Present in Council Chambers:
Mayor Rathor; Councillors Delainey, Lyons, Moses and Nelson
Present via Zoom:
Councillors S. Boehm and J. Flaspohler
Meeting called to order at 6:00pm
Moment of Silence:
Council held a moment of silence to acknowledge the passing of former Councillors (Alderman) Tom Barr (1970's & 2005-2011) and Lyle Severns (1980-84 and 1987-88) as a mark of respect for their public service to the residents' of Williams Lake
Mayor Rathor recognized that the meeting was taking place on the traditional unceded territory of Williams Lake First Nation within Secwepemculecw
Meeting Agenda approved - click here
Meeting Video - click here
Minutes of the previous Council meeting were adopted
Delegations:
1) Silvia Dubray, Community Well-Being and Safety Plan Coordinator, City of Williams Lake appeared before Council to provide an update. Presentation here
2) Taya Vanderkop-Girard, Wildfire Risk Reduction and FireSmart Coordinator and Lorena Tillotson, Forsite appeared before Council to provide an update on the City of Williams Lake's Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP). Presentation here
Following both presentations -- A Question/Answer period ensued
Mayor Rathor thanked the presenters for their time/information
Response to Delegations:
Council received for information the presentation from Silvia Dubray, City of Williams Lake Community Well-Being and Safety Plan Coordinator regarding an update on the Plan as well as the presentation from Taya Vanderkop-Girard, City of Williams Lake Wildfire Risk Reduction and FireSmart Coordinator and Lorena Tillotson, Forsite regarding an update on the City's Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan (CWRP).
Business:
1) Council received for information the accounts payable computer cheque and EFT listings dated May 8 and 15, 2025
2) Council gave first and second readings to Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2427, 2025 to amend City of Williams Lake Zoning Bylaw No. 1825, 2002 to rezone the subject property addressed as 845 Eleventh Avenue North from from Civic, Assembly and Institutional (P-1) to Neighbourhood Mixed Use (MU-1). Staff were directed to issue notice of the proposed amendment, a Public Hearing be scheduled for June 24, 2025 at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers of City Hall, and notification of this application be sent to the BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit, School District No. 27 and the Cariboo Regional District for comments
3) Council permitted members of the public to address Council in regards to Councillor Nelson's recommendations regarding public safety in the downtown core of Williams Lake...
Following public input as well as a letter from Xat'sull First Nation to Williams Lake City Council, which was read into the public record, Council then considered and decided upon the following motions, as follows:
a) "Council, in collaboration with the Mayor, requests staff to immediately look at options for calling for a State of Local Emergency in response to the increased threats to public safety and that individuals in the public experiencing intoxication or severe mental issues be transported to the hospital for review of involuntary treatment"
CONTRARY TO THE MOTION: Councillors A. Delainey, J. Flaspohler and M. Moses
b) "Council direct Staff to investigate options to deal with the public safety issues in the downtown core in Williams Lake and report back to Council
CONTRARY TO THE MOTION: Councillors A. Delainey, J. Flaspohler and M. Moses
4) Council waived the Purchasing Policy to approve a direct award for the purchase two STS Clortec 75 PPD Cells for the Scout Island Well from Centrix Control Solutions for the purchase price of $109,294.00, plus applicable taxes
5) Council awarded the contract for CCTV camera inspection and cleaning of approximately 20,830 meters of sanitary sewer mains to Enviro Jet Services Ltd. for the bid price of $153,100.50, including applicable taxes
6) Council endorsed the following recommendations from a previous Committee of the Whole meeting:
i) That pursuant to Committee of Whole Council Report #16-2025, the report of the Deputy Corporate Officer dated May 20, 2025 regarding a one-year review of the City's Community Grants Program Policy be received for information, and that a one-time additional $10,000 be added to the 2026 Community Grants Program to support non-profit organizations providing community safety and cleanliness services; and further, that this decision be forwarded to the Central Cariboo Joint Committee for information
ii) That pursuant to Committee of Whole Council Report #17-2025, the report of the Chief Financial Officer dated April 4, 2025 be received and staff be directed to proceed with a status quo Fee for Service application process; and further, that Council establish that the annual gaming grants received by the City be identified as the bellwether funding level for the Community Grant, Fee for Service and Permissive Tax Exemption programs combined, and Council further establish a cap for the funding of these three programs at $750,000 annually.
iii) That pursuant to Committee of Whole Council Report #18-2025, the report of the Chief Financial Officer dated April 4, 2025 be received and consideration of First Nation Cultural services be included in the new Permissive Tax Exemption bylaw; and further, that staff be directed to draft a policy with options for Council's consideration regarding the Community Grant, Fee for Service and Permissive Tax Exemption programs.
iv) That pursuant to the report of the Chief Financial Officer dated May 22, 2025, together with Committee of Whole Council Reports #17-2025 and #18-2025, Council approve the proposed Social and Non-Profit Sector Support Policy.
7) Council received a letter from the City of Port Alberni regarding the need for a police services funding model as well as an invitation to Mayor Rathor to participate in their working group and approved the request of Port Alberni for Mayor Rathor to join their working group
8) Council received for information the response letter from BC Health Minister Josie Osborne dated May 12, 2025, together with the letter from Mayor Rathor dated March 3, 2025, regarding involuntary care under the Mental Health Act
9) Council received the request of Thunder Mountain Speedway in their letter dated May 15, 2025 regarding use of funds for their 2025 Community Grant be received, and approved an amendment to their application to permit the $2,000 in approved 2025 funding to be utilized toward a new ticket booth in alternate to the original requested use for their concession roof repairs
10) Council approved proclamations, as follows:
i) Williams Lake Stampede Month -- June 2025
ii) GoByBike Week --May 31 to June 6, 2025
iii) Indigenous Survivors Day/National Blanket Ceremony Day -- June 30, 2025
iv) World Elder Abuse Awareness Week -- June 9 to 15, 2025
11) Council received the Council Information Package as of May 27, 2025
And then Council adjourned at 9:02pm
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