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Masich plan makes no sense

The three-page staff report to city council about the opening and operation of the renovated Masich Place Stadium is a textbook example of an out-of-control bureaucracy that wants to spend more money and hire more people to fix a problem that doesn't
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The three-page staff report to city council about the opening and operation of the renovated Masich Place Stadium is a textbook example of an out-of-control bureaucracy that wants to spend more money and hire more people to fix a problem that doesn't exist.

In the report, included in the agenda for this coming Monday's city council meeting, the city's public works director and general manager call for the stadium to be only open for public use from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. That's a significant reduction from the dawn to dusk availability residents previously enjoyed.

So much for that good news story about Prince George being ranked the fifth most active city in Canada.

Only in bureaucrat land does it make sense to spend nearly $5 million (yes, much of it was federal money but it's all taxpayer dollars in the end) to upgrade a well-used public facility but then reduce individual access to that facility to half of what it was before.

The logic behind that ridiculous conclusion is because apparently there was "some conflict between users, misuse, vandalism and degrading conditions over the years."

How much is "some?"

Was vandalism weekly or monthly since Masich opened in 1990? Did the vandalism occur when the facility was open and used by the public or overnight when it was closed? Was it spray paint on a concrete wall or was a bathroom trashed? How much did it cost to repair? What steps were taken to work with Prince George RCMP to reduce vandalism and make the site more secure? Would a city employee on site have prevented that vandalism or misuse?

How often was there conflict between users and what was the nature of the conflict? What steps were taken to rectify these conflicts and prevent similar misunderstandings from happening in the future? Would a city employee on site have prevented that conflict?

As for degrading conditions over the years, so what? Wear and tear is what happens to roads, sewers, libraries, arenas, swimming pools and stadiums.

So if this is the city's approach to Masich, should residents assume that public swimming will be severely curtailed at the new Four Seasons Pool to avoid conflict between users and prevent misuse, vandalism and degrading conditions?

If all that sounds plenty stupid enough, just hold on. That's only the first page of the Masich plan.

The public access hours of 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. seems to be pulled out of the air with no explanation to justify those hours. If hours need to be restricted, why not a few hours in the morning, a few more in the afternoon and a few more in the evening so everyone has the opportunity to use it?

Apparently, there were "conversations" with the main user groups but it seems nobody actually talked to the real main user group - individual residents who drop in at all sorts of times for all sorts of reasons. These residents would vastly outnumber the individuals that make up these user groups and their reasons to use the track vary from physical fitness and social interaction to physical rehabilitation after knee or hip surgery.

The third page of the report delivers the punch line.

"To accommodate the increased use of Masich Place Stadium and PGSS Sports Fields, expanded staffing levels will be required."

Wasn't one of the big reasons to replace the grass infield with synthetic turf to reduce staff time and city expense at Masich? What happened to the dollars previously used to mow, fertilize, water and repair the easily damaged grass field?

No answers to that but definitely discussion about how a budget enhancement - that's government jargon for "more money" - will be put forward for consideration next year.

The report recommends that the Masich plan "BE RECEIVED FOR INFORMATION" by mayor and council. It shouldn't.

Mayor and council need to inform senior staff that this operational plan is unacceptable and to go back and do it again.

For residents who care about Masich Place Stadium and their access to it, city council meets this Monday at 6 p.m. on the second floor of city hall.

A more healthy use of one's time on a warm Monday night at the end of July would be to head down to Masich for a nice walk or jog around the track.

Unfortunately, if the city bureaucrats have their way, that'll never be allowed again.

-- Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout