Workers have dug their shovels into the roads to upgrade Prince Rupert's aged water and sewer infrastructure as part of the Big Infrastructure Gap (BIG) project.
"It's well underway and coming to a neighbourhood near you, maybe before you actually want it to," said Mayor Herb Pond during the Sept. 9 regular meeting of council.
He emphasized that the city will continuously undergo tremendous construction over the next three years, and members of the public should get into a habit of regularly checking their city app. It will notify them of road closures and route changes.
"The route they take for work today may be closed tomorrow, and that's how fast changes will be moving forward," Pond said.
Local fitness and recreation
Council authorized staff to apply for the BC Healthy Communities Age-Friendly Communities Fund to conduct an age-friendly assessment alongside a recreation master plan for 2025-2026.
They also permitted staff to apply for the $25,000 New Horizons seniors grant from Economic and Social Development Canada, which would allow them to purchase new, accessible, and inclusive fitness equipment for the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre.
Children Matter Community Services
Council approved a temporary use permit at 921 Prince Rupert Blvd for Children Matter Community Services.
Children Matter Community Services offers specialized home support services for the Ministry of Children and Family Development to vulnerable and at-risk children/youth with diverse abilities in Prince Rupert.
This change in zoning bylaw will allow them to get licensed by Northern Health to provide care to three children/youth simultaneously. Currently, they are allowed to care for two individuals at a time.
Community Works Fund Agreement
Council approved entering into a Community Works Fund Agreement with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) for the period April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2034 and authorized the mayor and the corporate officer to sign the agreement.
Tax increase
At the Committee of the Whole meeting prior to council's Sept. 9 regular meeting, the chief financial officer recommended a new policy to ensure financial stability for the city. This policy proposes a two per cent annual increase in the general operational budget and a 0.5 per cent increase in capital reserves for asset management.
The recommendation also suggests setting aside revenue from significant industrial growth for future capital renewal rather than for operational costs. This approach aims to build financial reserves and prevent instability from relying on fluctuating industrial revenues.
These recommendations draw on the experience of the closure of the pulp mill, where the loss of tax revenue led to substantial cuts to operational spending and renewal.
Council decided to defer the decision on this policy to the next meeting for further consideration. The policy would guide budget development but remain optional for future Councils.
Round-table discussion
Councillor Cunningham brought up a new, concerning local trend. During their outdoor walks, people seem to be rolling up their dog's feces in city-provided plastic bags and throwing them off in bushes.
Councillor Teri Forster raised public concern about ER closures in Prince Rupert, which results in people needing to travel to Terrace for services. She advocated for additional Northern Health busses to help patients travel to and from Terrace. The mayor agreed to take this request to the Union of BC Municipalities.
Councillor Cunningham highlighted the awful condition of the former RCMP substation on Second Avenue. He said almost every window in it has been broken, and it is a major eyesore that needs to be fixed. Director of Corporate and Legislative Services Rosa Miller will follow up on this situation.
