HOW TO CONTACT ME Councillor Reg Rankin Dear Residents,

Councillor Reg Rankin
Timberlea - Beechville - Clayton Park West
District 12 Newsletter
Halifax Regional Municipality
Winter 2013/2014
Dear Residents,
I extend a heartfelt hello to all residents. Welcome to the
many new residents who have recently moved to our
community. We are fortunate to live in a very
multicultural, diverse community with a mix of old
neighbourhoods and new neighbourhoods. Our district
continues to grow as new development takes place.
I am proud and honoured to be your municipal elected
representative. I am always pleased to hear from you and
encourage you to contact me with your concerns or
suggestions. Thank you for your continued support. I
look forward to continuing to work with you throughout
the next year.
As we begin 2014, my family and I extend best wishes for
a healthy and prosperous New Year!
Yours in Service,
HOW TO CONTACT ME
My Office is here to serve you
Councillors’ Support Office
Halifax Regional Municipality
P.O. Box 1749, Halifax, NS B3J 3A5
Phone: 490-4050
Phone: 499-3744
Fax: 490-4122
Email: reg.rankin@halifax.ca
Web: www.halifax/ca/districts/dist12
My Council Constituency Coordinator:
Melody Campbell
Phone: 490-2012
Email: melody.campbell@halifax.ca
The Citizen Contact Centre hours are 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., seven days a week except Christmas
Day and New Year’s Day.
Reg Rankin
Trails in Clayton Park West
*Submitted by Wendy McDonald, Halifax North West Trails Association
Have you checked out the Mainland Common Loop Trail, off the Mainland Linear Trail at Westridge Drive? This trail
has been recently refurbished by the local volunteer community trails group. For additional info, residents can go
to the website. www.halifaxnorthwesttrails.ca.
Our next projects include review of the opportunities for connecting the Active Transportation Mainland Linear
Trail with the popular Chain of Lakes Trail and Trail Planning in Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area.
Remember that all HRM trails are ‘Dogs ON Leash’. Share the trails with respect to all users. The local OFF Leash
Park is at Glenbourne field, off Parkland Drive.
Belchers Marsh and Pond Park and Trails are also in our District, a popular 2.5 km neighbourhood trail. Watch for
guided walks next spring. If you would like to be in touch, connect directly with the Trails group on their web site.
We are actively recruiting new Board members.
Councillor Reg Rankin
Timberlea - Beechville - Clayton Park West
District 12 Newsletter
Page 2
Snow and Ice Service Standards
The Halifax Regional Municipality is committed to keeping streets and sidewalks clear and safe from snow and ice.
Even before a snow event occurs, HRM’s snow operations are set in motion to facilitate safe movement for both
motorists and pedestrians. Snow and ice operations, however, do take time. The goal is to set an achievable standard
which aligns the level of service with the financial constraints of the HRM budget.
In order to achieve this standard, routes must be classified based on the impact on the various street of the overall
transportation system. HRM has classified all of the routes and will service them (salt, sand and plow) in the following
order of priority:
Streets
Sidewalks
Priority 1 Streets & Roads
First Priority streets include main arterials, emergency
routes to hospitals and fire stations, major bus routes,
and snow routes in major hilly terrain during weather
situations. HRM’s goal is to have a plow or salt pass every
3 hours and make Class 1 streets safe and clear of snow
within 12 hours of the end of snowfall.
Priority 1 Sidewalks
First Priority sidewalks include main arterials and
sidewalks within the Capital District. HRM’s goal is to
clear these sidewalks within 12 hours of the end of
snowfall.
Priority 2 Streets & Roads
Second Priority streets include residential and rural
routes with medium to low volume traffic and gravel
roads. HRM’s goal is to start cut throughs at intersections
to allow access onto the local streets after 10 cm’s
(approximately 4 inches) of accumulation and to make
Class 2 streets passable within 24 hours of the end of
snowfall.
Priority 2 School Route and Transit Route Sidewalks
HRM’s goal is to clear school route sidewalks within 18
hours of the end of snowfall.
Priority 3 Residential Street Sidewalks & Walkways
HRM’s goal is to clear residential sidewalks and walkways
within 36 hours of the end of snowfall.
Intersections & Bus Stops
HRM’s goal is to clear bus stops (starting with high
volume stops) within 48 hours of the end of snowfall.
Important Notes on Service Standards
• In snowfalls greater than 30 cm (approximately 12 inches), or in blizzard conditions, service levels may not be
achieved. HRM’s crews will continue working until all streets and sidewalks are clear and safe from snow & ice.
• During significant snow events “cut throughs” (one lane plowing) may commence on residential streets to allow
single lane access prior to full street width clearing.
• While the objective is to maintain sidewalks to a bare condition, many factors are key to achieving success. Wet
snow packed to ice, freezing rain and sudden freezes after rain can produce a heavy ice build-up on sidewalks. Sand
will be applied to provide a degree of traction.
• In the case of multiple snowfalls, where there has been insufficient time to complete all sidewalks, operations will
return to the highest priorities and start over.
• Plowing, from either street or sidewalk operations, will result in snow at the end of resident’s driveways. HRM is
NOT responsible for removing this snow.
Volunteer ESL / ELL (English as a Second Language/English Language Learner)
Tutors are needed at Keshen Goodman Library 330 Lacewood Drive
Volunteer tutors, ages 19 and over, are needed to help adults who are learning English as a Second (or additional)
Language. Many participants need help with general English conversation practice and speaking skills.
The program takes place once a week:
Tuesdays 6:30 - 8:30 PM or Wednesdays 1:00 - 3:00 PM, 3:30 - 5:30 PM or 6:30 - 8:30 PM
For more information, visit www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca and click on “volunteer” at the bottom of the page, ask
for an application at the library or contact Jen at 490-6408 or email hillj@halifax.ca.
Councillor Reg Rankin
Timberlea - Beechville - Clayton Park West
District 12 Newsletter
Page 3
Winter Parking Ban Information
During the 2013/14 winter season, HRM’s Traffic Authority will continue with the trial of a modified winter parking
ban. The changes offer some flexibility to those who are most affected by the ban, such as shift workers, residents
without a driveway and business owners, without compromising HRM’s snow and ice clearing operations. The
overnight parking regulations will be in effect from December 15th until March 31st, and will be enforced only during
declared snow and ice operations. When in effect, the parking ban runs from 1:00 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. If you
require on-street parking during the winter months, please plan ahead and find alternate parking in the event of a
snow storm.
CityWatch phone & email notifications on the parking ban
This past winter season, HRM offered residents the option to subscribe to direct notifications letting them know when
the overnight winter parking ban would be enforced. Residents can subscribe to our CityWatch program to receive
phone and email messages by emailing citywatch@halifax.ca or by calling 490-7403 with the following information:
• Please indicate that you are requesting to sign up for notifications about the overnight winter parking ban
• You have the option to provide up to two phone numbers and up to two email addresses or a combination of both
Design and Construction Updates
As you may have noticed, 2013 was a busy year for design and construction projects in District 12. The following
projects were completed during the 2013 construction season:
Dunbrack West – Ross to Farnham Gate –
Curb Renewal & Paving Resurfacing
Halifax Mainland Linear Trail – Washmill Lake Drive
to Ramsbook Court – Trail
Dunbrack Street – Langbrae to Farnham Gate –
Paving Resurfacing
Dunbrack Street West – Langbrae to Ross – Curb Renewal
St. Margaret’s Bay Road – Raines Mill Road to Civic 1138 –
Microsurfacing 2
St. Margaret’s Bay Road – Nine Mile Bridge to Brentwood –
New Sidewalk
Chain Lake Drive East – Washmill to Lacewood –
Planer Patching 1
Farnham Gate Road – Dunbrack to Scotch Pine –
Planer Patching 2
St. Margaret’s Bay Road – Beech Tree Run to Lakeside Park –
Planer Patching 2
Chain Lake Drive East West – Washmill to Lovett Lake –
Paving Renewal
Chain Lake Drive – Lacewood to Washmill –
New Sidewalk
St. Margaret’s Bay Road – Raines Mill Road to Beech Tree Run –
Extensive Microsurfacing
One of our larger construction projects of the season was the replacement of the Nine Mile Bridge over the summer.
The project was completed on time and on budget. To those in the affected community, I know that the construction
created an inconvenience and it contributed to an extended commute. Thank you to all the area residents and the
area businesses for your patience during the bridge replacement.
The opening of the new Nine Mile River Bridge on August 23, 2013
Councillor Reg Rankin
Timberlea - Beechville - Clayton Park West
District 12 Newsletter
Halifax Water Update –
Beechville Lakeside Timberlea
Halifax Water is tasked with providing regional
wastewater services to meet the long-term requirements
of the Beechville, Lakeside, Timberlea (BLT) Community,
an area that will ultimately accommodate a population of
approximately 25,000 persons.
Halifax Water, in consultation with local trails groups and
the community, has developed an approach that will see
approximately 8.4km of wastewater pipe installed
underneath the Chain of Lakes Trail and a portion of
the BLT Trail to provide the required wastewater service
to the community, at the lowest cost, and in the most
environmentally sound method. Work within the trail
commences at the end of Raines Mill Road in Lakeside
and continues towards Halifax until reaching the Joseph
Howe Drive Superstore.
The pipe work within the trail will be undertaken in
phases that will see sections of the trail closed when
work is underway, while the remaining sections of the
trail stay open to trail users to minimize public
inconvenience. Options for detours around closed
sections of the trail are being reviewed. It is estimated
work in the trail will take approximately 6-7 months with
work getting underway as soon as late December 2013,
or early 2014. The construction tender for the project
was let the first week of December. Upon completion, the
trail will be reinstated to pre-construction condition or
better. For full project details please visit
www.lakesidediversion.com
I, on behalf of District 12 residents, would like to wish Mr.
Bill Estabrooks, our former MLA in Timberlea - Prospect, a
well-deserved retirement. As you are aware, Mr. Estabrooks
did not reoffer to run for the current term. I have had the
opportunity to work with Bill on many issues in our
District. He worked diligently for his Riding’s residents, and
as a Minister in our last provincial government, he worked
to improve the lives of all Nova Scotians. Bill will be missed
as a member of the Legislature. We thank Bill for all of his
service and contributions to our community.
HRM’s District 12 covers parts of three Provincial ridings. I
express my congratulations to the Honourable Diana
Whalen, MLA Clayton Park West, on her appointment
as Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance and Treasury
Board, as well as being the Deputy President of the
Executive Council. I also want to extend congratulations to
our two new provincial representatives, Patricia Arab, MLA,
Fairview - Clayton Park, and Iain Rankin, MLA, Timberlea Prospect. I look forward to working with each of them in
our shared communities.
Page 4
Local Area Project Updates
Radio Transmitter Lands Case 17002:
Rockingham South, Halifax Mainland
HRM staff are currently working on the Stage II
Development Agreement for Phase I of development on
the radio transmitter lands. Phase I includes the
development of single unit dwellings, townhouse units,
two multiple unit dwellings and the conveyance of
parkland.
Please note that this project is in District 10, however, is of interest
to residents in District 12.
Northcliffe Site
On Tuesday, November 26th, Regional Council approved
a sale agreement of 3 acres, of the approximately 16 acre
site, where the building was formally located for
institutional development. The zoning is parks and
institutional and zoning will remain unchanged. The
tennis infrastructure and programmed recreational open
space are not surplus to municipal requirements and will
remain for HRM recreational purposes.
Please note that this project is in District 10, however, is of interest
to residents in District 12.
Lacewood Transit Terminal
The first phase of construction has now begun on the
new Lacewood Transit Terminal. The terminal will be
located along Lacewood Drive, between the Canada
Games Centre and the Mainland North Linear Parkway
Trail. The entrance to the terminal will be directly across
from Radcliffe Drive. The contractor will be working this
winter to clear and fill the site.
Shape your City –
Shape your Budget
HRM residents are invited to contribute to the 2014
budget consultation process by participating in online
engagement. Citizens are encouraged to share their
thoughts on service priorities and how they would like
to see their municipal tax dollars allocated. Please go to
shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/hfxtax and click on the budget
allocator tool found there. This allocator tool will allow
you to say what municipal service you value most and
where HRM needs to focus for the next budget year.
Delivery Note:
Due to the delivery routes followed by Canada Post, it is
possible that some of these Newsletters may appear in
other Districts. Please accept my apology for any
confusion.