Here are some highlights from the two December 4, 2023, City Council meetings. For more information – including the full agenda listing – read the Regular Council Meeting Agenda and its attachments. There was also a Finance & Audit Committee meeting on December 4, 2023 – with some highlights also listed below. The full agenda is also available online.
FINANCE & AUDIT MEETING
The Finance and Audit Committee reviews financial information in detail and makes recommendations to City Council. This committee does not make decisions for Council.
Proposed rate rise
The Standing Committee on Finance and Audit were provided with the Operating Budget Guidelines: 2024 – 2026 report which they received for information only.
This provides high-level background information related to the City of Prince George Year 2024 to 2026 operating budget expense “drivers” and revenue sources. The report shows the proposed tax increases, plus previous years information, as well as comparisons to other municipalities.
The report shows a 5.88% tax increase however since the report was written, updated information from BC Assessment indicates the proposed rate increase would be 6.24%, which is an approximately $159.12 tax increase for the representative property (2023 representative property valued at $460,049). There is also a recommendation for service enhancements, including four new RCMP staff and seven fire protection staff, which would mean an additional tax increase of 1.70% if approved for a total increase of 7.94%.
The Finance and Audit Committee also approved a motion to consider an additional $300,000 to Road Rehabilitation which, if approved by Council in January, would add an additional 0.23% to the tax levy.
This rate increase includes the recently amended Sustainable Finance Policy to include a 1% increase to the tax levy per year to transfer to infrastructure reserves to address the city’s asset reinvestment needs. 1% of the 2023 tax levy is $1,292,482 which brings the proposed 2024 General Infrastructure Reinvestment Levy to $4,242,482.
- Tax increases over the last three years are still approximately 4.5% behind inflation
- Of the city’s peer communities (Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Kamloops, Kelowna, Maple Ridge, Nanaimo, Saanich, Victoria), Prince George’s tax increases over the last three years are the lowest, and of those who have released their draft 2024 numbers, Prince George is also the lowest
Capital Projects
The Finance & Audit Committee recommended approval of the projects listed within the Draft 2024-2028 Capital Plan report. Approval of capital project early in the budget process allows procurement to begin now to meet deadlines for work to be done in the spring.
The report highlights there are two new debt funded projects being proposed for 2024: the Hart Sewage Lift Station Replacement with a budget of $7.3 million and Stormwater System Renewal at $2.55 million.
The 2024 - 2028 Capital Plan was received for information with no changes and Council will consider it for final approval during budget meetings in January.
Budget survey feedback shared
The Finance & Audit Committee received a report about the community engagement findings for the 2024 budget.
The report explains that this year budget consultation opportunities were hosted on the City’s website, and shared broad through news releases, social media, newsletters, and advertising. Consultation this year was done through three in-person town hall meetings and digital channels including five satisfaction surveys, the annual Citizen Budget survey and comments received on social media.
The Citizen Budget survey results are also featured in the report, which shows the 620 validated participants collectively indicated their desire to keep budgets the same in 8 of the 13 budget areas. Roads, sidewalks, and storm drainage are seen as the top 3 budget priorities.
Council will give consideration of all of this feedback as they consider the 2024 budget.
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Council considers future of short-term rentals
Council approved a resolution that directs staff to seek feedback from tourism and housing sectors to prepare options for response, including the option to "Opt-Out" of the proposed provincial Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act.
The Act, which the province announced in October in response to the growing housing crisis in BC, is designed to “to regulate the rapidly expanding short-term rental market.”
Under the act, people in communities with more than 10,000 people would not be allowed to buy multiple houses for use as a short-term rental, but they would still be allowed to rent out their primary residence or a basement suite. When regulations are released, it is intended that communities with a vacancy rate over 3% may request an exemption from the principal residence requirement.
Code of conduct updates
Council gave the first three readings of the new Code of Conduct Bylaw No. 9439, 2023.
The proposed City of Prince George Code of Conduct Bylaw sets out complaint and resolution procedures and includes several sanctions that may be imposed for a breach of the Bylaw. The Code of Conduct Bylaw also includes circumstances where an independent third-party solicitor or investigator may be appointed, to ensure neutrality when processing complaints.
The current Council Code of Conduct Policy was established in 2013 and there have been no amendments to the Policy since it was adopted.
Borrowing approved
Council approved a number of motions in relation to the funding of various projects through borrowing from the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.
The borrowed money, known as ‘security issue’ totals $5.3 million and consists of $3.6 million for the civic facility roofs replacement program, $922,1000 for the critical streetlight replacement program, and $786,300 for various renewal works at the Aquatic centre. These projects were all approved by Council at previous meetings but borrowing was delayed so as to avoid interest payments until the funds were required.
This security issue would have a repayment term of 20 years which would begin in the spring of 2024.
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Media contact:
Claire Thwaites, senior communications advisor
Mobile: 778-349-1386
Email: media@princegeorge.ca