City council will run the gamut in the second of two back-to-back city meetings tonight.
Nightclub zoning
Council will give the first two readings to a zoning bylaw amendment, which would allow for the development and operation of the former Cineplex Odeon theatre at 355 Vancouver St. as a liquor primary establishment. The 400-seat nightclub, which is tentatively known as Coyote's, is targeted at an older demographic interested in live rock and country music and dancing.
Telecom tower
The incoming proposal for the installation of a telecommunications tower requires council to direct staff to prepare a protocol to address concerns about it. Telus is looking to install a 20-metre monopole tower at 1960 Robertson Rd. to improve wireless service in the West Bowl area. Industry Canada does not require the telecommunications company to get municipal approval, but there is a public consultation policy which requires Telus to address "reasonable and relevant" city and resident concerns. The City of Prince George must develop what is called an Antenna Siting Protocol to manage the process of identifying those concerns.
Housing reconsideration
The PG Mtis Housing Society will provide council with an overview of their services and mandate and ask them to reconsider their decision to deny them a property tax exemption for their administration office on Houston Lane. The city turned down their application because poverty does not qualify as a special need.
Centennial celebrations
Council will be asked to strike a committee to organize the city's 100th anniversary celebrations. The city's manager of policy initiatives recommends that this select committee include two members of council, one Lheidli T'enneh representative, on representative from the Canada Winter Games Host Society, someone from EnhancePG, a Heritage Commission representative, and more. The committee would make recommendations and provide advice to council regarding Prince George's centennial celebration, which takes place in 2015.
Tennis court move
The Prince George Tennis Club is hoping to relocate to the Prince George Golf and Curling Club. Council is being asked to authorize the allocation of up to $1.6 million from the proceeds of the sale of the tennis club lands to facilitate this relocation. This is subject to the sale of the city lands which the club sits on and the city also has to enter into an agreement with the PGGCC for ownership of the lands where the tennis courts would be reconstructed. The city has entered into a letter of intent to sell the lands where the tennis club is currently located, with an agreement that the lands are to be made available quickly.
Social grants
City staff are asking council to approve the 2012 City of Prince George Social Grant allocations. The Prince George Community Foundation is responsible for making recommendations regarding the distribution of the grant fund, which totals $100,000. Organizations which receive the funding must have goals that align with those of the myPG Social Development Strategy Goals. Organizations recommended are: Prince George Safe Attitudes and Actions Society, Big Brothers and Sisters, Canadian Mental Health Association, Northern John Howard Society and AWAC, Canadian Red Cross Society, Positive Living North, Prince George Brain Injured Group and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
End-of year reports
The Winter City Committee will present their annual report to council. The committee was established more than 20 years ago to promote a positive winter lifestyle through recreation, tourism and climate-related opportunities. This year, the committee hosted the annual PG Skates event, a "Nominate Your Neighbour" event to recognize those who decorated and embarked on a new partnership with the Sugar Shack hosted by Le Cercle des Canadiens Francais.
The Prince George Heritage Commission will also present their report for 2011, outlining the year's accomplishments. These include being awarded the Jeanne Clark Award for outstanding contributions to the preservations of local history and awarding two heritage citations to the Munro/Moffat House and the PGX.
