Regular Council Meeting - February 7th, 2022

Missed last night’s Council meeting? You’re in luck! We’ve summarized the main items from the agenda below.

See below for a summary of the main items from the Council Meeting held February 7th, 2022:

• Council voted to proceed with the public notification process for Development Variance Permit for 885 Borden Street.
• Council voted to proceed with the public notification process for Development Variance Permit for 945 Hays Cove Avenue.
• Council voted in favour of providing a letter of support to Tourism Prince Rupert’s application to Northern Development Initiative Trust's Marketing Initiative’s funding stream to update their website.
• Council also voted in support of providing a letter of support to Tourism Prince Rupert for a funding application to the Port Community Investment Fund to develop and install interpretive trail signage in partnership with the Sm’algyax Language Authority along Rushbrook, Butze and Tall Trees Trails.  
• Council voted in favour of providing a letter of support in favour of grant applications spearheaded by local community members seeking to improve the Odd Eidsvik Community Park on Atlin Avenue.
• Council voted in support of a funding application to the ICIP Green Infrastructure – Environmental Quality stream for funding to support the development of the Omineca Avenue Wastewater Treatment Facility. Additional information on the project is below:
  • This project would treat sewage with a wetland system, which is an innovative and environmentally friendly approach to treating community wastewater used elsewhere in the world. 
  • This is a low maintenance approach that will reduce overall operating cost and capacity requirements for the future. 
  • It should be noted that the project will have no noticeable smell/visual impact because treatment occurs deep beneath the wetland system. 
  • The City plans to complete design and construction in 2022-2023 to implement this technology on a small-scale with a replacement of the lift station behind Omineca Avenue, which services approximately 100 homes. 
  • We will be closely monitoring the success of the project to confirm that it meets all Provincial and Federal regulatory standards, and if so, the approach can be applied elsewhere throughout the community. 
  • The cost is anticipated to be approximately $6 million, and the City is applying for $4.3 million in funds. The costs of engineering has already been set aside in the 2022 capital budget, with the majority of remaining construction costs to be incurred in the 2023 budget season. 
• Council received a request from a community member regarding upgrades to street signage, and deferred the request to staff for consideration within the existing operating budget. 
• Council voted in support of providing a letter of support for funding applications for the Oldfield Creek Hatchery.
• Council voted in support of providing a letter of support for a funding application from the Friendship House to the Port Community Investment Fund to upgrade their preschool playground area.
• Council voted in favour of providing a letter of support to the Prince Rupert Golf Club to NDIT’s Recreation Infrastructure Grant and the Port’s Community Investment fund for proposed upgrades.
• Council voted in favour of providing a letter of support for the Snow Valley Nordic Ski Club to the Port CIF for the construction of two ski shelters at Onion Lake and Lakelse Lake areas.
• Council voted to repeal the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Bylaw and any and all amendments relating to the Bylaw.
• Council voted to give First, Second and Third readings to the Subdivision and Servicing Bylaw No 3486, 2022. This Bylaw will update the City’s subdivision and servicing operating standards to the Master Municipal Construction Documents standard.
• Council voted to give 3rd and Final reading to Zoning Amendment Bylaw No 3485, 2022.
• Council gave First, Second and Third Reading to the Delegation Amendment Bylaw No 3487, 2022. This Bylaw provides the new City Manager Robert Buchan authority to transact land sales on behalf of Council, subject to the limitations on delegated authority laid out in the City's purchasing policy. 
• Council voted to send a letter to Northern Health to request that the existing Orthopaedics Surgeon Position be retained at the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital.
• Council made an inquiry with respect to the Angus Apartments, and staff provided an update that notice has been provided to the owner that the building must be secured and cleaned up by February 11th. If there is non-compliance with that direction to the owner, the City will move forward with cleaning up the property at the owner’s expense. Council may provide further direction to staff regarding the property if the owner fails to provide a full remediation plan, which has also been requested.  
• Councillor Adey made a request for a status update from the Prince Rupert RCMP Detachment, which the City Manager noted would be a request put in to the new Officer In Charge once that hiring process is completed.