Councillor Markus Chambers met with several CBRA and SOS members in the gravel parking lot by the Aimes Road Bridge yesterday afternoon. The planned walk-and-talk meeting quickly turned into a huddle and chat session. The weather was freezing. Luckily, we already all know the stretch of land between the two Seine River bridges. We have been talking about the park project for at least 3 years, after all.
Councillor Chambers mentioned that a building proposal for a site next to the Creek Bend Hollow condos had collapsed. We had already noticed that Progressive RE had taken over marketing from Aura for the 180 Creek Bend project. This needs further research.
We have not had a recent update on the provincial site, the gravel parking lot and roughed-in paddling launch. SOS will contact them.
Councillor Chambers said that landscapers have access to a free standpipe for water in St. Norbert. SOS was concerned about contractor water usage at the Seine River site. You can still see ruts in the riverbank from last season’s water draws.
We noted some litter/garbage in the area. Discarded clothing indicated the site of an old encampment activity. The councillor said he would send us contact info to use when we saw encampments. He mentioned 311, St Boniface Street Links, and End Homelessness Winnipeg.
I mentioned the incidents of underhoused people sheltering in area condo front entrances. Chambers said that this type of end-of-the-line activity is City wide. No date for a follow-up safety meeting was set. (Did I mention it was cold outside?)
We discussed the lack of public waste receptacles at the parking lot. I mentioned the street litter by the Transit porta-pottie location. The councillor said that was a Transit responsibility. He will follow up.
The councillor said he will send us a kit that is used for public cleanups of area litter.
The councillor said that he and other Riel Councillors had recently met Qualico/Landmark to discuss new housing developments in Precinct K and south of the Perimeter. He said they had discussed the future Warde Avenue bridge over the Seine.
He said for us to contact the Province for any updates regarding the Aimes/Melnick Road railway crossing.
He said the 2028 St. Anne’s Road twinning and Creek Bend traffic light installation is still on.
It is always appreciated when a councillor makes time to meet with constituents.
I am envious that Sage Creek has a wonderful Italian bakery to go to meet with their councillor, though.
PS We discussed invasive species in the area. Markus asked if we had talked to Tyler Blashko about extra mowing. (We had not.) Discussed how no levels of government are really that concerned with European buckthorn, etc. It seems that only volunteers are going to get this managed.
PPS Markus Chambers will look into getting signage for the parking lot in case we need to contact 911 for a police response.
PPPS The City will install NO CAMPING signs in the parking lot.