Monday's Council one hour and seven minute session was for the most part focused entirely on the 2024 Budget, with a final snapshot on the public engagement from the Chief Financial Officer serving as the introduction for some extensive commentary from the Council membership towards the decisions that they had to make towards the document for this year.
The 57 minute preamble from the Committee of the Whole session provided for the call for direction to staff to move forward with the Five Year Plan and complete Council's Budget work, which they adopted in the Regular Council Session.
As for the Regular session, there were few items of note for discussion from the Agenda for Council who made quick work of the items listed, leaving for five minutes of discussion on a range of themes at the end of the session.
The Committee of the Whole Agenda can be reviewed here.
The Agenda for Regular session can be reviewed here.
The Notice of the Closed Session can be reviewed.
Further information from our overview and placement in the video archives can be found below; with the permanent record of the Council minutes added as they are posted to the city website.
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In attendance: Tuesday, November 27, 2023
Mayor Herb Pond -- Present
Councillor Nick Adey -- Present
Councillor Barry Cunningham -- Present
Councillor Teri Forster -- Present
Councillor Reid Skelton-Morven -- Participated by Zoom
Councillor Wade Niesh -- Present
Councillor Gurvinder Randhawa -- Present
Video Archive for Tuesday, November 27, 2023
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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE SESSION OF CITY COUNCIL
Approval of Agenda -- Mayor Point reviewed the Agenda of the November 27 session and gained approval of Council towards it.
The first element of the Committee session was a call for Public Comment towards the 2024 Draft Budget, with Mayor Pond expressing some surprise that there were no members of the public in the gallery to take advantage of the comment opportunity.
The mayor provided for a few minutes of grace for any late arriving members to attend the session, however none arrived by the three minute mark he allowed for.
Mr. Pond provided a timeline of the Budget process which started on November 6th and observed on the public session at Coast Mountain College which he highlighted as well attended and providing for some good feedback.
The Mayor then called on Chief Financial Officer Corinne Bomben for a synopsis of some of the feedback the city received during the month long budget process, all of the documentation is included in the Agenda package for the Committee meeting.
From that short overview, Ms. Bomben then asked Council to direct staff to prepare the Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw using amendments presented in Attachment 3 of information attached to the Agenda.
The Mayor then introduced the recommendation to direct staff moving forward.
He then asked the CFO to provide a bit of an overview as to where Prince Rupert is compared to other communities, she outlined how Prince Rupert was about middle of the pack, noting of the higher rates found in some Okanagan as well as the proposed tax hike in Terrace of 9%
She also observed how Prince Rupert offers some services that other communities don't have to fund.
The Mayor then opened the Committee of the Whole session as the forum for Council conversation on the Budget, offering a chance for Council members to share their thoughts on the process that had moved forward over the month.
To open the conversation, Councillor Forster asked for some background on the level of service for Fire Rescue services between Terrace and Prince Rupert, with the Mayor and Councillor Cunningham providing some details on the differing nature of the two services. With the main focus that of how Terrace a hybrid of professional and volunteer members, while Prince Rupert's is a completely professional service.
Councillor Cunningham returned to a theme from a previous meeting related to the level of service the Prince Rupert Fire Department may provide to industrial users, the CFO outlined how the City's Fire Chief would not allow the city's fire service to attend any situation that they are not trained for.
The Mayor noted of some unusual circumstances for the meeting on the night, with Ms. Bomben serving as the Acting City Manager, noting that Mr. Buchan was on a well deserved vacation. He also noted that Councillor Skelton-Morven was participating from Vancouver as he was taking care of a family member in hospital there.
He also noted that Councillor Niesh had just arrived back in the city just in time to attend the council session.
Mr. Pond also observed that when it comes to city's plans for fire service to Industrial areas, the City Manager upon his return would be coming back with a bylaw to the topic.
Returning to the budget discussion, Councillor Nick Adey spoke to differences between Prince Rupert taxation and other communities and the challenges it provides province wide.
To the budget in front of the city and its call for 7.7 tax increase, Adey flagged a few items of note from public commentary those of Community Grants and the Lester Centre contract in particular and the ongoing public discussion on the closed 4th Avenue Walkway. The latter a topic that also generated some questions from Councillor Terri Forster.
He also asked for some clarification on the nature of the Prince Rupert Library, their contract with workers and the city's financial contribution to the service.
At the end of the discussion Mr. Adey asked for a reconsideration of two initiatives, the walkway and Lester Centre, should additional funding and a change in the revenue situation be realized in 2024. That request would be approved by the Council membership.
Among the other Council members, many of their themes were familiar ones culled from the last few years of Budget Discussions.
Councillor Cunningham observed of the nature of the tough choices that Council has to make and how the city doesn't have the money at the moment to address all of those groups that have requests, observing how staff is always seeking other sources of funding for those.
Councillor Niesh recounted his early days on council and how he was often against any tax increases, noting how the city was well above the average and how the previous councils had for the most part held off on any sizeable tax increases over the previous eight years. Noting of the current focus for Council on infrastructure issues he observed of the need for the tax increases of the last two budget periods of earlier this year and now for 2024.
Councillor Randhawa as he has often stated in past budget cycles since taking office, expressed his opposition to a tax increase and repeated his request of previous years to draw more from the Legacy Fund to help reduce the tax hit on the public.
His quest, as it has in the past, did not find much traction from his fellow Council members, with the CFO explaining the impact that would have on future taxation for residents, Ms Bomben also noted how the Legacy Fund had helped to cushion the jagged spikes on capital operations and how that has helped to reduce the need for even higher taxation.
Mayor Pond observed that for the most part the City has been drawing the max from Legacy Fund for both the 2023 and 2024 budget planning and towards any changes in the tax rate would require some changes to that capital spending program.
Councillor Cunningham observed that to reduce the tax increase council might have to consider such things as closing the Pool or library for a day a week. He then called on an analogy he has used in previous years towards Mr Randhawa's request, observing how if you put up taxi fares you have to pass it on to the customer, the same goes for the city of Prince Rupert, noting of the recent contract with city workers which he noted had modest increases.
Councillor Skelton-Morven noted of the current civic challenges the City faces and the balance of growth and need for repairs at the same time.
He subsequently asked the CFO for a glimpse of what the tax increase would look like without the Legacy assistance. Ms. Bomben observed the tax request would be over 10 percent, she also noted that's excluding the utility fees.
Councillor Niesh brought the discussion to a close, noting how if residents have concerns about high levels of taxation they should address those to the higher levels of government.
Towards the local situation the councillor observed how it costs monty to run things, observing how if at an additional ten dollars a day, if residents don't believe that they are getting their money's worth, then that would be an argument he would take on.
Council then moved the requisition for Direction towards preparation of the Five Year Plan to the Regular Council Session to follow. All members voted in favour with the exception of Councillor Randhawa.
Following that, Council moved forward on two additional resolutions, the first related towards how to fund the Fourth Avenue Stairs work with staff to explore opportunities for funding, or realize changes in revenue streams; with the second resolution related to the Lester Centre request and the need to set up some discussions towards their objectives.
Mayor Pond also noted that there was also some work to be done towards Community Enhancement Grant elements.
As a closing thought the Mayor noted that the process so far is to approve spending by 7.7 percent, with the city still to hear more on the revenue side.
Ms. Bomben, followed up on that theme, noting that staff wasn't asking for the taxation of 7.7 percent at this time, as that taxation request won't be known until next year.
Mr. Pond observed that should the city's revenue situation change favourably in the year ahead, that it could be possible to fund the initiatives noted slightly differently.
With a full budget conversation complete, the Questions and Inquiries portion of the session came to a close.
The members then Adjourned to the Regular Council Session
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REGULAR SESSION OF CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR SESSION OF CITY COUNCIL
( 57:00 -- 57:30 ) Introduction of Late Items
Approval of Agenda -- The Mayor reviewed the Agenda of the November 27 session and received approval of Council towards it.
Public Comments regarding Agenda items -- No members of the public were in the gallery to come forward to speak to any items to be addressed on the Agenda for the evening.
Council then moved on to the Consent Agenda, with Mayor Pond noting of the Memorandum related to the Accessibility Committee as something for the community to give a read towards, noting of the good work being done by that group.
( 57:30 -- 58:00 ) Consent Agenda
Council review of Regular minutes from November 14, 2023 Session
Council review of minutes from Special Regular Meeting of November 14, 2023
Report from the Chief Financial Officer Re: September 2023 Financial Variance Report (see pages 8-13 of Agenda)
Correspondences
Memorandum from Manager of Communications, Engagement and Social Development and Chair of Prince Rupert and Area Accessibility Committee. Re: Update on Accessibility Committee (see pages 14 - 15 of Agenda)
Council had no questions to ask towards the Consent Agreement and accepted and filed it.
Reports
Staff Reports
( 58:00 -- 59:00 ) Report from Chief Financial Officer -- Council received a report related to the Authorization to Borrow for Heavy Equipment Purchases, with Council asked to approve the authorization to borrow $1,617,235.27 from the Municipal Finance Authority, the money to be used for the purchase of a Gravel Truck, a Garbage Truck, a Dozer and a an Excavator.
Towards discussion Councillor Wade Niesh noted that the items were all previously approved by Council members through previous budgets which were now to be purchased. The Mayor noting that they were commitments that now were being paid. (see page 16 of Agenda)
( 59:00 -- 1:00:00 ) Report from Planning: Development Variance Permit #23-23 -- Council moved forward on a report with recommendation to to provide Final Approval for the Permit for a property on Overlook Street. The only question to the topic from Councillor Adey asking if any comment had been received by the City, he was advised that none had been received. (see pages 17 - 23 of Agenda)
( 1:00:00 -- 1:00:30 ) Report from Planning: Development Variance Permit #23-25 -- Council moved forward on a report with recommendation to proceed to Statutory Notification for a property on Alfred Street. (see pages 24 - 29 of Agenda)
( 1:00:30 -- 1:01:00 ) Report from Director of Corporate and Legislative Services -- Re: Resolution from the Committee of the Whole -- Having discussed the Budget and Five year plan previously in the Committee of the Whole, Council directed Staff to prepare the Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw using the recommendations presented in Attachment 3 of the 2024 Budget Direction Report to Council. Only Councillor Gurvinder Randhawa voted against the motion. (see pages 30 - 43 of Agenda)
Bylaws
( 1:01:00 -- 1:01:30 ) City of Prince Rupert Five year Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 3525, 2023 -- Council provided First, Second and Third readings to the the five Year Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw. All but Councillor Randhawa voted in favour of the motion
( 1:01:30 -- 1:02:00 ) City of Prince Rupert Five year Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 3525, 2023 -- Mayor Pond then brought forward the two recommendations from the Budget Discussion, one towards the Lester Centre and the 4th Avenue walkway, both of which were adopted by unanimous vote
Business Arising
( 1:02:00 --1:07:09 ) Council Round Table and Public Question Period --
Councillor Forster led off the discussion period first noting of some recent activity at the Rose's location on Third Avenue West, she asked for an update on the plans towards the demolition of that structure.
In reply, Corporate Administrator Rosa Miller advised that the City's Public Work's Department had attended to the remains of the building to turn off the utility services to the structure. Adding that the work order was sitting on her desk and calls to contractors have gone out, with a potential timeline of the next couple of weeks. She offered up some hopes that the demolition could be Christmas present. She also noted that the city is trying to line it up so the equipment that the City is bringing to town could also be used on the Angus Apartments facility.
The second item for discussion from the Councillor was related to the start of the 16 days of acton against domestic violence, with Ms. Forster noting of some recent incidents of domestic violence including the one year anniversary of the murder of Patti Forman.
She outlined some of the resources that are available to residents of the region towards seeking help can reach out to access those services.
Councillor Reid Skelton-Morven provided an update on the medical situation facing his cousin in hospital in Vancouver and offered his thanks to his council colleagues for stepping up and pulling up the slack as the Councillor was away tending to family.
Mayor Pond noted the positive nature to this point of the situation that Mr. Morven's relative has seen as he continues with his treatment in Vancouver.
Mr. Pond then provided a short review of his recent travel, noting of his attendance at the Order of BC induction ceremony for Metlakatla Chief Harold Leighton and reflected on some of the other recipients of the provincial honour from that gathering.
He also noted of the opportunity the visit provided to keep in touch with provincial officials related to some of the issues facing Prince Rupert.
Adjournment -- The Mayor the brought the session to a close.
You can access our Council Archives for November 27th, here.
From that page a number of items regarding the Council Session can 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.
Council next meets in a Regular Council Session on Monday, December 11th.
That session starts at 7PM.
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