City Council Report April 23, 2012

City Council session for Monday,  April 23, 2012

Home page and archive of  sessions can be found here

Agenda for Regular Meeting April 23, 2012

Report on Budget Estitmates, Suprluses and Reserves
Report to Council 2012 Five Year Financial Plan

Info to Council April 18 , 2012
Info to Council April 11, 2012



Attendance

Mayor Jack Mussallem -- Present

Councillor Anna Ashley-- Present

Councillor Judy Carlick-Pearson-- Present

Councillor Gina Garon-- Present 

Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Present

Councillor Jennifer Rice-- Absent

Councillor Joy Thorkelson-- Present

Minutes of April 23, 2012 

Audio Recording of April 23, 2012 

Video Recording of April 23, 2012 

News items of note from April 23, 2012 session

City Council Report April 10,2012

City Council session for Monday,  April 10, 2012

Home page and archive of  sessions can be found here

Agenda for Regular Meeting April 10, 2012

Info to Council April 4, 2012
Info to Council March 28, 2012



Attendance

Mayor Jack Mussallem -- Present

Councillor Anna Ashley-- Present

Councillor Judy Carlick-Pearson-- Absent

Councillor Gina Garon-- Absent 

Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Absent

Councillor Jennifer Rice-- Present

Councillor Joy Thorkelson-- Present

Minutes of April 10, 2012 

Audio Recording of April 10, 2012 

Video Recording of April 10, 2012 

News items of note from April 10, 2012 session

City Council Report March 26, 2012

City Council session for Monday,  March 26, 2012

Home page and archive of  sessions can be found here

Agenda for Regular Meeting March 26, 2012

Info to Council March 20, 2012



Attendance

Mayor Jack Mussallem -- Present

Councillor Anna Ashley-- Present

Councillor Judy Carlick-Pearson-- Present 

Councillor Gina Garon-- Present 

Councillor Nelson Kinney-- Present

Councillor Jennifer Rice-- Present

Councillor Joy Thorkelson-- Present

Minutes of March 26, 2012 

Audio Recording of March 26, 2012 

Video Recording of March 26, 2012 

News items of note from March 26, 2012 session

LNG plans dusted off for Prince Rupert

Back in the mid 1980's Dome Petroleum had grand designs for shipping Liquefied Natural Gas to Asian markets, plans that were rendered historical with the demise of that energy player.

Now, some thirty years later the prospect of LNG tankers calling in at Prince Rupert may yet see the light of day.

Two proposed developments for Prince Rupert are getting more and more attention these days, the latest one involving one of Asia's largest players in the energy world.

Petronas, Malaysia's state owned oil and gas company recently struck a deal to acquire a Calgary Energy company, Progress Energy Resources Corporation, with that announcement Petronas also indicated that it would seek to ship Natural Gas out of a shipment terminal in Prince Rupert.

Petronas would build and use a terminal on Lelu Island near Ridley Island, with an anticipated completion date of 2018.

The Petronas announcement comes after the British Gas Group announced its own desire to ship liquified natural gas out of Prince Rupert.

Prince Rupert is facing stiff competition for industrial development from Kitimat, which has also seen a string of LNG related developments proposed over the last year.


The Northern View-- Energy critic says LNG industry could help Prince Rupert...
The Northern View-- Second International energy company looking at LNG terminal ...
The Northern View-- Prince Rupert Port Authority working with International LNG group...
CFTK TV 7-- Shell Picks Pipeline Builder
CFTK TV 7-- Shell LNG Presentation (Video)
CFTK TV 7-- Shell Partners for LNG Project in Kitimat
Vancouver Sun-- Port is an economic driver for B. C.
Vancouver Sun-- B. C.'s LNG exports a good news story
Vancouver Sun-- New Ideas needed to serve LNG plants and ratepayers
Vancouver Province-- B. C.'s population figures reflect resource boom-and-bust cycles
Globe and Mail-- Malaysia makes big bet on natural gas from Canada
Globe and Mail-- Energy regulator approves export licence for BC LNG
Globe and Mail-- In Kitimat, hopes for the establishment of a regional export hub
Globe and Mail-- A West Coast LNG plant possible for Imperial, CEO says
Globe and Mail-- U. K. firm joins race to export gas from B. C.
Globe and Mail-- Shell urges quick action to secure LNG markets for Kitimat terminal
Globe and Mail-- Projected LNG sites
Globe and Mail-- Liquefied Natural gas producers turn to Asia
Globe and Mail-- Shell eyes LNG terminal in B. C. that would overshadow Kitimat
National Post-- Canada's natural gas dreams closer to reality after Petronas moves
National Post-- Malaysia's Petronas to buy Progress Energy in deal worth $5.5 billion
National Post-- LNG trying to dock
CBC-- Shell moves closer to Kitimat LNG terminal
CBC-- Prince Rupert wants to be natural gas hub
CBC-- LNG to amp up northwest (audio)
Western Investor-- Prince in waiting
Northwest Coast Energy News-- Three new powerful players said to join the BC West Coast...
Alaska Arctic gas.gov-- Malaysia oil and gas company picks Prince Rupert BC, for LNG site
Petroleum News-- Shell eyes Canadian LNG; to spend US$10B on world's biggest carrier

Pay days are more rewarding in Prince Rupert

The Northern View has offered some talking points for local residents, offering up a review and comparison of compensation of civic workers between Prince Rupert and Terrace, always an entertaining bit of number crunching.

The story from Shaun Thomas examines the payroll numbers for both Prince Rupert and Terrace and reports that Prince Rupert's civic workforce is larger and better compensated than those who toil for the neighbours to the east.

45 employees of the City of Prince Rupert make more than 75,000 dollars a year, compared to only 17 in Terrace with the same payday. The Northern View explained that this means that of employees making more than 75,000 dollars the payroll is more than double that of Terrace, with Rupert's taxpayers providing for 4.18 million dollars while Terrace's taxpayers burden is significantly lower at 1.62.

The article will no doubt stir up some discussion as to what services a city should provide to its citizens and whether a city the size of Prince Rupert can afford to continue to provide those services or if other options need be explored.

Back in April, Rupertites shared their thoughts on the growing tax burden they face, the growing payroll expenditures compared to those of other communities will no doubt rekindle some of that concern.

The Northern View article comes in the wake of some other studies province wide which explore the same theme of municipal remuneration and how smaller communities are incurring ever growing payrolls with a dwindling or stalled tax base.

Michael Smyth of the Vancouver Province explores the issue and the growing backlash elsewhere to the cost of municipal governance.

Rupert Housing sales improve from 2011 numbers

The spurt of positive news and potential development in Prince Rupert seems to have helped remove some of the doldrums of the local real estate scene.

The BC Northern Real Estate Board release its quarterly report for 2012 and local real estate agent Victor Prystay the numbers are trending well for Prince Rupert.

As of the start of July Prince Rupert had registered 65 sales, compared to 50 at this time last year. With the summer months showing an increase in interest for listings across the city.

The average selling price is holding steady, with a median price of 193,223 dollars down slightly from last years values.

By the end of June there were 271 properties listed on the MLS service.

Those in Prince Rupert seeking to sell their houses were looking at a period of 113 days to close a deal,  that's a longer period of time compared to other locations in the Northwest, Terrace reports a 71 day average to close while Smithers suggests 75 days is the average wait period.

Northern View-- Prince Rupert home sales at a four year high through first half of 2012
CFTK-- Prince Rupert Housing Sales Up-- Compared to 2011
Terrace Standard-- Terrace real estate market favours sellers

West Jet eyes Terrace for Northwest entry point

West Jet's plans for a regional airline may involve the Terrace-Kitimat Airport (aka Northwest Regional Airport), or at least they appear to be on the list according to reports from some  Terrace based media outlets.

Airport Manager Carman Hendry recently met with WestJet officials in Calgary, where he made his pitch to lure the airline to the Northwest, making Terrace their Northwest hub as it would be.

According to the CFTK story, some 30 airports were interviewed as part of West Jet's process of setting up its network, which will use a Dash Q-400 as the airplane for transportation to network cities. The northwest hub would feed passengers from our region to Vancouver and on to the larger West Jet network.

When word first came out about the proposed West Jet expansion, Prince Rupert was mentioned as a potential destination spot.

If a blurb from the Brandon Chamber of Commerce is to be relied upon, Prince Rupert airport provided it's own presentation at this most recent review, though if indeed a presentation took place we haven't heard much about it from local sources.

Expanding the options at the Prince Rupert Airport would certainly help to make the airport financially more secure and continue to offer services that local residents are looking for.

The Terrace-Kitimat airport already features more departures and arrivals than it's Prince Rupert competitor, in fact, in pure passenger levels, the Terrace airport seems to be growing faster than the Prince Rupert location.

It may be that passenger level statistic that sways any decision by the Calgary based airline. Should West Jet locate in Terrace, it could very well attract more traffic from Prince Rupert, particularly in the more travel friendly summer driving months.


CFTK-- Terrace Airport May Be Destination for WestJet; Getting New GPS System
Terrace Standard-- WestJet takes a look at Terrace, BC

Update: July 20-- The Prince Rupert Airport Manager recounted his discussions to the Northern View, outlining the talking points from his meeting with West Jet officials, making the case for YPR to the Calgary based airline