Council approves new drive-thru restaurant subject to ministry approval
Following a public hearing on the addition of a new drive-thru restaurant at the former Shell Station on Broadway Avenue South, City of Williams Lake Council approved a zoning application from TK & Sons Contract Inc. for its construction subject to approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
During the public hearing concerns were raised from a nearby business about traffic, parking and safety with the drive-thru's installation. Council supported the drive-thru restaurant and gas bar construction pending ministry approval, noting the community's appetite for new and varied food options, as well as the opportunity to clean up the former Shell Station site.
Proctor Street zoning amendment
Council gave third reading to a zoning amendment application at 911 Proctor Street to add manufactured home use subject to approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and that final approval of the bylaw be subject to a restrictive covenant being placed on the property requiring any manufactured home placed on it to be new.
The decision followed a lengthy public hearing process with presentations from both the property owner and neighbours. Residents expressed concerns the placement of manufactured homes in the neighbourhood would devalue property in the area. The applicant, meanwhile, stressed the need for affordable housing in the community.
FireSmart 2022/23 grant application intake
Council approved an application to the 2022 Community Resiliency Investment Program for the first stream of the 2023 FireSmart Community Funding and Supports Program for up to $200,000 in funding to undertake fuel treatment initiatives.
Wildfire Risk Reduction grant application approved
Council approved an application to the Forest Enhancement Society of BC for up to $200,000 in funding to assist in reducing wildfire risk and increasing community resiliency to wildfire across B.C. Council also directed staff to look into upcoming wildfire remediation funding opportunities for heavy irrigation installation of rooftop sprinklers.
Council proclaims Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Awareness Day
Council proclaimed September 9th, 2022 as 'Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day' following a poll of Council conducted on September 7, 2022.
Council supports museum applications on grant funding, review of RC Cotton Site for future museum location
The City of Williams Lake will provide a letter of support to the Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin for its application to the Northern Development Marketing Projects stream for an application to launch a new fundraising initiative called the Cariboo Lottery.
Council also directed staff to provide an additional letter of support for a Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin grant application to the Canadian Cultural Spaces fund to support an exploratory review of the RC Cotton site for a future museum location.
Extreme heat assessment and mapping project contract awarded
Council waived the City's purchasing policy and approved a direct award to Urban Matters for its Extreme Heat Risk Mapping Assessment project funded by the Union of BC Municipalities, which will cover up to $30,000 of the costs. The City will be managing the project on behalf of the communities of 100 Mile House and Quesnel to identify areas of risk, community vulnerabilities and assessing special populations that may need support during extreme heat events.
LED lighting upgrades at City Hall not approved in favour of project to upgrade City-owned street lighting
Council agreed to reallocate funds initially slated to upgrade LED lights at City Hall in favour of upgrading City-owned street lightning to LEDs to coincide with the current BC Hydro upgrades. Staff recommended looking into grant opportunities for future facility upgrades.
Flag raising authorized for Orange Shirt Day
Following a letter from the Orange Shirt Society, Council authorized raising the 'Every Child Matters' flag on the City's flagpole during a ceremony on September 30, 2022, at 8 am to coincide with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day.
Mayor Cobb provides update on Union of BC Municipalities Convention September 12-16
Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb provided the community an update on the recent Union of BC Municipalities Convention in Whistler from September 1 2-16.
Cobb said the convention was a successful one for the City, noting they were able to attend eight formal meetings with a number of Cabinet Ministers on topics including: redeveloping Jubilee Place for future housing, prolific offenders and electronic monitoring, possible natural gas projects, timely processing of an application for Crown land tenure and FireSmart opportunities, the early childhood education shortage, the Cariboo Memorial Hospital redevelopment and upgrade delays, cannabis sale taxation revenue sharing, Indigenous relations and reconciliation, the City's critical housing shortage and RCMP contract inequities.