City Council Preview: Monday, February 6, 2017

Prince Rupert City council looks to get back on to their regular schedule tonight as they settle in for their first meeting for February, the first public session to take place since early January.

Last month Council cancelled their January 23rd session owing to an inability to finalize items for the Agenda, a decision which eliminated the Committee of the Whole Public forum opportunity for the city's residents and required the rescheduling of a Public Hearing on the city's plans to impose a one year moratorium on commercial marijuana businesses in the community

While the public comment opportunity for the public is lost until the end of February, the marijuana issue returns to the floor for discussion tonight with that Public Hearing set to take place prior to tonight's regular session.

As for the Agenda for tonight's Regular Session, it shouldn't make for much of a burden in the way of catch up for City Council members, as it's still a pretty light listing of topics for review.

As the evening moves forward, Council will receive a delegation from Aurora LNG who will provide an update on the progress of their proposed project at Digby Island.

The city's corporate Administrator will outline some notes for Council of a potential grant opportunity for assessment of the old CNR Railway station on the waterfront.

Council will review three requests for a Correspondence for action and release some news from a recent closed session.

They also have two Bylaw issues to discuss before the evening comes to an end.

You can review the background documentation for tonight's Regular Session from the agenda package here.

Council also will be holding a Closed Session for this evening starting at 5 PM, the city citing criteria from Section 90 of the Community Charter, noting that the public is to be excluded from those deliberations for the the following reason.

the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the residents of the municipality; and

the receipt of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.

As for the Regular  Council session that starts off with the adoption of agendas and minutes.

Petitions and Delegations 

Mr. Andrew Hamilton and Jason Gouw from Aurora LNG will make a presentation to City council.

Any Notes on Unfinished Business will follow that presentation.

Reports and Recommendations is next on the Agenda listings.

Report from the Corporate Administrator -- Regarding a grant application for a structural assessment and engineering drawings for refurbishment of the  CNR Station Heritage building.

Correspondences for Action

Correspondence from the Prince Rupert Special Events Society requesting support in their application for an NDIT Grant.

Correspondence from the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce seeking proclamation of February 20 to 24 to be known as Chamber of Commerce Week.

Correspondence from the Prince Rupert Toastmasters Club, seeking proclamation of February 2017 to be International Toastmasters Month in the City of Prince Rupert.

Resolutions from Closed Meetings, makes for the next item on the Agenda.

Council will announce that Chelsea Keays and Glen Groulx have been appointed to the Prince Rupert Library Board.

Council will also announce that Charmayne Carlson, Irene Mills, Marc Page, James Warburton, Brian Musgrave and Craig Outhet have been appointed to the Prince Rupert Business Advisory Committee with the Committee to also allow for one member of the Chamber of Commerce, being either the President, VP or 2nd VP to be included in the make up.

Bylaws mark the next item of the Agenda on the night.

Report from the Director of Operations related to the 3rd Avenue West Road Closure.

Report from the manager of Community Development related to the Interim Zoning Amendment Bylaw to temporarily establish Commercial Marijuana Operations as a Prohibited Use in All Zones.

The evening then moves on to Additional Items from Council members, as well as Reports, Questions and Inquiries from Members of Council.

Council members will also offer up any items or concerns that they have for consideration on the night.

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

Our archive of items related to the February 6th session can be found here.

While our archive of all sessions for 2017 for Council is available here.