Monday, February 6, 2023

City Council Preview: Monday, February 6, 2023


Council members open their February calendar of engagement with residents by way of a Public Hearing into the use of Shipping Containers in the community. 

A long running theme that may find some finality after the public has opportunity to comment tonight.

The Public Hearing  takes place at 6 PM, we previewed some of the elements of the proposed bylaw changes and past history to the topic with article from last week which you can review here.

The Public Hearing Agenda is available here.

As we noted last week the Regular Session will feature a significantly different approach from the past.

The New approach makes for a new look to the Agenda package and an opportunities for the public to become involved in Council sessions at the start, City staff have tidied up the language on the new provisions to note that conclusion comments at meeting's end are limited to Council members only.

As for the Agenda for the evening, the blueprint for the evening offers a range of topics up for review, most of them related to reports from a number of senior staffers and correspondences of note for Council.

Among the correspondences that Council will review, notes on the recent Regional District monthly meeting, two letters of correspondence from Lax Kw'alaams and Metlakata in support of the city's quest for Federal assistance on water infrastructure. 

Also on the correspondence list some information on a request for a proclamation towards Heritage Week, from February 20-26 and a Thank you letter from Port Edward for some recent help from the Prince Rupert Fire/Rescue Service.

Reports for Council include a review of Wayfinding Signs style guidelines, potential funding from UBCM for Emergency Preparedness support and a request for a letter of support for Tourism Prince Rupert towards a recreation project they are working on.

The focus on Bylaws on the night is directed on plans for parking amendments towards a parking specific area of the downtown core, a follow up on the night's Public Hearing on shipping containers and a Bylaw in support of the Fire/Rescue department when it comes to the use of containers in the city.

The night wraps up with a chance for Councillors to raise any issues or concerns.

Council members may also find some public comment tonight when it comes to some previous business of January, that as a local petition has been put up online, with the signatories to date seeking a second opportunity towards comment when it comes to the city's plans for parking bylaw amendments for the downtown area.

Tonight's Regular Council session starts at 7 PM and can be viewed by way of the Live Feed from the City Website, or on Cable Television from CityWest Cable channel 10/310.

The session is normally posted to the City's YouTube archive within 24 hours of the session concluding.

You can review the Regular Council Session Agenda here.  

Council will also host a Closed Session.  

The 5:00 PM meeting is closed to the public for the elements of the Community Charter cited below:

90.1 (a) personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agenda of the municipality or another position appointed by the municipality; and, (c) labour relations or other employee relations.

That Closed meeting marks the Third of the Closed Council sessions for 2023. 

The outline of Council's work ahead for the evening can be reviewed below: 

********************************************************************************

PUBLIC HEARING (6 PM)

Public Hearing Agenda

Call to Order -- The Mayor will call the Public Hearing to Order

Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3505, 2022

Report from Planning  Re:  -- Council will receive a report from Planing related to the bylaw in question, outlining the scope of the recommendations towards the use of shipping containers around the community.

Public Comment Period  -- Those in attendance will be offered the opportunity to speak to the subject of th Bylaw revisions. 

Adjournment of Public Hearing

********************************************************************************

REGULAR SESSION OF CITY COUNCIL

Adoption of Agenda and Past minutes -- The Mayor will review the Agenda for the evening and seek approval of Council  towards it. 

Public Comments regarding Agenda items -- New to the Council procedures, this period offers a chance for those in attendance to speak to any items to be addressed on the Agenda for the evening. 

Consent Agenda

Council minutes -- Council will review and adopt the minutes of the January 23rd session, as well of those of the Public Hearing, the Committee of the Whole Session and the Special Council session all held on the same evening.

Correspondences -- Board Highlights for North Coast Regional District for January 2023  (see page 11 from the Agenda)

Correspondences -- Letter form Lax Kw'alaams Band to Honourable Justin Trudeau  re: support for City's water supply infrastructure  (see page 13  from the Agenda

Correspondences -- Letter form Metlakatla Governing Council to Honourable Justin Trudeau  re: support for City's water supply infrastructure  (see page 14 from the Agenda

Correspondences -- Information and request for Municipal Proclamation for Heritage BC (see page 15  from the Agenda

Correspondences -- Thank you letter to the Prince Rupert Fire Department from the District of Port Edward  (see page 16  from the Agenda

Release of Closed Meeting Items  -- Council will release any items from Previous Closed Sessions

Recommendation

Council will be asked that all items of the Consent Agreementt be accepted and filed 

Staff Reports

Report from Planning Manager: Re Style Guideline Policy for  Way finding Signage -- Planning Manager Myfannwy Pope, will outline the nature of the wayfidning signal style guide developed by Tourism Prince Rupert and seek Council's approval of the guidelines as an official style guide for all community way finding signage moving forward.  (see page 17  from the Agenda)

Report from The Communications Manager -- Application to UBCM Community Emergency  Preparedness Fund for Emergency Support Services Capacity Funding -- Council will hear of the opportunity to apply for funding towards the UBCM Emergency Preparedness Fund for Emergency Support Services Capacity funding (see page 34 from the Agenda)

Report from The Corporate Administrator -- Request for Support for Tourism Prince Rupert  -- Council will hear details related to a request for a letter of support  for Tourism Prince Rupert towards their Kayak and Canoe Launch project.  The City's support contingent upon approval of the 2023 City of Prince Rupert Budget (see page 36  from the Agenda)

Bylaws

City of Prince Rupert Zoning Amendment Bylaw -- No. 3504, 2022 -- Council will give third reading to the City of Prince Rupert Bylaw for the proposed City of Prince Rupert Zoning amendment bylaw related to waiving parking requirements for new buildings, with the exception  of residential only buildings in the parking specific area. .(see page 37 from the Agenda)

City of Prince Rupert Zoning Amendment  Bylaw -- No. 3505, 2022 -- Council will give third reading to the City of Prince Rupert Bylaw for the proposed City of Prince Rupert Zoning Amendment towards Container use in the community (see page 46 from the Agenda)

City of Prince Rupert Fire Control and Protection Amendment Bylaw -- No. 3515 , 2023 -- Council will give first, second  and third reading to the City of Prince Rupert Bylaw towards the use of containers for storage  allowing for measures to mitigate the risks  (see page 48 from the Agenda)

Business Arising

Council Round Table and Public Question Period -- Council members will be able to use the comment period to bring up topics of note or concern.

Adjournment -- The Mayor will bring the session to a close with a call to adjourn

The live broadcast of the City Council Session can be found here, a video archive of the past sessions of Council is available from the City's YouTube archive.

Further notes related to this evening's session can be reviewed from our Council Session Archive page.  

Our archive of all of the City Council sessions for 2023 is available here.


No comments:

Post a Comment