Here are some highlights from the May 27, 2024, City Council meeting. For more information – including the full agenda listing – read the Regular Council Meeting Agenda and its attachments.
Bear Awareness
Council received a presentation from the Northern Bear Awareness Society. The focus was on asking the City to consider bear-resistant solid waste carts to residents in select areas of the City that are deemed the highest for bear interactions.
Council referred this to the new ‘Bear Aware Advisory Committee’, of which the Northern Bear Awareness Society has involvement in the form of a voting member. The committee was also an item on the agenda with council approving the terms of reference for this group.
This committee will engage in research and provide recommendations for increased bear-proofing and bear attractant reduction efforts.
Playhouse rigging budget increase
Council approved increasing the budget for the replacement of the rigging at the Prince George Playhouse from $271,500 to $356,000.
In a report to council it was explained that the budget of $271,500 was developed in 2021 to replace the rigging systems as well as upgrade safe access to these systems. Escalating costs and availability of materials has impacted the budget, in addition to the limitations of accessing qualified workers skilled in the theatrical rigging industry typically located in larger cities.
The completion of this project will provide a functioning theatrical rigging system with operational safety systems in place that will serve the needs of the facility.
Fire services response levels
Council received a report on the Prince George Fire Services response levels.
This report was a request of Council back in March. The report provides an overview of PG Fire Rescue’s full-service delivery as it relates to the Clinical Response Model (which is the BC Emergency Health Services prehospital care model). The report says no changes are needed to the service levels and approach.
Council voted to refer the issue to the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs to research advocacy options related to cost recovery associated with medical services and management of Emergency Health Services in Prince George.
Alternative approval process results
Council received a report outlining the results of two Alternative Approval Process votes that took place recently.
At the regular meeting held February 5, 2024, Council gave first three readings to “City of Prince George Equipment Financing Bylaw No. 9451, 2024” and “Stormwater System Renewal Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 9452, 2024” and approved an alternative approval process to be undertaken for the purpose of seeking approval of the electors.
The project budget for equipment financing is $5.24 million and for the stormwater system renewal the project budget is $2.55 million.
Council was provided a summary of the results of the alternative approval process that sets out that a total of eight elector response forms were received for Bylaw 9451, and seven elector response forms were received for Bylaw 9452.
April building permit summary
Council received a building permit and development permit summary for April with 26 permits issued for the month. The report includes all residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional permits, and the estimated total construction value of each development.
The April total is made up of 11 commercial/industrial permit and 15 residential permits, worth a combined total of $56.6 million. This high dollar value for the month is due to one of the commercial permits for the month being the new parkade at the hospital (listed as an ‘institutional building’) worth $49.9 million.
The year-to-date total as at the end of April is 130 permits worth a combined $98.46 million.
Nuisance abatement and cost recovery bylaw
Council has requested a report back at a future meeting outlining the current policy and procedures for bylaw #8940 the Nuisance Abatement and Cost Recovery Bylaw.
The request is to obtain more information on how the bylaw is being used and the effectiveness of its use as an education tool.
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Media contact:
Claire Thwaites, senior communications advisor
Mobile: 778-349-1386
Email: media@princegeorge.ca