Thursday evening in Middle Springs

Well, I was certainly bang-on when I guessed that it would take longer to go door-to-door as a councillor than as a candidate.  At this rate, it will take me 'til Christmas to finish this round of door-knocking!  But I don't mind a bit -- I am having some great conversations, and I'm more and more convinced that this kind of mid-term one-to-one contact is really worthwhile.

What were last night's discussions about?  Several households are happy about the look of the new Banff Avenue:  it's "appealing", "pretty", "makes the pedestrians look happier and more relaxed".

And individual households liked:

• Banff Live:  "my kids enjoyed it"
• the sewage treatment plant:  "toured it with the school kids and it was amazing"
• the recycling program:  "hope we get an organics bin here in Middle Springs"
• the volunteer centre: "I've used it and it was great"
• the move of Abbeyfield House into the Bow Valley Housing portfolio:  "This will be so good for the convenience of the users"
• the library:  "love it!"
• the bike race:  "It was great to see.  Add mountain biking into the event somehow"
• Bear Street handicapped parking:  "really helpful"
• The secondary suite policy:  "hope it will happen, it would really help employers and employees"
• The new busses:  "gorgeous"
• The TIF funding for Banff Lake Louise Tourism:  "happy to see this in place"

How did people respond when asked what the town could improve?  Banff Live topped the list, and there were still a few references to bridge traffic, although most people noted the improvement now that the intersection of Banff and Buffalo is open once again.  A couple of people mentioned design concerns with the new Banff Avenue:  trees on corners, narrow intersections, the loss of the central line of banners, a suggestion to remove the remaining lamp post at the bridge end and "tidy up" the median there.

Individual households mentioned the following concerns, ideas, and suggestions:

• A suggestion to eliminate development permit fees for environmental retrofits such as adding solar hot water -- or to redirect those fees to an environmental fund.
• a request to not engage in special events designed to bring large numbers of visitors, and to help visitors slow down and enjoy the park.
• a request to communicate more with the families of Banff
• a suggestion for Banff-Canmore transit, 2 - 3 times per day in each direction
• A request for a parkade
• a request to improve the flower plantings in the downtown
• a concern about the amount of parking along Bow Avenue and its impact on the serenity of the riverside trail
• a question about when the filter cloths will be removed from the storm drains on Jasper Way
• a request to add a transit route to the Banff Centre
• a request for increased fiscal responsibility
• a concern about violent or offensive material in store window displays downtown
• a request to concentrate less on "what we're not", and concentrate more on protecting and sharing what truly makes this area spectacular.
• a concern about the safety of the crosswalk at Spray and Mountain:  cars not expecting pedestrians, children not expecting traffic.