A Halifax city councillor wants the municipality to launch a pilot project to test turning Argyle Street into a shared space for pedestrians and vehicles.

The trial could pave the way for a permanent transformation of Argyle into a pedestrian-oriented street, including wider sidewalks on the same grade as the road, permanent outdoor patios, more lighting and benches.

Waye Mason, councillor for downtown Halifax, plans to put forward a motion at todays transportation standing committee requesting a municipal staff report on the proposed pilot project.

The trial would occur during the construction of the Nova Centre and would help regional council reach a decision on a future permanent shared street.

The Planning and Design Centre, a local non-profit group, organized a series of public meetings on improving the Argyle streetscape in 2012.

The application of the shared street concept on Argyle Street shifts the street design from a car-dominant space to a truly public realm that emphasizes pedestrian movement, pace and activities, said the report called Sharing the Possibilities on Argyle Street.

Whereas conventional streets employ a strict separation of pedestrian and vehicle space, shared streets aim to transform rights-of-way into public spaces that support and encourage more people activity while supporting a harmonious co-existence with vehicles.

The street would be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic on weekends.

Removable bollards would accommodate occasional street closures and provide quick access for emergency service vehicles.

Closing the street to cars would open up the space for entertainment, markets or other people-centred activities, the report said.

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Coun. Waye Mason envisions pedestrian friendly Argyle Street

Watch above: smokers in Martensville and Warman may have to butt out, outside

SASKATOON Smokers will soon have new restrictions in two cities outside of Saskatoon where the communities are working together to regulate smoking outdoors.

The Saskatchewan government implemented the Tobacco Control Act in 2002 and updated it to include bans on smoking in enclosed public places, in cars with children under 16, around air intakes to public buildings and school grounds.

Municipalities have the option to implement their own bylaws beyond the minimum standard set by the province.

The cities of Warman and Martensville signed a memorandum of understanding on World No Tobacco Day, May 30, agreeing to work together to create a new bylaw which regulates smoking outdoors.

Chera Doell who opened the Greek Villa Restaurant and Lounge in Martensville nearly three years ago, said her customer base is established and shes worried about the repercussions of the potential bylaw.

About 80 per cent of our people are customers that smoke, said Doell.

Doell expressed her concerns to Martensville Mayor Kent Muench when the two sides met last week.

Were hoping to build some kind of consensus with them about what they think would be the best option for them moving forward, knowing that in the end, were hoping to get to a smoke free patio, said Muench.

Neither city has written the bylaw yet but both say banning smoking outdoors at city facilities, parks, playgrounds, sports fields and patios are all options being considered.

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Warman, Martensville consider banning smoking on outdoor patios

Burlington Post

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A Denver City Council committee Tuesday signed off on Mayor Michael Hancock's request for an extra $1.8 million this year to beef up downtown's police presence.

City officials are reacting to long-standing problems connected to the homeless in the Ballpark neighborhood and other issues, including public pot smoking on the 16th Street Mall and late-night revelry in Lower Downtown.

The money initially will cover overtime for the equivalent of 10 more police officers, with hiring of that many eventually. It also will pay for anticipated arrest and detention costs for the Denver sheriff.

Hancock announced the policing increase last month as part of a plan focused on downtown safety. Separately, the Public Works Department is spending $35,000 to $40,000 out of its budget for more frequent junk hauling, graffiti cleanup and sidewalk power-washing to address problems in growing Ballpark that stem, in part, from its concentration of homeless shelters and services.

The Government & Finance Committee approved the policing request 5-0, sending it to the full council. Councilwoman Robin Kniech abstained, in part because of a concern that the focus on Ballpark is treating symptoms rather than solutions for homelessness.

Councilwoman Judy Montero, who represents the area, responded that it's getting needed help from the city.

Jon Murray: 303-954-1405, jmurray@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JonMurray

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Money for more downtown cops gets OK from Denver City Council panel

The Inverness Courier

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Friday 6 Jun 2014 1:52 PM

The city's renowned Raining Stairs is being improved

Work to undertake 20,000 of improvements to the Raining Stairs in Inverness will start on Monday 9th June.

Atemporary closure will be in place on the whole or parts of this popular walking route to and from the city centre from 9th June until the works are completed. The closure of the footpath is to ensure the essential maintenance and improvement works can be carried out safely.

The project, which is expected to last 3-4 weeks, will include the reinstatement of drainage channels, repairs to steps and their under pinning, the painting of railings, graffiti removal, power washing and weed removal.

The Central Ward Discretionary Fund is contributing 6,500 to the costs. Ward Councillor and Vice Chair of The Highland Councils Community Services Committee, councillor Bet McAllister said: "Its great that this work is being done as the Raining Stairs are not only well used by people walking onto the High Street but they are a feature of the city centre. The improvements will ensure they will be used for many more years to come."

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Revamp for Raining Stairs

Bizarre and needless calls to the emergency services that have police, ambulance and fire crews tearing their hair out in fury and frustration

We've all been there. The ice-cream van pulls up on your street, you dash out, hand over your cash and he gives you an ice-cream. But then you discover he has been a bit stingy with the sprinkles.

Disappointing yes, not the end of the world. But it was obviously to much for one woman as she dialled 999 to complain her cornet was only half-dipped in sprinkles and the seller refused her a refund.

West Midlands Police released a recording of the angry woman's call to urge people only to dial 999 in case of real emergencies.

But she isn't the first caller to get an icy response from the emergency services for wasting their time. Here are some other gems:

Last year police released a recording of a furious caller who rang to complain about a hooker's offers after meeting her outside a hotel.

The man wanted to report her for breaching the Sale of Goods Act.

Why oh dry?

A woman rang West Midlands Ambulance Service to see if a crew could pop round to take her laundry off the line.

More here:
Ice-cream disaster, reluctant hooker and wrong takeaway the 999 timewasters

Bizarre and needless calls to the emergency services that have police, ambulance and fire crews tearing their hair out in fury and frustration

We've all been there. The ice-cream van pulls up on your street, you dash out, hand over your cash and he gives you an ice-cream. But then you discover he has been a bit stingy with the sprinkles.

Disappointing yes, not the end of the world. But it was obviously to much for one woman as she dialled 999 to complain her cornet was only half-dipped in sprinkles and the seller refused her a refund.

West Midlands Police released a recording of the angry woman's call to urge people only to dial 999 in case of real emergencies.

But she isn't the first caller to get an icy response from the emergency services for wasting their time. Here are some other gems:

Last year police released a recording of a furious caller who rang to complain about a hooker's offers after meeting her outside a hotel.

The man wanted to report her for breaching the Sale of Goods Act.

Why oh dry?

A woman rang West Midlands Ambulance Service to see if a crew could pop round to take her laundry off the line.

Read the rest here:
Revealed: Britain's most bizarre 999 timewasters

Granite Prices, LA Stone , Pocono Custom Kitchens,Granite Countertops Poconos, 570-484-5353

By: Don Jordan

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Granite Prices, LA Stone , Pocono Custom Kitchens,Granite Countertops Poconos, 570-484-5353 - Video

Flint Ridge Concrete Designs - Concrete Countertops in Granville, OH
http://www.concretecountertopscolumbusoh.com Marble and Granite are a thing of the past. Update your kitchen counters to concrete. Concrete countertops are c...

By: Flint Ridge Concrete Designs

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Flint Ridge Concrete Designs - Concrete Countertops in Granville, OH - Video

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EM Timeless Surfaces