City of PG Core Services Review In...

This past Friday - KPMG, who was contracted by the City of Prince George at a cost of $350,000 to a Core Services Review, handed in their final report.  Read that report here

In the report, they (KPMG) suggest the following:

Develop a build covenant to make sure projects are built on land sold by the city.

Support broker commissions to attract new business to the city.

Direct clients to potential development opportunities. Release lands on the market in a measured fashion to help ensure appropriate pricing is maintained.

The City's portfolio of 789 properties represents a sizeable opportunity to raise capital in the short term

The advantages include, realizing one time capital amounts for the City which could go to reducing debt or funding capital projects.

Facilitating development and therefore helping to increase the property tax base.

Continue to process and sell city land situated around Tyner Blvd, University Heights, South of UNBC so that it can be developed for residential use. City could raise $3.6 million by doing this.

Continue the process to sell the RCMP parking lot. This land could be used for a new hotel or condominium downtown.(this is already in the works)

Complete the sale of the tennis courts at 2909 Recplace Dr. If the property is sold commercially for around $3 million dollars.

Continue with the Wood Innovation Center. This building is being developed in conjunction with the BC government and UNBC and could become a draw to downtown.

Opinion250.com looks at this story here

PG Citizen looks at this as well here and here (Snow Removal reductions "off the table")

For myself -- this report will start that "conversation" that PG Mayor Shari Green is looking to start with her residents'.  The PG Free Press, in an editorial, slammed PG City Council with the exception of PG City Councillors Brian Skakun and Garth Frizzell for using the Community Charter as a "shield" to not attend a union-sponsored public town hall on the future direction of the core services review.  I agree 110% with the editorial.  If you think the Core Services Review and its' recommendations/suggestions are the right way forward -- true leaders would be prepared to take as much heat as necessary to defend those actions as endorsed by PG Mayor Shari Green and Councillors Wilbur, Hall, Everitt, Stolz, Koehler and Krause

I also don't believe that PG City Hall can find a 3rd Party operator for the 4 Seasons Pool.  If they do, watch for other municipalities to look at that option, including 100 Mile, Williams Lake and Quesnel, to revisit this question as to whether or not money savings can be achieved but I don't think that this is a viable option to municipalities as there is a big public appetite to have a public pool operated by the local civic government

Finally - CUPE in Prince George is being proactive by getting the public behind them to ensure that City of PG Parks staff and those who work at the Four Seasons remain employed.  View those "Postcards" here/here

SBF