Council proceeded with the first three readings of Financial Bylaw No. 1736 of 2014 and the first three readings of Tax Rates Bylaw No. 1737 of 2014.
What this means to residents: The average residence (based on an average home assessed at $161,553), will see an increase of 2.5 per cent to the municipal portion of their property tax bill; an increase of 4.4 per cent to the Cariboo Regional District portion; and a decrease of -0.5 per cent to the School Tax portion. The average residence will see an overall increase of $31.11 to their property tax bill, based on the average home assessment above.
Local elections
Council appointed Gina Albers as the Chief Election Officer along with Maureen Murray as Deputy Chief Election Officer in order to conduct the 2014 Local Government Election in Quesnel in accordance with the Local Government Act.
Public input sought for new licence.
Council will proceed with public input regarding the Liquor Primary Licence Application from Rev Bowling Lanes located at 452 Reid Street. The public consultation date has been set for Mon. June 9 at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Tenure conversion
Council approved the preparation of a presentation to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations regarding forest tenure conversions from volume based to area based. The reports with respect to this issue are available within the agenda on the city’s website as noted.
The BC government is contemplating policy changes that would enable, on an invitation basis only, the conversion of some volume-based forest tenures to area-based forest tenures. The intent is to help address the issue of a declining timber supply in our area due to the mountain pine beetle.
Comments on the Ministry’s discussion paper are welcome from the public until noon, Fri. May 30 and can be submitted online at engage.gov.bc.ca/foresttenures, via email to Forest.Tenures@gov.bc.ca, or by fax to 250-387-6445. Residents are encouraged to submit their comments to the provincial government.
Permit
Variance PermitDevelopment Permit Amendment was approved by Council for the new Johnston Meier building located at 199 St. Laurent.
The variance amendment approved affects the number of on-site parking spaces, now permitting 17 parking spaces from the 22 required by bylaw. The permit changes were to the outer cladding of the building moving to materials that better suit the characteristics of the downtown core. The development permit allows for a two storey building with office spaces on the main floor and six apartment style dwellings on the second floor.
Other news
• City’s website is now linked to the new Quesnel-Shiraoi Twinning Society’s website, www.shiraoihouse.com.
• A technical error in Quesnel’s Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 1734 has been corrected and a public hearing date has been scheduled for Tues. May 27 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers. Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1735 will also be heard at the May 27 meeting.
• City has been successful in their application to the Local Government Management Internship program.
Important dates
July 18–20: Quesnel Rodeo Club Summer Rodeo
Aug. 24: Prospector Car Club Annual Show and Shine
Sept. 12–14: Quesnel Rodeo Club BCRA
Proclamations
May - Child Care Month