There’s something a little different on the agenda for tonight’s regular city council meeting (April 29).
Coun. Kyle Sampson is bringing forth a notice of motion to create lists of city-owned properties that could potentially be sold to offset the tax burden on citizens.
Sampson wants administration to create a current list of 10 city-owned properties with existing buildings and infrastructure, and another list of 10 city-owned underdeveloped properties that could be sold to the current tenant or for future development.
My goal is to source opportunities for revenue generation, while removing burdensome processes of land management from Administration. Ultimately, the sale of land assets will produce a stronger financial position for the City. pic.twitter.com/NBLO9mJdQB
— Kyle Sampson (@SampsonKyle) April 25, 2019
“On a number of occasions, it has been noted by administration, and through consultation with residents that the city is currently holding a number of high-value properties,” writes Sampson in his notice of motion.
“The sale of these properties can create a net positive impact to our overall budget, as well as increase available property for commercial and residential development and usage.”
He says once council has received the lists, he would move to have council develop a Building and Land Asset Policy which would dictate how potential revenue from property sales are reinvested towards capital assets overtime.
He says this would theoretically lessen the tax burden on personal and business property. Sampson has requested the lists be returned to Council by the June 10 Regular Council Meeting.
Mayor and council will also have quite a full agenda to get through at tonight’s meeting.
They will hear a report from Tanner Woodman, Public Affairs Coordinator for TransCanada who will be providing an update on the Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project. They will also hear a report overviewing the downtown initiatives underway and planned for this year and the emergency program update addressing the city’s steps to prepare for wildfire season.
The RCMP cost recovery for police officer attendance at special events bylaw is also back on the table at tonight’s meeting as well as the first three readings of the Financial Plan and Tax Rates Bylaw that will see a tax levy increase of 4.30 per cent.
The meeting will, however, start off with multiple celebrations of success for people and groups within Prince George. Tanya Spooner will be celebrated for 25 years of service with Emergency Support Services (ESS), Amy Blanding will be presented with the Prince George Heritage Commission 2019 Heritage Places Award as she is the owner of the Howieson Residence, and the Advisory Committee on Development Design will present their certificates of recognition for two new building projects.
Council will also hear delegations from the M.S. Society of Canada and the Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable.
If you can’t attend the 6 p.m. council meeting, you can livestream it from the comfort of your own home, and if you’re too busy to watch it, you can come back and check it out later.
The city archives all livestreams.
Take a look at the full agenda for more information.
