The downtown revitalization and action plan was back up for discussion at North Battleford city council Monday evening.

Council heard a presentation from City Planner Ryan Mackrell providing an overview of the work being done. This presentation was in anticipation of what will be the last phase of work on the revitalization this summer, with work planned along 102nd Street.

The presentation outlined the work that had been done over recent years in the downtown, including discussion of streetscapes and curb extensions. The curb extensions, also known as bulb-outs, that have been placed downtown on 100th and 101st Streets have been a source of controversy in the past couple of years, with residents openly questioning whether they will create a safer traffic situation downtown. There has been particular concerns expressed that the bulb-outs make it more difficult for large vehicles turning at intersections.

Mackrell鈥檚 presentation included a lengthy justification for curb extensions downtown. Those include creating a pedestrian-friendly environment downtown by reducing the distance by half that pedestrians have to walk from sidewalk to sidewalk.

Mackrell also said the curb extensions also help with aligning vehicles into the proper lanes by serving as a physical barrier.

Mackrell also noted the curb extensions make the road feel narrower, and that in turn will slow vehicles down. This will allow people to feel safer as they walk and make businesses more visible.

鈥淪tudies and research show people getting out of their vehicles and walking is critical into developing a successful downtown. There will be more people walking on our sidewalks and we need to be prepared and built to a proper standard,鈥� said Mackrell. 鈥淐urb extensions are the safest and best design for our downtown.鈥�

Mackrell also cleared up the 鈥渕yth鈥� that streets were built to be more narrow than they were before. That is not true, he said; it is the exact same road dimension as before.

While Mackrell provided a lengthy defence for the placement of curb extensions, he was grilled by new councillor Thomas 鈥淏ill鈥� Ironstand on every aspect of the bulb-outs.

Ironstand peppered administration with questions about sight lines and about the solar light bollards on the bulb-outs. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e getting run over all the time,鈥� he said.

He also asked about the 鈥渆xtra costs鈥� of cleaning and repairing the roads. Director of Planning and Development Jennifer Niesink acknowledged those were considered when the plan was adopted. Director of Operations Stewart Schafer said additional equipment was acquired, and they expect to reduce their time cleaning the sidewalks to acceptable levels.

Ironstand made it known he was still against the bulb-outs.

鈥淚 honestly felt I was in a car salesman鈥檚 room and I was being sold this project. That鈥檚 how I personally felt, as you all know and I have said before I am not in favour of the bulb-outs and I never will be.鈥�

听