City Council Preview, Monday, March 10, 2014

Into March, Prince Rupert City Council heads, and with the journey, a bit of a budget controversy percolating over the way that the Mayor and Council have thus far, considered taxation options for the year ahead.

Council may get the first sample of some of that controversy this evening, when they issue their call to the public to come forward with comments or concerns on their budget deliberations.

An opportunity for the public, that is featured in the early portion of Monday's line up of items for discussion.

Before they take to the Monday night session however, there is another of what is now a given at almost every Council session, that of the Closed Session.

The notice for the March 10th version of the Closed Session provides for one topic for discussion, an item which Council feels can not be discussed in open session.

The acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality.  

When Council is finished with its Closed Session business, they will then reconvene at 7 PM for their Regular public session. An evening which features a number of reports, recommendations and By Law considerations on the night.

The Monday night Agenda for their Regular session can be found here.

A guide to the night's content can be found below, the corresponding page number listed in red.

As usual the public part of the evening begins with Council reviewing the minutes of past meetings and then receiving any petitions and delegations, giving way to any unfinished business and resolutions from closed meetings.

Petitions and Delegations provide for the first bit of City Business on the night, with a Presentation from Mr. Grant Lachmuth, from the Ministry of Sport and Cultural Development. He will provide Council with an update on the Northwest Readiness Project.

The next item on the agenda, is one that will be of interest to those in the community with concerns over those Budget discussions of the last council session. As City Council allows for the first opportunity for Public Comment on their 2014 Five Year Financial Plan

Any Unfinished Business that Council has follows the public commentary session.

With Reports and Recommendations next on the night's to do list.

The first being a Report from the Corporate Administrator who will review the Application for Healthy Communities Capacity Building Grant on Behalf of the Friendship House Association. With a recommendation that Council pass a motion directing staff to proceed with the submission of the Grant Application on behalf of the Friendship House Association of Prince Rupert.  (page 13 of the Agenda)

Requests and then Correspondences for Action are next on the Agenda for Monday.

Council will hear of  a request from Len Franzen of the Northwest Fish and Wildlife Conservation Association, asking that Council write a letter to the Deputy Minister Tim Sheldan requesting that he travel to Prince Rupert to meet with the Conservation Association.      (page 16 of the Agenda)

Any resolutions from Closed Meetings will be reviewed next

Followed by a review of the Bylaws of the evening.

In that portion of the evening's work, Council will be asked to address two Bylaw amendments and a development permit.

The First Bylaw consideration of the night is that of a Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. (3344,2014) -- With Council being asked to give Second reading to the City of Prince Rupert Amendment Bylaw 3344, 2014; and Schedule a Public Hearing for 7 PM prior to the March 24th Regular Council Meeting. The Bylaw is in regard to a proposal to develop an 11 unit townhouse complex at the end of Graham Avenue. (Page 19 of the Agenda)

The next item for consideration comes by way of a Report from the City Planner, Outlining the background for a Development Permit Application for the Prince Rupert Courthouse  part of an extensive renovation program planned for the courthouse building. (page 24 of the Agenda)

Council then moves on to their final Bylaw item of the night.  Where Council will be asked to adopt the Non-Motorized Wheeled Conveyance Helmet Bylaw (3343,2014)  A process that will finally bring the much anticipated bylaw into effect in the community. (Page 36 of the Agenda)

Any additional items then will be discussed, with one topic already submitted. That of a discussion on the topic of plans from CN Rail to close the access road to Exstew campsite. Councillors will then be asked to introduce any other additional topics for discussion that they may have for the night.

The City Manager's Report, is up next for review.

With the evening then wrapping up with Reports, Questions and inquiries from Members of Council, as well as the Mayor's Report, which is then followed by adjournment.

Council next meets in Regular public session on March 24th.

The Live broadcast of the City Council session can be found here, a video archive of past sessions is available here.

Our Archive of the March 10th session can be found here, While our archive of all sessions of council this year is available here.