Every year, the City undertakes hundreds of capital projects that range in size, cost, and complexity. Making them more predictable and affordable during both construction and operation is the goal of a capital project management review that has been approved by Council.
The review was initiated following cost over-runs on some recent capital projects such as the new Fire Hall #1 and the downtown parkade, but the broader issue of infrastructure re-investment and renewal is a Council Focus Area. In addition, budgets, expenses, and capital project management emerged as top priorities among the 1,020 residents who participated in the 2020 City budget survey.
The Capital Project Management Review is to consider the lifecycle management of multiple types of capital projects and will include various elements:
- A review and analysis of current City of Prince George practices and processes
- A review of best practices in comparative communities
- Recommendations for a Project Management Policy and Framework and related administrative procedures
- Recommendations regarding training and communication
The City will be issuing a request for proposals and is aiming to have the work completed in 2021. Funding for the review will come from the City’s Northern Capital and Planning Grant Reserve Fund.
According to the City’s most-recent Annual Report, more than 130 capital projects were worked on in 2019, representing more than $52.5 million in expenditures that year. The “top 10” projects (by expenditure) included facilities, road rehabilitation, water and sewer projects, and vehicle replacements.
Recent reports to Council have identified an ongoing gap in annual infrastructure reinvestment and the need for an integrated stormwater management plan to safeguard properties from flooding and erosion while protecting watersheds. These, and other, reports have been prepared against a backdrop of the overall aging of the City’s infrastructure and the challenges of adapting to climate change.