Here are some highlights from the February 26, 2024, City Council meeting. For more information – including the full agenda listing – read the Regular Council Meeting Agenda and its attachments.
Short-term rental accommodation update
Council received an update on the province’s new Short Term Rental Accommodation Act following a motion in early December that asked staff to seek feedback from the tourism and housing sectors to prepare options for response, including the option to opt-out of the act.
The Act regulates short-term rentals and will limit short-term rentals to a host’s principal residence. The Act will take precedence over all local regulations and the most notable changes will come into effect on May 1, 2024.
The Province has provided an option to opt-out of the Principal Residence Requirement; however, the rental vacancy rate for Prince George as currently reported by CMHC may not meet the minimum requirement needed to seek an exemption (which is vacancy rates 3% or greater for two consecutive years).
Council voted to send a letter to the Province requesting an exemption and pointing out that the data the Province is relying on is not statistically reliable.
Communications and Engagement strategy
Information detailing the 2024 communications and engagement strategy was presented to council.
The report showed the responses to the survey held in 2023 where Prince George residents were asked about communications and engagement. These responses are what has guided the communications and engagement strategy.
The mail survey received 223 responses, an additional 527 online surveys were received, and an internal staff survey received 116 responses.
Key points from what the City heard, and have taken into account, in creating this strategy include:
• Provide clear, consistent, and meaningful information on topics that matter.
• Improve transparency by engaging our community sooner in the decision-making process.
• Provide more opportunities to listen and provide meaningful input, as well as learning how the input was used in decision-making.
• Continue to deliver a digital approach to communications.
January building permit summary
Council received a Building Permit and Development Permit Summary for January, showing the year has started out strong. The report includes all residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional permits, and the estimated total construction value of each development.
In January a total of 28 building permits were issued, made up of 13 commercial/industrial permits and 15 residential permits, worth a combined total of $12.6 million. This includes a six story, 91-unit apartment complex at 1177 Foothills Boulevard.
The number of permits in January was up for the same month in 2023 where there was 13 permits issued and 2022 where there was 16 permits issued.
Road and sidewalk rehabilitation
Council received an update on the 2023 Road and Sidewalk Capital rehabilitation project. The report shows that in 2023 approximately 58.5 road lane kilometers were rehabilitated. This included portions of Ospika, 15th Avenue, Massey Drive, Vancouver Street and 7th Avenue.
For sidewalk rehabilitation the following work was reported: 2182 metres of concrete sidewalk rehabilitation, 1115 metres of asphalt sidewalk rehabilitation, and 485 metres of new concrete sidewalk.
Costs for the project work last year was $6.1 million for the Road Rehabilitation program, $1.25 million for the Sidewalk Rehabilitation program, and $400,000 for the New Sidewalk program.
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Media contact:
Claire Thwaites, senior communications advisor
Mobile: 778-349-1386
Email: media@princegeorge.ca