The previous council dealt with icy sidewalks for the last time in May of 2011. This excerpt is from the minutes of that May meeting.
CBK. IN MOTION – MAY 12/11 RECOMMEND. 221-11 THAT Council receive the Report Recommendation from the Corporate Services Department titled “Cranbrook in Motion Committee Recommendations May 12, 2011 Meeting; and further, that Council approve the recommendation from the Cranbrook in Motion Committee with regard to snow removal requirements to maintain the current voluntary-compliance system for snow removal on residential sidewalks; to include a component in the City’s Communications Plan that encourages residents to clear the sidewalks in front of their residences and encourage participation in the “Snow Angel” program by way of promotional events.
Given that the city likely does not have the extra funds or equipment to clean all sidewalks for us
Given that ‘voluntary’ is not working in many areas and many residential areas have dangerous walking conditions
Given that most people do not know how or where to contact Snow Angels and given that there have proven to be too few at this time
Given that there are many residents who are disgruntled with the dangerous conditions of many sidewalks
and Given that walking in the fresh air daily is one of the best ways to keep up or improve health and thus save the medical system
What would you suggest to improve the situation?
Please send us your suggestions?
Should there be an enforceable bylaw with fines for non-compliance?
Could garbage collection drivers or posties report dangerous sidewalks back to the city?
Should individual letters be sent to residents?
Could those required to do community service be asked to do this work?
Could the city offer crusher dust to spread on their frontage sidewalk to anyone who cares to collect it – free of charge?
Your solutions?
"Given that there are many residents who are disgruntled with the dangerous conditions of many sidewalks" this is a no brainer. The council should reallocate funds and clean the sidewalks. Only in Cranbrook would a council abdicate its responsibility. Let's hear from the new mayor and councillors on this one.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a suggestion as to where the funds might be reallocated from? Certainly an idea to consider and if that is to be one solution I'm sure Council would like to know what we are prepared to do without.
ReplyDeleteWould a 'middle of the road' suggestion (sorry about that as this is where I usually walk!)be to clear and gravel more routes to the down town with connectors and then publish the manicured routes?
One would need a copy of the public works budget to determine where reallocations could occur, but having had some years of experience working with municipal budgets, it is not rocket science. And generally can be done without really having anyone do without existing services. It totally depends on the council. CLC changed the scene in Cranbrook from the grassroots even though the last council didn't get it until the election results came in. I hope council will at least look at how this situation can be improved upon and maybe ask citizens for ideas.
ReplyDeleteFor 19 years of the 20 years I have lived on 27th Avenue, I dilligently cleaned 100 feet of public sidewalk on 27th Avenue. However, the city with its equipment continues to deposit more snow on the sidewalk than I originally cleaned off,so I have finally given up. How do you clean 18" of snow that is all clumped up and hard as a rock?
ReplyDeleteOn a number of blocks the city, having removed the boulevardss it so actively sought to instate in the 1920's, often leaves the houseowner with nowhere to properly pile the snow. Any snow deposited on the road either inhibits parking or is thrown back up on the sidewalk by the city plows.
ReplyDeleteI walk everywhere and have noted a huge difference between the city's roads and sidewalks after a snowfall and the parking lots at Safeway/Giant Tiger, Save on Foods, Tamarack Mall, Walmart/Superstore. The parking lots are cleaned quickly and efficiently while the city takes its time, or so it seems, and the job is never quite all done. Maybe it is because the parking lots need to be cleaned or customers will be lost! The city is able to collect taxes snow or no snow. I gave up calling the city public works and/or mayor/councillors years ago.I walk very carefully and share complaints with all the other walkers.
ReplyDelete