Its a matter of choices… like an Art Gallery that sits empty most of the year, or a community energy system that now runs on natural gas, or an airport logistics park road for an airport that has no logistics, or a dyke that is a provincial responsibility, or a 100+ 6-figure earning managers at city hall… all matters of choice from council paid for by the hostage homeowner tax and its evil twin cousin the AAP.

The joke is on us the tax payers that pay huge taxes already and they can’t even find .0005 of the budget to maintain the boulevards… the idea being they will all look as run down crappy and full of garbage as the city owned vacant properties around town. But a 30% pay raise is a matter of choices?

Bang on Eaglone.
Or tax exemptions for downtown,
$900,000 horse path under University way.
Buying air space and a bunch of un-sellable real estate, on and on…..
The people with their hands on the purse strings live in a fantasy world, with no concept of reality. Cry me a different river Mr.Frizzell.

“Frizell estimates we’re probably $300 million behind in P.G. alone, if you add up all the pieces of infrastructure (that require repair).”

What “pieces of infrastructure” would THAT be?

Are we talking about maintaining on a regular scheduled thoughtful basis or complete (throw the baby out with the bath) replacement? Really, all this sounds so very melodramatic and unprofessional…

There are over one hundred managers at City Hall earning 6 figures a year? Perhaps it’s a case of way too much management, of too many expensive cooks spoiling the soup?

Welcome to Crater City.
Lots of money for the feel good photo-op projects.
PG buys air for a million bucks, heat from Lakeland for 15 million, PG Hotel for 2.5 million, cop shop for 37 million, computer systems at city hall, the Nissan Leaf, and of course the winter games.
Pretty obvious why there is no money for roads. Last week the report a pot hole website did not even work. Overload?.

Amazing if the dike had not been beaten the payments would have started next year at just under 300 grand. Where was that money coming from?

City Hall and gang green are just setting up the taxpayer for a huge increase in taxes and the line will be we need to fix the roads. The tax increase will go into general revenue and the roads will see a paltry amount as per usual.

Gang Green? Very clever! I have a feeling that one might stick…

Maybe there’s a way to monetize our potholes: close off selected stretches at certain times, say on weekends, and let paying customers, the kind of people who like to ride ATVs, drive around on them without regard to the speed limit. :)

When one builds anything, buys any major equipment, and so on, one needs to include not only the capital cost of that item but the lifecycle cost of that item. In case anyone at City Hall could find a use for it, I have a three ring binder about life cycle costing which I received when I took a one week course on that subject about 40 years ago.

About 25 years or so ago, when the Centre of Advanced Resource Technology (CART) operated a few years in PG, I observed as the pulpmills sent their engineering staff to learn how to move their preventative maintenance schedules onto spatially related computerized databases which required the power of mainframe computer systems at the time. All motors, pumps, relays, etc were recorded and location and lifetime history of item performance and maintenance records were there at one’s fingertips.

The problem is, some people “get it” and others simply do not.

I have no confidence in this City “getting it”. The tools are all there, but no one, or very few seem to be using them. My impression is everyone is operating by the seat of their pants.

Why do I get that impression? Because I see no evidence of reports that are well conducted with proper inventories, preventative maintenance procedures, timelines, costs, etc. which show me that not only can this city put new infrastructure in place, but also has the money set aside to maintain that infrastructure in best practices or even standard practices working order.

The only hope I see right now is that the core services review consultants have built enough time into their project to allow them to drill down in a few key areas to enable them to make a valid and defendable judgment of how well this city is doing against a best practices standard as well as a common practices standard. We need to know that we are getting the service from this City’s administration that we require so that we can continue to operate as well as we thought we were without receiving one piece of shocking news after another down the road.
Obviously Council is incapable of doing that, so it is time the Citizens start taking on more responsibility of keeping Council accountable. Right now, their accountability is not worth very much in my eyes.

Yes it is a matter of choices councilor, and as posted above there are many examples of bad decisions.

A couple of examples in the current cap-ex spending plan-

$775k for new picnic shelter and washrooms for Fort George Park? like building a gazebo in your yard when the house is falling down.

$250k New trails and paths-reasons why this can’t wait?

$3Million in further borrowing for flood protection in Preston and Morning Place. Nice homes on Morning Place but why was development allowed in this area without a plan in place. If you want a house with a river view, flood protection should be part of the costs for the developer.

There is going to be stiff competition this year as to who will win the city’s annual “Miss Manager” of the year contest.

BTW gus the city is spending a cool million on a CMMS system this year. Maybe they think that it will make all the decisions(Hal 9000) without the need for input by staff:)

Where has all the Money gone?
A wonderfull Hit, fit’s PG perfect.

A link to the West Kelowna 2012 Raod and Sidewalk program
http://www.districtofwestkelowna.ca/index.aspx?page=738

Try to find a similar page on our web site. We have a map for the 2011 projects, that’s it!!

Why West Kelowna? Because it was the first one to pop up on a search, it is in BC, and I do not want to spend more timne on doing this sort of “research” since we have enough staff at City Hall that can do it for us.

$2.327 million to maintain the roads this year (4km) for an inventory of 220km. That equates to a 55 year cycle. I have to ask myself whether this is a prudent length for an average cycle. I think it isn’t.

So, let’s set that thought aside and and compare PG which states on the City web site that we have 580 km of paved road and 90 km of gravel roads.

Let me take the paved roads only.

Really I should have the lane km distance for both communities, but I don’t. The City has that for PG.

So, given those restrictions, and also understanding tht some of the funds go to repairing sidewalks as well, the District of West Kelowna is spending $10,577 per km of the 220 km of roads in place.

Using that same figure of $10,577, the City of PG should be spending $10,577 x 580km, or $6,134,818 per year.

BUT, we are not. Why not.

Why has administration not come forward with a road maintenance program that reflects the money we need to be spending?

Why does the Administration not tell the real story?

Why does Addministration not give Council the assignment to make the difficult decision to forget about putting in proposals to host the Canada Winter Ganmes?

Why go for Canada green plans, rather than wirting to the Feds and the province to forget about green plans because we need roads, and subsidized housing, etc. etc.

Total heads in the sand appraoches to City management the way I see it.

It is time we heard from City Hall why some of us are wrong and they are right in the approach they are taking.

City Hall owes us a serious attempt at justifying their method of managing our finances.

Yes, lonesome sparrow, I have noticed that proposed expenditure on CMMS. I assume that is the cost of the IT components of software and hardware. I do not know whether that includes the cost of data input. I would like to see the justification report which shows an improvement in performance and a cost comparison over a 10 year or so lifecycle of status quo operation versus computerized operations.

As far as thinking that it will be making decisions or one simply hits a key and the work will be done, I would hope that even this City’s staff have come to realize that is not the case.

On the city’s website under the Finance tab are the following links:

-2012-2016 Provisional Financial Plans and 2012-2016 Capital Financial Plans.
-2010 Interactive Annual Report.
-2010 Statement of Financial Information
-2011-2015 Financial Plan
-Financial Statements and Annual Reports
-Provisional Financial Plans 2010-2014
-Capital Financial Plans 2010-2014

Depending on which tab you click on there can be major difference in what is planned.

I now see why the city spends upwards of a million a year on computers, planning is an updated version of 500 monkeys on 500 typewriters.

Gus:”…observed as the pulpmills sent their engineering staff to learn how to move their preventative maintenance schedules onto spatially related computerized databases which required the power of mainframe computer systems at the time.”

That’s not all!

Operating this city according to (business has to make a profit) modern pulpmill standard practices it would be able to cut its staff/labor force in half, or better.

Perhaps Councillor Frizell and his friends on council should start by finding some money by rolling back their raises and firing each and every engineer and road worker advisng them who just discovered that they are underspending on ROAD MAINTENANCE by something like $3,5 million a year.

They and their predecessors have been taxing us for snow removal and road maintenance for what, 50 years, and they have just now discovered they require maintenance.

There are lies and then there are the pure inventions of politicians when they are trying to divert attention from their complete failure to act in the taxpayers best interest.

Witness the recent story about the state of water and sewer lines which was floated to justify yet another increase in the future.

What colour do you think the sky is in their world?

Perhaps Councillor Frizell and his friends on council should start by finding some money by rolling back their raises and firing each and every engineer and road worker advisng them who just discovered that they are underspending on ROAD MAINTENANCE by something like $3,5 million a year.

They and their predecessors have been taxing us for snow removal and road maintenance for what, 50 years, and they have just now discovered they require maintenance.

There are lies and then there are the pure inventions of politicians when they are trying to divert attention from their complete failure to act in the taxpayers best interest.

Witness the recent story about the state of water and sewer lines which was floated to justify yet another increase in the future.

What colour do you think the sky is in their world?

I seem to recall the city spent a ton of money on a system to decide where paving dollars are spent…PV?? something or other, can’t be bother to look it up;).

Input a bunch of data and it spits out some recommendations…sounds good but in reality all plans are made on the Back Of A Cigarette Pack in the spring as the snow melts.

To answer your question gus, we would be better off with the status quo rather than a CMMS as decisions are make using the tried and true BOACP model;)

I loved PG when I lived there for 50 years but I AM SO GLAD I MOVED…

Those roads are damaging to cars and horrendous to drive on.

The city should have been CONSTANTLY planning for this for years… it’s NOT going away.

Stop borrowing money for things and start borrowing for the roads & infastructure.

I like that….”well was waiting to get a raise when there is money but didnt see that happening anytime before I will get voted out so thought I would just vote to get my raise and take what i can now” Well not in those exact words but we all know what he meant…..lol

So how far back does the blame game go?

Rogers – For allowing a committee to place a bid for the 2015 Winter Games? It will cost the City (taxpayers) > $25 million, but it will generate > $50 million in local spending (guess). The City doesn’t receive anything of those extra revenues – the Ferderal and Provincial governments do with taxes though.

– District Energy system? PG Hotel? Commonwealth fiasco?

—

Roads department – “We’ve been doing some projections and it looks like we will need to double or even triple the budget for the roads.”

Manager – “How much?”

RD – “Upwards of 3 million, in addition to the the 3 million…”

Manager – “We could buy the PG Hotel building, and then give it to the Province, maybe that will get us the best and biggest wood building in the world.”

Sewer Department – “Yeah we have some problems with the water and sewer..”

Manager – “Shhh go away, we don’t have any money. But I was thinking that this District Energy idea would be great, we could win some phony awards. People like that stuff.”

Mayor/Council – “Hey we need a raise, we work hard and no one will object this.”

Manager – “Go ahead, just sneak it in during a council meeting, make sure I get a raise too. This is hard work.”

FIRE HIM, FIRE THEM ALL! BUNCH A PANTY WASTES…

Councillor Frizell read all the above then go get lost. Anybody admit voting for him?

I like that….”well was waiting to get a raise when there is money but didnt see that happening anytime before I will get voted out so thought I would just vote to get my raise and take what i can now” Well not in those exact words but we all know what he meant…..lol

How come NOBODY at city hall during the last couple of decades noticed that the city was falling behind more and more in maintenance of vital infrastructure year after year until we are now all of a sudden faced with a dire emergency?

Not one of the past worships, councilors and managers?

Too busy with the Games and the totally predictable wish-list mega projects, perhaps?

Wow! We should ask for our money back plus interest.

BTW, last year not a single dime was budgeted for sidewalks.

Show some leadership Councillor Frizzell….Councilor Krause already used the diversion tactic with blaming the condition of our roads on the weather. We have Krause,Stolz,Skakun and now you telling the general public that there is no other choice but to raise taxes to fix the roads and repair the underground pipes. Since you state that it is a matter of ‘Choices’ please start making governance choices that actually reflect what the taxpayers expect to receive in terms of value for money their money spent. Starting with a solid operational and long term infrastructure maintenance and repair plan would help. Where is the leadership on council?

Is there anyone able to prove the roads are worsening beyond bold claims?

Can’t wait for the day when this dump vanishes from my rear view mirror for the last time.

This Gang Green Team all have their heads up their AZZ. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. Screw the Olympics, forget the dyke, quit buying real estate and start running this city properly. The infastructure needs attention so quit making excuses and get on it. Its only going to get worse with all the gum bumping you clowns do.

Where is George Paul, former city manager, when you need him? Really!!!! The city manager is charged with managing these issues. Why is there never a word from the current manager, Derek Bates, regarding these important issues?
Took a ride in the spouses Jeep, two years old, yesterday. It was the first time I had driven in it in a couple months. When we backed out the driveway I noticed a weird creaking, squeeking noise. Husband says it’s from the roads, the shock absorbers are just about gone. Then we headed down Domano, with a CD in the player. That CD will never work properly again after the jolting it took.
How about this…Let’s spend every single penny we have on GAMES…without any single person here ever voting on it..Let’s go all out and bid on GAMES…and then, when we get the bid, let’s make a great big deal out of it, and make it so that anyone who objects to spending money on the GAMES is an outcast, a pest to the grand city and the GAMES. Then, lets spend almost all of the money on an old hockey arena and upgrade it. Remember, hockey will be the most important part of these GAMES.
Skip to the winter of 2015…the roads are even worse because we haven’t been able to spend on them because of the GAMES. And then, just as climate changes have caused winter temps to climb upward, we have one of those not so unusual winters, and little to no snow. In fact, it’s downright balmy out there!!!!!! And dang, there’s no snow to fill all the potholes!!!!! LOSE LOSE LOSE

And they wanted to build an Arts Center???
No Money for Roads, but OK for a 30% raise??

You people should be ashamed of yourselves, and you actually go to other countries, other Province’s and actually tell people that you are our Mayor and Council!???

I’m ashamed to tell people that I’m from Pr. Geo. I usually lie, unless I have to put it on paper.
You do realize that people are driving around with signs in the back of their vehicle’s “Pothole Capital of Canada”!
You guy’s are just like the Liebrals, spend like drunken Campbell’s. What the hell give me another raise,….With my boot that is.

Miss Green and her gang don’t like 250, well the TRUTH hurts doesn’t it.

I read the report and concluded that the only significant “draw downs” that would result from borrowing 3 mil to build a dike would be a draw down on the general revenue…..12 mil and rising in annual debt servicing fees comes from general revenues…….thanks to E. Allen, Ben, Gus and a few others who have dug deep on this issue…feels good to be one of the 9000 who signed the petition

A gentleman who is a lawyer ran in the last election said to the audience, “We must bring more people to Prince George in order to lower taxes”. That’s what he said. He got voted in. And don’t give me any crap about “quoting him out of context” either.

Frizzell, it is a matter of choices.

Roads or a raise in pay.

Frizzell’s answer, I’ll take the raise please.

The mayor and council may want to re-read the following from their list of priorities 2012-2014

“Sustainable Infrastructure
The City efficiently manages the procurement, construction,
maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement of its
physical assets considering lifecycle cost, risk, and service
level continuity.”

including

” Road Rehabilitation Program”

And

“Sustainable Fiscal Management
The City will be financially sustainable, with the revenue
resources required to support its plans and infrastructure
and provide services that citizens and businesses need.”

So far they receive an “F” in both areas

F- for road repair service level continuity, council reduced road rehab budget for 2012

F- on ‘Sustainable Fiscal Management…City is too deep in debt,
Citizens feel over-taxed and revenue resources go to unwanted, unaffordable pet projects, i.e., special 2% tax levy for Canada Winter Games. Council has dug a deep hole and now realizes it is near impossible to follow through on fulfilling madates and policies contained in its’ own endorsed plans.

The City is in dire need of direction and priority setting now, not later. Why wait until the next 2013 budget session or until the results are in from the 350K core review. Our elected representatives should be aware of services that citizens and businesses need and have plans in place to meet those needs….it appears they do have plans in place however they are unable to follow through on them due to a ‘matter of choices’.

The comments by Garth Frizzell can only be considered as defeatist. He seems to have thrown in the towel. His solution, and the solution of Skakun and a few others is that we have to raise taxes.

Anyone with half a brain and a butt can raise taxes. The real question is. Can you solve our infrastructure problems without raising taxes??

Its pretty bloody obvious that to date, all the City has done is spend money on useless or next to useless projects. Where were the Councillors, and Mayor when all the hairbrained idea’s were being hatched. When will they wake up and smell the roses. When will they stop lying to themselves and to the taxpayers.

1. Very few if anyone in this town is enamoured with the idea of the Winter Games. It has been proven conclusively that these types of ventures lose money for the host City. So why did we opt to have a losing proposition come to town.

2. The City is in the process of building new offices for the purchasing people at 18th and Ospika, at a cost of $3 Million dollars. This is borrowed money so it will cost us a million or more in interest over 20 years. Whats wrong with the purchasing building and offices on the East end of 3rd Avenue.???

3. The Community Energy System was a **bust** before the fire at Lakeland Mills, it is now a disaster. How long will it take the City to let us know how much this project is actually going to cost us.?? The Community Energy System is supposed to reduce the fine particulates in the air as opposed to heating with gas, however it seems we are back to gas. In addition when a Councillor was asked how much the fine particulates were reduced in the air with the closure of Winton Global, Rustads, North Central Plywood, plus some other industries he had no idea. I suggest the reason he had no idea, is because the engineers didnt give him any information, however you can rest assured they gave him information on the Community Energy System, because they wanted to build it.

4. Most of these projects are nothing more than the City accessing grant money, and building useless projects. One of the major benefactors is the City Managerial Staff, because of the job security, in constantly spending money.

5. The first five jobs on the Winter Games pay in excess of $100,000.00 per year.

We need the core review group to ensure that all aspects of the cities operations are looked at closely with a view to saving millions of dollars. The money saved could be channeled into roads and sewers where it belongs.

Its time for the Councillors to earn their money, and get this city back on track.

This council is not (with a few exceptions) responsible for the position we are in to-day, however they are certainly responsible for the solutions.

Lets have a REEFERRENDUM…then we will get the roads fixed real good…As for this Frizzell,waste of a seat…..

“Sustainable Infrastructure

The City efficiently manages the procurement, construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement of its physical assets considering lifecycle cost, risk, and service level continuity.”

Says who? Obviously not too many people on here. Those kind of motherhood statements can be made by an independent auditor if they were true. The City saying so does not make it so.

I love the “service level continuity” part especially.

So, let us assume that they really want to do that. Every such objective must be measurable and verifyable, and the City Manager and his immediate department heads would know that as well. If they do not, they should not be in those positions.

So thanks rambleon for asking: “Is there anyone able to prove the roads are worsening beyond bold claims?”

It is actually the City that needs to prove that, not the citizens. And they need to prove it to Council and the people who pay the taxes here and even the other people who live in the community.

So the City statement is: “The City efficiently manages ……. service level continuity.”

That statement needs to be measurable and verifyable. It is definitely measurable. If it is measured, it can be verified by annual comparative evaluations.

I understand that they have a pavement evaluation system which can then, ofr instance, tally the total lane kilometers for each quality standard category for each different class of road. Those records can be compared year to year and a comparative evaluation made from year to year based on the annual summary.

Dollars can even be assigned and a tally kept of how much we are falling behind or advancing in the road maintenance area.

Really it is not up to me or anyone else, other than City staff to figure out and then report out on an annual basis to Council in open session.

I fail to undertand the difficulty.

Council Frizzell should also wonder what is so difficult with that. So should every single Councillor that we voted in as well as the Mayor and every single one of her advisors … and even her private assistant.

As many of us keep saying, this is not rocket science. It is standard management practice by now in any reputable organization and no longer only best management practice.

Paqlopu wrote: “The comments by Garth Frizzell can only be considered as defeatist. He seems to have thrown in the towel”

Very observant. That is what I read from this report as well.

Of course, we do have to remember that Stolz was the fellow who stated he would fix the roads if he was elected …..

So, he is elected …. I hope his take is not the same as Frizzell’s.

I need some reasurance that ANY money that is spent in this town on roads is not going to substandard pavement that will break up within less than 5 years, as it is on University, just as an example.

Really, Gus? I’d say the roads arent near as bad as they were last year. Does that make the statement true?

Well said gus! Should be printed off and presented during the termination with cause meeting with the city manager.

Fired….you’re all fired! Stop wasting money. Stop giving yourselves raises. Stop, stop, stop.

Fix the city and its infrastructre BEFORE anything like the Winter games, PAC, or any other ‘feel good’ project you folks got on your minds.

We need people in office who are more concerned about Prince George than getting their own private agenda completed….

psst, how about no more money for taxes?

if you build it they may indeed come, but only of they can drive there, and in Pothole Gorge, they can’t anymore, fix the roads, lose the pet projects and photo op legacy stuff.

I think it’s fast coming on time for us to march on city hall and demand an accounting.
First, let me say that I for one am taxed out – I cannot pay anymore taxes, you can come and arrest me and throw me in jail – but I can not pay any more taxes!
Second, let me ask what has happened to the taxes that have been paid all these years? Why all of a sudden do we find out that ALL the infrastructures are falling apart. We are not being told that they need the regular maintenance, that should have been an ongoing part of the city budget, but that they are falling apart and taxes need to be raised to fix them.
Third, I say this, Roll back the 30% raise you awarded yourselves, fire the expensive assistant that Ms. Mayor just hired, roll back the super high wages that the several city managers are making – they obviously have not been managing properly or we would not be in this mess, drop the Olympics, forget about putting money into arts etc. until all the infrastructure needs are met!
Fourth, here is another Councillor that sits on his high horse and claims that he should never have received the raise. So I ask, why in the hell did you vote yes for it?
You Sir are just as two faced as Skakun that claimed he did not agree with the raise but voted for it anyway. You take the raise and then say that it should never have happened.
So, now do the right thing, set an example, tell your boss the Mayor to roll your wage back! Then set about finding the money to fix all the problems.

“The City efficiently manages the procurement, construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement of its physical assets considering lifecycle cost, risk, and service level continuity.”

This is a Mission Statement! It’s an idealistic lofty goal to actually obtain perhaps one day in the very distant future!

It’s a vision of what COULD be, not of what is actually happening or even possible with the people and mindset in place!

Does anybody believe that it has any meaning beyond that?

As for the Games: Nero got into the history books for fiddling while Rome was burning!

Rambelon worte: “Really, Gus? I’d say the roads arent near as bad as they were last year. Does that make the statement true?”

Nope. I am sorry to see that you do not understand what would make the statement true. You obviously do not work or have ever worked in an environment where the output of your labour is evaluated in an objective fashion.

Frizzell was asked about city council giving itself a 30% raise when the roads are in such pitiful condition.

That response is a typical politician response. There is no real answer there but hey, they got the raises and that was what was important right? Go enjoy your raise and most likely will be somewhere where you can actually drive your vehicle without damaging it. Good for you guys……….crooks!

That awful smell… is something rotten in the state of Denmark or is it the stench of Gang Green in Crater City?

(It’s fun combining the names and labels readers here have come up with…)

ashfiem asks
“Why all of a sudden do we find out that ALL the infrastructures are falling apart.”

This problem is well known to city hall. Read over the Annual Reports on the city website and it all there in black and white. Year after year it is an Action Item for the following year to come up with a plan to properly fund infrastructure with nothing ever done.

What the city REALLY needs is a person that oversees all of the departments at city hall, holds the department heads accountable, gives elected officials the information they need to make informed decisions.

Heck we could even call this person “City Manager” and pay him $200k a year.

What a disgusting mess the management of the City of Prince George is in due to incompetent bureaucracies and incompetent councils. The new coucil and Ms. Green will make no difference in the state of this City. The election is over and the bureaucrats are comfortable sitting at their desks, collecting their pay cheques at City Hall at the expense of all property owners in Prince George. What a sad state of affairs. Where are the checks and balances?

In keeping with the notion that the statement in question is a mission statement, I post a link to the Council’s vision priorities and mission statement:

http://princegeorge.ca/cityhall/mayorcouncil/visionprioritiesmission/Pages/Default.aspx

The vision is:
“To be a high functioning, focused, effective, efficient, responsive, productive and accountable Council.”

In true vision fashion, this is a dream ….

The mission is:
“To provide high quality services and good governance for the City of Prince George within available resources.”

That’s an interesting one. It has a condition attached … within available resources.

It has another interesting condition … “high quality services” … not average, not minimum standard, but high quality. Does that suggest what services, does not suggest what a full complement of services would be … what a minimum complement of services would be …. does not suggest that in some instances a less than high quality of service would be accpetable.

So, we have perhaps had a high quality of park maintenance and now we have learned that we will save some money and have a lower quality of service …..

Come on people at the Hall …. don’t be so pretentious with your statements and learn to recognize what our means are and what we can provide. Come down to earth.

The most obvious omission is any mention of the Winter Games preparation, new arena which will be built and completed in the 2012-2014 period.

As well there continues to be the mention of the PAC for which there is no line item in the 2012-2016 5 year budget, and, under the circumstance that we have been put in, unless Uncle Harry will donate it, it ain’t gonna happen.

“What the city REALLY needs is a person that oversees all of the departments at city hall, holds the department heads accountable, gives elected officials the information they need to make informed decisions….Heck we could even call this person “City Manager” and pay him $200k a year.”

Nailed it Lonesome!

So what ever happened to the roundabouts at at 4th and 5th? Are they going ahead?

What about the “beautification” of 4th? dead on the order table?

Or are these projects going to quietly show up this year or next?

Oh …. under 2012-2014 Projects and Initiatives, there is a classic statement which is easily accomplished in 1 minute.

“identify new revenue streams”

Already been done …

1. gasoline tax at the pump.

2. parking meters ….

There you go …. they are identified …. The objective has been achieved, next ….

A good example of a meaningless objective. Is it measurable …. yes! There are two, so the plural has been achieved and the nature of the revenue stram has been named. Now what?

Well, the implementation has not been included.

Neither has the order of magnitude of the effort.

So, the meaningful way of phrasing the project is:

Identify new revenue streams which will increase the non property tax revenues by 5 to 10% over the 2012-2014 period and implement the new revenue stream by no later than 2013.

So, that is measurable and is meaningful.

Oh Garth, you silly useless councillor, it’s not just your money you are spending poorly, it’s our money too and you have made some bad financial choices on behalf of this community. Make us functional then make the community pretty and sexy. I think everyone is telling you time to re-arrange your priorities because you are bankrupting us with your frivolous spending choices, or should I say, Frivolous Frizzell ?????

Have a plan:

Fix the infrastructure and then the roads
I can just see it now, they’ll fix the roads and then rip them up to do the infrastucture underneath.

Frankly, the lack of leadership is astounding, as are the stupid comments re who is making this or that much. These people are not paid nor hired just for the hell of it. Although why we have a mayor who can only say “we don’t have the money.” Of course we don’t! Get it!

Our roads are a friking disgrace.
Try riding a bike.

A new revenue stream?
Maybe gang green from crater city can buy some lottery tickets to raise revenue. Might not be such a waste of money as compared to the usual city hall expenditures. How many 649 tickets can you buy for the price of a Nissan Leaf?

gang green from crater city and proud of it. Home of worlds largest collection of potholes this side of outer space and growing by the day.

Unfortunate comments from Frizzell. Looks like this will be his last term.

Citizens want vision and a can-do attitude.

Maybe the corporate tax rate needs to rise. Maybe city taxes do as well …

Maybe contractors have put in super-low-quality roads and we’ve been had by them.

Time for changes. Create some new revenue streams

Well people… you get what you vote for. What did you expect would happen (with regards to any kind of City change), when you vote in a Mayor who’s only experience is selling scented candles and nick-nacks?

To be frank, this all started with the cronyism that Kinsley & Crew laid on the City of PG for many years. And people voted that guy in how many times? The roads didn’t just start falling apart over the last 5 years. It’s been well over a decade of degradation.

Right on “Pylot Project”. It seems everybody is complaining but what the hey, this is what the majority voted for.

Maybe the majority were all in “lala” land and actually believed her when she promised she could cut 10% across the board and still keep our roads reasonable. LOL! The joke’s on us I guess.

We fell for the “promise”. Amazing that it took her only four months to break the promise big time, with a 4% tax hike as the final insult.

as a homeowner, I pay city utilities twice a year and property tax yearly…the utilites say I’m paying for sewer and whatnot…where is this money we are paying going? if the city claims that you are paying x amount for sewer, should that money not be put aside for the maintenance and repair of it? They take that money when “nothing’s broken” and spend it elsewhere! We should have money saved for what the city says they are gouging us for and they don’t! Where is my money!? roads, garbage, it’s all the same story…take our tax money for infrastructure and maintain our city, not spend it on the Canada Games and hotels downtown that are to be bulldozed and sold to some developer…I am sick of the miss management!

The Citizen again. Neil agrees with Todd that “climate change” is the reason for our road and street shortcomings. I’ll buy that. Maybe the Citizen can gain subscriptions by changing their name to the “Crater City Gazette”.

How about Gang Green copyrighting a picture of the moons surface as a new logo for PG? Or should I say Crater City? Kinda sticks on ya , don’t it?