Present in WL Council Chambers:
Mayor Rathor; Councillors Boehm, Lyons, Moses and Nelson
Present via Zoom:
Councillors A. Delainey and J. Flaspohler
Meeting called to order at 6:00pm
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 previous Regular/Special City Council meetings (April 15,22,29) were adopted
Delegation:
1) Social Planning Council of Williams Lake and Area appeared before Council to provide updates on Progress/Impact of Thrive Strategy, Revive Thrive, and Communities Ending Poverty Leadership Table
Presentation here
Following their presentation -- a Question/Answer period ensued
Mayor Rathor thanked the delegation for their time/information
Response to Delegation:
Council received for information the presentation of Bree Odd, Social Planning Council Executive Director/Coordinator regarding updates on the progress and impacts of their Thrive Strategy, Revive Thrive, and Communities Ending Poverty Leadership Table and attendance of Communities Ending Poverty Leadership Table be included as part of the "Community Committee" list, Council be encouraged to attend the "Pop-Up" event conducted by the Social Planning Council of Williams Lake/Area and their AGM and finally that financial consideration be given to the Communities Ending Poverty program during 2026 budget deliberations
Business:
1) Council received for information the accounts payable computer cheque and EFT/Electronic Fund Transfer listings dated April 16, 24 and May 1, 2025
2) Council proclaimed and/or authorized the following:
* week of May 11 to 17, 2025 as "Local Government Awareness Week" and May 14, 2025 as “Asset Management Awareness Day” in the City of Williams Lake
* week of May 18 to 24, 2025 as "National Public Works Week" in the City of Williams Lake
* week of May 25 to 31, 2025 as "National AccessAbility Week" in the City of Williams Lake
* week of May 18 to 24, 2025 be proclaimed as "Royal Purple Week" in the City of Williams Lake
* lights of City Hall be changed to blue for a week or more in June 2025 for "DeafBlind Awareness Month".
3) Following a public input opportunity -- Council approved Development Variance Permit No. 01-2025 for property at 509 Ninth Avenue North
4) Council gave first three readings to "City of Williams Lake Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 2426, 2025" (Emergency Funding for $100,000 for additional RCMP Patrols)
5) Council ratified an email poll authorizing approval of Council compensation and other associated expenses for Mayor Rathor to attend the BC Modular Housing Summit in Penticton, BC from May 4 to 6, 2025
6) Council approved the 2025/2026 Annual Operating Agreement with BC Transit
7) Council approved entering into a temporary lease agreement with Ledcor for outdoor space rental at 351 Hodgson Road for a period of six months (May to October 2025) for a monthly rent of $1,500
8) Council endorsed recommendations from a previous Committee of the Whole meeting, as follows:
* That pursuant to Committee of Whole Council Report #12-2025 and the report of the Manager of Administrative Services dated April 14, 2025 outlining a summary of the first quarter 2025 estimated costs downloaded by senior levels of government and staff be directed to invoice the appropriate government departments for the services provided by the City; and further, that this information be shared with the local Member of Parliament, Member of the Legislative Assembly, the North Central Local Government Association, the Union of BC Municipalities, and Mayors across BC.
* That pursuant to Committee of Whole Council Report #13-2025 and the report of the Senior Bylaw Officer dated April 24, 2025, Council endorse 351 Hodgson Road and the RC Cotton site (Bagshaw Road) as the two alternating locations for temporary overnight shelters, while considering the eight additional locations for information and discussion; and further, that Council approve the proposed Temporary Overnight Shelter Policy to guide associated clean-up, maintenance and enforcement of Temporary Overnight Shelters, and the policy and locations be reviewed by Council within nine months’ time.
CONTRARY TO THE MOTION: Councillor S. Nelson
Resolved: That Staff provide Council with a quarterly report on the temporary overnight shelter locations as well as the status of community emergency shelters
* That pursuant to Committee of Whole Council Report #14-2025 and the report of the Procurement & Asset Management Coordinator dated April 22, 2025 regarding an update on further consultations and efforts to respond to U.S. tariffs, Council remove purchasing restrictions and return to procuring under the existing Purchasing Policy, while staff be directed to continue to purchase Canadian goods and services at the operational level wherever possible under the Purchasing Policy.
CONTRARY TO THE MOTION: Councillors S. Boehm, S. Nelson
* That pursuant to Committee of Whole Council Report #15-2025, the report of the Director of Municipal Services dated March 20, 2025 be received and Council defer action on the Lake Harvester until further clarity is provided on how the City can move forward with weed harvesting and advocacy to the Provincial Government
CONTRARY TO THE MOTION: Councillors A. Delainey, J. Flaspohler and M. Moses
9) Council dealt with Correspondence, as follows:
a) BC Transit re Contracting Strategy Update - Central North - received for information only
b) Joint Letter from MLA's for Cariboo-Chilcotin, Kamloops-Centre, Kamloops-North Thompson, Fraser-Nicola and Prince George-Valemount re: Support in Redesigning the Kamloops BC Cancer Care Centre - Approved letter of support, as requested
c) Quesnel-Hixon Road Petition to re-open the rural road -- Approved letter of support, as requested
d) Support for Williams Lake Curling Club Green Municipal Fund Application -- Council agreed to provide a letter in support of their application to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) 'Green Municipal Fund' program for funding toward the Club's GHG Reductions Feasibility Study.
e) Victim Impact Statements and Bail Reform (Response of BC Prosecution Service) -- received for information only
10) Council received the Council Information Package as of May 6th, 2025
The Chief Administrative Officer provided an verbal update to Council and responded to questions from Council
Mayor Rathor reported on a community initiative to formally recognize the efforts of Wilbur Saunders to clean up Williams Lake and Staff were directed to install a suitable recognition at Scout Island
Motion to Close the Meeting:
That Council proceed into a Closed Meeting, following adjournment of the Open Council Meeting, according to Section 92 of the Community Charter for discussion of items identified under Section 90 (1) or (2) of the Community Charter as follows:
(1c - labour relations or other employee relations)
And then Council adjourned at 8:10pm
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