Thursday, December 8, 2022

Councillor seeks update on Civic Operations plans for move to MacCarthy property

City Councillor Nick Adey has relayed some questions from a '
resident towards the timeline for the move of the City Yard
to the former GM property in town

It's been quite a few months now since the City's announcement of March this year of plans to lease, with a potential to buy, for the old MacCarthy GM property for use of the operations department.  

With only a few updates along the way since towards the progress for the proposed shift.

The most recent development for the project was the call for tenders for the facility on Chamberlain Avenue, a listing with BC Bid that was posted in late October.


The topic of the proposed move came up no Monday night at City Council,  by way of a request for an update at a future council session by Councillor Nick Adey.

"This is a question, we may not have an answer tonight,  it may be that Im asking for an update, perhaps at our next. meeting. 

I was asked about the progress towards moving the City works yard to the new location. 

Where, when, how much? Those kinds of questions.

So I think I'm probably asking that staff be given a moment to put together an update on that for the next meeting." -- Councillor Nick Adey

Mayor Pond also noted of the interest in the move in the community.

"Yeah ... it's been a topic of discussion and a topic of discussion in the community and it's important I think  that there be feedback on that" -- Mayor Herb Pond

The prospect of an immediate update it appeared was not available, as both City Manager Rob Buchan and Operations Director Richard Pucci were not in attendance at Mondays gathering, which was the last public council session for the year.

Mr. Adey's request can be viewed from the City's Video Archive starting at the one hour, five minute mark.

You can review some of the past notes related to the proposed use of the former car dealership through our Civic Operations Archive.

More notes from Monday's Council session can be reviewed through our Council Session Archive page.

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7 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 8, 2022 at 9:58 AM

    This reader has heard more council commentary and interest on financials in the past several weeks, than they have heard in the last eight years.
    It is refreshing and positive.

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  2. AnonymousDecember 8, 2022 at 10:13 AM

    The city turned down a lot of Prince Rupert Community Enhancement Grants. We just paid what $300,000 to rent an unused building.
    The city is proposing to formulate a community asset plan. Where has the city been the last 8 years. The Legacy Fund is running short, the city coffers are going to have to be controlled with tax hikes and cutbacks. Community Grants are just the start. Councilors say they are sorry but a lot of the blame lays with some of them for their actions in previous years.

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousDecember 8, 2022 at 2:10 PM

      A lot of the organizations who had the grant requests denied by the city had other grant requests approved by the province.

      The business case for leasing a former car dealership and then refit it is questionable in terms of tax payer value, especially when there is little forward movement.

      There is no debating the fact that work place conditions are poor in the current works yard.
      But did tax payers get the best deal?
      What were the alternatives, was there a better scenario out there?
      Or is this another case of the only option is the best option?
      The Director of Operations should clarify his business case to council.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 8, 2022 at 6:08 PM

      The director of operations deemed it the best deal. It must be so. I know it is the best deal for the owner of the property. Not so sure about a good deal for the taxpayers.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousDecember 8, 2022 at 7:55 PM

    Neither the director of operations or the city manager at the meeting to answer any questions? This is a HUGE question. This property never should have been chosen as city yards (from any good planning perspective). Now residents sit and watch their money just be used for something with real clear plan. This council better stand up and ask a lot of questions. The last council and mayor were about looking shiny and putting up flashy lights. The reality is they dropped ball on literally everything related to core city business. I hope this council is about substance and not acting like rock stars.

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousDecember 9, 2022 at 8:05 AM

      As far as anonymous comments go, this one is the most unhinged local political take I've ever read. Rock stars? Shiny things? Flashy lights?

      You mean building a new RCMP station, landfill cell, and water dam plus demolishing an old mill? Yes, very sexy and eye-catching.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousDecember 9, 2022 at 5:14 PM

    The city should never take over commercial property. This should be left for a commercial business.
    Can you.imagine if another dealership was looking to.move into.prince rupert. Not a chance if they have to spend millions of dollars to build .
    The city should have been looking for a new location years ago not waiting for the existing building to fall apart.
    They never can put money.into keeping the existing structures for use.
    I guess eventually we will have no businesses just city projects.
    Bad call city council. Leave us with nothing

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