Correspondence from J. Powell Re: Wishes for View Royal - 2017

From: Jim Powell
Sent: February-09-17 5:36 PM
To: Mayor And Council Email
Subject: Happy New Year-Wishes for 2017

Here's my first short list of things I'd like to see in View Royal this year.

1. Fix the traffic lights at Helmcken/Chancellor/ Watkiss Way. When the traffic light is green for through traffic on Helmcken, the pedestrian light to cross Watkiss should be active. No traffic is permitted a left turn from Helmcken, and right turn from Helmcken to Watkiss is a separate lane. Therefore there would be no interference and pedestrians wouldn't be left in the cold for over 2 minutes (sometimes).
2. Left turns from Chancellor onto south Helmcken should be at the same time as left turns from Watkiss to N. Helmcken. As it is now, left from Chancellor is dangerous because straight through and right turn from Watkiss have right of way and may be hidden from vehicles on Chancellor which may result in an accident (especially since the bump out blocks the second lane).
3. The bus shelter at southbound Helmcken/TCH should be replaced. The current bench is unsatisfactory (cold and exposed) and the last shelter was removed after a car collided with it (in December?). Therefore ICBC should provide funds to replace it.
4. Centennial Park should be designated an off-leash park for the same period as Thetis Lake Park since it is not being used by the ball players. The recent signage indicating on leash has caught a number of people by surprise (and usually ignored). The park is mostly enclosed (2 gates would complete the enclosure) and an existing second enclosed area can be used for smaller (or more aggressive) dogs. Most of the feces in the park are due to the hundreds of geese that inhabit the park and dogs provide incentive for them to leave:-).
5. Parks staff have been doing an admirable job keeping paths, sidewalks, and bus stops clear in the inclement weather. They should be given some help. Two workers are not enough!
6. View Royal should demand a GVPL branch in View Royal. Victoria and Saanich have numerous branches; Langford has two; James Bay is getting another. What have we go for our $350,000 donation and annual fees of near half a million? Not good enough now that the casino revenues are not being used for our contribution!

Thank you for your service and consideration

Jim Powell
140 St. Giles