Council To Vote On Downtown 'Clean Team'

Sunday, February 28, 2010 05:30 AM

Prince George, B.C. - The Mayor's Task Force for a Better Downtown is seeking funding from city council to establish a Downtown 'Clean Team".

The 'Clean Team' concept arose out of visit to Portland, Oregon back in 2008, where a Prince George delegation witnessed a similar program offering up viable employment options for people on the cusp of homelessness. The local team would consist of four or five part-time employees who would provide basic cleaning services (such as litter pick-up, graffiti removal, and dated poster removal) in the downtown core.

The Prince George initiative involves several agencies working together for a proposed nine-month project:

Kopar Administration Limited (a local contractor managing wage subsidy programs for the federal government) would provide funding to enable the hiring of four to five part-time employees would would form the Downtown Prince George Clean Team
the Prince George Brain Injured Group would recruit, train, supervise, and support these employees (BIG has successfully managed a similar service in the Gateway Business Improvement Area for the past 10 years)
Downtown Prince George administers the BIG volunteer program that now does downtown cleaning activities and has offered to do the same for the Clean Team
BC Housing would assist with the provision of cleaning equipment and supply storage

The City's commitment would be providing $20-thousand dollars from the newly created 2010 Downtown Initiatives Council Contingency Fund (the $350-thousand dollar fund for downtown initiatives approved at last week's final budget meeting). The money would allow BIG to provide an on-site Employment Facilitator and would fund administration costs for the 39-week program.

The proposed project would run from April 1st of this year, until December 31st. Councillors will vote on the initiative at tomorrow night's council meeting.

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Posted on Sunday, February 28, 2010 05:30 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Resident on February 28 2010 7:55 AM

Great that an effort is going to be made to clean up some of the downtown but there does seem to be an a lot of agencies involved to co-ordinate 4 or 5 workers to remove old posters and graffiti. The 20 grand from the city only funds the administration cost of a facilitator from BIG. At the end of the day the actual cost of clean up will probably be quite high with so many hands in the cookie jar.

Posted by: boomer on February 28 2010 8:20 AM

When one of my wonderful dog loving neighbours allows Fluffy to make a deposit on my lawn I don't call the city to clean it up. Even though the first 15' is city property. It's time the downtown merchants and owners started showing a little civic pride. A decent broom and a hose shouldn't cost more than $20.00 .I would be happy to pay a little more in taxes if it would actually make a difference.
I do shop at some stores dowmtown . These shops don't have vomit on the sidewalk and spit on the windows.

Posted by: wavoes on February 28 2010 8:21 AM

I think our council and mayor need some credit counseling...

Posted by: Mr. PG on February 28 2010 9:44 AM

Another complete waste of money by Dan Rogers and City Council.

Unless the so called "clean team" can get rid of the down and outs, and the derelict buildings, they are wasting their time.

Posted by: Outwest on February 28 2010 9:46 AM

How many Administrators do you need and to train someone to take Posters off and to become a Broom Operator takes it all, maybe there is a Workshop at CNC for this!

Posted by: Retired on February 28 2010 10:17 AM

a program offering up viable employment options for people on the cusp of homelessness.

Maybe mayor and council should be approaching senior levels of government that are their responsibility to provide funding for some of the social problems that exist in our society rather then dollars for airy fairy schemes like a glass house for our police force and Boundary road.
Cheers

Posted by: gus on February 28 2010 11:11 AM

Nanaimo washes their downtown sidewalks with power washers and other more aggressive machinery to get things like gum off the sidewalks.

What's the big deal to do our sidewalks? Perhpas we do not need it? I normnally look at people and stores when I walk downtown, not sidewalk surfaces.

Posted by: Stompin Tom on February 28 2010 11:23 AM

Sounds like a good job opportunity for Dan Rogers once he loses the next election.

Posted by: verballabel on February 28 2010 11:47 AM

Maybe the folks at Superstore should follow this and have someone clean up their front entrance. It is disgusting all year round.

Posted by: Retired on February 28 2010 11:55 AM

Nanaimo washes their downtown sidewalks with power washers and other more aggressive machinery to get things like gum off the sidewalks.

In Most cities it is the responsibility of the business owner and the residents to keep sidewalks clean . In PG they will not even remove the snow from the sidewalks.
They spent a ton of money on canopies for what purpose . Without them at least the rain and weather would of helped to scour the sidewalks. I guess the community spirit left our city years ago.

Posted by: gamblor on February 28 2010 12:17 PM

At least some bums will learn a little work ethic and it removes the bleeding left's excuse that these people have no options. Money has been spent in far worse ways.

Posted by: verballabel on February 28 2010 12:39 PM

I'm all for the hiring of people in theses positions. Just as long as they are treated like other employees, who get reprimand for not showing up to work, or working while under the influence, etc..

Posted by: doneright on February 28 2010 3:39 PM

Its simple
If you want to sell your house the 1st thing you so is clean up the outside.
If no one likes the outside they won’t look inside.
The one place that stands out from the rest in the down town core is pastry chef.
Let the business that want business clean their own storefront.

Posted by: Harbinger on February 28 2010 9:00 PM

Too bad this year the Nechako didn't overflow it's banks. With a dump truck or two of cold water Cheer and maybe some cold water Tide mixed in, it could've flooded downtown and really cleaned up the joint.

Posted by: Stompin Tom on February 28 2010 9:41 PM

Just plow everything down and plant gardens.

Posted by: gus on February 28 2010 11:57 PM

Plant gardens? That means they have to be weeded.

Plant weeds!!!!!

Posted by: IMO on March 1 2010 9:00 AM

I like this whole idea of employing people who are down and out. The part I do not like is there are too many administrators helping themselves to the money. Why cant city employees who are already getting paid look after this? Get the guys watering the flower pots to do it. In Calgary the homeless sell gift cards or a small newspaper. They get to keep some of the money and it works. There is nothing wrong with them cleaning up either. Tax payers paying a person and his/her administration huge wages to pay the poor a minimum wage is somehow bothersome to me. The city employees can look after this. City hall is too big! Start down sizing already.

Posted by: Retired on March 1 2010 10:13 AM

It simple if the owner dosent care about his own property why should other tax payers carry the burden. As you sew so you shall reap.
Cheers