The city will be looking to the province for financial assistance for road-related projects with city council asked to approve two requests for grant applications.
On the agenda for Monday night's meeting is a request to sign off on an application to the Union of B.C. Municipalities-administered federal gas tax fund to cover the costs of a new road management plan.
The $88,000 proposal would help the city better understand what's needed for a more-effective road maintenance program "that integrates with our capital plan, including the resources required," said a report from Frank Blues, general manager of engineering and public works.
Another application is being prepared to the province's Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Transportation Infrastructure Fund to finance engineering assessments and concept plans for the extension of Boundary Road from Highway 97 to the BCR industrial area as well as the future Parkridge Boulevard and Highway 16 West intersection.
Completion of the entire connection between the two highways is years away, but the first phase of linking Highway 97 to the BCR site would be safer by eliminating the at-grade railway crossing with an overpass, said a staff report.
Both the Parkridge/Highway 16 and Boundary/BCR concept plans are on the city's unfunded capital plan for $60,000 and $75,000, respectively. The grant program provides up to half of the eligible costs for approved projects and if successful, the work would be moved to the 2016 capital plan with the city's half of the funding coming from internal reserves.
Other business:
The Prince George RCMP will give a rundown of their 2014 on Monday night, as Supt. Warren Brown presents city council with the detachment's annual report.
City council will hear from University of Northern B.C. political science students who conducted a survey on the perceived benefits of the Canada Winter Games.
The poll is an annual project by students of the third-year class, who in the past have gathered public opinion on issues such as safe injection sites and the Northern Supportive Recovery Centre being located at the former Haldi elementary school.
Council will finalize its 2015 financial plan, with a recommendation to set residential property tax rates at a 2.5 per cent increase on the table.
The Downtown Business Improvement Association (Downtown PG) is asking for a hand in installing 62 bike racks in the city centre. The racks, paid for by the Rotary Club, will be attached to light posts, starting with along George Street and Third Avenue. The estimated cost of installation is $5,270.
