City Council Preview, Monday, October 6, 2014

Fresh from their recent efforts at UBCM in Whistler and with the 2014 Municipal election campaign now officially underway, the roster of those currently sitting on Prince Rupert City Council will return to the Council chamber for the first time since mid September.

For this evening, the local work load would seem to suggest a fairly long evening might be in store for those in attendance, with staff ready to deliver a number of reports to Council for their consideration.

The most intriguing item of the evening perhaps, a presentation from City Planner Zeno Krekic, who will provide his report on Planning for Major Projects, with a focus tonight on the Housing and Community Engagement.  Such is the scope of his work, that the city posted a copy of his work on the Agenda page for tonight's session, providing more background on what he will be delivering to Council tonight (see the report here)

As for some of the other items of note for Council business this evening, beyond the usual features of a Council Session. Monday will find Council members reviewing a report on Community Enhancement Grants and potential changes to how those grants are delivered.

Council will also give consideration to a number of proclamation requests, as well as examine an Application for a Development Variance Permit.

The City's Financial Officer will provide two reports, one of the Permissive Property Tax Exemption Bylaw and the other an Amendment to the 2014 Five Year Financial Plan Amendment.

Prior to the Public Regular session of 7 PM, Council will meet in a Closed session.

The notice for the October 6th version of the Closed Session provides for a topic which offers up little as to the nature up for discussion, but provides for a conversation which Council feels cannot be discussed in open session.

That  the meeting be closed to the public under section 90 of the Community Charter to consider items relating to one or more of the following: 

(b) the consideration of information received and held in confidence relating to negotiations between the municipality and a provincial government or the federal government or both, or between a provincial government or the federal government or both and a third party.


When Council is finished with its Closed Session business, they will then tackle the items of interest on the night for their Regular Council Agenda, the listing of which can be found here.

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

The session starts off with the regular adoption of agendas and minutes.

Petitions and Delegations is next on the listing, followed by any Unfinished Business.

Council then moves on to a review of the Reports and Recommendations.

A Report from the Executive Assistant and Chief Financial Officer Regarding the 2015 Community Enhancement Grants (Page 8 of the Agenda)

Requests and Correspondences for Action are next on the Agenda list

A Request from the Recycling Council of British Columbia -- Seeking to have Council Proclaim October 20-26 as National Waste Reduction Week (Page 11 of the Agenda)

A Request from the Kaien Anti-Poverty Society -- Seeking to have Council Proclaim October 17th as International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (Page 14 of the Agenda)

Receive a letter from Reverend Jason Haggstrom, Vice Chair PRAMA, St. Andrew's Cathedral -- Regarding Social Housing and other Social issues in light of economic growth (Page 15 of the Agenda)

Resolutions from Closed Meetings (if any are to be provided) appear next on the Agenda, followed Bylaws and Development Permits.

Council will receive a Memorandum from the City Manager regarding an application for a Development Variance Permit for a property on Atlin Avenue (Page 16 of the Agenda)

The City Planners Report on Housing Community Engagement is next, with Mr. Krekic providing his overview on his report (Page 25 of the Agenda)

The City's Financial Officer is next with two reports, the first a Review of amendments to the 2013-15 Permissive Property Tax Exemption Bylaw (Page 38 of the Agenda)

The second report from Ms. Bomben, is on the theme of the 2014 Rive Year Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw (Page 52 of the Agenda)

Any Additional Items from Council Members are next on the night's to do list.

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

Following tonight's session Council takes another three weeks away from the grind of municipal governance, next meeting in Regular public session on October 20th.

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 October 6th session can be found here.

While our archive of all sessions of council this year is available here.