Portage La Prairie

The Special Meeting of Council was convened to address the submission of an application to the province of Manitoba for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) related to the City's wildfire evacuee response during the summer of 2025. The necessity for this meeting was driven by the DFA program deadline of November 30, 2025, which requires a council resolution to accompany the application. The discussion covered municipal costs incurred by community safety, RCMP overtime, and administration, with preliminary costs shared. Council members also acknowledged the leadership during the 2025 wildfire response and the ongoing after-action review process to prepare for future events.

The council meeting involved discussions and decisions regarding several agenda items. Key discussions included a variation order (PC 1627) where a conflict of interest was declared and managed, and the results of a public hearing for variation order PC 1624 concerning property setbacks. The Planning and Economic Development Committee reported on the approval of a variation request for Alexander and Ophelia Da Silva regarding yard requirements. This committee also brought forward a rezoning application (Bylaw 28-703, EC 88-19) to change a property's zoning from agricultural limited to heavy industrial, which subsequently passed its second and third readings. Committee reports covered routine items from Finance (no new reports), Community Services (a discussion on public health, water supply maintenance, and a reminder not to flush non-flushable items), and Transportation (no new business). The meeting concluded with a note on deferred business and adjournment.

The meeting included several key actions and discussions. The council approved the meeting dates for 2026. A zoning amendment (Bylaw 25-8785) for Riverbend Orchards, rezoning property from Limited Agricultural (AL) to Rural Residential (RR), received its first reading. The council also gave second and third readings to Bylaw 25-8776, amending the Accommodation Tax Bylaw 13-8613; these changes involve allocating tax revenue to a reserve fund for community enhancements and adjusting exemption periods, following direction from the province regarding short-term rentals. Committee reports indicated no new items from City Planning, Community Services, Waterworks, or Transportation, though committee discussions covered topics such as the 2026 fees and charges review and reminders about parking restrictions on garbage day. Council members also reported on community events, including a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce regarding POW promotion, the opening of new businesses (Prairie Paws and McDonald's), attendance at a Remembrance Day ceremony, and participation in the Southern Chiefs conference focusing on youth economic reconciliation and health opportunities. The Public Safety Committee chair reported on attending a conference related to the city's Community Safety and Well-being Plan development.

The council meeting addressed several key areas including finance, legislative matters, property, city planning, economic development, community services, waterworks, transportation, and public safety. Discussions included the 2026 fees and charges, October 2025 financial statements, and the 2026 interterm operating and capital budget. The council also addressed the transfer of 2025 operating funds to reserve accounts for projects in progress, a council conference professional development and meeting policy, the purchase of fire equipment, and banking services.

The meeting included an acknowledgement of treaty one territory and the traditional lands of various indigenous peoples. The minutes from the previous meeting on October 27th, 2025, were adopted. A new youth member of the council was sworn in.