Decisions of the Prince George city council
Created by pgfreepress on Dec 7, 2011
Last updated: 05/23/12 at 11:39 AM
Tags: Prince George city council Mayor Shari Green
Prince George City Council has no followers yet. Be the first one to follow.
Tuesday night Mayor Shari Green introduced the team of specialists who have begun the city’s core review during a public meeting in council chambers. City staff and some council members joined a bout a dozen residents, with technical problems preventing Internet coverage. Alistair Nimmons with KPMG presented an overview of the project’s objectives and approach. He said the process is actually three parts and includes the core services review, a look into service efficiency and an analysis of the revenue side of city business, including a look into what lands and properties it owns and whether or not it would serve the city better to sell some of them. The approach will be five part. The initial step, one already in progress, includes introducing the team to the select committee and the worker’s groups from city staff who are taking part. Then they will gather information on the services at the city, the way departments are organized as well as revenue streams. Services will be looked at and analysed. They will identify opportunities to be more efficient and then provide recommendations to council based on those opportunities. The process started Apr. 25 and the completed report, along with recommendations, will presented on Oct. 26. Brian Bourns, also with KPMG, spoke about the community engagement component of the process, something council discussed at length during several meetings. It was one of the items the select committee, headed by the mayor, took back to KPMG before signing a contract with the company, intent on ensuring the public engagement component was extensive. “The engagement strategy is starting tonight,” he said, adding the purpose of the meeting was to advise the public and city staff about the review, how people might be involved and find out what people think they should take a closer look at. He said they will have a description of services in place by the end of June which will include costs, the rationale behind what services are provided in the way they are provided, the legislative framework governing the city and the service levels which have been set, comparing them to other similar cities as well as industry norms. The results will be posted on the city website, giving interested members of the public time to mull them over before a series of workshops, set to take place in July, occur. At the workshops people will be invited to discuss the findings and give input identifying possible changes. There will also be an online survey for comments and feedback. Then they will spend July and August sorting through the ideas presented, choose those that make sense and are worth doing while sifting through those which do more harm than good. The results will go on-line, then in mid-September more workshops will offer a chance for more feedback. Simultaneously, KPMG will be going through a very similar process will city staff following the same time period. The results will be reflected in a report to council in October. One of the handful of members of the general public who attended brought up the road repair issue, asking how deep the core review’s analysis will go and whether or not it will include bringing in an expert. Bourns explained the core review approach must look at everything, not focus only on road repair. However they will look into whether or not there is any discrepancy between the service level that has been set and what is actually being accomplished. They will look at other similar cities and compare what is being spent there on roads in comparison to Prince George, and they will meet with the staff and public who have the opportunity to identify road repair as a real problem. The recommendations given to council, as part of the report, may be very specific. Many times they can suggest a way to re-engineer the way things are being done. Besides the workshops the public can submit comments and suggestions regarding aspects of the core review by contacting the mayor or e-mailing KPMG at CPGCSR@kpmg.ca.
DeLynda Pilon newsroom@pgfreepress.com It’s kind of a good news/bad news thing. The good news is Prince George doesn’t have the worst road in the province, according to the results of an annual poll conducted by the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA), however the city has the second worst, Domano Blvd., and the third, Tabor Blvd., the sixth, Massey Dr., and the seventh, 15th Ave. “I’ve provided the BCAA my feedback on the survey from last year,” Mayor Shari Green said. She added there are factors that affect the outcome of the survey, particularly when it comes to northern communities. “They do it in spring when roads are in the worst shape in northern communities,” she said. “This is the most populated northern community, so it’s not a surprise to me we’ve got a lot of people focused on the roads. They are in bad shape. There’s no question, but it’s not the level playing field with the south.” Southern communities, she said, have the opportunity to pave all winter long. In the north, paving cannot begin until May. “So if the survey was done in the fall would it be the same results?” she asked. She sees the annual survey more as a good way to drive people to the BCAA web site and improve their membership, a savvy business move. However, the BCAA have said they do the survey in order to make municipal politicians aware of the state of the roads in their communities. “We’re acutely aware of the state of our roads. We would like some provincial and federal awareness about the state of our roads. The BCAA could really help us by lobbying for some other revenue opportunities, or revenue structure around municipal governments because we can’t continue on this unsustainable financial path so many municipalities find themselves on.” Green pointed out the notice of motion put forward by Coun. Brian Skakun, which offers several recommendations to deal with road repair. “What Coun. Skakun brought forward isn’t a new concept. Those concepts are all things that have been talked about many times in many venues by all of us, contains ideas discussed by council several times in the past.” However, she said, there are roadblocks going forward. “We have hit a wall in terms of tolerance in this community. We are as frustrated as everyone else,” she said. “I know what its going to take. Three and a half million dollars, and I don’t have it. That’s why we are doing a core review. That’s why we’re making tough decisions. We’ve got to pick what the priorities are, and if paving roads are the priority then some other stuff has to come off the table, and if its mowing roads and parks people have to decide what is important to them. We are at the end of taxpayers ability to pay, and we know that.” Worst roads in B.C. 1. Westside Road in Kelowna for crumbling potholes and pavement. 2. Domano Boulevard in Prince George for potholes and crumbling pavement. 3. Tabor Boulevard in Prince George for potholes and crumbling pavement. 4. Station Street in Vancouver for potholes and crumbling pavement. 5. Cosens Bay Road in Cold Stream for potholes and crumbling pavement. 6. Massey Drive in Prince George for potholes and crumbling pavement. 7. Fifteenth Avenue in Prince George for potholes and crumbling pavement. 8. George Massey Tunnel in Richmond for traffic congestion. 9. Island Highway in Malahat for traffic congestion. 10. Pacific Rim Highway in Port Alberni for potholes and crumbling pavement.
DeLynda Pilon newsroom@pgfreepress.com Potholes and road defects on city streets that devour cars are unacceptable, but acquiring the money to repair and maintain this crumbling infrastructure without spiking property taxes will take some innovative thinking. “People are upset and rightfully so,” said Coun. Brian Skakun, who delivered a report to council at Monday’s meeting outlining several options for council to scrutinize in an effort to find a solution to the problem. “There are roads that need repaving that just won’t get done this year. This issue is not going to die down like it traditionally has.” Skakun said the issue has been on his mind for a long time. “In the last couple of years everything has just been accumulating when it comes to the destruction of roads. I’ve talked to so many people about it.” The city, he said, is continuing a game of catch-up, doing the best it can while understanding there is a $3.5 million deficit in the road rehabilitation budget. “We started in 2002,” Skakun, who is on his fourth term in council, said, “putting a little over $1 million a year in road repaving. Now we’re up to $3.5 million, and now we’ve been told by administration we need to put in at least $7 million per year. This year is the first time administration has come to us and said we picked a set of roads to be repaved this winter during the budget process but we realized this spring there are words worse off than one’s chosen.” This discovery initiated a change in priorities over which roads will be resurfaced first this year, with some being postponed indefinitely. Skakun’s report offers seven recommendations council will consider, likely during the next regular meeting on May 28. First, Skakun want a list of city owned real estate holdings. “I want a total value from our administration,” he said. “My understanding is we own a number of properties downtown and I want to know do we have to sit on those or can we sell some of them and generate some revenue, and get more tax dollars from those properties.” He wants the the city to lobby the province for a share of the provincial tax rebate. For the most part, he said, people have been supportive of the idea of having a local gas tax, with revenues dedicated to road rehabilitation, however they also want the province to share more of the rebate it gets from the federal government. Skakun’s third recommendation asks that the city use some proceeds of the Terasen Gas lease fund for road rehabilitation. The city, he points out, needs to contact the province and find out how to levy a local gas tax, and he wants the city to survey locals about whether or not they support such a tax. Administration, he said, should also find out the cost difference in procuring extended warranties on paving. His last recommendation is the city creates a two to five-year-plan to meet the estimated $3.5 million shortfall. “I looked at a bunch of options to try to meet the deficit of $3.5 million without raising property taxes,” he said. “We’re going to deal with this notice of motion in three weeks, and we’ll see how it goes. I hope I get support from a majority of the council members to deal with these issues.” His concern, he said, is things have come to the point where the issue is not only aesthetic, which does affect attracting new people to the community, but also a matter of safety. “Some of these potholes and the damage they are causing to vehicles is unacceptable. I went up to Hart Highway today and some of the roads up there are unbelievable. There was one pothole I saw that was 20 feet long, 10 feet wide and a foot and a half deep. There were several of those in a row, and it was absolutely dreadful.” If the city moves forward on the recommendations, some will likely be sent through to the finance and audit committee while others will go to the resolutions committee. Currently, he added, finance and audit is working on a similar plan, though their’s takes a more long-term approach. “Finance and audit are dealing with a motion we made during budget to create a long term plan. This kind of fits with that. I’m talking about a three to five year plan Lets do what we can now then tie in with finance and audit.” Skakun added his goal is to double the amount of road repaving the city does this year.
A reduction in $125,000 to the parks division at the city, the equivalent of two full-time positions, has forced council to revamp the maintenance standards for that division. Flavio Violan, manager parks and solid waste, presented a report at Monday's council meeting which explained the need for the revamp as well as showcased three options council could choose from though he recommended the first. The option recommended, and the one chosen, will reduce the service levels of boulevard and turf maintenance, effecting primarily sports groups. It will also allow the division to form another mobile crew so high priority areas can be maintained once every 10 working days, medium priority can be maintained once ever 20 to 23 working days and low priority will be serviced when the time permits. "I think we are feeling the effects of the decisions we made a couple of months ago," Coun. Lyn Hall said. Mayor Shari Green agreed some hard decisions had to be made.
DeLynda Pilon
newsroom@pgfreepress.com
Over 9,000 Prince George residents made it clear they are not okay with the city borrowing over $3.5 million to pay its portion of the River Road dike project.
The city was approved for a federal grant of about $5.4 million and the remainder of the cost-shared project was to be paid for out of a reserve fund.
However, in order to borrow that kind of money, a municipality must get a green light from taxpayers, either by calling a referendum, an action likely to cost the city about $70,000, or through the alternate approval process (AAP).
An AAP requires residents not in favour of the proposed action to fill out a ballot stating as much. If 10 per cent vote, which in this case is about 5,300 people, then the requested action can not be taken.
By the time the window of opportunity for people to make their wishes known closed at 5 p.m. April 24, there were 9,653 response forms in. Of those, 382 were determined to be invalid, leaving 9,271 received, and the River Road dike project circling the drain.
Eric Allen has been at the forefront of a grass-roots movement to gain enough votes to force the city to either hold a referendum on the issue or cancel the project as proposed.
"I am elated with the number of people who signed the petition," Allen said. "There was almost twice as many signatures as required."
He added he is hoping the city does not go forward with a referendum, but rather backs away from the project.
"It would be a waste of $70,000," he said. "A lot of people out there have this issue on their mind, and many of them just didn't get around to signing the petition."
Allen said he isn't sure if the federal grant money is earmarked specifically for the River Road dike project, or if it can be used for flood mitigation in general. If so, he said perhaps the city can find another legitimate use for it. However, he maintains that municipalities should not be in the 'flood business' anyway.
"We are not in the flood business. It is a provincial responsibility," Allen said.
Allen delivered about 4,500 ballots to city hall the day before deadline, putting him in a position to speak to a lot of people about their concerns about the project going forward.
He said people had two main issues which were reiterated nearly across the board.
"People are really tired of the city spending money on mega projects. They are incensed about the roads. Basically they want more fiscal responsibility. They want money spent on something tangible. They are not happy with how their money is being spent," he said.
Allen intends to be at the next council meeting since the issue is on the agenda. During the meeting staff will present the results of the AAP as well as the two options council has moving forward, either to proceed to a referendum or to discontinue the project as it is currently proposed.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/149311875.html
DeLynda Pilon newsroom@pgfreepress.com If you had a dog licensed in the city, and still have your pet but never renewed the licence, you can expect a visit this year from one of two people the city is in the process of recruiting to come to your door and make sure you get that bit of business done. Guy Gusdal, the manager of bylaw services for the City of Prince George, said the two new employees will focus on collecting unpaid dues, with less of an emphasis on new licences. The city is taking the step following a pilot project last year. During the project a part-time animal control person was commissioned for the job, and the revenue earned was in excess of the cost incurred. Gusdal pointed out that currently the funds earned by the city in dog licensing fees do not cover the cost of animal control. “Having users pay for those services will reduce the demand on the general tax list, then dollars can go to other things. Council can use it elsewhere and not have to increase taxes to the general public,” he said. “It’s also a question of fairness. There are those who abide by the laws, do their due diligence and civic duty and purchase a licence while some take prodding. Others refuse to do it until brought up for charges - or it takes an extreme amount of effort to get those people to compliance.” He pointed out the need for animal control people is dictated by a few factors, including responsible dog ownership. And if everyone who owned a dog paid the licensing fee, then much less money, if any at all, would have to come out of the general tax fund to pay for animal control. “With this, frankly, if everybody would just pay for the licence, and we didn’t have to do it, that would be the ideal situation. Then you’d have the users that have the dogs in city demanding the animal control services paying for them. Or if all people were 100 per cent responsible with dog ownership, then we wouldn’t need as many animal control people.” He added getting your pet licensed may lead to its return if it ever goes missing. “Frankly tattoos change over time. After a few years they can often not be legible at all. As for chips, there’s lots of different kinds of chip technology out there, and not all are read by every reader,” he said. “A dog licence is really your best bet for getting your dog back. Typically, though it is not written in bylaw, though we may look at putting it in future amendments, past practice is if you have a dog licence we return the dog. “If the dog gets out, and it’s a first offence, we will make every effort to contact the owner directly and get the dog back. It will not go to the pound. There is no cost, though you may get a warning. Once it goes to the pound, we have a contract with the SPCA who does pound services for us. Then the impound fees and things would apply. So a dog licence is kind of a get out of jail free card.” If there are multiple offences, then animal control will take whatever enforcement action is necessary. “People can treat it as insurance, and fairly cheap insurance, to get their pet back.” Taking a proactive approach to bylaw enforcement means targeting an infraction that can put at least as much money back into city coffers as it takes to enforce it. “There’s lots of things any city can be more proactive about when it comes to bylaw enforcement. What it comes down to is the availability of staff and resources,” he said. “There’s any variety of offences occurring out there. We have to look at the tools and resources we have for dealing with those offences, and what kind of effective action we can take versus the staff time we can allocate to that. Any city out there, or even the Supreme Court, has to be selective in enforcement. You will bankrupt cityies if you try to enforce everything. Just like a crown prosecution for criminal offences, you have to look at the situations that are the most in the public interest.” This means prioritizing complaints. and those priorities are set by council, he said. Complaints that can be enforced in a way that allows the city to recoup funds are often at the top of the list. “If we were going to start to look at being proactive, those are the things we would start looking at first. Those things that are cost effective.”
DeLynda Pilon
newsroom@pgfreepress.com
A city resident involved in a case pending with the City of Prince George went public with his concerns after he filed a complaint against senior management at the city, resulting in a threat of legal action against him.
Laurie MacIntosh says the city is at fault for a blocked culvert that caused flooding on his property and damaged his home, and he wants them to pay for the repairs. His complaint spurred an investigation by the city, which concluded the city was not the cause of the problem.
During the municipal election, MacIntosh set up a website, challenging contenders for mayor and council positions to look at the evidence he’d amassed and state how they would deal with the issue.
The problem remained unresolved, and with a court case pending in July, he wanted to gather documentation from the city regarding the issue, but says he met with strong resistance.
“During the election I was going through the process of gathering documents for the legal proceedings. The city would not give them to me,” he said.
In particular, he wanted a copy of everything pertaining to the investigation they conducted into his complaint.
Frustrated over what he felt was stone-walling on the city’s part, MacIntosh sent a four-page cover letter along with a 41-page document to the mayor’s office, complaining about the way administration handled the issue.
In return, he got a letter from another lawyer, this one out of Vancouver.
The letter, he said, distorted every action he’d taken. MacIntosh sent a letter back, debunking the information within the letter he received.
“They said ‘our position hasn’t changed’. They said if you go public with this, we’ll sue you,” he said. “That’s when I knew it wasn’t about whether or not I was right or wrong. They know I can’t compete with a whole bunch more legal action.”
MacIntosh pointed out the lawyer from Vancouver is the third who has been involved in the process by the city. The first is the city lawyer and the second will deal with the upcoming litigation.
MacIntosh contacted the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, who responded the same day, asking for copies of the complaint and subsequent correspondence. Two weeks later they called him and said they were deeply concerned about the situation.
“They said they were deeply concerned about silencing complaints, particularly a government.”
Doing so, he was told, is very unusual, except in extreme circumstances.
“I don’t think my complaint about how the city handled documents was extreme,” he said. “Not giving investigation results in a timely fashion is not open or honest, and it deprives citizens of the right to see the information.”
Robert Holmes, president of the BCCLA, responded with a letter to the Vancouver counsel involved.
“The BC Civil Liberties Association is deeply concerned by the strategic use of the threat of defamation lawsuits by government against their citizens.”
He went on to say “such lawsuits are tantamount to an attack on a person’s fundamental well being.”
Holmes’s letter also provided numerous examples of case law demonstrating the limited capacity to which a government has to bring defamation action against citizens.
To date, the city has not responded to the letter.
“In my opinion it was a scare tactic. Maybe I’m wrong about that and maybe they will come after me with legal action,” he said. “But should I cower in a corner and hide from these guys? Is that what you do in a free and democratic society?”
By press time, the city did not respond to the Free Press for comment on the issue.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/148143865.html
Plethora of potholes means paving projects put on hold
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/148331425.html
The tourist information centre at Highway 16 and Highway 97 is set to close, putting the future of Mr. PG in doubt.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/147857195.html
The finance and audit committee voted unanimously in favour of retaining Initiatives Prince George as the economic arm of the city, however they will be making recommendations to change aspects of the existing service agreement.
"First, does the finance and audit committee agree that a standalone corporation is the way we want to deliver economic development?" Coun. Cameron Stolz, committee chair, asked.
Mayor Shari Green said she felt it absolutely was as did all the committee members which include Coun. Lyn Hall, Coun. Murry Krause and Stolz.Stolz then asked whether committee members felt the service agreement needed to be changed.
"I suspect there are things to improve upon," Green said. "I would like to make sure we are somehow in some way protected in the future regarding whatever a contract says about severance pay."
Better coordination between board members and councillors, the mayor and the CEO of IPG as well as the administration of the two entities was also a concern.Hall said aligning goals and results are important as well.
"We need to look at deliverables and make sure they are on the same page as around what we're after," Hall said.
He added he'd like to the reporting structure of IPG to be the same as the city's.Stolz agreed the reporting should be in-line with the city from a finance and administration point of view. For example, he said, at the city jobs that pay $75,000 plus per year must be reported.
The committee also discussed how costs might be trimmed at IPG if administrative chores were shared between the corporation and the city.
"We need to look at efficiencies for the same administrative functions rather than duplicating them at IPG," Stolz said.
For example, both IPG and the city could share an auditor.
"IPG believes an independent auditor is important," city manager Derek Bates, said.
Stolz said the concerns the committee has will be forwarded to the IPG board.
"We are looking at it from a high level view and want to express our concerns. We are not trying to find answers. Then we will meet for an exchange,"Stolz said.
Another component, he said, is how the changes will fit in with the core review.
"The next piece is we have to factor in the core services review," Stolz said. "In my opinion I think we are doing some foundational work right now that will help with the review of IPG."
The core review, which will include IPG as well as the direction the committee gives them regarding the service agreement, will likely return with recommendations for council in September.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/144296755.html
City residents will need to remember to keep some change on hand after a decision to return to paid parking downtown, once an appropriate option is chosen, was made at Monday’s council meeting.
A report from a study on parking in the city completed in 2008 recommended a shift to free on-street parking downtown with maximum parking time limits per block enforced by tire chalking.
There were many reasons for the recommendation, including a rash of vandalism and theft from meters from 2006 through 2008 as well as difficulty fixing the meters because it was hard to find replacement parts. Meters got pulled from low use areas and moved to high use areas, however that meant a free parking zone was created where the meters used to be.
The result meant a loss of revenue to the city.
In 2007, the last year of metered parking downtown, the city added $80,000 to its coffers. In 2011, the year Guy Gusdal suggested council use as reference for free parking because, in 2010, there was a staffing issue, downtown parking was subsidized by the city tax base by about $81,000.
And that isn’t the only problem.
Councillors noted that many take advantage of the free parking, moving their cars through the blocks like a player on a checker board to avoid a ticket. Others go a step further and wipe the chalk from their tire.
“I have witnessed people come out of a business with a spray bottle and a rag, and wipe the chalk off their tire,” Mayor Shari Green said.
Coun. Cameron Stolz pointed out the economic benefits of a return to paid parking.
“By switching to free parking it cost the city between $160,000 to $190,000. I see this as a huge opportunity to move in the right direction.”
However he added he was not comfortable with any of the alternatives supplied within the report and suggested the finance and audit committee look at options to bring paid parking back to downtown Prince George.
Coun. Albert Koehler said he supported maintaining the status quo. He said he believed free downtown parking lends itself to a more business friendly atmosphere, something the city is working to promote.
However, many councillors said they felt getting a parking spot downtown is difficult for customers, with parking spots being held for too long by people who are not customers, then relinquished just so someone can move up the block, taking up another nearby spot.
Green added free downtown parking was never supposed to cost the taxpayers money. And she pointed out the culture has changed downtown, meaning the likelihood of vandalism and theft has been reduced.
Stolz made a motion that the finance and audit committee implement a strategy to return on street pay parking to Prince George then report the options back to council.
The motion carried.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/144447935.html
A business owner adversely affected by the construction of the Boeing Road project is concerned about the length of time customers have had difficulty accessing his store.
Pat and Shemin Patel have owned and operated Eastway Esso for about 11 years. They were aware when they took over the business that it is considered the neighbourhood store by many locals, and has been a cornerstone of area life for decades.
Sharon Annis, who is acting as the couple’s spokesperson, has worked at the store for 15 years. During that time she has come to know her customers by their first names, watched their children grow up and even witnessed a marriage recently when two regulars decided to tie the knot right inside the store.
“They started this the end of last May,” she said of the construction.
The Patels, she said, had no idea the project would take so long.
“It’s been pretty near 12 months now,” Annis pointed out.
Annis said she’s not sure if the problem lies with the city or the contractor, but in either case the Patels’ frustration is rising. ‘No through traffic’ signs stopped customers from accessing the store at the Boeing Road/Highway 16 intersection. This meant customers, at least those who knew how to get there, had to access the store by travelling to the next set of lights, turning right on the Old Cariboo Highway then left on the other end of Boeing.
And, she pointed out, that side of the road is a challenge to travel as well.
Now the first access is open, but it is not in good shape.
“It’s almost impassible,” she said. “Small cars can’t get down it.”
Even big trucks, three and five tonnes, bottom out, she added.
“We’ve been told that’s the nature of construction. Our business is less than half of what it should be. If it goes on for much longer, I don’t know what will happen.
“The whole thing has been very inconsiderate. We’re not trying to be trouble makers. We just want someone to step up to the plate.”
Jim Litzen, the project manager for Boundary Rd., said there has been challenges with the project.
“The project has been challenged with some of the existing infrastructure and last year’s weather.”
However he said he is aware of the Patels’ concerns, and recently met with the contractor.
“Since then they have been out there daily doing some ditching and groundwork. They will be out there daily,” he said.
He added he is the person locals need to contact if they have concerns.
Right now, he said, grading is about all they can do.
“Basically all that can be done right now until the frost is gone.”
He said grading can be done twice a day which will help with the issue.
“It’s difficult this time of year to maintain any road. We are doing our best to keep it graded and passable.”
The difficulty this business is having seems at odds with the new council and the select business committee’s mandate expressing suggestions to not only attract businesses but retain them, however Litzen said this is not so.
“Once Boundary Rd. is completed it will help those businesses enormously. This whole project is for the betterment of the city and those businesses. There is a huge potential for growth.”
He said it is hoped the project will be complete by Oct. 2012. Those with concerns can reach him at 250-561-7600.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/143978636.html
Prince George online news outlet, Opinion 250, posted a story Thursday at noon saying that Mayor Shari Green, through communications director, Chris Bone, will not be responding to their outlet for opinions or comments.
Elaine MacDonald, publisher of Opinion 250, said the call came "out of the blue".
"Since taking office we have never had a call from her or Bone concerned about accuracy or fairness," Macdonald said. "If we had, we would have been more than happy to deal with the problem."
MacDonald said they intend to continue on doing business as usual
Mayor Shari Green would neither confirm nor deny the story.
"I don't have a comment with respect to Opinion 250," she said.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/143897106.html
A local developer is ready to take on city hall as well as the Water Management Branch of B.C.
Louis Matte of Matte Bros. & Sons Construction Ltd. might be 83 years old but, according to his son, that doesn’t mean he intends to give up fighting a Water Act Order to re-dig what he says is a ditch, but they say is a natural stream.
Christopher Matte explained the issue has old roots, dating back to the mid-70s when his dad purchased about a quarter-section of land now known as the Hart Industrial lands, next to the Hart Wheel Inn at the corner of Monterey Road and Highway 97 North.
Phase one of the project was developed in the early 80s during a time when interest rates were skyrocketing. It was a difficult time for the self-made man, a school teacher with a business acumen that led him into several ventures. From driving cab and selling pots and pans to put himself through university to restauranteur and developer with projects in city areas like Beaverly, Pineview and Miworth, Louis Matte did well.
But the Hart Industrial development was no easy task.
“It almost sunk him,” Matte said. “He bought out the smaller investors so they wouldn’t go bankrupt.”
Other developments to the north added to his problems as city infrastructure expanded and drainage became an issue.
In the 70s the Department of Highways put a culvert under 97 North so storm water could run into a pond sitting on the phase 2 portion of the land. At the time there was no natural outflow from the pond, though Highways also dug a small trench off the pond.
While phase two remained on hold, the city continued to grow and the water level in the pond rose and became an issue, saturating a peat bog on the property and significantly raising the water table. In an effort to temporarily alleviate the problem, Louis added to the trench, creating a drainage ditch that extended across the property, leading to a local creek.
In a report stating his side of the issue he says he always believed eventually the city would put in an outflow that would connect the pond with its storm drainage system, which, he points out, is their responsibility.
In the mid-90s an increased interest in industrial lots encouraged him to continue with improvements to the phase two area. He extended the water and sewer services on Monterey Rd. and subdivided a four-acre lot.
“At that point they said if you want to develop anymore at phase two you must put lights at the Highway 97 North and Monterey Rd. junction,” Chris said.
His father complied, earning the needed $750,000 through the sale of the land the Hart Wheel Inn sits on.
Then, in 2001, the city designated a riparian zone around the pond and ditch, an invisible band of land 25 metres wide that protects open waterways.
“When they put it on the Prince George map at first it was listed as ‘inferred fish bearing’. Then they arbitrarily changed it to ‘fish bearing’,” Chris said.
Two studies have confirmed it is not a fish bearing stream, he said.
In 2011 the time came to go ahead with the project, but the Mattes wanted to be rid of the riparian zone designation. First of all, the the zone not only eats up 20 acres of land, it makes several more possible parcels, already with water and sewer services, useless. On top of that, the Mattes were well aware of the history of the waterway and knew it had always been a temporary ditch.
Filling in their ditch, they thought, would remove the riparian zone since then there would no longer be an open waterway.
On June 30, a letter was hand delivered to the professional engineer manager of the city’s transportation division. The letter outlined the history of the issue and explained the Matte’s intention to fill in the original ditch and dig another, one leading to a storm pipe at the intersection of Monterey and the highway, one he said was part of the original plan the city had which would create an outflow for the pond.
The letter said the work would be done in July and August.
Documentation shows the letter was forwarded to several city bureaucrats.
The city didn’t reply and the project went forward. The city even provided information about the location of the underground utilities.
By Aug. 1 the new temporary ditch was completed. By Aug. 5, 400 metres of the old ditch was filled in.
That same day the city planner wrote a cease and desist order regarding the project.
However, according to documents supplied by the Mattes, the letter was not sent, by registered mail, until Aug. 10, arriving Aug. 16.
By then the project was complete.
The same day he received the letter, Louis wrote back, responding not only to the city this time, but provincial water officials the city called into the matter, explaining the events, the long-term issue with storm water he felt the city should have dealt with decades ago and the fact the ditch was not nor had ever been a natural stream.
In fact, he has has aerial photographs, some from the late 40s and others with a higher definition taken in the mid-60s, that indicate that.
The city contacted Water Management, and on Aug. 22 the Matte’s were ordered to re-dig the ditch.
However the order was delivered in a plain brown envelope addressed to Louis, who was out of town at the time. He never opened it until Aug. 31.
“They wanted us to hire professionals to draft a plan to remediate the digging of the ditch,” Matte said.
The plan would go to Water Management and, upon their approval, the work would commence and be completed.
Water Management only has jurisdiction over natural streams, something Louis pointed out in a reply.
He got a stay on the order and has an appeal pending with the Environmental Appeal Board at the end of April.
The Matte’s have a significant amount of documentation on the matter, with many twists, turns and subplots noted in great detail, however their main contention in the appeal is the fact the ditch is man-made, not a natural stream.
It is a complex issue, but one Chris said his father will follow through on no matter the cost in either time, stress or money.
“My dad is a good man. He has always been an up-front person. He will tell you the way he sees it - whether you like it or not. He always pays his bills. He says you never do business on the back of your suppliers,” Matte said. “His good name means more to him than any amount of money.”
Chris Bone with communications at the City of Prince George said the matter is currently with the city’s lawyers so it cannot be commented on at this time.
Water Management did not return a call for comment before press time.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/143977566.html
Mayor Shari Green received $81,147.55 in campaign contributions to finance her 2011 run for the city's top chair.
Green filed her declaration stating the contributions donated to her on March 15, four days before the deadline.
The largest lump sum contribution she received for her campaign came via the Treasure Cove Casino for $13,440 along with $873 from the Treasure Cove Hotel. Brink Forest Products donated $7,000 and $5,000 came her way from Jordy's Lounge which is directed by Jordy Hoover and Larry Anderson.
Another big donor, Northern Steele Ltd., donated $5,000 while Wolftek Ind. sent $3,000 her way.
Green lists herself as contributing $2,855.04 to the campaign.
Western Industrial Contractors, Prince George Hydro Mechanical, Farr Installations Ltd. and Conifex Inc. dropped $2,500 in the bucket while Ge Shi spent $2,000 on the Green campaign.
Northern Electric Contractors spent $1,500 while SpeeDee Your Office Experts donated $1,306.77. Falcon Contracting spent $1,200 and Dollar Saver Lumber tossed in $1,128.50. William Ramsay, Westcana Electric, Power Pro Industries, Pacific BioEnergy Prince George Limited Partnership, Lomak Bulk Carriers Corp and Linden Fabricating donated $1,000.
Several other contributions under $1,000 were made. Some of note include Thomas and Janine North ($200), David McWalter ($500), David Livingstone ($500) and Commonwealth Mortgage Corporation ($500).
For election expenses, Green lists $27,000.67 spend advertising through the media and another $21,599.04 on signs, pamphlets, flyers and brochures.
She spent $14,040 on rent, insurance and utilities, $5,335.71 on other office supplies and $3,354.40 on furniture and equipment.
Other expenses included $8,055 on compensation to persons for campaign work (other than what is described in various local government sections), $1,662.93 on other campaign related expenses and $99.80 in bank charges.
Her total election expenses came to $81,147.55 with $3,481.48 left over and listed as reimbursed to candidate from campaign account for the candidate's contribution to their campaign.
Allan Wishart photo Mayor Shari Green talks about what she'll see at the March 17 boxing card at the Northern Sports Centre. Spruce Capital Boxing Club president Bruno Saligari, left, is one of the organziers of the event, which is being held to honour Laurie Mann, right. The event starts at 6 p.m.
DeLynda Pilon
newsroom@pgfreepress.com
The Prince George Tennis Club is one step closer to having a new home, sharing space with the Prince George Golf and Curling Club.
An investor has written a letter of intent to purchase the land the tennis club currently sits on. Up to $1.6 million of the proceeds from that sale will be used to build new tennis courts and upgrade the existing facilities.
Director of the tennis club Rob Prideaux said on the upside, the sale of the land will allow the curling facility to be upgraded in time for the Canada Winter Games without raising taxes to do so.
He added it will be a single place for families to attend, the involved groups are in consensus regarding the match, and more groups, like badminton and pickle ball, are interested.
“One individual space will allow an economy of scale,” he said.
Recommendations included a condition the tennis club enter into a lease agreement with the curling club for the next 25 years and a promise that the golf and curling club continue operations during 2015 and the Canada Winter Games.
The city would also have the option to purchase the facility for $1 if it discontinued its golf program, mitigating financial risk on the part of the city.
However, one portion of the agreement that concerned Coun. Cameron Stolz was a lack of a promise curling will continue after the winter games, and no corresponding offer to sell the facility to the city for $1 if that portion of the club fails.
Stolz added he wants to guarantee the investment for the community, and a good chunk of money will be spent on an ice plant and other improvements which will specifically benefit the curling club.
However, he was told the particulars of the separate agreements, including one with the curling club, will be hammered out following passing the proposed recommendations.
Andy Beesley, arenas manager, said it would be to the detriment of the facility to lose curling.
“We need to keep curling, purely from an operational point-of-view. If that fails, it is a cascading effect,” he said.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/142784355.html
There will be no Coyotes at 355 Vancouver St.
An application to turn the old Odeon Theatre into a night club featuring high-end country and western bands as well as a large dance floor was denied before reaching the first two readings of a rezoning bylaw.
Council followed the recommendation made by staff to deny the application for a variety of reasons, with Coun. Frank Everitt voting to move the application forward, which would have meant scheduling a public hearing.
Everitt said stopping the process before a public hearing sends the wrong message to investors.
“We said we are open for business,” Everitt said. “I think the applicant deserves a public hearing. This sends the wrong message to investors.”
Coun. Cameron Stolz disagreed.
“We may be open for business but not any business in any spot,” he said, adding that an application for an MDF plant in the downtown core would not make it to first and second reading either, though it may be a welcome addition to another area.
Stolz said the key piece for him in denying the application was the RCMP concerns about the club, which included the strain it would put on resources at closing time.
Dan Milburn, director of planning and development at the city, introduced the report during Monday’s meeting. He said the proposed hours of the club were 11 a.m. until 3 a.m. with a capacity for 400 people, which included staff. He said the department considered land use impact and consulted with the bylaw department as well as the fire department and the RCMP. A public consultation process brought responses, some at an open house others through correspondence, from over 200 people.
Though some spoke in favour of the club, the majority opposed its proposed location, which is zoned C1, making it incompatible with obtaining a primary liquor licence unless it is rezoned.
Coun. Dave Wilbur said he was inclined to deny the application.
“It’s not zoned to allow this type of development,” he said. “It’s not consistent with the OCP (official community plan). It’s not a good fit in my view.”
Coun. Murry Krause added council might need to consider a place for night club type of developments.
“We’ve heard loud and clear from residents and the community they don’t want it here,” he said. “I think we need advance planning to either contain or manage these kinds of developments.”
“I think the concept is great,” Mayor Shari Green said. “But it should be in the heart of downtown.”
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/142513485.html
Initiatives Prince George CEO Tim McEwan left the organization at the board's request because it was looking for a change of direction in leadership style, according to the board's vice-president, Mark Feldinger. Feldinger said McEwan did an exceptional job for four years, but it was time for a change. "Tim was brought in as a transformative leader," Feldinger said during a press conference Friday morning. The conference came in response to Freedom of Information and Privacy Act requests from the media surrounding the departure of McEwan from IPG. When McEwan announced his departure Jan. 30, the release said he was leaving to pursue new and exciting opportunities, however the board approached him Jan. 13 and informed him of its plans. Between then and its signing on Jan. 27, terms were negotiated for a departure agreement including six months full salary and benefits, a $15,000 bonus at the end of the six months and a $20,000 moving allowance, totalling nearly $140,000. The agreement includes clauses promising neither McEwan nor the board will disparage the other but speak positively in keeping with agreed upon 'talking points'. Both parties agreed to maintain full confidentiality regarding the terms of what is being referred to as a negotiated departure agreement. A press release from the board says the agreement was negotiated with advice from an independent legal advisor. It goes on to say that after the agreement was made but before it was signed, McEwan informed the board he had received a job offer he was inclined to accept. Feldinger said the agreement was signed to minimize the economic impact to IPG and the City of Prince George, the organizations chief shareholder. McEwan had 28 months remaining on his contract, and Feldinger pointed out the negotiated terms cost significantly less. He added IPG wants to be better aligned with the city's goals and pointed out there is a new mayor and council in place as well as new members on the board. "We're looking for a more collaborative approach with the city. I think Ms. (Heather) Oland is ably suited to that role," he said of the current acting CEO. Feldinger said after the board has the opportunity to review her performance they will confirm that, or not. He added IPG will be going through a service review which will include looking at its strategic plan and possibly refining it. "I suggest the general tenets will not change dramatically," he said. However questions remain regarding the fairness of McEwan's departure package. McEwan left IPG, a publicly-funded company, and became associate deputy minister for Major Investments, another publicly-funded company, effectively taking over one job while enjoying the fruits of a departure agreement from the other. And at least a portion of the salary in both arenas comes from the public purse, whether at the municipal or provincial level. MLA Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, under which the Major Investments office will fall, said he did no hire McEwan, but became aware of his addition after he was offered the job. "The process started last December when the position was posted," Bell said. "That is managed by public service, so I was not aware he'd been offered the position until after. In terms of Tim's package, it isn't something we were involved in, nor would it be appropriate for us to be. It really is an issue between Tim and IPG. It really is not appropriate for me to get involved in that." Mayor Shari Green said, if challenged, the move is probably a legal one though whether or not it is moral remains questionable. "The issue for the community and taxpayers is he is getting taxpayer funded severance pay and going to a taxpayer funded job with the province. If it was challenged, it's probably legal. Whether it's moral, whether it leaves a good taste in the tax payer's mouth? Well, the answer is no," she said. Currently Green said the service agreement existing between IPG and the city outlines management of the organization, and through this agreement the city maintains an arm's length approach. However, with goals of creating a stronger relationship and ensuring communication is solid, the finance and audit committee is currently reviewing that service agreement. "Does the city need economic development? Yes. I believe we need IPG. The city needs to ensure the taxpayer is protected. IPG needs to be stable, and we will get there," she said.
The City of Prince George passed a resolution at Monday’s council meeting to support a trades training centre at the old Rustad sawmill site. Representatives from Canfor and BID visited council to present the plan for the trades training centre, which, if all goes well, will have its first intake early in 2013. Don Kayne, president and CEO of Canfor, Alistair Cook, senior vice president, wood products operations - Canada, and Christine Kennedy, Canfor’s director of public affairs, joined Brian Fehr, CEO of BID Group, to discuss the planned training facility with council. “All of you will have a unique and valuable perspective on the labour shortage,” Fehr pointed out. He said the labour shortage is already taking its toll, with the Mount Milligan mine project already facing costs expected to rise by 20 per cent because of it. “It will constrain development if no steps are taken,” he added. Connecting post-secondary educators with employers means program graduates will be ready to fill the jobs available. “We need to realign education spending to focus on real careers,” Cook said. Right now, Kayne said, there is a scarcity of education opportunities for kids in the north. Sending people to Vancouver for training means displacing families and sending money that could be spent locally south. “We believe a team approach is absolutely necessary,” Cook said. “That is absolutely the fastest and most effective way to bring the brightest minds to the problems,” Kayne said. The training centre, because of its location, will allow many students from rural areas to more easily attend. It will also be valuable to First Nations students. “It will be valuable for Aboriginal youth to have this. Some of the best and brightest employees will come from the First Nations population,” Fehr said. Thus far, the group said they are pleased with the amount of collaboration and openness the idea has received. Canfor will donate the site, worth about $10 million, to the project. BID and Canfor will get the site ready and, in fact, a company has been hired and is now completing phase one of that project. The campus will be green with heat and electricity produced on the site. The partners will be looking for financial support through the province, likely through advanced education and the ministry of jobs and tourism. The money, likely a matching $10 million, will convert the site to a trade school and aid post-secondary institutions to establish new training capacity on the site. They will also work in conjunction with CNC and UNBC as well as BCIT, Northern Lights College, Northwest Community College and Thompson Rivers University. The resolution, passed unanimously, promises council will urge all levels of government, industry, post-secondary education providers, First Nations and labour work together in a united fashion to expand trades training opportunities in the city. A friendly amendment from Coun. Lyn Hall added school districts to the list.
DeLynda Pilon
newsroom@pgfreepress.com
Jim Brinkman, owner of Books and Company at 1685 Third Ave., is concerned that a nightclub in the area would completely change the nature of the neighbourhood.
“It’s disruptive to the neighbourhood,” he said. “This is a residential area too, just across the street.”
Brinkman’s concerns stem from a plan to open a 400-seat cabaret to be named Coyote’s at the corner of Third and Vancouver. Partners Cameron Thun, Nathan and Robert Coole and Lorne Larose chose the site, which formerly housed a movie theatre, for several reasons, including that it offers 10,000 square feet of space.
The partners plan to provide a stage area that will allow them to bring in top country bands and offer a roomy dance floor for two-stepping.
However Brinkman doesn’t think a cabaret would add to the revitalization of downtown. He said several studies show revitalizing the downtown area of cities means bringing in residential housing, which, he said, is not conducive to cabarets.
He said it might be better if the city had an area specifically designated for cabarets.
And he has other concerns.
“I haven’t had a broken window since the Cadillac closed,” he added, speaking of a former area cabaret.
Vandalism like broken windows happened at least once a year, he added, which would cost about $500 in repairs per incident.
Another potential problem, Brinkman said, is the proximity of the club to the Native Friendship Centre. He said some of the clientele the centre helps are battling addictions to alcohol, and having a cabaret right across the street might be a problem.
“The Friendship Centre is right across the street. It’s just not conducive to what they do,” he said.
He added the idea of selling Coyote’s as a place for people to go two-stepping doesn’t wash with him.
“How do they make money? They sell alcohol. They don’t make money on two-stepping.”
Letters, either in support of the proposed location for the cabaret or stating concerns about it, were accepted at City Hall until Feb. 13. During the last council meeting Mayor Shari Green asked when something would be presented on the results and was told they’d likely be available at the next meeting.
Brinkman said he plans to attend anything the city has on the docket concerning Coyote’s.
“There’ll be more chances for public input,” he said. “I know there are other people in the neighbourhood against it too who will show up.”
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/140799153.html
The budget process is completed this year for the City of Prince George, with few surprises except an increase in the budget for the Prince George Library, and a promise to find a way to undertake some strategic planning for future infrastructure funding.
Snow removal and roads were kept at the 2011 levels, however Coun. Cameron Stolz questioned the road budget of $3 and a half million, asking what the city should be spending just to keep up with the rate of deterioration.
He was told the number was double that amount, at $7 million.
“I’m looking for us to be able to work with administration and finance and audit to create a three- to five-year sustainability plan around roads,” Coun. Lyn Hall said. “I think it’s important we establish that kind of a planning cycle.”
The operations budget, which passed at $16 million, includes snow removal, road rehabilitation and other operations.
The emergency services and civic facilities budget passed at $38.2 million and includes the $21.5 million policing budget, which increased by 6.5 per cent.
“If this was any other department people would be in the streets rioting,” Coun. Cameron Stolz said, adding council has very little control over that portion of the budget.
Representatives from the library had the opportunity to make a presentation at the meetings, and asked for just over $50,000 in additional funding, above the 2011 level they were asked to keep the budget at.
The library said the funding is the amount necessary to maintain services.
However, last Thursday, the Regional District of Fraser Fort George agreed rural users had been underfunding the library over the years and passed a motion to support the library with $50,000.
This money flows through the city then goes to the library.
There was confusion among some councillors regarding the total amount the city would give, then, since it seemed as though the $50,000 was extra funding above what the city had budgeted.
But city manager, Derek Bates, said the budget already assumed the regional district would add the $50,000.
However, many councillors said they felt the perception at the regional district may have been the $50,000 would cover the extra amount asked for by the library.
Coun. Dave Wilbur made a motion the city support the budget, adding $50,000 from the regional district, rather than including it.
Council voted in favour of the motion.
The final number for the tax levy was 3.23, the total increase needed to get the money required to balance the budget, however Green pointed out this isn’t the final number. Rather it will remain for a future council meeting to decide how it is broken down between property classes, and what the levy will be whether you are residential, business, light industrial etc.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/140203913.html
DeLynda Pilon
newsroom@pgfreepress.com
Council passed the first three readings of a bylaw to authorize the city to borrow money for the River Road dike project, then decided to seek public approval for the loan through the alternative approval process.
When the municipality decides to borrow money, it has to have public approval which can be sought in one of two ways. Council can use either a referendum or the alternative approval process.
City staff applied for provincial and federal funding for the River Road dike project at the request of the former city council, and the request was granted after the current council members were elected. The total cost of the project is $11.5 million. Two and a half million will come from the land development reserve fund and $5,442,000 will come through grant funding. That leaves $3.6 million the city will need to pay to cover its portion of the cost of the project, money that will be borrowed, pending the outcome of the approval process.
Coun. Albert Koehler asked if the city could avoid borrowing the money if it sold off some of its land assets.
City manager Derek Bates said though the city has some land reserves, the balance is not in a particularly healthy place right now, and he isn’t aware of a circumstance where a land sale not already earmarked would serve the city considering the project has a deadline of March 2013.
“There’s an uncertainty raised by that funding gap that may not fit this borrowing circumstance,” he said.
If, however, the city is in a position to pay the loan down sooner, it may do so according to Kathleen Soltis, director corporate services. She said the city usually takes out loans over 10-year periods and looks at terms when refinancing with the hope of finding the best deal for the municipality.
If it goes over a 20-year term, which was what was suggested at first, there will be a debt servicing cost of $279,594 per year beginning in 2014.
Skakun, who opposed the three readings of the bylaw, said he was concerned the loan would force another raise in taxes. However, once it passed he asked what the cost difference would be between a referendum and the alternative approval process.
Walter Babicz, manager legislative services, said a referendum, which is comparable to an election, would be about $55,000. The alternative approval process would cost about $1,600.
Skakun said he couldn’t support the referendum because of the cost, however expressed concern over the accessibility of the alternative process, a concern echoed by Coun. Garth Frizzell.
This time, they were told, the city will work to make the process more accessible, possibly making forms easily available on the website then returnable by mail, fax or perhaps even e-mail with a PDF document.
However, Coun. Frank Everitt expressed concern about the alternative approval process itself.
With this process a local government must publish a notice in a newspaper explaining the matter, in this case the loan request for the River Road dike project. After the second of two notices electors have 30 days to express the opinion, by signing an elector response form and returning it in time, that the matter is significant enough it requires a referendum. If 10 per cent or more of voters express this opinion, then the municipality can’t proceed without holding a referendum.
“It’s no secret I’m opposed to the alternative approval process,” Everitt said.
He said he believes there is a stigma attached to it making it hard to sell to citizens.
“I prefer people feel they had a say in the process.”
Coun. Dave Wilbur said he, too, is not usually in favour of the alternative approval process, but in comparing costs in this instance it makes sense. Coun. Lyn Hall added he is reluctantly in favour of it as well.
Public approval for the River Road dike loan will be sought using the alternative approval process, with everyone except Everitt in favour of the motion.
The dike will protect about 300 hectares of land that includes Industrial Rd., the CN tracks, Highway 16 and the east end of the downtown area, and was recommended following a report shared in 2009 investigating flood control solutions.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/140014513.html
Several members of the public took the opportunity to speak during the public session at the first budget presentation meeting Feb. 15. Potholes in sidewalks, the lack of curb cuts on corners and the build-up of ice during winter are all conditions that make accessibility difficult for people in wheelchairs, scooters or those pushing strollers in the City of Prince George according to members of the Advisory Committee on Accessibility. Ken Biron and Heather Lamb spoke before council and discussed some of the challenges the sidewalks, particularly during winter months, present to those travelling along them in the city. Biron said deteriorating driveways in some areas add to the problem, and are sometimes up to five c.m. lower than the sidewalk. "Those areas have been ignored pretty much since they've been here," he said. Some areas of particular concern are along 17th Ave., from Spruce to Winnipeg. The worst, he said, are near the old Odeon theatre on Vancouver from Third. Ave. to Fifth Ave., with sloping narrow sidewalks and a lot of potholes. Dave Bakker, vice-president of the Northern Bear Awareness Society, also took the opportunity to speak during the public session of the budget meeting. His concern was with the city cuts to the environment department and how those cuts would affect the bear awareness program. He said three of the six required criteria to make Prince George a bear smart community have been fulfilled. "The loss of the liaison with environmental services raises questions about the commitment of the city. NBAs will continue to provide education to the people of Prince George but we can only do this if the funding and sponsorships continue to support us. The final three requirements to become bear smart are beyond our abilities and now fall under the mandate of the city. A committed action plan to the amending of bylaws, the enacting of others and following the Assessment and Prevention plans is the responsibility of the City of Prince George," Bakker read from a letter presented to council. In conclusion he asked council to reconsider the elimination of the environmental division. CUPE Local 1048 President, Janet Bigelow, addressed council on the recent city employee cut backs, which include nine people in various positions at the city plus another 19 vacancies that will not be filled. Bigelow brought up a remark made by Coun. Cameron Stolz earlier in the meeting. He was discussing a motion to cut back on councillor's travel budgets and asked how council would learn about things like a grant that saved the city $1 million? The question referred to a grant Stolz found out about that helped reduce costs on the new RCMP building. Bigelow said many grants, up to about $38 million, were generated by those who had been laid off at the city. "I can't help but wonder who is going to find those grants?" she asked, adding she wondered who would generate the business cases for grants now many of those staff members are gone. Other speakers during the public session included a gentleman who asked council to keep tax increases as low as possible and a lady who spoke on several matters including curb-side recycling as well as Dr. Marie Hay and Terry Robert, who both spoke in favour of the city continuing to support PGAIR. Towards the end of the budget meeting, council voted to continue supporting the organization with a $70,000 grant.
DeLynda Pilon newsroom@pgfreepress.com Sixteen recommendations, from treating potential investors and developers like valued customers to researching best practices and policies in other cities, were presented to council by the select committee on business during Monday’s meeting. The committee, which was struck by Mayor Shari Green shortly after her election, took just 30 days to return to council with the recommendations, which elicited both appreciation and congratulations from several council members. Staff will now have the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the report which will be available on the city’s website as well. They will then provide a report on the recommendations, providing information about which can, or perhaps cannot, be acted upon with a timeline. City manager Derek Bates said they would likely have that report back to council by March 5. The report, presented by co-chairs David Livingstone and Janine North, also shared six points stating what the city is currently doing right in regards to dealing with the business community as well as a preamble to the recommendations explaining what the city’s role should entail to promote investment and a vibrant business sector.
DeLynda Pilon
A $1,024,904 budget presented by Heather Oland, acting CEO of Initiatives Prince George, was passed by city council during Wednesday’s budget presentation meeting, the first in a series of three.
Oland told council IPG will be going through a process reviewing its spending and delivery of services, much like the city is doing, and will try to update council on their progress within a similar time frame as the core review.
Oland said IPG supports council’s priorities, including fiscal management.
Some reductions within the IPG budge include lowering salaries and wages by $247,190.
Proof of the change of direction Oland promised during her presentation seems to be mirrored in the budge presented, with $127,638 more being spent in program delivery.
Oland added one of the things they will be looking at during their review is a way of measuring successes.
“We will develop a matrix of measurables,” she said.
Coun. Albert Koehler asked what the effect would be if IPG was asked to budget with $50,000 less to spend.
“I can think of a number of different places we can look for savings,” Oland said.
Koehler moved that IPG reduce their budget by a further five per cent.
“I believe that IPG can deliver and provide core services which we all want,” he said. “I’m confident they can do this with five per cent less.”
Coun. Murry Krause said he felt asking for a five per cent decrease was too arbitrary.
“The organization is committed to a thorough review,” he said.
Coun. Brian Skakun added he would not support the motion. He said it was almost blind-siding them a little, though he said they should be encouraged to reduce where they can.
“But I believe IPG can do this without us driving the bus,” he said.
“I will not support a reduction,” Mayor Shari Green said. “We gave direction a month ago. A zero per cent increase is appropriate in this case. Every dollar here is a dollar well spent in my mind.”
The motion was defeated and the main motion, supporting IPG’s budget, passed.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/139522078.html
The office of council and mayor budget was reduced by 17 per cent during Wednesday night’s budget presentation meeting after Mayor Shari Green said she’d found some areas where savings were possible.
Green also asked that the core review and council contingency fund be moved from where staff had placed the items within the budget document to the mayor and council page as line items.
She said she particularly wanted to ensure the core review fund was easy for people to find.
Coun. Brian Skakun suggested travel expenses for councillors be lowered from $6,000 to $4,000.
Green said she felt the amount he requested it be lowered by was too much, however she was prepared to second the motion if it was amended.
The motion, once on the floor, leaving the topic open for discussion, asked for a 10 per cent reduction in travel expenses.
Coun. Cameron Stolz pointed out if you are on the board of organizations like the Federation of Canadian Municipalities or the Union of BC Municipalities, they pay your travel expenses. If not, they are paid through the councillor’s travel expense fund. Looking at the increased cost of flights and hotel rooms, he said if all three of the conferences were attended by council, they would all be over budget.
“If we lower the pool, will it change the way the city does business?” he asked.
“That is one issue,” Coun. Lyn Hall agreed. “We may have to talk about who attends what.”
Coun. Murry Krause said he advocated for a long time for council to attend those types of conferences.
“We get value for our dollar,” he said.
He added the conferences are multi-faceted and therefore it would be difficult for a few councillors to bring back all the information available. He added the trips are not holidays, but rather are learning opportunities.
“It is important we don’t deplete this education tool that we have in a symbolic gesture,” Coun. Frank Everitt said.
However, Coun. Albert Koehler said he felt it was better to lead by example.
“I believe we have to lead when it comes to efficiencies and savings,” he said.
“I would suggest we would be the losers if we reduced participation,” Coun. Dave Wilbur, who joined the meeting by phone, said.
Green said council, on average, spent over $6,000 per person on travel last year.
The motion was defeated in a tie vote, with Coun. Garth Frizzell absent Wednesday evening.
Stolz followed the vote with a motion to reduce the council contingency budget by half, taking it from $50,000 to $25,000.
The motion carried unanimously.
Rather than remaining in the council contingency fund, it be shifted into legislative economic development.
Wendy Nordin, deputy corporate officer, explained the fund is for the mayor’s office and council for economic development purposes, in particular to spend on those things not already being covered through other city economic development funds.
She added the fund isn’t currently earmarked for anything in particular and hasn’t been well-used over the last few years.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/139472538.html
The Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable (PGAIR) will get its annual $70,000 from the city though issuing the grant was questioned after a report from staff, who were looking for ways to reduce the budget to align with a request from council, suggested it be discontinued. The report also suggested a reduction in city staff, which led to several positions being cut, and that the budget for Initiatives Prince George be held at the 2011 level. Coun. Cameron Stolz suggested the question of whether or not PGAIR would get the grant be deferred until the last budget meeting, which is what traditionally occurs so council has a firm idea what the implications of adding an expense not in the current budget will be. Stolz made it clear during a previous council meeting that he felt the grant, and the subsequent work done by PGAIR, is important to continue. “That is one option available,” Mayor Shari Green said. “Many councillors have said they wanted the $70,000 reinstated. I’m prepared to do that this evening.” Council is trying to keep the city’s tax levy at 3.12 per cent. A one per cent increase would be equivalent to $771,000, so the $70,000 grant represents a .09 increase. However, Green pointed out other budget changes had already been made on the reduction side. Council unanimously passed the motion. Earlier in the meeting, both PGAIR executive director Terry Robert and People’s Action Committee for Healthy Air (PACHA) president Dr. Marie Hay pointed out the importance of the group. “When you cut the $70,000 funding you will, I assure you, successfully kill this organization,” Hay said. She pointed out there were two air advisory alerts out in the last few days in Prince George, and that residents in the Miller addition complained about a stench in the air just a few evenings ago. “I’m impressed with the achievements of PGAIR. I’m asking you not to do that, not to be short-sighted,” she said. Roberts said the goal of PGAIR is to double, at least, ever dollar the city gives. And, in spite of the vast improvements made in recent years, there is a lot of work yet to do considering the city has one of the highest PM 2.5 readings in the province. Exposure to PM 2.5 can lead to death in some vulnerable people. “One death due to air quality is one death too much,” Coun. Albert Koehler said.
DeLynda Pilon
newsroom@pgfreepress.com
Finalized budgets presented during the first of three budget presentation meetings got a nod of approval from city council Wednesday night, with a few changes.
Colleen Van Mook, community services director, presented information on Community Services’ $6,134,597 budget, which encompasses aquatics, events and the Civic Centre, the CN Centre and arenas as well as recreational and cultural services.
Some highlights through the year within those departments include the outdoor ice rinks constructed in 23 neighbourhoods in 2011, the $4 million brought in through non-resident delegates who visited the Civic Centre, the $2 million in economic activity generated in the city during the World Baseball Challenge, and the KISS concert, which was highly successful, at the CN Centre.
Council learned currently the city subsidizes 60 per cent of the cost of a visit to one of the city pools.
Council also questioned staff about the $300,000 the city currently pays to support the Northern Sports Centre, a cost matched by the university and part of a 30-year arrangement.
City manager Derek Bates said there is some room for conversation regarding the terms of the agreement.
Council was also curious about usage and the cost of upkeep at the Four Seasons pool, considering the age of the facility.
They were told usage is steady, but staff didn’t have the breakdown of maintenance costs.
Coun. Lyn Hall suggested the city might be better served if maintenance costs between the two facilities were separated out.
After passing the service category budget, council then moved on to other presentations and discussions.
The $12,567,663 million corporate services budget, the $80,915,153 million fiscal services budget and the $1,123,216 development planning and administration budget were all approved.
Initiatives Prince George reduced its budget and was approved at $1,024,904 and Tourism PG was approved at $1,035,500, with $327,908 coming from the city. The city’s general operating budget is $104.1 million.
The next budget presentation is set for Feb. 22, which will provide another opportunity for the public to address council about budget matters at 6 p.m.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/139456673.html
DeLynda Pilon
newsroom@pgfreepress.com
Information on whether or not former CEO of Initiatives Prince George Tim McEwan will receive a severance package upon his departure from the organization remains unknown.
Glen Wonders, the chair of the board of directors overseeing IPG, said that information is confidential and will remain between the board and the employee at this time, however he said it may be released in the future.
“I haven’t been instructed by the board on the timeline of that yet,” he said when asked when such information might be made public.
Mayor Shari Green said McEwan’s departure from IPG, the economic arm of the city, was not a decision she was privy to.
“City Hall, the mayor and council had nothing to do with his departure,” she said.
She added she has no idea if he chose to leave, was asked to leave or if it was a mutual decision.
“We were informed shortly before it was announced,” she said.
This is not unusual, she added, since the management of IPG is supposed to be kept at arm’s length from the city.
“That is the structure of the organization,” she said. “I suspect they do have employee’s contracts but I have no idea of the terms. When you choose to quit, normally there is no severance. If it was a mutual decision for early termination, there may have been.”
Heather Oland became the acting CEO of IPG at the beginning of February. McEwan’s last day is Feb. 17.
When he announced his departure from IPG, McEwan said it was time to take on exciting new opportunities, however he was not specific about what those opportunities will be nor whether or not they will take him to a new city.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/139306878.html
DeLynda Pilon
newsroom@pgfreepress.com
Mayor Shari Green envisions a productive partnership between the city and its economic arm, Initiatives Prince George.
A major change at IPG, the resignation of CEO Tim McEwan with Heather Oland taking on the position as acting CEO combined with the election of a new mayor and council might provide opportunities to re-align objectives, however.
"As a new council we've had an information sharing session with IPG," Green said.
This, she said, occurred the day following the internal shift at IPG, so the session took place with Oland as acting CEO.
"It was a change IPG made," she said. "It allows us to create new opportunities. We may choose to move forward in the same direction, or go in a different direction with them. It was our first face-to-face meeting in some time and it gave us a solid opportunity to talk about the city's direction and our shared desire for prosperity."
She said there is a lot of positive momentum going forward.
Funding levels for IPG will stay at the 2011 level, however, a decision council made after a requested report from staff set out options regarding keeping the proposed tax increase between two and four per cent.
Further savings, Green said, would be appreciated.
"Any opportunity to lower the budget would be welcomed," she said.
Green and Oland recently spend a day in Vancouver providing a presentation on Prince George as the strategic service centre for northern B.C.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/139098319.html
DeLynda Pilon newsroom@pgfreepress.com City council has decided to go ahead with a plan to construct a dike in Prince George, part of a flood mitigation strategy recently approved through provincial and federal grant money. However, since going ahead means the city will have to take out a loan to cover its portion of the cost, residents will have the final say in whether or not the project gets off the ground. Municipal regulations require a city go one of two ways before taking out a loan, and both processes mean going to the residents, who have the final say. Recently the city got news it was approved for $5,442,000 in provincial and federal funding which city staff applied for, at the request of council, in July of 2010. The total cost of the project is $11.5 million. Two and a half million dollars of the money will come from the land development reserve. That leaves $3.558 million the city would need to borrow, over a 20-year term with a debt servicing cost of $279,594 per year beginning in 2014, to complete the project. Dave Dyer, the city’s manager of utilities, was on-hand to discuss the history of the project. “The project was initiated after the 2007/2008 ice jam,” he said. The city received funding for a sub drain following that event, he added, and it was put in place in 2009. The second and third phase of the flood mitigation plan includes a below and above ground wall to hold back water either during a flood or ice jam. It will protect about 300 hectares of land that includes Industrial Road, the CN tracks, Highway 16 and the east end of the downtown area. The plan, he added, was recommended following a report shared in 2009 investigating flood control solutions. Coun. Brian Skakun asked what the liability factor is for the city if the dike isn’t built. Derek Bates, city manager, said the responsibility for emergency response is legislated to local governments. Much of the expenses incurred are reimbursed. There is also a cost associated with the disruption to businesses and residents, he added, not to mention the potential property damage and risk to human safety. “There is no easy direct answer where liability would fall,” he said. Coun. Cameron Stolz said the choice, to him, becomes whether council should be proactive or gamble with the future. “How long are these funds available?” he asked. Dyer informed him that grant money doesn’t become available all that often. Stolz also asked why the city did not dredge the Nechako instead of building a dike. The simple answer, Dyer said, is dredging wouldn’t work and would need to be done over and over again because of the ever-changing nature of a river. “And is that the best use of public money?” he asked. “If it did work, and we’ve been told by a consultant it won’t, it would be of no use with an ice jam event.” It would also bring up issues like ownership of the river. All of council, with the exception of Coun. Brian Skakun, voted to proceed with the flood mitigation plan. Coun. Albert Koehler said the dike also ties in with the beautification of downtown and added he’d like to see a rendition of how it would look when completed at an upcoming council meeting. Skakun, the one dissenting vote, reasoned that the businesses near the river chose to locate there. He added the idea of taking out a loan after laying off city staff didn’t sit well with him and he said council has a responsibility to the rest of the citizens of the town as well. The risk of another flood event is low enough, he said, that it isn’t necessary at this time to go into debt in order to build a dike. “In my opinion it’s not right. This is not free money. The majority of the community won’t support this,” he said.
DeLynda Pilon
newsroom@pgfreepress.com
Though financial information about City of Prince George expenditures will be easier to find on the website, council decided not to proceed with motions forwarded by councillors Brian Skakun and Garth Frizzell asking the city to adopt a financial reporting strategy similar to Quesnel and to consider the proactive disclosure of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and responses.
A report brought back to council from the financial and audit committee, chaired by Coun. Cameron Stolz, discussed the implications in time and money that would be utilized to make the change.
Currently the city meets the Community Charter standard, which requires the reporting of payments for suppliers of goods or services within six months after a municipality’s year end, which is Dec. 31.
If the amount paid out is more than $25,000 during a fiscal year, the municipality must list the name of the individual, firm or corporation and the aggregate amount paid.
At the end of the report, a municipality must list the consolidated total to suppliers paid $25,000 or less.
Specific information means making a special request to the city which entails a FOI request. Those requests are looked at by the corporate officer, and if the information can be released it is.
Kathleen Soltis, director with corporate services in the city, said it would take between 64 and 90 hours a year to enact a system similar to Quesnel’s, and that doesn’t include the time it would take to proactively deal with FOI requests, which would still need to be scrutinized to ensure private information isn’t disclosed.
“The City of Quesnel has managed to do this. In my opinion we need to meet more than the minimum standard. Compared to what Quesnel does, this falls quite short,” Skakun said.
Skakun said he has talked with representatives form Quesnel and they post all their expenditures on the agenda, breaking them down into categories. He added each expenditure made by the city should be defensible and the current practice doesn’t go far enough.
“Every expenditure is defensible at the city,” Mayor Shari Green, who joined the council meeting on Monday electronically, said.
“I don’t think we should burden the city staff with more than what they are doing,” Coun. Albert Koehler said. “I don’t think we should do more than the city charter requires.”
Frizzell expressed an interest in the cost of FOI inquiries to the city, however that number was not available in the financial committee’s report. He said he was curious if there was a financial argument supporting being proactive with those kind of requests, in that it might actually be less costly than the process of a FOI request.
Green pointed out the public has two ways to go when seeking information. An FOI, she agreed, is very formal and somewhat challenging. However, she said, someone from the public could simply ask for the information.
“Just ask the city first. If the information is readily available, staff is going to give it to you.”
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/138872909.html
City residents had the chance to stop by the Civic Centre Wednesday night to check out plans for a 400-seat nightclub planned for the corner of Third and Vancouver, the site of the old Odeon theatre.
The evening provided an opportunity for people to share comments and concerns about the planned project. These comments will be passed on to city council.
Cameron Thun, who is partnering with Ted, Nathan and Robert Coole as well as Lorne Larose on the project, said the group chose the location because it offers 10,000 square feet of space.
“In a bar you always run out of space,” he said.
However, the partners want to provide a concert-style stage and a large dance floor that will allow plenty of room for two-steppers to come out and strut their stuff.
“We’ve been in the industry over 40 years, and we see the need for this in Prince George,” he said. “There is no place for normal adult-oriented people to go. We want older clientele who want to go out dancing, maybe after a nice dinner downtown and we plan to bring in big-name bands out of Nashville and Alberta and use great local acts.”
The country/rock cabaret does have the capacity to hold 400 people, he said, however that number includes staff, about 30, meaning at capacity there will be 370 patrons.
The nightclub, which will be called Coyotes, is designed to mitigate any issues that might disturb neighbours. He said the stage will be on the left-hand side of the centre of the club behind a complete theatre, which will be used for storage, insulating the surrounding neighbourhood from the noise. Another side is a foyer, equally large and the other is surrounded by businesses.
“There will be absolutely no sound from the entertainment,” he said.
He added because of the size of the foyer, the lineup for patrons will be inside, which not only means no outside lineups to disturb neighbours, but protection from the elements for patrons. An outdoor smoking area will be accessible from a walkway within the club and will be enclosed.
Thun pointed out that some councillors visited Halifax during the Canada Winter Games and were impressed not only with the game sites but with the downtown Halifax nightlife during the event.
“We have to have incredible areas for night activities,” he said adding the cabaret will fit well with the Keg and Ramada renovations.
Ted Coole said building the cabaret is possible because of everything the city and the RCMP have done to clean up the downtown.
The cabaret, he added, will respect its neighbours.
“We have respect for the neighbourhood, the businesses and the community,” he said.
He added they have worked hard to design the club so it mitigates any concerns that might come from the community, and many who see the design and hear what project planners have in store are impressed. The problem to date, he said, is getting that message out there.
One longtime area citizen, however, is not pleased with the idea of the club.
He said when a liquor store was in the area a few years ago, it caused problems for everyone, with people drinking in the alleyway at all hours of the day and night, falling asleep in people’s back yards and urinating whenever the need struck. He said traffic is going to increase in the area, parking will be an issue and he thinks there will be more noise, whether it comes from the band or patrons leaving the establishment in the wee hours of the morning.
“We were that age once. They will be rowdy and there will be noise,” he said.
Though he believes the city needs a nightclub, he said the area isn’t right for one.
Jesse Dill, city planner, talked to several people during the evening, encouraging them to fill in comment sheets or send an e-mail or message to the city stating their position and concerns.
These, he said, will be accepted until Feb. 13, then forwarded to council.
“I think most resident and business owners near the site are expressing their concerns or support for the project,” he said. “There have definitely been concerns over some of the impacts like the long hours and late-night noise.”
If the land in question passes the first two readings of a rezoning bylaw, then it will come before council a third time, and people will have another chance to state concerns during a public hearing.
Council will have the opportunity to look at these concerns within the framework of the Prince George liquor policy.
“We focus on land use and community impact,” Dill said.
If the project gets to that stage, the date for the public hearing will be advertised in the newspaper, Dill said.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/138578259.html
Tim McEwan resigns as president and chief operating officer of Initiatives Prince George, the city's economic development arm
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/138343269.html
Council sets out the terms of reference for the core review
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/137985258.html
DeLynda Pilon newsroom@pfreepressc.om City staff will proceed with an assessment of the golf and curling club grounds and clubhouse in an effort to gauge the feasibility of creating a potential community centre on the grounds. Colleen Van Mook, director of community services, broached the subject at a previous council meeting and was asked to bring back more information regarding the cost of such a study. Presently the two stakeholders most interested in the proposal include the Prince George Golf and Curling Club and the Prince George Tennis Club, however Van Mook said it is likely other groups may be interested as well. “There are other groups involved with tennis who are interested, and with the curling club as well, but we will start with those two and look at the model,” she said. Coun. Garth Frizzell noted Van Mook reported the study would entail about 45 hours of staff time, and he asked what that would mean in terms of cost. “I didn’t look at hourly wages,” Van Mook said. She added the work entailed is within their normal course of duties. “I am still gravely concerned about the building,” Coun. Cameron Stolz said. In the previous meeting, one of the primary concerns council expressed surrounded the cost of upgrading and maintaining the building to current standards. Van Mook said information on the structural and operations condition of the building will be gathered from those familiar with the structure, and also from those involved in previous infrastructure studies. Ownership and operational models as well as operating costs, revenue sources and future steps will also be discussed. Mayor Shari Green pointed out that, if there is a land sale of the tennis court property, the city has an obligation to that club to provide it another home. Van Mook said the study should be completed by mid-March.
Council outlines its goals and priorities
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/138129313.html
Council eliminates 28 positions at city hall, 15 of which are currently vacant
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/137533768.html
Mayor Green won't say whether council will direct staff to reveal costs of the Skakun trial after city manager Derek Bates refuses to release them
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/137581618.html
Council looks to keep tax increase to 3.12 per cent, which means job losses inevitable
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/137508768.html
Core review approved, could cost up to $350,000 to complete
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/137053543.html
Prince George tops Maclean's list of most dangerous cities list RCMP and city say stats misleading
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/135682273.html
Upset over council's approval of the Haldi school rezoning area residents threaten to sue city for contravening Official Community Plan
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/135601353.html
A late agenda item Haldi Road School rezoning is approved
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/135529923.html
Terms of reference and membership of select standing committee on business
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/135454703.html
Council approves a five per cent, per year, rate hike for utilities. New councillors Frank Everitt, Lyn Hall, and Albert Koehler vote against. Incumbents Mayor Shari Green, Brian Skakun, Cameron Stolz, Garth Frizzell, Dave Wilbur, and Murry Krause vote for increase.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/135125123.html
Mayor Shari Green announces the formation of a business council to provide recommendations to help business in the city. Plus, she announces that a core review of services should take nine months.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/news/135114598.html
Council is sworn in at the inaugural meeting
Update Sources