Crosswalk motion postponed until next year

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on November 14, 2024.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Discussion was short on an official business motion presented to city council on Tuesday by mayor Blaine Hyggen and councillor Ryan Parker calling for the development of a plan to design and install a decorative Remembrance day crosswalk on 4 Ave. S. adjacent to the Cenotaph and the City of Lethbridge cover any costs up to a maximum of $10,000 from council contingencies.

Parker pulled the motion from discussion shortly after deputy mayor Nick Paladino read it to council, agreeing that it should be postponed until City administration returns with a Decorative Sidewalks policy for council’s consideration no later than the third quarter of 2025.

Hyggen was amenable with Parker’s move and the matter passed unanimously.

Councillor Rajko Dodic mentioned that in April council had approved a sidewalk to be painted by Woods Homes and an operative clause in that resolution called for Administration to prepare a council policy on decorative crosswalks and other similar decorative measures to be brought to a Governance Standing Policy Committee by Q3 of next year.

Calling Parker and Hyggen’s OBM “a great resolution,” Dodic said because council and administration were already dealing with the matter, the direction to Administration would allow input from organizations that might be affected in respect to decorative sidewalks or other decorative measures used to celebrate Remembrance Day.

He asked if the OBM is something that could be dealt with through the direction given to Administration in April.

Parker said Dodic had a valid point, noting “I don’t think we want to fly in the face of policy” and that he wanted to put the idea on the radar but council needs to address the matter in the right way.

Hyggen agreed, saying there is still time given the direction Administration has for a policy next summer or in Q3 for a painted crosswalk to be done if council decides to move forward with it.