Latest news with #JaniceLukes
CTV News
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
‘It's a huge cost': City stops free courtesy tows during snow clearing operations
The city has stopped offering free courtesy tows for residents who don't move their vehicles during snow clearing. In an annual report on snow clearing operations, the city's public works department noted it did not provide any courtesy tows last year. It cited a significant drop in the number of calls to move vehicles impeding snow clearing. The policy has been in place since 2013. It gave a measure of grace to Winnipeggers who – unwittingly or otherwise – violated city residential parking bans. Rather than issuing a ticket and a tow to an impound lot, the city would provide free 'courtesy tows' and simply move the vehicle to another street at no cost to the owner. 'Although courtesy towing has been the practice, it is not a requirement by city bylaw or policy and has not shown significant operation efficiencies,' the report reads. 'Courtesy towing during residential parking bans is currently not planned to resume.' That's welcome news to Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West), the chair of the public works committee. 'It's a huge cost. Why should taxpayers who actually abide by the rules be paying… that for people that aren't adhering to the rules?' she told reporters Thursday. Lukes has pushed against the practice, noting in 2021 alone, courtesy tows cost the city more than $930,000. She said with no courtesy tows last year, those who don't move their vehicles would receive a ticket and crews would have to plow around them. 'Maybe what we do is we increase the fee for the ticket if you don't move your vehicle, because it's really important in a winter city to move your vehicle so we can clean the streets,' she said. Lukes said increased ticket fees would be discussed at the upcoming committee meeting on July 3. Last year the city went $14.4 million over its snow clearing budget of $40.5 million. This year, the city has budgeted $45.7 million. According to the public works department, an average year of snow clearing costs $53.1 million but can range as low as $41 million or as high as $91.5 million.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
City report proposes protected bike lane, lower speed limit pilot on Wellington Crescent
Winnipeg could pilot additional protections for active transportation users on a section of a city street where a cyclist was killed last year. A report to the city's public works committee calls for a pilot of one-way bike lanes on both sides of Wellington Crescent from Academy Road to Stradbrook Avenue. It also recommends the speed limit to be lowered to 40 kilometres per hour on that stretch of road. The proposed timeline for the project would see the bike lanes — separated by plastic bollards and concrete curbs — installed next spring, after the city gathers feedback from community members and communicates its design plans. The public service would be directed to report back in 270 days on the results of those consultations, the report says. "I think it's really important like we do on any new road projects … to reach out and hear the concerns of the area residents," said Coun. Janice Lukes, who chairs the public works committee. "Often what I've found is there's little things that percolate up that maybe the public works department's not thought [of]." The proposed pilot comes just over a year after cyclist Rob Jenner, 61, was killed on Wellington Crescent just east of Academy Road as he was cycling to work, when he was hit by a speeding motorist who lost control of his vehicle. The driver, Beckham Keneth Severight, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop at the scene. He admitted to driving more than 150 km/h in the 50 zone. Advocates have previously said the area has been the site of many close calls for cyclists. Ian McCausland, a board member with Bike Winnipeg, said he's disappointed cyclists would still have to wait until 2026 for changes on Wellington under the proposed timeline. The report said the pilot would be "atypical" since the infrastructure won't be put into place before the city collects any feedback. It said the proposed infrastructure could be implemented this year, with some modifications, to more closely resemble a typical pilot. "For some reason for Wellington, it's the reverse. They're going to get all the feedback about how much people might not like the idea and then install the pilot," McCausland said. "With a little bit of political courage, they could install the pilot … for this riding season. And, you know, I know a number of cyclists who would continue to use it throughout the winter." Some 'not going to be happy': councillor McCausland said he also takes issue with the 40 km/h speed limit. He and other cycling advocates have previously called a 30 km/h limit for Wellington. "The minute you go above 30 kilometres, accident rates and instances of injury rise significantly," he said. "This being Winnipeg, we know if it's posted 40, people are going to do at least 50." The project would cost $400,000, with the report recommending the funds be transferred from the city's 2024 active transportation studies project. "I know that people are not going to be happy about this," Coun. Lukes said. "But I also know that … if we're going to do this and we're going to put $400K — maybe $500K, we'll see how much it costs — into this, that we want to do it as best as we can possibly do it for that price." The pilot project still needs council approval. The report is set to be presented to the public works committee at its meeting next Thursday.
CBC
2 days ago
- CBC
City report proposes protected bike lane, lower speed limit pilot on Wellington Crescent
Winnipeg could pilot additional protections for active transportation users on a section of a city street where a cyclist was killed last year. A report to the city's public works committee calls for a pilot of one-way bike lanes on both sides of Wellington Crescent from Academy Road to Stradbrook Avenue. It also recommends the speed limit to be lowered to 40 kilometres per hour on that stretch of road. The proposed timeline for the project would see the bike lanes — separated by plastic bollards and concrete curbs — installed next spring, after the city gathers feedback from community members and communicates its design plans. The public service would be directed to report back in 270 days on the results of those consultations, the report says. "I think it's really important like we do on any new road projects … to reach out and hear the concerns of the area residents," said Coun. Janice Lukes, who chairs the public works committee. "Often what I've found is there's little things that percolate up that maybe the public works department's not thought [of]." The proposed pilot comes just over a year after cyclist Rob Jenner, 61, was killed on Wellington Crescent just east of Academy Road as he was cycling to work, when he was hit by a speeding motorist who lost control of his vehicle. The driver, Beckham Keneth Severight, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop at the scene. He admitted to driving more than 150 km/h in the 50 zone. Advocates have previously said the area has been the site of many close calls for cyclists. Ian McCausland, a board member with Bike Winnipeg, said he's disappointed cyclists would still have to wait until 2026 for changes on Wellington under the proposed timeline. The report said the pilot would be "atypical" since the infrastructure won't be put into place before the city collects any feedback. It said the proposed infrastructure could be implemented this year, with some modifications, to more closely resemble a typical pilot. "For some reason for Wellington, it's the reverse. They're going to get all the feedback about how much people might not like the idea and then install the pilot," McCausland said. "With a little bit of political courage, they could install the pilot … for this riding season. And, you know, I know a number of cyclists who would continue to use it throughout the winter." Some 'not going to be happy': councillor McCausland said he also takes issue with the 40 km/h speed limit. He and other cycling advocates have previously called a 30 km/h limit for Wellington. "The minute you go above 30 kilometres, accident rates and instances of injury rise significantly," he said. "This being Winnipeg, we know if it's posted 40, people are going to do at least 50." The project would cost $400,000, with the report recommending the funds be transferred from the city's 2024 active transportation studies project. "I know that people are not going to be happy about this," Coun. Lukes said. "But I also know that … if we're going to do this and we're going to put $400K — maybe $500K, we'll see how much it costs — into this, that we want to do it as best as we can possibly do it for that price." The pilot project still needs council approval. The report is set to be presented to the public works committee at its meeting next Thursday.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Delay, delay and yet more city delays
Opinion I was waiting patiently on June 9 for the city to post the agenda for a Community Services Committee meeting scheduled for the 13th of the month. When it appeared I was delighted that the Report on City Tree Bylaws I expected to see was listed. But when I hit the link — ta da! — there was no report for me to read. Only a couple of lines saying it had been delayed for yet another 60 days. Now, I know that report was completed well in advance of the meeting, so why has it been delayed? After all, the establishment of a public and private tree bylaw isn't rocket science, given that at least seven other Canadian cities have it on their books. Russell Wangersky/Free Press The city's Report on City Tree Bylaws is still in limbo — like many other council reports. And why have those cities passed those bylaws? Well, it's because they know that protecting not just their public trees but trees on private land, while also expanding their overall canopy cover, is one of the best ways to improve their climate resiliency. Which, at the risk of repeating myself, yet again, is essential. In fact, I've written numerous times about the services our mature trees provide from mitigating heatwaves and superstorms to fighting pollution and even increasing the price of your home. So why the seeming reluctance to get the job done? Is city council afraid of initiating bylaws that would protect the trees that protect and benefit all of us? Are they afraid the general public will storm the doors of council yelling about their individual property rights and freedoms? Including the freedom to cut down their perfectly healthy mature yard trees just because they don't like raking leaves? Or is council more concerned about developers who believe they have the unfettered right to clear cut thousands of trees on their 'private land,' simply because it's more convenient for any future construction they might undertake? I'll let you answer that question, although the fact that there's a civic election looming on the horizon may have some play in what is rapidly becoming a pattern of delay at City Hall. Take, for example, the Property and Development Committee's deferral of a motion to study how the city might assist its citizens in switching to clean energy. Or the recent delay of a report on how and when the city might apply to the federal Nature Smart Climate Change fund for money to purchase land for parks and greenspaces or restore the ones they have. An utterly baffling delay considering the ongoing demand for a 'new fiscal deal' from other levels of government! Add to that the outcomes of Winnipeg's Reduced Speed Neighbourhood Pilot project that was due in the fall of 2024 and is still nowhere in sight. Plus a 30 day delay on a report for plans to improve bike and pedestrian safety on Wellington Crescent, which was expected to appear at the Public Works Committee meeting earlier this month. Chair of the committee, Councillor Janice Lukes asked for the public's patience, noting that such studies typically take three years to complete. Really? Deciding to create a safe bike path on a residential feeder road leading to the city's biggest park, as well as a few dozen residential streets, takes three years? Give me a break. Then there's Winnipeg's own unanimously adopted Climate Action Plan, which includes, among other things, a set of goals to facilitate and encourage active modes of transportation. That plan was approved seven years ago, and we're still waiting for council to fix a city full of dangerous roads that prevent people from actually using active transportation. So, if low-hanging fruit like the above takes years and years to bring over the finish line, there is no doubt that we will not reach our climate action targets by 2030. And yes, of course, some delays may be legitimate. After decades of austerity, most city departments are operating — and I use that word loosely — with little more than a skeleton staff in a large bureaucracy that appears to be deeply siloed. Weekday Evenings Today's must-read stories and a roundup of the day's headlines, delivered every evening. But our province is literally on fire. Climate change is here, and it threatens every aspect our lives. So these delays aren't just frustrating. They're dangerous. I don't know the conversations and machinations happening behind closed doors at city hall. Maybe it's true that some of the delays are due to the complex nature of the initiatives. Perhaps they're the result of a public service that lacks capacity and resources. Or maybe our elected officials are just worried about public backlash in the leadup to a civic election. Only the mayor and council know for sure. What is for certain? With every delay, we're losing time we don't have. Erna Buffie is a writer and environmental activist. Read more @
CBC
20-06-2025
- General
- CBC
Winnipeggers warned to keep their grass short or face fines
Social Sharing The City of Winnipeg is warning residents not to let the grass grow under their feet — at least not too long. City bylaws call for turf grass to be no longer than 15 centimetres (six inches) and in the Waverley West neighbourhood there's been a crackdown on scofflaws. Coun. Janice Lukes said her staff has been patrolling neighbourhoods to see if homes are compliant. Last week, they issued about 70 warnings. "It's an education campaign, really," Lukes said. Some residents "maybe they never had a home before, they've lived in apartments, aren't aware of this. So we warn and then hopefully they'll cut it," she said. The city's complaint-based grass enforcement program gives residents 7-10 days after a warning to comply and cut it, or face a fine. The amount of the fine is the cost of the labour it takes to cut and clean up the grass. The expense is added to the homeowner's property tax bill. The city also has the option, under the Neighbourhood Liveability Bylaw to take a homeowner to court for a penalty to be determined by a judicial justice of the peace. More than 600 warnings have been issued so far this year, based on 2,000 complaints. Fifty-five have been enforced by city staff. "It's all about neighbourhood liveability in an urban environment," Lukes said. "Sometimes they're up to the waist, they're up to the shoulder, that's not acceptable in an urban environment." Waverley West residents Leanne and Dan Granger agree but question why the city penalizes homeowners when some of the turf the municipality is responsible for goes unmanicured. "If they can't cut their own grass and they're fining us to cut our grass, it's kind of [a] double standard," Dan Granger said. Lukes said there are peak periods where the city may not be able to keep up with the amount of grass that must be cut. The city is responsible for boulevards more than six metres (20 feet) wide. Homeowners are responsible for trimming the ones under that width. 'Why would you care?' Other Winnipeggers would like the city to stay out of their turf. Wolseley resident Marlena MacArthur said there are several overgrown lawns on her street — including her own. "My next door neighbour has a garbage pile. [I] never complain about that. But certain people who are gardeners will complain about other people's grass," she said. The Grangers said they would also never tell on their neighbours for breaking the grass bylaw, saying it only leads to pointless arguments. "[You're] just causing trouble," Dan Granger said. Daniel McIntyre Coun. Cindy Gilroy believes the bylaw should be revisited and possibly retooled. A lot of residents like natural landscapes over manicured lawns because it protects biodiversity, she said, adding the city has bigger priorities on which to focus. "Where I really want us to really put our efforts is around places that have a lot of garbage build up — vacant and derelict buildings," she said.
