Here are some highlights from the December 16, 2024, City Council meeting. For more information – including the full agenda listing – read the Regular Council Meeting Agenda and its attachments.
Roads and sidewalks
Staff presented Council with a review of the 2024 Road and Sidewalk Capital Rehabilitation projects.
In its 2024 Capital Budget, City Council approved a road rehabilitation budget of $6.7 million dollars. A budget of $1.5 million dollars was allocated to sidewalk rehabilitation and $420,000 to new sidewalks.
In 2024 the City of Prince George rehabilitated approximately 52.3 lane kilometers of road. Also completed was 2314 metres of concrete sidewalk rehabilitation, 3244 metres of asphalt sidewalk rehabilitation and 845 metres of new concrete sidewalk construction.
Roads that received rehabilitation work were listed in the report along with some before and after images, including Foothills Boulevard, University Way (south bound), Ospika Boulevard and Ferry Avenue.
Security camera proposal
Council has supported a Security Camera Pilot Program Proposal from the Prince George Downtown Business Improvement Association and the Prince George Chamber of Commerce.
Council approved providing $40,000 in grant funding for this program, made up of $35,750 from the 2024 Council Contingency Fund, and $4,250 from the existing operating budget.
The pilot program proposal states the goal is to “enhance safety and security by reducing theft, vandalism and harassment through strategic surveillance and intervention.”
The City’s role is to provide the grant funding towards the cost of executing the initial pilot program, including camera equipment, security monitoring services, installation and communications. Downtown Prince George and the Chamber of Commerce will take responsibility for several project deliverables including working with businesses to support the placement of cameras and working with a security provider to support monitoring, communication, and data collection/analysis for the pilot program.
The goal is to have the pilot program fully operational by April 1, 2025.
November building permit summary
Council received a building permit and development permit summary for November with 40 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 November total is made up of 13 commercial/industrial permits and 27 residential permits, worth a combined total of $13.9 million. This continues the strong trend for the year.
The year-to-date total as at the end of November is 394 permits worth a combined $260.8 million. The year-to-date total for the previous year 2023 was 374 permits totaling $149.9 million.
Special Olympics bid
Council directed administration to submit a letter of intent to Special Olympics Canada as part of the bidding guidelines process for the 2028 Winter Games and 2030 Summer Games.
The report to council explains that City and Tourism Prince George staffs are writing the letter of intent together. Next steps will be to coordinate an internal team across various departments to review and assess both bid opportunities, as well as meeting with Special Olympics Canada, to determine the feasibility of the City formally putting in a bid.
Prince George will host the BC Special Olympics Games next year in July, which provides an opportunity to prepare to host the Special Olympics Canada Games in 2028 or 2030.
Arts and Culture policy
Council received a report on the history of arts and culture strategies, policies and procedures which was directed to be done at the September 25 council meeting.
After they heard the background information council moved a motion to focus on the end goal of creating a comprehensive Arts and Culture Policy for the City of Prince George.
This includes reviewing all past strategies, procedures, policies, and reports related to this topic, and meeting with a wide range of interested parties to gather ideas, expertise and a framework and action plans to create a new plan.
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Media contact:
Claire Thwaites, senior communications advisor
Mobile: 778-349-1386
Email: media@princegeorge.ca