Where Did The DBIA Get Their Ideas?

Thursday, July 22, 2010 03:46 AM

Those businesses that have paid the new down town levy might want to ask the question today of what they really received for the expenditure of $14,000 dollars to , former Premier Mike Harcourt to come to Prince George and give a ,”report card “ to the new DBIA.

Now the total cost of the “event” is said to have been a little over $19,000 dollars and was staged by the new DBIA directors. It included a presentation of what they deemed to be the future for the down town of Prince George.

Now when you consider Harcourt's bill represents half of the total expenditure for a local manager for 2010, was that a good investment? Or how about spending $2,000 to L& M Engineering to have a power point presentation done?

Then there is the matter moving out of the Initiatives Prince George building (the old CN station on 1^st) to what the new directors call being a part of the DBIA catchment area.

The cost of the rent will, according to the DBIA directors, jump by 400%. Common sense would suggest that moving from one side of 1^st to the other side to locate in the DBIA catchment area at an estimated cost of $5,000 dollars is not how to spend taxpayer money wisely.

Going from a rent of $3,000 a year to $12,000 a year to get to the other side of the street makes normal people question.

Now did those people who are being taxed for the DBIA downtown want their money being spent on a $20,000 party to assist the bid for the 2015 winter games, clearly not a responsibility of the DBIA?

All of these items add up to a new group of DBIA directors who simply have not thoroughly read the governance of their association and before heading off in another spending spree, a look at the guide lines is in order.

I'm Meisner, and that's one man's opinion.

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Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2010 03:46 AM in Views by Ben Meisner

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Comments

Posted by: squirl on July 22 2010 8:08 AM

sounds like they will make great mayoral and aldermanic candidates. theyre allready in step with how things are done. next dbia meeting in china

Posted by: gus on July 22 2010 9:41 AM

Does anyone have the constitution and bylaws of the Association available to read as well as any guidelines they may have?

We know what the local government act says. That can be read here under section 215:
http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/03026_07

We also know that City Council was concerned that the DBIA might not be complying with that Act, so Administration looked into that and gave them a clean bill of health at the last Council meeting.

For the record, here is what they are allowed to spend money on:

(a) carrying out studies or making reports respecting one or more areas in the municipality where business or commerce is carried on,
...... So they can join the City in doing some more studies. We know how much we like those.

(b) improving, beautifying or maintaining streets, sidewalks or municipally owned land, buildings or other structures in one or more business improvement areas,
...... So they could have a road and/or sidewalk paving project for instance, or they may even wish to tear down the PG Hotel or other buildings the City recently bought and put up temporary parks or parking.

(c) the removal of graffiti from buildings and other structures in one or more business improvement areas,
......... I am not sure if we have any of that, at least not very much. In fact, it might be nice to have some good qulity, artistic, professionally done graffiti

(d) conserving heritage property in one or more business improvement areas, and
.......... boy, wouldn't that be nice if they actually gave some money to that, such as Knox United Church, they could use some dollars to improve their public viewable and usable property. Or how about the old library that is a seniors centre? Or the old post office on Third?

(e) encouraging business in one or more business improvement areas.
......... there is the wide open one .. web site, brochures, free midway rides, Santa Claus parade, free bus service within the DBIA, free $20 lunch coupons if you buy more than $250 of merchandise downtown .... endless opportunities here

So far I have seen the same olde same olde and a lot of people complaining that these people are different when they are actually as secretive as the last bunch.

Maybe they will finally get a storefront office as was recommended by one of the City led studies before the original DBIA was created in the first place.

Posted by: gus on July 22 2010 9:42 AM

Sorry, that should read Community Charter, not Local Government Act.

Posted by: I.Heart.PG on July 22 2010 10:45 AM

Gus, the bylaw is available on the City's website. http://city2.princegeorge.ca/agendas/2010/2010_07_19/index.html Item E2 on July 19th Council agenda. However it only outlines the items required by the Community Charter, mostly section 215(1).I do not believe they have a constitution or guidelines furthern then what is outlined in the Community Charter. From the website they outline their vision and mission as follows, however, this is dated:

Our Vision:
The heart and soul of Prince George is our downtown, which is a positive place where people want to work, live, and play.

Our Mission:
Our purpose is to improve our city by improving our downtown, through:

Being able to influence decision makers and all stakeholders
Being catalysts and leaders to create a common vision, to ensure positive and effective things happen
Being the primary contact to represent downtown businesses
Promote, communicate, and celebrate the positive aspects of downtown Prince George

Posted by: I.Heart.PG on July 22 2010 10:58 AM

Sorry, my bad, I believe they require a constitution under the Society Act but I have not seen it.