WARD 1 REPORT Councillor Ward Sutherland COMMUNITY AND MUNICIPAL NEWS September 2020 WARD 1 HIGHLIGHTS Union wage negotiations ................. 2 Bowmont/Dale Hodges Park updates ... 6 Calgary Transit fall changes ............. 4 New car ride sharing service .............. 11 Responsible Pet Ownership ............. 5 ParkPlus Pay machine removals ......... 12 WARD 1 REPORT Telling it like it is. Message from Councillor Ward Sutherland. September is a busy time for many Council is asking these unions to families. Summer vacations are over and participate in our financial cutbacks. In Calgarians are dealing with the back-to- November 2019, my NOM called for work and school rushes, all amid contracting out one-quarter of the black changing COVID-19 restrictions. This is cart waste collection service to the also a busy time for Council, as it private sector. In February 2020, my addresses the 2021 City Budget Review. NOM proposed contracting out the management of City-owned golf course Notice of Motion (NOM) - Union operations. You may have noticed radio Wage Contract Negotiations for and television ads from unions targeting 2021-2022 my NOMs and asking residents to call their councillor. Basically, what they are saying is that they, the unions, do not COVID-19 has created significant support my NOMs. additional expenses for the city. Council is cutting back to address these financial issues. In July 2020, my Notice of Council’s Actions Motion (NOM) - Union Wage Contract Negotiations 2021-2022 - was The Ernst & Young Financial Group supported by Council. My NOM report goes public this month and addresses the three major union Council must commit to whether or not contracts due on January 01st, to implement the recommendations. Our 2021. The unions must participate in current property tax budget for 2021 is a our financial challenges and this motion zero percent indicative tax rate (see deals with that. Council directed union wage chart on page 3). Administration to address our fiscal challenges and wage negotiations and Council has demonstrated leadership by they are responsible to follow our volunteering to accept 0% wage direction. Administration will report adjustments and has seen compounded back to Council this month with a wage adjustments since 2014 fall negotiating strategy. Ernst & Young roughly 5% below compounded Financial Group was contracted to inflation (-.33% average 5 years). Now is review the City’s budget and to explore the time for unions to follow suit. permanent budget savings. Continue to page 3 2 Union Wage Chart - 2016 -2020 I know that in our city and province there is a cloud of uncertainty regarding the future of our local and international economy, and our local businesses are feeling this insecurity. I cannot stress enough, if you have the financial ability to eat out, please support your local restaurants and shops. They need the additional help to get through the upcoming winter. Warm regards Ward Sutherland 3 WARD 1 REPORT Calgary Transit Fall 2020 Service Changes Calgary Transit’s fall service changes began on August 31, 2020. As schools and businesses reopen, Calgary Transit is excited to have These changes will help the City of customers returning. This upcoming Calgary to be more cost effective in service change will restore much of the delivering service while reducing the service that was reduced in May due to number of customers having to wait for the impacts of COVID-19. In addition, another bus due to limited capacity. The school routes that are normally mandatory mask bylaw will help removed during the summer months customers feel safer on transit and our will be re-introduced. These service heightened sanitization and cleaning changes will help with the projected processes will remain in place. increase in ridership and keep customers well connected throughout For the 2020/2021 school year, service the city. for most schools will remain the same as previous years. For more information, Highlights of the service changes visit www.calgarytransit.com. include: • Increased frequency • Extended service times • Returning to four-car service as demand increases • As of August 17, Calgary Transit has removed the limited capacity on our vehicles to a full seated load. 4 Calgarians input wanted for Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw Calgarians’ input wanted to prioritize safety through positive pet interactions in bylaw review The City of Calgary is continuing the Feedback provided by Calgarians will be review of the Responsible Pet used to inform potential Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw by seeking input from Ownership Bylaw amendments for Calgarians on potential bylaw changes Council’s consideration and proposed and other considerations they may have administrative changes. in a second phase of engagement. Areas of focus in this phase were chosen For more information or to participate in because of feedback from Calgarians the information sessions and survey, and City employees, including visit Calgary.ca/petbylaw. community peace officers, in the initial phase of engagement. Background information "Safety and positive interactions In the initial phase of engagement for between pets and the public are the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw important to The City of Calgary," says Review, public feedback was collected Jennifer Lawlor, a Business Strategist in-person and online between February with Calgary Community Standards. "We 26 and May 27, 2020. Engagement have completed research and are participants included industry analyzing the data to look for stakeholders, City of Calgary staff, pet opportunities to improve safety. We are owners and more, who provided a wide seeking further input from Calgarians range of input into topics including: and examining best practices in other urban wildlife, feral, stray and roaming municipalities to create cats, urban agriculture, vicious dogs, recommendations that best support licensing, administration and on prioritized safety and encourage responsible pet ownership. positive relationships between people and pets." Research findings and input provided by the public, City staff and targeted Calgarians can participate in an online stakeholders in phase one of survey until September 17, 2020. Public engagement can be found at www. information sessions will also be calgary.ca/petbylaw. facilitated online on September 8 and 12. 5 WARD 1 REPORT Construction project updates at Bowmont and Dale Hodges Park For a close-up of the pathway detour map, visit: www.Calgary.ca Construction Updates * move the pathway away from the edge of the river bank, Calgary Parks has an update on two * replace a culvert to improve drainage construction projects at Bowmont Park and help reduce winter pathway icing, and Dale Hodges Park. Both projects are * improve pathway and area safety for located near each other along the users. regional pathway beside the river. Due to construction, some trees and Bowmont Park Pathway plants will be removed. After the work is Realignment finished, the area will be replanted with native plants to support biodiversity, Since 2014, the river bank has erosion mitigation and citizen substantially eroded. There is now only enjoyment of the area. a small distance between the edge of the pathway and the sharp drop off to This project will result in a pathway the river. This work is needed to: closure for 2-3 weeks. 6 Bowmont East (Dale Hodges Park) users. The paved pathway will be closed Bank Rehabilitation for access at the locations indicated on the maps. This project will stabilize the river bank by planting balsam poplar and willow Trails are available to provide a shorter shrubs as well as controlling for alternate route, but they may be steep/ invasive plants. The work is needed to uneven and not easily used by persons move the pathway away from the river with limited mobility or wheeled users bank, due to extensive erosion and (e.g. strollers). ongoing impacts from the 2013 flood, protect critical storm pond This closure means you cannot go infrastructure in the area, support through the park from one end to the biodiversity and future flood mitigation other on the paved pathway. through bio-engineering (using natural systems and processes to design Most trails will not be impacted, and will solutions to projects and problems) and, remain accessible - unless otherwise most importantly create a safer indicated/signed. experience for pathway users. Commuters, wheeled users and those This work is needed to: with limited mobility are advised to plan different routes in the park for the * protect critical infrastructure, construction period (approx. 2-3 weeks). * support bank stability, * mitigate erosion, * increase the biodiversity of native vegetation and habitat quality, as well as improve pathway and area safety for users. When * Bowmont Park Pathway Realignment: late August through September 2020 * Bowmont East Bank Rehabilitation: September 2020 and April-May 2021 Who’s Impacted The closure will impact paved pathway Image courtesy of Wilco Contractors Southwest. 7 Protecting our water infrastructure protect this asset while also stabilizing assets the adjacent banks of the canal from continued erosion caused by river The City of Calgary continues to treat, flooding. Vegetation will also be planted test and deliver high-quality water to within the matting on the banks to Calgarians during the COVID-19 further enhance stability of the area. pandemic. While we prioritize the delivery of essential services, our Construction impacts capital construction programs are moving forward where possible. These Work began on August 31 and it will projects are critical to supporting take approximately one month to current and future development. complete. Water services will not be interrupted. The City's most important priority remains the health, safety and well- Volker Stevin crews will be on-site being of staff and contractors. They will working Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. continue to put in place new measures to 7 p.m. Work hours may be extended and protocols to ensure public health is or occur on Sundays to keep scheduled protected.