City Council Highlights - February 2026
At the Regular Council Meeting of February 17th, 2026, City Council were presented with the Council Compensation Report Review by JD Strategy. A review of six Maritime comparator municipalities, the population, tax base, workload, meetings and hours to recommend salary levels for mayor, deputy mayor, and councillors. Four options were put forward for consideration - stay with the status quo, a phased catch up, lower median increases or market median increases.
At present, the total cost of mayor and council salaries are $96,925. Option 3 would total $116,000 and Option 4 would total $128,000.
The consultant recommended a market median alignment that would support fairness and accessibility. Council will review and discuss further at a future meeting.
A motion to pass the recommended Tourism Special Events totaling $175,000 was approved. The financial investments will be made in the following:
Sport Tourism support (Year-round support) - $38,000
New fall music/food festival (TBD) - $50,000
Art Love (April) - $7,000
New Maritime Music Festival (July) - $15,000
Steady as Chi Goes Beer and Spirit Festival (May) - $5,000
Baseball Canada -2026 Senior Men's Nationals (August) - $20,000
Haunted Happenings (October) - $10,000
Nomad Circus Festival (June) - $30,000
There were other motions and presentations made at council meetings between January 20th and February 17th. They are as follows:
The 2026 Street Resurfacing Program will include the following streets:
Harkins Crescent
Farrer Crescent
Crocker Crescent
Ideal Court
Geralyn Drive
Johnson Avenue
Beckwith Lane
Water Street - St. Andrews Street to Chatham Avenue
Mirview Drive
Washburn Beach Road
Two Downtown Incentive Program Applications were approved.
A Letter of Commitment will be issued to Janata Builders Inc. for $57,500 for the creation of six downtown housing units at 1622 Water Street.
A Letter of Commitment will be issued to Janata Builders Inc. for $155,00 for the creation of up to 21 downtown housing units on Station Street.
A motion for staff of the Economic Development and Tourism Department to develop an incentive to support investments in housing related to supporting investment in housing related infrastructure and bring it back to council once the Growth Plan has been finalized was passed.
An update on the Community Wellness and Recreation User Fee and Facility Allocation Study was presented by Sierra Group representative John Hack. It included a review of the policies and procedures to get clarity on recreation services, facility allocation, fees and subsidization in light of the new multi-sport facility and no change in fees in the past several years.
A motion to establish Miramichi Transit as a city service and have staff prepare a plan for service continuity, governance, and transition was approved.
By-law No. 130, a By-Law to Establish and Define the Duties and Powers of the Chief Administrative Officer of the City of Miramichi was passed after the second and third readings.
First reading of By-law No. 110-54, A By-law to Amend By-law No. 110, the City of Miramichi Zoning By-Law to consider to change the zoning from Residential Low Density (R-2) to Medium Density A (R-3) - Site Specific for PID 40180841, located on Sweeney Lane to permit the development of two rowhouses containing 4 units and one two-unit dwelling was approved. A public hearing will be held on March 24th at City Hall at 6 p.m.
Engineering Director Mark Buckingham presented the Bridge Mitigation Plan for 2026 and answered a number of questions from council.
Approval of Minutes
City Council approved the minutes of the following meetings:
Regular Council Meeting - January 20th, 2026
Council in Committee Meeting - January 20th, 2026
Special Council Meeting - January 27th, 2026
Council in Committee Meeting - January 27th, 2026
Special Council Meeting - February 3rd, 2026
Council in Committee Meeting - February 3rd, 2026
Special Council Meeting - February 10th, 2026
Council in Committee Meeting - February 10th, 2026