City Survey Examines Your Entertainment Habits
While a number of Councillors from the City of Prince George are privately asking the question of why they were not told there would be a survey to determine the entrainment requirements of city residents, the bigger question is why did the City spend $20,000 dollars when they knew full well that the item could have been added to the ballot at the upcoming civic election, as to whether or not citizens want a PAC.
The questions are generic enough so that the average individual would have a hard time putting the pieces together of what the survey was looking for.
Why does the city want to know your attendance habits? Let's get over the first hurdle , do they want a PAC?
The residents don't want the city to ask "If we build it, will you come?" They need hard cold facts, like the cost and the cost to carry the facility.
Why in the world do we need to know what sort of activities you like to attend? Would spending $40 to $50 million change your mind and have you go see a show wouldn't normally have paid a dime to see? The fact that the taxpayer would be asked to carry a further $300,000 a year in costs is much more important to those footing the bill.
All the city administration has done is solidify the thinking of a number of citizens that are talking about conducting a campaign in which citizens would be asked whether they support a PAC for the city.
While Elections BC say they would not act on the matter, they do point out, for example, that if the city residents had a petition with 7,000 signatures attached to it and presented that petition to Elections BC and the provincial government, you can be sure they would be passing that information along to the City of Prince George, with the question of "are you going to deal with this?".
Now that the province has introduced legislation to make the term for civic office, 4 years, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to realize that a PAC could be passed and built before the next civic election, there by circumventing the local voters on the matter.
It seems the only way the matter will be dealt with in a yes or no fashion is to put the squeeze on the local council. To this point they have danced around the issue and the question is, why ?
In conclusion I have been accused of being anti Arts. For the benefit of those that may not be aware, I also was opposed to the idea of building a speed skating oval at a cost of over $10 million dollars in the city. That issue was also being talked about at a time when the economy was on its heels and our roads were quickly going to pot.
I'm Meisner and that's one man's' opinion.
Comments
“In conclusion I have been accused of being anti Arts.”
An accusation I made based on the truth. Try and find a local performance or entertainment guide on this site. Even a simple weekender notice of local things going on. But “Home & Garden” gets prime real estate.
‘Nuff said.
I don’t think Ben is anti-arts it simply isn’t one of his pressing concerns nor mine. I think what he is against is a small group of people wanting to push their agenda, which is ‘iffy’ at best, on our town and expect the whole city to have to help pay for it and its upkeep with no real net financial benefit to the taxpayers.
If ever there was a project or a time when a referendum was needed, the Performing Arts Centre is it.
This project will cost City taxpayers millions of dollars initially for construction etc, and then we will be saddled with operating/maintenance costs in the area of $500,000.00 per year. (I do not accept the figure of $300,000.00 as I think it has been lowballed.
We have a Mayor and Council, who have skirted having referendums in the past, by using the cost of a referendum as an excuse, ($78,000.00) the River Road Dyke is one example.
Because the report on the PAC will be submitted to Council in June, and it will apparently provide some insight into the cost, location, operating/maintenance costs, for this facility, and considering that the next election is not until this November, why is this issue not being put on the ballet.
Being on the ballet this year will mean that we will not have any additional costs for the referendum. In addition it will give us all a chance to vote this project up or down, which as taxpaying citizens is our right.
The Mayor and Council have an obligation to ensure that all citizens of this city have a say on the expenditure of this amount of money.
If the City was to borrow this money, we would automatically get the option of a referendum or an alternate approval process, and thus be able to stop the project if sufficient signatures were collected.
So the question is. Is the City trying to accumulate money from various sources, such as the sale of land, and other Government sources, so that they can contribute their portion without borrowing money, and therefore circumvent due process??
That’s what I think is happening.
As an example if the City were to bring in the Storm Water Utility, and tax us on an annual basis for this utility, while at the same time using money from the Federal Gas Tax Fund, to build the Performing Arts Centre, when one of the criteria for use of Gas Tax Money is Storm Water, are they not just manipulating money, and in effect raising our taxes for the building of a Performing Arts Centre.
To many questions, not enough answers. I suggest that the Mayor and Council put this issue to a referendum and have it settled once and for all.
“Would spending $40 to $50 million change your mind and have you go see a show wouldn’t normally have paid a dime to see?” .. I think maybe that is what they are trying to determine with the survey. I think there may be some people who don’t go to any shows now because what they want for entertainment isn’t offered here yet. I have no idea if a PAC would change that or not. I personally have no use for a PAC, as theatre type shows or concerts really aren’t my idea of having a good time, but if there ARE a bunch of people out there who are simply waiting for a better selection than that is what they need to know.
As for no artsy type links on this site, there used to be a link to the bathing suit beauty of the day (or week), but that never seemed to work too good. That was kind of artsy fartsy wasn’t it?
What the heck do we need a PAC for? 90% of the population of Prince George are RED NECKS who will not benefit from a PAC. Soon as the silver spooners ( Who still in their adult years do not understand how hard it is to earn a buck)pull the spoon out of their mouth and figure out where and who pays the majority of the tax bill. 90% of Prince George citizens should not have to flip the bill for the 10% PAC crowd!!
57chevy…. What percentage of the PG population utilize the two swimming pools on a regular basis? Maybe 10 to 15%? Just sayin’
But I’m happy somebody has the cahones to say the real reason the PAC will fail in PG.
Pylot: “But I’m happy somebody has the cahones to say the real reason the PAC will fail in PG.”
Yet despite the ‘truth’ being told (i.e. someone’s opinion that matches your perception of PG residents), you still want to see a PAC built. Why?
“90% of the population of Prince George are RED NECKS”
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Are you confusing the population of PG with the population of regular posters on O250? They aren’t necessarily the same thing, LOL.
If anyone were to actually look at where the majority of people living in PG are actually employed these days, it might cast a different light on the whole “red neck” debate.
The citizens of Prince George can have their vote for or against a PAC this fall, with or without a referendum- make your vote count for a Mayor and council that campaign for what YOU want. Lets make sure that they announce loud and clear what they will push for if they were elected to council….are they for or against a PAC.
I am tired of this issue coming up every few years, sucking up more time and tax dollars on new surveys and studies for PAC that such a small percent of our community wants.
Maybe City Hall should tell us what the total sum of tax dollars that has already been spent on these surveys and studies over the years on this issue. I think that in itself will disappoint us immensely.
“Why in the world do we need to know what sort of activities you like to attend?”
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One very good reason is due to the fact that a PAC is a multi-purpose facility. Depending on the anticipated needs and demand for certain types of events and activities, the design of the building could be altered or modified accordingly. This could make the facility more responsive to the needs of the local community and thus more successful.
Seems pretty logical to me.
NMG: “If anyone were to actually look at where the majority of people living in PG are actually employed these days, it might cast a different light on the whole “red neck” debate. “
Are you saying someone who works in an office can’t be a ‘red neck’ (whatever that means)? Or that a mill worker automatically is? Not sure what your message is here.
There’s a lot of stereotypes being thrown around right now.
“Are you saying someone who works in an office can’t be a ‘red neck’ (whatever that means)? Or that a mill worker automatically is? Not sure what your message is here”
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No and no.
My message is that the population demographics in PG have changed considerably over the past 30-40 years. I would also estimate that the average education level of the population is significantly higher than what it was 30-40 years ago. I would go so far as to say that is due to the changes in the job market and because of UNBC’s influence.
I tend to associate “red neck” as being a negative term describing someone who is deliberatly ignorant of others. They may also be abusive, racist, intolerant, bigoted or sexist. Much of this often comes from insecurity, a lack of education or limited exposure to the world around them.
Yes, people who work in offices can be red necks. No, mill workers are not automatically red necks. Yes, I believe that PG is far less “red neck” in 2014 than it was when I was growing up there.
Let’s see. According to Jeff Foxworthy’s definition of a redneck do we qualify.
1. If you walk you son to school because you are both in the same grade you might be a redneck.
2. If you live in a mobile home and own 7 cars that aren’t you might be a redneck.
3. If you hand out the shampoo and condiments from a motel as Christmas gifts you might be a redneck.
Let’s see. According to Jeff Foxworthy’s definition of a redneck do we qualify.
1. If you walk you son to school because you are both in the same grade you might be a redneck.
2. If you live in a mobile home and own 7 cars that aren’t you might be a redneck.
3. If you hand out the shampoo and condiments from a motel as Christmas gifts you might be a redneck.
If you double post on O250 you might be a redneck.
First of all the citizens of p.g. Need to know what a PAC is, I bet a lot of people don’t
Got myself a magic marker and wrote “NO PAC” on the city’s portion of my almost $500 dollar utility tax bill. Seeing as nobody phoned me.
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