Housing strategy
The City of Prince George has partnered with UNBC and a network of community agencies to develop an affordable housing strategy for the city.
City manager of communication and citizen engagement Chris Bone, who previously managed the city's social development program, said an affordable housing strategy will ensure the city is ready to take advantage of federal and provincial housing grants when they become available.
"There is a common goal by a number of agencies in this community that everyone should have access to affordable housing," Bone said.
UNBC will lead the research portion of developing the strategy, providing the city the equivalent of $25,000 to $30,000 in consulting work, Bone said.
Professor John Young, dean of the College of Arts, Social and Health Sciences at UNBC, said graduate students will take part in preparing the strategy as an, "experiential learning experience."
"The university will pay the tuition for the students, so it's not slave labour," Young said. "This is an endeavor worth supporting."
Council supported the development of the strategy unanimously. Council also referred requests from the Prince George Metis Housing Society and Prince George Habitat for Humanity to staff for consideration during development of the strategy.
Golf course lands
City council approved development guidelines for the rezoning of city lands used by the Prince George Tennis Club and Prince George Golf and Curling Club along Highway 16 for commercial use.
The guidelines included in the bylaw amendment detail buildings should be designed to provide visual interest, should not be used as a large corporate poster and that a trail should be installed along the highway frontage to accommodate pedestrian traffic.
The Golf Course - Pine Centre Neigbourhood Plan adopted by council in 2010 designated the area for commercial use, likely including big box stores and auto dealers.
City director of planning and development Dan Milburn said the approved zoning amendment maintains a no-development zone for the Prince George Playhouse area.
Council remuneration policy
City council approved a bylaw consolidating previous remuneration policies into a single bylaw.
The bylaw reaffirms the wage increases for city council which went into effect on Jan. 1. In 2011, a four person committee reviewed the mayor and council's salaries and recommended changes, which were approved to go into effect this year.
Under the bylaw, the mayor's salary for 2012 remained at the same level as 2011: $92,787.89 per year.
However, city councillors' pay was increased to one-third of the mayor's wage, resulting in an increase from $23,888.22 in 2011 to $30,929.30 in 2012.
