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Opposition to DPG Expansion Requests Time To Address City Council

By 250 News

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 04:01 AM

Prince George, B.C. – Some of the property owners who are against the expansion of the downtown Business Association’s boundaries, have asked to appear before   Prince George City Council.
“I was told I could make my request in the form of an email and I have done that” says Dirk Loedel , one of the property owners opposing the expansion.
Although the Council Agenda won’t likely be set until today, Loedel  is expecting to be able to address City Council on Monday, the 17th.
Loedel, and several other property owners in the expansion areas have been vocal about their opposition. At a meeting a week ago, they expressed concern about the way in which the expansion was proposed. 
Here is the chronology of events:
March 2008 : Downtown Prince George (the DBIA) issues a newsletter   saying “Our strategic plan for 2008 -2009 is an ambitious one, which includes expanding downtown events, expansion of our boundaries, taking the leadership in branding our downtown, and providing our full support and assistance to see the creation of a Performing Arts Centre and City Square located in the downtown area.”
April 2008: Downtown Prince George issues a newsletter saying “DPG will be submitting a request to the city of Prince George to expand our boundaries in 2009.  The request is a result of our Association reaching the end of our second five year mandate. Much work needs to be done before that time and we look forward to sharing this information with you in the near future.”
There hasn’t been a newsletter posted on the DPG website since April.
April 21st: Downtown Prince George files its  year end report to City Council.  Of the  $171,764 in revenue (incuding $118,619 from the  special tax levy) the report  shows more was spent on administrative and general expenses ($82,674) than on projects ($71,123) with the  balance of  $17,967 recorded as net income.
August 6th  2008: Downtown Prince George sends a letter to the downtown property owners informing them that the y “wish to renew the bylaw (mandate) but with an expanded boundary that more closely resembles the C1 zoning and what most people consider “downtown”.
The letter went on to say that while the levy would be held at $1.70 per thousand of total assessed property value, an expansion would “provide us with a larger base of businesses and property owners from which to draw for support and volunteer contributions towards improving our downtown.”
The letter concludes “The City of Prince George will notify you of the upcoming renewal and expansion of our bylaw in the near future”.
September 3rd, 2008, Downtown Prince George sends a letter to Mayor and Council identifying the expansion of the boundaries as the number one priority. “We have spent several months in the planning stages of our boundary expansion which is key to bringing new plans and initiatives, including programs such as the Ambassador Program to downtown Prince George.”
The letter goes on to say the counter petition had been used in the past, “About 20% of our property owners do not reside in Prince George and many properties are listed under numbered companies making it difficult for our volunteers in our association to seek out written support from each of them”. The letter continues on “Each member of our Board has also made personal visits to as many local property owners as we could locate to share our vision and plans.” Then adds, “Of the efforts we’ve made, we only have two confirmed non-supporters.” The letter is signed by DPG President Shari Green.
October 6th, 2008.  Downtown Prince George President Shari Green appears before Prince George City Council with the September 3rd letter and a report from the Deputy City Clerk outlining the two ways to deal with the matter. 
1.      A counter petition which means the idea is approved unless the owners of at least 50% of the parcels representing at least 50% of the assessed value of the lands oppose the idea and
2.       a petition by property owners saying they would like to “establish a business improvement district.”
 
November 4th: Those who oppose the expansion hold a meeting to discuss the expansion and why they oppose it.
November 7th: Downtown Prince George sends out a notice there will be a special meeting Monday November 10th just before the Mayoral Candidates debate  sponsored by downtown Prince George. Only those who are property owners will be allowed to attend, the public and media are not invited.
November 10th: Dirk Loedel confirms he has requested to make a presentation to Council on the 17th of November.
November 18th: The day the collection of counter petitions closes
Dirk Loedel and others who oppose the expansion are not against the idea of a Downtown Business Association however, they want more information on where the dollars are going and are not happy with the way the expansion has been handled.

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Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 04:01 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Comment Posted by: Loki on November 12 2008 2:02 PM
“provide us with a larger base of businesses and property owners from which to draw for support and volunteer contributions towards improving our downtown.”

Translation, "give us more money to do nothing with!"
Comment Posted by: Loki on November 12 2008 2:11 PM
Why is there an additional layer of taxation?
They have spent $71,123, about 41% of revenue, to actually do something.
With an efficiency of that magnitude, maybe it would be cheaper to have a city department that is accountable to the populace doing what is there mandate.
I have never heard any downtown business owner express that they want what the DBIA is offering.
If they are asking for a "counter petition", they know what they are trying to do is not accepted. This is the same trick tried by Shaw cable, stuff it down their throats till they cough.
Just who is this organization and who are the governing parties? I bet they only business they do is DBIA.
Comment Posted by: downnotout on November 12 2008 4:35 PM
Why not the people who have the bussness there. Why only property owners who would only pass those expenses on to the people who rent from them. Sounds like a make work project and we all want a raise.
Comment Posted by: dan on November 12 2008 8:22 PM
If they are allowed to address council, will it be the newly elected council or the current council?

How long to the soon-to-be-out-of-there's get to keep messing things up, I mean working on council?