Though they attempted to stem some of the bleeding, council couldn't quite keep residents from going into shock over the implications of the core services review.
During a marathon meeting Monday, the mayor and councillors worked their way through nearly 70 recommendations from staff to implement suggestions from last year's KPMG final report.
Before council began their deliberations, they heard from a delegation consisting of members of the community who were opposed to changes to user fees and any potential privatization of facilities.
At the beginning of the process, the community was under the impression that one of the goals of the core review was to find ways to cut back but also retain services, said Dawn Hemingway, who sits on a variety of social services boards.
"At the same time now we see the question of taxation is being used, I would say, as a bit of a cover," she said. "Because all the different fees that are now being proposed are going to impact all the citizens of Prince George."
Where there were major increases in fees and charges proposed by administration, council typically went the way of attempting to lessen the sticker shock.
A 30 per cent increase to business license fees to come into effect next year was voted down into a five per cent annual increase for the next three years.
"A 30 per cent increase is massive," said Coun. Brian Skakun, who also called the hike unfair, especially for small business owners.
The purpose of the recommendation was for council to consider the level it wishes to subsidize business, said city manager Beth James. The 30 per cent figure was to move to a full cost-recovery model.
That five per cent figure remained a common thread for other council decisions throughout the day.
A 10 per cent annual increase for three years to the Masich Place Stadium rates was brought down to five, as were increases to the seasonal practice rate for the Prince George Track and Field Club and the increase to the hourly rate for school bookings.
"We have to be aware that we are a sports community and a winter sports community, so we have to be very careful with increasing our price," said Coun. Albert Koehler, who didn't think the city was going down the correct path in considering a 10 per cent increase.
Staff recommendations for arena fees and aquatic fees - suggested to rise by 15 per cent and 10 per cent per year for three years, respectively - were also brought down to five per cent hikes.
Mayor Shari Green said she didn't disagree with the notion that going to a full cost-recovery model in one fell swoop would be too much for many to handle.
"I supported many of the amendments to take several items at a slower pace so that people have a bit more time to get used to the fact that we subsidize a lot of things in this community that the general tax payer is challenged with," she said. "We continue to increase but we don't charge enough for a lot of the things we do in our community."
Areas where council did feel comfortable with staff-suggested increases included public transportation, which will have a bylaw returned with a $0.25 increase to adult and HandyDart cash fares, as well as a reduction in the student and senior subsidies.
An increase to the price of criminal record checks - excluding those completed for volunteers, which remain free - and a 10 per cent annual increase to advertising rates in the city's Active Living Guide for the next three years were also approved.
Increased fees will also be returned for fire protection (ie. open burning fees, fireworks), renting the Civic Centre and for services provided by the planning and development department.
The question of process was a frequent issue throughout the day, as was the fact that the report was made available late Wednesday afternoon, which some didn't think was enough time to allow the community to process what was being presented.
"Whatever your intentions were, I want you to know that for citizens of Prince George, it certainly appears that you did not want any input on this report," said Hemingway.
In the one day that members of the I Heart P.G. group canvassed the public over the weekend, they collected 800 signatures for a petition opposing cuts, said Janet Bigelow. "Imagine if we had more time?"
Green said it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that there were tough decisions to be made, as it was 15 months into the core review process.
But despite the length of time the city has been working through the core review, it was only Wednesday that any hard and fast numbers were released, said Coun. Brian Skakun.
For example, while the city has been talking about reintroducing paid parking downtown for more than a year, it was in Wednesday's report that the cost of $1 per hour was outlined.
"I think the community is certainly ready to see council make some decisions," said Green.
But council wasn't ready for all of the verdicts administration recommended they hand down.
Among them was a call for council to authorize the decommissioning of 21 community tennis courts.
"For such a small amount of money, it's such a huge issue," said Green, referring to the $18,000 in maintenance costs that staff identified could be avoided.
Karen Wong said the city didn't know if the spaces were used or not. "But I live in a neighbourhood where I see children, teens and adults walking down my street with racquets in their hands going to play tennis. There's many such neighbourhoods in Prince George - lower income and middle income neighbourhoods need those courts."
Public works superintendent Bill Gaal agreed there wasn't a method used to accurately track use, but that the courts weren't in a state where they would be used by people who were "avid tennis players."
Closing the courts and then going to meet and discuss the decision with community groups wasn't very collaborative, said Coun. Murry Kruase. And the fact that some courts associated with open schools left Coun. Lyn Hall wanting to consult with principals over how their programming could be affected.
"We should have a discussion about all 63 of our courts," said Coun. Cameron Stolz. "I would like to see the bigger picture on this."
Looking at the bigger picture also came into effect as council approved direction for staff to go forward with a cost-benefit analysis on the operation of the Nechako branch of the Prince George Public Library.
Back in 2002, the library board brought forward the idea of closing the Hart-based branch as a means of saving $200,000.
"It certainly needs to be determined if it's an accurate number," said Coun. Dave Wilbur.
The library board of the day may also not feel the same way as their predecessors did 11 years ago, pointed out Coun. Garth Frizzell.
Taking the pulse of the community was also behind an approved recommendation to undergo annual reviews of the city's official community plan.
The goal is to reduce the number of OCP amendments that come before council by clearing up uncertainty in some areas and hopefully reduce a few costs along the way, explained planning director Ian Wells.
The annual review process, which is expected to cost roughly $80,000 to pull a staff member from their regular duties to carry out, will be similar to the overall OCP process, but scaled down, Wells added. A full comprehensive OCP review would cost $250,000, according to staff.
Despite spending all day on the report, the core services review work is still not finished. Some big ticket items, such as the prospect of contracting out the operation of the Four Seasons Pool, have yet to come back before council.
"We're still waiting for staff to bring back several core review items. And when those come back we'll be ready to talk about them," said Green.
