Performing Arts Centre Society Outlines Plan, Asks for Cash

By 250 News

The Prince George Regional Performing Arts Society says it is ready for the next step, and  that is a feasibility  study.  Before it can take that step, Chair of the Interim Board of the Society says it needs $180 thousand dollars, and was hopeful Prince George City Council would kick in $160 thousand.  The Society would raise the balance.

Council didn't say yes, but, it didn't say no either. 

Council has agreed to put the matter over to staff to find where the dollars could be found as well as  give staff an opportunity to comment on the work plan.

Mayor Colin Kinsley  said  the City is in mid term budget, and the financial request is a hefty one and he  wanted some answers  about where the dollars could  be found.   He also has  concerns about the budget layout saying it  is not well enough  defined.  He wants the demand assessment done first, saying  that would see us  first determine the  need for such a facility before moving forward.  "It is the missing link in our community" says the Mayor, and he says if the demand assessment is done first,   there will then be  a case to be made for seeking funding from  other sources ande "selling" it to the  residents of Prince George.

Councilor Don Zurowski  wanted to know why now, why not in the 2008 budget?  Dezell says there is no "good" time, and  he apologized for not pressing  harder for this project to go forward during his time as a City Councilor.  The  Society  expects to have the final report ready for the end of  November.

The feasibility study is broken down into the following areas:

 Demand assessment,   which will involve looking at the theatre use patterns in communities of similar size and the demand for theatre bookings. This review will also examine the potential for commercial or retail space within such a centre and any possible economic spin off benefits.

Operations Assessment:  development of a governance and operating model and an operating budget

Design and Capital Cost review:  consultation with community arts groups and others for an assessment of space that would be needed

Site Selection:  How big would such a facility need to be,   where would it be best suited? 

The last item on the list is the development of a funding plan.

Councilor Zurowski says he  is inclined to have the work done before the 2008 budget and this will be a major capital project, but the City has assumed some annual expenses  associated with the new Sport Centre ($300 thousand a year in operating expenses) .

Councilor Brian Skakun says this has been a long time coming, "We have spent a lot of money on sporting faciities,   we have the funds now,  and I  think there is a lot of momentum going right now,  but I  would support having this done now."

Councillor Glenn Scott says he too supports the idea, but would like to see the overall budget  trimmed.

Chair Cliff Dezell  advised, "I am not in a habit of wasting the taxpayers money and neither is  this Council,   these costs are estimates and if there is a way to cut  the costs, we will."

The dollars could come from the endowment reserve, or incremental gaming funds.

Councillor Murry Krause says there is no point in doing half of a job "I  want to see this project move forward and I want to see it move forward quickly....this is one of the major facilities we are lacking in, and it is important that we move this  project forward more quickly."

Councillor Zurowski says "We need to do it right, we built the Prince George Playhouse  with the funds available at the time, but if it isn't serving the comunity the way it should,  then we should take the time to do it right."

Staff will have information  ready for the next Council meeting.

Dezell says there have already been discussions with the Northern Development  Initiatives Trust for funds.  Dezell says  it isn't known  just how many people  support the "arts"  "Who knows, we may find out there are more of us than there are hockey players."

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