[0:34] Good evening. Uh just a quick note, tonight we will be

[0:37] live streaming and recording this meeting. The recordings will be made

[0:40] available on the district website. I will call to order the Committee of

[0:44] the Whole meeting for Monday, July 27th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

[0:50] We'd like to begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is within

[0:53] the traditional territory of the Sekani people of the McLeod Lake Indian Band.

[1:00] Please note that all comments and questions from the public must pertain

[1:03] to items listed on the agenda. Are there any members of the public in

[1:06] attendance this evening who wish to comment on the agenda?

[1:10] Seeing no one. Uh administration, are there any members

[1:14] of the public attending through Zoom or phone that wish to comment on the

[1:17] agenda? >> No, Mr. Chair.

[1:20] » Thank you. Then, may I have a motion to receive the

[1:24] operations month-end report for June? >> So moved.

[1:27] » Thank you, Councillor McMeechan. Does any member of Council have a

[1:31] question for Mr. Murray? Mayor Atkinson.

[1:37] » Um what the threshold is to issue an unsightly order?

[1:43] We're looking at the files and some some properties towards the town office

[1:46] and the neighbors weren't happy and what what has to be there to

[1:51] issue that? >> So, [clears throat] there is no exact

[1:54] threshold. Uh it all depends on how bad the property is, whether it came as an

[1:59] as an complaint or was noticed by staff, whether the owner or tenants going to

[2:03] clean it up. Uh so, it's generally we make initial

[2:06] contact and give them a little bit of a week or two to clean it up.

[2:09] Uh after that, we issue we may issue a warning or move forward to an unsightly

[2:12] property order, and we got to get them to clean up the property.

[2:15] » Okay. And I have one under the bottom of page

[2:18] six, um file 0782026,

[2:21] the dog surrender. Um in district

[2:25] um how was that animal for a week? Does it

[2:29] Does that um dog order pay for that animal's boarding fees for

[2:33] any dog that >> Yeah, that was Excuse me. That was a

[2:36] Monday to a Friday, so it didn't really cost us as much because it didn't incur

[2:40] the overtime on the weekend, but yes, all all costs were recovered.

[2:47] » Okay. I just wanted to make a quick reminder for everybody in the room to

[2:50] have your mics on in case you don't have them on already.

[2:54] Uh does anyone else have a question for Mr. Murray?

[2:57] No. Mr. Murray, do you have anything to add

[2:59] to your reports? >> Not at this time, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

[3:03] » All right. All in favor?

[3:06] No one opposed. That's carried. May I have a motion to receive the RCMP

[3:12] month-end report for June? >> So moved.

[3:15] » Councilor Barnes. Uh

[3:17] Detachment Commander Brazeau is not present tonight, but are there any

[3:20] questions that administration could forward? Uh Councilor Wright.

[3:24] » Thank you. I was curious about the comment on the bottom of page nine where

[3:27] he uh they they make a a ref- reference to summer and there's most likely an

[3:32] increase of activity, most likely due to an influx of people in the community.

[3:36] And I would love just to have a little bit more details on what they meant by

[3:39] that. Is it like the tree planters, or is there other people coming to the

[3:42] community that aren't normally here in the summer? I just like to little know a

[3:44] little bit more what they are seeing to make sure we're aware of it as well.

[3:47] » Mm. Fair enough. Good point.

[3:51] Are there any other questions? >> I

[3:53] » not a question so much I guess just a comment I noticed once again there's six

[3:57] assaults so it's been a while since we've had that

[3:59] many reported. >> Mhm.

[4:03] » [cough and clears throat]

[4:05] » Is everyone in favor of this report? Favor?

[4:10] No one is opposed so that carries.

[4:15] May I have a motion to receive the fire month end report for June?

[4:19] » So moved. >> Councilor Kylo, thank you. Does any

[4:22] member of council have a question for Fire Chief Guys?

[4:27] Seeing none, Fire Chief Guys, do you have anything to add to your reports?

[4:30] » Not at this time, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you.

[4:33] All in favor? Carried.

[4:38] May I have a motion to receive the recreation services month end report for

[4:41] June? >> So moved.

[4:43] » Mayor Atkinson. Uh does any member of council have a

[4:47] question regarding this report? Mayor Atkinson.

[4:51] » Thank you. Just want to pass on congratulations to acting director

[4:56] Seabert for the very successful uh um Rock the Ridge Line event on Saturday

[5:03] night. Beth did an amazing job as always.

[5:08] » Here, here.

[5:12] Miss Seabert, do you have anything to add to your reports?

[5:14] » Not at this time, sir. >> Thank you. All in favor?

[5:18] That carries. Um did I just see a representative from

[5:22] the RCMP come in? >> Conservation officer.

[5:24] » Conservation officer, okay. Just making sure we couldn't get those questions

[5:26] dealt with. >> [laughter]

[5:30] » Uh may I have a motion to receive the finance month end report for June?

[5:33] » So moved. >> Councilor Wright.

[5:36] Does any member of council have a question regarding this report?

[5:41] Seeing none, Miss Bourne, do you have anything to add to this report?

[5:43] » Not at this time, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you.

[5:46] All in favor? That carries.

[5:51] And may I have a motion to receive the council's strategic priorities 2026

[5:55] second quarter reports? >> So moved.

[5:58] » Councillor McMeekin. And does any member of council have a

[6:01] question regarding the second quarter reports?

[6:05] No one? Uh Miss Smith, do you have anything to

[6:07] add add to your report? >> Not at this time.

[6:11] » All in favor? That carries.

[6:16] Is there any member of council who has other business?

[6:18] Mayor Atkinson. >> Um I I just like to um remind um the

[6:23] directors and uh corporate staff uh CAO um

[6:28] a number of the reports had acronyms in here uh which mean nothing to people who

[6:34] don't know what that means. So, just a a reminder that for a public document,

[6:38] could not use acronyms so people actually know what we're the we're

[6:42] talking about. >> Mhm.

[6:45] Maybe there could be a general key that's just attached to the report all

[6:47] all the time at the end so that we don't have to keep hunting for those acronyms.

[6:51] That might be an easy way to handle it with minimal labor.

[6:53] » Or or just don't use them.

[6:55] » Mhm. Or that. >> [laughter]

[7:00] » Does administration have any other item of business?

[7:03] » No. >> Thank you. Then may I please have a

[7:06] motion to adjourn the meeting. >> Moved.

[7:09] » Councillor Barnes. Seconds? Mayor Atkinson. All in favor?

[7:14] That carries. Meeting adjourned.

[13:55] » The land in which we gather is within the traditional territory of the

[13:58] Secwepemc people of the McLeod Lake Indian Band.

[14:02] We'll move on to adoption of minutes of special meeting held June 22nd, 2026.

[14:08] Are there any errors or omissions? Hearing none, we'll adopt them as

[14:12] presented. Uh community of the whole meeting June

[14:16] 22nd, 2026. Are there any errors or omissions?

[14:20] Hearing none, we'll adopt them as presented. And the regular meeting of

[14:24] June 22nd, 2026. Are there any errors or omissions?

[14:28] Hearing none, we'll adopt them as presented.

[14:31] Um and can I We do have a uh late item this evening, so may I have a

[14:36] motion that the following item to be uh added to our agenda this evening, and

[14:42] that is a petition and delegation from the

[14:44] Conservation Officer Service. Councillor McMeekin, Councillor

[14:48] Burmister. Any discussion? All in favor?

[14:53] That carries. Have a motion uh to adopt the agenda.

[15:00] » So moved. >> Councillor Burns.

[15:03] » Second. >> Councillor Burmister.

[15:05] Any discussion?

[15:08] All in favor? That carries.

[15:11] Public comments and questions. Please note that all comments and questions

[15:14] must pertain to items listed on the agenda. Are there any members of the

[15:18] public in attendance this evening who wish to comment on the agenda.

[15:24] Seeing none, administration, are there any members of the public attending

[15:27] through Zoom or phone that wish to comment on the agenda?

[15:31] » No, your worship. >> Thank you. Thank you.

[15:34] So, this evening, um we welcome Inspector Eamon McArthur

[15:41] McArthur, the uh inspector for the BC Conservation

[15:45] Officer Service out of Prince George, and he is here to um

[15:49] present a special recognition award to the District of Mackenzie. So, come on

[15:54] up. >> Wow.

[16:03] Thank you, Mayor Atkinson. Thank you, Council.

[16:08] Sit here so I can stand up. Uh so, in 2023

[16:12] uh there was a oh, due to a number of different

[16:16] circumstances, there was quite the uh it was quite a bear year. As, you know, for

[16:20] those that are that were in Mackenzie at the time, well recall.

[16:25] And uh at the time, the District of Mackenzie

[16:28] had the the white dumpsters with the with the wooden lids,

[16:33] which caused a considerable amount of

[16:35] problems. A lot of those dumpster lids got broken, and a lot of those dumpster

[16:38] lids uh were flipped off by

[16:42] black and grizzly bears alike. And the district did come to come together,

[16:47] and they created what we have today with those dumpsters that are currently

[16:50] within the district, which I use this as a

[16:54] as a case in point in a lot of discussions when it comes to uh bear

[16:58] attractant and attractant management, just because of how fantastic those

[17:01] dumpsters actually are. And I thought I would be remiss if I didn't try to

[17:05] recognize the district for the good work that they did on bear attractant and

[17:08] bear attractant management. So, I'm just going to read out a little

[17:13] piece on the

[17:16] Can you hear this? Is this good? Am I

[17:20] » Um yeah, if you talk loud enough, yeah, sure.

[17:23] » [laughter]

[17:25] » So, I'm just going to read read out what what I have on here. It's a special

[17:28] recognition award for the district. The BCCOS has maintained regular

[17:34] communication with the District of Mackenzie regarding waste management

[17:37] practice in response to the high level of human-bear conflicts experienced

[17:42] within communities in the Omineca Zone during 2023.

[17:46] Prior to 2022, the District of Mackenzie worked collaboratively collaboratively

[17:51] with the BCCOS to draft and implement bylaws aimed at reducing bear

[17:55] attractants and minimizing bear garbage conflicts.

[17:58] Despite these efforts, Mackenzie remained one of the communities

[18:01] experiencing higher than average bear conflict rates in 2024.

[18:06] And in response to this, the District continued working with the BCCOS to

[18:10] identify and implement additional measures to further reduce human-bear

[18:14] interactions. As a result, the District of Mackenzie

[18:17] developed and implemented a bear-resistant dumpster design that has

[18:21] been adopted as the standard dumpster model throughout the community.

[18:24] The lids were designed to be sufficiently heavy to prevent bears from

[18:28] accessing the contents while allowing residents to dispose of the waste safely

[18:33] and conveniently. The measures undertaken by the District

[18:36] are fully aligned with the BCCOS mandate to reduce attractants and mitigate

[18:40] human-bear conflicts. These proactive efforts demonstrate a

[18:44] strong commitment to protecting public safety and wildlife within the

[18:48] community.

[18:51] And I'll just say I like I'll just say it's safe.

[18:55] » Yeah. >> Yeah.

[18:57] And I I'd like more communities to adopt it. Unfortunately, I'm out of Prince

[19:01] George and most of the dumpsters that they use in Prince George are all

[19:04] contracted out, so maybe it's a small community thing, but

[19:08] it's I think it's something that even bigger communities can look at. it too.

[19:11] if this community can come together and do something like that,

[19:14] then you know what? Anything's really possible, so.

[19:22] » So, if you want to come up here and inspect your work.

[19:25] Yeah. Cuz we want to put this on our um

[19:28] website >> so that people in the community realize

[19:32] that this is made of >> Yeah.

[19:35] » Yeah, awesome.

[19:43] Nice job though, I appreciate it. >> Thank you. You're welcome.

[19:46] » No, thanks so much for doing that. >> No, absolutely. I always have to give

[19:49] that appreciation to go, you know, you need to give credit where credit is due,

[19:53] so. >> Yeah, that's very nice. Well, you know,

[19:56] it's it's really good that we have such a

[19:58] close relationship with the conservation officer's office.

[20:01] » Yeah. >> Can't We can't work in silos in small

[20:04] towns. >> Well, everybody knows everybody, that's

[20:06] it. >> Very true.

[20:09] » I'm not going to be anywhere not planning on completing anytime soon, so

[20:13] I'm going to be the inspector for at least the next 10 to 15 years. That's

[20:17] the goal anyway, till retirement, I think.

[20:21] No, absolutely. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you.

[20:25] » I could do the thing for Director Marine, cuz

[20:28] » Oh, that was That was a bit of a >> Is he working for Marine?

[20:31] Aylmer's This is This is the public works

[20:34] manager. And uh he's the one that

[20:38] made sure it happened. >> No problem.

[20:40] » Yeah, okay. Thank you.

[20:42] » Thank you. >> Take that off. Thanks, don't forget to

[20:46] do whatever.

[20:50] It's awesome.

[20:54] Hey.

[20:57] We're official. So, moving on to correspondence, may I

[21:02] have a motion that the correspondence listed on the agenda be received?

[21:06] So moved. >> Councillor Wright.

[21:08] Councillor Kylo. Any discussion? All in favor?

[21:14] Carries. So for action, we have a request from CN Rail

[21:20] to um declare September 21st to 27th, 2026

[21:26] Rail Safety Week. So have Can I have that recommendation

[21:31] from Councillor Barnes? Councillor Kylo, any discussion on that?

[21:37] Yes. >> We've done this in the past, right?

[21:38] » Yes. Yeah. It's a kind of a an annual event,

[21:42] so. Anyone else?

[21:43] » Just a >> Yeah.

[21:45] » Comment, when it comes to Rail Safety Week, I know a person that hit has hit a

[21:50] train with a pickup,

[21:53] a trailer, a quad, and a boat, if you can believe it.

[21:58] So some people do need a little bit of help.

[22:02] » [laughter] >> Remind them. Yes. Thank you.

[22:06] All in favor? That carries.

[22:09] Is there anything council wishes to address in the for consideration or

[22:13] center table file correspondence? Councillor Wright.

[22:17] » Thank you. Uh the first one I would like to draw people's attention to is 7.2.5,

[22:21] the NCLGA. Um

[22:23] there's letters I was called this letter. I just want to draw people's

[22:25] attention to this has been an update since this has been sent out to on the

[22:29] last page with the before you get to the BC resources. There's no page numbers.

[22:33] I'm not sure what it is. But it has the members webinars. And the one webinar on

[22:37] November 18th, I specifically asked because of how strong our access and

[22:41] inclusion committee is that access and inclusion committees be invited to this

[22:45] webinar. Um and that was approved and is now on

[22:47] the website. It's just not reflected since this was sent out. So if the I

[22:51] Councillor Meegan, since you're here, if there's a way to make sure that

[22:54] information gets to the access and inclusion committee that they're welcome

[22:56] and encouraged to attend that webinar, that would be fantastic.

[23:01] Um there's no motion for that. I just wanted to draw people's attention to it.

[23:04] Um and then the other one I wanted to talk about was 7.2.8.

[23:07] Um I didn't know if staff had any information to answer this question

[23:11] about the update about getting bylaws on the website and if not, if we wanted the

[23:15] report to come back to respond to the residents um questions. I'll I'll maybe

[23:18] I'll ask staff first what if they have something they want to say before any

[23:21] motion. >> um

[23:22] I I had that notated also, so Ms. Keen is is uh prepared to provide us with an

[23:28] update. >> Thank you.

[23:31] » Yes, okay. So, um so we have been just uh we've been

[23:35] updating this as part of our quarterly update, so there have been some, but you

[23:38] will notice that we've had quite a delay on this project. We started last year,

[23:41] but just due to some other priorities due to legislation, we've had to kind of

[23:45] push it to this year. But we've purchased software that'll have a better

[23:48] search engine. It's very similar to what we've had before, and so we'll have all

[23:51] of our documentation which have been uploaded. They just have to be um a

[23:55] final audit by us just make sure everything that's on there is accurate,

[23:59] and then it'll be just some staff training, public comms, and I'm hoping

[24:02] we'll have it uh done by the end of the year.

[24:05] Yeah. So, mhm. Thank you. You're welcome. Perfect.

[24:09] » Yes, Councillor Keilow. >> Um 7.2.6,

[24:15] the Outdoor Recreation Council has a survey for identifying resource roads

[24:20] that matter, and I'd like to make a motion to add

[24:25] that to our district website and try and promote it to get people to say, "Hey,

[24:30] we're losing access to the back country all over the province." And

[24:34] we need to help them create a database so they

[24:37] can go lobby the government to keep the important ones identified and keep the

[24:41] important ones open. >> Right. Yeah, that new I I I certainly

[24:44] agree with that. Um I know that I I checked into that, so

[24:50] that the survey's open for an entire year till July 2027, so that's going to

[24:54] give people lots of notice, so I certainly think that's a great idea.

[25:00] Anyone else have any comments on that? To add that to our website, Councillor

[25:04] Burmas key. >> I'll just second the motion.

[25:06] » Okay. Yep. Anyone else? Okay. All in favor?

[25:12] That carries. And I've also been I got a email from the chair of the regional

[25:17] district last week, and we are having another meeting in Prince George

[25:23] with the Ministry of Forests the Wednesday before our next um R D

[25:28] meeting. I think it's August 19th. And the Ministry of Forests person who has

[25:32] taken over this file, um Greg Vandolah, used to work in Mackenzie, so he's well

[25:39] aware of you know, what it looks like up here. So hopefully he's Sounds like he's

[25:44] very engaged and hoping to get something done, so step in the right direction.

[25:49] So >> Um

[25:51] » Yeah, go ahead. >> 7.2.9

[25:54] uh Melinda Shaw sent letter I was in support of the community for

[26:00] our for us trying to change the

[26:03] reclassification to iron for data centers, and we should thank her for

[26:08] being involved and taking the time to do that.

[26:11] » Okay. >> [clears throat]

[26:12] » I'm not making a motion. I'm just saying we should

[26:15] recognize her, thank her. >> Okay.

[26:17] Do we need a motion to do that, Ms. Kate?

[26:21] » Okay. Pardon me, I would just like to thank her for it.

[26:24] » Oh, oh you Okay. Oh, you Okay. So publicly thank her for that. Yeah, for

[26:29] sure. Okay.

[26:32] Any Anything else, Councillor Kyle?

[26:40] Nope. Okay. Anyone else have anything they wish to pull?

[26:45] Okay, we'll move on to administrative reports, business facade

[26:50] improvement program July 26th, the July intake.

[26:56] Recommendation that council approves the applications from Finley Forest

[26:59] Management Limited, McKenzie Hose and Fitting, Mack True Brewing Limited,

[27:04] McKenzie Autumn Lodge Society, and Arctic Divide Mechanical

[27:09] to the business facade improvement program to a maximum combined amount of

[27:14] $8,617.10.

[27:18] » Move the recommendation. >> Councillor Burns, seconded by Councillor

[27:21] Burmoski. Any discussion on this? Councillor Burmoski.

[27:26] » It's wonderful to see that many people apply this year, you know, it's a shame

[27:30] we can't fully fund them because there are so many, but it's great that there's

[27:32] the uptake. >> Yeah, exactly, because we have had years

[27:36] with when we have not utilized all the money, so this is this is really good

[27:40] news for all of us. Any further discussion? All in favor?

[27:46] That carries.

[27:49] Uh 8.2 referral 1997-2404-0, notice of work with McKenzie Gravel

[27:55] Limited. And the um

[27:58] administration is looking for direction from council about the request.

[28:04] » So I'd move that we respond that we support

[28:08] approval of the project. >> Okay.

[28:11] Second that. Okay. Councillor Wright.

[28:14] » I I My question is to staff, is does that motion

[28:17] suffice for that it includes the the recommendation you have that it has also

[28:21] has the required to obtain soil substance removal permit?

[28:25] Or was that the was that the I just want to make sure that that

[28:28] encompasses that. >> If that was um Councillor Burmoski's

[28:31] intent with his motion was that it's the answer answers to the questions as

[28:34] highlighted as well as the recommendation to approve the project.

[28:38] » Um yeah, if we need to make that change, that's fine. I did assume that that

[28:41] would just get triggered if we approved it. Okay. So

[28:45] Okay, I'm in support of it including that, yes.

[28:47] » Yeah, yeah. >> And it does generate revenue for us. So

[28:50] it is a bonus. Any further discussion?

[28:54] All in favor? That carries.

[29:00] Um 8.3 the quarterly activity report from the accessibility and inclusion

[29:05] group recommendation that council receives this report for information.

[29:11] » So moved. >> So Barnes.

[29:13] » Second. >> Councilor Abramowski. Any discussion?

[29:18] Councilor Barton. >> Well again just a comment and we've

[29:20] talked about it lots before this this group does a great job.

[29:26] » Yes they certainly do. We're leaps and bounds ahead of most

[29:30] communities in this portfolio for sure. So all in favor of receipt?

[29:37] That carries.

[29:40] Uh 8.4 the 2025 annual report final draft.

[29:47] In accordance with section 99 of the community charter council will provide

[29:51] an opportunity for any final feedback from the public in regard to the 2025

[29:56] annual report prior to adoption. Are there any members of the public in

[30:00] attendance this evening who wish to comment on the annual report?

[30:06] Administrator are there any members of the public attending through Zoom or

[30:09] phone that wish to comment on the annual report?

[30:13] » No your worship. >> Me?

[30:16] Did we receive any written comments? >> No we did not.

[30:19] » Okay. So the recommendation that council

[30:22] approves the 2025 annual report. >> So moved.

[30:26] » Councilor Wright. Councilor McMeekin. Any further discussion?

[30:31] All in favor? That carries.

[30:35] Council reports Councilor Wright has written report Does

[30:40] member of council have a verbal report they wish to share?

[30:45] Okay, hearing none. Um, any member of council have any

[30:50] unfinished business?

[30:55] New business?

[30:58] We have no bylaws this evening. We have no notice of motion.

[31:02] Um, coming events. The McCloud Lake Indian Band Annual General Assembly is

[31:07] going to be held on August 5th, 6th, and 7th. And um, they

[31:13] extended invitation for anyone to participate on the the Friday the 7th is

[31:18] my understanding. The 5th and the 6th are generally McCloud Lake Indian Band

[31:22] members that meet on those days, so. So, um, we have no inquiries in person.

[31:29] Do we have any online inquiries? >> No, your worship.

[31:34] » Okay. So, we just need one more motion.

[31:40] Okay. Second? >> Second.

[31:42] » Okay. All in favor? It carries. Thank you.

Committee of the Whole

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