A full legal investigation into the George Street Parkade and associated project overruns has been launched.
Previous delegated authority rules will also be reviewed, including the revised sustainable finance guidelines.
Speaking publicly for the first time since it was revealed he was told about the rising project costs in 2018, Mayor Lyn Hall says Prince George residents have a right to be angry.
The parkade and apartment complex originally planned to cost $12.6 million when it was approved in 2017, has ballooned to more than $34 million dollars.
“It is obvious that there were serious and unacceptable shortcomings in project structure and processes, oversight and information sharing into the parkade project,” said Hall in a zoom conference, adding mistakes were made at ‘virtually every turn’ of the project.
“Bottom line, the risk was not managed adequately.”
However, Hall says any disciplinary action at this point would be considered premature until all the facts are known.
“We understand people want someone to blame. It would be easy to point fingers without having all of the information. We are not going to do that,” he said.
In order to make sure a similar mistake doesn’t happen in the future, the administration will recommend Council consider approving engaging external project management for upcoming capital projects, including the upcoming YMCA daycare.
Council will also be recommended to approve conducting an external review of the capital project management processes as well as a new project framework.
In addition, a resolution has been passed directing the acting city manager to pursue options for an internal or external auditor to review future projects.
Previously, Council has reduced the City Manager’s delegated authority to amend project budgets to five percent of the project budget, up to a maximum of $100,000 per project.
Budget amendments made under that authority will be approved once every three months, Hall explained.
City officials will also now be able to bring project concerns forward with a whistleblower policy.
The results of the review are expected within the next 30 to 45 days.
The following statement has been issued by Mayor Lyn Hall regarding the downtown parkade project:https://t.co/Ja9dXEW2IV
— Prince George, BC (@CityofPG) January 25, 2021
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