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| The first Council session for March featured a number of presentations to Council members |
Child Care, Budget Planning and a Contract award made for much of the current for conversation on Monday night at Prince Rupert City Council.
A session which also included a public comment opportunity on budget issues, that opportunity one that found limited participation for the first public engagement on the topic.
Some background on the work of Council on the evening and the various Regular Agenda elements for the March 9th Council session can be explored here.
Council also hosted a Closed Session earlier in the evening, the details as to why they required the doors to be closed for the 5PM meeting can be reviewed from their advisory of that session here.
Further information from our overview and placement in the video archive can be found below, with the permanent record of the minutes added as they are posted to the city website.
In attendance Monday, March 9, 2020
Mayor Lee Brain -- Present
Councillor Nick Adey -- Present
Councillor Barry Cunningham -- Present
Councillor Blair Mirau -- Present
Councillor Reid Skelton-Morven -- Present
Councillor Wade Niesh -- Present
Councillor Gurvinder Randhawa -- Present
Video Archive for Monday, March 9, 2020
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Regular Council Session
(0:00 -- :34 ) Regular City Council Session for Monday, march 9, 2020 -- Mayor Brain called the Regular Council Session to order, with Council adopting the agenda and past minutes of previous minutes.
Petitions and Delegations
( :34- 24:00 ) Presentation on Child Care Assessment and Action Plan Findings -- Alison Watson and Kate Toye provided the results of their findings -- Prior to the review of the Prince Rupert findings Ms. Watson noted how Child care is a critical social infrastructure, one which like other civic elements of infrastructure is key to development of a community and complex by nature, noting that like housing availability it can make the difference in attracting or maintaining a municipality.
She observed how Child Care concerns are making for a larger focus when it comes to community planning, noting how there are critical shortages and how local governments are now being asked to identify their own needs.
The Review of their work involved three key questions, what are the needs, how many spaces are required and what actions can the City take to support space creation.
The methods of their review and the key components towards was explored.
The review identified Five key gaps: Infant/Toddler Centre spaces, Flexible programs, Co-location hubs, Awareness of programs/benefits and the barriers found in the community such as staff, zoning issues and capacity.
At the current access rate it was determined that there was a shortage of 49 spaces in Prince Rupert, as the community is in transition that could look very different moving towards the future.
When it comes to the actions that the City could take, the findings highlighted the following:
Strengthen Child Care policies using the upcoming OCP discussions as an opportunity to include Child Care into the larger focus
Update regulations and create incentives, take advantage of bylaws to remove limits and offer supports towards growth of child care options
Support for Space Creation by direct or indirect options
Communications, Partnerships and Advocacy, make use of information campaigns and advocacy towards the province and Federal governments for continued momentum at both levels.
To complete their presentation, they both made note of the Space Creation funding options that are available to the city, Indigenous governments in the area as well as for non-profit organizations and business groups.
When it came to questions, each Councillor first thanked them for their efforts.
Councillor Randhawa noting how their study will help the city moving forward with plans for the community.
Councillor Adey observed how the Child Care will be a useful element for the city to remember as it plans for future growth.
Councillor Mirau inquired about what they had described as the access rate, seeking some further background on their Prince Rupert findings towards it.
Councillor Skelton-Morven noted some of the challenges in the community for those seeking child care, observing how their findings will provide guidance for the city to look towards supporting child care development.
Councillor Cunningham made inquiries on training opportunities, Ms. Toye noted of the challenges currently in place for training, observing how the pay is currently low for those that take the two year programs. She also outlined that both Coast Mountain College and Metlakatla First Nation were offering training in the region.
Mr. Cunningham noted of the challenge of trying to increase wages for Child Care workers, which could drive up the cost of child care for families in need of the services.
The Mayor observed as to some of the current opportunities being considered in the community and how the City could take advantage of affecting policies through their OCP update work.
Mr. Brain also noted that he was confident that Prince Rupert would take a leadership role in development of child care initiatives and how the City would want to be a part of that.
( 25:30 -- 41:00 ) 2020 Budget Presentation and Public Comment Period -- The City's Financial Officer reprised many of her talking points of the February 24th presentation to council, including a video compilation of some of the city's achievements that the city wanted to reinforce as part of this years Budget roll out.
In her recap Ms. Bomben made note of the City's budget surplus, the second year in a row that has been achieved, noting that there would be no tax increase in Prince Rupert this year.
She also called attention to the city's paving plan for 2020, as well as their progress towards development of a new RCMP detachment in the city.
An explanation of the mill rate process and the range of other taxes that the City collects on behalf of other organizations was also included in her review.
The presentation also outlined the impact to taxpayers and where money collected from taxation is put to use for civic services and other purposes.
Ms. Bomben also pointed towards more information available to residents to learn more about the impact of the budget on their property taxes, as well as to participate in the Budget process through an online survey or by way of paper copies located at a number of locations around the city.
As for community comment, only one resident, Larry Golden approached the microphone, first asking if the video would be provided online, then asking about the plans for a new RCMP station and where it may be built.
Ms. Bomben advised that the location had yet to be determined, noting that wherever the city chooses to locate the detachment will have to be on city owned land.
Much of the remainder of his focus was on the lack of information available towards travel by the Mayor or Council members and what the cost of that travel may be, with Mr. Golden inquiring as to where it is included as part of the budget process, he also asked how council decides on travel opportunities.
Ms. Bomben did not provide details on a fixed amount, noting that the money is part of the element of the civic budget that is called governance, the travel is part of the expenditures of that section.
As for travel approval, the CFO observed that the decisions on travel were considered by what Council feels is a civic priority and if the travel fits into the approved bylaw and budget allowance.
With no other members of the public coming forward, the Mayor then noted that the next opportunity for public comment would be at the next Council session on March 23rd.
( 41:00 -- 44:00 ) Report from Operations Manager on Contract Award for Landfill Leachate Lagoon project -- Richard Pucci, the City's Operations Manager outlined the history of the city's plans towards the creation of the leachate lagoon and then noted that of the five competitive bids received, with the recommendation of staff that to award the contract to Broadwater Industries of Prince Rupert.
Their bid came in at $1,929,179.00, Mr. Pucci noted that they were the lowest bid, compliant and they have had past experience at the landfill site.
Council quickly approved the recommendation, as for comments Councillor Mirau noted how the Broadwater bid met all the city's checklist elements, to which the Mayor concurred.
( 44:00 - 50:00) Report From City's Financial Officer, seeking direction from Council on the Loan Authorization process towards the city's Water Dam project and the expansion of the land fill site.
Ms. Bomben reviewed some of the process of the Loan requests to this point, noting that tonight staff would be seeking the direction of council towards how to seek the assent of the public.
She explained the two options available towards public consultation, those of Alternate Approval Process or Referendum, noting that the AAP option takes less time and comes at a lesser cost.
Mr. Brain outlined his preference that the Council make use of the Alternate Approval process, seeking the comment of Council towards that option.
Councillor Niesh led off the discussion in support for the AAP model, noting how the referendum option would most likely deliver low turnout and would be more costly than that of the AAP option, he also noted that anyone with opposition to the plans could use the AAP to force a referendum.
The Councillor also observed that they are both projects that need to be done, the Mayor added that thanks to the city's hard work, they would be able to cover the cost of the project payments through other resources than tax increases.
Ms. Bomben also observed that there will be no increases to water rates and that the payments for the water dam would be done through Watson Island revenues, while the landfill loan to be covered by landfill fees.
Councillor Cunningham reinforced how the two loans would not impact on the city's taxpayers.
Council then delivered two motions, one for each Loan Authorization request, with both consultations to make use of the Alternate Approval Process.
( 50:00 -- 52:30) Report from City Planner on Variance Request for a property on 9th Avenue East -- City Planner Zeno Krekic outlined the background to the request. Council members had no questions related to the request, moving it forward to final consideration
( 52:30 -- 54:00 ) Report from City Planner on Variance Request for a property on 7th Avenue East - City Planner Zeno Krekic outlined the background to the request. Council members had no questions related to the request, moving it forward to final consideration
( 54:00 --59:00 ) Report from City Planner on Variance Request for a property on 5th Avenue West -- City Planner Zeno Krekic outlined the background to the request. Councillor Mirau inquired about some of the particulars to the application. Councillor Cunningham also inquired about close nature of the residence to the sidewalk. Councillor Niesh offered up his observations on the nature of the proposed variance. Council then carried the motion.
( 59:00 -- 1:00:00 ) Report from City Planner on Variance Request for a property on 8th Avenue East -- City Planner Zeno Krekic outlined the background to the request. Council members had no questions related to the request, moving it forward to public notification.
Reports from Council
( 1:00 :00 -- 1:004:00 ) Councillor Randhawa led off the late stages of the council session paying tribute to the Charles Hays Rainmakers for their success at the Provincial Basketball Championships in Langley.
Councillor Adey echoed those sentiments on the Rainmakers and then turned to the meeting last week for the tenants of the residents of the Pinecrest Townhomes facing renovictions.
The City Councillor making note of the emotional tone of the gathering and how it brought home that some of the decisions that get made and are cut and dried on paper as simple, have an impact on people's lives.
He also paid tribute to Paul Legace of the Unemployed Action Centre for taking on the advocacy for the affected tenants and how he hoped that through his work some ways of making the situation easier for the tenants will be found.
Mayor Brain noted that he and Councillor Cunningham had also been in attendance at that meeting, observing how it was one of the hardest things he has done as Mayor in the last five and half years as Mayor.
He noted how the city does have a housing issue in the community and how Council would be working around the clock to help be as supportive as possible.
Mr. Brain also observed that the developer has worked with Mr. Legace on some of the issues involving the renoviciton issue in order to lessen the impact on the tenants, including a staggered schedule for the work.
Councillor Cunningham made note of the success of the Rainmakers and called attention to Councillor Niesh's travels with his daughter's Minor hockey team.
Councillor Niesh then highlighted an upcoming Midget tournament hosted by Prince Rupert Minor Hockey at the Civic Centre in the week ahead, as well as to provide some further notes on the travels to Golden for the Pee Wees for their quest for a provincial title.
With no other concerns of note on other topics, the Mayor brought the evening to a close.
You can access the City Council Session Archive here, where a number of items regarding the council session, including links to local media coverage, can also 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.
Official Minutes of the Regular Council Session from March 9, 2020 (not available yet)
In addition to the city's official minutes, the City's Video archive provides a helpful record of the events from each public council session.
Council members next meet on March 23rd, which will a Committee of the Whole Session, that providing opportunity for the public to comment on issues of note or concern to them. That evening will also mark the final opportunity for public comment on the 2020 Budget Process.
Cross posted from the North Coast Review.
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