Prince Rupert City Council's Monday session covered some diverse themes from affordable housing and a review of the Airport loan situation, as well to finalize the city budget.
Also receiving some significant attention as part of the near one hour session was a renewed call to clean up the city and some wide ranging thoughts on the current state of health care in the region.
The evening began with a Committee of the Whole presentation from Paul Legace of the Unemployed Action Centre, who relayed some findings from a recent petition in support of the Lax Kw'alaams led housing proposal for 11th Avenue East.
A report on the status of repayment plans for an Airport loan was some focus for Council, as well as for the Council approval of the 2021 Financial Plan and bylaws with one final vote on the night.
A property variance and the wide ranging discussions related to downtown clean up and health closed out the night.
Some background on the work of Council for the night can be reviewed from the Regular Agenda package for the April 26 session here.
The Agenda for the Committee of the Whole Session is available here.
Council members also met in a Closed Session prior to the evening's work, details as to why they were required to go behind closed doors can be explored here.
Further information from our overview and placement in the video archive can be found below, with the permanent record of the council minutes added as they are posted to the city website.
In attendance Monday, April 26, 2021
Mayor Lee Brain -- Present by Zoom
Councillor Nick Adey -- Present by Zoom
Councillor Barry Cunningham -- Present by Zoom
Councillor Blair Mirau -- Present by Zoom
Councillor Reid Skelton-Morven -- Present by Zoom
Councillor Wade Niesh -- Present by Zoom
Councillor Gurvinder Randhawa -- Present by Zoom
Video Archive for Monday, April 26, 2021
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Committee of the Whole
( 0:00 -2:00 ) Mayor Brain called the Committee of the Whole Session to order and outlined the process and Agenda for the evening.
( 2:00 -- 14:00 ) Paul Legace from the Unemployed Action Centre spoke to themes on the need for affordable housing in the community -- Mr. Legace an advocate of affordable housing in the community spoke mainly to the topic of the proposed Lax Kw'alaams housing development on 11th Avenue East.
Speaking to the details of a petition signed by 579 residents of the community noting of the ongoing housing crisis and the need for housing. His presentation stressed what those who signed the petition say would be the positive aspects of the development, addressing some of the concerns expressed about the housing location and how the project will meet the bar set by Metlakatla with their Seniors housing facility on Eight Avenue East.
Calling out NIMBYism and racism, Mr. Legace called the development a win-win for everyone in the area and how affordable housing should be spread out around the community,
He also noted how it was through the City's efforts of offering of 11th Avenue East for one dollar for sixty years a positive thing by the municipal government and called for Council to support the rezoning process request and to encourage other developers to create other housing options elsewhere.
Mr. Legace also turned the forum over to one of the signatories of the petition, Tina Steppler who recounted the struggles that she and her spouse have had trying to find suitable accommodation and the need for the City to encourage housing stock for those with nowhere to go.
She recounted some of her own personal experiences and observed that Prince Rupert has the worst affordable housing situation that she has seen over her twenty two years on social assistance. She also listed off some of the disheartening things that she has seen as units have been removed without any being replaced and the need to rebuild what has been lost.
She also challenged the area residents near the 11th Avenue east site to not go against a community together and to replace what has been lost, noting how the units proposed would go towards such a possibility.
Mayor Brain observed how he was seeing a theme of the particular project, noting that it would be a subject of Public Hearing and invited Mr. Legace and Ms. Steppler to return to the process when it resumes once it is scheduled to ensure that their voices are heard.
The Mayor also noted outlined how Council is tasked with keeping an open mind on all proposals that they receive, adding that Council has heard them loud and clear, going on to observe how housing is a massive challenge for this community and many others.
He then noted how Council in general has been supporting housing initiatives across the spectrum and partnering with a number agencies and groups to ensure that they get as much stock online; observing how there are 300 units in queue for housing stock in Prince Rupert over the next year or two.
He also called attention to the city's interim housing policies and have more work ahead of them, noting how Mr. Legace has shared his ideas with Council previous. Adding that this was the kind of engagement and forum that Council is looking for and invited him to speak to any issue at any time that he wishes to.
As for the progress for the 11th Avenue East project, he relayed that Council would have official comment on the project at the Public hearing which is also when they will make a decision on it.
Speaking to the petition that Mr. Legace has organized he noted that if there are that many folks who believe in the project he would love to have that petition officially submitted at the hearing.
Mr. Legace closed off his comments by noting how he is encouraged by what Council is doing and how he wanted to do this because a lot of people support the proposal and he wanted to bring those voices to Council and encourage them.
The Mayor also took an opportunity to share how the City has changed the process for future developments where the communication to the community will take place prior to Council even receiving the project, a shift in focus that he believes will change how the projects are perceived by the public and clear up any misconceptions.
He also noted that the decision in the end is up to Council, at the end of the day the members will weigh the comments of all participants before any decision is made, observing how they are always going to be open to all feedback.
Stating how housing is a massive need for the community and how the city is striving for a balanced approach, Mr. Brain noted how engagement such as that heard on the night are a huge part of the decision making process.
With the presentation at an end no other members of the public to be heard on the night, they adjourned the Committee of the Whole and returned to the Regular Council Session.
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( 14:00 -- 15:00 ) Regular City Council Session for Monday, March 22, 2021 -- Mayor Brain Niesh, called the session to order, adopting past minutes and the Agenda for the session underway.
( 15:00 -- 20:00 ) Report from the Chief Financial Officer -- The City's Financial Officer Corinne Bomben provided a Report related to a recommendation to extend the partnering agreement between the City and Prince Rupert Airport Autthority -- In her remarks Ms. Bomben outlined the background to the arrangement which was required as part of the loan towards the renovation plans for the airport of 2014.
She brought the topic up to present and noted how COVID has impacted on the Airport's ability in making its debt obligations and how the extension of three years would provide the additional time for the airport to meet those obligations, with resumption of repayments on the loan from the airport to come in 2023.
As the City took the loan from the Municipal Finance Authority, the CFO noted that means the city is required to make payments as scheduled, she further observed how the city has used the provincial Safe Start funding towards the airport payments for 2020, adding they propose to use the same option for 2021 and 2022 as well.
Towards discussion, Councillor Mirau asked what the balance of the restart grant would look like after the extension was complete, with Ms. Bomben noting that it would then be just shy of one million dollars.
In a follow up question he asked about projections on revenue for the airport ferry and asked if there is a need for a new projection following recent funding, Ms. Bomben said she was confident their projections were pretty close
Councillor Niesh offered his support for the move, observing how the city doesn't want to lose the airport and how it was a great idea to help out the airport and one which he supported completely.
Councillor Cunningham also supported the motion. asked if the City received any of the recent funding provided to the airport. Ms. Bomben advised that the city would not be receiving any of that funding, adding she believed that the airport authority is using it for Operational expenses.
Council then voted to approve the recommendation.
( 20:00 -- 22:00 ) Report from Planning -- A verbal report providing a review of an application for a variance permit for a property on 8th Avenue East -- Chris Buchan outlined the details of the proposed variance to build a carport for the property, he noted that there had been no comments received from the public related to the proposed work.
Council then approved the application.
( 22:00 -- 29:00 ) Report from the Chief Financial Officer -- Final notes on the City's Budget Preparation, Five Year financial plan and Property Tax Bylaw -- Ms. Corinne Bomben provided her final report on the City's Budget process and notes related to the Five year Financial Plan.
As part of her presentation she outlined some of the feedback that the Finance Department received from the public as part of the budget simulation project, noting of 14 submissions out of 185 page views.
Of the submissions received , 1 person proposed a tax increase, 1 person a tax decrease while 12 participants had recommended no change. From the program the key takeaways were that participants wanted more paving, decreases to capital reserves transfers, airport ferry, recreation service costs and public safety costs
Other notes culled from the engagement were: people enjoyed the tool and the information, the city will use the data collected to provide for more information.
As for the Budget plan, Ms. Bomben reinforced the Zero Tax increase recommendation endorsed in March and noted of no significant changes from BC Assessments other than one Payment in Lieu of Tax eligible property on Federal land, that increase would have brought in 1.4 million dollars in additional PILT For 2021 than originally calculated.
Though she noted that it is been appealed with the City having to set up a provision for the additional amount pending the outcome of the appeal, which will not require a change on the budget overall.
She also noted how with current COVID regulations in place, the City Council has the opportunity to adopt the final reading of the document at one sitting.
Council members had no questions to ask of the CFO on the night, something which led the Mayor to observe of the stark change since the 2015 presentation; adding how the city is starting to see major change in terms of the city's financials noting of the effort that Ms. Bomben and her staff have put into the work of the budge.
Councillor Mirau did weigh in on the success of the budget observing how the easy headline would be no tax increase, but reinforcing his opinion that the larger success is putting money into capital reserves without raising taxes.
He then recounted the many challenges that the City has had to take on in recent years and how the Council has had dedicate all its focus to address them and how now they Council can turn its attention to other areas.
Council members then provided for all four readings of the document passing the 2021 Budget and Property Tax Bylaws.
( 29:00 -- 51:30 ) Questions, Comments, Reports or Inquiries from Council
Councillor Cunningham led off the conversation, offering his thanks to local volunteers for their community clean up over the weekend. He also applauded the Port for a recent donation to the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital and noted how the hospital is struggling at the moment and how such donations help to fill the gaps in place and how it shows that people want to help.
His final comment was related to the efforts towards cleaning up the downtown core, observing of some of the feedback he has received from the public.
The Mayor outlined some of the history of the launch of the clean up enforcement campaign, noting how the City has sent out notices that give property owners the opportunity to clean up their properties, if no action is taken then a thirty day notice is sent, followed by a two week compliance notice, which could see the city send in workers to do the clean up and assess the cost to the property taxes.
Observing how the city is trying to encourage business owners to do the right thing, he outlined how the city will move forward in a big way to start to clean up the properties and eventually move into the residential areas, with a goal of creating a culture of people wanting to clean up the area.
He also recounted the recent history of the economic decline of the past and how the community fell apart and lost its pride, adding how the community was left to sit and residents to become complacent.
Mr. Brain also noted of the new ear of revitalization the city is seeing and reinforced some of the recent measures to provide incentives for downtown area renovations and such.
Calling the new process a carrot and a stick, he added that it's time now for people to take pride and to adhere to the property maintenance bylaw standards to work towards ensuring that the community has a beautiful downtown core that we can all be proud of.
Councillor Niesh also spoke to the situation, calling on residents to report any situations suggesting the make a call or send an email to have any issues addressed, the Mayor adding that having complaint driven evidence is important and how a complaint on the internet doesn't help the city enforce anything, adding that any information delivered to the city will be kept confidential.
Mr. Brain also observed as to some of the progress that the city has seen on the topic to this point.
That stream of the conversation brought the City Manager into the discussion, with Dr. Long making note that the city needs written and signed documentation and not phone calls to ensure that the policies and bylaws are acted on.
Councillor Mirau recommended that residents make use of the Prince Rupert App, which allows for photos, written text and all in a format that protects anonymity of those making the submission.
Mr. Mirau then shifted Council's attention back towards health care, noting of his recent engagement through the media and Social media on the COVID situation in recent weeks, noting how there are other issues on health care that need to be addressed in the community including the need to ensure that services in Prince Rupert remain in place.
Mr. Mirau asked as to the status of the Terms of Reference for the Health Committee that Councillor Cunningham had sought to create in the past, as well as any notes to share from the Northwest Regional Health Board.
The Mayor first spoke to the topic, noting that the Terms of Reference continue to be worked on, observing of his recent focus on his newborn child and the OCP work recently concluded, adding his own thoughts as to the challenges at the hospital, particularly in the retention and recruitment of staff at the Hospital.
Councillor Cunningham added to the theme, noting how the committee proposal was brought to Council's attention two years ago and how it was tabled and never brought back for discussion, adding how he welcomed the renewed attention to it and how it needs the energy of all Council to focus on the issues of Health Care.
His observations on Regional Hospital Board suggested that its focus is on the Mills Memorial Hospital project, Mr. Cunningham also noting how recruitment in Prince Rupert is proving to be a challenge with applicants to local positions ending up in Terrace or Prince George.
Mr. Cunningham noted how the Prince Rupert hospital is a regional hospital for Haida Gwaii and coastal communities, noting of the growing number of services that are being centred in Terrace and how Prince Rupert just gets lip service from health officials.
He expressed his concerns over making North Coast residents drive Highway 16 in the winter and how it means that some residents are passing up medical appointments because of those concerns.
Towards getting a message across he noted how provincial officials come to Prince Rupert and observe how they didn't realize the distance between the communities of the Northwest.
Mr. Cunningham also called attention to some of the services that an aging population will need and how the creation of the Health Committee would go a long way towards advocating for them.
Councillor Nick Adey also addressed the topic, offering his support for the formation of the Committee to be the voice of Prince Rupert and surrounding communities with Northern Health.
Mr. Adey also addressed the housing situation and connected it to the health care concerns and how the community may be on the verge of growing and faces the prospect of losing services to Terrace and how there is a need to preserve basic health services in Prince Rupert. The councillor noting how they are manifestations of a community that is growing and how Council and community need to thread them all together.
He also called for a strident advocacy to preserve current health services and to expand the medical services that are available to the community because we are going to grow.
On the Clean up themes of the community, he spoke to the need for an education program to get across the message of awareness to deal with garbage, noting of the continued misuse of the Wantage Road area as a local dumping zone for some residents.
Mayor Brain closed off the discussion by noting they would get the Terms of Reference for the Health Committee going and to try to discuss them at an upcoming Council session to get it done to move forward on the initiative.
Mr. Brain also praised the work of Julia Pemberton the Administrator at the Hospital, observing how she was doing a very good job and how she was a much needed change at the hospital.
The Mayor adding how she understands the issues on the ground and understands the vision of where the hospital needs to go and is going to work with the community to try to get the Board of Northern Health to see the value of the hospital with the regional growth expected.
The Mayor also noted how the civic administration and that of Northern Health have kept good lines of communication up, and how the community now needs to be part of the conversation.
With no other comments or inquiries, the Council session came to a close
You can access our archive on the City Council Session 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 April 26, 2021
(not available yet)
The next City Council session will take place on Monday, May 10, 2021
Cross posted from the North Coast Review
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