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Aldergrumps against bankers’ hours
Usually, the theatrics from aldermen force city staff to stay at work odd hours. In this case, two of them offer theatrics outside the chamber to tout their proposal for evening and weekend hours at...
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Aldermen say they’re running again in 2013, but…
(This post has been updated, 11:50am Wednesday) The Herald has surveyed all 14 aldermen on their plans for next October election. Here’s what they say. Running again in ward (11): Jim Stevenson, Gael...
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Nicotine-induced death and taxes: What to watch at March 31 council meeting
One more cold-weather council meeting, then it’s gonna be actual spring then actual summer… ri-ight? Pleeeeease? Here’s what the Herald will be following, and you may want to as well: Property taxes...
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City aims to extend times for playground zones
Motorists may be hitting their brakes more often if a city push to extend playground zone times is supported by council. The city’s traffic department wants the 30 km/h speed zone to kick in at 7:30...
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Council criticized for trimming public art budget
Calgary’s new public art policy will cut $188,000 out of the roughly $5-million annual art budget, though councillors came close to stripping even more from the controversial beautification program....
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Council votes down proposal to study household pet limits
City council voted down a notice of motion to study the merits of imposing a pet limit on Calgarians Tuesday evening. Following the seizure of 33 dogs living in filthy conditions last month, Ward 13...
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City report says school bus lights, stop arms may decrease safety
Allowing school buses to activate flashing lights and stop arms when children board and disembark on city streets may do more harm than good, according to a recent report re-examining the use of such...
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Councillors defer vote on transit fare increase
Calgary’s city council is grappling with balancing lower transit fares for seniors with its goals to simplify fare structures and increase revenue. After an hour-long discussion Wednesday, councillors...
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Editorial: Reducing Calgary's snow woes
Kudos to the city – with a caveat. The kudos are for proposing to add $4 million annually to the snow clearing budget so that crews can clear sidewalks and snowbanks at the curb for approximately...
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Close neighbours could get more input on secondary suites
Neighbours should be the jury that determines whether suites go ahead, rather than the 15 men and women of council, say two councillors willing to end the zoning restrictions on suites in many areas....
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First term councillor tapped to head city finance committee
Calgary’s new budget chief promises major changes in how the city calculates property taxes and allocate languishing capital reserve funds tied to stalled projects. “There are a lot of projects that...
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Enmax outsourcing 38 jobs to India
Enmax is outsourcing dozens of jobs related to its billing and customer-care operations, but a spokesperson said customers who contact the utility company will continue to speak to local customer...
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Councillor defends Enmax outsourcing
City-owned utility Enmax needs to be able to compete on the same playing field as other corporations, even if that means outsourcing dozens of local jobs, said a city councillor Wednesday. Coun. Peter...
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Council rejects compromise on basement suites
Council has yet again rejected any compromise actions that would make it easier to create legal secondary suites, opting for the less politically risky tack of further study of a few reform options....
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Nenshi resists pressure to apologize for 'blotto' remarks
The mayor’s refusal to apologize for comments about councillor drinking will trigger a potential whistleblower complaint and a stretch of difficult council relations, Naheed Nenshi’s disappointed...
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Councillor calls for freeze on public art program during economic slump
A councillor is using the oil price slump as rationale to demand the city freeze its public art program and spend the money on projects rather than beautification. Coun. Peter Demong’s proposal to...
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Letters for Saturday, Feb. 21
It’s a dog-fight-dog world in fenced park Re: “City installing security cameras in Britannia area park,” Feb. 18. In the 12 years I have taken my dog to the Britannia Slopes area, I have never seen as...
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Lakritz: Strike up Chopin's Funeral March for death of public art
What is art? Painter Marc Chagall said: “Art is the unceasing effort to compete with the beauty of flowers — and never succeeding.” American author Saul Bellow said: “Art has something to do with the...
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Klassen: City makes an art out of spending public's money (with poll)
Not to be an alarmist, but the numbers are alarming. Plunging oil prices have already led to 25,000 Alberta job losses (and those numbers are reflected a by-now enviable $85 a barrel oil; there’s a lot...
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City councillors divided as they prepare to debate motion to suspend public...
A motion to freeze the city’s public art program amid falling oil prices is expected to spawn heated debate at a city council meeting on Monday, with some local politicians expressing sharp opposition...
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