Downtown Clean Team Approved

Tuesday, March 02, 2010 03:52 AM

Prince George, B.C.- Less than a week after agreeing to establish a special contingency fund for items aimed at improving the downtown of Prince George, City Council has unanimously supported using $20 thousand dollars from that fund to help pay for a Clean and Safe program.

The program comes from a Prince George delegation’s visit to Portland Oregon in October of 2008.

One of the successes in Portland was that City’s development of an employment program for people living in a variety of forms of supported housing.

Here’s how the program would work in Prince George:

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 who could form the Downtown Prince George Clean Team.

The “Clean Team” would provide basic cleaning services (such as litter pick up, graffiti removal, and dated poster removal) that complement those provided by the City of Prince George.

The Prince George Brain Injured Group (BIG), which has successfully managed a similar service in the Gateway area for the past 10 years, has expressed both an interest and willingness to provide associated recruitment, training, supervision and, support services. In 2009, BIG began a volunteer program which engaged their clients in downtown cleaning activities. This initiative evolved to an employment position for one individual.

Downtown Prince George (DPG) as the employer of this individual received wage subsidies from Kopar and provided payroll services. DPG would serve as the employer and provide payroll services for an expanded contingent of downtown clean team employees.

The Downtgown Business Improvement Association is expected to contribute $40 thousand dollars to the program, but the approval of this program came ahead of Council's dealing with the fourth and finalreading of the bylaw to establish a Downtown Business Improvement levy.

BC Housing has offered to consider participation as a project partner by funding the acquisition of cleaning equipment (i.e. brooms, wheeled garbage containers, vests, etc.). If required, BC Housing may also be in a position to provide storage for the cleaning units at one of its downtown supported housing sites.

The city’s contribution of $20 thousand will ensure that the brain Injured group can run the program for its planned 39 weeks starting April 1^st of 2010.

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Posted on Tuesday, March 02, 2010 03:52 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: IMO on March 2 2010 7:08 AM

And the spending spree continues even after a negative balance in the budget and having to gouge the tax payers again. Give yourselves another raise, you deserver it. I will be so happy to leave this stinkhole town.

Posted by: redhaired_chick on March 2 2010 7:55 AM

City council should be congratulated not criticized for this move. It will improve the downtown - benefit to everyone - and increase civic participation and pride. Perhaps, IMO, if you feel PG is nothing but a 'stinkhole town', you should move on sooner rather than later.

Posted by: Municca on March 2 2010 8:39 AM

The more people who leave the higher your portion of the taxes chick. PG has lost over 5000 people in 4 years. 500 more and we are in the 60,000's. If I were you I would be begging people to stay.
I agree that spending should cease until the budget is not in the negative. Store owners should be responsible for the sidewalks around their store. IMO please reconcider leaving.

Posted by: StreetWise2 on March 2 2010 8:47 AM

I would gladly pay more taxes to get rid of the constant moaners. If they left, PG would be a much more pleasant place and could attract new residents with a possitive outlook.

Posted by: jonnypg on March 2 2010 9:23 AM

New to this site! are we Streetwise2

Posted by: He spoke on March 2 2010 9:31 AM

Aren't ya glad of the new socialist, please love me mayor we elected.

Posted by: NMG on March 2 2010 9:31 PM

"I would gladly pay more taxes to get rid of the constant moaners. If they left, PG would be a much more pleasant place and could attract new residents with a possitive outlook"

Sign me up for that donation fund!