Bellevue Revitalization Project - April 9, 2024

The following presentation, regarding the Bellevue Revitalization Project Presentation, was made Tuesday, April 9, 2024, to the Municipality Crowsnest Pass Council, Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer by Carmen Roman, President, CNP Taxpayers’ Association.

Our provincial government appreciates Municipal Governments that offer and participate in an effective public engagement process which ensures constituents play a key role in the democratic process. Engagement of a community is a two-way process involving interaction and listening with the goal of generating mutual benefits beyond self-interest. It is a way of bringing citizens together to solve problems that affect people’s lives. It is a process that has commitment to the values of accountability, transparency, respect, and is inclusive and responsive to the needs and expectations of the residents. When capital plans have implications for a municipality and implications for its constituents,’ public participation is vital in the decision-making process which impacts loans and debentures for a community. A vibrant public engagement process ensures dynamic public disclosure.

Citizens would have appreciated the opportunity to have had voice and to have been included as part of the March 5, 2024 Municipality of Crowsnest Pass Council Meeting agenda, hearings 2 and 3, regarding the Bellevue Revitalization Project. You would have heard that taxpayers were not opposed to the need and importance of updating and revitalizing Main Street Bellevue. You would have also heard voices which would have given insight and resolution to the on-going crosswalk and parking controversy. Since the onset of the Bellevue Revitalization Open House, the Mayor, CAO and MCNP Council would have heard the voices of the people share their aversion to the parking design proposal. You would have learnt that this proposal would significantly, in negative ways, impact the quaint historical features that downtown Bellevue offers. The Bellevue Revitalization Design is a replica of the Coleman Revitalization Design rather than an original design influenced by the people and without collaboration from citizens. Despite many attempts to have our voices heard, these issues remain an on-going matter.

Of greatest concern regards the long-term implications the proposed parking design would have for Bellevue’s quaint, historic downtown. The Bellevue Revitalization parking design would not only have negative impact for the town’s historic value but would, also, change the social and historic fabric of the community. It would be imperative to create a street scape that would reflect a design comparable and in keeping with the coal mining era and, one, which adheres to the Alberta Historic Resources Act. An impressive entryway to the town would give credence to Bellevue’s historic days, its historic buildings and, the existing Historic Bellevue mine all situated on the Crowsnest Pass Historic Route. It is about enhancing communities where vision and growth encapsulates the importance of the original history the town of Crowsnest Pass esteems. Constituents would have liked more consultation about historic lands rightfully owned by the people.

The Crowsnest Pass Historical Society and Crowsnest Pass Museum and Archives protects, preserves and portrays the cultural heritage of Crowsnest Pass and its people to ensure the knowledge of the past enriches the lives of present and future generations. As quoted by a Ministry of Culture representative, “the Crowsnest Pass is one of the richest historic and pre- historic regions of Alberta.” Most small towns in Alberta have a story to tell but the stories of Crowsnest Pass could fill volumes. Bellevue shares a past rich in mining history of early twentieth century pre-history boom town coal miners dodging roadblocks during rum-running days of prohibition, a violent café shootout and a downtown view of Canada’s deadliest landslide. It is home to the original Historic Bellevue Mine. To emulate yesterday’s historic memories with an original street scape which reflects Bellevue’s mining era would be a valuable Southern Alberta tourist attraction.

The speed which traffic flows, on Mainstreet Bellevue, is worrisome. Downtown Bellevue is a throughfare for transportation which enters and exits main street from the MDM, Maple Leaf and Timber Line Ridge, to the east, and Highway 3, east and west. “Bump outs,” by no means, would deter the excessive speed of daily traffic and would not reflect the street scape of the mining era. Throughout the valley, traffic speed signs are placed with well, marked, flashing vehicular speed limits. Downtown Bellevue would benefit from these as well. In addition, pedestrian crosswalk lights, strategically placed, to ensure the safety of children, seniors, residents, and tourists would be of benefit on Main Street Bellevue. These would be an important measure for public safety offering a slower-paced ambience for tourists satisfying their curiosities about life and living in the past.

Effective governance appreciates the voices of the people and acknowledges the importance of a shared relationship between its citizens and its government. Residents value trust, transparency, integrity and communication that is receptive to open dialogue. Constituents acknowledge the need to advocate for responsible development in the Crowsnest Pass. To propose a development, of such magnitude, impacts a community significantly and results in adverse effects without an effective public engagement process. The Bellevue Revitalization Open House would not have constituted fair administrative procedures that would have reflected buy-in from residents, seniors, businesses, the Historic Bellevue Mine, taxpayers and owners of the land. Placing “stickies” on a design which citizens gave no input to does not constitute an effective public participation process. Continual modifications, to borrowing bylaw 1171, 2023, warranted greater clarity and understanding for the reasons, as well as, informed details of the changed debentures and expenditures. Despite several requests, at no time were the details of the initial $2.0 million dollar debenture and the increase of the $1.1 million debenture provided or, how the total $5.1 million debenture would be funded. Fully disclosed details, for each tender submitted for the Bellevue Revitalization Project, January 23, 2024 were not shared. This is public information which informs and gives taxpayers confidence that best decisions are made, inclusive of the voices of the constituents and, in collaboration with local government. Constituents would have liked to have had more conversations about the decisions made and would have appreciated a partnership where people work together to achieve a goal. Our Municipal Government has not given constituents a fair opportunity to give voice to the Historic Bellevue Mainstreet parking concerns which contradicts the original historic landscape.

Given a voice, the electorate would have shared noteworthy reasons which would oppose the sixty, stall parking lot. The proposed location is not complimentary to the old-world charm of Historic downtown Bellevue. An offer of a private, for sale property, with the suggested use as an ideal future parking lot, was made to the CAO but was declined. This lot is adjacent to the pathway that connects Bellevue’s downtown to Dairy Road and to identified, in perpetuity archeological site, DjPo-81. Its location, situated near the entrance of the Historic Bellevue Mine, opposite the old dairy and ice cream shop, close to downtown businesses, nearby the physiotherapy clinic perfect for limping residents and neighbouring veterinary clinic, would not only serve the community well but would, in discreet fashion, enhance the historic street scape. This location would have minimal impact for nearby residences and renters.

Positioned at a four-way intersection, the proposed parking lot is located on the busiest corner of Main Street. Pedestrian crossings, at this juncture, is a worrisome concern for seniors, children, young families and tourists. This proposed parking lot is an existing snow removal site and for council to suggest trucking snow out of Bellevue’s downtown only increases taxpayers’ costs for snow removal and which does not make economic sense. People’s suggestions would contribute significantly to the historic landscape and beauty that downtown Bellevue offers. Their recommendations would give insight to reduce Borrowing Bylaw 1171, 2023 debentures.

There is a need to advocate for responsible development in the valley of Crowsnest Pass. An effective governance model, which acknowledges the importance of a shared relationship, between its citizens and its government, values the voices of the people. There is a need to get people talking to each other more and, especially, there is a need for the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass CAO, Mayor and Council to collaborate and embrace people’s insights and expertise in the decision-making process. It is a municipal government’s obligation to share information, specifically information, that affects and impacts the lives of its citizens. Understanding public’s best interests, concerns and priorities are important. Instead, constituents are continuously faced with acrimony and conflict.

When the public is engaged, government can utilize its expertise to make quality decisions in which residents have a high level of confidence. A true willingness to engage the public is the cornerstone to engagement. Constituents remain opposed to the Bellevue Revitalization Main Street “bump outs,” as well as, the proposed parking lot and request that a change order be made to remove these from the project by amending and revising the contract. It is also important, that consideration be given to Bellevue’s historic coal mining era, as a significant tourist attraction.

Sincerely,

Carmen Roman, President

Taxpayers' Association