Calgary,
05
May
2020
|
15:43
America/Denver

City of Calgary COVID update May 5

City of Calgary update on response to COVID-19 – May 5, 2020

The City of Calgary would like to remind citizens that we remain in a State of Local Emergency. This is to support the Province of Alberta’s efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19. The City of Calgary, in collaboration with social agencies, the business community, civic partners and citizens, is taking immediate action to respond to COVID-19.

Please see below for the latest updates

City Golf Courses to Re-open

The City of Calgary is opening select City-owned golf courses on May 14 with physical distancing rules in place following the provincial government’s decision on the safely staged COVID-19 relaunch. Online bookings will begin on May 11.

"The City will be opening of golf courses on May 14 with practices in place for physical distancing to protect the health and safety of both golfers and employees,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “The rules for physical distancing will be strongly enforced and will be shared on Calgary.ca and on golf course signage, and golfers must follow those rules. We’re looking forward to a safe and successful golf season.”

This is great news for golfers and the staff members who will be employed for the 2020 season. The first courses to open will be those with the highest customer demand: both courses at Shaganappi Point, Maple Ridge and the 18-hole course at McCall Lake Golf Course. We will open other courses based on our ability to ensure health and safety.

Some services are not available or are restricted at this time, including:

  • Driving ranges, practice areas and putting greens will remain closed;
  • All lesson services are also suspended until further notice;
  • Club rentals are not available;
  • Clubhouse washrooms are limited to one person at a time and washrooms on course are not available; and
  • Power carts must be used by one individual only, unless being shared by members of the same household.
  • Tournaments, leagues and group bookings are suspended until further notice.

The exact details on the physical distancing rules will be communicated early next week and will be included on Calgary.ca and on-site signage. While all the details are being finalized, here are some examples of the rules that will be in place:

  • Only golfers with a pre-booked tee time can access the golf courses. Walk-on play will not be available.
  • Follow all signs and instructions while at the golf course.
  • Surfaces, touch points, doors, carts and washrooms will be cleaned and disinfected frequently Plexiglass barriers will be in place at point of sale locations.
  • Employees will be provided with appropriate protective equipment suited to the work they are performing.
  • Physical distancing of 6 feet (2m) is required and will be strictly enforced. Players will not be allowed to loiter before or after their round.
  • Golfers should arrive at the course no earlier than 15 minutes before their reserved tee time.
  • Golfers will be asked not to shake hands or high five with others in their group
  • After play, golfers should return rentals to designated area and proceed directly to your vehicle and travel safely home.

Golf information will be updated on Calgary.ca starting next week. Golfers are encouraged to create their user profile for the on-line booking system.

Weekend Enforcement

With the Provincial Public Health Order still in place and beautiful weather outside, it was a busy weekend for bylaw officers.

“Safety was still our top priority over the weekend,” says Deputy Chief Sue Henry. “The Public Health Orders requiring no gatherings over 15 and maintaining two metres of physical distance were still in place.”

Over the weekend, roughly 16% of all calls to 311 were COVID-related.

128 calls were related to concerns about Calgarians not following the public health order.

  • 59 related to physical distancing in public areas
  • 26 Physical distancing in yards/private areas
  • 22 Public gatherings of less than 14 people
  • 21 Physical distancing in playgrounds/playfields

City Community Peace Officers conducted 189 visible patrols this past weekend, engaging with more than 2,200 Citizens.

“Our Bylaw officers work very hard to educate and/or provide verbal warnings to folks who are not following public health orders or city bylaws,” says Deputy Chief Sue Henry. “Our position since the beginning of this emergency was to educate first to encourage appropriate behavior and only issue tickets in the most egregious circumstances.”

Unfortunately, over this past weekend, there were:

  • Three tickets handed out (one for not physical distancing; one for consumption of cannabis in public; one for parks and pathways bylaw)
  • There were 83 warnings issued to citizens for not physically distancing

Other warnings issued over the weekend included:

  • 32 verbal warnings over the three days related to open liquor and public alcohol consumption.
  • 19 warnings for off-leash dogs in designated on-leash areas.
  • 11 verbal warnings issued for things like parking bylaw concerns, bird feeding, and golfing in a park.

Business Licence services also received 40 new calls over the weekend, bringing the total number of business (COVID) complaints to 625 since the State of Local Emergency was announced in mid-March.

Calgary Police has issued 27 Public Health Act summonses since April 1, 2020.

The City urges Calgarians to continue to follow the public health orders to maintain physical distance and not gather in groups over 15 until that order is lifted by the Province of Alberta.
 

COVID-19 thank you ribbons on City-owned vehicles

Last week, Council approved the application of a COVID-19 ‘Thank You’ ribbon decals on City-owned vehicles to honour all of Calgary's front-line workers and essential service staff. The City has received a donation of 5,000 brightly coloured ‘Thank You’ ribbon decals from local Calgary businesses.

This week Calgarians will start to see the ribbon decals on Calgary Police units, Calgary Fire Department trucks, Calgary Transit buses and C-Train cars, Waste and Recycling trucks, and other City-owned service vehicles. The City is not printing or selling ribbon decals. However, any organizations or individuals looking to acquire their own ribbon decals can contact Can West Legacy by visiting canwestlegacy.com.

Emergency Preparedness Week

This week is Emergency Preparedness Week and there is no better time than the present, especially during a pandemic to take action to be better prepared for all emergencies.

In Calgary, we are still at risk for seasonal hazards that come with severe summer weather like flooding, hail, tornadoes, thunder and lightning, wildfires, and storms with high winds. It is critical that people do their part to be prepared to limit the demand on frontline responders and services.

"Being prepared with a plan and resources for your household will reduce the need to rely on municipal resources that are critical to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic," says Deputy Chief Sue Henry. "To help you and your family learn what the risks are for Calgarians, this week we’ll be posting information on our social media channels and we encourage to explore our website to learn the risks, and be prepared."

Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere. Go to Calgary.ca/getready to learn the basic actions you can take [LJ1] to prepare and protect yourself, your family and your home.

More prepared than ever. City of Calgary ready as flood readiness program kicks off

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, preparations are complete and 24/7 river monitoring is underway as Calgary readies for this year’s flood season.

Sandra Davis, Team Lead of River Engineering, says that after a winter that saw above average snowfall in the mountains, The City is monitoring the snow melt and keeping a close eye on the forecast using updated modelling.

“While snowpack is a contributor to river flooding, heavy rainfall events in May and June are the bigger driver of flooding,” explains Davis. “The good news is Calgary is better prepared than 2013.”

Over the last seven years, key investments in flood mitigation have made a difference and reduced Calgary’s flood risk by approximately half. One of the most significant advancements has been the installation of higher gates at the Glenmore Dam completed in time for this year’s flood season.

This $82 million investment in Calgary’s water infrastructure saw the installation of 2 ½ metre high steel gates, which doubles the storage capacity of the Glenmore Reservoir. This improvement allows The City to control both small and moderate flooding along the Elbow River – up to a one-in-30-year flood. It also increases the amount of water we can store for the summer and winter months when the flows on the Elbow River slow. It’s an important step forward, and with the Government of Alberta’s completion of the Springbank Reservoir, communities along the Elbow will be fully protected from a 2013-level flood.

In addition to the Glenmore Dam gates, six permanent flood barriers are currently in place across Calgary, including:

  • Heritage Drive
  • West Eau Claire
  • Deane House
  • Inglewood
  • Centre Street Lower Deck
  • Calgary Zoo

Over the next year construction will begin on the Eau Claire (Downtown) and Sunnyside flood barriers.

“The COVID-19 pandemic in combination with the flood season is a stressful time for many Calgarians,” says Davis. “The risk of flooding in Calgary can’t be eliminated and floods can happen quickly; being prepared is one way that residents can help ease the stress.”

Actions that Calgarians can take to prepare for river flooding and protect their property include:

  • Understand. Check our City flood maps to know if your home and community is at risk of river flooding.
  • Prepare. Take precautions to prepare your family and your property, which include reviewing your emergency plan and considering where you might stay in the event of an evacuation.
  • Stay informed. Visit calgary.ca/floodinfo for resources including links to the Alberta Environment and Park’s river basin website or their downloadable app to find out current river flows, forecasts and advisories.

The City has information available to help Calgarians prepare. Citizens can learn more at calgary.ca/floodinfo

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 [LJ1]Link to https://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/cema/Pages/COVID-19-household-emergency-plan.aspx