City residents will have a number of opportunities to make their views known to Council on Monday, ranging from a Public Hearing on a proposed Housing development, to the Committee of the Whole session and what turns into the open mike opportunity to ask about any question that residents may have.
As well, in the Regular Council session an opportunity will be provided to the public, for those with questions or concerns over the City's proposed Five year financial plan.
So should the city's residents be in an inquisitive mood, the evening could be a fairly lengthy one.
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 24th version of the Closed Session provides for a couple of topics for discussion, on items which Council feels cannot be discussed in open session.
Personal information about an individual who is being considered for a municipal award or honour, or who has offered to provide a gift to the municipality on condition of anonymity.
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 with two items on the list before they reach their Regular Public session. One a Public Hearing on a proposed development for Graham Avenue and the second the start of the Committee of the Whole meeting, with offers the public an opportunity to bring up any questions that they may have for Council.
As for their Regular public session. It's an evening which features a number of reports, including one on the City's Five Year Financial plan, which should provide for some spirited discussion in Council Chambers. As well a number of other 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 Ms. Stephanie Allen from BC Housing, outlining Housing Development in the region.
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 another 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 Fire Chief regarding the proposed purchase of a New Rescue Van, with the recommendation to council that they award the building of the vehicle to Rocky Mountain Phoenix of Red Deer, Alberta at a cost of $338,904 (page 8 of the Agenda)
The first public report from the City's New Economic Development Officer is next on the agenda, as Paul Venditelli makes the case for the city to provide a letter in support of a dry dock to be constructed in the community (see page 11 of the Agenda)
The City's Financial Officer provides a report outlining the Options and Challenges of the 2014 Five Year Financial Plan, Ms. Bomben will present four potential options, based on a variety of economic factors and challenges.
At the end of her report she makes her recommendation of Option 1, which would see a 10.2 percent tax increase for 2014, 6.54 percent for 2015 and an 8.16 per cent increase for 2016 (see page 15 of the Agenda)
Requests and then Correspondences for Action are next on the Agenda for Monday.
Council will hear of a request from Mr. Michael McLaughlin, seeking Council's support by way of a letter for BC Ocean Boating Tourism's application for a Grant from Northern Development Initiatives Trust (see page 29 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 Third reading to the City of Prince Rupert Amendment Bylaw 3344, 2014; this follows the public hearing process that took place prior to the Council session. The Bylaw is in regard to a proposal to develop an 11 unit townhouse complex at the end of Graham Avenue. (Page 39 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 Multi Family Development on Graham Avenue. (page 45 of the Agenda)
Any additional items then will then be discussed.
A Report from the City Manager is next.
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 April 14.
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 24th session can be found here, While our archive of all sessions of council this year is available here.
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