The medians on Pretty River Parkway will remain filled with sand and salt for now because the Corporate and Community Services Standing Committee voted to defer the matter.
A staff report before the committee yesterday recommended filling the medians with stamped concrete instead of planting flowers again this year as in previous years.
The report, delivered by Parks, Recreation, and Culture Director Dean Collver, cited serious safety risks to staff who have to clean out excess sand and salt to prepare the beds each year, and also have to maintain them throughout the summer.
Councillors Steve Berman and Tina Comi said the rendering of the stamped concrete medians with light standards and banners looked “plain”
Both asked Collver if there were any other options that looked better but would mitigate the safety concern.
Collvers said staff have been doing some internal research over the last three to for years to find a solution, and have arrived at the concrete option.
“Low lying gardens were possible, but they just don’t survive and they put staff at risk every single time we have to go out there,” said Collver.
Councillor Comi said she wanted this term’s committee to review those options researched by staff.
“I would think we’re not the only municipality with medians,” said Comi, suggestion options such as grasses or xeriscaping. “I would like to know how other municipalities deal with the … safety and maintenance.”
Collver said not only are the medians along Pretty River Parkway more narrow than a typical flower-bed median, the road is part of a provincial highway, and speeds are higher than on other roads where there are medians, such as the median on First Street West.
Collver said staff would be able to bring back another report with more details on what options staff found in their research. The decision was deferred, so the medians will remain untouched until a decision is reached. Only Mayor Brian Saunderson was opposed to the deferral. Councillor’s Comi, Berman, Mariane McLeod, and Bob Madigan voted in favour.
The next Corporate and Community Services Standing Committee will be in June.
