I said this was going to happen a ways back.
Let the tax payers pay for it...
And as Offet has a direct link to the council I fully expect he will get the funds too..
I am getting a little tired of paying for everyone elses entertainment...
I don't see anyone paying for mine....none of it....

If you can't afford it...you don't really need it...

I vote no. No way and no study. What's a study going to tell us?

Unfortunately,most performing art centers all suffer from the same issues...a serious lack of money and support.
It is debateable whether or not it is fair and reasonable to ask the general public to step up and do the bailing out.
Personally,I don't think it is.
Those that wish to add their support can do so, but those that do not use the facility should not be asked to support it through their taxes.
It's a lot like local governments,unions etc.giving your tax dollars to a specific political party whether you support them or not...you don't get a choice.
Everywhere you go,they are all the same and in most cases, they tend to cater to a very select market as far as the type of entertainment they offer.
More variety to appeal to a broader market helps somewhat but in the end,they are all money losers.
And you don't need a study to figure that out!

Yet another special interest group, looking for the majority (who do not support their particular visions) to pay for the purposes of their pleasure. And a 'feasibilty study'? Why does'nt the performing arts society pay for their own study? And why do they need a study in the first place? To convince 'us' that a performing arts centre is a good idea, and that we really need one. These places are a hole in the ground that you throw money into. I agree with Andyfreeze, those who use it should support it, not the rest of us, through taxes. My gosh, we all pay a lot of tax, and have no say at all what they do with the money, giving yet another minority more cash is another slap in the face.
metalman.

For a town that has a septic tank for the head of its cultural icon (Mr. PG) I won't be surprised if this idea fails. How about another hockey arena?
After my last day of work, I left PG the next morning and retired in a more arts friendly town. We now can take in jazz or classical almost any night of the week. Ironically, its the same size of town. Prince George will forever have trouble attracting educated people as long as there is such a pathetic attitude towards the arts.

Don't know much about arts, but I know what I like. Stay out of my wallet. At least until the bills come in from our Olympics.

Not all educated people like the arts. I myself have 8 years of post secondary education. I only go to something if I have friend or a patient in the cast.

Like I have said before,none of this city's council comes to this web site
(or too afraid)so they never hear comments dealing with such subjects.

p.s. remember meisner's radio show, probably got pulled because people phoning in and voicing there opinions, council couldn't handle that!

Following the logic of the people against a performing arts center, I believe that you want just the users to pay for this facility. I assume you're all a fair bunch of people, who would agree that the same rules should apply to everyone. Thererfore, I vote NO to any further funding for the Multiplex, Kin Centers, Elkscenter, Swimming Pools, as well as any other facility that my family does not use, including parks, playgrounds, baseball fields, etc. etc. etc.. For the record, those facilities would close overnight without our tax dollars helping to support them...just the same in about 100% of similar facilities/services throughout North America.

I am a huge sports fan, and I support public money being used for facilities that are a vital part of our city. I therefore also totally support the arts community as an integril part of the fabric of our maturing City, and they should get exactly the same attention as the sports/recreation facilities. All or nothing...you can't pick and choose which public facilities you PERSONALLY will gain from with your tax dollars, because that's just not fair.

PG is in need of a performing arts centre.

Can I have my $160,000 for the feasibility study please?

I pay for snow plowing in the Hart. It has more snow and the snow stays longer than in the bowl where I live. I do not shop in the Hart. I have no reason to go to the Hart. In fact, my friends generally live in the bowl or in CH.

Why should I have to pay for the extra snowplowing it takes to plow in the Hart which typically has larger, more rural lots and thus has more street length per house to plow and more snow to plow?

I never use the Cameron Street bridge. Why do we need it? Let those who need it pay for it. Put up a camera/scanner, issue people from the Hart who work downtown passes for $30 per month. The scanner will read the plate. If you have not prepaid, then you have to pay by the end of the next day or end up with a fine. An automatic letter will be sent to the address of your license plate with a $50 fine let’s say. The technology exists and is used in other parts of the world, such as London, England where I believe it started.

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_8025.aspx

Stupid idea? Most likely in our case, but that is where many posters on here are heading with their remarks. As Buzz says, we are in this together. We all have special needs and special wants. There is not one single person that is not part of some special interest group or other that gets subsidized by the rest of the taxpayers. Those of us who are not just sitting around at home and participate in social activities are actually typically attached to several special interest groups be it sports related, art related, service club related, whatever.

Lawn bowling , Huble Homestead, Exploration Place, Fort George Park, River Heritage Walk, Bicycle paths on roadways, Art Gallery, Family Y, Skateboard park, tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, PG Playhouse, Theatre Northwest, Swimming Pools, God only knows how many ice arenas, Lacrosse box, Nechako river boat launch, Forests for the World, Otway X-country skiing, Hart Skihill, kids playgrounds, etc. etc.

I don’t skate, I have no children in town, I do not bowl on lawns, I no longer play tennis, I never played soccer, I don’t play lacrosse, I do not launch boats on the rivers, I do not ski in town, I do not play baseball, and I am not into spectator sports either directly or on TV.

I figure I support a hell of a lot of things that I do not do, but I believe others want to do and I am willing to support them. I expect the same from others who do not do the things I do. I expect their support because we are one community and only as a community can we afford any of those things which communities can provide us with.

I fail to see why that is such a difficult concept to grasp for those who are not hermits.

I agree with Big_B. It is so obvious that we need it for a well-rounded city this size, why waste $180,000 on a feasibility study? Let's get on with it.

;-)

If only we could by-pass the feasibility study and get on with it. I totally agree that we should just proceed, however, the nay-sayers will screech so loudly that in this politically correct day and age these groups are literally forced to do everything by the book, which includes the proper consulting & planning and study before any additional public money can be spent. On the other hand, study or no study, there will be some who shriek their opposition and some who will cheer...I doubt the study will change attitudes, so lets just get on with it!!!

p.s. Big_B: good job on your study...I'd like a grant to study your study!!

This is simply another form of government redistribution of wealth for an elite minority. This is redistribution of wealth from homeowners on fixed incomes for the entertainment of artsy folks.

Parks and playgrounds on the other hand are free to everyone to use and are vital for the health of our population. The arts community has many facilities already and should pay for their pleasures with their own money.

We already have at least three theatres that could be used for this...why do we need another site for something these places are more than capable of hosting???

O.K. owl, I live in the Hart because the air is cleaner there on most of the days when the downtown area is completely socked in with unbreathable air! The extra snow is not a big deal, it always melts in the springtime!

If I get fined for the need to clean air, so be it, it's just one more survivable stupid idea!

My questioning of the effort to borrow for a Performing Arts Center would have to do with the timing - we have to borrow for so many things already (Palopu can supply a complete list) and we do not even have safe user-friendly sidewalks, pothole free streets and proper curbstones, for instance!

Once all that has been taken care of I will gladly pay more taxes (if need be) for a new Performing Arts Center, which is a real luxury compared to the basic necessities I just elaborated on!

But, apparently they have made up their minds already so why have a discussion about it here?

My only question is, what's the difference between the Playhouse and a PA Centre? Would the symphony make more use of the PAC? Which groups would benefit from a PAC? Would Vanier Hall become useless?

I am "for" any project that adds diversity to the city, and a potential catalyst for further development downtown, but as long as it doesn't become a drag on budgets like certain facilities.

With proper management, all these facilities could be making money or at least self-sufficient.

We do not have "at least three theatres that could be used for this". None of our existing facilities are capable of hosting a huge variety of events that we never see here because we have no suitable facility. It's a bit like saying "why did we build the Multiplex when we already had several rinks perfectly capable of handling hockey?" It's all about progress, evolution, and the maturing of our city. We also had an old Civic Center that was capable of handling events, but nothing even close to the huge benefits the new Civic Center has brought our City. We also had a college that was capable of handling education, but nothing on the same scale as our University.

........etc.!!!

It's so depressing to have to fight fight fight all of the time in order to move forwarwd. The reason our City continues to have a bright future is because people in the past have had enough guts and vision to plow ahead in improving our city. They don't always get it right (because nobody has a crystal ball), but they make more good decisions than bad and thank goodness we have people who still have the energy to deal with all of the negativity and keep our future optimistic and prosperous.

My only question is, what's the difference between the Playhouse and a PA Centre? Would the symphony make more use of the PAC? Which groups would benefit from a PAC? Would Vanier Hall become useless?

I am "for" any project that adds diversity to the city, and a potential catalyst for further development downtown, but as long as it doesn't become a drag on budgets like certain facilities.

With proper management, all these facilities could be making money or at least self-sufficient.

This performing Arts Centre concept has been brewing in the background for a number of years, and it is now coming out.

Dezell has finished his job working on the Monstrosity on the Hill (Sports Centre) and has now taken over the job of trying to make a case for the PAC, him along with Offet, from Initiatives Prince George.

These people have formed a group of **vested interest** people and will go through all the necessary steps to get this project off the ground. Offet makes vague references to the fact that the study might find that a PAC is not feasible at this time, fat chance of that happening.

This group will maybe come up with $20,000.00 and of course the City will come up with the $160,000.00 and the study will determine that it is a good idea, and then the City will be in a position to spend another $20 Million in taxpayers dollars, in addition to the $25 Million for the Police Station.

The last thing this Council and Mayor want, is to be in a situation where they do not have a project to spend money on, because that would mean that they would have to reduce taxes, and maybe downsize. Heaven forbid.

Buzz. I dont know what huge benefits that the Civic Centre has brought to this City. It appears that you along with a number of other people in Prince George are not aware that this facility is empty most of the year, and what little business they did get has been diverted to the Multiplex so that, that losing proposition doesnt look so bad. The Civic Centre was supposed to bring us conventions from all over the world, however it never happened.

This project is being pushed openly by IPG and the vested interest groups, and it has the tacit support of the Mayor and most of Council, and of course the Construction Industrie, and all others who stand to make a dollar on the project.

If you want to see how this group along with the City can manipulate the populace, keep your eye on this one. It will be a classic. The next promo will be a **signing** where we will all get a chance to sign a huge card showing our support and we can donate $5.00 at the same time.

I'm like Owl in that I don't use the same things Owl listed and Buzz listed. I haven't even been to the museum yet. I hear it's nice.

For some reason I don't seem to mind paying my share for these places and facilities as they appeal to the common man. The things Buzz and Owl list as optional ignore the fact the common people really are willing to pay for those things.

The reference to the Mr PG's head to a sewer tank, by a supposedly educated drain on taxpayer's money, makes me think this person isn't as artsy as claimed. But as the saying goes - you can lead a horse to water, but you can't lead a horticulture.

Culture Vulture. Prince George seems to have attracted you, does this mean your not educated. In addition it seems you stayed here to earn your living and then left the day after you retired. There are lots of people who come to Prince George to earn a living and then leave as soon as they retire. It seems the job is good enough for them, but the town is not. I dont think that those who leave are ever missed.

The uneducated, uncultered, people of Prince George made it possible for you to earn a living. Dont forget to say thanks.

Uh,

I still haven't gotten my $160,000 for the wonderful feasibility study.

Does anyone have a contact number at city hall that I call for my money. I'm really aching to pay my rec hockey league fees.

YamaDooPolCat: I always thought I was a fellow "common man", so I'm thinking that I'm only a "common man" if I like the same stuff you do. Thousands of people see theatre every year here in Prince George, so at what point are those people "common people" or "elitists who should buy their own damn theatre?" I could make dozens of similar arguments. For example, only a few hundred people seem to use Moore's Meadows on a regular basis, so are they nature elitists who should buy their own parks/trails?

Sorry Buzz - no more debt, especially for an obvious CBC Radio minority kind of thing. The wife goes to plays all the time, and I've been to a few dinner theaters in Edmonchuck, but PG is getting along just fine without spending taxpayer money on this kind of entertainment.

Let the private sector pick this one up.

Buzz. The people who use Moores Meadow are not nature buffs. What they are doing is letting their dogs run loose, and they are crapping all over the park. I suggested a few years ago that the parks name should be changed to **Dog Crap Park** because there is no shortage of Doo Doo there.

Walk through there after a few weeks of snow in the fall, and you will see what I mean. If you go during the summer be sure to keep your eyes on the ground.

"Culture Vulture. Prince George seems to have attracted you, does this mean your not educated. "
I believe the correct writing is "....you're not educated?"

I rest my case.

"For some reason I don't seem to mind paying my share for these places and facilities as they appeal to the common man. The things Buzz and Owl list as optional ignore the fact the common people really are willing to pay for those things."

Most people on here realize that none of us are "common" people. That is an illusion. The "common" person uses the neighbourhood tennis courts spread throughout the city. Or how about the kids' playground? How about the bike lanes? I can count on one hand the number of times a year I see people use the bike lanes on foothills. The sidewalk there gets some usage at least.

There are many facilities in the city that get extremely low usage. Take the cost of each one of those, divide it by the hour-person use of each facility, and you will discover that the cost is more than the hour-person use of any of the existing theatres, including a new PAC. Remember, the ticket prices for many of the travelling performances in such a facility in other communities are similar to the ticket prices for the more popular travelling performing arts events at the CN Centre - $40 to $60 and higher.

BTW, it is time we took a look at those tennis courts, such as the ones on Ridgeview, and sell them as infill development lots. Far too expensive to keep them for the use of 11 people as their private courts. Say there are 20 of them, each makes two lots = 40 lots, at $50,000 per lot net gain after services are pulled in and other costs are accounted for. That’s a cool $2million that can be used to fund things that are more popular these days.

buzz makes a good point, all used facilities deserve a fair share of our tax dollars. Everyone uses something at one point or another.

However, $180,000 for a freaking FEASABILITY study???? Give me a huge break - who could eat that many donuts??? I should think the demand for such a facility would be plainly evident based on present demand for similar existing facilities??

Furthermore, they come up with 11% of the cost for this truly uneccesary study and expect everyone else to foot the bill for the other 89%??

I vote no on the study, if the demand is obvious they won't need a "study" and that $160K would go a lot better spent somewhere with immediate gratification to some of the paying public instead of into the pockets of some "say doers".

But hey - have a fund raiser or two, that should do it - get you all the info you would need on interested persons and some money to boot!!! If your fund raisers don't work - then there is no interest...... Nawww, too simple.