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| City Council meetings are back in session at City Hall, after a number of weeks of Zoom participation by the council membership |
For much of Monday night's City Council session, the City's councillors portrayed the role of studio audience, taking in a quite expansive overview of the state of health care in Prince Rupert, that as part of a near two hour presentation from a range of health care professionals from both Prince Rupert and Terrace.
The wide ranging review of a number of issues serving to clear up much in the way of misunderstanding, while providing some detail to the challenges in place at the moment and the plans for the future which will see a number of new physicians and specialists arriving in the city over the next six months or so.
Upon the completion of the presentation, the Councillors made quick work of a light agenda, which included approval towards a Development Permit, approval of the Community Enhancement Grants for 2022, a letter of support for the Golf Course and some discussion on plans for a zoning change at Sloan and McKay.
Some background on the work of Council for the night, can be reviewed from the Regular Agenda package for the November 8 session available here.
Council also hosted a Closed meeting, marking the twentieth such session which has been closed to the public in 2021.
The details related to the reasons for the in camera session can be reviewed here.
The night also featured the return to the Council Chamber for the Councillors following their more recent period of virtual sessions, though the Council chambers seemingly remain closed to the public as part of the Public Health orders.
Council had scheduled a Public Hearing related to a zoning change request for a property at Sloan and McKay, however there is no archive record available of that session for review.
Further information from our overview and placement in the video archive can be found below, with the permanent record of the council minutes added as they are posted to the city website.
In attendance Monday, November 8, 2021
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, November 8, 2021
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( 0:00--2:30 ) Regular City Council Session for Monday, November 8, 2021 -- Mayor Lee Brain called the session to order, adopting past minutes and the Agenda for the session.
As part of the meeting opening, he welcomed new City Manager Rob Buchan to his post, for his part, Mr. Buchan introduced the new City Planner for the community announcing the hiring of Coralei Breen to the post, providing a short synopsis of her career arc to this point.
( 2:30 --1:45:00 ) Presentation from Representatives of Northern Health -- Council Members received an extensive overview of the current challenges for Health Care in the region, as well as a pretty optimistic forecast for the year ahead in recruitment and retainment of physicians and health professionals for the city and Prince Rupert Regional Hospital.
The participants included Julia Pemberton the Health Services Administrator in the Prince Rupert area, Dr. Jaco Fourie from Terrace who is the Medical Director of the Northwest, Ciro Panessa Chief Operating Officer in the Northwest, and Dr. Guillame Coetzee Chief of Staff in Prince Rupert who provided for the fullest overview of the local situation.
A review which noted that some of the current staffing situations have come from burn out and fatigue with local staff, as well as a few staff members related to the recent Public Health Order on vaccination status. The group also observed how retirements and relocations have provided for challenges across the region.
The early portion of the session provided a look at the scope of the departing physicians in the community many of them after long service in the community and how the recruitment process is moving forward; with new arrivals on the way currently and the situation set to improve locally towards the middle portion of 2022.
How that recruitment process works was a significant part of the overview, both in the challenges being faced owing to COVID and the special skill sets that they are looking to locate to the community, with Ms. Pemberton making note of some of the usefulness found in the Make Prince Rupert Home campaign of recent months, as well as the engagement of some of the Council members in helping with the recruitment process.
Northern Health has also taken steps towards temporary housing for new arriving staff to allow them the time to explore housing options that suit their needs, the overview included how local Health authority office has built some team leadership created over the last eighteen months, as well as to outline some of the projects that they have in place locally to deal with the significant shortfalls of medical professionals here.
A good portion of the near two hour presentation explored the approach that Northern Health is taking towards health care in the Northwest, with a comprehensive plan to ensure that services and capacity building is available in the many communities of the Northwest.
Among the measures they continue to work on creating Educator positions, adding to in house training operations, offering more HR support positions and creation of daycare partnerships for health care workers on shift work.
A look at some of the improvements at the Prince Rupert hospital made for the review, with most of the main floor reworking to be completed by the end of 2022, with new laboratory and other services in place.
Building capacity in the Prince Rupert Operating room is also a focus for the Northern Health team as they outlined some of the specialist areas that they are hoping to bring to the three Operating rooms in the community.
The Terrace contingent addressed some of the concerns over the build of the new Mills Memorial Hospital, noting of what it will offer in the way of critical care and mental health and psychiatric themes, while looking to reassure Prince Rupert officials that overall health care in the city won't be impacted.
Accessing Health Care across the region made for an overview of the Northern Health Connections Bus service and the vital role it plays in providing a health care resource in the region.
One of the key areas of note prior to the presentation was to introduce a Local Health Committee to reflect local concerns, but instead of creating a new program, Ms. Pemberton recommended returning to the Healthy Communities Integration Committee which stopped a few years ago, something which City Council would subsequently note as a good option moving forward for the community.
The Councillors followed up with a range of questions, as well as compliments for the thorough overview of the evening.
Councillor Nicky Adey noting of their work as an articulate review of the questions that Council had provided prior to the night and a portrait of a nuanced and evolving work in progress.
Among a key area of focus for the Councillor was the work on mental health and the needs that still exist, which offered the opportunity for a wider overview of the approach Northern health has towards that area of health care in the region.
Councillor Cunningham noted of the challenges for those in Northern Health, then spoke to two areas of note from the presentation for him; that of orthopaedic services and the concept of responding to population demand and how Northern health decides that factor, noting of the prospect of quick growth in Prince Rupert owing to port development.
A discussion over the volume of General Practitioners practicing in the region led to a correction on perceptions, with the Terrace Health official noting that there is currently significant shortage of GP's in the Terrace area, a situation which is quite difficult than what Prince Rupert faces.
There was also an update on the COPD clinic to be named after former Councillor Nelson Kinney was outlined, with discussions with family continuing at the moment.
Councillor Niesh had a question related to the impact on Operations in Prince Rupert of the Public Health Order on vaccinations. Towards that discussion it was note that no physicians have been included in that total, with local totals providing for a minimum impact at under a dozen.
Councillor Mirau followed up with themes on the approach towards forming the health committee planning, as well as to explore the area of designing a master plan for Hospital operations in Prince Rupert and advancing the timeline of that project considering the expansion of industrial growth planned for the community.
Councillor Randhawa's focus was on advice from the Northern Health officials on the ongoing work towards taking on the challenges of COVID, something which offered an opportunity to speak to the themes of vaccination and community support in Prince Rupert as we continue to deal with a fourth wave of the coronavirus.
Mayor Brain Brought the presentation to an end, noting of his efforts to lend a hand in recruitment of physicians in the community, while noting that while the theme of Health Care is not a role specific to a City Council, while also putting in motion the City's involvement for the rejuvenated Community health consultation initiative.
( 1:45:00 -- 1:46:30 ) Report from iPlan related to Development Permit Process for a property on First Avenue West -- Council voted to move forward with the Development permit for the property
With no concerns to share over the request, Council moved forward with the process.
( 1:46:30 -- 1:49:00 ) Report from Chief Financial Officer Corinne Bomben on the Community Enhancement Grant Program for 2022 -- Ms. Corinne Bomben provided a short overview of the background towards the process noting of the impact of COVID and the need for flexibility of cash awards, noting of some challenges for the Operation Fund in the year ahead for 2022, the recommendation of the Finance Office was for no increase to the amount awarded for the year ahead which is set at 1.36 million dollars.
Council accepted the recommendations of the cash awards.
Towards any comments Councillor Adey thanked staff for their work and noted he supported their recommendations.
The other council members had no questions for the CFO related to her report.
( 1:49:00 -- 1:49:30 ) Report from the Corporate Administrator -- Request for support from the Prince Rupert Golf Club -- The Mayor relayed the notes from the Corporate Administrator with council approving the request to provide the letter of Support for the Golf Course.
There was no discussion on the topic
Bylaws
( 1:49:30 -- 1:57:00 ) Report related to Consolidation of Lots/Rezoning for property at Sloan and McKay -- City Manager Rob Buchan outlined some of the background to the topic, with Council members providing for a few points of note on the issue.
Councillor Adey noted that this is the second time that they have considered something that is already in place, he also had questions related to the difference between the two Zoning options on the property, and calling attention to areas of concern related to height.
Mr. Buchan explained that if height is a concern that a covenant could be put on the property, something that Councillor Adey suggested would be appropriate in this case.
Councillor Cunningham called attention to his concerns over the aspect of parking towards the property and the number of units and also concerns over ongoing construction with no building permit on display.
Towards those concerns staff offered up the option of preparing a final report on compliance, with the Council then making a requisition that one be provided prior to final approval.
Councillor Randhawa sought some clarification on the nature of the height issues, with the Mayor noting that the reasons for keeping the property height in places to ensure that it remains in its existing footprint.
From that Council moved forward with the process.
( 1:57:00 -- 1:58:00 ) Questions, Comments, Reports or Inquiries from Council
Councillor Cunningham used the period to offer his congratulations to CHSS Drama Teacher Alison O'Toole, that in recognition of her award as Drama Teacher of the year in BC
He also called attention to some safety issues in the community noting of the changing time and weather conditions and how it can impact on both driver and pedestrian safety.
Councillor Skelton-Morven observed that Monday was National Aboriginal Veteran's Day sharing some thoughts and paying tribute to their service.
And with that the November 8th session came to an end.
You can access our Council Session page 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 November 8, 2021
(not available yet)
The next scheduled Regular Council session as part of their reduced summer schedule will take place on Monday, November 25.
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