Farmers Market To Work With City on Site

Monday, April 14, 2008 09:46 PM

Prince George, B.C. – The Farmer’s Market Association won't be getting a $17 thousand dollar grant from the City of Prince George.

The Market had been looking for a new site, one that would provide better security, water, and bathrooms.

Turns out, the Board of the Farmer’s Market Association likes the spot they already occupy in Wilson Square, and in order to make it a better experience they need some financial help.

They aren't going to get it right now.

City Council has rejected giving a $17 thousand dollar grant to cover the cost of security, having city crews clean up the site before the market, (too many needles and drug paraphernalia in the square) permits to use the fire hydrant as a water supply, and dollars to cover the cost of portable toilets.

Mayor Colin Kinsley says he has a real problem offering a grant "Which amounts to subsidizing a for profit event." He suggests the Market use the facilities provided by the City, try holding the market at City Hall, or the Civic Centre. He says he really struggled during budget deliberations and some deserving projects didn't get the funding they wanted.

The Farmer’s Market has proven to be a major draw to the downtown core and recent surveys of market goers indicate the market is viewed as an important economic driver for retail outlets in the downtown. Those who go to the market also visit other shops, or stop to have lunch or a coffee in the area.

Councillor Brian Skakun was the only Councillor to vote in favour of the $17 thousand dollar grant. Instead, Staff will now work with the Farmer's Market to look at other sites .

Mayor Colin Kinsley says he thinks the message is clear "We want to see the farmer's market succeed, but not in Wilson Square because it doesn't have any of the ammenities."

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Monday, April 14, 2008 09:46 PM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: lunarbase on April 14 2008 11:02 PM

I take the above statement that finally the politicians have realized the drug trade has taken over downtown, for that in the morning Wilson square can not be used due to the drug garbage left over. So why are the police not targeting this place, over night and arresting these people. It is pretty bad when even the police just turn a blind eye to the problem.

Posted by: whitewater on April 15 2008 6:47 AM

Buy local, 100 mile diet, support the local farmers ....all just talk. 17 thousand dollars would got through to help drug addicts with crack pipe kits and more needles....with no problem.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on April 15 2008 7:34 AM

The druggies win again.

Move the Farmers Market out to College Heights. Downtown is no good - leave it to the Bingo and needles.

Posted by: BCRacer on April 15 2008 8:15 AM

In my opinion, if they were to call it a sports facility,instead , I am sure they would get all the money they want.

Posted by: jonnypg on April 15 2008 8:17 AM

Why are the druggies left to hang around there!it's a courthouse for goodness sake.

Posted by: owl on April 15 2008 8:50 AM

That is not the only place needles can be found. Try around the old bingo hall and you'll strike it rich. And they are not only downtown either.

I think the Civic Centre plaza is far superior for this type of event. It is time we learned that that is the type of event such plazas are intended for. It is time to turn it into an active place rather than a wind blown piece of pavement.

Posted by: lostfaith on April 15 2008 8:59 AM

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on April 15 2008 7:34 AM
The druggies win again.

Move the Farmers Market out to College Heights. Downtown is no good - leave it to the Bingo and needles.

!!!We don't want it in College heights thankyou very much.!!!

Posted by: jonnypg on April 15 2008 8:17 AM
Why are the druggies left to hang around there!it's a courthouse for goodness sake.

!!! I agree jonny I say movem all out to your neighbourhood. Unless you live near me.!!!

Posted by: lostfaith on April 15 2008 9:06 AM

Councillor Brian Skakun was the only Councillor to vote in favour of the $17 thousand dollar grant.

Hey SKAKUN guess you don't have to dodge potholes in your neighbourhood hey.
Your priorities are misplaced buddy.

These politicians gotta stop trying to please all these special interest groups out there.

Hey SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS use your own money.

Posted by: Harbinger on April 15 2008 9:41 AM

Needle Exchange? How about truth in advertising? They lie. The word "exchange?" How does that work if needles are found all over downtown? The word "exchange" make it more comfy, more socially acceptable? Are we gonna have a crack pipe "exchange?". Melt the used needle syringes to fill the potholes downtown. The ultimate in recycling. What a town. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

Posted by: BCRacer on April 15 2008 11:26 AM

I agree with your last statement lostfaith,
"IF YOU CAN"T AFFORD IT, YOU DON"T NEED IT"
this of course does not apply to necessities of life....but definitely to entertainment and amusement.

Posted by: singlemom on April 15 2008 1:38 PM

Downtown revitalization - we hear about it and hear about it over and over again, but nothing is done.

Is this not an opportunity to clean up downtown and make it more attractive to consumers? Perhaps the farmer's market, and surrounding businesses would see an increase in traffic if the above mentioned ammenities were available. Rather than consider it subsidizing a for profit event, why not consider this a contribution to improve our downtown core?

What I get from this is that although our downtown is suffering, we want to make it better and we want to support our local downtown businesses but our city does not want to put any of our money out to make it happen.

Let's keep the situation as is, ignore the atrocious state our downtown is in and slowly but surely push business out of the downtown once and for all.

Hearing the crying and complaining about the condition of our downtown is really frustrating when no one is willing to consider improvements.

Posted by: lostfaith on April 15 2008 2:55 PM

Sorry singlemom but the downtown is not a charity, although some would say it is a charity case. The downtown is a place of business where companies carry on business to make money for their owners.
I don't believe public tax dollars should be spent to bring increased profits to these business owners so they can afford a new truck and boat every other year. We taxpayers don't own the run down shabby looking buildings in the downtown, Local business people do.
As far as I'm concerned let them use their profits to clean up their own buildings etc. You don't see our tax dollars going to paint the outside of the local bigbox boy's now do you? If our city government had a backbone the downtown would be cleaned up by first getting rid of the riff raff, once done the rest is easy.

Posted by: metalman on April 15 2008 4:15 PM

The farmer's Market. A great concept, and an idea that I firmly endorse. The fact is though, the vendors are there to make money, and there is not a damn thing wrong with that. The city should not subsidize these businesses, or any others. Having said that, I believe that the city should make a space available (which they have) and if there are costs involved such as clean up before and after, and portajohn rentals, the association should cover them, it is only natural. The civic centre plaza seems like a good location to me, and do they not have bathroom facilities off the skating rink area? I'm not sure.
Oh, lostfaith, how do you propose to "get rid of the riffraff"
metalman.

Posted by: Harbinger on April 15 2008 5:06 PM

Riff raff? Gadzooks!! Those bums happen to be non-business transacting lower income stratus type non purchasing individuals. Get yer terms politically correct, after all, if they find out who ya are they could take you before the Human Rights Commission and sue ya fer hurting their feelings. Doncha know?

Posted by: owl on April 15 2008 6:00 PM

"IF YOU CAN"T AFFORD IT, YOU DON"T NEED IT"
this of course does not apply to necessities of life....but definitely to entertainment and amusement."

I agree completely!!!! .

The new smart growth concept will ensure no more frills.

http://flickr.com/photos/robwallace/264729389/sizes/o

Do you need some directions to that place BCRracer? You could go there and experience the no frills lifestyle and report back in a month of how much you enjoyed the bare necesssities.

Bet you they do not even have a needle problem there!!!!

Posted by: lostfaith on April 16 2008 11:24 AM

Metalman writes
"Oh, lostfaith, how do you propose to "get rid of the riffraff"
metalman".

Well we just need to get your address and invite them to hang around your place. You could have a soup and sandwich kitchen there, and all would be well.
I don't know Metalman how would you get rid of the riff raff?

Posted by: lostfaith on April 16 2008 11:31 AM

I pretty much avoid going down around the George St area because everytime I have in the past the riff raff in the area seem to think I am their source for smokes and spare change. Thus the business's in the area suffer.

Posted by: lostfaith on April 16 2008 11:36 AM

Posted by: Harbinger on April 15 2008 5:06 PM
Riff raff? Gadzooks!! Those bums happen to be non-business transacting lower income stratus type non purchasing individuals. Get yer terms politically correct, after all, if they find out who ya are they could take you before the Human Rights Commission and sue ya fer hurting their feelings. Doncha know?

I don't care who ya are, thats funny right there.

Posted by: Palopu on April 16 2008 3:06 PM

$300,000.00 back up money for Horizen Air to provide service in Prince George, however no money for the Farmers Market because they are a private for profit business.

What is Horizen Air a public for profit business. The Mayor speaks out of both sides of his mouth. What he loves the most is the sound of his own voice.

Have a nice day.

Posted by: metalman on April 16 2008 5:32 PM

Good point Palopu. I forgot about that. Reminds me though, we did the same for one of the call centres, did we not?
I think maybe public bailout or support of private, for profit businesses is not a good idea.
metalman.

Posted by: Palopu on April 16 2008 5:41 PM

Metalman. I agree.

Posted by: nihilest on April 16 2008 9:14 PM

Palopu: ...it's actually $400,000.00 a yaer for Horizon. Oh yeah, this is just one example of many ...

And just to all of you above: It was NOT the Farmers' Market who applied for a grant, that was actually put forward by City Staff at Leisure Services ... just to get the facts straight. What the Market wants is that the City takes care of the bare necessities FOR THE PUBLIC such as a public washroom. Or clean up downtown.

The Market is actively doing something for downtown, just go to the courthouse on a Saturday morning when it is not there, you'll see the difference ... and no, they're NOT for profit.

Posted by: nihilest on April 16 2008 9:28 PM

owl writes:
"I think the Civic Centre plaza is far superior for this type of event. It is time we learned that that is the type of event such plazas are intended for."
You're right, owl. Check with the City why the Market is not there ... don't think they haven't tried. Many times. First time 13 years ago (!!) when they were banned to some obscure place out of the way. Last time yesterday (!!). Just spouting off doesn't help.

Posted by: nihilest on April 16 2008 9:44 PM

lostfaith writes:
"Councillor Brian Skakun was the only Councillor to vote in favour of the $17 thousand dollar grant."
Good for him! He was probably the only one who was informed on the issues and didn't just vote like sheep.
"If you can't afford it you don't need it" wow ... sounds good doesn't it. I encourage you to actually think of the consequences of this statement ... this City would be an empty s...hole in no time flat. It's not just the arts or sports that depend on funding and infrastructure - what do you think this City would look like if all of a sudden we would loose all those organizations who "cannot afford it"? It's a community, not a pawn shop.

Posted by: metalman on April 17 2008 8:56 AM

Although I do not support the notion of public funds supporting for profit enterprise, I must say that there is not a damn thing wrong with providing an area, such as the civic centre plaza, for the farmers market, and rent free. Why not? the plaza belongs to the taxpayers, we already pay to maintain it, and I for one have seen very very little activity since day one in the plaza proper. A few pepole skating in the winter, a few skate boarders in the summer, there is more I am sure, but why not commit the area to this seasonal use? Parking? Well for starters, why in the hell is there a civic centre with no parking? Does that make sense? NO!
But there is a nice big empty lot across tenth ave. from the library, that only collects garbage now, maybe the river road dike/dyke gravel could be trucked in and compacted to create a parking lot there. Whats wrong with that idea? Oh, I know, it has not been studied. You know, I think I will retire from my good paying job and move to Vancouver, so I can be hired back as a consultant to the city of Prince George, get paid for these brilliant ideas of mine. LOL, just kiddin'
metalman.