Street sweeping cutbacks?

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Nice try but that post on the previous page where I said I wouldn't mind paying more for the services kind of debunks that no? You aren't very good at this are you?

Huh? I know you said that... my jokey "fixed post" post admitted that fully.

The key there was you being willing to pay for particular services, at the cost of others (ie. street sweeping more important than snow plowing).

At least I'm good at reading

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Roads more dangerous? How many people die in the city in winter crashes? Truth is that 80% or more are fender benders. Let's not exaggerate things here as how many of us have had life and death situations on Calgary roads? Not many I expect. Most fatal accidents involve speeding and not paying attention to road conditions so lets not play dumb and believe an extra scoop of salt and gravel is going to make things safer for anyone.

The budget got upped because people didn't like having ruts on their side streets boo hoo hoo. You still got nothing here.

I am with you on the snow plowing. This year was ridiculous when they came in and spend a day removing all of the snow off of our side street instead of just waiting it out. But to the bolded part the same argument can be made for street sweeping. Its even less essential from a safety stand point than snow plowing. Its right up there with putting flowers in the planters. Its a boo hoo hoo, put some knee pads on your kids they are going to crash anyways.

I agree that they should tow cars and make that part revenue neutral. other than that all streets being sweeped once is reasonable. Not spending lots on overtime or additional permenant staff.

Street sweeping is an excellent place to cut to reduce taxation impacts. For a lot of these programs we should keep cutting until we notice there is a problem. Then up the spending to the amount required.

The biggest problem with the budget process right now is that the Police are exempt from any budget cuts because they are a sacred cow. Lots of room there to find efficincy there as no one ever pushes them to cut. When Nenshi first got elected they submitted a list of cuts that would have minimal effect and it was rejected by council.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't mind paying for it but the issue is that you don't have a say where your money goes. More taxpayer money to some of city hall clowns means more chances to pull off one of their pet projects.

There's a very large budget engagement process (in fact as I type this Council is having a special meeting on the results of the engagement). There are lots of avenues and channels to express what your priorities are for city services.

[Zevo]

Wow, things have sure changed in Calgary from when I lived there. Street sweeper went around cars left in the street. If you forgot to move your car, well get out the stiff push broom, shovel and wheel barrow and go to work.

When I was kid, people would sweep their streets(well my dad made us anyways, so I assume other people did it) before the sweepers even came, just to clean up the street. When did people become so entitled? We rode our bikes through gravel all the time, and survived!

Sure I can see main routes being swept carefully, but are you guys talking about cul de sacs as well? They actually tow cars out of the way or are we just talking about the main roads. I lived on Lakeview Drive and they just went around the cars.

End rabble, rabble...

[zamler]

The city should look at using less salt and gravel, and use the money saved to clean the streets. The amount of salt used this past winter is absurd, I'm at the point where I'm all for a law that requires winter tires. Sick of the salt clouds, plus the salt is destroying the roads, concrete barriers, grass, and is very polluting as it ends up in the water table.

[The Yen Man]

Make winter tires mandatory, and then salt/gravel the roads less. They always do way too much salting/gravelling IMO.

[rotten42]

Guess I won't be riding my road bike in the city.

[crazy_eoj]

Originally Posted by fotze

What's the red bar between police & fire? I can't quite make it out.

[psicodude]

I can't make it out either, but the dollar amount suggests it would be transit.

[Bigtime]

It is indeed Calgary Transit.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Make winter tires mandatory, and then salt/gravel the roads less. They always do way too much salting/gravelling IMO.

I think that most people would just rather stand around moaning and wait for Nenshi to personally drive by in a plow than properly equip their vehicles for winter.

I think that the city's response to storms for the past couple of winters has been exceptional, and whatever they are doing, should be continued. But this whole business of caking everyone's side street in gravel and salt, plowing most of it away, hauling it away, and then caking in more gravel and salt was a waste of time and money on a lot of roads. On some it was necessary though, but it just seemed to be excessive. But it was a direct result the usual "I want my road bare of snow, but don't raise my taxes" routine.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

I think that most people would just rather stand around moaning and wait for Nenshi to personally drive by in a plow than properly equip their vehicles for winter.

I think that the city's response to storms for the past couple of winters has been exceptional, and whatever they are doing, should be continued. But this whole business of caking everyone's side street in gravel and salt, plowing most of it away, hauling it away, and then caking in more gravel and salt was a waste of time and money on a lot of roads. On some it was necessary though, but it just seemed to be excessive. But it was a direct result the usual "I want my road bare of snow, but don't raise my taxes" routine.

Yes. This. I want this. Where do I sign up?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by fotze

You know what this city needs, and I'm sure Bigtime would be in agreement. A massive dump of rain to clear out all this dust. Flow rates that would clear gravel from the streets.

A cleanse?

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Locke

Yes. This. I want this. Where do I sign up?

Bunk, can you take this from here?

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by fotze

You know what this city needs, and I'm sure Bigtime would be in agreement. A massive dump of rain to clear out all this dust. Flow rates that would clear gravel from the streets.

I'm laughing and hate you at the same time.

[btimbit]

The amount of gravel and salt they put down this year was ridiculous. During the bigger storms I think they did a great job, but salting and gravelling the streets when we're expecting less than a cm of snow is pushing it.

Last year I didn't get my bike or summer car out until early June.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by btimbit

The amount of gravel and salt they put down this year was ridiculous. During the bigger storms I think they did a great job, but salting and gravelling the streets when we're expecting less than a cm of snow is pushing it.

Did you know that snowfall accumulation and precipitation predicting is not an exact science?

Not enough gravel - City sucks at snow and ice control

Too much gravel - City sucks at snow and ice control

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Did you know that snowfall accumulation and precipitation predicting is not an exact science?

Not enough gravel - City sucks at snow and ice control

Too much gravel - City sucks at snow and ice control

Oh really, I thought they control how much it snows

Yeah they're going to get criticized no matter what they do because some people have different opinions on what is too much. I was simply stating mine.

[Tron_fdc]

LOL my buddy just posted this on his Facebook, taken this morning.



Good day for a plow!!!

[Locke]

Its always a good day for a plow.