Prince Rupert’s City Council and Mayor have determined possible priorities for the upcoming one to two years and are looking for feedback from the community.
The priorities emerged after council met on February 3 for a workshop to look at strategies for moving forward and created a list of four main topics, including municipal services, administrative and organization, community leadership and quality of life.
In addition council identified something called cross-cutting themes, meaning council will look at all priorities through a greens lens of sustainability.
City Manager Gordon Howie presented the plan to council on Monday evening and outlined some of the highlights.
“Under municipal services is a long range plan to develop infrastructure renewal , build an emergency services building in a green fashion and look at perhaps a referendum in the fall,” he said.
The City also wants to look at curb side recycling and do a cost benefit analysis.
As far as administrative targets are concerned, Howie suggested the City would look at how to fund those projects, would complete a sale of Watson Island, sell the Cow Bay parking area and ensure the City has a good succession plan in place for senior staff and implement more green initiatives.
For community leadership, council identified the need to work with various stakeholders and governments around the Tsimshian Access Project, develop a complementary tourism strategy, work on job creation around the utilization of Watson Island and initiate further community revitalization.
“Some of the things we have to do under quality of life are look at green ways to replace the boilers at the Civic Centre. We have to develop and support additional youth recreation programs and particularly look at late evening programming for youth and support additional seniors housing in the community,” Howie said.
The report is available on the City’s website and hard copies are available at City Hall, but Councillor Joy Thorkelson suggested copies should also be made at the Civic Centre and other places.
“I’d really like to see what the community has to say about this plan,” Thorkelson said.
Mayor Jack Mussallem also suggested the Prince Rupert Library.
Council will review any comments or suggestions received from the public at its April 26 council meeting.