Here are some highlights from the February 24, 2025, City Council meeting. For more information – including the full agenda listing – read the Regular Council Meeting Agenda and its attachments.
Council supports bid for the 2030 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games
Council approved administration to submit a bid for the 2030 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games.
The report also included approving funding of $400,000 cash and up to $100,000 in-kind funding from the Major Events Reserve Fund. Council also approved the responsibility of financial debt, if any, with hosting the games.
The bid document is due to be submitted by March 1, and then if short-listed, Special Olympics will come to Prince George for a site-visit in late spring with the announcement of the host city in early summer.
Progress report for Housing Target Order
Council received a six-month update on the City’s progress toward the provincial Housing Target Order (HTO), which took effect on August 1, 2024, under the Housing Supply Act.
The City’s year one target is 273 net new housing units. This reporting period covers the first six months, from August 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025. In the first six months of the HTO, a total of 210 net new housing units were completed in the City, representing 77% of the total year one target.
In addition, the City has implemented various initiatives and expanded partnerships over the past year to address local housing needs and meet provincial targets. A follow up report will go to Council in six months to present a comprehensive year one progress report.
Snow and Ice report
Snow and Ice control was back on the agenda as council received a report outlining the breakdown of costs and a five year comparison of the costs of snow and ice control, including the variance in the approved budgeted amount versus the year end expenditure.
The report explained that for 2024, the approved budget for snow and ice control was $10.3 million, with the year-to-date figure spend at $10.6 million.
Council directed Administration to return a report with options to amend the Snow and Ice Control Policy that will create cost savings for snow clearing on statutory holidays and includes compounding factors for those options.
Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park Playground upgrade project
Council received an update on the Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park Playground Renewal project.
As mentioned in a report last October, once the old playground equipment was removed an archaeological impact assessment needed to take place. The results of that assessment did not identify anything and included with the report was a letter from Lheidli T’enneh Nation Chief Logan fully endorsing this new playground project.
Council agreed to fund the $3 million project as internal debt though the Endowment Fund. They have also asked Administration to explore potential funding opportunities through the private sector, and the provincial and federal governments.
It is the goal of the Parks Division to have the new playground in place for the summer of 2025.
December and January building permit summaries
Council received the building permit and development permit summaries for both December and January.
December was a strong close to a huge year with 23 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 total as at the end of 2024 is 417 permits worth a combined $267.8 million. The year total for 2023 was 395 permits totaling $155.6 million.
The January report shows there were 29 permits issued worth $12 million.
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