At Tuesday night's city council meeting, Mayor Kerry Cook presented Tracy Higgins, programs manager for Pregnancy Outreach, with a Community Spirit Certificate for the work she and the centre do in the community.
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Carla Glessing, Marg Evans, Jenny Howell, and Mary Forbes from the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society provided council with an update on community projects and Water/Waste Wise programs and the society’s community initiatives, including classroom teaching and participation in community events.
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Council approves hiring group to brand the city
Council approved the hiring of the Taiji Brand Group to complete a place brand project for the City of Williams Lake at a fee not in excess of $45,000.
As part of the Business Expansion and Attraction Strategy the city identified the need to complete a place brand for the community. A professional brand and associated sub-brands will be used to reinforce the city’s commitment to the retention and attraction of business and skilled workers, and being a healthy, sustainable community where people want to live, work and visit.
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Computer cheque listings back on agendas
Council approved the reinstatement of the process of placing the accounts payable listings of computer cheques on the regular council agendas for information.
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Council receives report on soil contamination
Council received a report regarding the federal government's reclamation of contaminated soils associated with the old fire training area at the Williams Lake Regional Airport.
On July 5, 1996, the city entered into an "agreement to transfer" with the federal government for transfer of the Williams Lake airport to the city. The formal transfer was executed on Dec. 12, 1996 through a lease arrangement, followed by transfer in fee simple on Dec. 31, 1998.
As part of the transfer process, Transport Canada engaged the services of UMA Environmental Limited (UAM) to conduct an environmental baseline study (EBS) of the Williams Lake airport. The purpose of the EBS was to conduct a site environmental audit update, conduct field screening and detailed contaminated site investigations, prepare a baseline study summary and prepare a remedial action plan for the priority one and
two items identified. One of the issues identified and confirmed by the EBS was soil contamination at the fire training areas. As a result, Transport Canada confirmed in a Nov. 29, 1996 letter to the city administrator that they would undertake to perform the required remediation of these hazardous substances in accordance with applicable provincial environmental laws including remediating contaminated ground water and surficial soil contamination at the existing fire training area and remediating deep soil contamination at the existing and former fire training areas. Public Works Canada contracted a private environmental engineering firm in 2005 to undertake the necessary remediation work and that work has been ongoing since that time.
In recent months, similar contamination issues were identified at the Hamilton Airport and media from the Hamilton area has been inquiring as to the status of the Williams Lake Airport contamination. Government’s responsibility to address two of the identified areas of high priority, including the fire training areas.
The city has had no involvement in the remediation process other than to be informed of the progress on an annual basis and to provide access to the site.
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Council awards engineering contract
Council awarded the contract for engineering services for the Airport Airfield Electrical Rehabilitation Project to Genivar Inc. for the bid amount of $89,105, excluding HST.
The engineering firm will provide a design and cost estimates to upgrade the airfield electrical system and complete the Airport Capital Assistance program application.
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Council awards airport pavement contract
Council approved removing the runway deicing equipment from the 2012 capital budget and the $170,000 be reallocated to cover the costs of the Runway Resurfacing Engineering Services.
Council also awarded the contract for the Airfield Pavement Rehabilitation Project for phases one, two and three to Genivar Inc. for the amount of $ 121,045, excluding HST.
The city says the airport’s number one priority is resurfacing the runway to ensure the project is completed while the ACAP program is in place and funding is available.
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Fire department report received
Council received the Williams Lake Fire Department service delivery review report for information and referred the report to the fire department's annual business plan.
The Review makes 15 recommendations for the fire department.
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Council to impose remedial action for motel
Council resolved to impose remedial action requirements for the Slumber Lodge Motel at 27 Seventh Avenue South.
City staff received, and is still receiving, several complaints regarding unauthorized person(s) occupying the motel. The Williams Lake Fire Department has also received several complaints about this building and has previously issued a BC Fire Code Order, on May 23, 2002, for the owners to comply with certain provisions of the order, which has yet to be remedied.
The Williams Lake RCMP department has received several complaints of person(s) unauthorized to occupy this building. The RCMP and the Citizens on Patrol are doing regular patrols of the area due to the accessibility and welcoming environment (insecure, has electricity and is a place to go for high-risk/criminal behaviour). The RCMP are concerned that the condition of the structure presents a high risk and that likely presents an extremely high risk for death or serious injury.
Council resolved to order remedial action requirements by the owner as follows:
• Slumber Lodge Option 1: Commence the security of the building and secure all openings using fencing, boarding, barriers and signage, as appropriate, to prevent entry of unauthorized persons, no later than 14 days after notice of this remedial action requirement under section 77 of the charter has been sent by the city to the owner.
• Slumber Lodge Option 2: Retain the services of a security company to provide continuous security on the property to keep unauthorized individuals from entering the building, no later than 14 days after notice of this remedial action requirement under section 77 of the charter has been sent by the city to the owner.
If the owner does not elect, by written notice to the City of Williams Lake on or before June 25, 2012 to complete either Slumber Lodge Option 1 or Slumber Lodge Option 2 and carry out all of the applicable remedial action requirements for the option chosen, to the satisfaction of the city, on or before June 25, 2012, the city may, pursuant to section 17 of the Community Charter, at its option, enter on 27 Seventh Avenue South and carry out all or any of the remedial action requirements described under either Slumber Lodge Option 1 or Slumber Lodge Option 2 at the owner’s expense and without further notice.