LETTER – Questions and answers about parking, dogs, pigeons during big events
(Image: Mel Rothenburger)
Following are some questions asked by a city resident, and the reply from the City:
CANADA DAY, MUSIC IN THE PARK, RIBFEST
1 Parking at a premium around Riverside Park, and traffic congestion on Lorne Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue. As in past years. Are you going to allow illegal parking (no tickets) on Lorne Street on these functions? There are two parkades that sit empty on these functions. So, if I park on any other time day or night, do I get a ticket?
2 Dogs are not allowed in park except in certain areas, correct? Do I understand that the city employees have been instructed to ignore this infraction and allow dogs at these functions! So, if this is the case why then am I asked to remove my dog at other times?
3 I am sure that the employees would like to have regular time or overtime to enforce your bylaws.
4 On another note. Bryon has informed me that the pigeon crap that is on the ground under the train trestle at 1st Avenue was cleaned nightly by city employees in years past, and now he informed me that he has contracted this job out to a private company, which they may clean this mess three times a week, whenever then can clean up the crap.
5 What is happening with our council/management people to change bylaws to suit the needs of a few?
Cheers,
BILL TRAVIS
Mr. Travis,
Thank you for your email and bringing your concerns to us. I have provided answers to the questions that I can speak to and provide answers for.
1 The policy and practice of the city has not changed and we do enforce the parking bylaw and rules regardless of any event that is held at Riverside Park. Community Services Officers (CSO), either when patrolling in the area or alerted to infractions from a service request, will imploy a combination of strategies as we always do of education and enforcement. Canada Day, Music in the Park, or Ribfest are not exceptions.
2 You are correct and dogs are not allowed in the park area of Riverside Park. No, you are misinformed, and city staff have not been told to ignore these rules for these events. If someone sees a dog in the park, they should call 250-828-3409 to make a service request so a CSO can address this. Again, if a CSO is already on scene in the park and they notice a dog in a non-permitted area they will deal with it.
3 No answer required.
4 City staff in the past did not clean this area nightly to our knowledge at Civic Operations. The area was addressed on a complaint basis from the public, spring cleanup or if requested prior to events. A level of service for this task was set this past winter which has Civic Operations staff attending the area once a month to wash the sidewalks with either a flusher truck or pressure washer team. We will also attend the site if a request for service comes in and the area needs attention. Please note that this work is dependent on mild conditions and not done in the winter months. The area is scheduled to be cleaned tonight in advance of Canada Day celebrations.
5 From a city perspective, we do not change or alter bylaws to suit the needs of a few residents or individuals. We periodically amend or update our bylaws based on changing legislation, expectations of the public in general, or needs which come from the complaints or issues that we deal with related to practicality of use or non-compliance of the end user. When we do updates, we also conduct reviews of other municipalities and engage with our peers to ensure that we are in the ball park with what others are doing.
I hope this has addressed your questions.
KEN UZELOC
Acting CAO
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Mr. Travis should be aware that in the event the level crossings at 2nd and 3rd are blocked to vehicle traffic by a CP freight train there is a possibility that Lorne Street is also blocked at the same time by a “coal train” at the level crossing to the east of Riverside Park.
In that case, the underpass at 1st is the only access to and from Riverside Park for vehicles whether they are operated by the general public or First Responder vehicles such as KFR fire trucks, BCAS ambulances or RCMP vehicles.
The underpass at 1st is an important part of the transportation infrastructure. Thanks for bringing some of your points to our attention.
LikeLike
Congratulations to Mr. Travis. I believe this is the first documented response anyone has recieved from the city.
Is this the same Mr. Uzeloc who always states that the cause of suspicious fires are under investigation, so that by the time the news cycle is over, no confirmation is ever published in the media? That the majority of fires are caused by you know whos?
Are we still sending big expensive fire trucks to wet facilities 900 times a year? How about asking that question.
LikeLiked by 1 person