Correspondence regarding Off-Leash Dog Park Request

Report to Committee of the Whole

Re: Helmcken Centennial Park – Off Leash Dog Park Request
Meeting Date: March 12, 2019

Attachment A

From: Jim Powell
Sent: January-04-18 1:22 PM
To: Info Address info@viewroyal.ca; Ron Mattson RMattson@viewroyal.ca; John Rogers JRogers@viewroyal.ca
Cc: crdtsc@crd.bc.ca
Subject: Parks and roads

Dear Ron, John and other members of Council:

Happy New Year. All the best for 2018.

Last year I forwarded a list of items that I thought should be considered. Two amongst them were suggestions concerning off leash dog park at Centennial Park and traffic concerns at Helmcken/Watkiss/Chancellor.

1. With the addition of a gate at park entrances for White Pine and Kingham, Centennial Park should be off leash for the same period as Thetis Lake (to avoid conflict with ball players). There is even a separately fenced area which could be used for smaller or aggressive dogs which need to be separated from others. Most dog owners are considerate and pick up after their dogs when off leash (the same cannot be said for cats which aren't even licensed!) with the dog bags provided (Thank you View Royal). Even so, the majority of feces left in the park are from Canada Geese. I've attached 2 pictures: one showing the park with the geese present and a second showing the park after an off leash dog was present. Which would you rather have?

SAFETY AT Helmcken/Watkiss/Chancellor

2. a. The bump out at the corner is a traffic hazard creating many dangerous situations. Right turn traffic regularly turns right on red and some near accidents have occurred with through car and bike traffic on Helmcken. Bike traffic is forced into close proximity to vehicle traffic. b. The pedestrian light crossing Watkiss should be pedestrian controlled while through traffic is green on Helmcken. No left turn is permitted during this time so it is safe to cross Watkiss during this extended green light. c. Left turns from Chancellor onto Helmcken should be permitted at the same time as left turns from Watkiss to Helmcken while through traffic is stopped. Currently, left turns from Chancellor conflict with through and right turn traffic from Watkiss making for a very dangerous crossing situation.

Thank you for your consideration
Jim Powell
140 St. Giles Street