Recently, the City of Prince George contracted a local organization to provide free graffiti removal and covering services on private property in the downtown area. Staff with the POUNDS Project Society started to paint over unsightly graffiti last weekend and will be providing service each week to downtown businesses for the next three months.
POUNDS representatives also go door-to-door to businesses downtown to offer graffiti removal and covering services to property owners. The society has also consulted with Downtown Prince George to identify and prioritize the areas most in need of these services. Business operators who wish to request these services are asked to dial the City Service Centre at 311 or email 311@princegeorge.ca. For information about graffiti removal in Prince George, please visit ww.princegeorge.ca/graffiti.
The city has also contracted POUNDS to monitor the washrooms located in Canada Games Plaza across from the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre. The city opened the washrooms in April to provide additional washroom access for those impacted by the closure of businesses and civic facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Downtown sidewalks and alleyways flushed
Last week, City staff flushed and swept out sidewalks and alleyways in the downtown core to remove debris, refuse including needles, and other material.
The early morning operation involved two water trucks with fire hoses used by staff to flush material from the edges of businesses out into the street where it was later collected by city sweepers. Additional city staff also assisted by helping to sweep loose material and by ensuring the operation was not interrupted.
In all, an estimated two cubic metres of material was removed from downtown.
The operation involved much of the downtown area:
- Third Avenue was flushed down both sides of the street from Victoria to Queensway.
- George Street from First Avenue to Fire Hall #1 on Seventh Avenue.
- The west side of Dominion Street from First Avenue to Second Avenue.
- Second Avenue from Dominion Street to Quebec Street.
- Alleyways between George Street and Dominion Street from Third Avenue to Second Avenue.
The areas of focus included those identified by the bylaw services staff who work downtown as needing specific attention.
Other recent downtown initiatives
These are just the most recently announced city operations aimed at improving health and well-being in the city. The City of Prince George is working with its partners on a number of new COVID-19-related initiatives aimed at improving safety, cleanliness, and inclusion for all residents.
Crews with Prince George Fire and Rescue Services are continuing to conduct daily downtown alley patrols. Members patrol the downtown twice a day (mid-morning and evening) in the alleys from First Avenue to Sixth Avenue and from Victoria Street to Lower Patricia Boulevard. During the patrols, staff look for accumulations of combustible material that present a fire risk and report any suspicious activity to RCMP via the City of Prince George’s dispatch centre.
To complement the work of Prince George Fire Rescue Services, the City has also contracted DART to provide daily, and on call, clean up services in downtown alleys.