Present:
Mayor Rathor; Councillors S. Boehm, J. Flaspohler, S. Nelson (via Zoom) and 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 and welcomed Cariboo RD Area "D" Director Steve Forseth to tonight's Williams Lake City Council meeting
Meeting Agenda adopted - click
here (Public Hearing) and
here (Regular Council)
Minutes of the previous Council meeting were received/adopted
Part 1 - Public Hearing:
The Corporate Officer read out the purpose/intent of both City of Williams Lake Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2429, 2025 as well as City of Williams Lake Zoning Bylaw No. 2430, 2025 as well as advised Council on all written public comments received to date
Mayor Rathor provided 3 opportunities for individuals to address Council on Bylaws #2429 and 2430 - 1 member of the public provided input to Council
Resolved:
THAT City of Williams Lake Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2429, 2025 as well as City of Williams Lake Zoning Bylaw No. 2430, 2025 be referred to the Regular Meeting of Council for consideration of 3rd Reading
Public Hearing adjourned at 6:17pm
Council meeting commenced at 6:18pm
Part 2 - Regular Council Meeting:
1) Following a Public Hearing held earlier this evening -- Council gave 3rd Reading/Adoption to City of Williams Lake Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2429, 2025 while Council gave 3rd Reading to City of Williams Lake Zoning Bylaw No. 2430, 2025 and referred the Bylaw to the BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit for approval, as per Section 52 of BC's Transportation Act
2) Council received for information the accounts payable computer cheque and EFT listings dated November 27, December 4 and 11, 2025
3) Council received a report of the Planner dated December 9, 2025 regarding an update on the costs and location options for the proposed bike lock stations, as suggested by the Cariboo Climate Circle and agreed to proceed with Option # 2 with a review to occur mid-2026 [purchase and install priority bike racks at the 19 locations identified by the Cariboo Climate Circle at a cost of $11,982.20 and to restart the Bike Rack Sponsorship Program]
4) Council authorized entering into the first renewal option term for the existing License of Occupation Agreement with Platform Properties Ltd. for an off-site sign on the boulevard of Pioneer Drive for the Prosperity Ridge Commercial Park for a further five-year term effective January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2030, with all costs of the execution and registration of the renewal agreements be the responsibility of Platform Properties Ltd. Council also delegated authority to the Director of Planning & Development to consider and give approval for the seven remaining options for extensions, on the same terms and conditions
5) Council reviewed the parking management options outlined in the report of the Senior Bylaw Officer and directed Staff on proceed with Option # 1 (Maintain Status Quo with Enhanced Enforcement (Add Towing for Egregious Violations) and directed Staff to develop the necessary signage plans, enforcement strategies, and communication materials required to implement Option #1
6) Council approved an application to the British Columbia Air Access Program for a total project value amount of $136,000 for upgrades to the fuel system components at the Williams Lake Regional Airport for the purpose of providing fuel to aircraft; and further, that Council approve the municipal funding contribution for this project in the amount of $34,000 (25% of project costs) from Airport Reserves
7) Council endorsed NDIT/Northern Development Initiatives Trust applications, as follows:
* Economic Development Capacity Building Program
* Local Government Internship Program
8) Council received a report from the Chief Financial Officer regarding a summary of the 2025 public budget information and consultation session held December 9, 2025 in the City Hall lobby
9) Council gave early budget approval to initiate the new projects recommended by staff prior to the approval of the 2026-2030 Financial Plan Bylaw, and commit that these new projects, along with taxation, reserve usage or other funding measures required to fund the projects, would be approved in the 2026-2030 Financial Plan Bylaw
10) Council received for information a report of the Manager of Administrative Services outlining a summary of the fourth quarter (to date) 2025 estimated costs downloaded by senior levels of government and that the report be included in Council's UBCM materials, for advocacy purposes
11) Council endorsed recommendations from a previous meeting of the Central Cariboo Joint Committee, as follows:
a) 2026 Community Grant Program Award Recommendations
Cariboo Chilcotin Gymnastics Association - $5,000
Cariboo Chilcotin Youth Fiddle Society - $2,000
Cariboo Piecemakers Quilting Club - $2,000
Cariboo Potters Guild - $325
Downtown Williams Lake BIA - $10,000
Foundry Cariboo Chilcotin (Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Association) - $750
KidSport Williams Lake - $1,825
Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin Society - $2,500
Station House Studio & Gallery Society - $2,000
The Salvation Army Williams Lake Corps - $2,850
Williams Lake Blue Fins Swim Club - $5,000
Williams Lake Dirt Riders Association - $2,000
Williams Lake Kitty Spay - $500
Williams Lake Royal Purple - $250
Williams Lake Speed Skating Association - $2,000
Williams Lake Stampeders Senior Men’s Hockey Club - $3,750
LATE - Cariboo Classic Society - $250
LATE - Williams Lake Trail Riders - $2,000
b) 2026 Central Cariboo Joint Committee Meeting Schedule
January 28, 2026
February 25, 2026
March 25, 2026
April 22, 2026
May 27, 2026
June 24, 2026
September 23, 2026
November 25, 2026
With meetings at 5:30pm either in the Cariboo RD Williams Lake Boardroom (Jan - May) or Rick Hansen Boardroom at Williams Lake City Hall (June, September - November)
12) Council received for information a report of the Deputy Corporate Officer regarding a year-end summary of the City's 2025 Community Grants Program
13) Council ratified an email poll of Council conducted on December 5, 2025 authorizing a letter be sent from the Mayor’s office, on behalf of Council, requesting the Province to reconsider moving forward with Bill M-216 and the new Professional Reliance Act until such time as they have engaged in meaningful consultation with local governments and professional organizations to fully understand and assess the potential impacts to local governments and their residents as well as ratifying an email poll conducted on December 9, 2025, authorizing Council to amend the grant application to the Green Municipal Fund under the Safe and Active School Routes stream for traffic calming along Western Avenue to apply for $125,000 with the City providing $25,000
14) Council received for discussion a report of the Director of Community Services regarding further information on the Williams Lake Daybreak Rotary Club's proposal for a musical playground equipment installation in Kiwanis Park and directed that Option #3 be endorsed as well as Staff engaging Williams Lake Daybreak Rotary Club informed them of Council's decision (Continue with the project as presented, with all 18 pieces to be installed in the central green space area between the spray park and fitness equipment)
CONTRARY TO THE MOTION: Councillor J. Flaspohler
15) Council endorsed 1 recommendation from its' previous Committee of the Whole meeting, as follows:
That pursuant to Committee of Whole Council Report #36-2025, the report of the Director of Community Services dated December 1, 2025 be received and Council support the concept in principle on the opportunity to rename Kiwanis Park, in partnership with the Williams Lake Daybreak Rotary Club, to "Kiwanis-Rotary Park", and Council Policy No. 157 be waived; and further, that Council confirm with both the Kiwanis and Rotary organizations, locally and regionally, in writing that they support this initiative
16) Council received the November 26 and December 1, 2025 minutes of the Central Cariboo Joint Committee meetings'
17) Council agreed to support Williams Lake Golf & Tennis Club's application to the NDIT Recreation Infrastructure program for funding toward their Forward Tees Development Project
18) Council reported on 2 approved In- Camera Resolutions from its' previous In-Camera Sessions, as follows:
a) “That pursuant to the November 12, 2025 report of the Director of Human Resources, a .30 FTE Disclosure Clerk position be included in the Disclosure Unit established at the Williams Lake RCMP for a one year term that would be dedicated to all civil disclosure as well as assisting with all disclosure to Crown related to the Body Worn Cameras (‘BWC’) which have now been legislated for each uniformed member to wear.”
b) “That pursuant to the November 12, 2025 report of the Director of Human Resources, a full-time clerk position be established for a one year term at the Williams Lake RCMP that is dedicated to dealing with all disclosure to Crown related to the Body Worn Cameras (‘BWC’) which have now been legislated for each uniformed member to wear.”
19) Council received the "Council Information Package" as of December 16, 2025
Members of Council reported on their recent activities
And then Council adjourned at 8:15pm
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