They weren't quite packing their bags yet, but with a UBCM meeting in the near future, the only Regularly scheduled City Council session for the month of September did not feature much in the way of local content or discussion.
With the vast majority of the evening turned over to a presentation on Child Care from Michelle Kirby of the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Forty seven minutes of Monday's one hour and seven minute City Council session explored a wide range of material related to the province's Child Care plans for British Columbia over the next ten years.
For the remaining twenty minutes, City Council for the most part took care of a number of outstanding notes from their previous Council session of August and the Special Council session of last week.
Among the areas covered, requests for a property variance, approval of a development permit and adoption of amendments to the City's Five Year Financial plan as well as some new elements for the Permissive Tax Exemption process.
Council also approved a contract award for the removal of one of three fuel tanks in Moresby Park.
As the evening was winding down, Councillor Adey raised the issue of the troubles facing the fishing industry this summer and offered some suggestions as to how the city may be able to lend some support locally, while Councillor Randhawa once again raised the concerns he has heard about the level of service provided by VIA rail to the city.
Some background on the work of Council on the evening and the various Regular Agenda elements for the September 9th Council session can be explored here.
Further information from our overview and placement in the video archive can be found below, with the permanent record of the minutes added as they are posted to the city website.
In attendance Monday, September 9, 2019
Mayor Lee Brain -- Present
Councillor Nick Adey -- Present
Councillor Barry Cunningham -- Present
Councillor Blair Mirau -- Present
Councillor Reid Skelton-Morven -- Present
Councillor Wade Niesh -- Present
Councillor Gurvinder Randhawa-- Present
Video Archive for Monday, September 9, 2019
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Regular Council Session
(0:00 -- 1:00 ) Regular City Council Session for Monday, September 9, 2019 -- Mayor Brain called the Regular Council Session to order, with Council adopting the agenda and past minutes of previous minutes. He also called attention to an addition to the evening's agenda an application to amend the Quality of Life bylaw for a property on Biggar Place.
Petitions and Delegations
Council received a presentation from Michelle Kirby from the Ministry of Children and Family Development who provided a comprehensive review of the range of child care programming and capital funding that is available.
Ms Kirby who is on a tour of the Northwest had previously presented to the Terrace City Council earlier in the day
Her forty five minute overview included a look at the results that the Province is looking to achieve through their 10 year Childcare BC program, focusing on the three pillars of the program of affordability, accessibility and Quality child care.
Her breakdown on the scope of a number of child care initiatives that are offered across British Columbia included those that make use of public facilities and what some of the communities across the province have found from the models that they have chosen to adopt.
She also offered up a number of areas where communities can access the funding towards developing their own child care spaces, noting money available through such organizations at the Northern Development Initiative Trust and other bodies.
One model she made note of was theme of partnerships between local communities and School Districts, providing some examples as to how that approach could be explored in Prince Rupert.
As for questions, Councillor Niesh inquired about the process for parents to use to access the funding that may be available, while Councillor Cunningham inquired if the funding to be provided would be consistent both for southern and northern British Columbia.
Councillor Adey commented at how Child Care provision is an important aspect towards bringing professionals and other workers to the community.
Councillor Skelton-Morven offered up some thoughts on how the City could explore options on how to make use of local assets and buildings towards the delivery of child care.
Councillor Mirau explored themes on how the province is using the current initiatives towards further expansion of possible universal child care. He also followed up on some of the models that were outlined earlier seeking more background on how the three municipally led programs worked.
Councillor Cunningham inquired on how the models that feature a partnership with School Districts were working out and what other notes Ms. Kirby had on those projects. He also made note of some of the challenges facing families as they seek out child care options.
Councillor Randhawa asked where residents could find more information about the Child Care benefit programs, he was advised that locally they could contact the Berry Patch or the Government Office as well residents can seek out more background online.
Mayor Brain noted some of the local work that the City has explored on the theme over the summer through discussions with MLA Rice, as well as part of the Redesign Rupert program.
The City has noted that further information on the province's plans can be accessed through this link which outlines much of the background to the program.
Reports and Recommendations
( 47:30 -- 51:00 ) Report from the City Planner in relation to an application for a Development Variance Permit for a property on Seventh Avenue East -- As was the case during the August meeting, it was not explained during the course of Monday's session; that as Councillor Wade Niesh was the applicant for the Variance for the property, he had stepped out of the Council chamber during the discussion of the request.
As for the four variances under review, Mr. Krekic observed that the main focus involved the creation of a covered entrance extension at the front and a deck on the back of the property. The City planner noted that no objections had been received as a result of the application.
Council members had no questions or concerns related to the application and Council moved the process forward towards final consideration.
Mr. Niesh returned to the Council chamber following that vote.
( 51:00 -- 53:30 ) Report from the City Planner in relation to an Development Permit application from Rupert Lawn and Garden for the Bellis Road location -- For this report and also not explained during the course of Monday's session, Councillor Mirau is associated with the applicant for the Variance for the property, and he too had stepped out of the Council chamber during the discussion of the request.
As for the project, Mr. Krekic provided for an overview of the proposed development at the Rupert Lawn and Garden Centre in the Seal Cove area, he outlined how the proposed building will sit over the footprint of the existing building and will feature both a garden shop and a coffee shop once built.
Councillor Cunningham noted how it would be a plus for the neighbourhood and how it will fit in nicely should the City begin development of other elements for the Seal Cove area.
Council voted to issue the Development permit.
Mr. Mirau returned to the Council chamber following that vote.
( 53:30 -- 54:30 ) Report from the Chief Financial Officer presenting the Financial Variance Report for July -- Corinne Bomben, the City's Financial Officer outlined the range of financials with the focus of the report for July noting that all the revenues and expenses continued to be on track with the overall budget.
She did observe how the only variance of note was in the fiscal expenditures which included the Ridley Island Tax Sharing payment to Port Edward. For this year, the City of Prince Rupert has transferred 1.25 million dollars an increase from last years amount which was 878,000 dollars, she noted that the increase had been budgeted for at the start of the year
Councillor Cunningham had one question on the state of Woodworth Lake dam construction, Ms. Bomben called attention to the work of City Council in their Special Council meeting of last week and observed that the amendment to the five year plan noted that the majority of the construction of the dam would take place next year.
Mr. Cunningham asked if there would be any start on the dam in this current year and Ms. Bomben answered in the affirmative.
( 54:30 -- 56:30 ) Report from the Chief Financial Officer on Permissive Property Tax Exemptions -- Ms Bomben, outlined the revisions to the Property Tax policy, as well as process ahead for the call for applications for consideration for this year. She noted that the increase in exemption this year is estimated to be around 50,000.
Council voted to give first, second and third readings to the bylaw.
( 56:30 -- 57:00 ) Report from the Chief Financial Officer on Amendments to the 2019 Five Year Financial Plan-- Mayor Brain asked if the CFO had anything to add from their discussions on the Amendment at last Tuesday's Special Council Session, with Ms. Bomben having no additional notes to add. Council members also had nothing to contribute to the discussion with no comments or questions offered, from that point Council then voted to approve and adopt the Amendment bylaw.
Council voted to give first, second and third readings to the bylaw.
( 57:00 -- 57:30 ) Report Application to amend the Quality of Life Official community Plan bylaw related to property on Biggar Place -- Mayor Brain noted that they probably didn't need a report on the topic from the City Planner, and called for a vote by Council on the Amendments
Council voted to give final reading to the amendment.
( 57:30 -- 59:30 ) Report from the Chief Financial Officer on the proposed removal of the Number Three tank in Moresby Park -- Ms. Bomben observed that she was presenting the report as the Director of Operations was not available to deliver it on the night, She provided Council with the details of some of the history of the plan to remove the tank in the Park, with the Operations Department recommending that the contract award be given to Sumas Environmental Services.
With funding for the project approved just minutes previous as part of the Financial Amendment bylaw, she observed that with a positive resolution from Council the work at the Moresby site would be able to get underway in 2019.
Councillor Adey inquired as to the fate of the remaining two tanks in the park, in reply Ms. Bomben noted that they would definitely be considered in future years; noting that the tank selected for removal is the one that could be compromised if previous repairs to it should fail.
Council voted to approve the motion.
( 59:30 -- 1:07:00 ) Reports and Comments from Council members
Councillor Adey raised the topic of the situation facing workers in the local fishing industry, recounting for the Council members his recent conversation with Joy Thorkelson, the President of UFAWU-Unifor at the Fisherman's Hall and the dire nature of the situation on the North Coast.
From that conversation he made note of a letter that the labour organization has sent to the Federal Fisheries and environmental ministers as well as their provincial counterparts. He highlighted the various elements of that letter, including the two asks that they made of the Federal government.
The first that the Federal Government recognize this as an emergency and respond in terms of support, pointing to the relief offered during the wildfire situations previous. They also asked for a meeting, though he was not sure if any progress has been made on either request.
Looking ahead to City Council's October calendar, the Councillor suggested that if the situation has not been resolved by that time, that Council should invited Ms. Thorkelson to City Council chambers to provide an update on the situation and provide Council with some guidance as to how they could assist as there may be a role that City Council could play.
As well, he observed that City Council could provide for a letter of support towards the actions that they are taking to advocate for their members.
Mayor Brain thanked the councillor for bringing the issue to the attention of the Council members and then asked that he interface with Ms. Thorkelson prior to the next Council session in October to provide for a timeline for the initiatives that he suggest and to set in motion those elements.
Councillor Cunningham also offered some thoughts on the issue, noting how we are reaching a crisis situation on the North Coast similar to what was found in Newfoundland during the Cod crisis years ago where the Federal government did step in to help. He noted how everyone needs to work together and that the Federal Government needs to realized that the situation facing West Coast fishermen is the same as that which faced those on the East Coast.
He noted that he was in favour of any action that would put pressure on the Federal government to recognize that the Salmon industry in BC is in a crisis situation if not an emergency situation, noting how it requires immediate action and the sooner the better.
He also noted how the troubles of the fishery are obvious in Prince Rupert where the heydays of the fleet coming to town and money in everyones pocket are gone and may never come back.
Councillor Randhawa once again raised issues of the VIA Rail service between Prince Rupert and Prince George and how the route is often behind schedule by a significant amount of time, He requested that City Council forward a letter to VIA Rail and CN to raise the city's concern over the issue.
Councillor Skelton-Morven updated Council on an upcoming event at City Hall, with World Suicide Awareness Day to take place in front of City Hall during the noon hour of Tuesday
Not mentioned as part of the wrap up to the session is that the Mayor, Council members and Senior Staff will be travelling to the UBCM next week for the week long municipal government convention
With no other concerns of note on other topics, the Mayor brought the evening to a close.
You can access the City Council Review for September 9th here, where a number of items regarding the council session, including links to local media coverage, can also be found.
As always, our Council Timeline is only a reflection of our observations from the Council session of the night. Be sure to consult with the official minutes from the City, when posted to their website for further review.
Official Minutes of the Regular Council Session from September 9, 2019 (not available yet)
In addition to the city's official minutes, the City's Video archive provides a helpful record of the events from each public council session.
Council members next meet on Monday 7, October, 2019.
To return to the most recent blog posting of the day, click here.
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