Local Politics
Politics
|
Budget 2012 discussion continues
Quesnel City Council met for the second time on the 2012 budget to receive an operating budget update, review the supplemental (new spending) project list, and review the 2012 capital project lists in detail. Dollar figures or percentages referred to in Budget 2012 news are subject to change and should not be considered final until the budget process is complete.
Operating budget update
Council received an update regarding the 2012 operating budget. During the last budget meeting, Council resolved to use new construction in the major industry class to reduce taxation to the major industry class only, in keeping with a policy adopted by Council as part of last year's Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw. A recent correction to the January roll received from the BC Assessment Authority, however, reduced the amount of new construction in the class to less than $500,000 (estimate) versus the $2.3 million on the January roll. As a result, the tax benefit of the new construction to the major industry class has been reduced to less than $12,000 (as opposed to $70,000).
|
Infrastructure update provided
Council received a report summarizing the results of the 2011 Quesnel Works: Capital Reinvestment Program paving work, as well as an update regarding the City's water and sewer utilities. Council approved a list of five projects with project estimates of $350,000 in April 2011, with funds to come from the Quesnel Works reserve. The actual funds spent in 2011 totalled $337,128, or 96.32% of the budget. Included in the spending was one extra project, the widening of Juniper Road by two metres for a bicycle path. Regarding the utilities update, there were four sewer breaks in 2010, and six in 2011. In 2010 there were five water main breaks, with five more in 2011.
RCMP cameras to be upgraded
Council gave early approval for funding from the 2012 capital budget to pay for security camera upgrades at the RCMP detachment to reduce the risk of potential liability. An RCMP mandate requires that detachment cells be retrofitted to reduce the risk of detainee injury and suicide, limit the ability of detainees to create or conceal weapons, and to optimize detainee viewing. In addition, the Province of BC requires closed-circuit video equipment where detainees interact with police personnel.The tender was awarded to StandGuard Enterprises Inc. for $102,447 plus HST. The company has prior experience working in other BC police detachments and is familiar with the technical requirements. The project will be funded with $50,000 coming from the 2011 budget and the remainder from the 2012 budget.
Bob Simpson: we live in an amazing part of the province
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at home and the ability to get around the riding over the last month. We live in an amazing part of the province and, as much as I like Victoria, it’ll be hard to head back down there for the spring session, which starts on February 14th and runs through to the end of May.
Despite starting on Valentine’s Day, I don’t expect this session to be a love-in. The Liberal Party’s attack ads, the teacher’s dispute, log exports, the state of our justice system, child poverty and the provincial budget will provide a lot of fodder for partisan debate. Much of the rhetoric in the Legislature will likely be oriented toward the two upcoming by-elections.
MLA Bob Simpson: preparing for spring legislative sessions
Unlike Premier Campbell when we never knew if the legislature would sit, Premier Clark has posted the full legislative calendar for this year and it shows we’ll have full spring and fall legislative sessions.
Since we did not prorogue the last fall session, Premier Clark’s Throne Speech from the fall carries over and so does some of the outstanding legislation from that session, particularly the Local Government Auditor General Act that has been called into question by the Union of BC Municipalities.
Council Clippings - Monday January 16, 2012
Climate Action report reviewed
Council received the City's Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program's public report for 2011. The report lists a number of the City's sustainability initiatives and is one of the requirements that allows the City to be reimbursed for the carbon tax it pays annually.
Some of the highlights for 2011 include: Identifying Sustainability in all Planning as a 2011 Council strategic goal, completing three kilometres of pedestrian trails, completing a leak inspection survey of selected City water lines and repairing leaks, and video inspection of selected City sewer lines, planting 71 trees in West Fraser Timber Park, extending transit to a new multi-family area, adding a solar-powered trash compactor at Spirit Square, updating the City's Water Conservation Strategy, partnering with BC Hydro to promote energy efficiency retrofit programs in commercial buildings, ongoing efforts by the City staff-led "our Team" to actively promote workplace sustainability initiatives, working towards developing a transportation Master Plan, updating the community recycling guide.
21stcCentury value-added forest industry
Last year I was appointed to the government’s Bioeconomy Committee along with MLAs John Yap, John Rustad, Eric Foster and Ron Cantelon. We were given a mandate to determine if an opportunity exists for BC to take advantage of the emerging bioeconomy and, if so, recommend what initial steps government should take to maximize this opportunity.
This week the Bioeconomy Committee report was released at the Natural Resources’ Forum in Prince George: http://www.bcnaturalresourceforum.com/.
