Local arts groups used to a portion of their budget coming from the city will have a little less to work with.
As part of the core review process, council agreed to to combine the funding available for the social, cultural and community enhancement grants into one fund, called the myPG Social Development Fund. Under the new fund - that has one application and adjudication process instead of three - the city would enter into three-year agreements with successful applicants, according to the core review implementation plan.
Traditionally, more than half of the $357,350 (55 per cent) available to local non-profit groups has gone to three organizations: Theatre Northwest, the Prince George Symphony Orchestra and the Community Arts Council.
The Cultural Grants program provided Theatre Northwest and the PGSO with approximately 13 per cent of their annual revenue and seven per cent of the Community Arts Council's income.
In a report from the finance and audit committee up for council approval tonight, the recommendation is to enter into new agreements that even out those percentages to 10 per cent of the trio's respective annual revenues across the board, freeing up another $27,000 for other projects by 2016.
The committee is recommending the allocation for the three groups remain the same in 2014. In 2015, it would shift to 11.5 per cent for TNW and PGSO and 8.5 per cent for CAC before hitting the 10 per cent target in 2016.
Ultimately by 2016, the PGSO would receive $15,000 less, Theatre Northwest would get $21,600 less and the Community Arts Council would get $9,600 more.
The new myPG Social Development Fund would focus on projects aligning with the areas of clear identity and pride, cultural richness and safe environment.
Road works
An extra $2.6 million worth of road and sidewalk work will be done this year with the extra federal gas tax money identified during the 2014 budget discussions.
In a report to council, operations superintendent Bill Gaal outlines a variety of gravel road, residential road and sidewalk rehabilitation and accessibility improvements to be tackled with the Community Works Fund cash unspent and unallocated from previous years.
The money will add to the already approved road improvement budget of $7 million and "allows for a small contingency for any unforseen expenses arising during the construction of these projects," said Gaal's report.
Sewer sign-off
Council will be asked to give first three readings to a bylaw implementing a new tax on Hart Highlands residents.
The local area service bylaw allows for the homeowners getting connected to the the sanitary sewer main to be charged an extra line on their property tax until the $2.4 million city-fronted loan is paid off.
One hundred properties from Berwick and Dundee Drives, Wallace Crescent, Wallace Place and a portion of Langley Crescent are affected.
