The Community Arts Council of Prince George & District, Prince George Symphony Orchestra, Theatre NorthWest, Prince George Folkfest Society and the Prince George Spruce Kings are pleasedt city council approved direction for city administration to begin work on detailed plans for new civic facilities at Monday night’s council meeting.
The five groups have been collaboratively advocating for these new facilities for many years and are keen to see movement on this file.
They believe there are a number of important considerations that should inform next steps, including:
- Providing clarity on the intended use and design of the identified Performing Arts Centre. There are unanswered questions related to the scope and end use of this Centre, including its footprint in a space also intended to support a hotel/multi-use complex.
- Identifying the potential for including a mid-sized theatre component within the Performing Arts Centre as there will always remain the need for a theatre accommodating around 300 people.
- Engaging with the Spruce Kings and all user-groups of the Kopar Memorial Arena to ensure these organizations are supported during the re-construction phase of the project.
- Demonstrating how the Performing Arts Centre may also be a component of a Convention Space to accommodate events and conferences. This would have a hugely positive impact on downtown economic revitalization.
- Ensuring that the budget for the planning process is adequate. Examples of recent and similar planning projects from other communities indicate a need to identify a clear budget that will satisfactorily accomplish the required results of the planning project.
- Confirming that the parking needs for these new facilities, the current social issues that are facing our downtown core, and future operational budgets that will be required to support these facilities are thoughtfully addressed so that the facilities remain affordable and accessible to local users.
The groups encourage fostering collaboration in a way similar to the City of Kamloops, with advisory teams, comprised of local experts in their fields assisting municipal government through the complex planning process for this major civic capital project. Community engagement is essential prior to the project going to a city-wide referendum.
To this end, they hope that Prince George city council will very soon re-visit the downtown civic core plan presented this past Monday and provide clear direction on the expectations and requirements they wish to see in the planning process, including presenting a clear timeline and work plan, with noted public engagement throughout the project.
Lastly, like all other community members, they say they will remain vigilant about ensuring local tax dollars are spent wisely. Thus, we would like to have clarity about the planning process, and what exactly is being planned.