Prince George, B.C.- The Carney Hill Neighbourhood Society has presented it’s report in support of a community centre for the neighbourhood, and it calls for a  $6.85 million dollar facility. That price tag does not include  the remedial work that would have to be done on the preferred site because  the property was a landfill in its previous life.

 

In a presentation tonight before City Council,  Society Members  asked that the  community centre be  added to the City's list of Capital  projects.

 

The Carney Hill neighbourhood faces numerous challenges, and the report outlines how it has a high ratio of unemployed, and large population of aboriginals.  Residents responding to a survey of their neighbourhood outlined issues such as prostitution, drugs, crime and safety as problems  in the area.

 

A study prepared by Yates, Thorn and Associates suggests revenue to cover one third of the cost of the facility could come from the city and another third could come from federal infrastructure funding.

 

Councillor Don Zurowski expressed a need for caution "We have to be very carefull in accepting off loading from the province and federal government. I like the idea of us only being involved in the land." Councillor Basserman says he would struggle to take part in operating such a facility.

 

 

The report presents several recommendations:

 

1. That City Council recognize the ‘brownfield’ nature of the site and work with the provincial environmental agencies to report on required environmental remediation.

2. That City Council seek funding for this study through the province or through the FCM Green Fund for Brownfield Sites.

3. That City Council endorse the vision of the centre and agree to work collaboratively with all partners to make it become a reality.

4. That City Council commit to being a funding partner for the project with a view to raising locally at least one third of the project cost.

5. That City Council agree to include the centre as a high local priority for the next round of federal provincial infrastructure funding.

6. That City Council agree to discuss the development of a collaborative operating funding agreement with the province (MCFD) and Northern Health.

7. That City Council endorse in principle a governance and management model for the centre that would include City ownership of the site and building, and a long term lease to the Carney Hill Neighbourhood Society

for the operation of the centre and its programs.