Regular Council Meeting - March 24th, 2025

Did you miss this meeting? We’ve got you covered! See below for a list of the main items from the meeting:

Council received three presentations in the Committee of the Whole Meeting.

• Staff gave a brief update on overall design work occurring in Mariners Park, and Architect Andrew Lockhart of Atmospheric Perspectives, provided an overview of the proposed bandshell design developed by Prince Rupert Rotary Club (see image for design concept). The concept presented was designed with staff and community input, with the siting of the project selected to reduce impacts of wind on the stage and performers. Doors on both sides of the proposed bandshell design enable the ovoid shaped stage to open both at the front and back of the stage, to allow the stage to be viewed from below and behind, and to be fully enclosed when not in use. For the full presentation of the design, check out the YouTube video of the Council meeting linked below. 
• Council received a presentation from Community Futures alongside multiple local business owners to request Council support for addressing local workforce shortages connected to recent immigration policy changes, with several businesses in town relying on foreign and student workers for between 30-50% of their workforce, and specific impacts in the service sector. Presenters requested that the City advocate for exceptions to restrictive immigration policy be granted to Prince Rupert as well as other northern or remote communities in similar circumstance.
• Council heard a presentation from Guu Gaa Jung (Symbia Barnaby) and several delegates representing the Sacred Fire family, who presented to Council on the cultural significance of the fire site, requesting the site outside of the Recreation Complex be dedicated for permanent use with accompany public education opportunities. In addition, it was also requested that the City delegate a staff person to work with the group on this issue, as well as on the future replacement of the three Haida replica totem poles located out the City’s Recreation Complex. 
• In the Regular Meeting, Council approved the long-term development plan for 2024 through 2028 and the policy statement prepared for the Province of British Columbia as required under the Northwest Regional Funding Agreement. 
• Council also voted to approve acceptance of the Rotary Club’s donation of the bandshell for Mariners Park, once completed, and to incorporate anticipated asset maintenance cost into a future budget. 
• Council approved a motion to request staff review current procurement practices and identify opportunities to enhance both ‘buy Canadian’ and ‘buy local’ purchasing, inclusive of cost-benefit implications and impacts to the City’s budget. 
• In response to presentations at the Committee of the Whole, Council directed staff to work with Community Futures to bring forward a Declaration regarding staff shortages for Council to consider at the next meeting, and also requested that staff work with the Sacred Fire family regarding next steps around their requests.  
• Council also provided direction to staff to complete a review and update to the Cemetery Bylaw, which will be brought forward at a future meeting.