I work for Mayor Nenshi, ask me anything!

[Rhettzky]

I heard that the local pro hockey team is considering a new building. Any updates on this development?

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Sliver

That's sweet. I grew up in Dalhousie and they've needed an overpass there forever. I assume it bridges kind of the CO-OP parking lot and Northland Mall? We used to jaywalk there all the time. It felt like real life Frogger.

Yeah that's exactly where. They made a big path from the train station, through the park, behind Crappy Tire and across Shag with a (IMO) cool looking blue bridge. Kind of a faux suspension bridge. Some in here have mentioned they don't like the look. I think it's slick.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Daorcey

The problem is that The City has developed using different organizational software for different departments and 311 doesn't yet fully work with them. THIS IS GETTING FIXED THIS YEAR! In Roads, for example, when a 311 request comes in and the person on the other end confirms they have received it and added it to the work schedule, it gets marked as "closed" on the 311 system. Yeah, we know that's ridiculous and that's why we've been pushing hard for a fix.

Haha, that sounds about right. Any chance while they're fixing this, they can also look into why we're still submitting large amounts of paper copies of drawings to various departments? I'm supposed to submit some hodgepodge of half size, full size, and even laminated drawings for a project. Just take the DVD and print them if you really need them!

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by Sliver

That's sweet. I grew up in Dalhousie and they've needed an overpass there forever. I assume it bridges kind of the CO-OP parking lot and Northland Mall? We used to jaywalk there all the time. It felt like real life Frogger.

[rabblerabble]There's a perfectly good crosswalk 200m away...why do people need a bridge?[/rabblerabble

[Locke]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

Those plans look great - that would be a huge help to NB Deerfoot. It's so bizarre going through that stretch right now. Three lanes down to two after Anderson, then back up to three until Glenmore, where it goes back down to two. Makes no sense.

I wonder if SB could be dealt with as well too? The two lanes SB after Anderson basically makes Deerfoot un-driveable after 4:30pm.

It is so long overdue. I am stuck in that crap every day.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Locke

It is so long overdue. I am stuck in that crap every day.

I'm never stuck in it. Spend the money on a road I take!

[Slava]

I know you can't really answer this, but why is the City of Calgary Recreation website so pathetic? Like you try to find programs and sign up for things and its terrible...and then when you get to the part where you actually want to sign up and have to wait three days for a card or whatever? Just brutal. Some of our resident website gurus should be bidding on fixing that...

[photon]

Is there a way to confirm what the speed limit is on a section of road? Just call 311? Westbound 17th Ave SE is 80 all the way up to just west of 84th, and it used to be 80 on eastbound starting just after the exit to get into Walmart, but that 80 sign went away. At first I thought it was just knocked over, but one day there was like a half dozen cop cars pulling people over just before the lights at 100th, where there's a sign for 80.

Why would the same stretch of road be 80 on one side and 60 on the other?!

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by photon

Is there a way to confirm what the speed limit is on a section of road? Just call 311? Westbound 17th Ave SE is 80 all the way up to just west of 84th, and it used to be 80 on eastbound starting just after the exit to get into Walmart, but that 80 sign went away. At first I thought it was just knocked over, but one day there was like a half dozen cop cars pulling people over just before the lights at 100th, where there's a sign for 80.

Why would the same stretch of road be 80 on one side and 60 on the other?!

A similar thing happens on Glenmore Trail on the East side of the City. The speed limits are all over the place. Why is it 80 km/h in the narrowest part with a rail crossing, and 70 km/h in the wide open stretch near Stoney, then 80 again after?

The City's forecasting toolbox has speed limit maps for present and future time periods you might find useful. You could use it to point out discrepancies, such as Glenmore being coded 80 end to end!.

http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation...Toolbox.aspx#6

[Daorcey]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

Any chance while they're fixing this, they can also look into why we're still submitting large amounts of paper copies of drawings to various departments? I'm supposed to submit some hodgepodge of half size, full size, and even laminated drawings for a project. Just take the DVD and print them if you really need them!

It's definitely on the radar as a way to cut red tape at The City (http://www.calgary.ca/Mayor/Pages/Cu...l-listing.aspx). EServices continues to add more ways to do work with The City online to reduce having to print multiple copies of something... or even having to come to the Municipal Building. Check out www.calgary.ca/eservices

[Daorcey]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

I heard that the local pro hockey team is considering a new building. Any updates on this development?

Not to me.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Daorcey

It's definitely on the radar as a way to cut red tape at The City (http://www.calgary.ca/Mayor/Pages/Cu...l-listing.aspx). EServices continues to add more ways to do work with The City online to reduce having to print multiple copies of something... or even having to come to the Municipal Building. Check out www.calgary.ca/eservices

Does any of this include training one or two people to know where the couple abandoned oil and gas wells are within city limits are?

You know, instead of having every person adding a sunroom to their house having to print a map and fill out a declaration saying they aren't within X metres of one?

Tongue in cheek, but the whole DP process was mind blowing to me. "Fit for purpose" is a principle that should be applied to that process.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

A similar thing happens on Glenmore Trail on the East side of the City. The speed limits are all over the place. Why is it 80 km/h in the narrowest part with a rail crossing, and 70 km/h in the wide open stretch near Stoney, then 80 again after?

The City's forecasting toolbox has speed limit maps for present and future time periods you might find useful. You could use it to point out discrepancies, such as Glenmore being coded 80 end to end!.

The answer to something stupid regarding city zoning/speed limits, is, as always, NIMBYs.

Much like how the stretch of 96 Avenue NE between Harvest Hills Bv and Deerfoot is a massive 3-lane stretch that is 60. 60!!!! Of course, past Deerfoot (and once in the industrial/airport area) it is 80, like it should be.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

The City's forecasting toolbox has speed limit maps for present and future time periods you might find useful. You could use it to point out discrepancies, such as Glenmore being coded 80 end to end!.

http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation...Toolbox.aspx#6

Ugh that shows that 60 is planned all the way out to Chestermere

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

Does any of this include training one or two people to know where the couple abandoned oil and gas wells are within city limits are?

You know, instead of having every person adding a sunroom to their house having to print a map and fill out a declaration saying they aren't within X metres of one?

Tongue in cheek, but the whole DP process was mind blowing to me. "Fit for purpose" is a principle that should be applied to that process.

hahahahhahahah!

That's the least gear grinding part of the DP process... which still is slightly grinding.

I feel like I could write a novel on all the gear grinding involved in attempting to get a development permit in this god damn city! haha.

Why is it that me, as the applicant has to ask the addressing department to talk to the planning department. Don't you work in the same building? Can't the computer system prompt addressing at the correct stage without me emailing addressing after planning tells me I can?

Why do I need to take an original gold paper copy of the DSSP application received on the 5th floor to the 3rd floor counter to apply for a building permit?

The whole process is mind bottling!

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by rohara66

hahahahhahahah!

That's the least gear grinding part of the DP process... which still is slightly grinding.

I feel like I could write a novel on all the gear grinding involved in attempting to get a development permit in this god damn city! haha.

Why is it that me, as the applicant has to ask the addressing department to talk to the planning department. Don't you work in the same building? Can't the computer system prompt addressing at the correct stage without me emailing addressing after planning tells me I can?

Why do I need to take an original gold paper copy of the DSSP application received on the 5th floor to the 3rd floor counter to apply for a building permit?

The whole process is mind bottling!

I'm pretty sure the City's IT department doesn't do much but play Quake Arena all day. Every computer in their system is still running Internet Explorer 6.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

Does any of this include training one or two people to know where the couple abandoned oil and gas wells are within city limits are?

You know, instead of having every person adding a sunroom to their house having to print a map and fill out a declaration saying they aren't within X metres of one?

Tongue in cheek, but the whole DP process was mind blowing to me. "Fit for purpose" is a principle that should be applied to that process.

There are a lot more than a couple abandoned wells in the city limits

[Daorcey]

Just want to share a document we've been working on over in the Mayor's Office. It's a bit of an update on what Mayor Nenshi and his team has been up to--organized based on his four main re-election campaign platforms.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Slava

I know you can't really answer this, but why is the City of Calgary Recreation website so pathetic? Like you try to find programs and sign up for things and its terrible...and then when you get to the part where you actually want to sign up and have to wait three days for a card or whatever? Just brutal. Some of our resident website gurus should be bidding on fixing that...

Try doing it on a mobile device, even worse, if possible .

Anyway, while you are at it there Daorcey, can you "fix"* the whole swimming registration process for kids? The lessons are terrific, but the process....yikes. You know when you phone 311 to ask, and they have a resigned tone in their voice in telling you "yes, we too agree it sucks, but its all we have...".

(* - all done in a "yes, there are much more important things to focus on/first world problems/whatever you want to call it" tone on my behalf. Small thing I know, but like Slava its one of those annoying irritants in life...so just let me be irritated is all)

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by Weitz

There are a lot more than a couple abandoned wells in the city limits

There appears to be a whopping 40-45 abandoned wells in all of Calgary. With 95% of them being in the north east. And the majority in north east Calgary being located on airport property.