Ward 6 - Richard Pootmans

June 2024 Newsletter

Hello Ward 6!

June has been a trying time of water restrictions due to the critical water main break on 16 Ave NW, but once again Calgarians have shown how resilient we are when we work together. Thank you to everyone who conserved water all these weeks. I also want to send my utmost gratitude to all City of Calgary employees and contractors who have worked tirelessly and diligently to repair the water main break. Your efforts and hard work are appreciated. In this edition of the newsletter, you will learn about the water main break, potholes, Douglas Fir Trail update, the latest parking scam and much more.

COUNCIL UPDATES

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Critical Water Main Break

The City of Calgary is continuing its State of Local Emergency for an additional week with the ongoing repair work on the water feeder main break. The restoration is progressing on schedule for a potential July 5 completion date.

The water feeder main hotspots and installation of new pipe sections has begun. We are replacing four out of five of the hotspots.

In the one instance where we're not removing the damaged pipe, the existing pipe will be reinforced instead. This past weekend we installed the reinforcing steel and poured the concrete. Now, we're letting the concrete cure before removing the formwork and backfilling the repair later this week.

The work done on the original site of the water feeder main break was completed earlier this week and has allowed us to re-pave the road. We are pleased to announce that the section of 16 Avenue N.W. between Home Road and 49 Street N.W. has reopened.

Non-potable options now available for Calgarians

If you are looking for non-potable water to water gardens, flowers and indoor/outdoor plants, the City now has complimentary river water available for pick-up.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Location: Ambrose University, 150 Ambrose Cir SW (other locations are also available)

How does river water pick-up work?

City staff will be on-site to assist with the water trailer. There will be a hose to gravity fill from a trailer.
You must bring your own container to hold the water (for example, buckets, tubs, gallon buckets, etc.).
This is a self-load water pick-up. You will be responsible for carrying water to your vehicle at the pick-up site and unloading. City staff are not permitted to load containers into your vehicle. Water is heavy, choose your container wisely. For example, a 4-litre milk jug weighs 4 kilos or 8.8 pounds.
To ensure there is a fair opportunity for all Calgarians, you can take up to 25 gallons/100 litres of water.

For more information, visit: Residential river water pick up (calgary.ca)

What you need to know:

Shouldice Athletic Park, including playing fields, pathways and roadways are closed until further notice.
Sections of the north side of Edworthy Park, including pathways and the north parking lot are closed to access until further notice.
See all service disruptions here Water main break - service interruptions (calgary.ca)
Mandatory Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions are in place.
Planned events are still happening - they may look a little different.
A fire ban is in effect for The City of Calgary.
Our water is safe to drink.
calgary.ca/live has live streaming video updates daily. It also has written latest updates.
Water main break Frequently Asked Questions

Potholes

I was happy to support the approval of shifting $8.9 million from the winter maintenance reserve toward the pavement rehabilitation capital program in 2024-25.

Report a pothole by contacting 311 by phone, app or online https://www.calgary.ca/roads/maintenance/pothole-repair.html

You can also view the status of potholes by clicking here: https://maps.calgary.ca/potholes/

DID YOU KNOW?

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Calgary Police Service District 2 Advisory

Calgary Police Service would like Ward 6 residents to be aware of an influx in residental Break and Enters. This time of year, CPS generally sees an increase of Break and Enters due to the warm weather. CPS encourages you to be diligent in completing the 9PM Routine.

While most incidents are happening between 1 to 5 a.m., we are reminding residents to:

🚗 Ensure that your vehicle is locked when parked outside

🏡 Take your garage door openers inside at night

🔐 Check that your garage doors are closed before you go to bed

🔑 Do not leave keys inside or near your vehicles, even if parked in the garage

🏠 Report suspicious activity by calling the non-emergency number, 403-266-1234

Parking Scam

Parking payment scams are increasing across the city as more cybercriminals seek new ways to deceive Calgarians on paying for their alleged (bogus) parking tickets. On Monday, June 10, 2024, Calgary Parking was informed of a new parking scam. Physical parking tickets are being placed on vehicles which include a fraudulent website link - CalgaryParkPlus.com - for payment of tickets.

What Calgarians should know:

Fake vs Real: Fake tickets direct individuals to make payments at 'CalgaryParkPlus.com.' This is NOT the authorized website that Calgary Parking uses for paying tickets. Calgary Parking’s official websites for ticket payments are:
www.calgaryparking.com/tickets
https://ParkingTickets.CalgaryParking.com
Verify it: If you receive a parking ticket, you can verify its authenticity by contacting Calgary Parking at 403-537-7000 or online at CalgaryParking.com.
Destroy it: If you identify a parking ticket as fake, please destroy it immediately to prevent further confusion. Do NOT follow any instructions provided on the fraudulent ticket.
Report it: If you have any information or witness individuals distributing these fake parking tickets, please report it to the Calgary Police Service (CPS) non-emergency line at 403-266-1234.
Protect Yourself: Do NOT share personal information online or over the phone unless you are sure it's safe.

Douglas Fir Trail

The Douglas Fir Trail remains closed, while the Bow River regional pathway has been reopened following its routine seasonal closure. Regular weekly inspections of the closure signage/fencing have shown continued trespassing in this area. A friendly reminder that the trail remains closed due to public safety concerns and that trespassing is unsafe.

The City will shortly be undertaking a project to help repair a portion of one location of the Douglas Fir Trail that exhibits a need for slope stabilization. We are working with interested parties to put the necessary agreements in place to initiate the slope remediation work at this site, which would then be followed by the restoration of the trail along that section. This stabilization project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 but is contingent upon finalization of the abovementioned agreements. We will update you further on project timelines as we progress.

Additionally, the City is leading a slope stability assessment project for the larger Douglas Fir Trail area. In January 2024, we engaged a consultant to conduct a geotechnical slope stability assessment focused on general erosion, stability, and drainage concerns, and on existing trail infrastructure damage. The assessment is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. At that time, we will update the community about next steps for the larger Douglas Fir Trail.

To help mitigate slope stability concerns in the area currently in general, the City is performing monthly monitoring, complemented by a geotechnical consultant who collects instrument readings with each inspection.

Edworthy Park Habitat Management Plan

As part of our commitment to enhancing the natural environment and ensuring the sustainable management of our parks, Calgary Parks and Open Spaces is seeking your valuable input for the Edworthy Park Habitat Management Plan.

Over the next few months, you’ll see engagement signage throughout the park, inviting the public to participate and share their feedback on the values and priorities. We know that Edworthy Park is very important to so many people and we want to give them every opportunity to provide their feedback.

Project Overview: The Edworthy Natural Environment area, nestled in a valley along the Bow River in southwest Calgary, is a vital habitat for local wildlife and an essential green space for our community. To guide its effective management over the next decade, we are developing a comprehensive 10-year habitat management plan (HMP).

Online Survey: You can participate in our online survey hosted on the Engage website. Your feedback will help shape the future of this natural area. The feedback forms will be open until July 26, 2024.
In-Person Park Walks and outdoor Open House: Join us for in-person park walks or outdoor Open House where you can interact with our team, ask questions, and share your thoughts. These walks provide an excellent opportunity to explore the park while contributing to its management.

In-Person Walks

Sunday, June 23, 2024, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Saturday, July 27, 2024, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Outdoor Open House

Sunday, July 21, 2024, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

Your insights matter, and we appreciate your active participation in shaping the future of Edworthy Park Habitat Management Plan. Together, we can create a thriving natural habitat that benefits both our community and the environment.

Secondary Suite Incentive Program Launches

On June 3, 2024, the Secondary Suite Incentive Program, an initiative aimed at encouraging safe and accessible housing for Calgarians, officially opened for applications. The Secondary Suites Incentive Program, a component of Home is Here: The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy, provides qualifying homeowners with a grant of up to $10,000, covering a portion of the construction costs to develop and register a secure secondary suite.

The purpose of the program is to promote the construction of secondary suites to meet safety standards, integrating education with financial incentives for applicants. The incentive applies to suites built within the main dwelling, not backyard or detached suites. Read the full announcement here.

Homeowners will qualify for reimbursement for the cost of installing required safety elements which aren't in the space when they apply. The qualifying safety elements include:

Egress windows
Hardwired and interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Protected exiting
Smoke-tight barriers
Split heat/separate air

Additional funding is available for accessibility and energy efficiency.

Learn more about the Secondary Suite Incentive Program at calgary.ca/suite-incentive.

Youth Golf Programs

Congratulations to the City for winning the Youth on Course Program Location of the Year award as part of the National Facility Awards for Junior Golf for the second year in a row.

The City offers youth or “juniors” plenty of opportunities to take their first swing at one of seven courses. We offer junior and family golf lessons, family golf nights, adaptive family golf nights and anytime family golf deals. The City also participates in programs that make youth golf more affordable like the Youth on Course program and the Take a Kid to the Course initiative. Family subsidies are also available.

EVENTS

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Coach Hill/Patterson Heights (CHPH)- https://www.chph.ca/

Stampede Breakfast: Prominence Way Retirement in Partnership with CHPH

Date: Sunday, July 7^th, 2024

Time: 9 am – 11 am

Place: Prominence Way Retirement Community 905 Prominence Way – West Parking Lot

Join CHPH in the West Parking Lot of Prominence Way Retirement Community for food, music and community fun!

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Glendale/Glendale Meadows Community – https://myglendale.ca

Stampede Breakfast

Date: Saturday, July 6, 2024

Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Place: 4500 25 Avenue SW

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Westside Rec

Calgary Stampede Caravan Pancake Breakfast

Date: Saturday, July 6, 2024

Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Place: 2000 69 ST SW

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West Springs Cougar Ridge (WSCR) - https://wscr.ca/

Annual Charity Stampede Breakfast

Date: Saturday, July 6, 2024

Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Place: West Springs Village- 873 85 St SW

Tickets are $5 per plate and all proceeds go to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.

There will be fun for the whole family, including:

Breakfast by Fergus & Bix
Live music with Wildcard
Children’s activities
Buzz Bishop and the XL 103 Street Team
Gift draws and specials from local merchants

We hope to see ya’ll there!

Free Community Outdoor Activities

Stay n’ Play | children ages 3 - 5 years + adult

Fun, safe, supervised programs that help children and adults make new friends

and stay active through a play-based learning environment. Participants engage

in games and activities that support healthy and active lifestyles. Children must be

accompanied by an adult. Free programs run Monday to Friday. Drop-in on a first

come, first serve basis.

Park n’ Play | children ages 6 - 12 years

Fun safe, supervised programs help children make new friends and learn. Games and

activities are designed to support them on their path to healthy and active lifestyles.

Programs run Monday to Friday. Free Drop-in on a first come, first serve basis.

Jul 8-12, Mon – Fri

Stay n’ Play - 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.