Making progress to make Prince George Safe, Clean, and Inclusive
The Select Committee on a Safe, Clean, and Inclusive Community presented to Council an update on the status of the Committee, which included a number of recommendations for the City, other governments, business, and community organizations – recognizing diverse jurisdictions and activities.
Four recommendations from the Committee specifically for the City:
- Facilitate a coordinated advocacy process
- Advance the BC Urban Mayors’ Caucus 2020 Blueprint for British Columbia’s Urban Future
- Lead the establishment of a downtown public safety office
- Evaluate and reprioritize the allocation of the Safe, Clean and Inclusive service enhancement package funded in 2020
Council approved the recommendations. The Committee was formed about a year ago to advise Council and City staff on priorities and strategies related to key issues and work required to be done to address social issues throughout Prince George, with a focus on the downtown core.
Council Endorses Additional Bylaw Officers
Input from the Select Committee on a Safe, Clean, and Inclusive Community has prompted Administration to recommend a reallocation of $400,000 from security services at downtown civic facilities to Bylaw Services to hire additional bylaw officers for the downtown and surrounding areas. The recommendation was approved by Council. During deliberations last year for the 2020 budget, Council approved a package of service enhancements for the downtown, including additional security services for civic facilities. The reallocation to Bylaw Services is intended to enable improved management of social issues in the downtown and surrounding area.
RCMP Year in Review
RCMP Superintendent Shaun Wright presented Council with a summary of criminal activity in 2020. The Year in Review for 2020 demonstrated that many categories of crime were down in 2020 compared to 2019.
Aiming to reduce poverty in Prince George
Council received a report from the Select Committee on Poverty Reduction, which outlined their early work and next steps. To date, the committee has developed more than 20 recommendations across six theme areas: housing, food security, education and training, transportation, reducing stigma and discrimination, and access to services/supports. Next month, the committee will reach out to the public for community input about the proposed recommendations to reduce poverty at the local level. In particular, the engagement plan will seek feedback from people living in poverty and those with lived experience. More information will be available at princegeorge.ca/getinvolved and from various community service organizations.
Total value of building permits in 2020 nearly breaks all-time record despite pandemic
Year-end totals show that the value of building permits issued in Prince George in 2020 came within striking distance of the all-time annual record in spite the economic uncertainty brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a staff report presented to City Council, building permit values for 2020 reached a total of about $219 Million, which is less than two percent lower than the all-time high annual total of $223 Million set during 2019.
Notably, the value of new multi-family building permits, totalling $68 Million, is up about 30 percent over the total set in 2019 ($52,366,650).
Update on the new Fire Hall #1
During Monday evening’s Council meeting, Council received a report on the construction of a replacement facility for Fire Hall #1 and viewed a new video tour from Fire Chief John Iverson. Council learned that fire suppression crews and equipment will move in to the new Fire Hall #1 by the end of the month.
Having crews and equipment strategically located at its more centralized site on Massey Drive will improve Prince George Fire Rescue’s eight-minute response time, which is critical for keeping fires contained to one room. The City’s older Fire Hall #1 beside City Hall is more than 60 years old and no longer able to meet current standards as a fire and rescue facility.
George Street parkade
At the December 7, 2020 regular Council meeting, Council directed Administration to return with a report to Council with more details about the George Street Parkade capital project. During Monday’s meeting, Administration provided Council with further information about the project, including timelines, budget increases, changes to delegation of authority regarding budget amendments, and cost details related to infrastructure replacement, City labour, and steel tariffs. The project was originally budgeted to cost $12.6 million in December 2017 and has grown to $22.5 million. The topic will continue to be discussed by Council during a closed meeting, which isn’t open to the public.
Business delegation
Council received a delegation from the Prince George Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the Gateway and Downtown Prince George Business Improvement Associations. The organizations requested the City’s participation in a Community Recovery Task Force to assist local businesses through the COVID19 pandemic and the process of community recovery.
Access to all of the reports associated with the January 11, 2021 Council meeting is available on the City website.