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| With Poinsettias on display City Council members met in session on Monday evening. |
It was a light night of work for City Council, with few discussion points to raise over the course of the less than sixteen minute get together, that as the Mayor and Council approved a range of upcoming increases to fees and charges for a number of civic services.
One item did generate some discussion, that being the plans to introduce a new tax exemption program for industrial land use towards Logistics purposes.
Some background on the work of Council for the night, can be reviewed from the Regular Agenda Package for the December 6th session.
Council also hosted a Closed meeting, marking the twentieth such session which has been closed to the public in 2021.
The details related to the reasons for the in camera session can be reviewed 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, December 6, 2021
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, December 6, 2021
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( 0:00--:30 ) Regular City Council Session for Monday, December 6, 2021 -- Mayor Lee Brain called the session to order, adopting past minutes and the Agenda for the session.
( 0:30--1:00 ) Report from the Corporate Administrator -- Re: Letter of Support for Ecole Roosevelt Park Community School -- Mayor Brain made note of the report on the letter of support request from Ecole Roosevelt Park School related to their plans for a new playground.
Council approved the request
Bylaws
( 01:00--1:30 ) Report from Director of Operations -- Solid Waste Management Bylaw -- Council reviewed the Fourth and final reading for the range of fees and charges related to Garbage, Recycling and other waste.
With no discussion on the topic, the approval was given (see page 11 of the Agenda package for the full listing of the new fees schedule)
( 01:30--3:00 ) Report from Corporate Administrator -- Recreation Fees and Charges -- Corporate Administrator Rosa Miller provided a synopsis of why the document was returned to Council, noting of the need for some revisions owing to clerical issues and legal requirements. Ms. Miller noting that the bylaws had not changed just the clerical themes or semantic issues as the Mayor described it. That now required another First, Second and Third Reading for the Fees and Charges Bylaw, which was done at Monday's session. Councillor Randhawa reinforced his original concerns over the level of charges that have been put in place. (see page 42 of the Agenda package for the full listing of the new fees schedule)
( 3:00 -- 10:30 ) Report from Chief Financial Officer -- Revitalization Tax Exemption Program -- The CFO's report outlined plans for tax exemptions for development of property for logistical purposes, with Ms. Bomben noting of the similarity to the City's downtown core revitalization exemptions.
The CFO outlining how the exemption would be a mechanism to encourage growth for the logistics sector. In discussion, Councillor Mirau noted of his support for the proposal and how it supports the Ports Land Use plan and the city's own Official Community Plan.
He also asked as to whether a copy of the map noted in the Agenda was available for viewing, observing that it was missing from the document. Towards the map, the Mayor suggested that the map be forwarded to the Councillors digital devices.
However Councillor Adey noted that as the meeting was a public session, the map, if possible should be presented on the large screen in the Council chamber.
Once up on the screen, Ms. Bomben noted that the land in question along the Highway was the only land of note available for such use as a logistics terminal.
In further discussion, Councillor Mirau asked as to how much of the land would be used for development, with Ms. Bomben noting only a portion of the land was available for such use.
Councillor Cunningham asked if there were any other properties available and he was advised this was the only one to be considered at this time. In follow up, the Mayor noted that the City could extend the tax exemption to other lands at any time.
Councillor Mirau followed up with a question on the status of land and if it would qualify under the Port Property Tax act as and eligible property, he was advised by the CFO that it would not.
Councillor Cunningham further explored what the use would be for the land, with Ms. Bomben noting that any use would have to follow the purposes of the program, with any applicant required to apply to the city and fit the guidelines.
With no further discussion Council provided First, Second and Third Reading to the Bylaw, It will return for final approval at a future Council session.
(You can review her full report from page 61 of the Agenda package)
( 10:30--11:30 ) Report from Chief Financial Officer -- Cemetery Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw - Following a short presentation from Ms. Bomben, who noted of the slight increase of 2 percent overall for 2022. Council provided for First, Second and Third Readings for the Fees and Charges Bylaw, with no discussion towards it. (see page 74 of the Agenda package for the new fees schedule )
( 11:30 -- 15:31) Questions, Comments, Reports or Inquiries from Council
Councillor Cunningham inquired as to whether there are any restrictions on the number of veterinarians that can work in the city, the Mayor observed that there are no restrictions in place adding that there will be a new vet in town in the new year, as well as the start up of a mobile vet program in the community.
Mr. Cunningham made note of the recent snowfall and how some property owners mostly absentee owners have not been fulfilling their requirement for snow clearing, the Mayor noted that the Corporate Administrator would be taking care of that file.
The councillor also brought up the topic of rumours he has heard of a return for the Alaska Ferry to Prince Rupert in 2022. Mayor Brain observed that he has no confirmation on that as of yet. Adding that he is waiting for further details from the Federal government.
He did note that the view from Alaska is encouraging, but he will await further guidance from the Canadian government related to the previous issues that had been raised and had resulted in the service suspension. He then recounted some of the past conversations he and the City's Fiancé Officer had taken part in towards that topic, adding that he hopes that the City's efforts to save the ferry have been successful.
To conclude the night, Mr. Brain also noted that there would be one more public session for the Council membership added to the calendar this year.
With two meetings planned for December 13th to address Capital spending issues with the two sessions planned for 3PM and 7PM, when various members of city staff from the departments will outline their budget requests.
And with that the December 6th session came to an end.
You can access our Council Session page 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 December 6, 2021
(not available yet)
As Mayor Brain noted, Council will host one additional Public meeting for December, one not previously scheduled on the calendar.
The next session will be a two part project for Monday December 13th, with sessions at 3PM and again at 7 PM.
The focus for the twin meetings will be planning for the City's Capital Budget.
Cross posted from the North Coast Review.
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