At the Dec. 5, 2017 City of Quesnel council meeting, Mayor Bob Simpson presented his report outlining the main accomplishments for 2017.
A summary of accomplishments are:
• Fiscal prudence and implementation of three-year tax framework of controlling costs, decreasing overall industrial taxation and addressing the City’s infrastructure deficit.
• Attracted grant dollars that enhances the community’s attractiveness and addresses the City’s infrastructure deficit.
• Fiscal plan that allows for investments in core infrastructure and amenities, such as new playgrounds and the Spirit Centre Downtown Washrooms.
• City’s new brand and website that has modernized the City’s image and created a user-friendly website.
• First Nations recognition and reconciliation initiatives have resulted in a signed protocol agreement with the Lhtako Dene Nation. Further, the City has formally recognized Lhtako Dene’s traditional territory at City-owned civic properties, and formally stated at the beginning of each Council meeting.
• Completion of the new ice arena, the West Fraser Centre.
• Adopted a Housing Incentives Bylaw that has led to two new housing developments in North Quesnel.
• Supported a major emergency response for the 2017 wildfires by a host to evacuees, supported a firefighting base at the airport, and provided structural fire protection to impacted communities in the South Cariboo.
• Engaged with the new provincial government where it is hoped that public investments will result in public service improvements around transportation, hospital, schools and the North Cariboo Community Campus.
“We’re beginning to get some traction with the new provincial government,” Simpson said, adding he thinks the City has some opportunities to get some long outstanding requests potentially met with significant investments in our community.
Later in the meeting, the mayor gave a report on his follow up with government ministers after having a record number of meetings with the new government at last fall’s Union of BC Municipalities Convention.
“I think we have accomplished a lot together because we in a groove that we can get a lot of work done in an expeditious manner, and that’s something we can all be proud of.”
To view full details of this report, please visit the City’s website at www.quesnel.ca/.