Committee of the Whole Suggests Several Capital Projects Move Forward

Monday, October 25, 2010 09:15 PM

Prince George, B.C. – For the first time in recent history, the City of Prince George is proposing to spend $3.5 million dollars on road rehabilitation. That is the single largest amount ever planned for that service. The money would come from the $3.197 million in the road rehab levy fund, plus a further $303 thousand from the capital expenditure reserve.

There were 8 items on the proposed capital expenditure plan for 2011 which did not have any firm sources of funding. The Committee of the Whole examined the proposed list of new projects and has recommended the following actions for those items:

1. RCMP 5 holding cells upgrades $540 thousand dollars. Suggested source of funding: debt item postponed for further discussion with administrative staff.

2. Tyner Trail paving from Ospika to UNBC . Cost $300 thousand, funded: $200 thousand through debt, $100 thousand grant this item remains on the “unfunded” list

3. George Street Lighting: $250 thousand, to be funded by debt

4. Rotary Citizen field upgrade $309 thousand, to be funded by debt

5. Converting 2^nd and 4^th to two way traffic cost $1.98 million, funded through debt. This item was deferred to Administration for further information.

6. 4^th Avenue reconstruction $6.8 million to be funded through debt ($5 million) balance from Water Capital expenditure, local area service fund, and capital expenditure fund. This item deferred to Administration for further information.

7. City Hall parking lot, $220 thousand dollars, funded through debt. The City has standards for parking lots, and City Manager Derek Bates says the City’s own lot doesn’t meet those standards. This item to be funded.

8. Demolition of P.G. Hotel, cost $1.050 million, with $600 thousand through endowment fund, balance from loan. This item to be funded.

While the Committee of the Whole has received the capital expenditure plans, the plans must now go to City Council for final approval.

Mayor Rogers says its important to note the approvals by the Committee of the Whole open the door for a great deal more discussion at the Council level when further information on the proposals will be presented.

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Posted on Monday, October 25, 2010 09:15 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Andyfreeze on October 25 2010 9:36 PM

So how much road work will 3.5 million do?
I'm thinking not much.

Posted by: Green on October 25 2010 9:51 PM

Sounds like a lot of funding through debt... when and how will this debt be paid .. got to figure that our taxes will be going up for a while longer.

I thought some of these councilors got elected on budget constraint platforms.. why not rein in the bureaucrats?

Posted by: DPJ on October 25 2010 9:56 PM

Debt is an issue but many of these projects will enho=ance the city and attract (hopefully) new residence.

Posted by: pgmatt on October 25 2010 11:36 PM

Funded by debt. Super that always works out well.

Posted by: gus on October 26 2010 7:21 AM

"Tyner Trail paving from Ospika to UNBC"

Why? The trail is there to crush standard from the looks of it. The short section from Ospika towards UNBC looks like it is wide enough to run a truck through with room to spare. That is not a trail, it is a paved sidewalk built into the woods. Rollerblades? Don't see those too much around here anymore.

I do not even put this in a nice to have but not necessary category. The quality is not environmentally sensitive. Looks okay now ... wait a couple of years when it will be full of cracks and weeds growing along and into the edges of the pavement. Won't be able to use any machinery to fix that quickly.

Posted by: gus on October 26 2010 7:24 AM

"City Manager Derek Bates says the City’s own lot doesn’t meet those standards."

It took this long to notice that???? Like more than a decade at least. Why is this a high priority all of a sudden?

Posted by: giterdun on October 26 2010 8:00 AM

P.G. Hotel purchase $2.5 mil, cleanup $1.05 mil. $3.55 mil for a property appraised at a fraction of that ammount. Someones head should roll. Spend, Waist and tax. Bureaucracy in action. Got to love it folks.

Posted by: giterdun on October 26 2010 8:08 AM

The boys at Commonwealth engineered the P.G. Hotel deal. Commonwealth-1, Danno and Co.-0. The Commonwealth crew should be running the city. Obviously they are a lot sharper.

Posted by: Rounder on October 26 2010 8:48 AM

www.danrogers.ca

"Vision for better fiscal management:

DAN'S PLAN OF ACTION

Short Term:
-Adopt a plan to keep taxes at or below the cost of inflation for the next three years.
-Adopt a plan to ensure tax rates are among the most favourable for each class when compared to our peer communities.
-Establish a clear policy aimed at reducing the current debt load so we are at or below our peer communities.
-Establish benchmarks to reduce the tax subsidy for major civic facilities so they are at or below peer communities. Ensure each facility has a long-term business plan.

Long Term
-Initiate a review of tax rates to ensure a fair tax-to-services ratio for each class and engage reps from each class in the discussion.
-Review policies to ensure the best price is received for goods and services.
-Ensure competition is open and transparent when tax dollars are being spent either directly by the city or indirectly through grants or partnerships.

---

Posted by: Rounder on October 26 2010 8:51 AM

Not sure if this was ever mentioned before, found this on Concept Design's website (Dan Rogers works/worked for this firm).

http://conceptdesign.ca/news/6/18/Planning-for-Prince-George/

"Concept is thrilled to be part of the team selected to work with the City of Prince George on the upcoming Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) and Official Community Plan Review (OCP)."