Council to advocate on ICBC rate disparity
Following a presentation from concerned Northern BC resident Darcy Repen regarding ICBC's historical and continuing rate disparity for basic insurance policy holders in B.C.'s non-urban ICBC rate territories, Council agreed to partner and, if need be, co-sponsor a move to advocate on behalf of rural BC at this year's North Central Local Government Association and UBCM conventions.
In his delegation, Repen said rural BC drivers were paying a subsidy of $236 per vehicle during the last year of complete data collected in 2015.
Meanwhile, drivers in the Lower Mainland, he said, were being subsidized $233 per vehicle that same year.
Repen noted the goal of the advocacy work is to achieve equity in ICBC's insurance rates.
Museum support for NDIT Grant offered
Council offered its support to the Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin Society's application to the Northern Development Initiative Trust Cultural Infrastructure Program toward storage and research area expansions and facility safety and security upgrades.
Council to apply for water treatment plant grant
Council approved an application to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program 'Green Infrastructure Environmental Quality Program' for a Media Pressure Water Treatment Plant up to a total cost of $24 million and committed to allocating the City's contribution of 26.67% of the total funding required to complete the project from City revenues if the grant is approved.
The new plant would bring the City's Maximum Acceptable Concentration for manganese in line with an April 2019 recommendation by Health Canada. The goal of the new treatment plant would be to improve the existing water supply and treatment facilities at Scout Island to comply. The funding, meanwhile, is designed to target projects starting in 2023 and completing by 2026. Council noted if the grant application is successful the new plant would cost the City roughly$6 million.
User group lease renewals for Stampede Park coming up
Stampede user group lease renewalsfor 2022 to 2026 are being referred tothe upcoming February 22, 2022regular council meeting.
The new five-year term would be effective until December 31, 2026.Subsequent consideration of approvalof the Stampede Park Lease Renewal Term Agreements with the Cariboo Friendship Society, Cariboo Heritage Park Society, Gavin Lake Forest Education Society, Williams Lake Curling Club, Williams Lake Stampede Association and Williams Lake Trail Riders Association will be addressed at the February 22 meeting.
City to seek interest from community groups to organize Stampede Parade
Following a Committee of the Whole Council report and letter from the Daybreak Rotary Club of Williams Lake announcing it would no longer be organizing the annual Williams Lake Stampede Parade going forward, Council will formally thank the organization for its many years of service hosting parades and will undertake a public process to seek interest from other community groups to host future parades.
Councillors appointed to new Indigenous Reconciliation and Relations Committee
During an in-camera meeting held January 18, 2022, Councillors Marnie Brenner, Ivan Bonnell and Scott Nelson were appointed to Council's Indigenous Reconciliation and Relations Committee. The appointments were made public during the January 25, 2022 regular meeting.
Amendment reimbursement limit amended
The City's Reimbursement for Sewer or Water System Malfunctions has been increased to a maximum amount of$1,000 from $500.