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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-05-10 CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 10, 2011 CITY OF KITCHENER The Cycling Advisory Committee met on this date commencing at 4:10 p.m. Present: Messrs. M. Arges, P. Dedes, B. Forwell (Vice-Chair), B. Laube, N. Mehés, M. Turner, Councillor Y. Fernandes and Ms. M. Sehl Staff: Messrs. R. Schirm (Committee Administrator), P. Wetherup and Ms. K. Reinert (Recorder) Regrets: Messrs. S. Burek, D. Class, D. Hilker, T. Kenyon (Chair), and Ms. J. Tomero Councillor J. Gazzola and Mr. T. Pender, from The Waterloo Region Record, were also in attendance at this meeting. Mr. B. Forwell began the meeting by asking if there were any pecuniary interests which there were none. 1. That the minutes of the April 12, 2011 meeting be approved. Motioned by: Mr. M. Arges Seconded by: Councillor Y. Fernandes WATERLOO CYCLING CLUB OPPORTUNITIES 2. At the request of Councillor Y. Fernandes, Mr. Brent Ellis, of the Waterloo Cycling Club, was in attendance. Mr. Ellis has been with the Waterloo Cycling Club (WCC) for many years and explained that it is a strong group with about 450 members/volunteers and is a cycling club that also promotes road racing and mountain biking. New to the Club this year is a Ladies Only ride and a Novice Road ride. They are presently developing a tri-athlete program. The WCC has a stewardship agreement with the Region and volunteers maintain approx. 30 kms. of mountain bike trails. The WCC has a good sponsorship base and is therefore able to keep membership costs at a minimum. They are open to working with the City of Kitchener on projects and also cycling advocacy. The WCC already works with the City of Waterloo and representatives from both cities are liaisons with the WCC board. The WCC has approx 1,000 people on their email list and an active forum on their website. Mr. Ellis was thanked for attending the meeting and providing valuable information to the CAC and it was noted that Mr. Ellis will be the best point of contact for future advocacy endeavours by this committee. OFFICIAL PLAN 3. Mr. Brandon Sloan and Ms. Tina Malone-Wright, from the Planning Division of the City of Kitchener presented an overview of what the Official Plan Review is, why this process is being undertaken, and the specifics of it. The Official Plan (OP) is a 20 year plan for the City of Kitchener and is geared to land use. All Advisory Committees will receive this presentation and are invited to provide input. It is anticipated that the first draft policies will begin to be tabled later in June. Advisory committees are responding by having one or two members sit on the OP review committee, or discussion amongst advisory committee members and forwarding comments to Mr. Sloan or Ms. Malone-Wright. CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 10, 2011 - - CITY OF KITCHENER 2 OFFICIAL PLAN 3. – cont’d Highlights of Vision and Goals include community urban structure and policies that support a healthy Kitchener by promoting an integrated transportation network that supports all users. Some guiding principles within the Goals have policy directives for planned urban structure, bicycle paths, integrated transportation system, and site plan content with the draft being tabled in June and the plan tabled for early fall. When asked if rapid transit was considered in the plan, it was noted that although the OP is not contingent on rapid transit, it is anticipated and planned for. The site plan review component is reviewing requirements for bicycle parking, access for pedestrians and access to facilities. A pilot project has been struck with Perimeter Institute in a development close to the downtown that includes aggressive TDM programs. With regards to development by both school boards, improvements to the location, type and number of bike racks needs to be carefully considered. In a staff response to Councillor Fernandes’ question on how do you see CAC involvement with Greenfield developments, the CMP, TMP and MUPMP all provide the parameters that developers need to follow when designing and building new developments. Staff who review developments need to ensure that the policies within these documents are adhered to throughout the development process. Mr. B. Forwell stated that if the language within the OP is vague with regards to cycling, there is flexibility to drop planned cycling infrastructure. The CAC wants strong, definitive language in the OP with regards to cycling and trails Mr. Schirm stated that the OP should be adopting the specific language from the CMP into the OP in regards to on-road infrastructure and that the language provided in the CMP is very specific and definitive. Mr. Forwell thanked Mr. Sloan and Ms. Malone-Wright for the presentation and the Committee was reminded to forward comments to Mr. Sloan or Ms. Malone-Wright starting the last of week of June to end of September, or send comments to Mr. Schirm. Mr. R. Schirm mentioned, before the Committee moves on to the next agenda item, that he wanted the Committee to be aware that this is Mr. P. Wetherup’s last meeting as he will be retiring prior to the June meeting. Mr. Wetherup has attended the CAC meetings for the last two years and he has an encyclopaedic volume of knowledge, gained from more than 35 years experience with the CIty that he will be taking with him. Mr. Schirm wished to personally thank him for his commitment to this committee; a replacement is yet to be determined. Mr. Wetherup wished the committee good luck as it moves forward. PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL 3. Mr. T. Kenyon’s letter had been circulated to Council but no response has been received by the Committee yet. th There is a related staff report going to Infrastructure and Community Services Committee on May 30 and it was suggested that the CAC presentation to Council be done at that meeting. Mr. M. Arges suggested that a ten minute PowerPoint presentation would be effective and should include both negative and positive points. He suggested that comments and/or pictures be included from each area to show problems and safety issues. CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 10, 2011 - - CITY OF KITCHENER 3 PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL 3. – cont’d After discussion about the presentation and a suggestion by Councillor Gazzola to change the date to ththth June 13, Mr. M. Arges brought the motion forward to decide on May 30 or June 13 as the date to present to Council. th It was unanimously decided to make the presentation on June 13. On motion of Mr. B. Forwell, that Mr. T. Kenyon takes on the Council Presentation and Mr. B. Laube help out. Unanimously approved. th ACTION: MR. T. Kenyon to prepare and deliver presentation to Council on June 13. ACTION: Mr. M. Arges to send pictures to Mr. Kenyon for inclusion in presentation. COMMITTEE ACTION PRIORITIES EXERCISE FOLLOW-UP 4. Mr. B. Forwell opened the floor to comments regarding structure of sub-committees and whether committee members were in favour of setting up sub-committees. The majority of committee members felt that forming sub-committees would be on an “as needed” basis, i.e. presently, 1) Council Presentation, and 2) Great Commuter Race. Further discussion on this topic should take place when there are more committee members present. Discussion took place on the need of a Communications sub-committee. On motion of Mr. B. Forwell, that a permanent Communications sub-committee be established. Unanimously approved. Ms. M. Sehl volunteered to be on this committee. The topic of the report card and its accomplishments was brought forward. Mr. M. Arges has the report card template and suggested that it be revisited every six months. Mr. R. Schirm noted that the CAO’s office can provide a 30 to 40 minute presentation on how to develop a report card and the best way to develop and maintain it and suggested placing this item on a future agenda and it was agreed to have the presentation in October. th ACTION: CAO’s office presentation to be placed on the agenda for the October 11 meeting . Mr. B. Forwell sits on the Region Cycling Advisory Committee and commented that they divide the region into parts and committee members went individually to the various cycling facilities and checked on the condition of the trails. Everyone brought back their comments to the Committee and the comments were passed on to Public Works. Mr. N. Mehes suggested that there should be a spot somewhere on the website where if someone sees a problem it can be listed. Action: This should be placed on the agenda for the next meeting as a 5 minute discussion . Mr. M. Arges commented that this was discussed before and suggested that Councillors and members of the CAC committee go on a general tour every couple of weeks. A similar cycling tour was done last year and Mr. R. Schirm suggested that only one tour be scheduled and the invitation be made at the Council presentation. ACTION: Mayor and Councillor cycling tour invitation be added to the agenda for the June 14th meeting and Mr. R. Schirm to check with Mayor’s office. CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 10, 2011 - - CITY OF KITCHENER 4 GREAT COMMUTER RACE 5. On motion of Mr. B. Forwell, that the committee decide on whether the Great Commuter Race follow last year’s route, or this year’s suggested route of Highland Hills Mall. The route from Highland Hills Mall to City Hall was unanimously approved. ACTION: Mr. R. Schirm will look after set up and sending emails out. He will contact the committee if he requires additional help . ADJOURNMENT 6. On motion of Mr. M. Arges, and all committee members in favour, that the meeting be adjourned at 6:05 p.m. Ronald Schirm Committee Administrator