[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.

Regular Council - 25 Aug 2026

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