Best Bar None, a nightlife safety initiative aimed at reducing alcohol-related violence in and around licensed venues, is coming to Calgary.

More than 300 pubs, clubs, bars and lounges are invited to take part in the Best Bar None program, making the city’s nightlife safer and more enjoyable.

“Safety is always top of mind for Albertans,” said Ron Liepert, Minister of Finance, also responsible for the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission. “I’m pleased so many partners are working together in innovative ways to keep our communities safe and vibrant.”

Best Bar None is a voluntary program, aiming to reduce alcohol-related harms by raising the operating standards of licensed premises as well as building positive relationships among the licensees, law enforcement, industry partners and community groups. The program uses a system of accreditation, assessment and awards to engage nightspots in responsible management and safe operations.

Best Bar None partners include the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, The City of Calgary and the Calgary Police Service. The program is also supported by community agencies such as the Public Safety Taskforce and the Alberta Safer Bars Council.

To find out more go to bestbarnone.ab.ca.

If I can be of assistance on any matter of a civic nature, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone (403) 268-2430, fax (403) 269-3823 or at www. Johnmar.ca

John Mar, Alderman, Ward 8

The extra funds come through an extension of the Enmax Legacy Parks program. Under that deal, first reached in 2003, any of Enmax’s annual dividend to the city above $47.3 million goes into an account for new parks and park refurbishment.

These excess dividends will stop flowing into the parks program fund this year without this approval.

An amount left in the $135-million fund is earmarked to go to the northwest Has-kayne Park, next to the new Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, and Clearwater Park, a massive, pristine land at the west end of Glenmore Trail along the Elbow River.

The parks department would have to craft a list of what projects to fund with an extended, Enmax-funded legacy parks program.

Ald. John Mar, who chairs council’s community services committee, said he wants the parks department to be bold again, with striking projects like Central Memorial Park and the military-themed touches along Memorial Drive.

“The intent of the legacy parks program is in its name. It certainly is a legacy for Calgarians,” Mar said. “It’s been going for 10 years and we should keep it going.”

He’s among 11 aldermen who endorse a motion to devote the $75 million in future Enmax dividend surpluses to the legacy parks program. That virtually assures the motion will pass in the 15-member council when it comes up at a Feb. 6 meeting.

The proposal also envisions stashing half of the windfall above $47.3 million in a new reserve account. The new account, which would top out at $20 million, would shore up the legacy parks fund in any years where there’s no windfall from the city-owned Enmax utility company.

Ald. Peter Demong is a critic of pumping up the parks fund.

Demong said he would rather the city conclude the evaluation of past projects and future ones before committing any money.

“Let’s not put the cart before the horse, again,” he said.

Under council policy, the first $47.3 million of Enmax dividends to the city – the sole shareholder – go into general coffers. Last year’s Enmax profit delivered a $55.6-million dividend, down from $61.8 million in 2010.

It’s smart to create this backstop, Enmax director Ald. Brian Pincott said of the new reserve account.

“We have to recognize that dividends can go up and go down,” Pincott said. “We have pretty consistently counted on them just going up.”

jmarkusoff@calgaryherald.com

CALGARY — Authorities are gearing up to inspect a notorious drug house Wednesday, but the Killarney home’s seller says there are no violations to be found.

Alberta Health Services and city officials are poised to investigate health concerns as well as municipal and provincial infractions at 3716 Kilkenny Rd. S.W.

The home is also the scene of a Nov. 20 homicide of Norman William Andrews.

The home was closed for 90 days earlier this year when the SCAN team used the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act to shutter the residence.

However, the previous owner of the house was able to circumvent the previous order and move back in by selling the house and renting it from the new owner Rick Laszlo.

Laszlo says he was only trying to help Bruce Melvin McDougald get back on his feet.

“I wasn’t trying to shirk any responsibility, but I agreed to give him an opportunity to buy the house back,” said Laszlo.

“I made a mistake. I let the guy stay and I had no idea about the SCAN order. I’ve done everything I possibly can to make this right.”

Laszlo, a private investor, is trying to sell the home to a Killarney resident after repairs are made, raising hope that the drug activity and violence that plagued the property will be a thing of the past.

“I’m going to be screening people because I don’t want to lose my investment,” said potential new owner Greg Lepage.

Laszlo says when he bought the home from the previous owner, the Alberta Justice caveat on the paperwork didn’t look out of the ordinary, and didn’t mention SCAN.

Laszlo says he hopes the experience will spark changes in the system.

“We can make legislation better. I didn’t know I was wronging the community.”

It’s the first time a second community safety order has been issued for the same property.

When Andrews was killed, the SCAN team was in the middle of another investigation after receiving a complaint about resumed drug activity at the property.

The home’s owner is fixing up the bungalow with hopes of selling to a new owner who takes possession mid-April.

“There’s a lot of repairs to be done, they’re not health repairs, they’re simply nicks and dings,” said Laszlo.

Residents expressed concerns at a recent Killarney Community Association meeting.

Longtime resident Ron Gillies says after years of problem renters and police attention, he isn’t holding out hope the improvements will change anything.

“I’d like to see that home bulldozed into the ground. For five years, there’s been broken windows and trouble,” he said.

“I grew up on the street. I can close my eyes and ignore it if I want to but my family lives on this street and they can’t.”

Alderman John Mar says the home has long angered residents.

“This change in ownership is very much a shell game. If you sell the house, the SCAN team has to start from scratch. The crux is that it’s been ongoing in the neighbourhood for several years. We’ve responded the best we can as a municipality.”

“Ultimately, I think this house more than likely has health issues. The municipality has to have a little more authority with what’s going on.”

The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act gives authorities the power to shut down properties connected to gang activity, drugs or prostitution for 90 days.

The law uses orders obtained in civil court, where cases are decided on a balance of probability — a lower burden of proof than in criminal court, where allegations must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

szickefoose@calgaryherald.com

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

Calling council a “dysfunctional group,” the mayor brought in a psychologist to hash out differences between members Monday.

But some aldermen argued council works together well and some were caught off guard by the email sent last week from Mayor Naheed Nenshi on the agenda of their Monday meeting, part of which would include a third party facilitator, Dr. Ivan Zendel.

On Monday morning, Ald. Gord Lowe said since it was a special council meeting called by the mayor, members weren’t required to vote on the agenda.

“This meeting is your call, we cannot amend the agenda, but we don’t have to attend,” said Lowe.

Nenshi said it would be Lowe’s choice whether or not to attend.

“I would find it extraordinary if any member of council would not want to attend the meeting about how council can work together better,” said the mayor.

“But if members of council are interested in the dysfunctional group that is not working together, it is absolutely their prerogative to walk out.”

Ald. Brian Pincott was one of six aldermen — including Lowe, Andre Chabot, John Mar, Dale Hodges and Diane Colley-Urquhart — to vote in vain against the mayor’s motion to go behind closed doors Monday.

Pincott said his decision was spurred by the “dysfunctional” comment earlier.

“I disagree vehemently with that one,” he said.

“I don’t think we’re dysfunctional, I actually think we work quite well together.”

Chabot agreed.

“I took offense to him saying it’s dysfunctional,” he said.

“Us not being party-based, there is a certain component of it that may seem dysfunctional — of course there’s going to be some differences of opinion … we’re 15 individuals all with 15 different points of view.”

Chabot voted against the private meeting because he was unclear what the objective was, saying he wished council members had been given some literature to read up on in advance of the meeting.

Lowe concurred there should have been more preparation.

“My previous experience with exercises like this is the issues to be discussed are very carefully established and the desired outcomes are equally carefully established,” he said.

Colley-Urquhart said council has “lost sight” over the rules in its attempts to run council differently and questioned bringing in a psychologist to help them “get along better.”

A number of council members said the move to bring in a third party facilitator was influenced by an especially controversial closed-door meeting recently.

The mayor declined comment Monday and the cost of bringing Zendel in was not released.

jenna.mcmurray@sunmedia.ca

On Twitter: 24Hrsjmcmurray

Clean to the Core, a downtown beautification and safety project launched in 2006, has been heralded as a success in driving down crime rates and improving cleanliness since it launch as a partnership between city departments, police and businesses.

Ald. John Mar said Clean to the Core has brought “dramatic change.”

“We’re seeing more people enjoying downtown Calgary, We’re seeing much more vibrancy, we’re seeing businesses change and become more viable in the downtown because it’s safer and because it feels safer,” Mar said.

In 2010 there were 592 reported crimes in the commercial core, down from 1,557 in 2005.

There have been other large drops in crime in the Beltline, Chinatown, Eau Claire and west downtown.

The program includes more litter bins, public washrooms, more sidewalk sweepers, better lighting, increased focus on graffiti removal and additional bylaw and police officers walking the beat.

As for cleanliness, every day 190 kilograms of recycling is gathered from the downtown.

“Absolutely, we want to continue to fund this program,” Mar said at the party for the program. “We want to make sure we’re able to expand it, possibly to include other areas in Calgary. We want to make sure we’re building on success and not giving up ground.”

Mar as well as Calgary Downtown Association executive director Maggie Schofield both cited Kensington business district and Marda Loop as places to which they’d like to see Clean to the Core expanded.

“These are natural extensions of the core and also very vibrant areas,” said Mar.

“They need this kind of help,” said Schofield. “They get some of it, but it’s not a formalized agreement like we have with Clean to the Core.”

While there are no immediate plans to expand the project to other communities, there are challenges still to be met downtown.

“We are always challenged by growth in the city as a whole and Centre City for sure,” said Cathy Taylor, Clean to the Core’s program manager.

Centre City is a city planning term used to describe the downtown, Beltline and Stampede Park.

“We know we have more towers going up and more residential towers. We’re going to have more people down here all the time. As soon as you add people, you have to add services and you have to address traffic in the Centre City,” Taylor said.

“We’re very concerned about transportation and assuring that people think they can cycle in the downtown safely, that they can walk downtown safely,” she said.

The city centre, though, has come a long way, Taylor said.

“It’s hard for people to remember what it was like downtown five years ago,” she said. “The city was finding, and the downtown partners were finding, that people were reluctant to come downtown. There was a perception it wasn’t safe and it wasn’t pleasant.”

smassinon@calgaryherald.com

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Clean+Core+dubbed+success+expand/6059780/story.html#ixzz1lFswjDTd

Snow Route parking ban alerts

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For more information:

http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/Roads/Pages/Road-Maintenance/Snow-and-ice-control/Snow-Route-parking-bans.aspx?redirect=/snow

13th Avenue Greenway starts from McLeod Trail S.E. and goes to 17th Street S.W.. It is part of the link between the Bow River and the Elbow River that will complete the “Emerald Necklace” pedestrian corridor for the Centre City. The other part being 11 Avenue/12 Avenue from Macleod Trail to 7 Street S.E..

13 Avenue consists of four character areas:

• Victoria Crossing Area (between McLeod Trail S.E. and 4th Street S.W.)
• Connaught Area (between 4th Street S.W. and 8th Street S.W.)
• West Connaught Area (between 8th Street S.W. and 14th Street S.W.)
• Sunalta Area (between 14th Street S.W. and 17th Street S.W.)

Phase 1 completed in 2010

With the completion of the planning for road and landscape design for Phase 1, the first stage of construction will commence in April 2011 in conjunction with the replacement of a water main in the roadway.

An information session was held on April 20, 2011 to discuss upcoming construction activities associated with Phase 1 of the 13 Avenue Greenway project.

Directly impacted owners/occupants for the 13 Avenue Heritage Greenway Project in Victoria Crossing between 1 Street S.E. and 4 Street S.W. were invited to the information session to learn more about the planned construction for Phase 1 of this project. Representatives from The City of Calgary and its contractors provided information and were available to respond to questions for clarification about the construction plans.

The cross section of this corridor has maintained the existing Right–of–Way. The widths of the boulevards, and the carriage way have changed to provide/accommodate a wide boulevard on the north with two rows of trees to create a canopy, and a narrow boulevard on the south, in consideration of the building shadow cast.

The blocks between 1 Street S.E. and 2 Street S.W. creates a wide boulevard on the north side that consists of a multi use path separated from the road by one row of trees and separated from the side walk by another row of trees. The south boulevard will be narrower with one row of trees. On street parking will be located on the south side.

The block between 2 Street S.W. and 4 Street S.W. will have a wide boulevard on the north side that consists of a multi-use path separated from the road by one row of trees and separated from the side walk by different pavement material. This block is the Central Memorial Park block, which will provide a row of trees along the edge of the park that will accomplish the vision of creating a tree canopy for the public boulevard. On-street parking will be on the north and south sides.

To view the plans see Phase 1 Cross Sections
To view the design concepts see Phase 1 Design Concepts

The Federation of Calgary Communities (the Federation) provides a number of programs, services and educational opportunities to support community associations working to improve neighbourhood life in Calgary. Community Association members have indicated safety, planning and environment are the three most common areas of concern and possible areas for community engagement. Over the past few years, The Federation has been working on opportunities to support communities with planning and environmental issues, including community visioning around urban planning issues and the newly launched Environmental Roundtable. We now want to pilot a crime prevention and safety initiative.

 HOW WILL WE DO THIS…..?

 …. by launching Building Safe Communities. Building Safe Communities is pilot project using a community development approach to working with community associations and identified partners to provide citizens of Calgary with the tools and resources to support resident-led strategies on crime prevention and safety. Through our partnership with you, we aim to not only impact crime and safety in your community but also increased resident engagement in your neighbourhood!

 WHERE DO YOU FIT IN?

 The Building Safe Communities pilot will be launched in 4 – 5 communities. The Federation will work with these communities to identify existing community assets which aid crime prevention and safety, as well as the challenges and opportunities existing within these communities. The Federation will work closely with communities to develop a residents-driven strategy focusing on community engagement through safety and crime prevention best practices. The selection of the communities will be based on criteria that will ensure success for the individual communities as well as the pilot project. Some of the criteria are:

 Demonstrated need for safety and crime prevention programming in the community, perhaps a Needs and Preference Study

 Interest expressed from residents to be involved who are not currently sitting on the board of the CA

 Commitment from area businesses and other community not for profit organizations to participate in the pilot

 Commitment from the Community Liaison Officer (CLO)and other partners(??) to support the initiative

 Ability to offer effective programs and services

 If your community has an interest in crime prevention and safety and is interested in working with the Federation, we want to talk to you!

The Federation asks interested communities to send an expression of interest to our office by 5:00 p.m. October 17th, 2011. Letters of interest can be emailed to engagement@calgarycommunities.com. Consultation with interested communities will take place at the end of October and beginning of November to better determine interest and need.

WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE COMMUNITIES?

 Those communities not part of the initial Building Safe Communities pilot will have access to the information, tools and resources being developed through the Federation’s website. The Virtual Resource Center on Crime Prevention and Safety will continue to grow as learning and new resources are developed through the pilot. In addition, the Federation will highlight key findings and successes of the pilot communities in upcoming newsletters.

 QUESTIONS?

 If you have any questions regarding the application process or the pilot, please contact:

 Barbara M.H. Payette

Community Engagement Coordinator

403-244-4111 ext. 208 engagement@calgarycommunities.com

Between 1999 and 2006, Calgary Transit completed functional studies for the future Southeast LRT – one of six LRT lines planned for Calgary. For more information, see http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/Southeast%20LRT%20Compendium.pdf

These studies identified a feasible alignment for the LRT as well as high-level land requirements and costs. To build the entire length of Southeast LRT between the downtown and the South Health Campus in Seton would cost upwards of $2 billion. In the absence of sufficient funding for LRT, The City is studying options for staging improvements in the form of bus rapid transit (BRT) on exclusive transitways.

A Transitway is an exclusive roadway for public transit buses that includes stations and transit terminals. The term originated in the Ottawa region in Ontario, where the bus-based Transitway currently serves as the core of their rapid transit network.

Options for the SETWAY will be developed to improve travel time, reliability and convenience for Route 302 (http://www.calgarytransit.com/route_maps/rte302.html) and other routes in Southeast Calgary. SETWAY options will be evaluated under The City’s Sustainability Approach according to four perspectives:

• Environment
• Community well-being
• Economy
• Smart growth and mobility

What is a predesign?
The predesign process will refine the technology, infrastructure, right of way, land requirements to get the SETWAY ready for detailed design and construction. The early phases of the predesign will identify what incremental improvements will serve Southeast Calgary best in terms of improved travel time, reliability and convenience. It is anticipated that the SETWAY will be developed incrementally to best use available funding. The later phases of the predesign will include comprehensive transit-oriented development (TOD) planning in priority station areas.

When will public engagement be held?
The first public engagement events will be held in Fall 2011. The City will present findings on the early phases of the predesign to the public for input before making a recommendation on improvements to City Council. Additional public engagement, including comprehensive TOD planning, will be held in 2012 as the predesign advances.

Will the Province of Alberta’s GreenTRIP funding be used?
At the direction of City Council, The City has made an application to The Province for GreenTRIP funding for the SETWAY. Completion of the initial phase of the predesign is a necessary step in refining the application. The City must identify what segments of the SETWAY it proposes to construct, along with the one-third local matching funds required as part of all GreenTRIP projects.

For more information or to share comments:

Email: CTCustomerFeedback@calgary.ca
Phone: 403-262-1000

The City of Calgary is holding drop-in, public information sessions to provide updates on the initial stages of the Concept Plan.

 For more information on the plan, visit athleticparks.ca.

Public Contact Information:

Call 3-1-1

3-1-1contactus@calgary.ca