Sundre’s administration will be reviewing information submitted by members of the public regarding concerns about the mini-roundabout project, and will bring back a report to council that could include recommendations.
Melany Sealy, Sundre resident and local business owner, presented a petition, along with additional documentation outlining issues some people in the community have shared, during the Feb. 19 meeting.
“We express concerns on how the roundabout file was performed and that due to lack of public participation and engagement, the people feel left out of the decision-making process,” she told council.
“Some felt council didn’t decide in everyone’s best interests.”
The 126-page package Sealy submitted included background on the process to date, going back to 2008 when safety concerns initially stemmed from the change on Main Avenue to a four-lane corridor from two lanes.
The petition's call to action reads as follows, “If you would like to see a retracted motion made by the Town of Sundre regarding the January 7, 2019 motion to keep the mini roundabouts in place, and a full public consult between Alberta Transportation, the Town of Sundre and all residents, industries and stakeholders to be held, we ask you please sign.”
Sealy said that efforts to inform, engage and consult the community were inadequate and that some people felt their voices went unheard when the Jan. 7 decision was made to eventually make the traffic calming measures permanent when Alberta Transportation completes the Highway 27 overlay project — anticipated in 2023.
Greater pains should have been taken, she argued, to advertise beyond the immediate area since Sundre residents are not the only ones who frequent the high-load corridor.
Additionally, online advertising in rural areas where access to the Internet is not always possible is insufficient, and more time should have been allocated between when the advertisements were released and when public hearings were held, she said.
The public was also not provided with a suitable opportunity to offer feedback following the conclusion of the project’s trial period, she said, adding Alberta Transportation announced to council in January that the mini-roundabouts will remain until they can be replaced with permanent concrete installments when the highway overlay project is implemented.
She also expressed the opinion that the municipality had not lived up to its own public participation policy when agreeing without further community consultation to extend the project’s trial period until the highway’s overlay is completed.
The petition that was circulated throughout Sundre garnered more than 350 signatures, which represents more than the 10 per cent minimum required as per the Municipal Government Act, she said.
“There are some who like the mini-roundabouts, and some who do not,” she said.
However, she said there were also concerns about how the project was presented and what was actually delivered.
“People thought it was to enhance and beautify the downtown,” she said.
“(But) from what was presented to what is installed are not even closely resembling each other.”
She expressed hope that council would consider rescinding its Jan. 7 motion that supports the extension of the pilot program until the Highway 27 overlay project occurs to allow for a more open approach that involves additional public participation.
“People have felt very left out of the process,” she said.
The documentation presented to council was also submitted to Alberta’s minister of transportation, Brian Mason, Sealy said, adding she was advised to anticipate a response from his office.
Following her presentation to council, Mayor Terry Leslie inquired whether Sealy was formally submitting a petition.
She pointed out the petition was only a part of the package given to the municipality.
Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer, said petitions are highly regulated under the Municipal Government Act, and must be submitted to a municipality’s chief administrative officer.
“Within 45 days, I will review the petition and make a declaration to the council at a public open meeting on whether the petition is sufficient or insufficient,” said Nelson, adding the report could also include recommendations.
Coun. Todd Dalke’s motion directing administration to accept the file, including the petition, for review, carried unanimously.
“We look forward to the report coming from Ms. Nelson,” said Leslie.
