Calgary Minute: Slower Trains, Plebiscite Proposal, and Safety Recommendations Made

Calgary Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Calgary politics

This Week In Calgary:

• On Tuesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Executive Committee. Councillor Mian is set to introduce a Notice of Motion aimed at amending the Procedure Bylaw. The proposed change seeks to establish a rotation system for speakers during public meetings, departing from the current practice where supporters of an item consistently speak first, followed by those in opposition. Councillor Demong will introduce a Notice of Motion aimed at addressing the financial challenges faced by the City of Calgary due to what he calls reductions in provincial funding and increased responsibilities. The Motion calls for engagement with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to discuss the City’s Municipal Funding Gap report, a letter to the Minister seeking solutions, and an in-depth financial update at the April 30th Council meeting. Councillors McLean, Chabot, Sharp, Chu, Demong, and Wong will bring forward a Notice of Motion as well, calling for a plebiscite on blanket rezoning to be held in conjunction with the municipal election on October 20th, 2025. Another Notice of Motion will be brought by Councillors Wong and Chabot and will direct Administration to “prepare options for how private tree conservation tools and incentives could be applied in Calgary, including options for a private tree protection bylaw”.
  
  
• The Infrastructure and Planning Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am. On the agenda is the inaugural Biannual Infrastructure Insights Report, which will provide highlights of ongoing and completed infrastructure projects. The Committee will also discuss a Winter Maintenance Policy Update and hear a briefing regarding policy tools to support heritage conservation.
  
  
• The Ward Boundary Commission will meet on Friday at 1:00 pm. No agenda is available for this meeting yet.

Last Week In Calgary:

• The Downtown Safety Leadership Table, established in July 2023, has released a report with 28 recommendations to enhance safety in the downtown area. Following consultations with stakeholders, including businesses and Indigenous elders, the panel pinpointed key safety concerns such as vandalism, drug-related issues, and the visibility of mental health and addiction challenges. The proposed measures span short-term "quick wins" and more elaborate, long-term "system impacts," necessitating collaborative efforts across various government levels. They include a suggestion to close or remove certain sections of the Plus 15, establish a community court to tackle social disorder and property crimes, and expand mental health and addiction support resources.
  
  
• The City, in partnership with the Calgary Police, United Way, and other community agencies, launched Action Table Calgary (ATC) to provide rapid, coordinated support services for individuals and families facing urgent crises. This initiative aims to bring together representatives from various sectors, including justice, healthcare, education, and housing, to collaboratively address and mitigate elevated risks within the community through a wraparound care approach. ATC plans to convene weekly to create immediate action plans for those in distress, responding to cases within a 24- to 48-hour timeframe. The project is inspired by similar successful programs in Toronto, and follows recommendations from a 2020 report by PolicyWise for Children & Families and the Centre for Suicide Prevention, highlighting the need for improved support systems for individuals experiencing mental health and addiction crises.
  
  
• Following a tragic, fatal incident last month where a vehicle was hit by a CTrain at the level crossing at Memorial Drive and Deerfoot Trail, Calgary Transit has mandated that outbound trains slow down to 45 km/h through this area, a significant reduction from their usual speeds of around 80 km/h. The particular intersection lacks a crossing arm for the eastbound tracks, and the City is conducting a comprehensive review to explore both short-term and long-term safety enhancements, which may include adjustments to train warning systems, signal operations, and physical infrastructure like signage and road markings. Councillor Gian-Carlo Carra said that it’s “disappointing a CTrain full of people have to slow down in the event somebody is driving very poorly.” Classy…

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