[0:49] Okay, thank you. 6:00 p.m.
[0:52] It's my honor to
[0:55] welcome each and every one of you.
[1:00] It's August 25th.
[1:04] The council meeting
[1:05] and council
[1:07] Angie Delainey is not with us tonight.
[1:10] She's busy with her work um
[1:13] to the Cariboo
[1:15] Fire Centre fighting fire.
[1:19] It's my honor to acknowledge that we are
[1:21] gathered in the William Lake
[1:24] First Nations Sepwepemc people's unceded
[1:26] territory.
[1:28] Thanks to the elder chief the nation
[1:30] allowing us to do the business.
[1:33] And equally I'm honored to
[1:36] welcome Dr.
[1:38] uh Director Forsythe.
[1:40] Very kind good neighbor
[1:42] us.
[1:44] And welcome Director.
[1:46] Agenda on the table, please.
[1:49] >> Some second.
[1:50] >> Moved and second Councillor Flash Flood,
[1:52] Councillor Nelson. Any addition
[1:55] deletion? Hearing none, all in favor.
[1:58] Carried.
[2:02] Minute of the regular council meeting
[2:04] held August 11.
[2:06] >> So moved.
[2:07] >> Moved and second council Nelson,
[2:09] counselor Flasholler.
[2:11] All in favor.
[2:14] I also like to welcome uh
[2:18] our downtown Business Association
[2:20] executive director.
[2:22] Very welcome.
[2:25] I had a very exciting
[2:28] and rewarding news to share with you.
[2:31] I don't know how many of you have heard
[2:33] before I move further on down the
[2:35] agenda. It's not on the agenda, by the
[2:37] way. Don't scroll your
[2:39] uh laptop or computer.
[2:42] Pat Matthew,
[2:44] one of our best uh
[2:47] announcer, part of the Goat family,
[2:50] is retiring from the Goat
[2:53] after 45 year being on air.
[2:56] >> Mhm.
[2:58] >> So, if any one of you see him
[3:00] downtown somewhere, please wish him
[3:03] good luck and congratulate him.
[3:07] It's a honor to work with the guy.
[3:09] I remember many election
[3:12] I have done, he was always there.
[3:15] Cuz he made my ads. That's how I know.
[3:19] Very good man.
[3:21] Hell of a person, you can always see him
[3:23] walking anywhere on the city of Williams
[3:27] Lake.
[3:29] Well, moving along,
[3:32] uh computer checks, please. Staff.
[3:35] Oh, sorry. Counselor Moses.
[3:38] >> Um on on the topic you were just
[3:39] speaking of, have have we had your
[3:41] worship provide provide Pat with an
[3:44] achievement award yet?
[3:47] >> I am not aware, at least.
[3:51] >> Okay.
[3:51] Um could we uh
[3:54] >> I'll second the motion.
[3:55] >> motion for that?
[3:58] So what
[4:00] >> Um, your worship through the council, so
[4:01] it actually doesn't need a resolution,
[4:02] just a request to the mayor. The mayor
[4:04] provides a certificate
[4:05] >> we uh
[4:07] >> second the recommendation from
[4:08] Councillor Moses.
[4:09] >> The resolution is the mayor be
[4:11] authorized to provide a letter of
[4:15] achievement award to Pat Matthew at the
[4:19] gold uh on the next council meeting.
[4:21] >> Along with the certificate.
[4:22] >> Is that okay with the mover and
[4:23] seconder?
[4:24] >> Perfect, thank you.
[4:25] >> All in favor?
[4:26] Carried [clears throat] unanimously.
[4:27] Congratulations, Mr. Matthew.
[4:30] Okay, computer checks.
[4:34] » The recommendation that the accounts
[4:35] payable computer check and EFT listings
[4:36] dated August 13th and 20th, 2026 be
[4:38] received for information.
[4:39] >> So moved.
[4:40] >> Moved and seconded, Councillor Nelson,
[4:42] Councillor Beam. All in favor?
[4:45] Carried unanimously.
[4:47] Council attending UBCM annual
[4:49] conference.
[4:50] >> The recommendation that pursuant to the
[4:52] report of the manager of administrative
[4:53] services dated August 19th, 2026,
[4:55] council approve compensation, registration, and travel
[4:58] expenses for interested council members
[5:00] to attend the UBCM annual convention
[5:02] being held in Vancouver, BC from
[5:03] September 14th to 18th, 2026.
[5:06] >> So moved.
[5:07] >> Moved and seconded, Councillor Nelson,
[5:09] Councillor Slash Fuller.
[5:11] Uh some of us are traveling on 13th, so
[5:14] we can join
[5:15] on 14 our
[5:18] um schedule, and I believe some staff
[5:21] member are traveling on 14th morning.
[5:24] Councillor Moses, please.
[5:26] >> Thank you, your worship. Yeah, uh UBCM
[5:29] is an event where we get to have the
[5:31] ears of of the provincial government and
[5:34] of the the Union of BC Municipalities
[5:36] itself. I think this is a really
[5:38] important year for us to be attending to
[5:41] make sure that our community's needs are
[5:43] heard and that we can continue obtaining
[5:47] the the services and the funding that we
[5:49] need to to live the lifestyles that we
[5:52] we've we've earned up here in Williams
[5:54] Lake.
[5:55] >> Thank you, Councillor Mozar, explaining
[5:56] that. All in favor?
[5:58] Carried unanimously. Next item is
[6:01] cannabis license referral for 420-
[6:05] 1185 Prosperity Way,
[6:08] Marlon Den.
[6:09] >> The recommendation that pursuant to the
[6:11] report of the planner dated August 17th,
[6:12] 2026, Council direct staff to initiate
[6:14] the public notification and agency
[6:16] referrals process for the proposed
[6:17] relocation of an existing retail
[6:19] cannabis store to be located at 420-1185
[6:23] Prosperity Way, legally described as Lot
[6:25] 3, District Lot 7046, 7047, and 8836,
[6:29] Cariboo District Plan BCP 38739
[6:33] for the provincial license referral, and
[6:34] further this application be brought back
[6:35] for final consideration of Council at
[6:37] their October 6th, 2026 regular meeting
[6:39] following receipt of the public input at
[6:41] the meeting as well as agency and public
[6:43] comments received after completion of
[6:45] the public notification process,
[6:46] including notices to be posted by the
[6:48] applicant in the required time frame,
[6:50] conducted in a format as approved by the
[6:51] chief administrative officer.
[6:55] » Moved and seconded. Before anybody
[6:57] raise your hand, I just want you to know
[7:00] this is not increase in licensing in
[7:04] Williams Lake.
[7:05] This is only relocating from point A to
[7:08] point B, number one. Number two,
[7:12] uh I was asked to let Council member
[7:15] know
[7:17] we should not be discussing anything
[7:20] in particular. Should just process
[7:23] starting point.
[7:25] The proponent of the license is here. If
[7:28] you have any question, I can request the
[7:30] proponent to come to the podium and
[7:33] answer any question.
[7:34] At this point, I would respectfully
[7:36] request
[7:38] try to stick
[7:40] with the starting of the process.
[7:43] That's it. No more, no less. It's not
[7:46] approval or disapproval. It's
[7:48] authorization
[7:50] so staff can start the process. That's
[7:53] what it is.
[7:53] >> I'll call the question.
[7:55] >> Thank you. Question been called. All in
[7:56] favor.
[7:58] Carried unanimously. Thank you.
[8:01] Free transit service municipal day,
[8:03] Saturday, October 17th.
[8:06] >> The recommendation that pursuing to the
[8:07] report of the director of municipal
[8:08] services dated August 19th, 2026,
[8:10] council approve free transit service I
[8:12] conventional and Handi-Dart for
[8:14] municipal election day taking place on
[8:16] Saturday, October 17th, 2026.
[8:18] >> Move the recommendation, your worship.
[8:20] >> Moved and second, Councillor Nelson,
[8:22] Councillor Beams. Tradition we have done
[8:26] every election.
[8:28] So, the people have no excuse that they
[8:31] could not travel or do not can't afford
[8:35] the taxi or couldn't get the ride. It's
[8:38] to promote democracy. Any question,
[8:40] comment, concern? Hearing none, all in
[8:42] favor. Carried unanimously.
[8:45] Committee of the whole council report.
[8:48] >> Committee recommendation that pursuing
[8:50] to the report of the chief financial
[8:51] officer dated August 1st, 2026, and
[8:53] pursuing to the report of the chief
[8:54] financial officer dated Nope, let's
[8:55] repeat. Sorry. Council approve the
[8:57] proposed budget 2027 and 5-year
[8:59] financial plan preparation timeline. And
[9:01] further that, one, staff be directed to
[9:03] prepare budget based on maintaining
[9:04] services and staffing levels at existing
[9:06] levels. Two, achieving a 0% increase in
[9:08] the mill rate to be a goal for preparing
[9:10] the budget. Three, a report be prepared
[9:12] for council's consideration on options
[9:13] for funding the water treatment plant
[9:15] project. Four, staff be directed to
[9:17] investigate options for grants to offset
[9:18] the cost of capital projects. And five,
[9:21] analysis be provided showing the cost of
[9:23] maintaining the status quo service
[9:24] levels compared with 2026 costs.
[9:26] >> I'll move the recommendations, your
[9:27] worship.
[9:28] >> Moved and seconded. All it is
[9:32] the council is
[9:35] basically guiding the staff. I got you.
[9:40] To start the process,
[9:42] this council have
[9:45] almost 2 months
[9:47] under their operation.
[9:53] The door is open for anybody and
[9:55] everybody. Three council member are not
[9:57] running.
[9:58] Three council member including me are
[10:00] running. Whoever is in here
[10:03] on November,
[10:05] December onward, they will finalize.
[10:08] As of today,
[10:09] the guideline, this is just a strictly
[10:11] guideline given
[10:15] to the staff by the council committee of
[10:17] the whole. We spent an hour
[10:19] uh last Tuesday
[10:21] on this item.
[10:23] We're requesting the staff to maintain
[10:26] the service level.
[10:28] Highest priority is this council has
[10:30] worked very hard
[10:32] to obtain 25
[10:35] .3 million-dollar project, 19-plus
[10:38] million-dollar
[10:40] on the water treatment plant.
[10:42] The cost has gone up.
[10:45] We just
[10:46] approved the council member
[10:50] going to UBCM. That's where we do
[10:53] the arm wrestling with the provincial
[10:56] and federal government.
[10:58] We have requested last year to the
[11:00] premier's office
[11:02] that the budget for the water treatment
[11:05] plan has gone way, way high than 25
[11:09] million.
[11:10] That's where we would be.
[11:13] Basically, council has given the
[11:16] marching order
[11:18] letting the staff know water treatment
[11:20] plant is the highest priority.
[11:23] We will hold everything else
[11:25] the way it is.
[11:27] The service level,
[11:29] manpower level, there's no
[11:31] at this point a reduction
[11:34] or increase in services.
[11:38] But again,
[11:40] the new council when they're sworn in,
[11:44] they would have the final say.
[11:46] They would decide how they want it.
[11:49] Most of this council wanted to hold
[11:53] the service level, the level we are in.
[11:58] Nobody
[12:00] is the saying one way or the other, but
[12:02] hold the line.
[12:04] Everybody respecting being a physically
[12:07] responsible,
[12:09] they wanted to make sure
[12:12] the ends are met with our budget.
[12:15] I'm going to call Councillor Flash
[12:16] Councillor Nelson
[12:19] to speak, please.
[12:21] >> Thank you, Your Worship.
[12:22] Yes, I just want to state to the
[12:24] community I will not be supporting this
[12:27] um recommendation that came from the
[12:28] committee. I did have uh quite a few
[12:30] words um to support or to explain that
[12:34] position in the Committee of the Whole
[12:36] Council meeting. Um
[12:40] So that it's here on this live stream, I
[12:42] want to explain that I cannot at this
[12:45] stage support anything that has a 0%
[12:48] tied to it. And it's for multiple
[12:49] reasons. I feel at this point you
[12:51] shouldn't be determining what a taxation
[12:53] rate should be. And I noticed that it is
[12:55] stated at 0% for the mill rate.
[12:59] Um I think it's really important for
[13:01] community members to understand how
[13:04] taxation works.
[13:06] When you look at most communities and
[13:07] they talk about how much their taxation
[13:10] has gone up, they're talking about how
[13:11] much of a difference that taxation was
[13:13] from the year prior and what you paid.
[13:17] When we're talking mill rates, most of
[13:20] the research I've done most communities
[13:21] don't talk about mill rate. Because a
[13:23] mill rate is there
[13:26] to assist a local government. if your
[13:28] assessments go up
[13:30] and you keep your mill rate at zero at
[13:33] the same and you don't change it, guess
[13:35] what? You're going to be paying taxes.
[13:38] Because those assessments go up and if
[13:41] you keep it at the same mill rate,
[13:43] you're going to be paying more. I've
[13:44] seen members come into meetings here
[13:47] where they've stated,
[13:49] "What's the 0% I hear about? Why did my
[13:51] taxes go up?"
[13:54] That's part of how it works. A mill rate
[13:56] is here for a local government so that
[13:58] if your tax assessments also drop
[14:02] substantially
[14:04] and we have to increase the mill rate so
[14:06] we get the same revenue to maintain the
[14:09] services that we want to maintain for
[14:11] this municipality. It's a tool for a
[14:13] municipality. And I feel that this type
[14:16] of talk just confuses the
[14:21] community and I cannot support this type
[14:24] of recommendation that my colleague put
[14:26] on the table.
[14:28] I feel that
[14:31] we need to be fiscally responsible and
[14:33] we do need to be fiscally responsible
[14:35] for the constituents of this community
[14:38] and that means planning for the future.
[14:40] If you sit there and say, "Oh, we're not
[14:41] changing anything right now." But all of
[14:44] a sudden we realize and we are realizing
[14:47] because we are doing asset management
[14:49] finally that there are pipes in the
[14:51] ground that need repair, we need to plan
[14:53] for the future. We need to incorporate
[14:55] that into our financial planning. Right
[14:57] now determining a a set zero is, in my
[15:01] opinion,
[15:03] just a political position to gain
[15:05] attention and votes.
[15:08] And I'm going to be flat out, that is my
[15:10] opinion.
[15:11] And I won't support that and I will not
[15:13] take that position. It's not fair to
[15:15] staff. It's not fair to the community.
[15:17] So, I will not be supporting this. Thank
[15:19] you so much.
[15:20] >> Thank you, Councillor Flashman.
[15:22] Councillor Wilson, please.
[15:24] >> Well, for 4 years, I guess I've been
[15:26] campaigning every year at budget time
[15:27] because I voted against three of the
[15:29] budgets because they had significant tax
[15:31] increases in them. The last one I voted
[15:34] for because it was at 0%.
[15:37] I'm [clears throat] clear.
[15:40] It is an affordability issue out there.
[15:43] Well, some members around this council
[15:44] table want to open up the back of the
[15:45] truck and start throwing out the money
[15:48] and eat steak and corn and lobster.
[15:53] It's okay to be thin right now because
[15:55] people are asking you to make sure that
[15:57] you're running a thin, tight
[15:59] organization.
[16:01] It's called affordability.
[16:04] Pick up any newspaper right now.
[16:07] This council previously This council
[16:09] previously
[16:10] had had a $16 million debt 10 years ago.
[16:14] Today, we owe $465,000
[16:16] on five projects.
[16:18] We're going to be just about debt-free.
[16:21] We've got millions of dollars in the
[16:23] bank.
[16:25] It's called affordability.
[16:28] There isn't a mayor that I haven't seen
[16:30] yet, including the Vancouver mayor, has
[16:33] gone on record
[16:35] of running at 4 years at 0%.
[16:40] So, they're feeling the pressure as
[16:41] well.
[16:42] The residents are saying,
[16:44] "Make sure you're running a very tight
[16:47] organization." There are geopolitical
[16:50] clouds that are coming across British
[16:53] Columbia.
[16:56] And those are some of the impacts that
[16:57] we have no control over.
[16:59] These are the guidelines that we've
[17:01] asked staff to do
[17:02] 4 years in a row.
[17:05] This very same recommendation is almost
[17:08] carbon print for the last 4 years.
[17:11] And the success that we have been able
[17:13] to gain
[17:14] out of being able to ensure that we
[17:16] target a 0%
[17:18] has been fantastic. It has brought us
[17:21] significant capital projects
[17:24] through grants. A significant amount of
[17:27] projects of capital items that we have
[17:29] spent money on.
[17:31] So,
[17:32] I'm not into wrapping up and looking to
[17:35] spend lots of money. I want to be
[17:36] fiscally responsible. And so, when
[17:39] people turn to you and say, "It starts
[17:41] at the local level." Thank you for
[17:43] making it affordable
[17:45] as a community to live in.
[17:48] And while some of my colleagues want to
[17:50] continue to eat lobster and steak and
[17:53] a few extra pieces of corn on the side,
[17:56] I think we just want to be a little bit more frugal with what's
[17:59] going on with the tariff wars, what's
[18:02] going on in the forest sector.
[18:04] Let's continue to lead like we've led
[18:06] for the last 4 years.
[18:08] Being smart,
[18:10] understanding where we want to go,
[18:12] and capitalize on the key project, which
[18:14] is the water
[18:16] project that we want to put in.
[18:18] We already know that's going to be 17 to
[18:20] 20 million dollars. While we might be
[18:22] debt-free,
[18:23] we've got to figure out a way to ensure
[18:25] that we can have safe,
[18:28] potable
[18:29] water in our community. So, I'll be
[18:31] supporting the recommendations, Your
[18:32] Worship. I think they're absolutely
[18:33] fantastic.
[18:34] >> Thank you. Appreciate Councillor Moses,
[18:36] please.
[18:38] >> Thank you, Your Worship.
[18:43] Yeah, dur- during this budget process,
[18:45] we're we're always bringing up that
[18:48] we're accountable to the community for
[18:50] keeping the costs low. And I agree this
[18:53] is important.
[18:54] But, I I also feel like that in this
[18:57] process, we're often overlooking that
[18:59] we're also accountable to our community
[19:02] for providing quality services.
[19:04] Our our goal in this budget process
[19:07] should be to provide the best services
[19:09] possible to our community for the lowest
[19:12] cost possible and while being fiscally
[19:14] responsible.
[19:16] Uh fiscal responsibility in this instance
[19:20] could mean running as lean as possible
[19:22] as my one colleague is pointing out or
[19:25] it could mean making sure that we have
[19:27] the funds to provide the services that
[19:29] our community aspires to as my other
[19:31] colleague is pointing out. And I I
[19:34] really feel there's a middle between
[19:36] these two that we're aiming to reach so
[19:38] that we can keep the affordability while
[19:41] also
[19:42] really really trying hard to provide the
[19:44] services that our community has grown
[19:46] accustomed to. The these are services
[19:49] that that we may have had for decades or
[19:52] that we're even still trying to get. But
[19:54] we're we're doing our best to ensure
[19:57] that we can provide these and not only
[19:59] that but to provide them at the lowest
[20:01] cost possible. So
[20:03] these are the hard goals that we're
[20:05] trying to reach right now and I can see
[20:07] the benefits in in all of my colleagues
[20:10] views on it and I'm I'm really open to
[20:12] ensuring that we can reach some of those
[20:15] goals from each. Thank you, Your
[20:16] Worship.
[20:17] >> Thank you, Councillor Moser, Councillor
[20:20] Beam.
[20:22] >> Thank you, Your Worship, and I'm just
[20:23] going to put my two cents in and as I
[20:25] reiterated the other night at our
[20:27] meeting at last week this is going to be
[20:29] a brand new council. Budget is over
[20:32] months. It is not a one-day thing. So I
[20:35] think it's a starting point it's staying
[20:37] at zero. Your council, your next
[20:38] council, whoever's elected, it can all
[20:41] change and that's why there's such a
[20:42] variety and so many points on how this
[20:44] budget is coming through is because it
[20:46] really depends who's here at the table.
[20:48] And it's going to be a lot of debate and
[20:50] it's a lot like the amount of
[20:51] information that first term that people
[20:54] have to from every department and how
[20:56] everything is going is a lot to take in
[20:59] and a lot to discuss and I just think
[21:01] that that discussion is going to be in
[21:02] the next group. There's no point in us
[21:04] getting in big debate. We've done it for
[21:05] four years. Let's wait and see what this
[21:07] new council does and leave it for them.
[21:09] Thank you.
[21:10] >> Excellent point.
[21:12] Second round, Councillor Flash will go
[21:14] before Councillor Nelson.
[21:16] >> Thank you, Your Worship. Um yeah, I I
[21:18] understand what all my colleagues are
[21:20] stating here and and I think it's
[21:23] you know, all their points are very
[21:24] important and very relevant. And and to
[21:26] Councillor Brain's point, these will be
[21:28] newly elected members and some of them
[21:30] may be completely newly
[21:32] elected members. And I want to make sure
[21:34] that they're starting off
[21:36] with a fresh open plate. I feel that if
[21:39] this was wordsmithed a little bit
[21:41] differently, it could be
[21:43] um drafted so it's not already setting
[21:46] um a 0% kind of conversation because
[21:50] they could be deep in conversations and
[21:52] it's going to come up at the table of
[21:54] Listen to this council, you all voted
[21:56] for 0%. I've seen and I've heard it.
[21:59] And then there'll be pressure on those
[22:01] individuals and I don't want those
[22:02] individuals to have pressure. I want
[22:04] those individuals to be able to look at
[22:06] a budget that's created that's looking
[22:08] at everything that a community possibly
[22:11] is requesting.
[22:13] How many groups have we seen come in
[22:15] here that want a sports facility? They
[22:17] want pickleball courts. They want active
[22:20] transportation.
[22:22] How's our waterfront development going?
[22:24] We're not discussing that. It's like the
[22:26] planning happens, a bit gets done, and
[22:29] then it stops because big bucks take
[22:33] is what is it what is needed to actually
[22:36] make that stuff happen and that comes
[22:37] from planning and budgeting
[22:40] and now then transferring it into the
[22:44] organizational plan.
[22:46] That is part of that process. It's
[22:48] important and I feel that we need to
[22:50] listen to all these people that have
[22:51] come here and said, "We want these
[22:54] things." Sitting there and supporting a
[22:56] feasibility plan doesn't mean you're
[22:58] getting it.
[22:59] And if you set a 0% kind of mentality
[23:02] right after that, guess what? All you
[23:05] individuals that want that, it takes
[23:07] money.
[23:09] It really does. So,
[23:12] think about the words that are being
[23:13] said. Is it for your vote or is it for
[23:15] the actual reality of creating
[23:17] something? Because there has to be
[23:19] strong planning that has to be through
[23:21] all of the process through the future.
[23:24] So, I think I just want the community to
[23:26] think about that when they're making
[23:28] their decisions
[23:29] and
[23:31] listening to the words that are being
[23:32] said. I will not be running again.
[23:36] But, I want the best for this community
[23:38] and its future. Thank you.
[23:40] >> Thank you, counselor. Welcome, counselor
[23:42] Fleischhauer. Thank you. And counselor
[23:45] Nelson, please.
[23:46] >> Thank you very much. I I I I think that
[23:48] I agree with all of you. I think that
[23:50] this just creates a solid template, uh a
[23:53] direction that has been very successful
[23:56] for this community over the last 4
[23:57] years.
[23:58] Um look look Let's not kid ourselves. We
[24:01] we've got some big thunderstorms heading
[24:04] from the south towards Canada. And uh it
[24:08] doesn't look like it's going to end
[24:09] soon. So, we need to ensure that that we're we're ready for them, that
[24:14] we're prepared for them, that we are a
[24:16] community in transition that will be
[24:19] able to handle the storm. And this is no
[24:21] ordinary storm. This is the perfect
[24:24] economic storm that's going to ruin a
[24:26] lot of communities in Canada.
[24:28] So, we are well positioned to handle
[24:30] this thunderstorm that's coming our way.
[24:33] And by being extra frugal on this,
[24:36] I'll even go one step further.
[24:39] Councilor Moses and I were the two
[24:41] that did not support removing the
[24:43] permissive tax exemptions against
[24:45] non-profit organizations.
[24:48] And I can tell you today out of the 30
[24:49] some odd permissive tax exemptions that
[24:51] we give,
[24:54] a number of those were were church
[24:55] related. I have never seen the churches
[24:58] come out and be so supportive over the
[25:00] last couple of years.
[25:02] Those tax dollars that that we grant
[25:04] them back are significant. The amount of
[25:07] work that they give to our community
[25:11] is just beyond words of thank you. So,
[25:15] there's something else that you need to
[25:17] pay attention to. I truly support and I
[25:19] believe that this is the right direction
[25:21] to go. This is a template. If seven new
[25:24] people get elected and say, "Hey, no,
[25:26] we're changing this." It's a policy.
[25:27] They get to change it. But, this
[25:29] certainly provides a good guideline that
[25:31] has given this community a very bright
[25:33] future over the last four years. Thank
[25:35] you.
[25:36] >> Uh I totally agree with the both side of
[25:38] the point. I think the word should be
[25:41] here most of you said being physical
[25:44] responsible.
[25:46] I don't want to get stuck on the 0% or
[25:49] 4% or 5%. Long as we are zero physical
[25:54] responsible, that's what the community
[25:56] is asking for. And another thing is I
[25:59] don't want it to tie hand for the next
[26:01] console like this console really cried
[26:05] when the previous console give us
[26:07] $160,000
[26:09] hand tight beside other things.
[26:11] It was excellent program. Nobody said no
[26:15] to that, the child care, to the school
[26:18] board. And
[26:19] I rather be physical responsible.
[26:23] Nothing get done free.
[26:25] I totally agree. But, we cannot afford
[26:29] to raising 10, 20, 15, 30% taxes. We had
[26:33] a good meeting today, folks.
[26:35] But, the working team
[26:37] we got a eight
[26:39] I think I said other day, if I didn't we
[26:42] got a eight bid for the feasibility
[26:45] study for the indoor facility. We short
[26:48] listed three. Um we're working staff and
[26:51] giving the direction
[26:53] to invite those three to have a
[26:56] interview system set up done. Then we'll
[26:58] pick whoever's going to do.
[27:00] And we're looking forward. Yes. Those
[27:02] issues came uh during those CP.
[27:06] We have done
[27:07] record high capital, folks, last year.
[27:11] We are doing record high capital this
[27:14] year. Longer you wait
[27:17] to do any infrastructure,
[27:20] any work for the community, more it's
[27:23] going to cost more.
[27:25] So, we are holding. We're doing our
[27:27] best.
[27:29] Um
[27:31] I was out and about yesterday and today.
[27:35] Couple hours yesterday, couple hours
[27:37] today.
[27:38] Trust me,
[27:39] anybody that I talked to,
[27:42] this council got kudos from the people.
[27:45] There wasn't one person
[27:48] who
[27:49] was upset. Yes, there was a minor
[27:53] concern raised. Yeah, we are concerned
[27:55] about the
[27:57] drug being used in the publicly in the
[28:00] open, the homelessness, the mental
[28:03] health.
[28:04] We know all these things and they know,
[28:06] they realize it there's nothing this
[28:09] council can do, but we are keeping the
[28:12] community informed.
[28:14] We're working with the senior level of
[28:15] government. We'll keep working. This is
[28:18] just like I said the previous item, one
[28:20] of the item. This is the guideline
[28:24] for the staff. But final budget going to
[28:28] come November, December, January at '27.
[28:31] So, don't get stuck on this. Council
[28:34] motions, please.
[28:38] » Yes, thank you, Worship.
[28:39] Yeah, I agree with you, Worship. We
[28:41] don't want to be leaving the the hands
[28:43] tied of the next council. Um if if these
[28:47] final budgetary decisions are going to
[28:49] be made by the incoming council in
[28:51] November to January range, I feel like
[28:54] our goals should shift slightly. Uh
[28:56] rather than leaving them with just our
[28:59] direction, maybe our goal should be to
[29:01] leave them with that open plate of
[29:02] options that Councillor Flaaten was
[29:04] talking about. And this this
[29:07] recommendation that we're we're making
[29:08] tonight or that we're voting through, in reality, it's going to be a
[29:12] recommendation from us to the next
[29:14] council.
[29:14] >> Correct.
[29:15] >> Yeah. So, so we need to make sure that
[29:17] we leave them with the best options to
[29:19] choose from possible.
[29:21] Um
[29:22] if we end up leaving them with a plan
[29:25] that's lean, they can they can rework it
[29:27] and add in what they believe that our
[29:29] community needs
[29:31] once they're once they're elected. It's
[29:33] very difficult for us to add in their
[29:35] ideas right now because we don't know
[29:37] who's going to be in these chairs in a
[29:38] few months. But if we if we leave them a
[29:41] strong template that they can add to, I
[29:43] think that's probably our our
[29:45] way of moving forward. Thank you,
[29:46] Worship.
[29:47] >> Thank you. I'll call the question. All
[29:49] in favor.
[29:52] Opposed. Councillor Flaaten opposed.
[29:55] Motion carried.
[29:58] Uh
[29:59] >> Thank you, Worship.
[30:00] >> Thank you, Councillor Nelson and
[30:02] everyone else.
[30:03] UBCM resolution.
[30:05] >> Clerk note that the letter from the UBCM
[30:07] dated August 11th, 2026 regarding
[30:09] extraordinary resolutions 2025 ER1
[30:12] existing policy as related to City of
[30:13] Williams Lake's 2026 healthcare provider
[30:16] crisis resolution submission be received
[30:18] for information.
[30:21] » Moved and seconded Councillor Flaaten,
[30:24] Councillor Moses.
[30:26] Councillor Bain, please.
[30:29] >> Thank you, Worship. Yeah, as I was the
[30:31] person that wrote this one. Of course,
[30:33] I'm disappointed, but I'm also the
[30:34] person on UBCM. So, I just want to
[30:37] provide some clarification. Although I
[30:38] wasn't part of the discussion of having
[30:40] these cuz I think they continue to be as
[30:43] you can see by all of the uh many uh
[30:46] resolutions that were put forward on
[30:47] this issue that it's not going to not be
[30:49] an issue, but the plan from UBCM is you
[30:52] just get as you all know so many
[30:55] resolutions and you cannot possibly
[30:58] follow up. So, the goal is to of course
[31:00] streamline them, to make them to put
[31:02] them together because there are just so
[31:04] many. I mean, what uh
[31:06] what does FCM have? Three or four? I
[31:08] mean, like we have hundreds every year
[31:11] and so to go through. So, I understand
[31:14] the mentality on the UBCM board side, of
[31:16] course, being part of that decisioning
[31:19] board, but doesn't mean I won't be
[31:21] following up on this one and seeing how
[31:23] I still think there needs to be a huge
[31:25] task force. I've actually
[31:27] um mentioned that, I mean,
[31:29] to the premier uh that this needs is a
[31:31] big issue to get more education through
[31:34] to to to people, but anyway, this will
[31:37] be something I will follow up with and
[31:39] uh although disappointing to not be able
[31:41] to bring it forward, it is obviously
[31:42] such an issue as multiple have brought
[31:45] it forward and will continue to be in
[31:46] front of UBCM, I'm sure.
[31:48] >> Thank you.
[31:48] Councillor Beam. Keep up the
[31:50] good work. Councillor Moses.
[31:52] >> Thank you, Your Worship. Yeah, I agree
[31:53] with my colleague that it's
[31:55] disappointing that this won't be brought
[31:56] to the floor at the UBCM convention. Um
[32:00] in in response to this, could we perhaps
[32:03] make sure that these topics are added
[32:05] into our meetings with the provincial
[32:07] ministers at the UBCM convention so that
[32:10] we can still do our own personal
[32:12] advocating for for these topics that are
[32:14] important to our community?
[32:16] >> That point will taken and we have to
[32:18] see. I'll talk to the staff.
[32:19] >> Okay.
[32:20] >> And what is the other priority? Because
[32:22] in 15 minutes, I don't want to lose the
[32:24] time for more important subjects. Then,
[32:26] I'm not saying this is less important,
[32:29] but I'll point well taken.
[32:31] >> Okay, if if they can fit
[32:32] >> Definitely.
[32:32] >> Thank you.
[32:33] Your Worship.
[32:33] >> Thank you. I call Councillor Fasbender,
[32:35] please.
[32:37] >> Thank you, Your Worship. Yeah, I have
[32:39] question actually for my colleague
[32:41] Councillor Bayne in regards to this. Um
[32:45] Ultimately though, is this
[32:47] transpiring, Councillor Bayne, because
[32:50] there's other resolutions that are so
[32:52] consistent coming from other
[32:54] municipalities? So, I if that's true, I
[32:56] just want the community to understand
[32:58] that as much as this is being indicated
[33:00] as being put on the back burner, and
[33:02] this is 2025 resolutions, correct? Not
[33:05] what we have coming up for 2026.
[33:08] This is last year.
[33:09] >> That's when we put it.
[33:10] >> And yeah, so I just want to provide
[33:12] clarity to the community that these may
[33:15] get bypassed by UBCM, and they're
[33:17] letting us know, but it's because
[33:19] there's other resolutions from other
[33:21] communities that maybe are somewhat
[33:23] consistent. I see one from Dawson Creek
[33:26] and Alberni-Clayoquot
[33:28] Regional District. So,
[33:31] >> I'll get to Councillor Bayne to respond
[33:33] to that. Please, Councillor Bayne.
[33:35] >> Thank you, Your Worship, through to
[33:36] Councillor Flash Blur. So, actually
[33:38] what's happened is what they're saying
[33:39] is within the last 5 years or that there
[33:42] have been similar resolutions, and
[33:43] they're listing all of them, how many of
[33:45] us have come up with. So, that's what
[33:47] I'm saying, it's a consistent problem
[33:49] because so many communities are
[33:50] continuing to say in the regional
[33:52] northern regions, we are still and and
[33:54] rural, that we are missing providers, we
[33:58] need help, blah blah blah. But if these
[34:00] have have already been put through and
[34:02] dealt with, like been escalated to the
[34:04] government, so these could be from this
[34:06] year, but they're saying they're just
[34:08] listing ones that were in or near the
[34:10] same, but it could have been last year.
[34:11] And this is our this year, 2025 was we
[34:14] had to have them in
[34:16] last year, like we did these in February
[34:17] or March or whatever. We put them in
[34:19] before NCLGA. So, this is our 2026 or
[34:22] whatever, but yeah.
[34:24] it would have it we I just wrote
[34:26] this one for February or whatever this
[34:28] year before NCLGA. So, and I think they
[34:31] had to be in by March. But that said, so
[34:35] these are very similar. What they're
[34:36] saying is we've addressed this or it's
[34:38] been it's too similar, so they're just
[34:39] trying to streamline.
[34:41] Um that doesn't mean it's not part of
[34:43] the conversation because so many of us
[34:44] are still dealing with this as an issue,
[34:46] but they're saying it has been brought
[34:49] forward and they are not going to like
[34:52] they'll do it as a group. We know that
[34:53] that's an issue kind of thing. Yeah.
[34:55] >> Perfect. Okay. Yeah.
[34:56] Good. Thank you.
[34:56] >> Okay,
[34:57] have you got all your question answered?
[34:59] Excellent.
[35:00] >> Yeah.
[35:00] >> All in favor of receiving
[35:03] carried.
[35:04] Well, and next one is proclamation
[35:07] recognition, please.
[35:09] >> I move that the list of recognitions in
[35:10] the agenda be approved in accordance
[35:12] with council policy number 235 just be
[35:14] received for information.
[35:15] >> So moved.
[35:17] >> Moved and second. I got
[35:19] um
[35:21] representative of IHA sitting here. If
[35:23] you had any question,
[35:25] she's available. She could be talked and
[35:27] we got the information and color. It's a
[35:31] pretty disturbing news and information.
[35:36] It's quite heart-touching information. I
[35:39] would request everybody please read and
[35:42] pay attention to the cause of Moses.
[35:45] >> Thank you, Worship. Uh you're saying
[35:46] we've got a representative from from the
[35:49] >> IHA.
[35:50] >> I um
[35:53] I've seen them.
[35:54] Yeah.
[35:54] >> Okay. Yeah. Yeah.
[35:55] >> Um could could you uh would you be
[35:58] willing to give us a a rundown of the
[36:01] event that that's in the
[36:03] in our notes here, the International
[36:04] Overdose Awareness?
[36:07] Yeah.
[36:08] Um Is is it
[36:09] >> Hold Hold on. Let me get the
[36:11] >> Well, you said we could ask her a
[36:11] question.
[36:12] >> I have to get the protocol first.
[36:14] Is it okay to
[36:17] Okay. Is council uh my direction is it's
[36:20] okay if council approve it. Are you for
[36:23] council okay?
[36:25] Please, floor is yours.
[36:27] >> Thank you, counselor.
[36:27] >> Thank you very much. My name is Sophie
[36:28] Gallivan. I work for CMHA and I am the
[36:31] chair of the community action team.
[36:33] is actually
[36:34] organizing our International Overdose
[36:37] Awareness Day on Monday, the 31st.
[36:41] I would invite you all to attend and I
[36:43] would invite anybody in the community to
[36:45] attend.
[36:46] The statistics that I gave you are
[36:48] actually pulled from into Interior
[36:50] Health.
[36:51] And the most I think the most shocking
[36:53] one, something that I want for everyone
[36:56] to keep in mind, is the 68% of our
[36:59] overdose deaths are happening in homes.
[37:02] >> Yes.
[37:02] >> These are our neighbors, our friends. I
[37:05] have encountered, met with many people
[37:08] in the community who have said, "I know
[37:10] someone who passed away. I know that my
[37:14] family member is struggling with,
[37:17] you know, substance use."
[37:19] I would love for everyone to consider
[37:22] the possibility of spreading that information out there.
[37:26] The stigmatization is the thing that
[37:28] keeps people away from asking for help.
[37:32] That keeps people away from
[37:35] possibly even utilizing some of the
[37:37] services that are available in this
[37:38] community. And we have a lot of services
[37:41] in this community
[37:42] that are ready to help, to educate,
[37:45] inform.
[37:47] And so the 68% is the one that really
[37:49] sticks with me because I've seen the
[37:51] reaction of people in the community.
[37:54] These are people that are voting for
[37:57] you.
[37:58] They are people that are part of our
[38:01] businesses, our organizations. Men in
[38:04] trades, specifically,
[38:07] are a high number, a high risk.
[38:09] And so, I would just encourage you,
[38:12] please, to spread that word around. It's
[38:16] really important. We want people to be
[38:19] curious
[38:20] about how to prevent this, how to
[38:22] support our family members, how to
[38:24] support our neighbors.
[38:26] are dying.
[38:29] And so the number increased by I think
[38:31] 11 or 10, I'm going to say 10. I'm going to
[38:36] keep it there over 1 year.
[38:38] That's a lot. It's a lot. And everybody
[38:41] else who is at risk and we all know how
[38:43] the um substances are more and more
[38:46] toxic.
[38:48] Right? So, um for the day itself, we
[38:51] will be starting at 11:00 in the
[38:53] morning. We will be at Herb Gardener
[38:55] Park on Oliver Street. Purposefully,
[38:57] too, because we want people to see us.
[39:00] We want people to be curious to come by
[39:03] and to maybe pick up an overdose kit and
[39:05] learn how to use it.
[39:07] Learn what uh what they can do.
[39:10] Um and again, this is this is not just
[39:14] on the streets in our community. This is
[39:16] in homes. And to normalize a
[39:19] conversation around substance use and um
[39:24] overdose.
[39:25] To normalize this.
[39:27] It would be an ideal situation. So, we
[39:29] would like to invite the community and
[39:31] even yourselves to please attend. Uh
[39:33] come by. We're going to have many
[39:34] tables. There will be
[39:36] hot dogs and there will be ice cream and
[39:40] we will be uh handing that out to the
[39:42] community that does attend.
[39:44] Yeah?
[39:45] >> And once again, once again, it's 31st
[39:47] August and what time you said?
[39:49] >> From 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
[39:51] >> 11:00 to 2:00. So, we welcome you.
[39:53] >> have speakers as well that will be
[39:54] sharing their stories. We will have some
[39:56] activities. There will be a community
[39:57] canvas that we are going to be working
[39:59] on uh where people can place names of of
[40:03] those they have lost or
[40:05] um just messages of hope and
[40:08] encouragement and um there will be some
[40:11] music as well.
[40:12] And so we
[40:14] are going to make this event a a
[40:16] successful one. And I hope that
[40:18] everybody
[40:18] >> No, I excellent. Excellent. We'll
[40:21] encourage the community to come and
[40:22] attend and share the information on the
[40:25] back of the page which is in the
[40:26] package. There's number of a phone
[40:28] numbers where we can get the help.
[40:30] Councillor Moazzam, I think you had your
[40:32] hand up, please.
[40:33] >> Yeah, thank your worship. Thank you for
[40:34] this information. I've seen a lot of
[40:37] these numbers before through different
[40:38] organizations, but they're they're
[40:40] always shocking. Um do you happen to
[40:43] have a digital copy of this to share and
[40:46] yes um would is it okay if the city were
[40:49] to share this page if if it were
[40:51] forwarded to us?
[40:53] >> I don't see any reason why
[40:55] >> So, we can send it out.
[40:56] >> Yes.
[40:57] >> Okay.
[40:58] >> So long as you send it out.
[40:59] >> Yes,
[41:00] would you please email it to to our
[41:02] office?
[41:03] >> Mr. Gubbay, Mr. Gubbay.
[41:04] >> Yes, sir.
[41:05] And thank you very much for the support
[41:08] because we will be posting something on
[41:10] social media and you've allowed me to
[41:12] place some posters out and so we're very
[41:15] grateful for that support.
[41:17] >> Thank you.
[41:18] >> All right.
[41:18] >> Appreciate it.
[41:20] All in favor of the motion.
[41:22] I'll vote if any carried unanimously.
[41:25] Information announcement and round
[41:27] table. There's no round table, but
[41:29] anyway council information package.
[41:31] >> Council note that the council
[41:32] information package for August 25th 2026
[41:34] be received for information.
[41:35] >> So moved.
[41:37] >> Moved and second. All in favor.
[41:39] >> Move to adjourn.
[41:43] » Moved and seconded. All in favor.
[41:45] Carried. Thank you, folks.
[41:47] >> Good job.
[41:47] >> Appreciate it.