HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-02-07PLANNING & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES COMMITTEE MINUTES
FEBRUARY 7, 2011 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee met this date, commencing at 4:39 p.m.
Present: Councillor B. Vrbanovic - Chair
Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors S. Davey, J. Gazzola, Y. Fernandes, K. Galloway, P.
Singh, B. Ioannidis, Z. Janecki, F. Etherington and D. Glenn-Graham.
Staff: C. Ladd, Chief Administrative Officer
D. Chapman, Deputy CAO & City Treasurer, Finance & Corporate Services
J. Willmer, Deputy CAO, Community Services
P. Houston, Deputy CAO, Infrastructure Services
A. Pinard, Director of Planning
G. Murphy, Director of Engineering
J. McBride, Director of Transportation Planning
S. Adams, Director of Community & Corporate Planning
B. Sloan, Interim Manager of Long Range Planning
R. Schirm, Supervisor of Crossing Guards
C. Goodeve, Committee Administrator
INS-11-016 - TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT (TDM) PLAN
1.
The Committee was in receipt of Infrastructure Services Department report INS-11-016, dated
February 1, 2011 recommending approval in principle of the Transportation Demand
Management (TDM) Plan as well as the creation of a TDM Coordinator position, subject to
2011 Budget deliberations.
Mr. Mathew Kaufman, UrbanTrans Consultants presented the TDM Plan, advising that it
defines and prioritizes a transportation network that is supportive of all modes of travel with the
intent of reducing dependency on single occupant vehicle (SOV) trips and the effect of
community growth on roads and parking facilities. Its main objective is to make personal travel
decisions more sustainable and affect more efficient use of existing transportation systems.
He stated that many of the TDM initiatives are dependant and positively influenced by parking
policy, pricing and availability, and will benefit from the interrelationship between traffic,
parking, walking, cycling, transit and the broader transportation network. He noted that the
TDM Plan is recommended to be implemented in four phases and key to this is the approval of
a full-time TDM Coordinator, to develop and implement both the TDM Plan and the Cycling
Master Plan.
Ms. Lana Sherman, Tannery Development, addressed the Committee in support of the staff
recommendation, noting the need to proceed with the TDM Plan to assist Downtown
businesses to contend with suburban areas where parking is free and ample.
A discussion concerning the involvement of the Region of Waterloo took place in which Mr.
Kaufman advised that the Region currently has two staff undertaking TDM outreach to large
employers, on-line carpool matching, car-sharing programs, and efforts to encourage telework.
Mr. J. McBride added that limited TDM support is available from the Region, as those staff do
not have the necessary time available to provide the level of support the City would need to
implement an effective TDM program for City staff, local businesses, and residents; however,
partnership opportunities will continue to be considered as this initiative moves forward. He
added that the Region does not currently provide outreach services to small companies and
focuses their efforts on regional-based employers such as RIM, Toyota and the local
universities. Mr. Kaufman further advised that the City’s TDM Coordinator would provide
services to ensure that residents, smaller companies, and commercial property owners are
aware of the TDM programs and sustainable transportation options available to them. He
noted that TDM programs are most effective when focused on a specific area, such as
Downtown Kitchener, and in his experience, regional TDM programs typically have a broader
focus aimed at creating benefits across all municipalities within their jurisdiction. He pointed
out that these regional programs offer the same degree of outreach to urban employers as to
those located in suburban areas, which do not have the same level of need for a TDM program
and are therefore less likely to shift away from SOV. He provided the example of the City of
Mississauga, where Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan is in place providing coordination
and support to area municipalities; and, the Smart Commute Mississauga program which
PLANNING & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES COMMITTEE MINUTES
FEBRUARY 7, 2011 - 11 - CITY OF KITCHENER
INS-11-016 - TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT (TDM) PLAN (CONT’D)
1.
focuses specifically on key areas in that City. He advised that Downtown Kitchener offers
infrastructure and services that align with a TDM program, are immediately in need of the
parking reductions that are associated with TDM, and has employers who are supportive of
TDM goals.
Mayor C. Zehr agreed to speak to Regional staff regarding their TDM outreach efforts and
opportunities for collaboration with the City in implementing its TDM Plan.
Concerns were expressed regarding the survey results in the TDM Plan being potentially
skewed by the large response rates received from City and Regional employees, many of
whom were eligible for subsidized parking rates at the time of the survey. Mr. Kaufman agreed
to provide copies of the survey instruments to the Committee, adding that these surveys often
focus on those employers who are likely to initiate a TDM program. He advised that Phase
One of the Plan proposes that the City develop a TDM program for its staff. The creation of
such a program would allow the City to serve as an example and provide program
implementation experience that can be shared with other employers.
Questions were raised regarding the necessity of hiring a TDM Coordinator at the City of
Kitchener. Mr. McBride advised that the implementation of both the Cycling Master Plan and
the TDM Plan are essential to shift people to travel modes other than SOV. He stated that the
only way to implement these plans is to provide sufficient staff resources dedicated to their
program development and implementation. He added that the TDM Coordinator would lead
the implementation of the City’s TDM program, provide subsequent outreach to area
employers, implement the Cycling Master Plan, and advocate for TDM supportive programs
and policies. He pointed out that several of the initiatives outlined in Phase One would need to
proceed in a timely fashion, adding that capacity does not exist within the current staff
complement to undertake the initiatives outlined in the TDM Plan. He noted that approximately
seven years ago the Region of Waterloo hired their TDM Coordinator, with additional staff
being hired in 2009.
Mr. Kaufman responded further that critical to the success of implementing the TDM Plan is
adequate staff resources to develop, implement, and support both it and the Cycling Master
Plan. He advised that experience in other regions indicate that one full-time staff person is the
minimum amount of staffing necessary to implement an effective TDM program. He pointed
out that the City of Boulder, Colorado is known for having one of the most effective city-run
TDM programs in North America and has eight staff members assigned to its TDM activities.
He added that the Smart Commute Mississauga program has two staff persons providing
outreach to employers within that City. He noted that the number of staff dedicated to
implementing the TDM Plan directly equates to the effectiveness of a municipality’s TDM
program.
Mayor Zehr brought forward a motion amending the staff recommendation to approve the
principles of the TDM Plan, subject to the 2011 Budget Review and removed the clause
pertaining to the hiring of the TDM Coordinator position. He suggested that further information
regarding implementation should come forward, adding that consideration could potentially be
given to the TDM Coordinator position at that time.
On motion by Mayor C. Zehr -
it was resolved:
“That the principles of the Transportation Demand Management Plan attached to
Infrastructure Services Department report INS-11-016, be approved in principle and
referred to the 2011 Budget Review.”
ADJOURNMENT
2.
On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
C. Goodeve
Committee Administrator