Municipal Election Reform moves forward..

Kelowna Capital News is reporting that Victoria is moving ahead with local government reforms as follows:

* Local government elections are held every three years in British Columbia. The next election is scheduled for Nov. 15, 2014.

* The purpose of a white paper is to indicate government's direction prior to the introduction of legislation. White papers also can serve as educational tools.

* The campaign finance rules apply to election participants including candidates, elector organizations, and third party advertisers in local elections.

* The deadline for public comment on the white paper is Oct. 23, 2013.

* A website link and email address will be provided when the white paper is released.

* The Local Government Elections Task Force received well over 10,000 written indications of opinion on the topics it reviewed and on other aspects of local elections.

Read more here and the full government press release here

While I don't take umbrage with the Ministry's moves overall on local gov't election reforms, I do take exception to delaying the move for an October election from 2014 to 2017.  There is no reason to do so now except to appease the request of UBCM.  This was an item pushed for aggressively by Williams Lake City Council Surinderpal Rathor and there is no real reason not to implement it for next year's civic elections'

- SBF

Candlelight Vigil on Sunday at WL City Hall

Courtesy of the City of Williams Lake:

There will be a candlelight vigil at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 12th in front of City Hall to honour the victims of the Aug. 5 fatal shooting of six people at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin.

“The entire community is invited to remember those who have lost their lives,” says Councillor Surinderpal Rathor. “They did not deserve this, nor do their friends and family deserve the horrible grief they are now experiencing. We need to send the message that these attacks – or any racial abuse or violence – is just not acceptable.”

Mayor Kerry Cook will say a few words at the vigil.

Dog Park Proposal moves forward...

On October 25th - WL City Councillor Laurie Walters, on her Facebook election page (see here) reported that the Community Services Committee had a meeting to consider the idea of an off-leash dog park.  Members of this Committee include Ms Walters and WL City Councillors SPS Rathor and Sue Zacharias

At tonight's WL City Council meeting - City Staff are recommending that a temporary Dog Park Stakeholder group consisting of a small group of community dog park proponents be formed to advise City Staff on a suitable location/design for a dog park in the City.  See Staff's report here

As Staff note in their report - a dog park was not identified as a priority in either the Recreation Survey completed earlier this year or the Parks, Trails and Outdoor Recreation Plan (PTORP) adopted earlier this year.  If WL Council was serious about either the survey or the PTORP and the priorities contained in these plans - it would reject this idea (establish a dog park) in favour of working on recreation priorities identified by the public, in both the Central Cariboo Recreation Survey or the PTORP.   Failure to do so would demonstrate, in my view, a lack of respect for the public participating in both the Survey and the PTORP

SBF

WL News - Nov 1st edition

In the news today:

WL Election - Surinderpal Rathor (see here), Gordon Keener (see here) and Micheal Jacobsen (see here) announce their bids for WL City Council

CRD Election - Ted Hlokoff (see here/here) and Roger William (see here) compete for the CRD Area 'J' Director seat

Other News:

a) Vehicle fire on MacKenzie Ave Monday am - see here/here
b) Access to diesel fuel restricted at Petro Can commercial stations until Nov 19th - see here
c) Fluoride Open House - see here/here
d) Tribune editorial decries lack of "All Candidates" Forums - see here
e) Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett touts the new BC Tourism strategy - see here

Editor's Note - while the new BC Tourism strategy is good to see, we need to see our local governments work on this too.  We can't afford to have Victoria do this for us, it'll take a partnership between local gov't and Victoria to make local tourism flourish in the Cariboo-Chilcotin, in my estimation...


f) Tribune columnist Diana French talks about the civic election, teachers and the BC Poverty rate - see here
g) Letter writer Henry Van Soest decries why the HST to PST/GST can't be done in 18 months - see here
h) Letter writer Margaret Jacobsen advocates for residential water meters - see here

Finally - Stephan Hume of the Vancouver Sun writes today about the on-going public debate on the land swap of Heritage Island for Crown land on Bridge Lake, including the issue of extinguishing the right of "public benefit".  The land in question is in CRD Electoral Area 'L' - see here

WL News - Thurs, Oct 20th edition

1) WL Councillor candidate Peter Bowman explains his reasons for running in next month's civic election - see here

2) WL Coun. Surinderpal Rathor questions why the recently adopted the 5 Yr 2012-2016 Financial Plan (Planning) Document had to include a potential tax increase of 2-3% in years 2012-2016 when that rate could have and should have been 0% over that same time period - see here

3) Mayoral candidate Scott Nelson thinks the city has misinformed the public on fluoridation - see here
4) Peter Epp says people should think twice before electing Scott Nelson for Mayor - see here

WL News...Oct 13th edition

1) Richard Vollo runs for WL Council  - see here and here
2) Local teachers say - Local issues require local decision making - see here
3) WL Mayor Kerry Cook clarifies intent of False Alarm Bylaw - see here

Editor's Note - curious as to why Mayor Cook felt the need to remove the alarm keyholder requirement without it returning to WL Council for a formal decision, as it was part of the False Alarm Bylaw passed on Nov 23rd, 2010. Just asking...


4) Kerry Cook kicks off her re-election bid last Thursday with her supporters - see here
5) Now, Tribune columnist (and local musician) Dean Fulton says the alarm registration fees are a "cash grab" - see here
6) Local resident Micheal Atwood (and Kerry Cook supporter) argues why Scott Nelson should not be Mayor of Williams Lake once again - see here

Meanwhile, in Quesnel:

1) Mary Sjostrom says: Bring On the Quesnel Mayor's Race...but keep it clean - see here
2) On Tuesday, Oct 4th - Quesnel and Community Economic Development announced that it had won the Economic Development Association of Canada marketing award for best interactive media - see more details here

Finally...

A review of the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) October 6th minutes indicates that Williams Lake Mayor/CRD Director Kerry Cook was absent from this meeting.  While this is not unusual - the fact that she and both of the City's 2 Alternate Directors' - Sue Zacharias/Surinderpal Rathor was unusual, given the CRD Board meeting was in Williams Lake.  This, in spite of the fact Mayor Cook did say at the Sept 15th CRD Committee of  the Whole that the CRD Board Agenda needed to change in order to accomodate her schedule.  Note - her fellow Mayors' (Mary Sjostrom from Quesnel, Jay Vermette from Wells, and Mitch Campsall from 100 Mile House) were in attendance for this meeting

BREAKING NEWS - Paul Kondola runs for WL Council

In a now crowded race - Paul Kondola, who owns Kondolas Furniture, has decided to seek a seat on Williams Lake City Council

Mr. Kondola says his reason for running is that he doesn't support the current direction of the City under the leadership of the current Williams Lake City Council and he wants to make a positive change for the City, as part of the 2011-2014 Williams Lake Municipal Council

Mr. Kondola also says his top priority, if elected, will be economic development and drawing more jobs and business to Williams Lake

Besides Mr. Kondola - the WL City Councillor race consists of current incumbents Surinderpal Rathor, Laurie Walters, Geoff Bourdon and Sue Zacharias and challengers Steve Forseth, Ivan Bonnell, Mike Jacobsen, and Richard Vollo

Nominations for Williams Lake City Council expires at 4:00pm tomorrow

Kerry Cook Re-Election Kick-Off BBQ

Courtesy of Greg Fry (The Rush) via Twitter:

Tonight before 150 supporters (Editor's Note - I'm told a more realistic number at this event was 80)  - Kerry Cook launched her official re-election bid (note - Mayor Cook has officially filed her nomination papers with WL City Hall) - see a story on this from The Rush here

Interesting notes:

1) WL City Councillors Laurie Walters, Sue Zacharias and Geoff Bourdon were at this event however Tom Barr and Surinder Rathor were not.  I've since contacted Surinder Rathor and he has confirmed that he recieved no invitation to appear at this event.  On the one hand - this (not inviting Surinderpal Rathor) would not be in keeping with her inaugural speech in which she state that the community needed to come together and not build walls, but on the other hand - she wouldn't want to invite people who clearly are not supporters of hers

2) Mayor Cook has appointed her daughter, Stephanie MacLeod (nee Cook) to be her campaign manager.  In addition to running Mayor's Cook re-election bid on Facebook - they've established a website as well, which you can view here

Finally - Walt Cobb had 50 supporters at his campaign launch BBQ, Kerry Cook had 80 at hers'.  Will Scott Nelson have a campaign launch BBQ?  If so - it'll be interesting to see how many supporters' Mr. Nelson would be able to put together at a campaign launch BBQ...if Mr. Nelson does decide to have a campaign launch BBQ

SBF

BREAKING NEWS - Tom Barr will not seek re-election this Nov

Greg Fry, over at the Rush, tweeted the following:

Williams Lake city councillor Tom Barr just announced he will not be running for re-election this fall. More this afternoon.

I'm deeply saddened that he made this decision but respect the fact that he has done a lot for the City and wish him the very best as I consider him a great friend and political mentor

With that - 2 seats on Williams Lake City Council are now are up for grabs -- Tom Barr's and former WL City Councillor Natalie Hebert.  Councilor SPS Rathor is all but guaranteed to keep his seat, and the question will become two fold:

1) Who will the voters' of Williams Lake elect to the two vacant seats?
2) Will Laurie Walters, Geoff Bourdon and Sue Zacharias (if Zacharias/Bourdon do, in fact, run for re-election) be able to hang on to their seats and continue as second-term WL City Councillors

The answer to those two questions will be answered at 8:05pm on Saturday, November 19th


SBF

Former WL Mayor/Councillor runs in November's election

Ivan Bonnell (ex-Williams Lake Mayor and Councillor) says that he wants to be back on Williams Lake City Council

See more details here

With his announcement - that brings 4 in the WL Councillor Race consisting of myself, Mr. Bonnell and incumbent City Councillors Surinderpal Rathor and Laurie Walters with just 15 days to go before candidates must file their nomination papers with their local Chief Election Officer

Kerry Cook continues "High School Club" antics at WL City Hall - attendance at local Terry Fox Run

At the September 13th, 2011 WL Council meeting - Council authorized the attendance of Mayor Cook or the Acting Mayor to attend the opening of the Terry Fox Run on September 18th.  It should be noted that the current Acting Mayor (September) is Councillor SPS Rathor.  This is because of the resignation of former WL City Councillor Natalie Hebert - Councillor Rathor is next in the rotation list of Acting Mayors - see that list here

However, earlier today, Councillor Sue Zacharias (Acting Mayor) was at this morning's Terry Fox Run.  It should be noted that Councillor Zacharias is scheduled to be Acting Mayor for the month of December 2011 (subject to re-election on November 19th).  I should note that Councillor Rathor, after discussing this with him, states that he was indeed available to act in Mayor Cook's place and was willing to do so

As one resident - I'd like to know why Mayor Cook, when she is unable to attend community events, picks her "friends" on Council, rather than respecting the previous practice of WL Councils', which is when the Mayor is unable to attend an event, due to illness or other cause, the Acting Mayor for the month in question attends and if that monthly Acting Mayor can't attend, then you go down the list, by month, until a Councillor is able to "sub in" for the Mayor.

Kerry Cook, will become the first Mayor of Williams Lake to ignore previous practice of WL Councils/Council Procedure Bylaw, by superseding the monthly Acting Mayor rotation list - a list that she herself agreed with and as Mayor, she had a duty to ensure it was implemented as part of good government and acting on the will of Williams Lake City Council

SBF

Bourdon v Rathor re: Fire Hall Budget Overrun & New Internal Control Policy

At last night's WL Council meeting - Council approved a Committee of the Whole recommendation which saw Council adopt a new Internal Finance Control Policy (see that here), but before it was adopted, Councillors Geoff Bourdon and Surinderpal Rathor decided to re-open a "can of worms" called the "Fire Hall Budget Overrun" - see the 2:20 video below between Councillors Bourdon and Rathor, with slight interjections at the end between Councillor Tom Barr and Mayor Kerry Cook

I'll let each blog reader decide for themselves who was in the right and who was wrong in their statements.  I suspect that the Fire Hall Budget Overrun will be one of many issues that will be debated in public prior to the public deciding on who will form the 2011-2014 Williams Lake Municipal Council

WL Council Highlights - August 30th meeting

Present:

Mayor Cook and Councillors’ Barr, Bourdon, Rathor, Walters and Zacharias

Staff Present:

Pat Higgins – Director of Finance/Acting CAO
Cindy Bouchard - Manager of Legislative Services
Chris Hutton – Planning Technician
Jeff Bernardy – Engineering Technician
Anne Burill – Manager of Social Development
Geoff Paynton – Director of Community Services
Ken MacInnis – Communications Coordinator
Tom Chung – IT Manager

Meeting called to order at 6:00pm
Minutes of July 19th WL Council meeting adopted

Business:

1) Council received a report from the City’s CAO with an attached letter from Madeleine Maley (Acting Regional Executive Director for Southern Area – Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Ops) re: Joint Invitation to City of WL/WL Indian Band for a Community Forest License – 40,000 cubic metres

2) Council received a revised schedule of Council Committee appointments, in light of the resignation of former WL City Councillor Natalie Hebert

3) Council received the 2011 – 6 month Interim Financial Statement for the period ending June 30th, 2011

4) After receiving no public comments – Council approved Development Permit #3-2011 (Paul Sangha – Best Western Hotel)

5) Council gave 2nd Reading to an amended Zoning Amendment Bylaw #2133 (Regulating Shipping Containers)

6) Council approved the extension of sanitary sewer from Eagle Crescent to accommodate future Woodland Drive improvements at a total cost of $36,000. Council also authorized entering into a cost-sharing agreement with Pinetree Developments for a portion of the sanitary system, the City's share being $7,250.

7) Council awarded South Lakeside Drive Widening engineering design to TRUE Consulting Group for the amount of approximately $19,000

8) Council received applications for Development Permit #5-2011 and Development Variance Permit #7-2011 (Dog and Suds’ Restaurant) and referred them to the Advisory Planning Commission for consideration. This matter will be considered next by WL Council at its’ September 13th, 2011 meeting

9) Council gave 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading to Sign Amendment Bylaw No. 2145 (Accommodation of Parapets/Parapet Wall)

10) Council ratified the following email polls:

a) Approval for Mural on Central Cariboo Arts Centre Building Wall facing Borland St
b) Approval to apply to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Real Estate Foundation of BC for a grant to complete a housing need and demand study for Williams Lake and surrounding area

11) Council approved a change to the Heritage Committee Terms of Reference to allow for the appointment of seven members of the community

12) Council awarded a three (3) year lease to operate the food concession at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex to Karen's Place Holdings

13) Council awarded a five (5) year contract to Blackstock Ventures Ltd. to furnish, install and maintain four (4) vending machines for the bid price of 0% commission

14) Council adopted Bylaws #2143/2144 (Noise and Nuisance Amendment Bylaws)

15) The following Committee of the Whole recommendations were adopted:

a) Parks, Trails and Outdoor Recreation Master Plan completed by Stantec Consultants was adopted and the Master Plan was referred to the Central Cariboo/City of Williams Lake Joint Committee for their information
b) A Policy regarding Internal Control Over Financial Management and Financial Reporting was approved
c) Council received the draft Permissive Tax Exemption Policy and Staff were asked to organize public consultation with the current recipients of permissive tax exemptions
d) A Report on the role and function of social planning for the City of Williams Lake was received and Staff were directed to create a Social Development Strategy with input from the community regarding activities and priorities.
e) A letter from the Royal Canadian Legion dated June 16, 2011 regarding a request for an increase in their permissive tax exemption be received and was referred to the 2012 budget process
f) Council approved the design for a new Rick Hansen monument to be located at the Tourism Discovery Centre, and Staff were asked to approach the community for donation

16) Council proclaimed the following:
a) September 15th as “National Family Dinner Night”. Staff were also asked to provide a letter of support for this community based initiative
b) September 26th to October 1st – Celebrate Life Week
c) November 13th to 20th – Restorative Justice Week

17) Council received the “Council Information Package” dated August 30th as follows:

a) June 26, 2011 – Letter from British Columbia Old Age Pensioners' Organization re MSP Premiums for Seniors - (note - Mayor Cook indicates that this item will come forward for debate at the September 13th WL Council meeting)
b) June 30, 2011 - Letter from District of West Kelowna to Premier Clark
c) July 20, 2011 - Letter from BC Hydro re UBCM Convention (meeting requests)
d) July 25, 2011 - Letter from Cariboo Chilcotin Aboriginal Training Employment Centre
e) July 25, 2011 - Letter re Gas Tax Agreement Community Works Fund Payment
f) July 27, 2011 - Letter from WL Central Business Improvement Area re WLCBIA President Resignation
g) August 4, 2011 - UBCM Executive Release
h) August 4, 2011 - Spanish Mountain Gold - Update on Environmental Assessment, Permit Progress and Project Scope
i) August 4, 2011 - UBCM Release re Survey Results on the Public Health Act & Relationships between Local Governments & Health Authorities
j) August 22, 2011 - CRD Solid Waste Management Plan
k) August 26, 2011 - Release from Taseko Mines re Prosperity Project
l) No Date - Letter from Ministry of Health re Creating an Age-Friendly Business in BC

Meeting adjourned at 7:27pm and reconvened In-Camera (Section 90(1)(b) of the Community Charter)

WL Council has 6 meetings remaining

As of today - Williams Lake City Council has 6 meetings remaining prior to the November 19th election.  Those meetings dates are:

a) August 30th
b) September 13th
c) October 4th and 18th
d) November 1st and 15th

It'll be interesting to see if how WL Council gets along as we inch towards November's vote and how many, if any, announce their plans not to seek re-election.  At this point, I fully expect Councillors Laurie Walters, Geoff Bourdon and Surinderpal Rathor will be seeking another term.  However, it has been brought to my attention that Councillors Sue Zacharias and Tom Barr are contemplating either retirement or "other opportunities". 

We'll soon see if my guesses are correct or not.  Keep in mind that one seat is vacant so we know that the next WL Council will have a new face on it but time will tell if we'll have more new faces on WL Council as well - post November 19th

SBF

Tentative Re-Opening of the Sam Ketcham Pool

Earlier today on the Rush - WL City Councillor & Chair of WL Council's "Community Services Committee" Surinderpal Rathor stated that the local pool could re-open within 11-14 days if the recent repairs hold, to which they will know by tomorrow evening (Sunday). 

This puts a tentative re-opening between Wednesday, August 17th to Saturday, August 20th

See a story from the Rush on the above here

SBF

Central Cariboo Joint Committee: No More Debt!!!

This past Thursday, the Central Cariboo Joint Committee (CCJC), made up of WL Council and the CRD Directors' for Areas D, E, F, J and K, met in a Special Meeting to consider the tender to develop a Business/Concept Plan for a proposed Indoor Turf Facility and an update on repairs to the Sam Ketchum Pool.  See my blog post on that here

During that meeting, it was commented by WL Councillor Sue Zacharias that the Central Cariboo region needs an "all-in-one" building that includes a renovated pool & Indoor Turf Facility.  It was noted by City/CRD Staff to have both would cost in excess of $16 million to do a "Phase 2" for the Complex plus another $5-6 million for the Turf Facility, as a stand-alone building.  It should be noted that the "Phase 2" blueprints have not been updated for a few years now and would need to be updated to provide up-to-date information to the public, which could include splitting up "Phase 2" into smaller phases which could include these multiple phases totaling, again $5-6 million or less per small phase, depending on the mood of the public at the time.  Councillor Zacharias noted at last Thursday's CCJC's meeting that we need to invest in our recreation facilities to attract the medical and other professionals needed in our region - a theory I'm not personally convinced has any basis in fact.  Moreover - this theory is like gambling public money in a poker game where we have a hand of Ace-Two while the opponent has two Aces

However - I thought it may be important to review the recent decisions involving both the CMRC (Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex) and Central Cariboo Recreation, since 2003, for discussion purposes - given it's likely it'll be the next WL Council/CRD Board + CCJC who have to decide how the CMRC future direction proceeds

Central Cariboo Recreation Improvements - Recent History:

February 2003 - A Referendum Vote was announced to ask taxpayers' in portions of CRD Areas D, E, F + all of Williams Lake for permission to borrow $7.6 million to renovate the CMRC to include a conference center and renovated pool - see the press release here

November 8th, 2003 - Referendum Vote held to borrow $7.6 million as part of the 3 Part Referendum Question and voters defeated a City of WL/CRD Request to borrow $7.6 million to refurbish the CMRC but approved two requests pertaining to the-then Recreation Service - increase the tax requistion limit and combine separate pool and arena functions into one recreation function

March 17th, 2005 - Plan announced to seek $1.6 million to match a $1.6 million grant to improve the CMRC with a referendum date of April 30th, 2005.  See that press release here

May 2nd, 2005 - CRD Announces that 82% of the 1,925 votes cast approved the borrowing of $1.6 million to match a $1.6 million grant to upgrade the CMRC - see that press release here

August 2nd, 2005 - WL Council receives a presentation from Global Entertainment for an Events Centre in Williams Lake.  Item referred to next Central Cariboo Joint Committee meeting for consideration

August 18th, 2005 - Joint Committee receives presentation from Global Entertainment for an Events Centre in Williams Lake - see here

February 26th, 2006 - CRD Board endorses a recommendation from the Central Cariboo Joint Committee continuing to support the an idea of an Event Center for Williams Lake - see here

August 8th, 2006 - City of WL receives plan for an Event Center for Williams Lake - see here (Part 1)and here (Part 2)

Note - For both February 26th/August 8th - Sue Zacharias was the-then CRD Director for Area 'D' (McLeese Lake-Wildwood-Commodore Heights)

June 20th, 2007 - CRD/City of WL announces completion of the upgrades to the CMRC, as approved by voters on April 30th, 2005 - see the press release here

March 3rd, 2009 - Councillor Sue Zacharias moves to have the Events Center work designated as a Number 4 priority and Phase 2 of the CMRC and Indoor Turf Facility as a #1 and #2 Priority - see my blog post on this here and WL City Staff report here

March 5th, 2009 - At their meeting - Joint Committee resolved the following:

a) That the priorities for recreation infrastructure projects be as follows; Phase 2 of the CMRC Improvement Project, an indoor turf facility and the Marie Sharpe School gymnasium

b) That $50,000 be allocated to update design plans for Phase Two of the CMRC Improvement Project from the 2009 Central Cariboo Recreation Capital Fund to submit for infrastructure grant applications

April 16th, 2009 - Joint Committee resolved the following:

"That feasibility planning & prelim concept design work begin for an Indoor Turf Facility using remaining money from the Phase 2 CMRC design update project budget"

July 9th, 2010 - CRD Board adopted a Joint Committee recommendation as follows:

"The proposed Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex Capital Plan update be endorsed and further, a media release be prepared following Board/Council approval to advise the community of the proposed works"

December 15th, 2010 - Public Meeting on Indoor Turf Facility - see my blog post here

May 24th, 2011 - City of WL/CRD announces results of Central Cariboo Recreation Survey results - see that blog post here.  The results indicated that an Indoor Turf Facility was the #1 Priority for residents, followed by expansion or improvement of the Sam Ketchum Pool & CMRC

Final Analysis:

It is unfortunate that Councillor Sue Zacharias has been all over the map on this file (Recreation).  In 2006 - she was, along with her then-colleagues on the Central Cariboo Joint Committee which included WL City Councillor SPS Rathor and former City of WL Mayor Scott Nelson, excited about an Events Center for Williams Lake as a CRD Rural Director.  Fast forward to 2009 - she, as a City Councillor, stated that it was a low priority due to the poor economy.  Now, again, fast forward to 2011 - she says we need a "all-in" building.  But I wonder where we could have been if we had continued to move forward on an Events Center which could have been a "all-in" building, if work on it proceeded during 2009 and 2010.  Now given the results of last Thursday's CCJC Meeting - it is about as clear as mud what the CCJC is doing with the improvements of our recreation facilities - given both their decisions at this meeting and this past May's Recreation Survey results

In addition - WL Mayor Kerry Cook noted at last Thursday's CCJC meeting that, down the road, residents may have be told that if nothing is done, the current shutdown may become commonplace
to which I reply "horse ****" because we shouldn't borrow because of fear mongering but because that is what the public wants, but I think the public will likely argue - we just borrowed $1.6 million to fix the pool in 2005 so why should we borrow more to fix the same issue that supposed fixed when $1.6 million was borrowed to repair the Sam Ketchum Pool

As of December 31st, 2010 - Central Cariboo residents still owed $1,034,093 for the Phase 1 improvements to the CMRC, as agreed to on April 30th, 2005, which will be paid off by April 16th, 2016 - see here and scroll to Page 2 for this information. 

Given the above - An Indoor Turf Facility + any future capital (major) improvements to the CMRC should not occur, at least for now - given the state of the local economy, but these projects should be re-evaluated after both Williams Lake and the Cariboo Regional District have made major dents in their long-term debt levels, in a few years, say by 2014-15.  In the meantime - the CCJC should consider making small investments, as part of the yearly CMRC Capital Plan, into the pool and around the CMRC, as appropriate

The above will be visited by the Central Cariboo Joint Committee at their September 14th, 2011 meeting as they begin the 2012 CRD Budget Planning Process by approving the 2012 Business Plan for the Central Cariboo Recreation Function.   

If you are concerned about the level of debt that local governments - including Williams Lake and the Cariboo Regional District have at present - I strongly encourage you to contact (see below) your elected official(s) prior to September 14th and let them know that it should be "status quo" as far as the CMRC goes until financial conditions improve, both at the City of Williams Lake and the Cariboo Regional District

Residents in CRD Areas D to F:

Residents in Area 'D' - contact Deb Bischoff via email at dbischoff@cariboord.bc.ca
Residents in Area 'E' - contact Steve Mazur via email at smazur@cariboord.bc.ca
Residents in Area 'F' - contact Joan Sorley via email at jsorley@cariboord.bc.ca

Residents in the City of Williams Lake:

Mayor Kerry Cook - Email her at mayor@williamslake.ca or kcook@williamslake.ca
Councillor Geoff Bourdon - Email him at gbourdon@williamslake.ca
Councillor Tom Barr - Email him at tbarr@williamslake.ca
Councillor SPS Rathor - Email him at srathor@williamslake.ca
Councillor Laurie Walters - Email her at lwalters@williamslake.ca
Councillor Sue Zacharias - Email her at szacharias@williamslake.ca

Special Central Cariboo Joint Committee Meeting - August 4th

Present (City of WL):

Mayor Kerry Cook (Co-Chair) and City Councillors G. Bourdon (5:03pm), SPS Rathor L. Walters (5:11pm) and S. Zacharias

Present (Cariboo Regional District):

Area 'D' Director Deb Bischoff, Area 'E' Director Steve Mazur and Area 'F' Director Joan Sorley (Co-Chair)

Absent:

WL City Councillor Tom Barr

CRD/City of WL Staff Present:

Geoff Goodall - GM of Planning/Operations - City of WL
Geoff Paynton - Director of Community Services - City of WL
Wendy Dalman - Corp Services Records Coordinator - City of WL
Janis Bell - CRD CAO
Darron Campbell - Manager of Community Services, CRD

Meeting called to order at 5:01pm

Consideration of June 23rd Joint Committee meeting minutes deferred until September 14th CCJC Meeting

Director Bischoff expressed her opinion that she was unhappy with the Agenda not being available prior to this meeting

Business:

1) Indoor Turf Facility Tender Award

City of WL Director of Community Services reviewed his report with the Joint Committee
Discussion ensued thereon, as follows:

Director Sorley - questioned process used, Item should have returned to Joint Committee prior to a decision being made to proceed with the tender - giving it was over budget and Recreation Budget dollars were involved.  This project should be revisited, in light of pool repairs.   There should also be a protocol re: projects involving CRD Recreation dollars and involvement of the Joint Committee

Councillor Rathor - apologized to CRD Directors Sorley, Bischoff and Mazur for not being informed

Director Mazur - Indoor Turf Facility should be deferred in light of repairs to the Sam Ketchum Pool

Director Bischoff - concur with Director Sorley

Councillor Zacharias - requested clarification on process - Joint Committee & Recreation Capital Funding

Director Bischoff - disappointed that pool updates can go out via email but Indoor Turf Facility RFP Tender didn't

By Consensus:

That the Joint Committee not proceed with the Indoor Turf Facility until a revisit of recreation priorities and further, the Joint Committee decline the tender due to budget overrun

Councillor Sue Zacharias registered a negative vote

By Consensus:

Staff be requested to bring forward a report on Joint Committee Process & the Recreation Capital budget process

Councillor Sue Zacharias registered a negative vote

2) Pool Update

The City Director of Community Services reviewed his report with the Joint Committee
Discussion ensued thereon:

* Consideration of a public meeting on the future of the CMRC and maybe even take it to referendum - Councillor Laurie Walters

* Need more information before a public information meeting takes place - Councillor Geoff Bourdon

By Consensus:

That a Joint Press Release be issued Friday on the present status of the Sam Ketchum Pool repairs

Councillor Geoff Bourdon registered a negative vote

By Consensus:

That a recreation priority list be brought forward for discussion to the Sept 15th CCJC Meeting

By Consensus:

CCJC endorses the Fire Protection Sub-Committee recommendations and a Joint Press Release be issued

By Consensus:

That the CCJC Terms of Reference be amended to allow the Joint Committee to act on matters, as delegated by the CRD Board

Meeting adjourned at 6:17pm

Mayor Cook: No one is out to get Councillor Rathor

Mayor Cook has now responded to Councillor Rathor's suggestion that someone is out to get him.  See the story here

However - it will be interesting to see if Councillor Rathor does decide to respond to this story or "let sleeping dogs lie"

SBF

Councillor Rathor "Conflict of Interest" Story sparks local media interest

The Williams Lake Tribune, the Rush and Welcome to Williams Lake are all covering the story on an alleged conflict of interest case against Williams Lake City Councillor Surinderpal Rathor

See here (Tribune), here (Rush) and here (Welcome to Williams Lake)

However - the story from Welcome to Williams Lake leaves me a little troubled when local City Councillor Rathor said this:

He (Rathor) feels that there is a connotation of racism to this whole issue

At this point - there is absolutely no proof that racism and Rathor's Indo-Canadian background had anything to do with this story and for now - he and the entire community would do well to stay away from making accusations of this nature as it doesn't add to the quality to the debate.  In fact - it lowers the standard of debate when we are all discussing matters in our community and one levels a charge of racism because of a media story.  Let's all hope that when we disagree on something, that race or colour of skin has nothing to do with the disagreement

It was a good thing that Williams Lake City Council told the community when a City Councillor was facing a conflict of interest charge and allowing the City Councillor in question to answer to the alleged conflict of interest charge.  This demonstrates that Williams Lake City Council, in this case, is sticking to the principles of open government

Couple of Oopsies at WL City Hall

From the file of "Oops":

1) Election Bylaw Review

Section 39(1) of the Local Government Act (LGA) states that a local government must have its general election bylaw (if the local gov't chooses to make an amendment to its existing general election bylaw or adopt a new general election bylaw) in place 8 weeks before the start of the nomination period.  The date to have done this was August 8th.  When I inquired what the City was doing in regard to this - I received the following response from the City's Manager of Legislative Services/Chief Election Officer:

We did not require any changes to our election bylaw so that section does not apply. If Council was interested in making any changes then we’d have to do an amending bylaw before the deadline referred to in Sec 39 of the LGA.

Which raises a couple of questions:

1) Who is "we"?  At this point - I've assumed that she is referring to City Staff/Council
2) If Council was not informed, then why didn't Mayor Cook bring this up with the CAO to be brought forward as a discussion item as it was in June of 2008 with the Council of the day who then proceeded to adopt General Election Bylaw #2072, 2008 (same bylaw that will be used for the 2011 Civic Election).  How can individual Council members provide input, if they apparently don't know about the topic??

2) Media Comments by Alan Madrigga:

In releasing the 2nd Quarter Economic Indicators Report (see here)and in a "WTF!!" moment - Alan Madrigga (Manager of Economic Development) said the following:

“I THINK THINGS ARE LOOKING OKAY FOR NOW AND THAT’S A GOOD THING IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS AND SO ON. I THINK WILLIAMS LAKE IS DOING JUST FINE RIGHT NOW.”

Really - things are fine, huh?? - wanna explain that to the 100+ workers at Tolko - Lakeview Division who are off work for "at least" 1 week, due to bad weather in the bush to bring logs in.  It's sad to see WL City Hall (Mr. Madrigga likely speaks for majority of WL Council as well) have the "rose-coloured glasses" when it comes to the state of the local economy and shows how out of touch WL Council is with the general public who is looking forward to rendering its' judgement on whether or not people like (at this point) Mayor Cook and Councillors Tom Barr, Surinder Rathor, Laurie Walters, Sue Zacharias and Geoff Bourdon deserve re-election.  Methinks not but we all see on November 19th