Metered parking downtown buying a Cadillac instead of fixing a tire?
Wednesday, September 4, 2013 @ 3:45 AM
By Peter Ewart
“When I have a flat tire, I don’t buy a Cadillac. I get the tire fixed.” That was Rod Holmes, president of Prince George’s Downtown Business Improvement Association (DBIA), on Wednesday evening commenting on the City’s proposal to bring back pay parking to the downtown. And it pretty well sums up the problem with the proposal.
Yes, the Aparc metered parking will be a state-of-the-art computerized system, and, yes, it will be smart phone, credit card, and texting friendly. But it will also cost at least $1.24 million and perhaps more if various bells and whistles are added. A shiny brand new Cadillac for the city, to be sure.
But do we really need this Cadillac? All three presenters – DBIA, PG Chamber of Commerce and Majestic Management – don’t seem to think so. Nor do a lot of other residents of Prince George, including the upwards of 3,000 who have signed a petition against the pay parking proposal.
The presenters argued that downtown Prince George does not have a parking problem, but rather an enforcement problem. And that the solution to this “flat tire” is to beef up enforcement with a much cheaper license plate recognition system and stronger bylaws, not to rush out and buy the new metered parking system from the Aparc multinational. As Chamber president Derek Dougherty pointed out, it is a much better approach to delay pay parking and phase it in only when actual parking becomes an issue.
But all of this controversy points to a deeper problem with Mayor Green and those councillors who support her. When given the choice, they seem to go for the Cadillac option on other issues as well. Take for example, the Core Services Review last year. The final costs came in around $320,000, a far higher amount for a core review than comparable cities in the province and country. And, despite the high cost, there was precious little in results.
And then there is the new Director of Communications position, which along with other associated staff, could end up costing $250,000 or more a year. Does a city of 75,000 really need such a chunk of money devoted to communications, including speech writing for the mayor and city manager?
Previous city councils have suffered from this spending problem as well, the new state-of-the-art RCMP “chalet on Victoria Street” being just one recent example.
Unfortunately, those particular individuals on Council with Cadillac tastes, have no hesitation in making everyone else in the city pay more, whether by hiking user fees for utilities, sports clubs, swimming pools, and non-profits or by reducing city services.
However, the strong message being sent by citizens from across the community is that, rather than touring luxury car show rooms, City Council should focus on fixing flat tires.
Peter Ewart is a columnist and writer based in Prince George, British Columbia. He can be reached at: peter.ewart@shaw.ca
Comments
Does a city of 75,000 really need such a chunk of money devoted to communications, including speech writing for the mayor and city manager?
The simple answer is yes, in order to get reelected she needs to start swaying people into thinking she is doing an awesome job and what better way then to have a good spindoctor working on her next campaign for free imo
Ay politician that cannot write and state his/her own speech ought to leave politics.
Other trades or professions do not do their work by proxy, so why politicians?
A very good point of view Peter, which the majority of us take on this issue as well.
Hmm.. slinky and jetstream’s comments are on side too.
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