Regina Minute: Construction Season, Air Travel, and the Parks Master Plan

Regina Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Regina politics

This Week In Regina:

• On Wednesday, at 1:00 pm, there will be a meeting of City Council. Council will receive a report regarding the Vision Zero Road Safety Framework and look to extend the time for multi-family properties to create a food waste plan in order to give the Canadian Condominium Institute time to talk with the City and others about different ways condos can handle food waste, garbage, and recycling. Council will discuss designating the lands formerly known as the King's Park Campground as an Indigenous Ceremonial Site, in perpetuity. Also on the agenda is a proposal to waive cemetery license fees for veterans. Final approval could be given to the Parks Master Plan. (More on this below).
  
  
• As usual, summer means construction season. Regina has multiple projects lined up, including the already started Dewdney Avenue revitalization project between Albert and Broad Streets. This is a two-year project that is expected to beautify the area and make it safer for pedestrians. It is also connected to a broader $32 million project to overhaul The Yards south of Dewdney. Another project being undertaken this summer is a revitalization of 11th Avenue, as well as countless other road and sidewalk refurbishments across the City.
  
  
• E-scooters are back on Regina roads for the summer. Two companies - Bird and Neuron - will provide rental services this year. Riders must follow rules such as single-rider use, age restrictions (16 and older), helmet requirements, and use only on multi-use paths, bike lanes, and roads with a speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour or less.

Last Week In Regina:

• The City released its first Parks Master Plan. The Executive Committee voted 6-0 to approve the plan. This plan has been in development since 2021, and aims to enhance the City's park system sustainably and inclusively. Input from 2,400 public responses, stakeholder sessions, and collaboration with Indigenous communities has shaped the plan's focus on climate adaptation, biodiversity, and year-round park utilization. Goals include reducing water usage, expanding natural park areas, improving recreational offerings, and aligning with Regina's carbon-neutral objectives. The plan also envisions enhancements such as more fruiting trees, pocket parks, and informative signage to enrich the park experience for residents and visitors alike. Council will vote on the plan on Wednesday.
  
  
• The Community Perceptions of the Regina Police Service report showed that 78% of residents rated police service “very good”, marking a 6% increase since 2021. The top three areas where respondents felt the police could improve were in their visibility, their focus on high-crime zones, and their emphasis on addressing alcohol and drug-related issues. The Police Service is planning to deploy six Alternate Response Officers in the fall, who will take complaints from the public, write reports, retrieve evidence, patrol downtown, and assist with traffic-related events, reducing the burden on armed officers.
  
  
• Regina Airport has announced an expansion in flight options this summer, introducing direct flights to Montreal with Air Canada and to Minneapolis with WestJet. Airport officials are optimistic about the increased flight capacity, especially with more connections to major cities like Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver. Despite recent setbacks in flight availability, such as cancellations by Air Canada and Sunwing, operations at the airport are nearly back to normal after the pandemic, with almost a million passengers passing through over the past year.