Downtown Prince George’s budget approved

The question arose from Councillor Garth Frizzell about the anticipated arrival of people to the community due to projects like the acute care tower and enquired as to how DPG could capitalize on that.

“With a great many people coming through to service things like the tower that’s being built at the hospital and the various things around the region, it’s really important that we encourage our businesses find ways to take advantage of the new people coming in. Newcomers to the city, naturally, are going to be drawn to the downtown.”

One of the highlights of the report was the success of the downtown CCTV program.

“With the initial funding, we were able to purchase 10 cameras over three locations within the C1 zone,” explains Chrisie Berry. “In the beginning there was a lot of activity on these cameras. These are areas we know people are frequenting.”

The systems in monitored around the clock and what happens when there is activity, a siren can be activated.

“What we saw in the beginning was the siren would come on and nobody would move until the RCMP were called in. What we’re seeing now is that the siren goes on a people are leaving of their own accord so we don’t have to bug the RCMP so much.”

The City contributed $40,000 to keep the program funded through to the end of this year. However, Downtown Prince George is hoping for the City’s help to beef up the program.

“What I’d really to see is to be able to expand it so we cover the majority of downtown and there really isn’t an area that isn’t being addressed right away.”

And they are requesting $150,000 over 18 months.

by Cheryl Jahn

Downtown Prince George’s budget approved

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