Here are some highlights from the September 25, 2024, City Council meeting. For more information – including the full agenda listing – read the Regular Council Meeting Agenda and its attachments.
City grant program
Following a delegation by Eli Klasner, Executive Director, Community Arts Council, Marnie Hamagami, Artistic Producer, Theatre Northwest, Sue Judge, Executive Director, Coldsnap Festival, and Ken Hall, Executive Director, Prince George Symphony Orchestra, Council agreed to increase the annual funding provided to the four organizations by an additional $200,000 to be allocated proportionately between the organizations effective January 2025.
Later in the meeting council received a report on a proposed policy to manage multiyear grants. The policy was passed by Council with applications to be adjudicated by Committee of the Whole.
In March of 2024 Council voted to transfer $263,152 from the MyPG grant budget to a separate budget allocated to multiyear grants and further to grow the MyPG grant stream back up to $550,000 by 2027. The current recipients of the multiyear grant stream are the Community Arts Council, Theatre Northwest, Prince George Folkfest Society, and Prince George Symphony Orchestra.
Stormwater funding engagement results
Council has considered public feedback gathered from May to July this year in relation to a dedicated stormwater infrastructure fund to manage the city’s hundreds of kilometres of stormwater infrastructure.
Council voted to proceed with option four from the report which is to create a utility fee based on the actual measurement of the hard surface area in a sampling of all types of residential properties.
This option is line with the survey feedback received from residents as being the preferred path forward. The heavily promoted survey received 314 responses. The breakdown of the survey results and resident comments was also presented to council.
Currently the stormwater system is mostly paid for using property taxes. Creating dedicated stormwater funding will ensure a consistent source of funds solely for stormwater infrastructure to prevent flooding, infrastructure failures, and sinkholes. With this approach, the City can better manage the community’s stormwater needs, including maintenance, repairs, and replacements, and ensure there's enough funding available when it is needed.
Defensive force options for Bylaw update
Council received a report outlining the outcome of Bylaw Enforcement Officers being issued defensive tools one year ago.
These tools included a defensive baton, OC spray and a set of handcuffs. Until that time the only protective equipment typically provided to Bylaw Enforcement Officers in Prince George was a protective vest.
The report explains the introduction of defensive tools is believed to be a positive step in improving the safety of these employees at work. There has been no known negative impact or incidents. Based on the results obtained during the last year the next step is to standardize in policy the current training and equipment as standard and required for officers working for the City of Prince George.
New off-leash dog park
Council received a report from the Parks division providing an update on the “People, Pets and Park Off-Leash Program”.
The report explains that the fenced off-leash dog park on Southridge Avenue in College Heights is now operational, and that Perry Park has been identified as the next fenced dog park area for the city.
The repurpose of available space at Perry Park into a fenced dog park is scheduled to be complete by November of this year and will be accomplished within 2024 funding.
Public hearing for College Heights property rezoning
There was a public hearing held in relation to a request to develop a multi-family development on a 1.91 ha (4.7 acres) portion of 8640 St Lawrence Avenue and 2800 Vista Ridge Drive in College Heights.
The report to council outlines the property is zoned as RS2 which has an intent to foster an urban lifestyle on properties larger than 500 m². The property owner would like to rezone the property to RM5 to permit high density residential development with a maximum density of 125 dwellings/ha.
A decision on the application was postponed by Council pending a new traffic impact study that was requested. Once the study has been received a new public hearing will be held.
August building permit summary
Council received a building permit and development permit summary for August with 35 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 August total is made up of eight commercial/industrial permit and 27 residential permits, worth a combined total of $8.4 million.
The year-to-date total as at the end of August is 288 permits worth a combined $206.8 million. The year-to-date total for the previous year 2023 was 269 permits totalling $90.9 million.
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Media contact
Claire Thwaites, senior communications advisor
City of Prince George
Mobile: 778-349-1386
Email: media@princegeorge.ca