With the start of the Easter weekend just one week away, the City of Prince Rupert has provided a reminder for residents of the upcoming shift for the garbage collection cycle in the community.
From the comments section of the city's post comes an observation from a resident towards a change lo late in the pick up process for the residential service, with the City having made use of two separate collection trucks in recent weeks.
With that change, the Garbage side of the pick up has returned to a more physical requirement, with city workers on the truck no longer using the mechanical arm and emptying the cans by hand.
So far, the question towards the new process has yet to gain an answer.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Another garbage truck is among the items on the purchase list for Civic Operations
Prince Rupert City Council will be asked tonight to approve the authority for the city borrow just over 1.6 million dollars towards a number of equipment purchases for the Operations Department.
A report for council for tonight's session notes that the list of equipment to be purchased would include a Gravel Truck, A Garbage Truck, a Dozer and an Excavator.
The money for the purchase would be received from the Municipal Finance Authority.
In order for the City to move forward with the purchases, a resolution from Council giving staff authorization is required.
The final opportunity for Public Comment on the 2024 Draft Budget is one of many themes for a relatively light night ahead for the city's elected officials.
The main focus for the night is the forward momentum for the Budget and Five Year Financial Plan, with Council to hear one final report from the Chief Financial Officer during the Committee of the Whole Session that will put forward the process for the evening.
The public will also be allowed one final comment on the 2024 Budget as part of that Committee of the Whole Session.
The Public also has an opportunity to Comment on any item from the Regular Agenda at the start of that Regular session starting at 7 PM session tonight an evening which also features a range of reports and correspondences.
Included among the topics, Reports from the Chief Financial Officer with the September Financial Variance Report, a report on the city's Accessibility Committee, and request for authorization to borrow 1.6 million dollars for Operations Department equipment.
Variance requests for two properties and the vote to set the course forward towards the adoption of the Budget and Five Year plan brings the Agenda notes to a close.
Approval of Agenda -- The Mayor will review the Agenda of the November 14 session and seek approval of Council towards it.
Public Comment (s) Re: 2024 Draft Budget. -- One final opportunity for the public to speak to the 2024 Budget process before Council gives consideration to it.
Report: Report from the Chief Financial Officer Re: 2024 Budget Direction, Council will be asked to direct staff to prepare the Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw using amendments presented in Attachment 3 of information attached to the Agenda.
Council will be asked to direct the preparation of the Five Year Plan as part of the Regular Council Session to follow.
Questions and And Inquiries from members of Council
Approval of Agenda -- The Mayor will review the Agenda of the November 14 session and seek approval of Council towards it.
Public Comments regarding Agenda items -- This period offers a chance for those in attendance to speak to any items to be addressed on the Agenda for the evening. This includes opportunity for public comment towards the 2024 Draft Budget
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 will be asked that all items of the Consent Agreement be accepted and filed
Reports
Staff Reports
Report from Chief Financial Officer -- Re Authorization to Borrow for Heavy Equipment Purchase -- Council will be 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 (see page 16 of Agenda)
Report from Planning: Development Variance Permit #23-23 -- Council will receive a report with recommendation to to provide Final Approval for the Permit for a property on Overlook Street. (see pages 17 - 23 of Agenda)
Report from Planning: Development Variance Permit #23-25 -- Council will receive a report with recommendation to proceed to Statutory Notification for a property on Alfred Street. (see pages 24 - 29 of Agenda)
Report from Director of Corporate and Legislative Services -- Re: Resolution from the Committee of the Whole -- Council will be asked to direct Staff to prepare the Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw using the recommendations presented in Attachment 3 of the 2024 Budget Direction Report to Council providing during the Committee of the Whole session previously held this evening(see pages 30 - 43 of Agenda)
Bylaws
City of Prince Rupert Five year Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 3525, 2023 -- Council will be asked to provide First, Second and Third readings to the the five Year Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw . (see pages previous )
Business Arising
Council Round Table and Public Question Period -- Council members will have opportunity to raise items of interest or concern for consideration.
Adjournment -- The Mayor will bring the session to a close.
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 the November 27th session can be found here.
The prospect of upcoming residential lots going up for sale by the District of Port Edward, along with work for their major capital works project for the summer highlight the June update for residents by Port Edward Mayor Knut Bjorndal.
The Mayor noting that the District will be listing two residential lots that it owns for sale: one on Evergreen Drive and the other on Wildwood Avenue. The properties noted as surplus to the Districts's needs and the monies received to be used for other purposes. Those listings are set to go up shortly.
Mayor Bjorndal also outlines that work is progressing on letting tenders for the work on Oceanview Drive. The work ahead described as a major capital project and that careful planning will be required to ensure that District gains the maximum value for the money spent.
The Mayor also advised the community that District has rehired their Seasonal Groundskeeper from the year before to work on boulevard maintenance, as well as to note that the District's Public Works Department would be working on drainage issues along Evergreen.
June's newsletter for residents also provides a note on some financial assistance the District has provided one through a Grant in Aid to the Prince Rupert Ukrainian Society, the other a Financial contribution towards the National Aboriginal Day celebrations.
As we outlined earlier today, the latest news from the District notes of plans for a new Fire Truck for the community, with Trigon Terminals having committed $75,000 towards the purchase.
Also of note is the work that the The District of Port Edward, the City of Prince Rupert, and the North Coast Regional District have taken towards forming an Accessibility Committee.
The new Accessibility Committee, as part of the new Provincial Law, the Accessible BC ACT, will help identify, remove and prevent barriers to the full and equal participation of people with disabilities in BC.
Towards that, the District is seeking a resident of Port Edward who is interested in helping to identify accessibility issues in the District of Port Edward while working collaboratively with the Accessibility Committee being struck by the Regional Local Government partners.
If interested and you want more information residents should contact Robert Grodecki at 250-628-3667
Reminders of Speed limits in the District, the hours for the North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site, Home owner Grant information for residents and a salute of thanks to community members who took part in the May Community Clean Up round out the June update.
That community clean up saw 18 volunteers take part, collecting 785 kilograms of garbage from around the District.
The vision making portion of the State of the City Presentation had the Mayor updating residents on a range of proposed developments for the community.
While Mayor Brain made note of the larger financial limitations that the City faces for all of its infrastructure as part of the event, something we reviewed as part of our Overview of the mayor's presentation.
The night also featured the vision making of the last few years from the Mayor, wth Mr. Brain updating residents as to the progress for many of those elements for what he calls incubation projects.
The appearance of the Downtown Core and what steps the City has taken and will continue forward with, formed part of the narrative on the night as part of the revitalization of the central area of the community.
"So the next thing I want to talk about, and I know you're going to love this part, is the physical revitalization.
We've got derelict buildings, we've got derelict vehicles, we've got residential properties that are dumps, we've got garbage, we've got all that stuff.
And we have a plan now to address that.
In fact we have sent dozens and dozens of remediation orders, wreck and removal orders, we are 100 percent moving forward on enforcement now.
We've given carrots, we've given opportunities and now it's time for people to start moving forward on their properties.
The Mayor did outline some of the challenges faced by the city to take action on many of the properties that are brought to their attention.
"Now just on a note on that, cause people come up to me all the time you know and what about these properties, you know we gotta tear ... ?
There's legal issues, you know we just can't walk in there and say do that.
You know, we have to go through a process and that process takes resources from us, it. takes time from us, it takes getting involved with Judges. Because people think we're targeting them, and that we're treating them unfairly.
I mean we've spent 70,000 dollars before on just one case, from one person, on one issue which we ended up resolving; but do you feel like that's what we as City should be doing is spending that kind of taxpayer dollar just fighting people? Not really, right?
So we have to go through a process to allow us to get to the point where we can do the enforcement.
We're there now, you have to send a certain amount of letters, you have to give a certain amount of notice, you have do all those things to get someone to actually comply.
And if they don't comply we do have the right to go on their property and tear their building down, but you have to realize that's a hostile move right ... yeah, I guess that's clap-able ... Get em!
So just understand from our perspective then, you know we try to give everybody a reasonable opportunity to get there, there are building owners who are not compliant and they will be compliant shortly I can guarantee you that"
Mayor Brain's notes on on the some planned road changes in the downtown core was for the most part all rather new information, of note on the missing information side, no further mention of any round a bout plans for McBride and Second, which had been part of previous narratives on downtown road themes.
The first of the potential redesigns was focused on Third Avenue and some proposed changes to increase parking options along that civic roadway.
"Let's take look at the new street scapes, the first one, Third Avenue.
So we have a parking problem downtown, because people don't want to walk one block to their location ... sorry, I just had to say that. In Vancouver you got to walk ten blocks but here ....
But we do have a parking problem, in all seriousness.
So, first things first, we are doing a parking plan, we are looking at doing a parking lot, a big parking lot in the Midtown, in the New downtown and the Marina District, so creating three new parking areas.
But also we're looking at reorienting the streetscapes, so this is what so far is a concept plan, concept plan for Third Avenue.
So you're coming down this way you would have angle parking on one side of the street, we'd increase parking by thirty, potentially forty percent of parking on Third Avenue.
You would put bull-outs on all the corners to create smaller crosswalks, including with accessibility in mind for folks with mobility issues and things like that.
So the strategy, because as you heard from the challenges, we don't got the cash to do that.
The strategy is to work in partnership and develop one intersection at a time, working from the Gateway project all the way down, right.
So one year hopefully we do one section, another section and it's going to take until 2030, that's why 2030 and over time we can rebuild the streetscapes.
Unless like again, we have that magic oney bag that just falls down on the ground, we can do it all once, but that might be a challenge, so this is what we're thinking about Third Avenue."
The Mayor also has some plans for Second Avenue, once the heavy truck traffic destined for the Port has been removed from the downtown core.
"So, this next part is new information, and we're going to reveal here today.
Second Avenue. So, here's the opportunity for Second Avenue.
We have a connector road that is being built from the Port Authority, that where all the container traffic is going to go through Ridley Island, they won't be coming into the downtown anymore.
We've been in discussions, heavy discussions right now, with Highways.
In fact Highways is looking to do some investments in this community, and I can't speak to those yet, but they are going to be exciting.
But, once those truck traffic is gone, they have tentatively have said; look you don't need to have a four lane highway, in fact we will potentially allow you, as a city to control, have access and have some level of control over Second Avenue. Which would be huge opportunity for us.
Because what we want to do with Second Avenue is, make it of more of a two lane opportunity now. So this is outside of the Ocean Centre Mall, that's the MLA's office right there.
Who, by the way Jen, I'm so sorry, she is a very big supporter of us. She works really hard with us, works with our staff. I know I crapped on the caps, she's very much helping with the caps, disclaimer.
Ok, cause yeah I would feel awkward if I was sitting in a presentation. And, just so you know she's actually helping us with that and she has her challenges in her own government and stuff.
Anyways, so you would have a Bollard kind of bus stop area for this, angle parking, this would be one road, that would be one road, a boulevard down the middle of Second avenue, regular parking there basically and then a bike lane that would like go through the entire town basically.
And considering doing that on Third Avenue was well.
Now one of the opportunities, how we can get this funded is that the province is really moving forward on active transportation, they really want, they are really investing in active transportation.
So part of us getting money for this is applying for grants, which we've done, to get the cash to be able to do this kind of work.
This would be exciting, because this finally gives us the chance to make the town look and feel a certain way. And if we focus the development around Gateway to the start, maybe moving up to Chevron, you'll see nice trees on the boulevard, we want to change all the sidewalks scapes there, the new bollards, make it safe, make it bikeable.
I think Complete Streets for Prince Rupert's in the audience, I hope you're liking this, you can give me a critique in the Q and A.
So, we're presenting this to the Highways in July, this has not been approved, but this is what we're moving forward to do.
So new streetscapes, new incubationprojects in every part of the town already moving forward, it's exciting stuff"
The road changes and other transportation themes on roads from the presentation can be viewed from the City's Video replay of the Sate of the City Presentation.
The review of the Roads elements starts at the one hour, fourteen minute mark
