An impressive turnout of 89 members attended and three proxies were declared at the September 29 AGM. Alderman Diane Colley-Urquhart planned to be there but a lengthy debate at City Council on Plan-It Calgary prevented that and she forwarded her regrets. Dar-lynn Lynn represented MLA Dave Rodney’s office.
Elections were held. Perlita Arasaki and Tim Robert were appointed as incoming Directors replacing Wendy Ivey and Sue Saunders. On behalf of SECA, I would like to welcome our new Directors while extending thanks and much appreciation to Wendy and past president Sue. Both served the SECA Board for several terms. The newly elected Board will lead the battle against Geo-Energy if and when their application is submitted to the City’s Planning Department. As of October 5, despite their stated intentions to file by mid-September, no land use change application has been received by the City. The Board, together with community volunteers who have offered to assist us, are geared up and ready to oppose the plan to build 1100 condo units on the golf course. We will post an announcement at the SECA web site as soon as we are advised that a land use change application has been submitted. Members will be interested to learn that Alderman Diane Colley-Urquhart is planning another Town Hall in January for a discussion on the golf course and Plan-It Calgary; details to be announced.
Our neighbours in Ward 14 are currently opposing a rezoning application for a high density development – a 75m (25 storey) high rise on Lake Fraser Way SE - on vacant land between the LRT parking structure and the Agrium building. Details of the application have been posted on the SECA website. For more information, please go online at http://www.shawnee-evergreen.net/. I encourage you to oppose this proposal for the negative impact it will have for residents of Ward 14 and for our own community based on increased traffic density/congestion and higher greenhouse gas emissions that will occur if approved. By standing with our neighbours we trust that when the time comes they will, for similar reasons, support us in our fight against the golf course development.
At the AGM many people expressed their annoyance with the Board for approving the traffic calming measures without calling on the community for a vote. While I was not on the Board when community residents contacted SECA and the City with their concerns regarding pedestrian and cyclist safety and traffic speed, I have researched this matter in the SECA President’s files and can provide assurances that there was nothing unusual in the way the matter was handled. Traffic calming measures did not appear overnight, in fact it took seven years, from 2002 to 2009 and three community presidents before traffic speed bumps, centre median island treatments and curb extensions were installed on Evergreen Street, Evergreen Drive and Shawnee Drive. There is significant evidence on file that the community was involved and informed throughout the process through meetings, surveys and written communications from both SECA and the City of Calgary’s Transportation Planning Department.
Many residents also expressed concern about driving over the speed bumps in winter once deposits of snow and ice have accumulated. Senior Transportation Planner, Rick Morris advised that there has not been a big concern with respect to winter maintenance in other communities where traffic calming has been implemented. He offered the following comments in response to my inquiry:
Q: What de-icing treatment will the Roads Department apply to the speed bumps in winter and will it be different from the way the road surface was treated prior to traffic calming.
A: The same treatment for winter snow and ice control work will be done on the collector streets in Shawnee Evergreen as was in effect prior to traffic calming. Note that community roadways that have Calgary Transit bus routes are given some priority over other roadways. We have not experienced issues with other speed cushions in areas such as Signal Hill, where the road type and function are very similar to Shawnee Evergreen. However, if any issues were to arise, I have confirmed Roads Maintenance staff would investigate and respond as required.
Q: Has anyone from the City been out to assess the speed bumps for their effectiveness and safety and do they require any adjustments.
A: Our engineers from Roads have been on-site to verify accuracy of construction. All of the surveys have been completed and the measures were found to meet the City’s specifications. It was determined that no adjustments were required.
As President, I acknowledge that there is always room for improvement in my communications. Residents can communicate with us in many ways. Board of Directors’ contact information is listed in the monthly SECA newsletter inside the cover page. We send out emails to our membership list to those who have provided an email address and we regularly update the website whenever we need to get a message out to the community. Members are encouraged to attend the monthly SECA Board meetings, held on the third Tuesday of the month at the Tri-Services building, 450 Midpark Way, SE where they can bring forward questions and concerns. And, remember, if you volunteer to be on the Board or a committee you attend meetings where you can address your concerns in person.
Respectfully submitted.
Gloria Dingwall