Central Cariboo Joint Committee Highlights - May 27, 2026 mtg

Present from Cariboo RD: Directors S. Forseth, M. Neufeld (Committee Co-Chair) and M. LeBourdais (Areas D,E,F) 

Present from City of Williams Lake: Mayor SPS Rathor (Committee Co-Chair); Councillors M. Moses and S. Nelson

Meeting Chair: Director M. Neufeld

Meeting Location: Cariboo RD Williams Lake Boardroom

Meeting called to order at 5:30pm

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

Meeting Agenda adopted (with late item from Dir. Forseth - video recording of Central Cariboo Joint Committee meetings) - click here

Minutes of the previous Joint Committee meetings was adopted

Delegations:

1) Lorina Sundt, Operations Manager from the Williams Lake Stampede Association, was in attendance to provide an update on the Association’s current activities and plans being made for the 100th Anniversary in 2 years.

2) Rob Gertzen from the Williams Lake Stampeders was in attendance to discuss arena advertising and distribution of revenues

Following each presentation -- A Question/Answer period ensued

The Chair thanked the delegations for their time/information

Business:

The Committee discussed the following items: 

* CMRC Recipient of Polar Engineering Climate Action Award at 2026 Recreation Facilities Association of BC Conference (Information only) 

* CMRC Naming Rights Draft Policy

* CMRC Capital Budget Adjustment Request – Condenser to Compressor Report

* CMRC Operating Budget Options 2026 Report

* Esler Recreation Advisory Commission Spring Meeting Minutes and Recommendations

* Williams Lake Indoor Turf Facility Feasibility Study 

* Video Recording of Central Cariboo Joint Committee meetings

* Action Page

Committee Actions:

The Committee made the following recommendations to the Regional District Board: 

*  That the CMRC Naming Rights Draft Policy be approved

* That the 2026 Central Cariboo Recreation and Leisure Services Financial Plan be amended to reallocate $60,000 for the replacement of the condenser gasket seal, to overhauling of the compressors

* That, in respect of the 2025 Budget Deficit for Central Cariboo Recreation -- Options #1,3,4 (deferral of capital projects) as contained in the Staff report dated April 26, 2026, be approved and the remainder be covered by Budgetary Surplus 

* That staff report back on ways/means on communicating budget challenges in Central Cariboo Recreation outside of regularly scheduled Central Cariboo Joint Committee meetings, if a meeting of the Joint Committee were to be cancelled

Councillor S. Nelson left the meeting at 7:21pm

* Esler Recreation Advisory Commission Spring Meeting Recommendations -- Recommendations #1,2,3 be approved (click here)

* That staff take no further action regarding video recording of Central Cariboo Joint Committee meetings until the Cariboo Regional District Board makes determination of video recording of its' Board and Committee meetings 

* That the Action Page be updated, as follows -- Remove Items #3,7,8

Closed Committee Session:

At  7:25pm -- the Committee recessed its' Open Meeting to hold a Closed Session as per Section 90(1k - negotiations) of the Community Charter 

Resumption of Open Session:

At 7:29pm -- the Committee resumed its' Open Meeting 

And then the Committee adjourned at 7:31pm