City council approved a number of items at the April 3 council meeting.
They include:
• The corporate officer was authorized by council to sign the community recreation program contribution agreement with the province on behalf of the city. The agreement is for the pedestrian underpass of CN Rail to the River Valley Trail. Under the agreement the city will receive $550,640 while the city’s share is $137,669.
• an in-kind donation of city dump trucks to be operated by qualified volunteer union staff during the upcoming Williams Lake Stampede.
• an amendment to the B.C. Transit Annual Operating Agreement for the expansion of the transit service to Sugar Cane. Beginning on Nov. 1, hours of the service were expanded resulting in a cost of $10,748, which is being covered in total by the Williams Lake Indian Band.
• Sending thank-you letters to all standing members of the Advisory Planning Commission, after passing a motion to disband the commission.
• a lease between Westcan Aircraft Sales & Salvage Ltd. and Arduini Helicopters Ltd. for 1,235 metres square located at the airport. The annual rate is $1.86 per square metre or $2,330.58 a year. Arduini is taking on a lease that already exists that will not expire until 2021.
• awarding a two-year contract to Everbest Janitorial for $68,865 for year one and $70,116 for year two for janitorial services at city hall, the fire hall and the worksyard.
• awarding City Spaces Consulting Ltd. a $30,000-contract to complete a housing need and demand study, supporting the work of the Cariboo Lodge Task Force. The city received 10 proposals. The cost of the study will be covered by funds from Canadian Mortage And Housing Corporation and the Real Estate Foundation, as well as $5,000 from the current city budget.
• Coun. Sue Zacharias will now be an alternate council representative on the Williams Lake Business Improvement Area and attend meetings when Coun. Geoff Bourdon, the council representative, cannot attend.
• Council authorized the director of financial services to sign on behalf of the city and the province for the city to receive $581,000 under the Strategic Community Investment Funds Agreement.
It’s not new funding, but is a combination of two existing fund transfers — Small Community Protection and Traffic Fine Revenue. What’s new is the province’s extension of the fund over the next three years.