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Council authorizes Pringle Parkade safety project; staff to pilot robot monitoring and design traffic calming
Summary
After repeated reports of street‑racing activity in the Pringle Parkade, council authorized a midyear project to implement safety improvements including a $60,000 traffic‑delineation plan and directed facilities to pilot vendor‑monitored security robots (vendor quote $5,500/month).
Councilors on Nov. 10 authorized creation of a midyear budget project titled “Pringle Parkade safety improvements” to address recurring street‑racing and drifting inside the downtown Pringle Parkade. Staff reported ongoing evening gatherings and risky driving inside the structure that have caused injuries and safety complaints from nearby residents.
Two complementary measures were described: a short vendor‑monitored pilot of a mobile security robot (a vendor quote cited $5,500 per month for 15 hours a day of monitored service) to provide remote detection and alert downtown security, and a proposed $60,000 traffic‑delineation package to slow traffic in the structure (speed bumps, delineator posts, repainting islands). The facilities manager and assistant director of urban development explained the pilot would be funded from general operating funds for two months initially; the $60,000 construction component would come from a construction fund in the midyear project.
Councilors asked about procurement, monitoring chains of command and how alerts would be routed to security or police. Staff said the contractor would provide monitored service and escalate incidents to downtown security; police and facilities would remain engaged in operational planning. The midyear project authorization passed on roll call with all present voting Aye.
Councilors said the proposed combination of technology and physical‑design changes aims to reduce opportunity for dangerous driving while preserving parking access; staff will return with status and procurement details for any long‑term service.
