City to Hire Clean Air Ambassador

Tuesday, October 06, 2009 03:56 AM

Prince George, B.C.- Prince George has cleared the way for the hiring of a “Clean Air Ambassador”.

This is a 7 month posting that will be paid for in part by $30 thousand dollars which is no longer needed by the PG Air Society for the purchase of a special monitor, a further $12 thousand will come from ECO Canada which will pay the funds for an internship.

The main responsibility of the ambassador would be to respond to public complaints regarding the bylaw, and provide education to residents through pamphlets, displays and presentations on the bylaw and proper burning practices.

The Clean Air Ambassador would act as the first point of contact responding to initial complaints and providing information to the resident. The intent is not to have the ambassador issue tickets. The ambassador would also maintain records of the complaints and results of visits and share this with bylaw services.

On occasions where repeat offenses are reported, a bylaw officer would attend.

Other related duties of the ambassador would include a focus on climate change related initiatives and greenhouse gas reduction strategies and projects being undertaken by the City of Prince George and its partners, especially where there is a co-benefit to air quality and climate change. In addition, the person will pursue related and available grant funding applications to support the position.

The position will be reviewed after 7 months to allow the city to assess the pros and cons of this position.

Two councillors, Councillor Shari Green and Cameron Stolz both voted against the move to hire the ambassador saying the money could be better spent.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Tuesday, October 06, 2009 03:56 AM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: acrider54 on October 6 2009 5:37 AM

No comment

Posted by: obiwan on October 6 2009 7:08 AM

When is city hall going to stop wasting our tax payer dollars. I am so sick of this council!!! $42,000.00 may not be a lot of money, but saving even that amount is a start.

Posted by: numbers on October 6 2009 7:08 AM

Here is a suggestion, we know PG's air is no good, how about you hire some more road crews to fix the streets?

Posted by: gus on October 6 2009 7:14 AM

Let me see, an ambassador, eh?

As ambassador, I would think that the first thing they would do is represent the City in initiating negotiations with industry, with the CN, to prepare the route to better relationships so that the citizens of this community can feel safe.

This other stuff is all gibberish. That is no ambassador. That's a salesman.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on October 6 2009 7:32 AM

They are kidding....right?
OMG....they are NOT kidding!

Posted by: onemansthoughts on October 6 2009 7:57 AM

Ambassador is a joke, This is Dan Rogers
playing world leader in our small town.
Like Kinsely once said, the whole world is watching PG. I should be careful here, next thing will be city taxes used to buy the limos.

Posted by: Green on October 6 2009 8:08 AM

I think Gus has it right... this person needs to be working to get industry to reduce their emissions!

Posted by: CaringSoul on October 6 2009 8:13 AM

Are the people that run this city really this removed from what good for this city. Like for instance, you had to raise everything this past tax time and now you are creating a job for someone. We dont want to pay another person! What we want is for you to do as the rest of us have to right now and that is STOP SPENDING FOOLISHLY. Run within the budget and if you had to raise the taxes on us in a time of recession then YOU ARE NOT WORKING WITHIN THE BUDGET!!

Posted by: metalman on October 6 2009 8:43 AM

That is an inappropriate use of funds.
metalman.

Posted by: diplomat on October 6 2009 8:47 AM

I was under the (obviously mistaken) impression that Bylaw Services was already empowered and expected to respond to complaints and keep a record of such.

"... the person will pursue related and available grant funding applications to support the position."

That will be the main task. Not much will change in respect to blatant bylaw infractions.

Posted by: He spoke on October 6 2009 9:56 AM

Be like the Australian Prime Minister, If you don't like our air, your welcome to leave.

Posted by: vocer on October 6 2009 10:47 AM

42K for a 7 month gig. wow.... thats 6000k a month.

Posted by: vocer on October 6 2009 10:47 AM

sorry... 6k not 6000k

Posted by: faxman on October 6 2009 11:12 AM

If the existing bylaw people would just go out and do a full days work we would not need to waste more money on an ambassador.

Posted by: gus on October 6 2009 11:38 AM

The attire of an ambassador shall be worn at all times.

http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/trojan_family/winter02/annenberg_files/WalterAnnenberg.jpg

Posted by: He spoke on October 6 2009 12:09 PM

What happens if you have gas?

Posted by: Vdesign on October 6 2009 12:35 PM

Somehow I just have to believe the money could be better spent.

Posted by: numbers on October 6 2009 1:09 PM

Where do I apply?

Posted by: polar7018 on October 6 2009 1:34 PM

is he going to stop the natural things that happen say on a day like today,strong winds,that bring in dust etc from miles around? what a waste of money again.

Posted by: He spoke on October 6 2009 3:46 PM

you know what the biggest waste is, he will be spending all his time defending his position, not actually dealing with the mandate.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on October 6 2009 5:31 PM

So much for a new city council with new ideas!

Posted by: Harbinger on October 6 2009 5:37 PM

Add to the fact that this episode (one of many more to come) of whining about who we elected and their shortcomings will be forgotten when we go to the polls again in a few years. People forget. People move away. People don't care. Right, Mr. F?

Posted by: gus on October 6 2009 6:48 PM

"you know what the biggest waste is, he will be spending all his time defending his position, not actually dealing with the mandate."

How true "He spoke"

Posted by: bitter on October 6 2009 7:06 PM

There are companys like Marsulex that are trying to do something about our air quality . We keep wasteing money like this new Ambassador to do what, keep bugging companys till we have more Jobs lost, they will just pack up and go elsewhere . Rustads was a big lost to this City.

Posted by: Chester on October 6 2009 7:25 PM

Just a make work project. They have no idea about managing money. We have bylaw officers to do this work. And they are already on payroll. Why don't they get it?

Posted by: Bridget on October 6 2009 8:10 PM

During these lean economic times I find it fiscally irresponsible to create jobs for what might be a new department at city hall - Damage Control Services?

Posted by: hammmy on October 7 2009 10:13 AM

42,000 and nothing will change. What a waste.

Posted by: Resident on October 7 2009 8:42 PM

Could become a full time position. Air ambassador in the winter and pot hole ambassador spring and summer.
After all the studies and the mandatory reporting of industrial emissions I think everyone knows who causes most of the air pollution.
A very sad situation to waste money that could be better spent elsewhere.
Can't wait until next spring when we get the 4% tax increase and the city spin doctors tell us what a great deal we are getting.