Plenty was on the agenda at last night’s meeting of Sackville town council, including two recent hot button issues: speed limits on Pond Shore Road, and the ban on skateboarding on town streets.
After a discussion of the situation at Pond Shore Road councillors passed a motion to continue use of radar feedback signs on the road, as well as asking the RMCP to increase enforcement of existing speed limits.
Concerns about speeding on the road have been raised by local residents for some time, and recently, the town had hired engineering consultants WSP to conduct a standard speed limit study. Last week, councillors discussed the results of that study, a recommendation to increase the speed limit north of Uphill Drive to 70 km/hr from the current maximum of 60 km/hr.
A report from town staff presenting that report last week recommended keeping the status quo, though documents for yesterday’s meeting indicated that the WSP consultant had expressed concern with that, “an inadequate speed limit could cause safety concerns with this section of roadway.”
Councillor Bill Evans said he felt the issue on Pond Shore Road was one of speeding and not speed limits, and referred to a recent letter from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI) stating that speed limits should remain the same. That letter, addressed to Deputy Mayor Ron Aiken and distributed to councillors, was not mentioned in staff reports for either the April 6 or April 12 council meetings.
Here’s the motion passed last night, made by Councillor Bill Evans:
“I move that consistent with the guidelines specified in the recent letter from DTI, that portable speed radar feedback signs be used periodically in both directions to monitor speeds, gather speed data and act as traffic calming devices. And in addition, that the RCMP be requested to increase enforcement of existing speed limits on this section of highway.”
COUNCIL ASKS FOR LAWYER TO WORK ON REVISIONS TO STREETS BYLAW TO ALLOW SKATEBOARDING
After months of discussion around the virtual council table and on social media, council seems to have set some direction for the future of skateboards on town streets. Council approved two motions at their meeting last night, declaring the town’s support for changes, and tasking staff to work on them with the town’s solicitor.
Here’s the motion made by Councillor Bill Evans, who first addressed the issue years ago in an attempt to address what he calls a “fairness” issue.
“I move that council support the development of revisions to the street traffic bylaw that would permit skateboard use on municipal streets while addressing safety, liability and enforcement concerns.”
Evans motion was seconded by Councillor Shawn Mesheau, and approved by all but Councillor Bruce Phinney. After that motion passed, Evans brought a second motion forward:
“I move that staff be tasked to work with our solicitor to recommend revisions to the street traffic bylaw that would permit skateboard use on municipal streets while addressing safety, liability and enforcement concerns.”
Again, all but Councillor Bruce Phinney voted in favour.
Evans brought the motions at the end of the meeting, during new business, something not often done by councillors.
The subject of lifting the ban on skateboards on town streets has been ongoing for months. Councillor Andrew Black, who sits as a policy and bylaw liaison councillor, brought forward first reading of bylaw amendments to get rid of the ban in February. Black is a skateboarder himself, and spoke of his personal experience when talking about the possible changes to the bylaw with CHMA back in February. Last night he felt the need to defend himself against criticism that his work on the bylaw was self serving, and that he was single-handedly orchestrating the process. Black explained the process started in a September meeting of the policy and bylaw liaison group, and continued from there, outlining the involvement of various staff.
Here’s Andrew Black summing up his comments at the April 12 council meeting:
“This has been a collective group discussion throughout the entire process, due to a recognition that something in our bylaws may need to be changed to reflect a new situation in our town, in this case, the increase in skating on public streets and the discussion around enforcement. Town staff and council have put a lot of work into research and discussion, which has brought us to this point tonight, after seven months of questioning, conversation, public engagement and healthy debate. So hopefully that gives everybody a bit of a rundown on where this all came from. And let me stress again: this was seven months worth of work and discussion. Thank you.”
Council will meet next on May 3, for a regular council meeting. Because of elections next month, council will forego their usual monthly discussion meeting.