Mayor Jeff Genung and CAO Dave Devana delivered a tag team talk on the latest town updates at the Chamber's breakfast meeting. Around 60 people dined at the Legion on June 20 to discuss such topics as cannabis, development and transit. Cannabis Genung's recent trip to Halifax, N.S., for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) conference provided a glimpse into where Cochrane is at with respect to dealing with cannabis legalization. The Senate passed Bill C-45 to legalize cannabis on June 19 in a 52-29 vote. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed yesterday that cannabis will be legal in Canada on Oct. 17. Edibles are not anticipated to be legal for at least another year. As far as Genung is concerned, Cochrane is well-positioned - with 150-metre setbacks and other strict parameters in place for cannabis retailers and the smoking bylaw to be debated at July 9 council - and his holiday trip to Boulder, Co. following FCM confirmed that. With a population a little more than 100,000 and 98 cannabis grower/retailer licences, Genung anticipated he would see his fair share of residents lighting up and pot shops in Boulder. He was surprised to discover that due to the restrictions around signage and advertising, locating a cannabis retailer was a challenge and procuring it even more so. "I was surprised at how low key it was," said Genung, explaining the city strictly enforces its zero tolerance policy for public consumption - including at concerts and festivals - and in his week there, he only saw two people in the streets who he believed may have been smoking it. Genung struck a few laughs at the Legion when describing his mission to procure the legal pot - which wound up in the garbage when he learned his experience could result in a felony if he tried to bring it into the airport. It took him three attempts to produce the correct identification, two checkpoints inside the retail shop and being read the riot act for safe travel and consumption - including transporting the wares in a sealed package with a receipt. "They've held the bar high since the beginning and it's paying off," said Genung, who said that even though public consumption still needs to be debated by council he believes Cochrane could consider looking to Boulder as a possible model. According to the Colorado Department of Revenue website, total medicinal and retail sales from 2014 through the end of April 2018 are just shy of $5 billion. "The one thing they didn't anticipate was an increase in house fires and explosions as a result of illegal grow ops," said Genung. Recent media reports indicate that illegal grow ops are on the rise within the state of Colorado, where cannabis is being smuggled into other states where sales are illegal. Colorado is one of 13 U.S. states where cannabis is legal, plus the District of Columbia; it is also decriminalized in another 13 states plus the U.S. Virgin Islands. Transit A public consult event on local transit will be held at the Cochrane Alliance Church tonight (June 21) from 7-9 p.m. Devana said that the transit task force is looking for feedback from residents on what they would like to see on buses and is exploring on-demand or "super Uber" options rather than traditional bus services. He said that Airdrie's pilot with on-demand services have resulted in a cost savings of two-thirds per person, per trip. Genung said his vision would be to have a mobility system, not just transit, which includes ride-sharing, car pooling and other affordable efficiencies to move people around town. The town has $6 million in GreenTRIP grant dollars to spend on buses, a bus depot and bus stops. Development & Traffic Genung and Devana are hopeful that the interchange project at highways 1A/22 is on track to begin construction by fall of 2019 or spring of 2020, in spit of the looming province election, with an anticipated two-year build-out. The interchange will see Hwy 1A go under 22, roundabouts and be free of lights. The project was celebrated over one year ago by the province but remains on the unfunded capital projects list. • The Bow River bridge project has been awarded and construction is to start this summer. • The town is working with the province to alleviate the bottleneck traffic at the Centre Ave and Hwy 1A intersection. • A study will be conducted this summer to advance the four lane, at-grade Centre Ave railway crossing project • The town is midway through annexing the 40-acre parcel of land from Rocky View County north of Sunset Ridge that Melcor will need to purchase from the private landowner to build their ultimate access. Phase 3 of Sunset Ridge is contingent on this access. • The at-grade Horsecreek Road rail crossing is to be constructed this fall, providing a safe pedestrian crossing for Heartland and Heritage Hill residents into town.
