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Candidates make their case |
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Written by MARK NIELSEN
Citizen staff
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Thursday, 13 November 2008 |
Prince George's four mayoral candidates sat down with The Citizen's editorial board to answer questions on a wide range of issues.
In this second of a three part series, they give their views on specific issues -- such as crack pipes, the performing arts centre and trade missions and taxes.
Here's what they had to say:
What will Prince George look like in three years with you as mayor?
Eugene Fetterly: "Once a year people would have a big smile on their faces because I would certainly keep the taxes in check," he said.
Dane Greenwell: The city's debt load would be significantly reduced, the transit system would be made less confusing and more convenient, the needle exchange would be moved away from downtown businesses and closer to the RCMP detachment, and there would be more foot patrols downtown.
Dan Rogers: Rogers said the city will be much better in the four priorities outlined in his platform -- roads, environment, business and downtown.
Don Zurowski: An improved downtown -- reduced homelessness and more residential living in particular -- and improved air quality, where gains have already been made.
"I see it clearly, and anyone who does any research can see it clearly, but to that average individual, they will have a sense that it's taking effect (by the end of three years)," he said of improved air quality.
Would you pass a bylaw outlawing the distribution of crack pipes downtown?
Eugene Fetterly: "You bet I would because I don't believe you're doing those people a bit of good if you're handing out crack pipes," he said. "I've been there and I've done that and we were just a little bit more responsible, I suppose, and we looked after that sort of stuff. Believe me, we didn't trade it around (crack pipes and needles) or let anybody else use it."
Dane Greenwell: Greenwell said he's not in favour of giving out crack pipes and clean needles to people who a lot of the time don't need them and instead are using them to promote the drug trade.
Dan Rogers: Rogers said it's a matter of making it clear to Northern Health and the province's Ministry of Health that the resulting debris needs to be cleaned up.
Don Zurowski: Said he found the idea troubling, but added he's "inclined to take professional advice on an issue like that."
How realistic is it to limit tax increases to the rate of inflation plus the rate of the city's population growth?
Eugene Fetterly: Fetterly was unclear as to whether he thought that was realistic or not, but did say most wage increases are now less than inflation.
Dane Greenwell: Greenwell asserts the city could limit increases to lower than the rate of inflation and population growth. He said the four-per-cent increase in 2007 for road rehabilitation -- which was done to save on the cost of borrowing for the $2.35-million item -- was excessive and the money could have been better spent on finding ways to build roads better in the first place so there's less maintenance cost.
Dan Rogers: Within 30 days of becoming mayor, Rogers said he would appoint the most fiscally conservative council member chair of the finance and audit committee and then challenge administration to take a "zero-based" approach to budgeting, similar to what occurred when he was on council.
"Services did suffer a little bit but not as bad as a lot of people suggested," he said.
Don Zurowski: Zurowski doesn't think it's a realistic goal because taxpayers don't want their services reduced and because infrastructure is aging while federal and provincial governments have decreased their core transfers to local governments.
Making landfills and turf maintenance and street sweeping more environmentally friendly comes at a cost, he added, noting municipalities have been taking on more responsibility over the years.
"Many of these things are best provided by local government but they're not free," he said. "I'd personally like to stay as close to inflation as the community wants us to be but the quality of life survey really contributes to my thinking."
This year's quality of life survey found that 22.5 per cent of respondents were in favour of increasing taxes to maintain current services; 17.9 per cent supported maintaining taxes and decreasing service levels and 19.5 per cent approved of increasing both taxes and service levels.
Asked later about the tax increases over the last three years, Zurowski said the 2007 decision to raise the levy by four per cent so road rehabilitation is paid for on a yearly basis was a good one because it will save the city money in interest costs.
Subtract that from the total and the increase for the average taxpayer added up to about 11 per cent for the average homeowner over that time. "It's not perfect [but] it's a manageable number," he said.
A performing arts centre, estimated to cost as much as $51 million, is proposed for the downtown. What are your views on the idea?
Eugene Fetterly: "If they waited John Major out, he'd probably give us that bingo hall for practically nothing," he said. "But to go out on a limb for $51 million for the benefit of a thousand people, that's a waste of money."
If it's pursued it should be "built on stilts, like the library," to avoid flooding, he added.
Dane Greenwell: Greenwell said it's not worth building and believes the federal and provincial governments will not come up with the money. The federal government failed to come up with a contribution to the Northern Sport Centre, he noted.
"Right now, it's unfeasible," he said.
Dan Rogers: Rogers is in support of an arts centre downtown, but also added taxpayers should get the last work via a referendum, similar to the way CN Centre and the Prince George Aquatic Centre were handled, once a final figure is in.
"If we're going to borrow multi-million-dollars, we need voter assent," he said.
Don Zurowski: Zurowski believes the Prince George Playhouse and its land could be sold for about $6 million and argued the money as well as its operating budget should be transferred to a new PAC downtown.
The federal and provincial governments should also provide more than their usual shares of funding because the northern two-thirds of the province, not just Prince George, will benefit from the facility, he argued.
Where does the library's plan for expansion fit into your priorities?
Eugene Fetterly: Similar to his assertion that the PAC should be built on pillars to avoid flooding, Fetterly said additional floors should be added to the top of the building rather than renovating the parking area at ground level.
"The most expensive part of the building is the footings," he said. "Once you get those footings in the ground, it's like building a dam or a bridge or anything. Once they're on the ground, you can do anything on top of it."
Dane Greenwell: Greenwell said he needs to do more research on the topic and the extent the library is used, before making a comment.
Dan Rogers: Given the amount of taxes already paid, Rogers said he can't see where the city can take on more long-term debt and doesn't see it fitting into the upcoming three-year term. Other projects, such as a neighbourhood centre at Carney Hill, also need to be prioritized, he noted.
Don Zurowski: "A major expansion, at this point in time, wouldn't make the top of the list for me," he said.
What are your views on housing for the homeless?
Eugene Fetterly: "Sucks to be them," he said. "If you think that's bad, you should try being an exploited homeowner and taxpayer, that's worse."
That said, Fetterly suggested giving city-owned land to the provincial government to build housing for the homeless while making sure there are two to a room.
Dane Greenwell: Greenwell said there are two kinds of homeless -- those simply down on their luck and those addicted to drugs -- and those who refuse to quit drugs will not receive any help under his leadership. He believes the social agencies should be relocated further away from downtown businesses.
Dan Rogers: He said a safer streets initiative, managed by the city, police, downtown businesses and social agencies, should be a priority for additional traffic fine revenue from the province as well as any extra parking revenue from the city. On additional housing, Rogers said the city could use the property it owns to attract more provincial government projects, adding he favours a mixture of market and non-market housing.
Don Zurowski: Zurowski said it's better than relying on shelters, jail cells and the emergency room at the hospital but new housing should be funded by the provincial and federal governments. The city's role should be to help find locations.
Are trade missions worthwhile?
Eugene Fetterly: "I haven't seen many Chinese people over here building anything big and real," he said. "If I become the mayor, I'm certainly not going to China. I mean, there's 5,000 miles of ocean ... full of sharks and I don't swim."
Dane Greenwell: Past trips to China don't seem to have created any benefit for Prince George in Greenwell's opinion and thinks they're a waste of money.
Dan Rogers: "I will not participate in any trade mission that has more politicians than business reps, it doesn't make sense to me," he said. "But if there comes a time when any of our global businesses that call Prince George home need help from the mayor's office, I will be there to help."
Making Prince George a better community will help attract investment, he added.
"When people come here, they'll say 'gee, they have a great downtown, they have great roads and great facilities,'" he said. "That will market this community on a global scale."
Don Zurowski: "If I had an option between one intense week in China and a week in the city of Prince George doing the local thing, I'd spend it in my city," he said. "However, if industry is looking for support of the mayor's office on a trade mission, I would join them because it's the right thing to do."
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 13 November 2008 )
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