Monday, January 28, 2008
Transit Forum
I was at the transit forum Wednesday evening, January 23rd.
The audience was solidly in favour of a light rail system out to
And no, making that statement is not a result of using mind altering substances. With changing economic circumstances reality can only be denied for so long. Maybe I should have said – hopefully before it is to late ….
The bad news is that it was made clear that the province requires “partnerships” if municipalities wish provincial funds for projects. What that mean is that cities must be willing to invest/spend their own money on any project they seek provincial funds on.
This “put your money where your mouth is” policy is not unreasonable, even though it unfortunately bodes ill for Abbotsford in getting provincial funding. I say bodes ill because with the financial debt burden city hall has assumed with Plan A, there is not likely going to be any funds available to “partner” with the provincial government.
Leaving infrastructure unbuilt and provincial funds not coming to Abbotsford thus rendering the “legacy” of Plan A all the missed opportunities for provincial funds and needed infrastructure unbuilt.
I do have one suggestion for a novel approach by Abbotsford city hall to transit planning vis-à-vis the ever lengthening commute to work in
Who knows, such a rational response may even penetrate the provincial government and encourage them to think and plan about commuting and traffic flow rather than blindly slapping down more highways and byways.
Friday, January 11, 2008
SIGH!
Could someone please explain to the Parks, Recreation and Culture department that they exist to provide citizens with services; citizens do not exist solely to provide large sums of money through their taxes to Parks and Rec?
Walking into the pool at ARC I found another sign that Park's and Rec attitude towards the public seems to be "Bleep the public, it is all about Parks and Rec."
There is a large bulletin board on the wall that WAS in use as a place to post notices and fliers of interest to the public from both non-Parks/Rec sources and from Parks/Rec itself.
No more. In the middle of this largely (and strangely) empty board is a notice informing the public that this board is now only for the use of posting Parks/Rec fliers, posters or information.
The notice does contain the statement that at some indefinite point in time, in some unspecified location, a bulletin board for the public (who foots the bill for ARC and its bulletin boards) will appear. There is no explanation of why the public could not continue, as it has for decades, to post on the bulletin board until such time as another board could be installed.
What public convenience or usage is next on the Parks/Rec hit list?
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Are the new All-Weather fields SAFE?
Sadly, it would only surprise me if the city managed such a project without mishap and with sound management practices. Given the current council and city management, successful implementation and installation of any capital project and contract seems pretty much a Forlorn Hope.
What is of concern to me about mismanagement of the soccer fields, in contrast to the last fumbling mismanagement exercise, is the possible consequences.
Award a pool construction contract to a company who has never built a pool and you get the Centennial Pool debacle. Worst comes to worst you only have a leaky pool – and the high costs of repair. Athletes and other users are in contact with the water, not the pool structure itself.
With an all weather soccer field the athletes and other users are in direct contact with the playing surface, the structure, of the field. An artificial surface over artificial support materials, on a foundation/base prepared to provide proper support for the field.
These different layers need to be installed and bonded securely, safely and above all properly. Which is why you schedule the installation for a time of year were you could expect good, dry weather and want to have the installation done by a crew experienced in the installation of these types of materials.
Not during the cold, rainy weather of our local winter. Not with inexperienced labourers.
Because if the installation is not done RIGHT you have an increased, significantly increased, probability of the field itself causing serious or crippling injuries to the citizens of Abbotsford and visiting teams using the fields.
The question of increased risk to the safety of those using the field is what is of primary concern to me. I can live with the usual ineffective, wasteful and costly management by council and staff – as long as the safety of those using the field is not negatively affected.
Not just because of the potential for costly lawsuits, but because citizens have a right to expect the City to provide playing surfaces that are well constructed and safe for citizens and their children.
So I want to know what has council and staff done to ensure proper and safe installation?
