A transit task force is being formed with council opting to add more councillor representation to the table to join chair Mayor Jeff Genung.
Genung cautioned against the added elected official representation, expressing concern that council could wind up steering the conversation rather than leaving the ball in the public court.
“For me, a task force is about going out and asking the public for their input,” he said, adding that this is a decision that must be determined by the people and not influenced by the preconceived notions of council.
The objective of the task force is to work alongside a term transit coordinator to field public concern and interest with respect to the possibility of implementing some form of local transit system and if so, how that would be best implemented.
The full report is to be presented to council in June 2018 and the intention of the task force is to keep the public, as well as council, fully engaged.
While Couns. Susan Flowers and Morgan Nagel had initially expressed their interest to join the task force at the last council meeting, both offered to step aside to allow Couns. Marni Fedeyko and Tara McFadden to sit on the committee.
McFadden said that as a four-time councillor she wanted to see follow-through with the transit conversation that began years ago and has shifted to now focus solely on local solutions, as the Calgary Regional Partnership continues to phase in the regional ONIT! transit pilots.
“I really want to make sure the discussions are as informed as they can get,” she said, emphasizing that the time for transit is now, in order to qualify for the GreenTRIP grant dollars for the capital infrastructure.
For Flowers, the decision to step aside stemmed from a will for her fellow councillors to get up to speed on the town’s transit needs. As the retired manager of Cochrane Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) after 22 years, Flowers said she knows Cochrane is overdue for some type of bus system and is not convinced a ride sharing program or dial-a-bus model would suffice.
Recruitment for the remaining committee members will begin in early 2018 and is to include one member of the Cochrane FCSS board; two members from the business community, with a preference of one member from the local Chamber of Commerce and one from the tech sector; and three public-at-large members, with preferences for one youth and one senior.
Coun. Marni Fedeyko will be bringing a motion forward at the next council session to take a look at the town’s land use bylaw that pertains to the parking of recreational and utility trailers on residential property.
Fedeyko would like to explore restrictions contained within the current bylaw, with the possibility of expanding to year-round parking considerations on private properties.
The current restrictions in the bylaw apply to both recreational and utility trailers, prohibiting parking in driveways or on front yards in the winter months, between Oct. 20 and May 1. The exception is if homeowners have a rear drive or a parking pad.
“The idea of having to tow to storage added extra time and costs to small business owners in which I am not in favour of when some are already struggling,” said Fedeyko, adding that she does not personally own either type of trailer and has no vested interest in the matter.
“I had thoughts on whether to just include utility trailers or businesses that were licensed to have a utility trailer but I was encouraged to look at the greater scope and not rule anyone out.”
Fedeyko said she will bring her motion forward at the Jan. 8, 2018 council meeting with the intention that administration will return with a report to the Feb. 26 meeting.
She said that while issues such as encroachment, unsightliness and traffic obstruction would be top of mind, other communities such as Airdrie, Camrose and the County of Strathcona all allow for year-round parking with restrictions in place.
Fedeyko said she is looking to engage with the public for further input.
The following members of the community have been appointed as follows:
Cochrane Library Board
James Foran
Dean Rask
Joan Urschel
Cochrane Planning Commission
Lyle Balmer
Erika Lange
Jeff Robertson
Subdivision & Development Appeal Board
Scott Gibson-Craig
Brenda Samborski
Kevin Martin (alternate)
