Jennifer Decker

The Official Community Plan for the City of Fort St. John serves as a long-term roadmap guiding future growth and development over a 15-year period. It outlines elements for urban expansion, focusing on enhancing housing attainability and affordability, including consideration for additional housing units such as legal basement suites. This plan is developed through significant resident involvement and public engagement, reflecting the community's collective vision for its future over the next 5 to 10 years and beyond.

The meeting included discussions on Foundry, a province-wide network led by YMCA, which aims to support youths aged 12-24. The Foundry's Integrated Youth Services Model connects individuals with existing supports in one location, including mental health services, physical and sexual health services, peer support, work, education, and community services, and substance use health services. The meeting addressed the challenges faced by youths at risk of experiencing homelessness, including mental health and substance use challenges, trauma, exposure to violence, poor health, and stress. Policy recommendations included the development of a provincial youth homelessness prevention strategy, investments in dedicated housing outreach workers, adoption of family-inclusive approaches, and increased accessibility of rent supplements.

The Strategic Plan for the City of Fort St. John outlines the long-term direction for city services and programs, guided by extensive community input. It is built upon five strategic pillars: promoting sustainable economic development, effective asset management, building strong relationships and advocacy, fostering a vibrant community, and achieving operational excellence. The plan's vision is to establish Fort St. John as a flourishing community that celebrates nature and diversity, supports prosperous businesses and active families, and delivers excellent public services.

The committee meeting included updates and progress reports from the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs and BC Housing regarding affordable housing and support services. Discussions covered funding programs, commitment to filling occupiable units, HVAC repairs for the Salvation Army Shelter, and the legal definition of an 'aggressive dog'. The committee also discussed additions to the CRCHES Update Report to Council, focusing on understanding the human side of homelessness, and planned a meeting with administrators of community service agencies. They considered allocating funds for the Community Agencies Connections meeting and prepared an updated report for presentation to the Council.

The committee discussed the 2023 operating capital budgets, budget challenges including contractual obligations, the BC geu Collective Agreement, and the Consumer Price Index. Adjustments to the compensation policy for non-union employees were mentioned to attract and retain employees. There was discussion regarding non-capital items moved to operations, such as I.T and maintenance contracts, previously covered by pra money. The RCMP contract increase was also addressed. The committee also discussed residential average property values, light industry, commercial businesses. The committee also discussed other municipalities doing uh last year by this time I was able to get 12 or 13 municipalities that were already declaring what their tax rate increases would be along with their increase in assessment values this year.