February 2023 Newsletter

Greetings Ward 14! 

I hope the new year is treating you well. While we are still in the grip of winter, I always like to remind myself that the days are getting longer, and with that the sun gradually thaws this beautiful place.  

Stay safe, stay off storm ponds 

The City of Calgary wants to remind kids and their families to be safe while enjoying outdoor skating. Many City of Calgary or community-designated outdoor skating rinks are open or will be opening soon, offering fun, free skating for all skill levels. Rinks kept by The City are checked daily for ice thickness and quality, and surfaces are flooded as needed to make sure they’re safe for skating.  

Prior to lacing up, it’s important to remember that not all ice surfaces are safe for skating. While your community storm pond may look inviting, recreational activities are not allowed on them. Storm ponds play an important role, providing protection from overland flooding while returning cleaner water back to the river, but they have hidden hazards that make them dangerous to people and pets. Rapidly changing water levels cause unstable air gaps and quickly changing depths. The ponds also have sediment and contaminants (e.g., bacteria, fertilizers, pesticides, vehicle fluids, metals, and road salt) that are collected as water travels through the community on their way to the storm pond, which can weaken the ice. That’s why it’s not safe to skate, walk or play on storm ponds.  

You can visit calgary.ca/rinks to find a safe place to skate near you. 

Online Map Shows Calgary Building Structures in 3D 

The City of Calgary keeps data and maps for several different purposes, and I really like it when they take that chance to share some of the information publicly. Just one example is the 3D Digital Gallery Map. It lets you explore your neighborhood and Calgary in a new way. The 3D Digital Calgary map shows 3D building wireframes for all exterior building structures, ground elevation and has capabilities such as shadow casting. This map is found at https://maps.calgary.ca/3ddigitalcalgary/. To view more City of Calgary maps, you can visit the Map Gallery at https://mapgallery.calgary.ca/. 

Public Hearing Information Online 

City planning and public hearings are a big part of what City Council does, and some people like to keep on top of what is going on in their neighbourhood. For those people there is a new online resource for keeping up on what is coming to public hearing at City Council. The info can be found at calgary.ca/planningmatters, where you can also sign up for email notifications and find out how to take part in a public hearing. 

Reminder: 2023 Customer Review Period 

By now you should have received your property assessment notice in the mail. It is really important that you review it, and the City offers general resources on calgary.ca/assessment and property specific tools through the secure logon feature of Assessment Search at calgary.ca/assessmentsearch to help.  

By logging onto your property specific account on Assessment Search, you can: 

• Check the property details used to find the assessed value of your property.
• Update your residential property details. It’s important you keep your information current, as incorrect property details may result in assessments that do not accurately reflect the value of your property.
• Compare your property’s assessed value to other similar properties in your area to ensure fairness.
• Review real estate market trends and learn how your property was assessed.

The City also offers a property tax calculator at calgary.ca/assessment to help you estimate your 2023 Property Tax and find out where your tax dollars go. 

If you have questions, please contact the City’s Assessment Department during the 2023 Customer Review Period which runs from Jan. 4 to March 13, 2023. 

Go Paperless Contest – More Prizes. Less Clutter. 

When you switch to a paperless assessment notice (eNotice) you can enter for a chance to win one of 12 Visa gift cards valued at $250 each. After you sign-up for eNotice, you will receive an email with the contest entry link. Just complete the form and you are entered. The contest is open to new and existing eNotice subscribers. 

For the City going paperless saves:

• Time: We save five years of assessment notices so they’re always easy to find.
• Trees: Paperless assessment notices are greener. Switching is good for forests.
• Tax dollars: Mailing paper assessment notices to 500,000 households is expensive. 

THERE IS NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. The contest begins Jan. 1, 2023 and ends March 31, 2023. There are 12 Prizes, each consisting of a $250 Visa gift card. Your odds of winning a Prize depend on the number of eligible entries received during the Contest Period. To win, a potential winner must correctly answer a skill-testing question and sign a declaration and release form. The contest is open to Alberta residents over the age of majority, and subject to the full contest rules available online at calgary.ca/gopaperless. 

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Feel free to contact me any time. The best way to contact me is by visiting calgary.ca/contactward14 or calling (403) 268-1653. 

-Councillor Peter Demong