BIZ given funding for snow-clearing equipment

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This article was published 11/02/2019 (2672 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The West End BIZ is one step closer to taking sidewalk snow clearing into its own hands. 

During a Feb. 5 meeting, the City Centre community committee voted to give the business improvement zone a $40,000 community incentive grant towards purchasing its own snow-clearing equipment. 

A proposal signed by BIZ executive director Gloria Cardwell-Hoeppner argued the City’s plows don’t do an effective job in the area, which sees a large amount of foot traffic and bus ridership. 

“The sidewalks of Ellice, Sargent and Notre (Dame) have been observed as some of the most difficult to use in the city after a snowfall,” read the proposal. “We believe they are not cleared in a manner that sufficiently supports the amount of pedestrian traffic given the demographics of the area.” 

The grant covers roughly half the cost of purchasing a small utility vehicle that can be used for outdoor maintenance in the winter and summer. 

The BIZ intends to cover staffing costs for the new StreetNeat team, which would provide supplemental snow clearing on public sidewalks and bike lanes in the BIZ’s catchment area. 

The grant is dependent on funding from other sources and the BIZ entering into a formal agreement with the City.