Council meeting summary – January 13, 2025

Type(s)
Media Releases

Here are some highlights from the January 13, 2025, City Council meeting. For more information – including the full agenda listing – read the Regular Council Meeting Agenda and its attachments.

Complete Community Assessment

Council has received the findings of the City’s Complete Community Assessment (CCA) conducted between August 2023 and November 2024.

The CCA was funded through a grant from the Union of BC Municipalities and carried out by the consulting firm Urban Systems. This assessment was designed to complement the ongoing Official Community Plan review and provide a deeper understanding of how to guide the City’s future growth effectively. The focus was on optimizing the use of existing infrastructure and enhancing access to essential services.

Key recommendations from the CCA include prioritizing new residential development in areas with access to daily amenities, a connected transportation network, and sufficient existing infrastructure to support growth. Additional recommendations involve monitoring infrastructure capacity levels, coordinating capital investments in critical infrastructure, and streamlining the development approvals process to attract investment.

2024 RCMP Year in Review

Prince George RCMP Officer-In-Charge, Superintendent Darin Rappel presented to Council, providing an overview of police calls for service in 2024 in comparison with the last several years, including downtown statistics, and notable events and trends in 2024. Highlights include a decrease in property crime and an increase in charges forwarded to Crown.

The presentation covered topics looking ahead to 2025, which included a focus on mental health support partnerships, youth crime and the impacts on workload as a result of the body worn cameras.

Citizen Recognition Program terms of reference approved

Council approved the terms of reference for the Select Committee on Citizen Recognition Program. 

The proposed program was put forward in a notice of motion last November, with the aim of honouring individuals who have made significant contributions to the community in a variety of areas.

Four councillors were appointed to the select committee: councillors Frizzell, Sampson, Scott and Skakun. Council has now directed administration to begin the process to recruit up to three members of the public to the select committee. The committee is expected to submit a report to Council by the end of September 2025, with the program launching in 2026.

Apartments at 4500 Ospika moving forward

Council approved the removal and replacement of a section 219 covenant associated with a proposed development at 4500 Ospika Boulevard. 

The applicant, Praxis Solutions, made the application on behalf of the developer to discharge and replace the Section 219 covenant to allow for a 118-unit apartment offering congregate housing intended for independent seniors living.

The report to council explains that in February 2023 council denied a request to modify the development from the original 256-unit student housing to senior housing. 

- 30 -

Media contact:
Claire Thwaites, senior communications advisor
Mobile: 778-349-1386
Email: media@princegeorge.ca