Rangers get NVD adds ticketing ability to control canine indiscretions Marcis Good Contributing Writer NORTH Vancouver District has added bite to its byiaws concerning the behaviour of dog owners in parks. Park rangers will soon be able to hand out tckets to people who can’t keep their canines leashed or who don’t clean up after them. Until now, park rangers have been advising people of the bylaws, but had no recourse with bull-doggish owners. The dis- trict only employs four bylaw enforcement offi not beer able to answer complaints fast eno The rangers will also be able to tic for other offences related to parks including: vandalism, graffid control, misuse of playing fields, illegal dumping, fire control, creek pro- tection, and illegal camping. These problems, say parks and engineering staff, have been getting worse every y “The park rangers will be doing what they are doing right now with a litte bit of kick at the end if they need it.” said Bob West-Sells, director of parks and engincering. While he emphasized that the tickets are meant as a last resort when people won't listen to reason, conflicts concerning man’s best friend have been mounting. Maureen Bragg, presi- dent of Save Lynn Canyon Park, told council last week that lorcse dogs are damaging public and private property and becoming increasingly annoying with constant barking. She also has a bone to pick with professional dog walkers who bring van loads of their charges to the park and let them roam. “They cause incredible damage to trees, plants, and wildlife. It is also frightening for lone walkers to be suddenly surround- ed by a boisterous pack of dogs. I speak from experience.” Founds have also been leaving more than tracks in several district parks. Frank Sas, a coach with the Lynn Valley Litde League Asscciation, has twice spoken to council abour the increasing problem of dog droppings on the playing field at Kilmer Park. Scott Bell, president of the league, described to council in a letter how extensive it has become. “It is an unfair burden for coaches and parents to have to shovel ug fecal matter before every game and practice,” he wrote. “Even though this effort is made, both children and adults regularly step in these messes. Even when the fecal mat- ter is picked up, remnants are left behind which can find their way onto the baseball, hands, and eventually mouths.” The letter suggested that the district enforce the bylaw pro- hibiting dogs from the playing fields, install signs reminding owners of their responsibilities, and print brochures which could be given to offenders to raise awareness of the bylaws and the harmfu: effects of their dog's actions. Coun. Janice Harris was the only onc to vote against the bylaw, arguing that it doesn’t make environmental sense for dog owners to put organic matter into a plastic bag. She wanted council to defer the item until paper bags were provided. Wednesday, May 24, 2000 — North Shore News - 3 MAUREEN Bragg, president of Save Lynn Canyon Park, wants dog walkers to be more respectful of the environment when In North Vancouver District parks. afety fences to be installed on bridge Anna-Loulse Pentisad Contributing Writer FENCES will go up along Lions Gate Bridge sidewalks in an effort to better protect bridge workcrs. A worker suffered minor irjuries after being struck bya speeding vehicle on the bridge May 3. The Workers Compensation Board told the construction company ‘upgradi ¢ bridge to cither remove workers from the Razard, or the hazard from the * workers. A number of options were examined, including shifting all work on the bridge to night time. Such a miove would have meant doubling the time it would take to finish the project. American Bridge/SureSpan has found a solution. A fence will be installed along each sidewalk in the first week of June. Until then, more flag people will be used to slow traffic. The fences will protect workers from mirrors or any other objects protruding fron. passing vehicles, bur won’t be much protection if a vehicle veers off the road. “We anticipate that we can now continue with the work mult-shift. The ruling of the WCE should not affect our completion time,” said Ron Crockett, ¢ro- ject manager with Amevican Bridge/SureSpan. Lions Gate Project director Geoff Freer said the steel fences will be about six fect (1.8 m) high. “We have to be careful about what we put up there because of the wind,” he said. ; _ Freer said traffic is slowing for the flag people on site. He also said that work has been scheduled so that fewer workers are on the sidewalks during rush hours. The WCB will continue to monitor the situation throughout the bridge construction period. The work is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. “If the public would just go 40 km/h there would be no problem,” Croch ett said. Grouse Mountain had anticipated major losses From pagel Ss ion Bridge. “The Memorial Day week- end (May 27 to 29).is a very busy weekend for “ws and for Grouse. And Father’s Day weekend, thar was another one they were going to be closed. It’s great to have those guests back.” _. Grouse Mountain had projected revenue “tosses of $500,000 to $1 millicn based on sum- mer weekend closures. * Grouse Mountain Resorts president Stuart McLaughlin said the announcement would “sig- nificantly reduce” any negative impact on 2 ism. : nett definitely picks up in the summer overall,” night-time closures rause less impact.” Said Judi Ainsworth of the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, “Fewer weekend clo- sures is absolutely better for tourism. Business tends to go where it’s easy and we're not making it easy.” - She praised BCTFA efforts in distributing detour information to the big dowsitown hotels, but Ainsworth said she is still concerned that “most visitors don’t even know there’s a Second Narrows Bridge. If you look at U.S. tele- vision, they have promotional pieces that show the North Shore mountains and downtown and a cruise ship going under the Lions Gate Bridge. If visitors are not sure where they’re going and they see the beautiful mountains and the one direct route closed, they may not come, or they may not come again.” ; The ‘Jacking Travelier’ Local initiative not dead From pase 1 The SmartNorthShore bid led by North Vancouver C North Vancouver District, West Vancouver — District, Tsteil-Waututh First Nation and the Port of Vancouver was a B.C. finalist in the sec- ond round of the competivon for funding. Among the components of the North Shore plan: @ a high capacity fibre optic cable running cast/west of the port, using, the rail corri- dor: @ fibre optic branches extend- ing into the community along five axis points serving resi- dential communities, colleges, health facilities, business cen- tres and cultural centres; @ a free-trade zone and knowledge-based: industry aligned with the port; M@ development of North Shore-based high technology businesses; ® community Internet portals from each public library, pro- viding knowledge partner- ships, training, support and community access; Ma cultural centre linked with international partners and offering world-class education and artistic opportunities; & international programs for Capilano College with dis- tance-based partnerships and development of research and development facilities; ®@ global First Nations link- ages for economic and cultur- al development; - Mhome-based health delivery programs; #8 government services deliv- ered in-home and to public centres. Said West Vancouver Mayor Ron Wood of the winning bid, “It has gone to a Liberal riding. I can’t com- ment on the quality of their proposal.” The fate of the North Shore’s collective effort to connect the community with communication technologies is up in the air. Said Wood: “If we go ahead it’s going te cost some money and the question is, where would it come from?” Said SmartNorthShore board) chairman Angela Trudeau, “Smart communi- ties as a local initiative is not over. “These projects are truly ‘wonderful and they are valid. We'd like to structure things to keep them ail going.” ~