Prince George, B.C.-   The Capital Plan for Prince George from 2009 through to 2013 has been approved with two additions.

Back on the books for the Capital Plan are those items which pertain to the 4^th Avenue upgrades. They were initially pulled from the plan, but now that Council has agreed to submit an application to the Build Canada Fund for funding for this $6.88 million dollar project, the items have to be on the City’s Capital plan before the Build Canada Fund will consider them.

 

Council agreed to add a $100 thousand dollar project to develop a plan for a fiber optic network in the downtown   area. This is a project that is aimed at attracting technology companies and further diversifying the local economy.

 

Council has approved $4,885,000 in maintenance projects. This includes; $3.6 million dollars for road rehabilitation (although that fund is $353 thousand dollars short); $203 thousand for sidewalk rehabilitation and  $150 thousand for park and playground refurbishment.

 

In the area of “new” projects, the new RCMP building is the most expensive item for 2009 with Council already approving borrowing up to $24.5 million dollars. In 2009, Council has approved borrowing $12.25 million for that project. Also in the “new” category are the following:

 

·         River Road reconstruction at $7.5 million

·         Boundary Road Connector $14.08 million (for 2009 this is a multi-year project)

·         Community Energy System $7.75 million

 

New projects account for $43,408,000 of the Capital Plan.  Councilor Cameron Stolz was the sole opposition to the items as he wanted the purchase of a garbage truck held at $359 thousand dollars. The capital plan calls for $420 thousand to be spent on a hybrid garbage truck.

 

Under the category of “operating” there are five projects totaling $1.101 million dollars.  The most expensive project is $800 thousand for the wildfire and beetle tree removal program. All five projects have been approved.

 

Under “Unfunded”, there are  $6.148 dollars worth of projects which have yet to have a source of complete funding. Among those items is the Veteran’s Plaza Spirit Square which is $150 thousand dollars short of its $950 thousand dollar price tag. The project designers say there isn’t much “wriggle room” on the cost of the project. One hundred thousand dollars has already been spent on this project in developing the design. Council has approved sending the Veterans Spirit  Square back to Administration to find a source of funding for the balance of the cost.