Type(s)
Public Notice
See below for a summary of the items from Monday's Council Meeting. Of particular interest to the community may be the passing of an Interim Parking Management Strategy, with an Information Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions linked below.
- Council received a report from the City Manager regarding an Award in Planning Excellence received by the Planning Institute of BC for the City’s Official Community Plan and Redesign Rupert 2030 Vision documents. The City would like to thank our Redesign Rupert Partners – Community Futures Pacific Northwest, the Port of Prince Rupert, DP World, Trigon Pacific Terminals (formerly Ridley Terminals), and Raymont Logistics, planning contractors iPlan Consulting, Larry Beasley and Associates, and Civitas, as well as the many community participants in both our OCP and Redesign Rupert Vision processes for their valuable input.
- Council approved a contract to receive $9,000 in Active Transportation grant funding towards the Master Transportation Plan – which now sees the active transportation component of the plan fully funded by grants, including a previous $20,000 grant awarded by UBCM.
- Council approved additional funding towards the Fire Department’s planned Fire Truck build project, which was approved as part of this year’s 5 year Financial Plan. Costs of the project have come in higher than anticipated due to inflation and supply chain issues that are being felt Canada-wide, and so Council approval was requested to sign off on the additional $232,900 in expense.
- Council received a Development activity report for June and gave final approval to six Development Variance Permits and sent two to public notification.
- Council passed an Interim Parking Management Strategy – with several proposed actions for staff to continue to work on over the next 1-3 years. A longer term parking strategy will also be included as part of the Master Transportation Plan, but in the meantime, this interim strategy will lay the ground work for staff to begin implementing proposed actions as capacity and budget allow. For more information on the solutions proposed, check out this Information and FAQ sheet.
- Council approved staff to enter into a Bylaw Notice System for minor bylaw infractions. This change will allow staff to establish a more timely collection of Bylaw penalties. Staff will now submit the request to the Ministry of the Attorney General to appoint an adjudicator. This process can take 6-8 weeks to complete, so staff anticipate the new system taking effect in mid-Fall of 2022.
- Council received the May 2022 Financial Variance Report – which saw no major variances from projected spending.
- In an effort to ensure that the Fire Department always has adequate staff capacity for fire response, Prince Rupert City Council resolved to support limiting Fire Department support to BC Ambulance to ‘purple’ or critical calls only. Additionally, they resolved to pursue an agreement that would enable the City to invoice BC Ambulance for incidents where firefighters are required to drive the ambulance. The City is working closely with the MLA’s Office on solutions to the problem, who are aware and understand the issue. For more information, see the full press release.
- Council passed the 2022 5 Year Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw No 3498, which will see the City spend an additional $175,000 to conduct repairs to the Digby Island Ferry ramp for the Digby Island Ferry. Funding for this project is proposed to come out of Capital Reserves; and, $1 million to repair and rehab the failed section of McBride Street, which will come from short term borrowing over 5 years ($850,000), to be repaid through dividends from the City’s wholly owned subsidiary, Prince Rupert Legacy Inc.
- Council passed first second and third readings of a Public Notice Bylaw – which will introduce a new standardized method of public notification as allowed under section 94(2) of the Community Charter. The Bylaw would require public notice for two weeks (where legislated) on the City’s website and Facebook page, and once in the local newspaper. The Bylaw is intended to enable staff and Council to move more efficiently through our notification and bylaw consideration processes, and to provide surety to the public about where and how information can be obtained. This Bylaw will now be sent to the public for input prior to final consideration at the next meeting.
- Council gave first and second readings to Road Dedication Bylaw No. 3499. The City is proposing to dedicate a section of road to ensure that properties neighbouring Digby Towers have continued access to their properties, as Council has have agreed to sell the owners of Digby Towers a linear parcel of land across from their building for parking.