River Access Motion Comes To Calgary City Council

[jpinkster]

A Notice of Motion will be coming before Council next week that asks for Council to direct The City to formally explore a comprehensive access plan for Calgary's rivers. If passed, this will be a much needed step forward for river users.

 

[ÜberFly]

Jordan,

 

Any chance you can send it so us "old guys" can read it?!

 

P

[jpinkster]

Yikes, even I can't read that!

 

Here is the text version:

 

Re: Calgary River Access Strategy
Councillor Keating and Councillor Carra

WHEREAS Imagine Calgary identified that the rivers are integral to Calgarians’ sense of community;

AND WHEREAS a multitude of user groups enjoy recreation activities on Calgary’s rivers;

AND WHEREAS recreational activities on the Bow and Elbow Rivers provide economic opportunities for Calgary’s tourism industry;AND WHEREAS the 2013 floods have resulted in a loss of trailer access points, specifically on the Bow River;

AND WHEREAS the 2013 floods have contributed to a shift in river bottom channels and sensitive fish habitat;

AND WHEREAS future opening of Harvie Passage will encourage more recreational river users;

AND WHEREAS this is a multi-City department topic, additionally including both Provincial and Federal jurisdictions;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that administration prepare a policy report and implementation plan to address a Calgary river access strategy that include:

· High level policy statements

· The identification of stakeholders

· Further public access points

· Terms of public access

· Continued public safety consideration

· Delivery models

· Capital and operational costs required

· Potential bylaw amendments required

 

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that Administration (Water Resources, Calgary Fire Department, Calgary Recreation, Calgary Parks and Calgary Community Standards) engage with commercial river users for discussions on river access issues in the short term;

 

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that this report be presented to the SPC on Community & Protective Services no later than Q1 of 2017.

[BurningChrome]

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that Administration (Water Resources, Calgary Fire Department, Calgary Recreation, Calgary Parks and Calgary Community Standards) engage with commercial river users for discussions on river access issues in the short term;

 

Guessing this means guides, rafting companies, etc. but what about public consultations? We have as much right to access as they do and it would be unfortunate if they dictate the conversation for the rest of us.

[jpinkster]

Guessing this means guides, rafting companies, etc. but what about public consultations? We have as much right to access as they do and it would be unfortunate if they dictate the conversation for the rest of us.

The Calgary River User Alliance (CRUA) has been identified by The City as the umbrella organization to cover many of the user groups impacted by river access. I can't see a situation where these conversations occur without their input from a public perspective.

[BurningChrome]

The Calgary River User Alliance (CRUA) has been identified by The City as the umbrella organization to cover many of the user groups impacted by river access. I can't see a situation where these conversations occur without their input from a public perspective.

Looking at that group's Facebook page their membership seems to be primarily made up of commercial users or groups. Seems like the conversation will be heavily skewed in their favour. I'd hate to see us get to a place where you need to be a member of some group just to get your voice heard or get access to a launch after they gate and lock them all.

[jpinkster]

And I guess therein is some of the issues with lobbying efforts by/for anglers on a number of these issues. Lobbying is about volume, and there doesn't seem to be a consolidated voice.

[fishteck]

The Calgary River Users Alliance (CRUA) has been working on the river access issue for some time. If you go the the Bow River Trout Facebook page or the following link to BRT Website you will see the action you can take as an individual to support the Motion to Council

 

 

https://bowrivertrout.org/2016/06/08/calgary-river-access-strategy-motion-to-city-council-june-13-14-2016/

 

Under the "Reports" menu you can also see a review of Calgary's boat launches carried out by CRUA earlier this year.

If you wish to be kept informed on CRUA's work in progress go to " Contact" page and enter you info, ticking off "Newsletter"

 

We hope to make regular posts on the FFF as river access information becomes available

 

Fishtech

[jpinkster]

Bit of a bump for this story in the news this morning:

 

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/councillors-want-river-access-for-boaters-and-tour-operators-improved

[jpinkster]

Folks,

 

Just an update on this. Council went late last night, and they didn't get to the motion. They continue this morning at 9:30. I suspect the motion will come forward after lunch. You can watch the Council meeting here: http://www.calgary.ca/General/Pages/Council-and-Committee-webcasts.aspx

 

I'll give a quick update in this space when the item is about to come forward.

[jpinkster]

Sounds like this motion should be coming live right around 10:00.

[jpinkster]

Motion passes unanimously.

[TroutPanther]

Great news!

[jasonvilly]

Sweet.

 

But now what?

 

What are the next steps? How can we as an angling community ensure that this keeps moving forward.

 

A motion is only good if there will be subsequent action taken.

[fishteck]

GOOD NEWS!

 

The motion " Calgary River Access Strategy" was passed by City Council today.

 

Calgary River Users Alliance supports the motion and will work with City Administration to address the short and long-term objectives of the motion.

 

To keep in touch with what is happening, go to:

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/CalgaryRiverUsersAlliance/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

[jpinkster]

Sweet.

 

But now what?

 

What are the next steps? How can we as an angling community ensure that this keeps moving forward.

 

A motion is only good if there will be subsequent action taken.

Administration has to bring a report back to committee in Q1 of 2017. In this time they have a lot of work to do consulting with stakeholders and identifying potential access.

CRUA is a great group to stay engaged with as they will have their finger on the pulse of this. If I catch wind of engagement opportunities I will let the wider group know.

[Jayhad]

I was pretty impressed, Sean Chu called me around 8 pm last night to tell me the outcome of the council meeting.