St. Peter’s Junior High recognised students’ athletic accomplishments last week during the annual Python Athletics Celebration. From left to right are Athletes of the Year Brandon Philpott, Ben O’Brien, Leah Wicks and Kylie Sooley.

Construction resumes, expect delays, advises Rice

By Mark Squibb/June 30, 2022

It’s construction season across the province, and folks in Mount Pearl, like anywhere else, should expect delays as they move about this summer.

During this week’s public council meeting, councillor Mark Rice gave a construction update and outlined a number of projects the City will be undertaking this summer.

Repairs to the Old Placentia Road Pedestrian Underpass, for one, will resume during July through to August. Traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction during construction. Further communication will be issued through the City’s website and onsite signage.

Asphalt Renewal on Smallwood Drive between Commonwealth Avenue and Old Placentia Road will start next week. Construction is expected to last about six weeks, and periodic lane closures and traffic interruption is expected.

Asphalt repairs along Park Avenue are also underway, with approximately another week or so left to go. Repair and asphalt replacement for Commonwealth and Park Avenue (to Dunn’s Corner) bridges will follow completion of the Park Avenue asphalt repairs.

Rice noted that construction will be coordinated so that only one bridge will be shut down at a time.

“While traffic disruption will occur periodically at these locations, it will be minimized at peak early morning traffic time,” said Rice.

Work on each bridge is expected to last up to two weeks.

Crack sealing is also underway for the next couple of weeks.

Mount Pearl Junior Blades captain Jack Keough is up for the Male Athlete of the Year Award.

Mount Pearl approves new lighting for city facility parking lots

By Mark Squibb/June 17, 2022

Though the days have been getting longer, new lighting to be installed in Mount Pearl will mean folks can find their way come the dark winter months.

“Lighting installed in the Glacier Arena, Summit Centre, Library and Reid Centre parking lots require upgrading,” councillor Mark Rice informed his colleagues at Tuesday’s public council meeting. “The received quote from Newfoundland Power to complete the scope of work, including a restoration cost of $6,900 (HST included) and a total monthly cost of $1,455.47 (HST included) for rental of the poles, LED lights and underground feeds. In addition to these Newfoundland Power supplied lights, the City will remove the existing light poles and concrete bases located within the parking lots, and the wall mount brackets for reuse.”

Rice also brought forward a motion that the City approve a budget of $110,360.00 (HST included) to remove the existing light poles, concrete bases and wall mount brackets for reuse.

Councillor Bill Antle asked how long the work will take to complete and when residents should expect work to see it finished.

Director of Planning, Engineering, and Development Gerry Antle said the work would be undertaken later this summer and should be completed this fall.

Councillor Antle then asked if, during the process, there will be a time when the parking lot will be left dark.

The director replied that temporary lighting could be installed if need be. He added the City won’t take down the old lighting until Newfoundland Power has the new lights put in place.

Rice concurred with Director Antle, and said he had asked the same question when he first saw the recommendation.

The motion passed unanimously.

City has to up fee for commemorative benches

By Mark Squibb/June 17, 2022

Mount Pearl council says it has to increase the price residents pay for metal commemorative benches so as to help match the rising cost of material.

Councillor Jim Locke put forth the recommendation from the Corporate Services and Public Works Committee during this week’s public council meeting. It will see the cost of the Commemorative Bench and Tree Program’s Metal Bench and Plaque increase from $2,475 to $3,017.

“The cost of the metal benches went up, so basically we’re just simply passing on the additional costs for this particular type of bench,” said Locke, adding the cost of wooden benches will not increase.

“This program that the City offers is certainly having a large uptake over the last number of years,” said Locke. “This would cover the cost to the City for the purchase of the metal bench, plaque, and cement, and for the City to contribute the labour/equipment for installation as well as the 10 years of maintenance, and this according to the guidelines of our program. The new fee will commence with applications going forward. Any applications received before now will be charged the former price of $2,475.”

The motion passed unanimously.

RCMP Corporal Chris Ralph and Police Service Dog Thor conduct a tracking exercise as part of ongoing RCMP and RNC Police Dog Services training this week in St John’s, Mount Pearl and Paradise.

Aker lays out City's plans at chamber luncheon

By Mark Squibb/June 2, 2022

For the first time in over two years, members of the Mount Pearl-Paradise Chamber of Commerce gathered in person for an annual Mayor’s Outlook lunch.

Last Thursday, Mount Pearl Mayor Dave Aker spoke to members gathered at the Mount Pearl Soccer Hut, highlighting some of the City’s recent achievements and future endeavours.

As was announced in its budget for 2022, the City is moving ahead with a new municipal plan. Aker also doubled down on the City’s commitment to the ‘Find Your Centre’ renewal plan — despite discussion in council chambers earlier this year as to whether certain aspects of the plan, mainly signage, were too large of an upfront cost. The City has contracted Mills & Wright and Fougere Menchenton respectively to design centre city zone-defining signage and multifunctional mobile kiosks. As a part of the renewal plan, Mount Perl hopes to establish a trail network connection point within Donovans.

Asker also restated the City’s commitment to developing Kenmount Hill, a plan that has drawn the ire of some residents along nearby Wyatt Blvd and a multiplicity of side streets of cul-de-sacs, who fear their quiet residential neighborhood will become a bustling mixed-zone.

“Kenmount Hill is the only remaining undeveloped land in Mount Pearl – and we are currently working through infrastructure design and capacity assessments to fully understand the untapped potential of this area, so we can make informed decisions and ensure strong, sustainable development for the future,” Aker said.

The development scheme for Kenmount Hill was announced in 2018, but was largely sidelined by COVID-19.

Looking again to the future, Aker said population growth is a large component of the new economic development strategy Mount Pearl is undertaking. He noted staff are busy participating in diversity and inclusion workshops and completing the Immigration Policies Certificate program to better welcome newcomers — including Ukrainian families – whom the City is extending a warm welcome to, in collaboration with the provincial Department of Immigration, Population Growth, and Skills.

Aker also touched on the City’s recent purchase of accessible playground equipment for St. David’s Park.

“The new equipment being installed this year will ensure youth of all abilities have an equitable opportunity to just be themselves as they play in a safe outdoor space designed to inspire imagination, enhanced with augmented reality features,” said Aker.

Aker also raised hope for a new civic centre.

“With public consultations on possible features of the new facility completed last year, community feedback is being considered and incorporated into plans for a proposed 18,000 square foot facility,” said the mayor. “The City is in the process of selecting an owner’s advisor for this important work, who will help us advance the RFP (request for proposals, or bidding process) for construction – we are hoping to start in 2023.”

Aker anticipates the centre will include theatre/performance space, dedicated space and storage for community groups, and the hottest municipal must-have of recent years — a splash pad, which will also function as a skating rink during the winter months.

Aker added that as a result of recommendations from the City’s Business Advisory Committee, in August Mount Pearl will begin hosting Thursday night events such as dessert nights or 5-kilometre runs.

Aker said the initiatives the City is undertaking to support the business community include video tourism content, Energy Efficiency grants of $5,000 to help businesses go green, and the Upgrade to Mount Pearl initiative, which the City hopes will attract both local and foreign investment.

To the question of climate change, Aker threw the City’s support behind the oil and gas industry, but cautioned that “as oil and gas is changing to adapt, with the industry focused on achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, so must we.”

He reminded folks that in 2019, the city adopted a Climate Change Action Plan, with a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4 per cent by 2025.

“To help achieve that, we have begun the important work of upgrading lighting in city facilities such as the Glacier, Tennis Complex, and City Hall with LED lighting,” said Aker. “We will continue to replace all lighting with LED over time, which lowers our greenhouse gas emissions, and results in long-term cost savings to the City. With respect to the City’s fleet, investments have already been made in electric and hybrid vehicles. The City currently has one electric and five hybrid vehicles in its fleet. We have proactively installed electric vehicle charging stations at several city buildings and facilities including City Hall, the Summit Centre, the Glacier, and the Campia Gymnastics building. And, a free app called PlugShare can be used to check on the status of any of these electric charging stations at any time.”

He added that through a composting pilot program, the City was able to divert 1,100 pounds of waste from landfills last year, and that over 100 residents have expressed interest in the program this year.

Aker closed his address by highlighting upcoming events, including City Days, a City of Mount Pearl Tourism Opportunities Session on June 15, and— though it’s a ways off yet— the return of the Frosty Festival.