The City of Prince George is moving ahead with the alternative approval process to borrow nearly $3.56 million for the construction of a dike along River Road.
On Monday city council
authorized the process, which will give electors against the project six weeks to sign petitions against the borrowing bylaw. If 10 per cent or more of the registered electors in the city sign the petition, then council may not proceed to borrow the money without holding a
referendum. However, not all members of council were satisfied with the streamlined approval process.
"It's no secret ... that I've been opposed to the alternative approval process," Coun. Frank Everitt said. "I don't want to be viewed as something underhanded."
Everitt said he believes the city should go directly to a referendum, despite the cost. The cost of the alternative approval process is projected at $1,600, compared with $55,000 to $65,000 for a referendum.
"There is a cost for having people taking part in the electoral process," Everitt said.
However, cost was a concern for other members of city council.
"Unless there are some other significant questions we could put on the ballot... I can't support it," Coun Brian Skakun said.
"I just don't want us to spend a whole bunch of money on a
one-question referendum."
Coun. Garth Frizzell said he can support the alternative approval process if residents are given more options to return the petition forms.
City legislative services
manager Walter Babciz said the city can make it possible for residents to mail, fax, e-mail or drop off in person the petition forms.
City staff will prepare a report, including a petition form and timelines for the process, at a
future meeting of city council.
The proposed 3.3 kilometre, $11.5 million dike would run the length of River Road from the Cameron Street Bridge to the CN Rail bridge, according to city staff reports.
On Jan. 24 the provincial and federal governments announced $5.4 million in funding for the project. A further $2.5 million is expected to come from the city's Land Development Reserve fund.
"I would like to seize the opportunity [to take] the additional [funds] available," Coun. Murry Krause said. "It would be a shame to lose out on that opportunity."
City staff project the payments on the $3.56 million debt would total nearly $280,000 per year for 20 years, starting in 2014.
The total interest cost to the city is estimated at $2 million over 20 years.
The top of the dike, which is expected to be just slightly higher than the 200-year flood plane and River Road itself, would be wide enough to accommodate a walking trail.
Underneath the dike will be an underground barrier to prevent groundwater from seeping underneath the road. With the existing subdrain and ground water pumps, the dike would be designed to prevent groundwater from rising on the far side of the road.
The City of Prince George has already acquired some of the land between River Road and the Nechako River, where the dike will be built. Some additional lands will need to be purchased to allow the project to go
forward.
Several flood protection upgrades have been made to River Road following the 2007-08 ice jam and flood on the Nechako River. The flood lasted 64 days, forced the evacuation of 24 homes and caused millions of damages.
