No tax increase in 2021
Prince George City Council has approved a tax increase of 0% for 2021, citing local hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason to not increase taxes this year.
The Safe Restart funding announced by the Governments of Canada and BC in November is providing Council with the opportunity to provide a 0% tax increase without reducing municipal services. In fact, Council is using about half of the $6.1 million grant to offset a tax increase this year.
The final budget includes an increase of $1.5 million in snow and ice control, an extra $150,000 for road and sidewalk rehabilitation, and a $125,000 increase in funding for infrastructure reinvestment to keep pace with inflation.
See the news release for more information.
Deadlines and penalties for property taxes and utility fees
Along with approving the budget, Council also gave direction to Administration regarding deadlines for property taxes and utility bills.
Property taxes: First deadline is the first Friday of July (July 2 in 2021), after which outstanding taxes are charged a 5% fee. After the second deadline, which is the second Friday of September (Sept 10 in 2021), outstanding taxes will be charged an additional 5% fee.
Utility fees: No penalty will be charged in 2021 for late utility fee payments.
Air quality update
Prince George air quality appears to be improving but road dust, wood-stove use, and industry are still a concern. That’s what Council heard from UNBC researchers who studied the prevalence of extremely small particles in the air and compared current Prince George air quality to the last study from 2005. The emissions inventory was initiated by the Prince George air improvement roundtable and funded by the City, PG AIR, and Northern Health. The research helps to guide future air management strategies for PG AIR.
Funding application for upgrades at Ferguson Lake Park
The City will be proceeding with a funding proposal to the Federal and Provincials Governments after Council approved an application for the Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve. Located in the northwest corner of the City, Ferguson Lake is the largest lake within City limits and features a 2.5km trail around the entire lake.
According to the report, much of the infrastructure at Ferguson Lake requires rehabilitation to meet increased usage from the community:
- The existing boardwalk infrastructure design, age, and condition necessitate a complete reconstruction.
- Various segments of the trail system require resurfacing and the addition of new boardwalks to provide access through wet areas.
- Enhancements would include an accessible trail between the picnic area and fishing dock.
The total estimated cost for the Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve Rehabilitation project is nearly $850,000. The city will be pursuing a grant covering 100% of the project costs.
Car 60 expansion
City Council received an update from administration about the City’s Car 60 Program. Car 60 is a mobile crisis response unit that pairs a uniformed RCMP officer with a clinical nurse, specializing in mental health. The team responds to calls for service and works together to offer on-site emotional and mental health assessments, crisis intervention, and referrals to appropriate services.
Two important opportunities to leverage the resources of the Car 60 Program have recently been identified:
- Car 60 will be using the Community Safety Hub scheduled to open in March of 2021 as a “touchdown” site and as such, will benefit from allied services and initiatives, including a new NH Coordinator, based at that location.
- Northern Health and the RCMP will be piloting a partnership initiative that embeds an RCMP member with Northern Health’s community-based mental health and substance use teams.
Repairs needed at PG Playhouse
Work continues to assess the Prince George Playhouse after a section of exterior cladding fell off the fly tower in December and revealed significant moisture damage in the structure. City staff have temporarily protected the west façade of the PG Playhouse from the elements; longer terms repairs will be considered after the City receives recommendations from a building envelope specialist.
Get ready to be counted
Council committed to help increase public awareness of the next Canadian census, which will take place in May of this year. Governments at all levels use census data to fund schools, daycare and family services, housing, emergency services, roads, public transportation, and skills training for employment – all critical local services. The job of delivering the census is massive and Statistics Canada is aiming to hire 32,000 people across Canada to assist with census collection. For more info, see census.gc.ca.