notice here

* Delegation: Quilt Draw—Kathy Landry

* Strategic Projects Updates

* Reports from Mayor Coleman and CAO

View the full Agenda here

School District #27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin) -- Committees of the Board of Education (Policy, Finance and Education Committees') to meet on Tuesday, October 8 + Wednesday, October 9th at the SD27 Board Office (350 2nd Avenue, Williams Lake).  When available, the Committee Agendas can be all viewed here

Williams Lake - Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, October 8th at 6pm in Williams Lake Council Chambers (450 Mart St).  On the Agenda:

* 2024 Q3 Budget Status Report

* Email Poll of Council - UBCM Community Works Fund Agreement

* Community Exercise Park Update - Kiwanis Park

* Permissive Tax Exemptions Amendment Bylaw - Request to Add Properties (Tsilhqot'in National Government)

* Recommendations from October 1st, 2024 Committee of the Whole meeting - for endorsement

* Closed Council Meeting -- Sections 92 + 90(1c - labour) of the Community Charter.  View the Closed Meeting Notice here

View the full Open Meeting Agenda here

100 Mile House - Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, October 8th at 5pm in 100 Mile House Council Chambers (385 Birch Avenue).  On the Agenda:

* In- Camera Session from 4:30pm - 5:00pm -- Sections 92 + 90(1a - apppointment) of the Community Charter

* Bylaw Officer's report for September 2024

* Tax Exemption Bylaw #1424, 2024 - for Adoption

View the full Agenda here

Prince George-North Cariboo All Candidates Forum in Quesnel - Oct 2nd, 2024

Earlier tonight -- voters got to hear from the candidates for MLA, Prince George-North Cariboo at the College of New Caledonia Campus in Quesnel:

* Coralee Oakes, Independent (incumbent)

* Sheldon Clare, BC Conservative 

* Randy Thompson, BC Greens 

Denice Bardua, BC NDP candidate was not in attendance

Topics discussed during the 2 hour session including:

* Housing

* Drug Policy

* Highway 97 North-South Connector Project

* Safety of Students in Schools

* Healthcare System Policies 

* Review of 5 Day Sick Leave Program/Impacts on Small Businesses

* Reconciliation and what does it mean to you/political party

* Deactivation of FSR/Forest Service Roads or Rural Roads 

* What is the biggest challenge in Quesnel and how do you propose to resolve it?

* Forestry Policy (fibre supply/raw log exports, FireSmart Programs, etc.)

* Seniors' Care

* Protection of Vulnerable Individuals 

Thanks to the Quesnel/District Chamber of Commerce for arranging for and administrating this All Candidates Forum and thank you to the candidates for your answers to the questions! 

Video from the Forum (in part) can be viewed here

Quesnel Council Highlights - October 1st, 2024

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

Legislated Changes for Development Services

The province mandated review and update of the Official Community Plan be completed by the end of 2025.

Council directed staff to proceed with securing consulting services for revision of the Official Community Plan, Zoning Bylaw and Development Application Procedures Bylaw concurrently and, allocation of up to $100,000 from the 2025 operating budget to facilitate the process. 

Updating these bylaws will allow the City to review and consider how to take advantage of all the policy changes implemented by the province which are intended to support and encourage housing development.

City received $195,000 from the province to complete mandated policy updates. There is currently $155,000 remaining following modest expenditures to update the zoning bylaw for Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing and the Housing Needs Assessment. Staff are estimating an approximate cost of $255,000.00 for this work and noting urgency in posting a request for proposal, as all municipalities in B.C. will be seeking expertise.

The following objectives will be incorporated into the review of these bylaw updates:

Early and ongoing First Nation consultation in the development of the OCP;

Development of Accessible Documents and update and improvement of all related applications and information forms;

Improvement of all development applications and public guidance documents;

Incorporation of Master Infrastructure Plan into the Official Community Plan; and

Incorporation of Housing Needs Assessment and the Housing Action Plan.

TNG Celebrates Nits’ilʔin Alphonse being Awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal

Courtesy of Tsilhqot'in National Government:

The Tŝilhqot’in National Government (TNG) is celebrating Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Joe Alphonse as the recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his significant contributions to Canada and B.C. Nits’ilʔin Alphonse was nominated by Honourable Bowinn Ma, BC's Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness for his leadership and efforts to protect his community from wildfire and also advance reconciliation within the field of Emergency Management.

The King Charles III Coronation Medal was created in 2023 with 2024 being the first year that the medal was awarded to outstanding Canadians. There were 30,000 medals awarded in 2024

Nits’ilʔin Joe Alphonse has shown amazing leadership through his time as Nits’ilʔin and Chair of the Tŝilhqot’in National Government. He has been able to show leadership over the years by recognizing that the right decision isn’t always the easy one. In the face of the climate crisis, emergencies have become a regular occurrence for the Tŝilhqot’in Nation. All levels of government have a long way to come in managing emergencies in culturally appropriate ways that recognize Indigenous jurisdiction. Nits’ilʔin Alphonse has been there, front and center, as a leader and guide to this learning process.”

~ Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Otis Guichon, Vice Chair, Tŝilhqot’in National Government

Steve's Meeting/Expense Calendar - September 2024

During the month of September 2024 -- I attended the following meetings or events:

* September 5th -- monthly meeting of the McLeese Lake Recreation Commission

* September 19th -- Poverty Reduction Leadership Committee Meeting

* September 25th - Central Cariboo Joint Committee meeting

* September 26th - Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District/Cariboo Regional District Board Meetings

In addition -- responded to inquiries from Cariboo RD Area "D" residents via social media, phone/text or emails

The following expenses were submitted for approval in the month of September 2024:

* September 25th - $83 to attend the monthly meeting of the Central Cariboo Joint Committee

* September 26th - $206 to attend meetings of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District/Cariboo Regional District Boards'