Edgewood elementary parents asked the city to put its full sidewalk budget towards constructing a raised curb, gutter and sidewalk near the school, citing increased traffic and safety concerns.
The parent advisory council sat before council Monday night with a Nechako View Subdivision consultant to request $240,000 be earmarked for the project in the city's capital plan during upcoming budget discussions.
Coun. Jillian Merrick said the city can't allocate all of its funds to one project, but the bigger problem is Prince George has neglected its sidewalk infrastructure for too long by putting too few funds forward.
"Conversations for more like this really can't go anywhere until that budget is changed," said Merrick, noting several other schools likely have similar requests.
An earlier roads report showed that sidewalk construction was halted due to a problem with the contractor, so only 365 metres was paved. If the sidewalks had been paved as planned this year, Merrick said, it still would have only represented 0.5 per cent of the total sidewalk network.
By comparison, this year city council rehabilitated nine per cent of the road network, she said.
"There's a drastic difference how we treat our different infrastructure projects," she said, adding a recent finance and audit committee pitched increasing the sidewalk budget to $2 million.
"That's really the answer to these types of questions," she said.
Both councillors Brian Skakun and Terri McConnachie suggested the city had a greater responsibility to this project and this neighbourhood because it recently approved a nearby subdivision development and its approximately 100 dwellings.
"We have approved expansion so this does put a microscope closer on this project at hand," McConnachie said.
Skakun also suggested the city consider dipping into the development cost charges as a way to pay.
Parent Sarah Foot specifically referenced the subdivision as a reason to give the go-ahead, saying the area has become "increasingly dangerous" as the student population has crept towards capacity. It currently sits around 220, she said.
"With the growth of these development we feel that the growth of the school is going to continue as well as safety concerns with school children and pedestrian walking in the neighbourhood," she said, adding traffic is heavy during school hours and walking on the road can be unavoidable when there are high snow banks or cars parked.
"This issue is only going to get worse and we need to address it."
David McWalter, a consultant with J.A. Brink Investments Inc. which is developing the subdivision, said the group has recommended a standard 1.8 metre wide concrete sidewalk, to be built on the north side of Churchill Road.
"From the technical perspective the lack of sidewalks... is a major safety concern," McWalter said, adding if it was a new subdivision, sidewalks and lights "would be an absolute requirement."
If the project goes the way they want it, it would be funded in the capital plan, with construction scheduled by 2018 and further construction along Stevens Drive done by 2020 or 21 when the subdivision is nearing completion.
"This is not a local improvement project. It's a community project," McWalter said.
"It benefits the entire community."
Council heard staff are in the midst of revamping a pedestrian network plan, which recommended a sidewalk on Craig Drive.
Parents disagreed with the approach, pointing to Churchill has the only access road to the school.
Albert Koehler suggested the neighbourhood should consider whether it would be willing to support a long-term additional tax levy.
"Somebody has to pay for something in the neighbourhood and it can't always be the city," he said.
But Merrick said a Local Area Service approach could mean neighbourhoods with the ability to pay get their projects to the top of the list.
"I think it's a dangerous precedent," she said. "(Sidewalks) are not the responsibility of individual homeowners."
Councillors unanimously agreed the request be sent to staff for recommendations, including the cost options.
