Victoria to put another $100,000 toward cleaning up sidewalks

Blame it on climate change, mayor says, — drier summers mean more washing

A flood of complaints about bird-guano-spattered sidewalks last summer has Victoria stepping up cleanup efforts.

Councillors have agreed to spend an additional $100,000 on downtown sidewalk cleanup during summer months.

Part of the problem, Mayor Lisa Helps said, is that drier summers linked to global warming mean there’s less summer rain to help wash away the droppings.

“Really, this was the biggest concern we heard — and not only from our residents but from people visiting here,” Helps said during recent budget deliberations.

“This is a perfect example — an unfortunate one — of the impact of climate change on cities,” she said. “We’re going to have hotter, drier summers and there will be costs associated with that. Hence, the need to try to mitigate our impact on the climate so we can bring down some of the expenses.”

By the summer, the city expects to have what staff are describing as a “new, sophisticated and efficient” sidewalk scrubber and a new pressurewashing vehicle.

Ed Robertson, the city’s assistant director of public works, said the new equipment comes from Europe and is “a significant upgrade.”

“Rather than having one person with a hand-held power washer doing a small area, one person will now be able to drive and do many more kilometres a day of that more intense cleaning,” he said.

Councillors also authorized an additional $50,000 for two seasonal staff for downtown cleanup efforts, $38,000 for a new pickup to help with spot cleaning with a pressure washer, and $11,500 for additional annual maintenance and operating costs.

Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe noted Victoria is the downtown for the region and cleanup is also needed in the mornings after late-night activities.

Thornton-Joe said she received complaints about the condition of the sidewalks and streets — as well as about benches and brick walls being splattered with bird droppings.

Robertson said with the new equipment and extra staff should be able to address issues with the seating areas as well as the sidewalks.

Helps said the additional efforts should be considered a pilot project.

“We’ll know with the feedback we get from the public. If it’s a go ahead, the next council can consider putting this as an ongoing expense starting in 2019,” she said.

But Coun. Margaret Lucas said the morning cleanups might not please everyone.

“I think the challenge that we’re going to see is with noise,” Lucas said.

Businesses are going to want the sidewalk cleaning done at 7 a.m. while residents probably won’t, she said.

“I can tell you, as someone who runs a hotel, when those machines go down the sidewalks they are extremely loud and noisy,” she said.

“So in this pilot we’re going to have to take a look at new issues that we’ve never had before. It’s going to be a challenge and I’m wondering if we’re going to need more money to do the hours that are going to be required to look after your business district as well as the residential that’s in town now.”