Those who pay their City of Cold Lake photo radar tickets may not know this, but they are doing their part in keeping the city safe.
In the spring of 2016, the city initiated the Photo Enforced Traffic Safety Program, which would impart net proceeds of photo radar tickets back into the area for initiatives that support community groups and community safety.
At the time of its initiation, city administration was instructed to brainstorm ideas for the program that would help utilize funds accessed by the photo radar system. In January, council was presented with four ideas, one of them being the Community Directed Safety Fund/Infrastructure Fund.
This fund would allow the public the opportunity to have a say in where the revenues are spent, so long as the project has public safety in mind. This would consist of items such as crosswalks, sidewalks, roads, or infrastructure.
Annually, photo radar tickets bring in a total of about $110,000 in revenue, which includes the contractor costs and provincially legislated deductions. The city does not see a dime of revenue until after the tickets have been paid.
Linda Mortenson, manager of City Hall said because of this, the city may have a large sum of funding waiting to be paid, adding the city itself receives 25 per cent of the revenue from photo radar tickets.
The Photo Enforced Traffic Safety Program policy has several essential elements including the establishment of the Community Directed Safety Fund, which will hold the revenues from the photo radar program for later use. The funds will be used to help cover the cost of safety initiatives in the City of Cold Lake, which will be partially decided by the community.
Residents fill out an application with their idea, how it benefits the community, and the safety need, issue or concern.
In their proposal, administration recommends a deadline for applications, but City of Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland suggests otherwise.
“Why couldn't we just keep the application process open all year, and just tie it in that staff are going to review it at a certain period of time,” said Copeland, adding this way, residents can apply for the project as soon as they come up with the idea.
Council will review and approve proposals in the fall, when budget deliberations take place, and depending on the amount of funding available at that time, could approve more than one project through the program for the following year's completion.
City of Cold Lake CAO Kevin Nagoya gave an example of concerns residents have had in the past, and how if they were all granted, the city would be a difficult place to drive.
“The City of Cold Lake receives feedback from residents wanting stop signs, on this corner and this corner. I will vouch that if you gave each one approval, the entire community would be all stop signs at every intersection.”
Nagoya added, in cases like these, they let residents know that administration does not recommend a stop sign in that location, due to traffic safety and convenience.
“Having stop signs at every intersection… is probably not going to function in the community.”