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HomeMy WebLinkAboutKCTAC Minutes 2017-02-14 KITCHENER CYCLING AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES February 14, 2017 - 1 - CITY OF KITCHENER Kitchener Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee met on this date commencing at 4:03 p.m. Present: Councillor Y. Fernandes, Ms. C. Even, Ms. K. Fox, Ms. M. Oviedo, Ms. L. Paprocki, Ms. P. Rodriguez, Messrs. E. Bliefert, D. Brotherston, D. Hoshowsky, B. Jenner, and J. Williams. Staff: Mr. D. Pimentel, Active Transportation Planning Project Manager Mr. M. Parris, Landscape Architect Mr. J. Barton, Associate Landscape Architect Ms. M. Bird, Active Transportation Student Delegates: Mr. P. Martin, Cycling into the Future Ms. A. Crowe, Grand Trail project Mr. M. Arges, former Kitchener Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee member 1. CYCLING MASTER PLAN REPORT UPDATE (MR. PIMENTEL) Mr. D. Pimentel is preparing a report that will go forward to council in April. He will provide the committee with the report before the March meeting to ensure discussions can take place at that time followed by a motion. An important part of that report includes the “Cycling in Kitchener, The 2016 Experience”. The document speaks to the responses from the BikeKitchener Survey and the programming from 2016. Mr. Pimentel is recommending in the Cycling Master Plan Report Update that council endorses this document and going forward that it would be produced every two years and tied in with the BikeKitchener survey. Mr. Pimentel provided a draft of this document to the committee. Edits will be made and Mr. Pimentel will provide the next draft at the March meeting. Mr. Pimentel announced that a committee member has the opportunity to attend the Ontario Bike Summit on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at the Chelsea Hotel in Downtown Toronto. The event takes place all day ending at 4:30 pm. The city has offered to cover the price of admission ($365 - $415 + applicable taxes); however, the individual chosen to go will be responsible for their travel to and from the event. To make the process fair and transparent, any member that is interested and able to attend will be placed into a draw that will occur at the March meeting. Mr. Pimentel advised the committee that BikeFest is happening Sunday, May 28, 2017 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm at City Hall. Oppose to creating a formal subcommittee for events at the moment, Mr. Pimentel has asked that interested committee members reach out to him and create a group to work on the event outside of the committee’s designated meeting times. KITCHENER CYCLING AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES February 14, 2017 - 2 - CITY OF KITCHENER 2. CYCLING INTO THE FUTURE - PHIL MARTIN Mr. P. Martin has been running the Cycling into the Future program for three years. The program’s mission is to ensure each grade five student in the region has received cycling training. The program is built into the curriculum and involves a six part comprehensive education program, each one hour long. Each session revolves around a different topic or theme: rules and safety, tune up, tire repair, rodeo, road training and a final assessment. The sessions take place during and outside of school time, on and off school property. The program is $40 per student. The families are required to pay half and the rest is subsidized. If a family is unable to pay, the schools can provide aid by covering the costs. Students that have never ridden a bike before are able to participate in ‘Learn to Ride’ instruction separate from the program. The program strives on ensuring students have bikes of their own whether through their family, a school bike drive or Cycling into the Future. The program also ensures that every student has a personal helmet. Since 2014, the program has trained 956 students in the region. As the program grows, instructional capacity is limited. The program will train (some exclusion) and pay for part-time, seasonal work (April – June; September – October). Positions include: front riders, CAN Bike instructors (8-9 currently employed), “Learn to Ride” instructors, rodeo instructors, tire repair instructors, a program coordinator and bike mechanics. The group broke out into discussion and Mr. Martin answered and acknowledged the following remarks  Grade five students are old enough to learn to ride and young enough to not have bad habits that need to be broken. For instance, teaching students to ride on neighbourhood streets oppose to sidewalks.  The Working Centre and Recycle Cycles have a youth mechanics program that could team up with Cycling into the Future.  The program is funded 50% by families that participate, 25% by the municipalities and 25% community or corporate funding. Committee members suggested insurance companies with head offices in the region could provide funding or a partnership.  The program has applied to have a university student work with them over the summer and to the Ontario Bike Summit. 3. ANNE CROWE – GRAND TRAIL PROJECT Ms. A. Crowe is a part of the steering community for the Grand Trail project and is a member of both the Waterloo and Regional active transportation committees. Ms. Crowe provided a background of the project to the committee. The Grand Trail project will connect people and communities through heritage, cultural and outdoor experiences in the Grand River watershed. This project will help foster a harmony between people and the water while ensuring the network is inclusive to all. The network will include existing and new, land and water trails creating connectivity throughout the Grand River watershed. The project will allow for connections between other external trails systems in line with the Ontario Trail strategy. Ms. Crowe advised the committee that she is seeking support for the project. Kitchener will not be required to create new trails, but adhere to the marketing and wayfinding resources provided by the Grand Trail group. City of Waterloo has endorsed the KITCHENER CYCLING AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES February 14, 2017 - 3 - CITY OF KITCHENER project and Ms. Crowe and her colleagues will be approaching City of Cambridge and City of Brantford. The next step for the project is to receive grants (e.g. Ontario Trillium Foundation) to develop a more in-depth proposal. The group broke out into discussion and Ms. Crowe answered and acknowledged the following remarks:  Ms. Crowe explained that she approached Waterloo for support, not monetary support, but an endorsement to provide when applying for funding from other sources. This is the same endorsement she is looking for from Kitchener. Funding received through the project will help them gain better access to the river, improve the trails, connectors, etc..  Staff endorsed the project and idea as it could raise the priority level of some trail projects in the city.  Six Nations of the Grand River have been consulted throughout the project including a member on the steering committee.  Ms. Crowe explained that the project will hopefully raise awareness which in turn would improve the maintenance and modification to trails to ensure citizens are able to use the trails with ease. Ms. Crowe hopes that the invested interest and funding will bring more money to the region through tourism, especially cycling tourism.  Waterloo Region Tourism has been involved and will be an integral part of the marketing and promotion of the trail.  The water trail will improve recreationalists’ ability to move throughout the watershed; however, citizens will still need to portage around certain obstructions such as dams, but the trails will be improved to ensure this is possible.  Timeline: proposal to be created this spring. On a motion by Mr. J. Williams – It was resolved: “The concept of the Grand Trail Project as presented by Ms. Crowe is supported.” 4. TRAILS UPDATE – BALZER TRAIL (MARK PARRIS) Mr. M. Parris advised the committee of the council meeting on March 6, 2017 that involves the decision pertaining to Balzer trail; recommendations and comments will be included in his staff report to council. Mr. Parris explained that Blazer trail is currently slated as creek restoration project due to erosion and water quality issues; however there is contention over a 1.2 km piece of the trail (reach 2) due to privacy issues. This piece of the trail is an important connection that cannot be duplicated on-road without safety concerns due to minimal local road access. Regardless of the trail’s benefits, a pathway is required for sanitary for maintenance (10 metres). The group broke out into discussion and Mr. Parris answered and acknowledged the following remarks:  Currently there is an underpass at Homer Watson that is not fully utilized as there’s no connection to it, this trail would be a connection.  The ultimate goal is to connect the Blazer Trail to the Trans Canada Trail. KITCHENER CYCLING AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES February 14, 2017 - 4 - CITY OF KITCHENER  Privacy would be offset using a 3 meter buffer of plants. Councillor Y. Fernandes suggested that planting should occur as soon as possible to ensure there is ample growth for when the trail is completed.  Mr. Parris explained that council ultimately has the final decision  The off-road alternative is not as desirable and the trail will encourage cyclists to stay off sidewalks.  Overall, the project is $400,000; however, the exact costs of this particular piece are not identified.  This trail could be a potential transportation option for students in the area.  Lighting on the trail is not an option. On a motion by Mr. D. Hoshowsky – It was resolved: “The recommendation for Balzer Creek Restoration – Reach 2 Trail outlined in the city staff report is supported” The following comments support the motion:  Mr. Hoshowsky suggests that since part of the trail is required for maintaining the sewers, the 100 meters that is contentious should be resolved as this trail will become a part of the larger trail system and improve connectivity to points of interests, such as Fairview Mall.  Ms. C. Even advises that having a two-way separated multi-use trail is safer than the sidewalk that is currently available in the area. This is a great opportunity to separate the use to improve safety for the residents.  Mr. B. Jenner, suggested that without this trail it cyclists that are intimidated by multi-use pathways on road will be excluded from the opportunity to use sustainable transportation. Ensuring connectivity throughout the trail will make it more discoverable and easier for users to navigate.  Mr. D. Brotherston, advised that when trail sections disappear it is an unpleasant experience. If this part of the trail is maintained in the winter if will likely be utilized well. Mr. Parris indicated that the motion and comments provided by the committee will be included in his upcoming staff report for council on March 6, 2017. 5. MARK ARGES – FORMER KCTAC MEMBER Mr. M. Arges is a former Kitchener Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee member. He presented the outline and general function of committee during his term. Overall, during his term the committee ran using an ad hoc approach avoiding formal subcommittee designations. In other words, working groups were created organically as projects came up and committee members could join and leave groups after a project was completed and move onto another project. Project that committee members supported included:  Iron Horse Trail crossing  Signage and wayfinding  Trail naming and markers for emergency response KITCHENER CYCLING AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES February 14, 2017 - 5 - CITY OF KITCHENER  Annual councillor ride  Cycling access on trails through opening gates  Nyberg St. contraflow lane  Lock tutorial video  Trail maps Mr. Arges suggested that the three subcommittee function was not efficient, but an ad hoc approach is best suited. Mr. Arges suggested the following areas of interest for the current committee to consider:  Signage projects  Trail safety  Education aimed at everyone but especially mid-40’s demographics to encourage on-road cycling  Contest for naming trails  Councillor survey to gauge their ideas and opinions and a ride/meeting follow-up  Situational reports  Cycling and trails report card  Attend Public Information Centers  Remain visible in the community, especially through social media Mr. Pimentel advised the committee that there is no budget for the committee itself but a general Cycling Master Plan budget in which a portion supports the committee. 6. WORK PLAN WORKSHOP The committee had discussions surrounding the creation of a work plan. Staff provided a summary of the survey results that outline the committee’s interests. To supplement this work plan, members requested information about upcoming projects and plans to better prioritize their efforts. The committee will collaborate on a work plan outside of regular meeting times. In the meantime, Mr. Pimentel has asked that interested committee members reach out to him directly if they are interested in being involved with BikeFest on Sunday, May 28, 2017. Additionally, Mr. Jenner has informed the committee that he is interested in bike parking, particularly ar private and commercial destinations. 7. ADJOURNMENT Action Items:  Committee members will determine if they are able to attend the Ontario Bike Summit as a participant will be selected at the March meeting Situational reports.  Committee members interested in being involved with BikeFest 2017 will contact Mr. Pimentel.  Mr. Parris and Mr. Pimentel will investigate the subdivision development plan to see if a trail was identified regarding the Balzer Trail project. KITCHENER CYCLING AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES February 14, 2017 - 6 - CITY OF KITCHENER  Mr. Parris highly encourages committee members to attend the council meeting on March 6to provide their feedback on the project – details will follow.  Ms. Bird will investigate the ability to divided the upcoming agenda into businesses (decision making) and discussions. “The meeting adjourned at 6:18 p.m.”