Downtown revitalization 'outsourced'

by Jim Judd - Castanet Jun 1, 2013 / 5:00 am 
Bernard Avenue finally opened to regular traffic flow Friday afternoon as the downtown revitalization project ended successfully and the result will hopefully draw residents downtown to spend their  cash.... at least that`s what the city and the Downtown Kelowna Association are hoping. However, the money that isn`t being spent in town will be the $12 million plus spent on the project which was awarded to CGL Construction out of Vernon. CGL was awarded the contract although many other companies, including a number from Kelowna and even several from Vancouver, bid on the project. But perhaps the awarding of the contract outside the community isn`t as hypocritical as it might seem according to Kelowna City Hall. "Kelowna companies bid," said Bill Berry head of Design and Construction Services division of City Hall. Berry was charged with overseeing the revitalization project and ultimately choosing the winning bid. "It was open to anyone on the planet." "We didn`t want any unskilled companies in our premiere project," he continued. "They were all qualified and from there it was strictly low bidder." Nevertheless, Berry said that even if a Kelowna contractor had been awarded the prestigious and rich contract for the work, they might have had to outsource much of the work themselves. "Ìt's not as it appears," he said. "They would have likely hired a paving subcontractor." Further to the question, Berry suggested local labour may have been at work on the project anyway. "I would bet they (CGL Contracting) have local people on the payroll," he said. Besides, Berry explained, there is a provincial legislation currently in place - the Canada West  agreement - in recent years that prevents communities from hiring strictly local contractors. "We have to tender out projects," said Berry. "Àny project over $75,000 cannot be kept 'ìn-house'." Over and  above the cost of the contract, Berry says the Vernon company has been exemplary in carrying out the work in the downtown area. "They (CGL) have been good contractors to work with," he said. "I have nothing bad to say about them." Meanwhile, the project itself has left the downtown area with a much-needed and much-welcomed face lift that can only benefit local merchants. The final phase will begin after the Labour Day weekend, with the single block between Ellis St. and Pandosy to get a similar face lift at that time.