Crossfield Town council rescinded the 15-minute parking limitation on the east side of Railway Street on Dec. 15 and advised administration to set up a meeting with stakeholders to determine what will work best.
Mayor Nathan Anderson said it was key to get business, snow removal staff, council and administration together to discuss where everyone stands on east side parking.
“I don’t want to have any more stakeholders say, ‘we weren’t consulted,’” Anderson said. “Let’s give everyone a chance… and get it right.”
Anderson noted concerns had been expressed towards the narrowness of the street, especially when cars are parked on the east and west end, as well as about the ability to adequately remove snow.
Anderson said opening a dialogue would allow all parties to see where other people stand and, hopefully, allow democracy to choose the clearest favourable option – though he admitted it’s a pretty “murky” matter.
“It’s one of those things where there’s a limited finite amount space to work with, so there is no real good option,” he said.
When council implemented the 15-minute parking limitation on the east side Nov. 17, Anderson said it might have been a bit “hasty,” but that as a municipal government they can humbly see pushback in the community and consider the decision may have been the wrong one.
Though the parking restriction have been rescinded, a timed parking option may not be out of the question. According to council, it would be a matter of discovering an allotted amount of time that works well.
Other options could include no time restrictions or even eliminating parking on the east side all together and adjust the west side parking to allow for more spaces.
“All options are on the table,” Anderson said.
Funding request
Council requested administration send an invitation to Rocky View County (RVC) to match funding approved in Crossfield’s 2016 Interim Operating and Capital budgets for renovations to the Crossfield and District Community Centre and the Pete Knight Memorial Arena.
Anderson said RVC has historically invested funds into recreational facilities where the users are equally, or in large part, citizens of RVC.
With the approval of the budgets, RVC is being asked to match the $70,000 council has approved for the community centre and $30,000 for the arena.
“It would be silly of us not to ask,” Anderson said. “They may want the opportunity and would be hurt if we did not ask them.”
Anderson said there is a fairly big fund available at the RVC level, but since it is usually approved on a case-by-case basis, presenting the idea to RVC might fair well for both municipalities.
In the past, he said, the County has been very keen and involved with matching funds because the two municipalities are investing in RVC residents. He added the Town would not look down on the County if it opts not to grant funding.
“If there’s an opportunity, great,” he said. “If there isn’t, I’d like a good explanation from them as to why they would break tradition.”
He added there are numerous reasons why RVC might not be able to put forward funds towards these renovations, including not having the budget since this is the first the County would have heard of the request.
“We’re committed to the amount (the Town approved) regardless,” Anderson said. “ If (RVC) participates, that will certainly push things forward.”
