City Council Preview: Monday, January 25, 2021

City Council members return to their public duties this evening, with the second and final of the Regular City Council sessions for the month set for a 7PM start.

On the evening, Council is set to receive a flurry of reports from their contract planner iPlan, with assistant planner Chris Buchan having worked on three separate files set to be reviewed by Council this evening.

Among the themes that the iPlan group will explore for council, will be a review of the City's Parking Standards, recommendations towards a proposed Development Approval information bylaw and a look at his work on an updated Development procedures bylaw.

Council will also provide fourth and final reading towards the Downtown Core Revitalization Tax Exemption program bylaw, that concept was first suggested by iPlan's founding consultant Rob Buchan.

A request for a variance for a property on Parker Drive is also on the agenda for this evening.

With Public Orders in place towards Social Gathering, a note posted to the Agenda Page for tonight's session indicates the this evening's meeting once again will be a remote participation affair, with no members of the public allowed into the Chamber.

"In accordance with current Provincial Orders, scheduled Regular Council Meetings have moved to a remote format for public access. In the interests of public health and safety, at this time no one will be permitted into City Hall to view in the gallery, in order to ensure we can maintain physical distancing requirements. Staff and Council attendance is also limited, with most calling in via conference. Thank you for your understanding." -- An update on the process ahead for Council sessions from the Agenda Page for Prince Rupert City Council

That also appears to mean that the Committee of the Whole process, which allows for the once a month public comment opportunity, the only public engagement that is offered at a Council session, is also suspended.

Those with an interest in tonight's council session can view the Live Feed from the City website, or on Cable Television from CityWest Cable Channel 10/310.

Council members continue to make use of the Closed Council process this evening, with a Special Closed Session set for 5 PM   citing three items from the Community Charter as the reason to exclude the public.

90.1  (c) labour relations or other employee relations

(e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that such disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality

(g) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality

You can review the Regular Council Agenda here.   

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REGULAR SESSION OF CITY COUNCIL

Adoption of Agenda and Past minutes -- Mayor Brain will review the agenda for the evening and Council will adopt the minutes of past meetings.

Resolutions

Report from the Corporate Administrator related to a Development Variance permit request  -- Council will review the report from Ms. Rosa Miller related to a property located on Parker Drive.  (See page  7 of the Agenda)

Bylaws

Report from the Corporate Administrator -- Re: Downtown Core Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw -- Council will review and give Fourth and Final Reading towards the implementation of the Tax Exemption Bylaw.  (See page 17 of the Agenda)

Report from the iPlan Limited -- Re: Parking standards and analysis and proposed amendments to the Draft OCP and Draft Zoning bylaw --Council will review the report from Chris Buchan and then consider recommendation to proceed to Public Hearing following guidelines and recommendations set out by Provincial Health Orders  (See page 33  of the Agenda)

Report from the Corporate Administrator -- Re: Proposed Development Approval Information Bylaw -- Council will review the report from Chris Buchan and then provide First Second and Third Readings to the Development Procedure Bylaw  (See page 62  of the Agenda)

Report from the Corporate Administrator -- Re: Updated Development Procedures Bylaw -- Council will review the report from Chris Buchan and then provide First Second and Third Readings to the Development Procedure Bylaw.  (See page 103  of the Agenda)

The evening will come to an end with any Additional Items as well as Reports, Questions and Inquiries from Members of Council.

Council members can  take advantage of the period to 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 items of note related to the January 25, 2021 session can be reviewed here.  

While our archive of all sessions for 2021 for Council is available here.