The home for the Prince Rupert Port Authority is up for a new look, or at least the entrance to the Atlin Terminal is, with the Port putting forward a call for Bids towards their renovation plan.
The call for Bids was posted to the BC Bid website earlier this week and the short synopsis of the project provides a glimpse as to what the PRPA is looking for from those interested in making a bid.
Generally, the scope of work comprises demolition of existing construction, placement of granular fill, installation of electric power and drainage infrastructure, installation of new exterior signage, installation of new interior partition walls and doors, installation of new exterior doors and windows, modifications to existing canopies, repair and refinishing of all areas affected by the work, and site cleanup.
The full scope of the project is available for viewing by those contractors who are registered of the BC Bid process.
Paul Lagace and Arnie Nagy spoke to themes of housing and the city's renoviction bylaw plans at Monday's council session
The concerns when it comes to the available stock of housing and ever increasing cost for that which is here made for a review on Monday at Prince Rupert City Council as two advocates for improved access to housing spoke to the Council members as part of the Committee of the Whole portion of Monday's session
Paul Lagace, Poverty Law Advocate and Arnie Nagy the Aboriginal Advocate at the Unemployed Action Centre, brought the discussion on the challenges facing families and residents to Council exploring themes when it comes to single Family Dwelling Rentals.
Mr. Nagy provided some background on the scope of the work of the Unemployed Action Centre which has case files numbering close to 1,400 and how housing and income security are the two main themes that they are dealing with at this time.
"The Prince Rupert Unemployed Action Centre on average per year deals with about 1,400 clients between Paul and I, we average about 700 clients each. Sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. but it averages out to about 1400.
The main issue that we deal with is housing and housing security. And a lot of that housing security is through income security. So we do what we can to secure income resources for a lot of our clients.
As advocates we realize the importance of the housing needs in this community and from the past little while I think Council members have seen us getting up there and speaking about the need for housing"
Mr. Lagace, spoke to the regulations in mind towards the City's ongoing work on plans to introduce a renoviction bylaw, among his comments were themes related to proposed exemptions and minimum maintenance standards and how the City defines them towards different housing options.
"From our experience and we deal with all the tenancy issues, Im making a huge generalization here, but the larger landlords are pretty cooperative we find with things, there's challenges, there's dialogues and sometimes you know we have to do get orders for things, but ... the most problems I tend to see is in these single detached dwelling units, where there's two or three units in there, there's various reasons why this is the case"
Part of those issues he observed comes through what he sees as property flipping in the community, as well as to some of the areas where he has seen problems with landlords in town, while also noting that some of the elements of the renoviction bylaw may have unanticipated consequences for some of the smaller landlords who may just be renting out space in their own primary residence.
"There is a lot of property flipping going on right now and some of these units, investors are not sinking money in they're waiting for the market value goes up that's where some of the challenges is ... that's where you see a lot of absentee out of town investors that are not sinking some money into these units"
Mr. Lagace also offered up a partial compromise, as well as to note that some of the elements of the renoviction bylaw may have unanticipated consequences for some of the smaller landlords who may just be renting out space in their own primary residence.
"If the owner lives in one of these units as their permanent, primary residence not a manger but as an owner, I think in these cases, you know they're going to take care of their own properties cause they're living there.
So I would like to consider the single detached units be included in the licence set, perhaps with the exception of if the owner is in one of those units ... as primary resident, not their second house or third house, or whatever"
He also highlighted one case from last year that while rare is an indication of some of the concerns over what renters are facing and how the bylaw could address it.
"This case happened last year, there was a situation where in one single dwelling unit, there was ten, there was twelve migrant workers living in that house. And the rents were 1,600 dollars a room that's for a single room and 1,100 dollars for a shared room. I'm not saying that's a typical case but it could.
These are where some of these problems may turn up in the future, especially if the housing crunch continues, it would allow to deal with situations like this if there's a standard for maintenance or licensing issue ... I just want to point that out and ask Council to seriously consider that"
The housing advocate also had some reservations related to some of the elements that require landlords to cover the rent of tenants in temporary accommodation for the course of the renovations, noting of the inconsistent nature of timelines on construction and the lack of available space in the community.
"I mean it sounds nice and I'm certainly for tenants. However, I'm not sure that would be reasonable for the average Mom and Pop landlord to do. You know if you own another house and you gotta do the work on it ... Well you know work Prince Rupert, it takes they say three weeks and it takes four months. I just don't think the average person has the ability to put somebody up for three or four months.
Or you know even if it's a complex of ten, where are you going to put ten families; again I very much support tenants, but I can see that being slightly burdensome to landlords"
The Mayor observed that his comments were insightful and recalled a meeting that they had a few years previous on themes of housing.
As part of the conversation, Councillor Niesh asked questions of the City Manager to clarify some of the themes raised from the presentation, towards which Mr. Buchan provided a short synopsis of what the city's plans are when it comes to the renoviction Bylaw.
Councillor Cunningham also added some thoughts to the issues in the community, noting how he is strongly in favour of what the city has planned, but does have concerns for potential loopholes.
"I love this, I think it's a great piece of legislation and I'm happy we're going with it and I would, if I have to I'm going support it even with the exemption, even though I don't like the exemption it's just one of those things.
My concern is the loophole that's going to be there, where these people aren't going to say anything and live in these conditions. I've seen some of them with black mould and things like this and they're living there and they're unhealthy conditions and the average person wouldn't live in that place"
Mr Nagy rejoined the conversation to highlight how that condition is often found as well as to observe on the accelerating cost of housing and the challenges it is providing for younger residents and how there is a need to address those concerns.
The Mayor observed that they would be discussing housing issues later in the evening and when they did some of those themes from the pair made for a bit of the review.
As part of their work on the municipal legislation known as the Business Regulations and Licensing Bylaw Councillor Niesh asked if there was anything to take away from the presentation earlier in the evening from Mr. Lagace and Mr. Nagy.
City Manager Rob Buchan noted that what he took from the presentation support for the bylaw and that from some of the questions raised, that there could be a need for some education to create awareness of what people need to know to become involved in the process, observing that once passed the city would have more opportunity to do that.
"What I took away from the speakers was a great deal of support for this, some questions I think we answered the questions. There's one question that what hasn't been answered ... I think it was asked by Councillor Cunningham, is with respect to a property that is not up to standard, you know how does somebody know, somebody who might not complain.
Having a brief chat with the delegation after the Committee of the Whole Meeting, they would undertake to actually do some education, so that tenants would know about the bylaw and the property standard so there would be greater awareness for them to actually know what the bylaw says and get the city through a complaint process get involved.
That's something that we don't have the ability to do right now because the bylaw is not in place. So this bylaw actually increases the capacity for the city to have more of a role in ensuring that rental properties are properly maintained" -- Prince Rupert City Manager Rob Buchan
Mayor Brain spoke to the concerns raised about landlords having to relocate tenants and if there is a need for more clarity from some of the elements towards that area of the Bylaw, Mr. Bucahn observed that he would have an answer to that question at the next meeting.
Council Mirau also spoke to some of the guidelines references raised in the presentation, another area which Mr. Buchan said he would check into to ensure its consistent.
You can view both elements of those discussions from the City's Video Archive.
The presentation from Mr. Lagace and Mr. Nagy starts at the 51 minute mark, while the Council review of the Bylaw elements can be found starting at the two hour five minute mark.
Prince Rupert Firefighters holding the Green Sleeves packages that they and other Emergency Responders hope that Seniors and Elders in the Prince Rupert area will fill out and keep in a prominent place at home (photo from PRFD Facebook page)
An initiative launched in the middle of February that has its focus on Seniors over the age of 60 in Prince Rupert is getting an extra assist from the members of the Prince Rupert Fire/Rescue.
That as the crews of the First Avenue West Fire Hall spread word of the Green Sleeves campaign, using their Social Media Forum this week to make note of the program.
The project found a champion in Jessica Friesen from the BC Emergency Paramedic Service in the city, with Ms. Friesen was busy through February helping to launch the program sharing of some of the elements that are a part of it.
The program is one which provides for easily accessible information for emergency responders when it comes to residents in their homes, with a small package in a green sleeve available in a prominent place to provide key information for responders to review.
Among some of the key parts for those Seniors living at home include:
As part of the program residents will place small sticker on their front door which will indicate to the EMTs that you have a Green Sleeve in the home.
When you first pick up your Green Sleeve, it will contain a fillable form which requires your name, Public Health Number, birth date, medications, conditions, allergies. As well as any other patient specific information such as Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) / MOST of your wishes - and emergency contact info.
The focus for the Green Sleeves program is to encourage those using the program to understand their medical history, and help first responders by having that information conveniently assembled and accessible .
It is recommended to fill out these forms with your doctor for your most recent medical records.
You can contact the Prince Rupert Seniors Centre, or Crows Nest Lodge to learn more about the program or to pick up your Green Sleeves Kit.
Organizers are hoping to secure additional funding to expand on the 1,000 kits currently on hand, so they'll be able to reach out to more of the Seniors and Elders on the North Coast.
More notes on the work of Emergency Responders in the Northwest can be reviewed here.
A fixture for the Northwest retail scene for near fifty years will be closing its doors later this month
One of the must stops for any shopping trip to Terrace has long been Big Bob's, All Seasons' Source for Sports, the sporting goods and much more store in the downtown core of the Skeena Valley City has been the destination for many Rupertites looking for equipment for whatever pursuit they are into.
From Soccer Season to Hockey, Basketball to Slow-pitch or Baseball, if you needed something or just wanted to see what was new it was the place to go,
And most likely in your travels, you most inevitably were going to run into another Rupertite as you wandered the smallish but well stocked two floors at Lakelse and Kalum.
For many, a stop in at the store came from the wonderful sense of humour that Big Bob brought to his many TV7 commercials of the past, for others the location provided for an opportunity to chat, or catch up as the years and seasons moved forward.
However, those trips to Terrace will soon take All Season's Source for Sports off the travel itinerary, with Bob announcing his retirement plans through his social media feed this week, with a Store Closing date set for March 26th.
A video posted to his Social Media stream shares some thoughts from the owner, who reflects on his near fifty years in the retails sector in the Terrace area and beyond.
His Facebook post has become the forum for fond farewells and thank you's, closing in on 400 of them to date as customers and friends from around the Northwest and beyond drop in for a final farewell.
Prince Rupert's Fairview Terminal is just one of a number maritime facilities along the BC Coast hat are now part of a total ban on Russian vessels in response to that country attack on Ukraine (photo from PRPA library)
Harbour watchers won't be seeing any Russian flagged vessels or Russian products making their way through the Port of Prince Rupert for what could be a very long time.
That as both the Union which represents port workers and Canadian government work to send a strong message to the Russian President Vladimir Putin, that his violence on the Ukrainian people must end.
This week the Members of the International Longshore Workers Union, who work the docks in Prince Rupert as well as along the BC coast took a stand against the continued Russian aggression towards Ukraine.
With the ILWU issuing a notice on Monday that ILWU Canada had put a ban in place that will see its membership refuse to work any Russian vessels and cargo coming into the Ports of British Columbia.
The correspondence which was addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also called on Canada to issue a ban for all Russian owned, Russian Flagged and Russian Chartered vessels, with the exception of any marine safety incidents, though they observed that too should be addressed with caution.
“Russia must be held accountable for its aggression in Ukraine. Canada will continue to do what is necessary to respond. Today, we are taking steps to close Canadian ports and internal waters to Russian-owned or registered ships. The Government of Canada condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and we will continue to take action to stand with Ukraine.” -- Omar Alghabra,Minister of Transport
The Canadian moves on shipping, is just one element of a global effort of sanctions, bans and other measures to address the invasion and ongoing attack on the nation of Ukraine, with more measures announced each day that the Russian forces remain on Ukrainian soil.
The City's Chief Financial Officer outlined some background towards two contract awards for the new RCMP detachment in Prince Rupert
Prince Rupert City council approved two contract awards on Monday night, providing some certainty for the cost evaluation and commissioning elements for the construction of the new RCMP detachment at McBride Street and Third Avenue East.
Ms. Corinne Bomben, the City's Chief Financial Officer delivered a verbal report to Council that outlined the scope of both contract awards.
"This report seeks to award two RFP's that were undertaken to make up part of the specialized members of the project team for the RCMP Detachment project.
A cost consultant is utilized to provide a more refined estimate of what a project should cost, which is then used as a reference point for project construction bids and validation at construction milestones.
A commissioning consultant will lead the commissioning process for all construction divisions, as well as assist with testing, and oversee the implementation of the building systems used."
The CFO then outlined the recommendations of the Bid evaluation team, with the Cost Consulting contract to be awarded to the BTY Group at cost of $48,030 plus GST; while the Commissioning contract should be awarded to CES Engineering Ltd. their bid came in at $128,097.50.
We provided a preview of her Report to Council prior to Monday's Council session which you can review here.
The report published in the Agenda package for the night noted that six proposals had been received for the Cost Consultant competition and three were received for the Commissioning Consultant competition. There were no local submissions.
Not mentioned in the verbal report of Monday evening, but part of the report from the Agenda package is a note towards a cost overage from the two contract awards.
The fee proposed by BTY is $12,000 below the estimated budget for these services.
The fee proposed by C.E.S. is $28,000 over the estimated budget for these services.
The high ratings of C.E.S. amongst all evaluators prompted the recommendation from the evaluation team given the quality of the expected service.
Overall, combining the two, the overage is $16,000 for these two service components of the project.
The report from the agenda does note that efforts will be made to absorb that additional cost through other project line items and contingency.
Following her presentation of Monday night, the Council members had no questions, nor did they offer any comments towards the two contract awards.
With the membership then voting to approve the recommendation of the awards.
You can review her verbal report to Council from the City's Video archive starting at just before the 1 hour 20 minute mark.
A map highlighting some of the additions and changes to the Fairview footprint in the planning by DP World and the PRPA (From DP World information package)
An update on the PRPA/DP World plans has been provided to the DP World Projects page which notes that the Stage 1B Project is now moving into its planning and permitting process.
That project will provide the Fairview facility new service, storage and equipment facilities, along with expansions for the intermodal yard, Container yard and personal parking area.
The Fairview site will also see a realignment of Scott Road as part of the work ahead.
As noted above, the plan for the expansion requires a move the current southern portion of the Fairview Floats Small Craft harbour further to the north, in the direction towards the Prince Rupert Airport Ferry side of the harbour area.
The current small Craft Floats at Fairview (top map) will be relocated North as part of the project (bottom map) (From DP World info package)
The full prospects of the plans ahead can be reviewed below:
click to enlarge
One all permits are in hand, Construction is scheduled to start this fall, with a completion date anticipated to be sometime in the summer of 2024.
Towards the progress for the project, DP World notes the following:
The Stage 1B expansion does not require an impact assessment under the Impact Assessment Act because it does not exceed thresholds defined under the Physical Activities Regulations (SOR/2019-285).
However, given the location of the Project on Schedule B federal lands and Schedule A waters under the jurisdiction of the PRPA, approval to proceed will require an Environment Effects Evaluation (EEE) under Section 82 of the Impact Assessment Act (2019).
The Project may also require the following federal permits and authorizations:
Fisheries Act for marine fish habitat impacts
Canadian Navigable Waters Act for impacts to navigation
