To support Calgary’s rapid population growth and increasing water demands, new infrastructure at the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant is required to ensure the resiliency of Calgary’s water treatment and distribution systems. The upgrades include a new treated water storage reservoir (called a “clearwell”), a high-lift pump station, and an electrical building.
These upgrades will support Calgarians in the following ways:
Projects and construction will take place in phases over the next several years:
The City is sensitive to the impact this work may have on user groups in the area and is working diligently with affected stakeholders, including the Calgary Bike Track League (CBTL), Velodrome users, and Safety City. Expansion plans for this project have been communicated over the past five years. City Administration delayed construction to ensure users could retain a full operational season in 2025, as their lease was set to expire in April 2025. Community spaces-such as the Glenmore Velodrome, Safety City, and others-have been made possible over the years because the City allows land designated for future infrastructure projects to be used in the interim with the understanding that these lands will eventually transition to their intended purpose when infrastructure development is ready to proceed. The area leased by Safety City—and additional surrounding space—is needed to support infrastructure projects related to both the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant expansion and the future redevelopment of Glenmore Athletic Park. Real Estate and Development Services (REDS) continues to explore City-owned sites as potential new locations for Safety City. Finding suitable inner-city land is a challenging task, and Administration continues to offer this in-kind support. For more information on leasing City-owned land, please visit: Interim uses of City-owned land. Councillor Penner has met with City project teams and representatives from Safety City on multiple occasions. In addition, Councillor Penner and the Ward 11 office have guided Safety City toward grant opportunities and potential partner organizations, and continue to offer support, including letters of endorsement and information about new grants as they become available. We are also open to sharing Safety City’s fundraising efforts with the broader community and await their requests and relevant links to do so. With two cell towers located on-site, the Ward 11 office has also collaborated with REDS to explore the possibility of securing a one-time lease payout to assist Safety City with relocation costs. We understand these costs are significant and continue to suggest fundraising strategies, grant opportunities, potential partners and future in-kind contributions from the City, should a new site be secured. Balancing the needs of a growing city with those of user groups on City-owned land is never an easy task. We remain committed to supporting both Water Services in delivering safe and reliable water to all Calgarians and the user groups seeking to lease land from the City. On Tuesday’s (March 11) Executive Committee, I brought forward a notice of motion to ask the City to develop a naturalization plan along roadways and pathways. It will be debated at Council on March 18th. The Problem Our roadsides have been largely planned and maintained to be low-care, single turf areas with little (re)investment and maintenance. Many roadsides no longer offer visual appeal and have reduced ecological benefits, being overcrowded by weeds and invasive species due to turf species poorly suited for the soil conditions of roadsides; Post construction or through targeted reinvestment, we have the opportunity to increase biodiversity, contribute to ecological resilience, and SAVE money long-term. As it is now, post construction, within current budget (which is nearly the same as what naturalization would cost), the planned turf (applied via spray seed) isn’t setting and instead weeds grow in its place. With intentionality, we could use common native plant species to not only foster environments that prevent the growth and proliferation of weeds but also create a beautiful, low-maintenance space. The City has done a few pilot projects and they’ve proven successful. With a multi-year program, we can do more and support the many objectives we have as a city. Let’s debunk some of the myths; What this isn’t… Direction to go rip up all the roadways immediately and naturalize. What this is… Direction to create a plan that selects the right location at the right time to naturalize. What this isn’t… A massive spending increase. What this is… A long term strategy that saves money over time as proven through the pilot*. *because the pilot included costs for studies and reporting on the outcomes, these costs would not be required going forward. What this isn’t… Letting the weeds and existing turf grow without mowing. What this is… Strategic and opportunistic replanting of native plant species (shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers) that choke out weeds, support biodiversity, naturally drought tolerant and require no, or less mowing. What this isn’t… An increase to allergens in the environment. What this is… Using species that are common to the prairie grasslands which are typically lower in histamine compared to aesthetic turf (ie Kentucky blue grass) What this isn’t… Ignoring the need for safety of sight lines and prevention of grass fires. What this is… Working with the teams within transportation and the fire department to create a safe strategy that balances opportunity with safety. This notice of motion is long term thinking for our city keeping in mind the alignment with other approved policies. Yes, it may require a shift in thinking and acceptance of what we deem to be visually appealing. I am confident though that because this is a city wide strategy, over many years, that we can adapt to the change and come to value the difference. |
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