Here are some highlights from the April 7, 2025, City Council meeting. For more information – including the full agenda listing – read the Regular Council Meeting Agenda and its attachments.
Bear awareness decisions
Council received a report from administration that reviewed the eight recommendations brought forward in November 2024 from the Advisory Committee on Bear Awareness.
The report outlined how the committee recommendation could be implemented and the associated costs.
Council voted to defer the recommendations that had budgetary implications, including establishing a staff position with a focus on sustainable waste management, creating a Bear Aware Technical Committee, and rolling out a pilot for bear resistant garbage carts.
Council voted to move ahead with the recommendations that had no immediate budget impacts, including to continue to phase in bear-resistant solid waste receptacles in public places, adopting a new bylaw specific to wildlife attractants and solid waste, and consideration of amending the City’s Zoning Bylaw to permit electric fencing to secure wildlife attractants.
Council also supported the recommendation to direct administration to include educational materials on human-bear interactions on utility bills, as well as directing administration to continue incorporating bear awareness information on the garbage collection schedule, social media platforms and City’s website.
Downtown Renewable Energy agreement renewed
Council approved the first three readings to a renewed agreement between the City and Lakeland Mills Ltd. for energy supply to the Downtown Renewable Energy System (DRES).
The report to council explains the first agreement was for 10 years and expired in 2022. The new term for thermal energy supply retroactively commenced on July 1, 2022 and continues until December 31, 2026 with two additional renewable years for 2027 and 2028.
DRES is a district energy system that distributes heat to nearly a dozen downtown buildings including City Hall, Canfor Leisure Pool, Plaza 400 government building, Parkhouse Parkade, Prince George Public Library Bob Harkins branch, Wood Innovation Design Centre and more. The system uses sawmill residuals (often known as “wood waste”) to heat water that is pumped through more than three kilometres of underground piping.
Corporate Workplan update
Council received the 2025 Corporate Work Plan highlighting key achievements from the current term and outlining ongoing projects and timelines that support the updated 2023–2026 Strategic Plan.
The Corporate Work Plan aligns with the Strategic Plan and serves as a tool for guiding resource allocation over the coming years. It details specific projects and action items, with timelines to track progress toward Council’s goals.
As part of the City’s integrated planning and performance measurement cycle, the Corporate Work Plan connects long-term strategies, departmental plans, emerging priorities, and financial planning with performance monitoring and reporting. It ensures public funds support Council’s top priorities and helps City staff understand how their work contributes to achieving strategic goals.
Financial plan and tax rates bylaws
Council approved the first three readings of the 2025 - 2029 Financial Plan Bylaw and the 2025 Tax Rates Bylaw.
The Community Charter requires a municipality to adopt a five-year financial plan by bylaw. The financial plan must set out the proposed expenditures, the proposed funding sources and the proposed transfers to or between funds.
The financial plan represents the decisions concerning revenues, expenses, debt and transfers that were made by Council during the budget meetings in January. The bylaw represents a tax levy increase of 6.21 per cent.
- 30 -
Media contact:
Claire Thwaites, senior communications advisor
Mobile: 778-349-1386
Email: media@princegeorge.ca