Voters who oppose any of the 11 projects for which the city is seeking to borrow a total of $32.2 million will be able to register their disapproval starting Thursday.
That's when the alternative approval processes for the proposals begins. Voters will have until May 30 to put their signatures to any or all of 11 elector response forms.
If at least 10 per cent of the electorate, estimated at 5,546 responses, submit forms for a specific project, council will be forced to either scrap the related borrowing bylaw or take it to a full-blown referendum in which approval from at least 50 per cent plus one of those who vote will be required to advance the bylaw to final reading.
The forms will be available at city hall and online at www.princegeorge.ca/AAP. A link to the page is included on the city homepage at www.princegeorge.ca.
At $10.2 million, work on the Prince George Aquatic Centre is the biggest project.
Of that total, $8.6 million would go to replacing the building envelope including roof, stucco, reconstructing the parapet and adding mechanical equipment to dehumidify air.
Slightly less than $1.4 million would go to replacing a list of building components including the three-metre and one-metre diving boards and tiling the wave pool flooring and walls.
Another $140,000 would go replacing the existing 20 year old starting blocks and touch pads with those that satisfy provincial swim meet standards and $100,000 would go to repaving the parking lot.
The work is to be carried out in advance of the 2022 B.C. Summer Games.
Here's a look at the other projects:
- Critical street light and traffic signal replacement, $5 million:" Many of the city's street lights and traffic signals were installed in the 1970's and are past the end of their service life," the city says in the elector response form for the proposal.
The work is to target about 600 of the most critical of the 2,500 street lights and traffic signals currently past their expected life.
- Civic facility rood replacements, $4.7 million: Would go to replacing roofs on various civic facilities including SPCA, Search and Rescue, Sports Centre lower roof, 1310 3rd Avenue, City Yard mechanical bay, Kin 2, Kin 3, Two Rivers Gallery, Agriplex, Civic Centre, Senior's Activity Centre, and CN Centre.
- Equipment purchases, $2.9 million: $2 million would go to annual replacement of vehicles currently part of the city fleet and $671,00 would pay for replacing firefighters' breathing apparatus.
The remainder would be for two road foreman fleet trucks ($115,000), janitorial floor scrubbers ($99,750), and a bylaw compliance officer truck ($55,000).
- Masich Place amenities refurbishment, $2.7 million: Also in preparation for the 2022 Games, the work would include upgraded field lighting, a replacement of the score clock and PA system, and new pathway lighting, electrical kiosks, fibre optic connection, irrigation, bleachers, and site furnishings to support visitor services at the stadium.
It would follow on the $4.5 million worth of work, completed in 2018, that brought in a new synthetic turf infield, resurfaced track, and new track and field infrastructure, as well as upgrades to the grandstand with exterior painting, lighting, and accessible infrastructure.
"This project's improvements to existing site infrastructure and addition of new amenities and site services are required to support Masich Place Stadium's use as a premier venue for regional training and competitions, in addition to providing ongoing public use through the popular daily walking/exercise program," the city says in the elector response form for the proposal.
- Ron Brent Park redevelopment, $1.7 million: The project would continue a redevelopment that includes four pickleball courts, seniors fitness equipment, 10 horseshoe pits, community garden plots, lighting, a toboggan hill launch, irrigated lawns, paved trails, trees, and a washroom-storage building.
Phase one of the redevelopment occurred in 2017 and included a playground and sport field at the adjacent Ron Brent Elementary School. Phase two includes all below ground and at grade works in the park in 2019, while phase three sees the completion of the park with development of structures in 2020.
- Mausoleum expansion, phase two, $1.4 million: Would add 1,030 glass-front niches. The mausoleum is over 93 per cent full and, as of mid-September, all of the glass-front niches have been sold as have 94 per cent of the marble-front niches, according to the city.
- Upgrades along 14th Avenue from Irwin to Freeman streets, $1.2 million: To rebuild about 280 metres of 14th, the work includes replacing and extending the existing water main with size to accommodate future multifamily residential development, as well as extending the existing sanitary sewer main, the existing storm sewer and catch basins, curb and gutter on both sides of 14th Avenue, sidewalk on one side of 14th Avenue, and street lights along 14th Avenue.
- Culvert replacement along Goose Country Road, $1.1 million: To replace two extensively-corroded 70-centimetre culverts that provide a road crossing for the fish-bearing McMillan Creek.
- Upgrades to Highway 16 West frontage from Heyer to Henry roads, $800,000: Would pay for a sidewalk, storm drainage, and street lighting along Henry Road.
"The sidewalk will connect to the pedestrian passage under Highway 16 to Vanway Elementary School and is a continuation of the work completed by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure in 2018," the city says.
- Signalize and reconfigure intersection at Domano Boulevard and St. Lawrence Avenue/Gladstone Drive, $500,000: It is one of two intersections that allow traffic to travel between upper and lower College Heights.
"These improvements will facilitate development at the extents of St. Lawrence Avenue and Southridge Avenue, improve network access for the surrounding residential and recreational areas, and improve intersection road safety," the city said, adding it may be eligible for funding from Insurance Corporation of British Columbia.
