MLA Prince George Cariboo-North Sheldon Clare
MLA Clare came as a delegation and introduced his Senior Constituency Assistant for Quesnel, Adam Schaan, noting that the MLA office would remain in City Hall. In Prince George, Jonathan Raine will serve as his Constituency Assistant and the office location is still to be determined.
MLA Clare expressed his dedication to working with Quesnel City Council to advance mutually beneficial goals and, expressed his thanks to former MLA Oakes for her service to the region.
Committees
The Financial Sustainability & Audit Committee is diligently reviewing the 2025 Capital budget.
As per City Development & Review Policy IWC-15, the Policy and Bylaw Committee is conducting a five-year review of Council and Administrative policies, and have updated or reaffirmed Council Communication Policies 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6.
The Housing Solutions Table has been reviewing the North Cariboo Interim Housing Needs Assessment, which will see changes to our Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaws, reviewing short-term rental accommodation and other housing solutions for our community.
Quesnel SPCA
Quesnel City Council approved extending the contract with the SPCA to act as the pound-keeper for the City for an additional year.
Forestry Initiatives:
Dragon Mountain
The wildfire incidents near Green Mountain (located beside Dragon Mountain) in the Quesnel area in 2017 and 2023 underscore the vulnerability of our communication towers, which are located on the top of Dragon Mountain.
Recent events, such as the destruction of communication towers in the Fishpot Lake area near Nazko in 2017 due to insufficient protective measures highlight the urgency of fuel management in these areas.
Quesnel City Council approved providing a letter to Elected Officials and Responsible Officials from the Provincial Government to urge wildfire risk reduction activities both within and adjacent to Dragon Mountain Provincial Park.
Three Rivers Community Forest
Since 2020, the governments from: Lhtako Dene, Nazko, ?Esdilagh and Lhoosk’uz First Nations along with the City of Quesnel, have been working on securing a Community Forest Agreement (CFA) through the Provincial area based tenure program. The CFA for the Quesnel area is called the Three Rivers Community Forest (TRCF) and is jointly held by all governments through a Limited Partnership Agreement.
Now that the area-based tenure has been secured, the next steps in the Three Rivers Community Forest process are to: hire a General Manager, sign onto a Forest Stewardship Plan (and eventually a Forest Landscape Plan), meet with local licensees to begin transition planning for existing cutting permits and forestry obligations within the tenure area, and continue our process of public engagement and community outreach. It is anticipated that the TRCF will be in operation by the end of 2025.
Development Services
Quesnel City Council approved construction of a single detached family dwelling on Leonard Street, with subjects as the build falls within the Hillside Hazard Development Permit Area. A geotechnical report has been submitted with recommendations for development.
Comprehensive Fees Bylaw
Council approved the first three readings of the bylaw to update the City’s fees for 2025. Increases include a 10% increase to water utility fees ($26.68 per single-family residence), a 5% increase to sewer utility fees ($15.36 per single-family residence), and $15 for garbage collection per single-family residence.
These increases are required to keep up with inflation and provide for future capital needs of these services.
Other fee increases included landfill, museum, cemetery, and airport fees.
Correspondence
Quesnel City Council provided the following:
- Endorsement of the Mental Health and Addictions Accord (“Accord”) identifying shared principles and actions to promote improvements in mental health and addictions services across Central and Northern British Columbia, providing confirmation following the November 13-14, 2024 Mental Health and Addictions symposium.
- Support for the Quesnel Curling Club bid to host the 2026 BC Men's and Women's Curling Championships (January 5-11, 2026) with a financial allocation from Council Initiatives toward the West Fraser Centre ice fees, up to $5417.00.
Bylaws
City of Quesnel Comprehensive Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw 1969, 2024 - First Three Readings
City of Quesnel False Alarm Bylaw 1970, 2024 - First Three Readings