Present: Chair M.Wagner/Vice Chair M. Neufeld and Directors Sjostrom, Bachmeier, Massier, Forseth, LeBourdais, Richmond, Glassford, Pare, Anderson, De Vries, Coleman, Roodenburg, Rathor (entered the meeting at 10:20am) and Pinkney
Meeting called to order at 9:55am
The Chair 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 previous Cariboo RD Board Meeting were received/adopted
Delegation - 11:30am
Irene Gilbert, President, Alana Dixon, Director and Graham Leslie, Secretary, of the Northern Secwepemc Cultural Society appeared before to provide un update on the status of the recently completed cultural centre construction project. Presentation
here
Following the Presentation -- a Question/Answer period ensued...
The Chair thanked the delegation for their time/information
Business:
1) The Board, following Public Hearings, granted 3rd Reading to the following Land Use Bylaws:
* Area H - South Cariboo Area Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 5433, 2023 and South Cariboo Area Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 5434, 2023 (4569 Canim- Hendrix Lake Road)
* Area C - North Cariboo Area Rural Land Use Amendment Bylaw No. 5486, 2024 (7271 Highway 26)
* Area L - Interlakes Area Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 5489, 2024 and South Cariboo Area Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 5490, 2024 (8270 Wilson Lake Rd)
2) Upon the recommendation of the Area "L" Director -- the Board granted approval of DVP #49-2024 for property at 6143 Green Lake North Rd
3) The Board granted an application completion deadline extension for Official Community Plan and Rezoning application 3360-20/20220035 to October 14, 2025 (Area H/4569 Canim-Hendrix Lake Road)
4) The Board approved Notices on Title in Electoral Areas "A", "G", "H" and "L"
5) The Board endorsed NDIT/Northern Development Initiative Trust applications, as follows:
* Likely & District Chamber of Commerce – Preserving the Gold Rush History of Likely, BC
* Nazko Valley Community Centre Society – Room Renovations
* Williams Lake Cycling Club – Ride Your Ride Women’s Mountain Bike Festival
* Williams Lake Rustlers Rugby Club - Rodger’s Rink Improvements
6) The Board approved Year Round Grant for Assistance Applications, as follows:
* Eagle View 4D Barrel Races - $1,000 from Area "E"
* WL Cycling Club - $1,000 from Areas “E” and “F” divided equally
7) The Board ratified the Monthly Cheque Register for the month of January 2025
8) The Board endorsed 2025 NCLGA Resolutions, as follows:
* Mental Health Supports for Elected Officials
* Unpaid Leave provisions for Elected Officials
* Quesnel North-South Interconnector Funding
* Accessory Dwellings in the Agriculture Land Reserve
* Agriculture Land Reserve Boundary Review
9) The Board received a number of Information-Only items and at the request of Director Forseth -- the Board agreed to send a letter to BC's Minister of Forests advising that the Cariboo Regional District wishes to opt out of the Cooperative Community Wildfire Program
CONTRARY TO THE MOTION: Director Wagner (Area "H")
Meeting recessed at 10:54am to CCRHD Board
Meeting resumed at 11:30am
Delegation - See above
Meeting recessed for lunch at 12:01pm
Meeting resumed at 12:50pm
Present: Chair M.Wagner/Vice Chair M. Neufeld and Directors Sjostrom, Bachmeier, Massier, Forseth, LeBourdais, Richmond, Glassford, Pare, Anderson, De Vries, Coleman, Rathor and Pinkney
10) The Board endorsed recommendations from Committees/Commissions', as follows:
a) That the following Central Cariboo Rural Directors' be appointed to Central Cariboo Community Committees, as follows:
Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce - Director Neufeld
Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society - Director LeBourdais
UNBC South Central Advisory Committee - Director Anderson
b) That North Cariboo Caucus endorse the following appointments:
South-Central Regional Advisory Committee to UNBC/CNC – Director Sjostrom
North Cariboo Air Quality Roundtable - Director Massier
North Cariboo Seniors Council - Director Sjostrom
Quesnel Housing Solutions Table - Director Bachmeier
City of Quesnel Accessibility Committee - Director Sjostrom
Quesnel Airport Advisory Committee – Director Glassford
Further, that reports from recent meetings of these committees be kept as a standing item on each rural caucus agenda.
c) That $2,000 from the 2025 North Cariboo Economic Development budget be provided to the organizers of the Ski and Snowboard provincial competition as per the approved business plan goal to support conferences and events as important tourism opportunities.
Director Massier declared a conflict of interest on the next item and left the meeting at 12:56pm
d) That $5,000 from the 2025 North Cariboo Economic Development budget be provided to the Friends of Barkerville for the Highway 24 tourism kiosk rehabilitation project as per the approved business plan goal to support partnerships for economic development projects and activities
Director Massier returned to the meeting at 12:57pm
e) That Director Wagner be appointed to the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce and Director Richmond be appointed to the South Cariboo Community Enhancement Foundation for 2025.
Further, that reports from recent meetings of these appointments be kept as a standing item on each South Cariboo rural caucus agenda
11) The Board gave 1st, 2nd and 3rd Readings to the following Corporate Bylaws:
* West Fraser Fire Protection Service Boundary Amendment Bylaw No. 5498, 2025
* 100 Mile House Fire Protection Service Boundary Expansion Bylaw No. 5499, 2025
* Lac La Hache Fire Protection Service Area Expansion Bylaw No. 5500, 2025
12) The Board adopted Central Cariboo Search and Rescue Service Amendment Bylaw No. 5461, 2024
13) At the request of Directors Neufeld, Wagner, Pare and DeVries -- the Board authorized funding to attend the Keeping It Rural conference in Kelowna, BC from June 10-12, 2025 from the Areas E,H,J and L Directors’ Initiative Funds …
14) At the request of Director S. Forseth (Area D) -- the Board directed Staff to email Directors’ as to current Regional District procurement practice as to a Buy Canadian approach...
CONTRARY TO THE MOTION: Director Anderson (Area “K”)
15) Directors’ Roundtable
Resolved: That a letter of congratulations be forwarded to Mr. Dave Dickson on receiving the Federal Emergency Management Exemplary Service Award
Resolved: That the appointment of James Evans to the Heritage Steering Committee be rescinded
Resolved: At the request of Director Bachmeier (Area B) — the Board authorized certain appointments to the Bouchie Lake Recreation Commission and Parkland Recreation Commission
16) Closed Board Session
At 1:56pm -- the Board recessed its' Open Meeting to hold a Closed/In-Camera Board Session as per Sections 92 + 90(1f,g,i - law enforcement, litigation and legal advice) of the Community Charter
At 2:21pm — the Board resumed its’ Open Meeting
And then the Board adjourned at 2:22pm
