Tax incentive, waste treatment on council agenda

City council has a varied list of items to deal with on its agenda tonight:

Husky wastewater system

Husky Oil is seeking a zoning variance to enhance the wastewater treatment systems at the Husky Refinery.

The variance is required because the proposed system will be within 1.5 metres of the property line. The city's zoning requires a setback of 10 metres, however the refinery already has equipment 1.5 metres from the property line.

In a report to council, city planner Mandy Stanker said the proposed development would reduce air pollution from the site.

"The applicant will be upgrading the onsite wastewater treatment system that separates oily wastes and associated petroleum compounds from wastewater," Stanker said. "The proposed upgrades will also further the means to control onsite fugitive emissions."

A spokesperson for Husky Oil could not be reached as of press time.

Downtown tax incentive

City council will consider signing off on a partnership with Northern Development Initiative Trust to provide tax incentives to downtown developers.

Under the agreement, Northern Development will provide developers with an advance on the city's 10-year downtown tax exemptions. Developers will receive an advance for the total value of the 10-year exemption, which will be repaid to Northern Development by the city as it collects taxes over the 10-year period.

The final reading of the tax exemption bylaw will also be up for consideration tonight. The bylaw provides exemptions for residential and commercial development downtown. Depending on which zone and the value of the development, the exemption can be for property taxes on 100 per cent of the value of the building and land for 10 years.

Community forest renewal

The city's community forest license is set to expire on Oct. 31. City staff have asked council to approve a renewal on the license for up to five years, while the city works on signing a community forest agreement with the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and Lheidli T'enneh First Nation.

The license renewal would allow the city to continue its wildfire mitigation work while a final deal with the two other parties is reached.

Community consultation

City staff will be reporting out on the three neighbourhood engagement sessions the city held in Blackburn, the Hart and Van Bien in June.

The city plans to continue the neighbourhood consultation process with other interested neighbourhood groups and at the Prince George Exhibition this weekend.