DBIA Making Plans for New Levy

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C.- The  Prince  George Downtown  Business Improvement  Association  has been meeting with  some property owners, giving them a chance to  offer some opinions on the latest  plan to resurrect the  special  tax  paid by  C1 property  holders in the  downtown core.

 A little over a week ago, the DBIA sponsored a strategic planning session, which DBIA President  Kirk Gable says was attended by  8 people, 7 of whom  own property  in the downtown.  The DBIA hired a consultant to facilitate the all day session. Gable says he will be surprised if the consultant’s bill is more than $7,000 for the one day event.

The first shot at trying to renew the special levy called for a rate of $1.70 per thousand dollars of assessed value.  That  was rejected by Prince George City Council because  it said   while the opposition to the  levy failed to meet the required  threshold of 50%  of properties representing more  than 50% of assessed values,  Council said the issue  had  become too divisive  and  rejected the plan.

Round two saw a plan that would have a levy of $2.23 per thousand.  That plan   never really got off the ground. 

Opinion 250 has learned the current proposal calls for a levy of   $1.65 per thousand of assessed value.  The draft terms also propose a cap   of $10,000 and would see the levy in place at that amount for three years.

While Gable said he didn’t want to  talk about specifics of the  business plan that is being developed, he did  make it clear those who attended the strategic planning session agreed  the downtown cannot be all things to all  people.   While programs like the flower baskets would be   supported under the new plan and   the previous idea of   downtown ambassadors has been scrapped. He says that isn’t necessary  now that the RCMP has  foot patrols and a dedicated  Downtown  Enforcement Unit.  Instead, he says the focus will shift to a   clean and safe program.  Under that plan,   partnerships could be developed to  have teams deal with graffiti and  cleanliness of downtown.   He also says the new plan would see   Downtown Prince George (the DBIA) hire an Executive Director who  would  focus  on  developing events that will draw people into the downtown.  

Gable envisions the DBIA  leading to   the development of  a Downtown Development Corporation which he says would not conflict with the work of Initiatives Prince George.

The  economy may be the biggest obstacle to the revival  of   the  special levy “Sometimes   I   worry that the downtown  businesses are so beaten  up,  they just don’t have the energy,” says Gable “ I heard  one   owner  say  the  day’s sales  were $50 dollars,  so how much longer   do you think   they can hold  on?”  So with that knowledge, does he   expect business owners to sign on to pay more money?    Gable is optimistic  “I think you are going to see strong support.”

It is expected the  full details  of the new plan will be made public  at a meeting later this month and a presentation made to Prince George City Council in mid December.

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