City Applies for Federal Funding

Monday, March 02, 2009 10:52 PM

Prince George, B.C.- The City of Prince George has chosen the two projects it will put to the Build Canada Fund for funding.

1. The 4th Avenue Streetscapes upgrades ($6.88 million) "This project is shovel ready" says Councilor Debora Munoz who added any funding from the Federal Government would make the project more affordable to business.

Councilor Don Bassermann supports the 4th Avenue project, the Fibre Connectivity project or the community energy project would all fit his criteria for support.

The 4th Avenue project is also the one that has the most work already complete in the sense of design, in order to submit a complete application on a short time frame. The applications have to be in by March 16th.

2. The second project is the sanitary and storm sewer rehabilitation projects ($1 million estimate) the City is challenged to adequately fund its asset management program and maintain and replace its aging utility infrastructure. Councilor Garth Frizzell was speaking with tongue in cheek on this one, "I can't see why anyone would say that project isn't 'sexy', I think its very exciting." But sexy or not, Frizzell says the project is necessary.

Mayor Rogers says he too supports the sanitary and storm sewer project, " We have to fill the gap on where we are on our infrastructure, and where we ought to be."

In the first round, the City applied, and is hopeful of receiving funding, for the Boundary Road development, that is a $48 million dollar project.

The next most expensive project on the books is the RCMP building. In the staff report, it is noted the Building Canada Fund has not, in the past, funded city hall, fire hall or police facility projects.

Council has already approved borrowing $24M for this project, although the final capital cost estimates are expected to be presented for Council consideration within the next month.

Staff say it appears that the RCMP facility project is not a good fit within the Building Canada Fund program and the probability of a successful application is low.

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Posted on Monday, March 02, 2009 10:52 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: DPJ on March 2 2009 11:06 PM

Good choice to put 4th ave reconstruction application. Spruce up the downtown!!!!

Posted by: jonnypg on March 3 2009 12:02 AM

$24M will turn into $34m and even after that I see cost over runs!
and another thing lets fill our "gaps" in our roads first mr mayor.

Posted by: gus on March 3 2009 12:53 AM

They should be looking at a Private Public Partneship opportunity with the RCMP building. Get the Hell's Angles to put some of their retirement fund money into the building to finance it. Get the feds to put some money in to support the ongoing rental by this City of their national police force.

We need to be a little bit more creative with the running of our public businesses.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on March 3 2009 7:37 AM

Spending money on Fourth Avenue is a waste of money.

If the city has cash burning a hole in their pocket, then set money aside to tear down any building left standing after a fire, and demolish the empty city owned buildings. That is what downtown clean up should be like.

Posted by: gamblor on March 3 2009 5:22 PM

Who cares? Its federal money - they'd only blow it on Quebec if we dont get it. I'd rather see some money spent on our downtown.