Skate park needs work
A roundup of items coming before city council Monday night
The West 49 Skateboard Park at Bonnerworth Park near Monaghan Rd. and Parkhill Rd. will need $150,000 worth of repairs in 2020, city staff state in a report to council.
The facility, which was built in 2011, generally attracts 20-30 users at a time during milder weather, but there are no detailed usage statistics, staff state.
The concrete structure required $5,000 in repairs in 2015 after significant cracks developed.
The report states the 2020 repairs would give the city the opportunity to offer sponsorships and naming rights for the park.
After the city spent $288,900 on the first phase of the project, skateboard apparel company West 49 paid $85,000 toward its second phase in 2001, giving it its name. The staff report states there is no agreement on file defining the length of time the naming rights would be in effect.
New appointees
Fifteen people applied for seven city advisory board positions, city council will hear Monday.
After hearing from the citizen selection committee, city staff recommend the following appointments:
Jayne White to the Peterborough Public Library Board of Trustees.
Greg O’Heron, Laura Keresztesi, and Claude Dufresne to the Tree and Woodland Appeals Committee.
Sarah Cullingham, Wayne Toms, Dave McFadden and Kevin Duguay to the Planning Advisory Committee.
The appointments would be in effect until Nov. 30.
New stop sign
A new stop sign could be in place at the corner of Raymond St. and Westdale Ave., in the newer neighbourhood between Fairbairn St. and Chemong Rd., after residents raised concerns about the potential for collisions.
City staff carried out a traffic review, studied sightlines and looked at other options before determining that the intersection needs a stop sign on Raymond St. for westbound traffic, yellow dividing line pavement markings on Raymond and Westdale, realignment of the curb on the south side of the intersection and new intersection warning signs.
Council will consider the request Monday.
Recreation subsidy
City staff will update council on local recreation subsidies Monday.
The city program, aimed at encouraging families of limited means to take part in city-run recreational programs, offers an annual maximum of $200 per child (up to 18 years of age) toward the registration costs of recreational programs, sports activities, and camps. In 2017, 1,649 subsidies were approved.
The budget for the program is $48,000.
To apply, call 705-742-7777 ext 1827.
The Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre also offers a 50 per cent subsidized membership for eligible individuals and families, with $35,000 in the 2018 wellness centre operating budget to support the program. To apply, call 705-742-0050 ext. 2203. Last year, 126 subsidies were approved.
Families who access both subsidies cannot exceed the limit of $200 per child per year.
Natural turf vs. All-weather
Which costs more to maintain at local sports fields: natural turf or all-weather covering?
City council wanted to know, noting that the city invested in three all-weather fields in the city in 2014 (two at Fleming College, one at Thomas A. Stewart).
In 2016, two new natural fields were built at Trent University. The city carries out the maintenance of those fields, books them for community use and collects field rental revenue.
In 2017, the city spent $28,658 to maintain the all-weather fields at Fleming, and brought in $54, 182 in revenue.
The natural fields at Trent cost $22,062 to maintain and brought in $5,337 in revenue. Staff note that there’s no cost to book the Trent fields for practice time, but a fee is charged for all use of the Fleming fields.
City staff prepared a report indicating that the cost to maintain the all-weather fields is 29 per cent higher than the cost of maintaining natural turf. However, the report states, the all-weather fields generate a higher revenue for the city.
Crossing guards
City staff recommend adding a crossing guard during arrival and dismissal times at Goodfellow Rd. and St. Mary’s St.
The $9,800 annual cost would come from the general contingency budget, a staff report states, with new signage costing $600, to come from the Capital Levy.
Parents and school officials in the area had asked the city to review the safety situation at the intersection.
Staff had reviewed the need for crossing guards at the intersections of Parkhill Rd. and Pinehill Dr., Goodfellow Rd. and St. Mary’s St. and Sherbrooke St. and Woodglade Blvd. City staff applied specific tests to the intersections to determine the need for a guard.
The new guard at Goodfellow/St. Mary’s should be in place by May, the report states.
A crossing guard will also be added at the intersection of Kawartha Heights Blvd. and Denure Dr., at a cost of $9,800 and $4,000 in signage, markings and sidewalk ramps.
City staff reviewed the area and determined there was a need for a guard.
That guard will be in place by June, the report states.