City Council to speak to rezoning themes for proposed Lax Kw'alaams housing development on East Side

Prince Rupert City Council members will have their first opportunity to share some thoughts on the scope of a proposed housing development on the city's east side, with the topic up for discussion as part of tonights City Council session.

In a report for Council to be presented tonight, Director of Operations Richard Pucci outlines the process ahead, beginning with a request to amend the Zoning bylaw for the property in question.

The opening narrative to his report provides a note for Council that there is a shortfall of housing with the City of Prince Rupert and how this project would add 60 units and responds to a need in the community for housing.

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Lax Kw'alaams residents have already had a heads up on the plans, as we noted back on November 13th some of the background towards the development of 60 units of housing on lots provided by the City at 11th Avenue East and Edwards Avenue.

An artists' rendering of 
proposed housing for 
Lax Kw'alaams residents in 
Prince Rupert

As Lax Kw'alaams official describe the project, the building will stand five or six stories high and will feature 12 one bedroom units, 18 two bedroom units and 30 three bedroom units.

The new housing stock would be used by those Lax Kw'alaams members who currently live in the Prince Rupert urban area.

The City Council has done some preliminary work of its own on the lots in question, recently moving forward on Road Closures in the immediate area of the property to be developed.

More notes from the City's perspective are expected to be revealed as part of the report to Council tonight.

For more notes related to this evening's Council Session see our archive page here.

A wider overview of past Council discussion themes can be explored here.

For more background on Housing issues in the Northwest see our archive page.

City Council Session: Monday, November 23, 2020

Our archive of items from the session can be found below.

Regular Session of Council for  Monday, November 23, 2020

Home page and archive of sessions can be found here.

Live Broadcast of session can be found here

Agenda for the Regular Council Session for November 23, 2020

Agenda for the Committee of the Whole for November 23, 2020

Preview of Council session for November 23, 2020

Notice of Closed session for November 23, 2020

Attendance

Mayor Lee Brain -- Present
Councillor Nick Adey -- Present (participated by phone)
Councillor Barry Cunningham -- Present (participated by phone)

Councillor Blair Mirau -- Present (participated by phone)
Councillor Reid Skelton-Morven -- Present (participated by phone)
Councillor Wade Niesh -- Present (participated by phone)
Councillor Gurvinder Randhawa -- Present (participated by phone)

Minutes of Regular Session of Council,  Monday, November 23, 2020
(not available yet)

Video Recording of  Monday, November 23, 2020 Council Session

Council Timeline for Monday, November 23, 2020 Council Session

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North Coast Review Items related to the November 23, 2020 Session of Council 

With plans and incentives percolating, still no word on if the City intends to fill planning office positions

With review of provincial COVID funding options complete; City puts fees and Charges increases in motion for 2021

Dumpsters, Shopping carts and a pile of rubble

Council approves Capital spending plans for 2021, Finance Office continues on path towards Spring Budget

Prince Rupert Council hears concern over cannabis grow ops in the community

Councillor Cunningham hails return of mammography services to Prince Rupert Hospital; outlines new transportation initiative from Northern Health

First tentative steps towards rezoning of land on 11th Avenue East for proposed apartment project underway 

City Council moves forward towards introduction of Downtown Revitalization/Tax Exemption program

City of Prince Rupert prepares to kick some industrial tires

City Council to hear recommendation to award contract for Airport ground transportation to PW Transit Canada

City Council to speak to rezoning themes for proposed Lax Kw'alaams housing development on East Side

Further notes, as well as any Media items from other sources for the November 23, 2020 session can be found in our Discussion Points from City Council feature.

To return to the most recent blog posting of the day, click here.

City Council Preview: Monday, November 23, 2020

They're winding down the work year at Prince Rupert City Council, with tonight's session the second last scheduled public meeting for the year.

With new Public Orders in place towards Social Gathering, a note posted to the Agenad Page for tonight's session indicates the this evening's meeting may look more like the ones from late March at the start of our journey into COVID, rather than what we have seen from previous more relaxed measures sessions of recent months.

In accordance with current Provincial Orders, scheduled Regular Council Meetings have moved to a remote format for public access. In the interests of public health and safety, at this time no one will be permitted into City Hall to view in the gallery, in order to ensure we can maintain physical distancing requirements. Staff and Council attendance is also limited, with most calling in via conference. Thank you for your understanding. -- An update on the process ahead for Council sessions from the Agenda Page for Prince Rupert City Council

The final session for November features a number of reports from the Chief Financial Officer, as well as a request for some large capital investment projects. An update on the Prince Rupert Airport Ferry Transportation Service is up for review and Council will finally speak to the previously announced plans by Lax Kw'alaams for a large housing development along 11th Avenue East near Edward Avenue.

It being a Committee of the Whole night, Council will host an opportunity for the public to raise concerns or speak to issues as part of the start of the COW process for the evening, that participation however will not be as part of any in-person presentation but through correspondence or conversation with the City's Administrative Officer.

For residents looking to participate in the COW process, the city has expanded on some of the requirements for participation during this period of COVID, you can review the full list of guidelines here. 

Those with an interest in tonight's council session can view the Live Feed from the City website. or on Cable Television from CityWest Cable Channel 10/310.

Council members will also continue to make use of the Closed Council process this evening, as they meet tonight in a Special Closed Session at 5PM  citing two items from the Community Charter as the reason to exclude the public.

90.1  (c) labour relations or other employee relations

(e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that such disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality

Tonight's Closed session will mark the fifteenth time that Council has hosted a public excluded session so far this year.

You can review the Regular Council Agenda here.  

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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE  SESSION OF CITY COUNCIL

Adoption of Agenda and Past minutes -- Mayor Brain will review the agenda for the evening.

Questions from the Public -- Submission from the members of the public on issues of concern or interest.will be provided for Council.  

Reports, Questions and Inquiries from Members of the Council

Adjournment to reconvene to the Regular Council Session.


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REGULAR SESSION OF CITY COUNCIL

Adoption of Agenda and Past minutes -- Mayor Brain will review the agenda for the evening and Council will adopt the minutes of past meetings.

Resolutions

Report from the Chief Financial Officer: re: 2021 Financial Plan Capital Works and Purchases -- Council will review the report from CFO Corinne Bomben  (See page  8 of the Agenda)

Report from the Chief Financial Officer: re: Authorization to Borrow $850,000 for Heavy Equipment --  Council will hear of the need and request to borrow funds towards some equipment for the Public Works department included on the list a Backhoe, Loader and Garbage Truck (See page  13 of the Agenda)

Report from Rosa Miller, Corporate Administrator -- Re: Airport Ferry Bus Transportation Service. -- Council will receive a report that recommends the awarding of the Airport Transportation contract to PW Transit Canada  (See page  14 of the Agenda)  

Bylaws

Report from the Chief Financial Officer -- Re: 2020  Water Utility Management Amendment Bylaw -- Council will review and give First, Second and Third Reading towards the implementation of new fees for the Water, Sanitary Sewer and Solid Waste service  (See page  16 of the Agenda)

Report from the Chief Financial Officer -- Re: Cemetery Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw -- Council will review and give First, Second and Third Reading for the Amendment to the city's  fees and charges for Cemetery services (See page 29 of the Agenda)

Report from the Corporate Administrator on the Downtown Core Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw  -- Ms Rosa Miller will provide a review of the Downtown Core Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw, seeking First, Second and Third reading of the Bylaw. (See page 33 of the Agenda)

Report on Lax Kw'alaams Project Rezoning -- City Council will receive a report from Richard Pucci, Director of Operations on the proposed Housing plans by the Lax Kw'alaams Band for 11th Avenue and Edward Avenue and explore how they plan to move forward with rezoning of the land in question.  (See page 52 of the Agenda)

The evening will come to an end with any Additional Items as well as Reports, Questions and Inquiries from Members of Council.

Council members can  take advantage of the period to offer up any items or concerns that they have for consideration on the night. 

The Live broadcast of the City Council session can be found here, a video archive of past sessions is available here.

Our items of note related to the November 23, 2020 session can be reviewed here. 

While our archive of all sessions for 2020 for Council is available here.

Real Estate Tracker: Week ending November 22, 2020

A returning property on the west side increases the total value of top end real estate this week, as well as to the For Sale Sign count on Graham Avenue

The latest addition coming up just shy of the 900K mark making for three west side properties in the $800,000 plus level this week.

Every Monday, we look over the listing prices of the week just passed and outline the Top 10 asking prices in the area, providing a snap shot as to where the Real Estate market may be trending on a week-to-week basis.

The listings below are purely for information purposes, for further background on the properties recorded, see our links page for access to the individual real estate listings.

The Archive for our weekly review can be found here.

Our list of the top ten priced homes for the week ending November 22, 2020 can be explored below:

Real Estate listings on the East Side of Prince Rupert
Week ending November 22, 2020

Real Estate listings on the West Side of Prince Rupert
Week ending November 22, 2020

The additional property for the Graham Avenue area, means that the top ten listings now feature a 8-2 split from west to east.

The total value of the list of ten now sits at just under the 7.6  million dollar mark.

The lowest mark for the list of ten  sits  at $549,000 while our top end from the last week now is marked  at the price point of  $1,09,980

Below find our findings as of the Week ending November 22, 2020

1824 Graham Avenue                    $1,098,980 -- Realty Executives 

1727 Graham Avenue                    $895,000    -- Realty Executives 

2050 Atlin Avenue                        $849,000     -- Realty Executives 

2085 Graham Avenue                    $725,000     -- Realty Executives 

1933 Graham Avenue                    $699,000 --     Remax

1714 Sloan Avenue                        $699,000 --     Remax

508 Cassiar Avenue                       $685,000 --     Remax

187 Van Arsdol Street                    $639,000 --     Realty Executives 

251 Parker Drive                            $570,000 --    Realty Executives

253 Parker Drive                            $549,000 --    Realty Executives

104 Raven Place                             $533,000 --    Remax

For more items related to Real Estate see our archive page here.

For background on Housing issues in the region see our past items here.

To return to the most recent blog posting of the day, click here.

Blog Watching: Week ending November 22, 2020

COVID and the ongoing provincial response to the coronavirus dominated the flow of news this week, that from expanded measures announced by Dr. Bonnie Henry, which included the introduction of a mask requirement in all public venues.

Among some of the other themes on COVID that captured some significant attention from our work this week, our look at an alert from the BC CDC over a recent flight in the city, as well as the observations and requests of the Prince Rupert and District Teachers' Union towards COVID measures in the schools.

Some progress towards the new era of electric vehicles was seen this past week, with BC Hydro installing the first EV charging station in their network in the city.

The lingering smell of raw cannabis in both the downtown and residential areas has also captured the attention of some in the public, with concerns that there may be a growing number of unknown grow ops operating in any number of locations in the city.

And while recently announced housing plans for Lax Kw'alaams in Prince Rupert continue to generate some talk, there's a much larger plan of infrastructure and other items in mind for the community north of Prince Rupert and we took note of those as well this week.

The top item of the week however, was generated by some strong readership for our look a COVID alert from the BC CDC.

British Columbia Centre for Disease Control issues COVID alert over recent Vancouver-Prince Rupert flight -- A note for travellers on a recent flight to Prince Rupert has been issued by the British Columbia CDC, which highlighted the November 16th flight for a potential exposure.    (posted  November 19, 2020)

That article was followed by:

Concerns over out of sight marijuana grows making for community discussion themes -- It would seem that there's a bit more cannabis around Prince Rupert cannabis than what you may find at one of the local retail operations.    (posted November 20, 2020)

Work underway for Prince Rupert Electric Charging station -- The future for automotive transport may soon be on display around the city, with the first of a number of anticipated EV charging stations installed near Mariner's Park     (posted November 16, 2020)

Ambitious plans ahead for Lax Kw'alaams -- Earlier this month we made note of a new housing proposal in Prince Rupert for the Lax Kw'alaams Band and this week our notes on some of their other plans gained a large readership.   (posted November 16, 2020)

PRDTU offers up a range of questions for Thursday's Virtual COVID Town Hall with SD52/Northern Health -- The union representing Prince Rupert's teachers was on very interested participant in this week's COVID forum, providing for a number of questions on the School District and Northern Healths response this fall, you can also learn how they responded to the answers they received here.  (posted November 17, 2020)

You can find our weekly Blog watching feature posted every Sunday morning by 9AM, making for a handy way to catch up to the week that was, at a leisurely weekend pace.

You can also review the full listings of the week just past, from our Blog Archive index page found on the right hand side of the page.

For those looking for updates to items as they are posted to the blog, don't forget about our email alert access.

A daily review of the latest items on the blog can be delivered to your email in box, simply by entering your email address into the information bar, items posted to the blog will be delivered to your e-mail account each day.

You can find the link to that feature on the upper, right hand side of the blog. It can be found underneath the Follow the North Coast Review by Email indicator.

As well, those who use Twitter can get updates as we post new items from our twitter feed

Our archive of weekly Blog Watching  can be found here.

To view the most recent blog posting of the day, click here.

Daily totals decline to 516 cases of COVID, however 10 deaths recorded over last 24 hours

Friday's COVID Review offered up another day of scaling back the case reports, making for the second day in a row for declines from the record setting highs of earlier this week, that however was tempered by the sad duty to report on another ten passings as a result of the coronavirus in the province.

Today's information were relayed through a statement from Doctor Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix. 

"Today, we are reporting 516 new cases of COVID-19, including three epi-linked cases, for a total of 25,474 cases in British Columbia. 

There are 7,122 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. There are 227 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 57 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation. 

Currently, 10,002 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 17,477 people who tested positive have recovered. 

There have been 10 new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 331 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Reports from across the Health Authorities indicated that there were 148 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 294 in the Fraser Health region, 17 in the Island Health region, 31 in the Interior Health region, there were  25 cases recorded in the Northern Health region, bringing the Northern Health total since January to 588.

There have been no new cases of COVID-19 Recorded in people who reside outside of Canada. 

To bring the week to an end, Dr. Henry and Minister Dix reviewed how the measures introduced on Thursday will give British Columbians the tools required to bring down the curve.

“Yesterday, new and expanded provincial health officer's orders came into effect around the province. The orders will help us slow the spread of COVID-19; to relieve the pressure on our health-care system and reduce the risks within our communities. 

The provincewide orders are about all of us seeing fewer people, having safer workplaces and pausing higher risk activities. 

The orders on social gatherings and events are to keep our families and friends safe. The best way to do that is to decrease our social interactions and spend as little time as possible with those outside of our immediate household. 

In our workplaces, we want to be using all of the tools and resources to keep employees and customers safe and, importantly, keep as many businesses as possible open.

We also strongly recommend that everyone focus on essential travel only and put aside recreational or social travel for now. It is not about community boundaries, it is about only going where we really need to right now. 

We are all feeling the strain of COVID-19. By taking a step back right now, we will all be able to enjoy the confidence in knowing that here in B.C. we have flattened our curve once again."

How the province intends to enforce the new measures and expand oversight on the existing ones was outlined by Mike Farnworth, the Minister of Public Safety and Solictor General who provided the update with a statement of his own.

You can review today's full COVID-19 statement here.  

The BC Centre for Disease control has some valuable Coronavirus notes related to COVID-19 you can explore that information here.

You can learn more about the outbreak from both the Province and the Federal government from the links below:

Federal Government site

British Columbia Government site

The World Health Organization website also offers up the latest advisories on the global situation.

More from  Northern Health can be reviewed here 

You can review our archive of past statements and local information here.

Local governments and organizations have also provided for increased awareness of COVID-19 issues, those past advisories  can be reviewed here.

For notes from across Canada and British Columbia we have been archiving the latest items through our political portal Darcy McGee

Ottawa Observations

Victoria Viewpoints 

Skeena Wild Film Festival offers some fascinating glimpses into the Northwest

Now that we have some additional time around the house for the next few weeks, one way to make use of your new leisure time could be to explore the many outstanding contributions to the 2020 Skeena Wild Film Festival.

The project which is approaching the ten year mark provides for an artistic portal to share original short films, features, youth films, and photographs submitted by Northern B.C. residents and people from around the world. 

With some remarkable visuals, interesting themes and some unforgettable characters and subjects this years submissions make for a fascinating journey through the Northwest.

Short Film 

Berry Picking in the Suskwa Valley | Alexander Stoney 

Adventures in Terrace | Tristan Walker 

Born to Fish | Michael Menten 

Cradled Prince Rupert Kayakers | Yota Kano 

Skeena Air | Ben Mantel 

Robinson Ridge | Mark 

Gravel Pellets for Power | Conservation North 

Invertebrates and Their Ecosystems | Coast Mountain College 

Youth Films 

Damian & Clayton Doing Stuff | Damian Knox & Clayton 

Just a Little Ride | Kai Janzen 

Feature Films 

 

A Story of Resilience | Tony Harris 

Midsummer Adventure 2020 | Julian Krick

A screenshot from Yota Kano's Cradled Prince Rupert Kayakers 

The Prince Rupert Submission from Yota Kona takes the viewer through the fast flowing features of the Butze Rapids channel and learns of the lure of the Rapids for the local adventurers who tackle the local legend.

You can check out all the contributions to this years competition below:

Once you've viewed the submissions you can cast your ballot here.

This years competition also features a photo Festival, you can explore the contributions and vote on those that have caught your eye here.

Voting comes to an end on Thursday, November 26th.

The successful contributors are in line for cash and Custom Prize Packs.

The winning entries as selected by the viewers will be announced in December.

See the SkeenaWild Conservation Trust information portals below for more information on this years Festival.

SkeenaWild Conservation Trust website

SkeenaWild Conservation Trust Facebook page

SkeenaWild Conservation Trust Twitter Feed

SkeenaWild Conservation Trust Instagram Feed

For more notes on Community Events across the region see our archive page here.