Delegation - BC Conservation Officer 2021 Bear Conflict Report
Wildlife Safety Response Officer Blake Knibbs presented the 2021 Quesnel bear conflict statistics to Council and provided mitigation suggestions, which would see Quesnel meet the Bear-Smart standard, in part, by way of education, a bear-proof waste management system and Bear-Smart bylaws. Further discussion was referred to the Financial Sustainability and Audit Committee.
Quesnel Fire Department - 2021 Statistics
Quesnel Fire Department 2021 Wildfire Deployment - from July 8 to August 23, 2021, members of the Quesnel Fire Department spent 525 hours, over 39 days, with a total of 15 Quesnel firefighters on the deployment list, providing wildfire assistance to the Burns Lake and Cache Creek locations.
Quesnel Fire Department 2021 Incident Report - Highest number of calls every recorded. 642 calls in 2021, up from 443 in 2020. Medical call assist to BC Ambulance Service accounted for the largest increase at 127 calls.
2022 Capital Budget
Council approved the 2022 capital projects to proceed and directed staff to prepare the Five-Year Financial Plan Bylaw with the capital projects and funding sources proposed over the five years.
Fire Hall Renovation Project
Council approved allocation of up to $2 million from the Capital Reinvestment Reserve to complete the Fire Hall Renovation project for a total budget of up to $4.5 million. Project priorities include accessibility at entry and inside building, amenities for female firefighters, essential seismic upgrades to the apparatus bays, and making the space function better to meet the needs of the department. Additionally, the fire suppression system for the apparatus bay will need to be removed to facilitate the seismic upgrades and re-using it is not feasible.
The project will have no impact on current taxation or the Five-Year Financial Plan, with the majority of project funding coming from a $2.5 million grant and the balance of funding coming from the Capital Reinvestment Reserve.
Proceeding with this project will extend the life of Fire Hall No. 1 for decades, addressing the fire department’s needs for considerably less money than the estimated cost of constructing a new facility with no requirement for long term borrowing.
Development Services Update
Development Servicing Bylaw No. 1916 of 2022 - Servicing bylaws set out all the standards and requirements for the provision of works and services needed as part of a development. This new bylaw adopts Master Municipal Construction Document (MMCD) standards with the Design Construction Manual (Schedule B of the bylaw) specifying Quesnel specific deviations from those standards.
Development Variance Permit (3481 Gook Road) - This Development Variance Permit application is to vary the maximum number of accessory buildings permitted in a CR-2 zone and to vary the front lot line setback for one of these buildings.
Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1917 of 2022 (Gook Road) - Application to rezone the lot from RR-1 to CR-1, allowing a subdivision application for the undeveloped parcel into 9 fee simple lots with community sewer and, requiring individual wells.
Next Steps West Quesnel Land Stability Initiative
On June 29, 2021, the Wood 2020 WQLS Monitoring Report appeared on the Council Agenda. The report outlined the infrastructure and monitoring data results for 2020. At that time, Council was advised that there was a significant increase in land movement - 84 mm. This 84 mm compares to an average of 13 mm between 2013 and 2019.
At the January 18th meeting, Staff recommendations to Council included:
- Continue to monitor movement;
- Maintain monitoring equipment;
- Maintain the installed drainage infrastructure;
- No further subsurface drainage capital; and
- Continue with appropriate building restrictions.
The City was advised that that there are no Provincial funding programs available for reimbursement of property owners with significant property damage.
Residents in the study area will receive a newsletter outlining the issues and setting date(s) for public information sessions.
New Positions - Operating Budget 2022
Council approved the addition of the following positions in the 2022 Operating Budget:
- Building Maintenance Worker (1.0 FTE beginning in July)
- Turning the summer student Engineering Tech into a full time position (0.5 FTE)
- Capital Works Supervisor (1.0 FTE)
- Utility Labourers (2.0 FTE)
And, three pickup trucks to the 2022 Capital Budget for the additional employees that will be funded from the Equipment Reserve.
Bylaws
1916 - City of Quesnel Development Serving Bylaw No. 1916 of 2022 - First, Second and Third Readings
1917 - City of Quesnel Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1917 of 2022 - First and Second Readings and, set Public Hearing date for March 1, 2022 at 6:00 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers with the Notice of Public Hearing to contain details of in-person and/or electronic attendance for the public pending direction from any legislative and/or Public Health Order(s) regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Council Highlights provide a summary of business conducted by Council at Regular Council meetings. For specific details, visit www.quesnel.ca. Contact: Rhya Hartley, Deputy Corporate Administrator at 250-991-7471.