I have to confess that I've slowed down a lot in the past two weeks.  With early sunsets, budget meetings and the Mountain Festivals, it's been tough to fit in enough door-knocking time.  However, I have visited 82 doors on Squirrel, Marten, Elk, Bighorn and Lynx over the past two weeks, and here's what I've been hearing ...

Quite a few people mentioned being generally happy with town activities, with the new look of Banff Avenue heading the list of plusses.  Several people also mentioned the recycling program and the new busses.  Items that were praised by individual households:

• an improvement in late-night noise
• snow removal:  "it's outstanding!"
• the skateboard park
• the new crosswalk at Banff and Fox

In this diverse neighbourhood, the issues varied from household to household.  Concerns, suggestions and issues mentioned by individual households were:

• a wish for more special events such as Bike Fest, Dragon Boats
• a concern that bottle-pickers are losing income because of the new blue bins
• a request for handicapped parking stalls on Banff Avenue
• a request for a pedestrian-only Banff Avenue
• a concern that the garbage bin transition was a bit rough, although OK now
• a request for more frequent large item pickups - or the opportunity to book large item pickup by appointment
• a plea for financial prudence
• a concern about the visibility on Banff Avenue - a suggestion that the trees should all be deciduous, no confiers
• a request for more flowering trees such as Maydays
• a request for more enforcement related to skateboarders and cyclists on the sidewalks
• a concern about the proposed $5,000 contribution from the seniors towards the cost of running their building
• a request for community bikes - a "green bike" system
• a request for more visible crosswalk markings
• a plea for affordable housing
• a concern about negligent landlords who don't maintain their rental accommodation
• a request for more events that involve closing Banff Avenue to traffic
• a concern about the visibility and timeliness of sandwich board signage placed before snow removals
• a hope for Rec Centre renovations. 

 Two households mentioned Banff Live as a concern, and two households requested an outdoor skating rink, preferably in the downtown.

Hello everyone:

Just a few items to update you on ...

BUDGET MEETINGS

What's happened in budget meetings so far? 

On November 3, staff presented to council the draft budget that they have prepared.  This is the budget that you saw explained on the Town Pages in last week's Crag.  It's the version of the budget that is our base as we begin discussions -- it doesn't include any of the new initiatives that council or staff have suggested, and it includes some suggested service cuts which council may or may not agree to.

On November 5, council heard presentations from the library, the day care, Bow Valley Victim Services, Banff Volunteer Centre and the Bow Valley Naturalists, and received letters from the Banff Lake Louise Tourism Bureau and the National Army Cadet Camp, all concerning contributions that they hope Council will make, or fees that they hope Council will waive.

You can see the whole package here: 

http://www.banff.ca/Assets/PDFs/Town+Hall+PDF/Council+Agendas+PDF/2008+Agendas+PDF/council-agenda-budget-081105.pdf

It includes a very interesting letter from former mayor Dennis Shuler about the split between residential and commercial taxes in the town.  Over the past three years, the split has been moved away from what was established at the time of incorporation, and council will be discussing this split as we talk about the 2009 budget.

Budget meetings continue into December.  You can follow the progress of the budget on this page:

http://www.banff.ca/town-hall/banff-town-council/banff-budget-2009.htm

THE COUNCIL MEETING ON NOVEMBER 10:

Council has a fairly short agenda on Monday, but there are two very important reports being presented.

First, an Urban Forest Management Plan.  The plan is intended to help staff manage our in-town trees on public lands, and includes:

• an inventory and health assessment of our public trees
• a review of past practices and our special conditions here in the park
• identification of unhealthy or hazardous trees
• recommendations for removals and for plantings
• recommendations for heritage trees

It's worth reading!  Did you know that the town's largest public tree is a healthy white spruce at the north end of town?  It's around 100 feet high and about  10.5 feet around at chest height.  You can see the whole report here:

http://www.banff.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=1748

Just scroll down to page 14.

Unfortunately, the report tells us that our urban trees will need a lot of care and attention over the next ten years, and that will not be cheap.  The results of this report will be part of the budget discussions over the next month.

Second, an update of the Downtown Parking Needs Assessment.  You can see this report here:

http://www.banff.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=1748

by scrolling down to page 140. 

I'm interested to see that the report identifies that our parking occupancy has not increased significantly over the 2005 study, in spite of the removal of 90 stalls by Banff Refreshing.  It also states that we had 35 - 40 stalls available in the Cascade Plaza parkade and 7 stalls available in another parking lot at peak occupancy times on summer weekends, but then goes on to say that we have a current parking shortfall of 200 spaces.  I intend to ask a lot of questions around the analysis of this report.

DOOR-KNOCKING CONTINUES

I'm working away on the Squirrel/Elk/Rabbit street areas, and having a really interesting time chatting with people at the doors.  Everyone is happy with the new blue bins!

Door-knocking is getting more challenging now that we've gone back to standard time.  Those early evenings mean that I'm lucky to get in a half-hour on week-nights!  However, here's a summary of what I heard while doing 66 doors in the Spruce/Cougar area this past week.

In general, this is a contented group of citizens, with several households saying that they are generally pleased with the Town's services and activities, and one going so far as to say "What do I like?  Everything!".  The new blue bins and the recycling program were the specific items that got the most positive mentions. 

Individual households also mentioned:

• The new look of Banff Avenue
• the lighted crosswalk at Fox
• the "greening of the Town" -- environmental initiatives in general
• the town's efforts to "keep tourism happening"
• the sundry waste advertising campaign:  "it's made a difference"

On areas for improvement, two households mentioned late night noise and a request to have the bars close earlier.  Two households mentioned community standards:  messy private lots in their neighbourhood.  Two households mentioned the need for more parking downtown.  Individual households mentioned:

• the need to get rid of our "party town" reputation
• a request for more information about recycling accessories, such as the stackable bins
• a hope that the town will keep trying to diminish the problem of oversize waste stacked by the garbage bins
• a request for more communication from the town
• a suggestion that the town install more of the lighted sidewalks
• a concern about the current push to remove crabapple trees, and a hope that another solution can be found
• a concern about lighting around the mid-block crosswalks and on the sidewalks to the hotel district
• a request for even more recycling bins, and more organics locations
• a concern about the new Rec Centre project:  "we don't have the dollars, and there are lots of existing facilities in town"
• a concern about Banff Live
• a request for bylaw enforcement coverage in the evenings:  "everyone knows what time they go off shift"
• a hope that businesses will become more active in recycling
• a wish that dog-owners would "stoop and scoop" more
• a concern about snow removal in residential areas:  "Graders are an endangered species"
• concerns about the design of the new Banff Avenue:  corner bulges, mid-block crossings, handicapped parking
• concerns about icy sidewalks in winter, and especially the need for more sanding on the wheelchair corner cuts

Just a quick note to let you know that Budget 2009 deliberations are starting tomorrow.  All budget meetings are open to the public.  You can follow the budget process on this page:

http://www.banff.ca/town-hall/banff-town-council/banff-budget-2009.htm

It includes the schedule of budget meetings, how to get non-profit funding applications on the agenda, and it will include draft budgets as they are presented and modified along the way.

Council members will be spending many hours outside of the meetings poring through the documents and preparing for the next discussion.  This is a very demanding time of year for council and staff alike, so I hope you will say something encouraging next time you see a haggard-looking municipal politician or staffer!

I've been enjoying warm hospitality on cool evenings in the past week, as I did 55 doors in the Marmot/Porcupine area.  The Hallowe'en decorations are really creative, as well!

Several people pointed out that - even though they may have a suggestion or two - they are generally satisfied with the services provided by the Town.  Particular positive notice went to the new recycling program, possibly top-of-mind because the blue bins have already been installed in this neighbourhood!  Three households mentioned the proposals for Rec Centre upgrades - they had all been happy to hear that the existing arena and location would be re-used in this project. 

Individual households mentioned being happy about:

• the flourescent yellow crosswalk signpost markers and the new lighted sidewalk:  "They really make people notice!"
• seeing Council thinking over and analyzing projects
• having the speed control trailer sign visit their neighbourhood
• Banff Avenue:  "It looks great!"
• hybrid busses:  "What an improvement - no more black exhaust!"
• improved snow-clearing in their neighbourhood
• seniors' services, especially the bus:  "As seniors, we are very well-treated here in Banff'!"

Suggestions, ideas, issues and concerns included several mentions of Banff Live and several suggestions that Council should exercise tight control over spending, diminish debt and focus on core services and programs.  Two households mentioned a need for more downtown parking in the summer, and two households mentioned the proposed picture "icons" for the wayfinding project, and recommended that the Sulphur Mountain icon be the gondola rather than Sanson Peak.

Individual households mentioned:

• a concern about community tidiness:  "dead cars and junk in the back alleys"
• a suggestion for future town parties:  "Central park barbecue with local music"
• a request to be notified when new town trees are planted in neighbourhoods:  "We'll take care of them if needed"
• a concern about traffic and pedestrian behaviour in the downtown
• a request for a traffic light at Banff and Marmot Cres:  "Let drivers know they're in town, off the highway, slow 'em down!"
• a request for a concrete skate park
• a suggestion for a ped-way over the railway tracks to provide safe access to the Rec Centre
• a concern about the smell of the sewage treatment plant as it impacts golfers
• a request for increased snow-clearing in residential neighbourhoods
• a request for more paving updates
• a concern about late night noise
• a hope that the new car wash will open soon.