Prince George, B.C. –  When Prince George City Council meets this evening,  it will  be  asked to support  the submission  of a grant application to the Federal Gas Tax Strategic Priorities Fund  to  fund three projects:

1. The Library entrance, which is on the capital list  for 2017 with a budget of $2,472,000.  It is currently listed as funded starting in 2016 through internal debt. City staff will also bundle the following library projects into the grant application that are currently unfunded in the 2017-2021 Capital Plan: The Library Circulation Area Renovation with a budget of $300,000; the Bob Harkins Library – Flooring with a budget of $235,000. The City is also going to apply for enhanced entrance option that is estimated at $250,000. This enhancement is not included in the 2017-2021 Capital Plan. The total project budget is $3,257,000

2. Outdoor Ice oval refrigeration   which is  on the unfunded  list of the capital plan, and has an estimated budget of $3.7 million.

3. Transportation Network Plan  which has a budget of $100 thousand.

Council will also examine   a proposal to  submit a bid to host the 2020 Brier Canadian Mens’ Curling Championship.   The bid  requires a $500 thousand dollar  contribution  in cash, or  value in Kind.  funding would come from the Major events Reserve.

ICBC’s Distracted Driving campaign  will be detailed in a special presentation from  ICBC’s Doug MacDonald.   He will outline the various types of distractions which  are  contributing factors  to crashes.   While  using a cell phone or electronic device  accounts for  about 12% of  distracted  driving  crashes,  you might be surprised to learn  rubber-necking  is second  at 7%.

Also on the agenda for this evening:

An update on the Masich Place Stadium  rehabilitation project which is to start  on the 19th  of May.  The stadium will be closed to all public use  for the rest of the season  and is expted to reopen  next spring.

Council will hear details of the work to create an age friendly plan.  The goal is to create a community that is ideal to age,  at any stage of life, and  is inclusive for  residents of all abilities and lifestyles.

There are two  formal public hearings set for this  evening.  Both are rezoning applications,   with one  focused on a property on 3rd Avenue for a comedy club,  the other  to  allow  a  primary liquor license  for  the  Civic Centre.