After Calgary City Council votes Monday, you can expect to pay more for ignoring temporary parking bans and perhaps look forward to half-pipe boarding ramps in your neighbourhood.
Those are just two of the issues that came up for debate and decision.
RAINBOW CROSSWALK
The installation of a rainbow flag coloured crosswalk outside City Hall was approved by council though some members were concerned the amended motion that sees taxpayers backstop the cost would set a dangerous precedent.
Ward 4. Coun. Sean Chu proposed the sidewalk be placed at 8th Ave. and Macleod Trail S.E. connecting the municipal building and Olympic Plaza and for rainbow flags to be installed on 9th Avenue in recognition of Pride Week this September.
Chu’s motion said the project would be privately funded and installed two weeks before the Pride Parade. But council passed an amendment introduced by Coun. Brian Pincott that would see the city cover the cost if private dollars don’t materialize.
And that caused concern for others on council who voiced fears that “special interest” groups would seek a similar deal.
“I have no feelings one way or the other with regards to this movement,” said Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot.
“I’m of the opinion though that we should not be setting a precedent in giving any groups any sort of allowances that we wouldn’t open up to the rest of the special interest groups in the city of Calgary.”
RAMP REVIEW COMING
Noise concerns failed to stall Coun. Evan Woolley’s motion calling for a review of the city’s decades-old ban on backyard “sports ramps.”
Council passed a bylaw in the mid-1980s to stem the proliferation of, primarily, skateboard halfpipes popping up in yards across the city. Since, skateboarding has shed its rebellious image and fad status and grown into multi-billion-dollar industry and mainstream sport.
The city has embarked on an ambitious plan to build several outdoor parks, in addition to the Shaw Millennium Park downtown, over the coming years. Still, many younger kids feel more comfortable honing their skills at home, said Woolley.
“This here is targeting the very young kids who aren’t old enough to go play with the big kids in the skateboard park … and so their parents can watch over them,” he said.
Woolley’s proposal would see ramps be no larger than 1.5 metres high, five metres wide and six metres long and require a development permit.
NO CHANGE TO COUNCIL MEETING TIMES
Coun. Peter Demong’s attempt to curb marathon council meetings over concerns lengthy session led to poor decisions and unnecessary overtime costs was rejected Monday.
Demong’s proposal would have seen scheduled council meetings run from 9:30 in the morning to 6:30 p.m. and, if necessary, continue Tuesday. The meetings can already extend into Tuesday but don’t start until 1 p.m.
But staying past the dinner hour requires administration to stay at City Hall to answer any questions and rack up to $10,000 a week in overtime, according to Demong’s motion.
But Coun. Diane Colley-Urquhart suggested council was becoming less efficient with its time and feared officially extending meeting hours would be a bad call.
“Setting us up for two-day meetings is, to me, entirely the wrong direction to go,” said Colley-Urquhart, suggesting councillors attend standing policy committees to have their questions answered and reduce the amount of time spent in regular meetings.
PARKING FINE HIKED
Ignoring temporary parking bans when city crews sweep roughly sand, gravel and debris from Calgary roads each spring will now cost $120.
Council approved the increase, more than double the current $50 penalty, to help cover the cost of towing vehicles short distances and out of the path of street sweepers.
Each spring, the city scours about 40,000 cubic metres of debris from 14,600 kilometres of road.
Left alone, the dirt and gravel can wreck havoc on the city’s storm drainage system and be a hazard to drivers and cyclists.
The city ticketed and towed 2,508 vehicles during this year’s spring street sweeping, up from 2,432 in 2014 and 1,528 in 2013.
thowell@calgaryherald.com
