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In spring 2020, temporary public space initiatives were created to help local businesses respond and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Build Back Victoria has been extended through to October 2021 and we are looking for your input to help improve the spring and summer program.
If you are a resident, business or visitor who experienced Build Back Victoria initiatives, fill out the 10-minute survey at https://engage.victoria.ca/ before February 22 and share your feedback.
The 2021 crosswalk program will include approximately 10 crosswalk upgrades, including the addition of pedestrian activated lights at crosswalks on Begbie, Shelbourne, and Bay. All new or upgraded crosswalks as part of the program receive enhanced sign, paint, lights (where applicable), and tactile warning strips to enhance visibility and improve accessibility.
The traffic calming program is continuing to focus on safety and speed reduction on local streets surrounding schools and parks across the City. Resident requests for traffic calming improvements on neighbourhood streets will continue to be reviewed through data collection, and priority spots will receive trial interventions throughout the year. Speed management measures will also be trialed on collector streets city-wide with documented speeding issues.
The City has identified several sites for transit shelter replacements and associated accessibility improvements. We will be working with our partners at BC Transit to prioritize up to 5 locations this year for new shelters. Our Public Works crews are currently installing additional benches at transit stops across the municipality to increase space for physical distancing and provide rest areas on popular corridors.
The City is building a 32km network of safe, connected and convenient cycling corridors for people of all ages and abilities. The goal is to encourage more trips by bike more often and reduce the City’s transportation-related carbon emissions while supporting recreation, place-making and urban street renewal.
Route planning in the James Bay neighbourhood is now underway. The City is seeking input from residents, businesses, and commuters on options for priority AAA investments in James Bay. Two north-south routes are planned: Government Street and Montreal Street. Two east-west route options, Superior and Michigan Street, are being considered - one of which will be pursued as part of priority investments by the end of 2022.
Visit the cycling network page of the City’s engagement portal to provide feedback on designs and weigh in on a preferred east-west route. There you will find a virtual corridor tour video, a survey, mapping tool, and links to additional resources. Consultation closes on March 28, 2021.
Construction is well underway with efforts focused largely on North Park and Fairfield neighbourhoods. When complete this spring, this project will form the longest AAA connection through the municipality, extending 4.6km from the Saanich border to the Dallas Road multi-use waterfront pathway.
Improvements include road paving, sidewalk upgrades, new pedestrian crossings, intersection upgrades, underground infrastructure renewal, accessibility enhancements, new street trees, landscaping, and placemaking features.
The City continues to send construction updates every 2-3 weeks with detailed information about activities. If you would like to receive these updates, please reply to this email and ask to be added to the ‘2020 cycling network construction updates’ list.
Concept designs were approved by Council in July 2020. City staff are currently finalizing drawings and technical details. These projects are expected to be tendered this spring with start of construction planned for summer 2021 - assuming a successful procurement process. Some work is being done on these routes in advance of the projects, including:
Traffic signal at Kings and Blanshard Street (complete, photo enclosed)
Road paving and paint markings on Blackwood Street (complete, photo enclosed)
Traffic signal at Princess and Cook Street (to open in February 2021)
Road paving and stormwater improvements on Richardson Street (starting in February 2021)
New pedestrian and bicycle crossing at Kings and Blanshard Street
Improved accessibility and safety for pedestrians and cyclists at Blackwood and Kings Street
Vic-Alert, the City of Victoria’s emergency notification system will now be powered by Alertable and will continue to inform the community of imminent emergencies or disasters that may impact Victoria, such as gas leaks or tsunamis.
Even though you are currently subscribed to Vic-Alert, YOU MUST RESUBSCRIBE to continue receiving emergency notifications through Vic-Alert.
Alertable is highly rated, made in Canada, and free for the public. It provides many new options to receive notifications including text, email, phone, mobile app, social media, home smart speaker, and more. You can personalize notifications by type and severity, and you can choose notifications for more than one location such as home and office.
For more information and to resubscribe to Vic-Alert, visit https://victoria.ca/VicAlert
The City of Victoria’s system, Vic-Alert, is different from the Provincial 'Alert Ready' system. Alert Ready is used for Amber Alerts and tsunami warnings only. Emergency notifications from Alert Ready are automatically sent to compatible smart phones and news/radio and does not require subscription. The City’s Vic-Alert system is used for a wider variety of hazards and includes geographically specific information which will only be sent to those subscribed to Vic-Alert.
As of February 1, 2021, the City will be exclusively using Alertable to send Vic-Alert emergency notifications. Please ensure that you resubscribe to receive emergency notifications from the City of Victoria by visiting Victoria.ca/VicAlert <https://victoria.ca/VicAlert>. Thank you for your commitment to emergency preparedness and getting VictoriaReady.
For any questions, please contact VicAlert@victoria.ca or call 250.920.3373.
Emergency Management Victoria
Victoria Fire Department
City of Victoria
1234 Yates St, Victoria BC V8V 3M8
The message has been sent to you as a subscriber of the Vic-Alert notification system. If you do not resubscribe to the Vic-Alert system through Alertable, you will not receive further communications from us.
Powered by Alertable https://alertable.ca
Hello Neighbourhood Associations of Greater Victoria
I am with the UBC Sauder School of Business, and my research team is conducting a short survey to learn about illegal dumping in Victoria neighbourhoods. Illegal dumping of household items no longer utilized or wanted such as furniture, mattresses and electronics is harmful to the natural environment, creates an eyesore in public places such as parks and boulevards and places a significant burden on municipalities and by extension, taxpayers. Many of these items also contain valuable materials that can be recycled or reused if disposed of correctly.
To help us better understand the context, problem, and strategies that have been successful & unsuccessful around the reduction of illegal dumping, we are asking neighbourhood associations to take part in this survey. Please feel free to pass this survey along to as many people in your association network as you like, we are hoping to collect as much information as possible.
Survey Link: https://ubcbusiness.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_55ejWLCa8B0SfJQ
This survey is being conducted in accordance with UBC policies and should take less than 10 minutes to complete. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you in advance for taking the time, we really appreciate it.
Warmly,
Marika Smith MSc
marikasresearch@gmail.com
Wednesday , February 17, noon- 1:30
Join our Arts, Culture and Event team and community art organizations to learn about what’s possible when thinking about more art in your neighbourhood.
Register for your free ticket and learn more about grants: victoria.ca/neighbourhoods
Info: e-mail to neighbourhoods@victoria.ca
James Summer is Victoria’s new Youth Poet Laureate. The Youth Poet Laureate serves as Victoria’s champion for youth and the literary arts, seeking to inspire and engage local youth to share their stories through both written and spoken word, and serves a one-year honorary term. James Summer began writing poetry in his junior year of high school when he joined Vic High School’s slam poetry club. Over the years he participated and competed in Vic Voices, Hullabaloo and various open mics, and became president of the slam poetry club in his senior year. As the next Youth Poet Laureate, he hopes to connect with other youth in Victoria and share his love of poetry. He finds that poetry is a medium that can express growth, pain and love through self- expression in a safe space, and wants to be able to help create that safe space for others. Visit the City’s Webpage for more information.
The City of Victoria is now using Alertable to send Vic-Alert emergency notifications for incidents such as tsunamis and gas leaks.
In order for current subscribers to continue receiving emergency notifications, they must resubscribe to Vic-Alert. Signing up is easy and free at Victoria.ca/VicAlert.
You can choose to receive emergency notifications by text message, phone, email, and/or Alertable app alert.
The City of Victoria provides a branch chipping service to help residents remove tree branches from their yard. Please have tree branches on the boulevard for chipping by Monday, Feb. 22 at 7 a.m.
Each household is allowed one branch pile up to 1.2 x 1.2 x 1.8 metres, which is about what a half-ton pickup truck can hold
Loosely stack tree branches between 2.5 cm (1") to 25 cm (10") in diameter only, with cut ends together
Trucks will make one pass down each street
Residents can also drop off branches, leaves and garden waste year-round at the City of Victoria
Public Works Yard on Garbally Rd.Learn more: victoria.ca/branch
On February 5, the City will be launching online engagement for new cycling routes in the James Bay neighbourhood as part of the ongoing work on the All Ages and Abilities cycling network.
Two north-south routes and one east-west route will be pursued as part of the priority 32km AAA network. You are invited to provide feedback on full-length design concepts and weigh in on route preference.
Watch the virtual corridor tour, complete the survey,provide detailed feedback on the route map tool, or ask questions in the Q&A forum.
Investments in James Bay will be implemented as part of the final phase of the priority cycling network, in 2022. Visit the City’s webpage to take part.
Do you live, spend time in or care about the future of Fernwood, North Park and Hillside-Quadra?
The City is looking for your feedback to guide growth and change in our community over the next 20 years.
It’s important that we hear from people of diverse backgrounds, ages and incomes, including renters, youth, and families with young children. You told us what’s important … Last spring we heard about opportunities, concerns and big ideas from you and your neighbours.
Now help us plan a future that includes everyone! We want to hear from you on how we can bring forward more housing choices, better transportation options, and improved public spaces for people of different incomes, household types, ages and lifestyles. Visit engage.victoria.ca to share your feedback through February!
The Victoria, Saanich and Oak Bay fire departments have updated their mutual and automatic aid firefighting agreement, ensuring continued cooperation and alignment of fire services across the three core municipalities.
The new agreement increases resource capacity, inter-municipal firefighter training opportunities and professional cooperation through operational response planning and coordinated responses to high-risk events. This more modern, all-encompassing agreement aligns with expectations of collaboration, streamlined services, and leveraging economies of scale, resulting in cost effective service delivery and best use of tax dollars.
A cost recovery process is also in place to ensure that municipalities are reimbursed for the service they provide beyond their borders. The original agreement between the three municipalities was implemented in 1980, at a time when emergency service requests were significantly lower. Calls for service are now upwards of 7,000 calls a year for Victoria; 6500 for Saanich; and 1300 for Oak Bay.
The City is looking forward to welcoming the community back to Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre on February 1. Registration opens on January 28 at 9 a.m. to book a swim visit, a fitness visit, or register for an upcoming recreation program, such as swim lessons and fitness classes.
The City’s priority is safety and all required COVID-19 protocols are in place to create a safe environment for visitors and staff. Due to public health requirements and capacity limits, unscheduled drop-ins at this time are not allowed, so please register in advance.
Registration will be available at victoria.ca/crystalpool or by calling 250.361.0732. We look forward to seeing many familiar faces and welcoming new ones!
Council has allocated an Emergency Social Services Grant of $6,500 for “Meegan Community Care Tent” to the Red Cedar Café Association as the grant recipient and permit holder. The temporary site is now operational and providing outreach services on Cook Street near Dallas Road.
The association has worked through the permit process with city staff and are required to implement all the necessary safety, fire prevention and COVID measures. Community outreach workers will provide humanitarian relief to people sheltering in Beacon Hill Park by offering a dry space to get warm, where people can connect with health workers, have a bite to eat and a coffee, and get a little respite from sheltering outside in the cold and wet.
Decisions made at Council can be found on our Council Highlights page.
If you are interested in knowing how the councillors voted on anything, you can now see and track Council voting records with the City Council Meeting Dashboard.
Committee of the Whole (COTW) 9:00 a.m.
(Closed) Council Meeting After COTW meetings
as required
Council Meeting 6:30 p.m.
February
4th, 11th, 18th, & 25th
4th, 11th, 18th, & 25th
11th & 25th
Neighbourhood Staff Contact: Kimberley Stratford kstratford@victoria.ca
