Wilbur Wants a Three-Peat
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Wilbur says he is not going to offer an ad-hoc legal opinion on whether or not Cameron Stolz should have remained on the Finance and Audit committee, saying instead that he supported the Committee’s decision to have Stolz remain on the Committee although not in the position of Chair.
Wilbur says he worked to help reduce the costs on the RCMP building, “Remember the Brunswick detachment was in a holy mess” he says by contract, the RCMP could have built a building and handed the City the bill. He says he was a member of the task force that helped reduce the price by $8 million dollars, through elimination of the underground parking lot, and change in design.
On the Performing Arts centre, “My vision for the City of Prince George is that there will be a performing arts centre, my reality is that we can’t do it now.” He says there won’t be any funds available from the senior levels of government until at least 2017 and the annual operating costs are very high. He says if there is only public money available for the project, he can’t imagine it happening in the next four years, but says if the LNG prospects ramp up and there is a champion for the project from that field, it could happen sooner, however, says there is no such champion on the horizon.
On the matter of infrastructure, he says he will take some credit for the reduction in pot holes “I went to the UBCM to get them to release the federal gas tax, they said no, but I stayed at it, so in 2013 they changed the interpretation to allow those dollars to be used for road repair.”
On the matter of the storm water utility, he says although he spent a lot of time trying to learn about the project, he is still trying to understand the plan that would charge dollars to property owners based on pervious and impervious surfaces. Wilbur says he does not support it “I see more harm than good arising from it”. He says if he can’t explain it someone else, he is not ready to support it.
He says Shari Green has done a commendable job as mayor, but he is, and always has been an independent, “I am not a person who can be pigeon holed into a cause.”
He says a councillor must be prepared before they head into Council, “If you are not prepared, you are not doing your job.” He says he has discussed issues with Mayor and the City Manager before the matters come to Council, and offers as an example “the dangerous situation with the entrance to the Prince George Public Library.”
He says the City’s communication system was horrible, “We took a system that was liming and nearly brought it to a full stop” he says that was the situation before Beth James became City Manager, but says things are improving since the arrival of Todd Corrigall in the communications department. But if residents have an issue, he wants to hear about it, “I have a network out there that rivals most I think, number two, I have kept my phone number in the phone book so anyone can find me, I am not a hard guy tot talk to” he says he does what he thinks is right for the community at large, “and I have always kept my word.”.
Comments
out with the old, in with the new…
Dave;You got my vote you survived Ben’s interview. Try to remember people want to live in SAFE healthy neighbourhoods. The statement that a councillor made lets do something meaningful where the issues are at up set me because I live where the issues were transferred and don’t want any more issues coming our way. Please listen to the taxpayers concerns.
I have a letter in front of me from The Honourable, Chuck Strahl, P.C., M.P. Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. Dated Sept 24, 2010 to
Mr Harry Nyce, President UBCM Richmond, BC and
The Honourable Ben Stewart, M.L.A. Minister of Community Services, Government of BC, Parliament Buildings Victoria BC.
The first paragraph states: **I am pleased to provide my support to the proposed amendments of the BC Gas Tax Agreement and I thank you for your endeavor in making the gas tax program a success in Province of BC.
It then goes on to list the changes that were made to the agreement.
4. Schedule A is removed and replaced with.
Schedule A-Eligible Project Categories and Project Examples listed below.
Local roads, bridges and tunnels that enhance sustainability outcomes.
Rehabilitation of roads, bridges and tunnels that enhance sustainability outcomes.
So one can see from the foregoing that gas tax money was available for roads and road rehab since 2010. I had this confirmed by the UBCM, so am not sure whey Wilbur and the City of Prince George were still trying to understand the file three years later. Hmmmmm.
Palopu – so what does that say for the current councillors who are running for re-election including the position of mayor? where have they been?
Palopu love your comments. I made sure when I voted today to vote for none of your recommendations. You are the best advocate there is on this site for change. Keep it up!!!
oldman. What it says is that the Councils prior to the last Council spent the Gas Tax Money on other projects such as the Community Energy System etc; This Council finally got around to spending some $3 Million Gas Tax Money this year, and have budgeted for spending another $3 Million Gas Tax Money, next year for road rehab.
I suspect that the money for 2012 was already allocated, when the new Councilors took office. Don’t forget they came in, in 2012, in effect they did spend a hell of a lot more on roads with the Gas Tax Money than previous Councils.
oneup482. I voted to-day also. So your vote is toast.
Wilbur told the Haldi Group in a Public Meeting that he will listen to the “Professionals”
Question: Why did he not listen to administration or was he another councillor that did not get this information?
Here is the body of an email sent to Ian Wells in the planning dept. from Ernie Maleniza Acting CHief Building Inspector at the time.
May 1, 2012
Ian,
This is an update on the proposed new use of the previous school building on the subject property. Due to the change of occupancy from assembly (school) to B=2 (Care Facility), sprinkler system will now be required. Furthermore, fire hydrant must be installed as well. The biggest problem is, there is no adequate water supply with enough fire flow to feed the fire hydrant and sprinkler system. I did advice ***, the architect whom I expected to tell ** about the bad news.
During my conversation with ** and ** two weeks ago, I had the fire safety requirements of the code I mentioned are not met. I have a feeling that ** see or call you about this.
Until now I have no further communication with ***or ***
Thanks, Ernie.
I remember sitting in chambers as Wilbur the “lawyer” scoffed at the first zoning failing the court test due to the planning department recommending the Haldi rehab center due to the wrong chapter of the OCP. Is he a real “lawyer”?
I live in the riding his bestie is running for and am thinking which of the other three candidates to vote for…?
Wilbur has been asleep for the last 2 years and 11 months. Someone woke him up a month before the election. Now Dave is claiming councillors should be prepared before they go into the council chambers. Why Dave, every council meeting I have seen, you are usually the least prepared of anyone in the entire room. Go back to sleep Dave. (IMHO)
If Haldi area thinks they were thrown under the bus , welcome to the Miller, Connaught, VLA. With the statment lets do something meaningful where the issues are at, there is more to come so be very careful who you vote for neighbours.
Hah, I got the double whammy from Council. We lived in part of the VLA and had no issues until they drove the hookers into the area, so we moved to the Leslie area to get away from it taking a loss on our VLA home to do it. And our house was the highest value on the block according to BC Assessment
Slinky; Thanks for your comment they tell us all the wonderful stuff they bring into our area won’t effect the value of our homes.
Hey thinks green did a commendable job.. Well his definition of commendable is very different than mine.. If he thinks she did a good job then he lost my vote
Only one thing left for Prince George voters to do with Wilbur !!!! Throw him under the bus. Dave is only at the trough for easy money. He is a joke and washed up….
That’s the problem with lawyers. They are very careful with what they say in case it gets them into trouble, and Mr. Wilbur has had years of experience with that. Unlike Prince George’s favourite councillor Brian Skakun who is not afraid to tell it like it is.
I think both Wilbur, Skakun and Munoz would bring wise experience to an otherwise totally new council. How awesome would that be? UBCM experience, the lion that roars and female levelheadedness!!
Female levelheadedness???
LOL Grizzly2, I take that back. Make that female compassion.
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