Williams Lake Council Highlights - Sept 16, 2025 mtg

Present in Williams Lake Council Chambers: Mayor Rathor; Councillors Boehm, Delainey, Flaspohler, Lyons and Nelson 

Present via Zoom: Councillor M. Moses 

Meeting called to order at 6:00pm 

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

Meeting Agenda approved  - click here

Minutes of previous meetings of Council were received/adopted

Meeting Video - click here

Delegations/Presentations:

1) Mayor Rathor presented an "Accessibility Award of Merit" to the Williams Lake Alliance Church - Pastor Chris Harder, Don Olesuik and Blair Mohr 

2) Court Smith, Williams Lake Stampede Association re 2025 Event Update and Presentation on Viability / Sustainability of the Williams Lake Stampede

Following the presentation -- a Question/Answer period ensued

The Mayor thanked Mr. Smith for his time/information

Response to Delegations:

At the request of Councillor Nelson -- 

That Council receive the verbal update from the Williams Lake Stampede Association and that Council request Staff to setup a meeting between the Williams Lake Stampede Association/Council and Staff with goals/objectives being: 

1) long-term sustainability
2) Long term partnership opportunities
3) Five year plan opportunities
4) Tie in the hundred stamped as a community catalyst
5) An action plan to continue to enhance and grow the stampede
6) To maintain the importance of the stampede is a cultural key, and tourist attraction
7) The long-term facility's economic life cycle
8) Address volunteer burnout.
9) Address financial stress

AND

10) The management of the facility (Williams Lake Stampede Grounds)

Business:

1) Council approved the request of the Williams Lake Stampede Association to waive the City's costs of the sewer plug work on the WLSA leased area in the Williams Lake Stampede Grounds during Stampede weekend 2025.

2) Council received for information the accounts payable computer cheque and EFT listings dated August 28, September 4 and 11, 2025

3) Council ratified an email poll regarding the application of Councillor Sheila Boehm to be appointed to a FCM Committee(s) 

4) Council received for information a report entitled "Downloading of Costs Q3 2025 Update" and that those Members of Council attending the 2025 UBCM Convention raise the report with the Premier of BC and his Ministers at the 2025 Union of BC Municipalities/UBCM Convention in Victoria, BC

5) Council approved the purchase of 54 Rife Road from the Williams Lake Golf and Tennis Club for the purchase price of $1, plus legal fees related to the purchase

6) Council approved the 2025-2028 Fire Protection Services Agreement between the Cariboo Regional District and the City of Williams Lake, and authorized the Mayor and Corporate Officer to sign the agreement on behalf of the City

7) Council endorsed recommendations from a previous Committee of Whole Council meeting, as follows: 

a) That pursuant to Committee of Whole Council Report #26-2025, the report of the Procurement & Asset Coordinator dated September 4, 2025 regarding an update on the breach of contract for the purchase of a mechanical shop hoist be received for information

b) That pursuant to Committee of Whole Council Report #27-2025, the report of the Chief Financial Officer and Manager of Finance dated September 4, 2025 regarding next term permissive tax exemption bylaw development be received and the following recommendations of Committee of Whole Council be endorsed:

*That staff be directed to develop a permissive tax exemption bylaw with a three year term;

*That staff be directed to report back on options for capping the 2026 permissive tax exemptions at 100% for 1 year only;

CONTRARY TO THE MOTION: Councillors Sheila Boehm and Angie Delainey

* That those late applicants who have inquired about 2026 Property Tax Exemption be permitted to apply before Friday, September 19, 2025 at 12:00pm 

CONTRARY TO THE MOTION: Councillors Sheila Boehm, Angie Delainey and Jazmyn Lyons

* That staff be directed to include City owned/leased properties with a 100% exemption in the 2026 permissive tax exemption bylaw; and,

* That staff be directed a maintain the past practice of providing a one acre exemption for lands for all Property Tax Exemption applicants 

CONTRARY TO THE MOTION: Councillor Angie Delainey

c) That pursuant to Committee of Whole Council Report #28-2025, the report of the Chief Financial Officer dated August 1, 2025 be received and staff be directed to incorporate a previously deferred water project of high importance into the five year financial plan; and further, that staff present options on how to start collecting funds to reduce the anticipated funding gap

d) That pursuant to Committee of Whole Council Report #29-2025, during the up and coming budget process for 2026 staff present selected action items and associated costs from the Active Transportation Plan; and further, that staff have this presentation for both Council and the community engagement stages for budgetary consideration

e) That pursuant to Committee of Whole Council Report #30-2025, staff be directed to prepare a budget that focuses on maintaining existing service levels with no new services added and no new staff positions

8) Council received a letter from Katie Hilborn dated September 10, 2025 regarding safety concerns at Kiwanis Park due to drug paraphernalia being left in the park and the risks to families/children playing, and requesting a higher fence be installed around the perimeter of Kiwanis Park with gates locked overnight and directed Staff to post signage at Kiwanis Park 

9) Council proclaimed the following: 

* Week of October 5-11, 2025 be proclaimed "KidSport BC Powered by Sport BC Week" in the City of Williams Lake

* Week of October 12-18, 2025 be proclaimed "Purple Thursday X 7" in the City of Williams Lake, pursuant to City policy, and the lights of City Hall be changed to purple during this week in recognition of Purple Thursday.

10) Council received the Council Information Package as of September 16, 2025 

The Chief Administrative Officer provided a general update as well as progress on the Water Treatment Plant and responded to questions of Council 

Closed Council Meeting Motion at 8:32pm:

That Council now resolve 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 Sections 90 

1(e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the Council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interest of the municipality, 

1(g) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality, 

1(j) information that is prohibited, or information that if it were presented in a document would be prohibited, from disclosure, under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and 

1(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

And then Council adjourned at 8:34pm