Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works - 1998-10-26PWTC\1998-10-26 PUBLIC WORKS & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 1998 CITY OF KITCHENER The Public Works and Transportation Committee met this date under the Chairmanship of Councillor John Smola, with all members present. Mayor C. Zehr and Councillors J. Ziegler and B. Vrbanovic were in attendance for part of the meeting. Others Present: Messrs. J. Gazzola, D. Snow, J. McBride, S. Gyorffy, D. Mansell, E. Kovacs, T. McCabe, T. Clancy and L.F. Parkhouse. This meeting of the Public Works and Transportation Committee commenced at 8:35 a.m. 1. DOPWR 98-45 - REGIONAL ROADS ASSUMPTION BY AREA MUNICIPALITIES On March 25, 1998, Regional Council approved the reversion of some roads to the City of Kitchener and two roads within the City of Kitchener which will become Regional responsibility. On motion by Councillor J. Haalboom - it was resolved: "That, effective January 1, 1999, the City of Kitchener accept jurisdiction for sections of the following Regional roads, namely: Regional Road No.2 Regional Road No.6 Regional Road No. 15 Huron Road Frederick Street King Street Regional Road No.53 Union Street Regional Road No.53 Park Street Regional Road No.53 Regional Road No.56 Regional Road No.63 Regional Road No.64 Regional Road No.64 Regional Road No.65 and further, Courtland Avenue River Road Duke Street Charles Street Francis Street Cedar Street Trussler Road to Westmount Road Bruce Street to Victoria Street Victoria Street to Francis Street and Cedar Street to Ottawa Street Park Street to the Municipal boundary with the City of Waterloo Municipal boundary with the City of Waterloo to Devon Street Queen Street to Devon Street Victoria Street to Fairway Road Cedar Street to Francis Street Ottawa Street to King Street East Duke Street to Charles Street Charles Street to Weber Street, That, effective January 1, 1999, the Region of Waterloo will accept jurisdiction for Trussler Road from Regional Road No.4 to Regional Road No.12 and Charles Street from Victoria Street to Francis Street, as approved by Regional Council on March 25, 1998, and further, That the Uniform Traffic By-law be amended accordingly." DOPWR 98-46 - THEATRE PARKING RATE The Committee considered a report which recommends that a parking fee of $3.00 per vehicle be established for spaces in the Provincial Court House Garage and the Regional Headquarters Garage during performances at the Centre In The Square. It is further recommended that a fee 2. DOPWR 98-46 - THEATRE PARKING RATE (CONT'D) PUBLIC WORKS & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 1998 -81 - CITY OF KITCHENER of $5.00 per vehicle be established for all City operated surface parking lots adjacent to the Centre In The Square during the same periods of time. These fee changes would become effective on January 1, 1999. The Committee was advised that there are approximately 500 parking spaces available for use during the theatre performances and, at the present time, the charge is $3.25 per vehicle. The new fees are being recommended in an attempt to encourage theatre patrons to park in the two adjacent parking garages. It is also hoped that these changes will shift existing parking patterns so that more surface spaces will be available for those persons who arrive just before show time. Mayor C. Zehr entered the meeting at this time. Councillor J. Haalboom expressed concern about the impact that the proposed fee changes may have on the K-W Symphony Orchestra. When questioned by Councillor Haalboom, it was noted that the Symphony representative on the Centre In The Square, Board of Directors, was not part of the discussions regarding the changes in parking fees. Councillor Haalboom indicated her opposition to the changes as proposed and pointed out that many theatre patrons do not know that there are underground spaces available and more promotion should be undertaken before any changes are made. Mr. D. Snow advised the Committee that he attended a theatre performance in August of this year and will be attending another one on October 30th to review the parking situation. Councillor C. Weylie advised the Committee that quite often the Regional Headquarters building is not staffed during the evening hours and, accordingly, the parking is not available. In this regard, Mr. D. Snow suggested that the parking in the Regional building is available for all evening theatre performances. Councillor Weylie expressed the view that this was not the case and that this matter should be reviewed. When questioned by the Committee, Mr. D. Snow advised that prepaying for parking will still be an option and this will provide theatre patrons with a reduced parking rate regardless of where they choose to park. Councillors J. Ziegler and B. Vrbanovic entered the meeting at this time. It was acknowledged that there is a back-up in getting vehicles into the existing parking facilities and it was noted that the purpose of prepaid parking is to speed up this process. The real problem is with the number of patrons that show up for a show at the very last minute. Councillor C. Weylie was of the view that the fee should only be increased in Lot No.19, which is the surface lot closest to the theatre. Councillor G. Lorentz indicated his support for the recommendation, as presented, but also expressed the view that the Regional Headquarters parking facilities are not open for all evening theatre performances. Mayor C. Zehr suggested that appropriate signage is critical to ensure that all existing parking facilities are appropriately utilized. Mr. J. Gazzola advised the Committee that these rate changes are not being proposed to increase revenue but rather in an attempt to increase the use of the existing underground parking facilities. A change in this regard will go a long way to overcoming any existing parking problems. Councillor J. Haalboom suggested that many people think that the parking in the Court House is strictly for the users and staff of that facility. There is also a perception that there are safety concerns with underground parking and, accordingly, many people simply will not use it. Members of the Committee noted that access to the Regional Headquarters facility is closed shortly after the conclusion of a theatre performance. As a result, a theatre patron may only 2. DOPWR 98-46 - THEATRE PARKING RATE (CONT'D) PUBLIC WORKS & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 1998 - 82 - CITY OF KITCHENER have approximately one half hour to get their vehicle out of the building or they may not be able to get it out until the next day. There are also concerns with cars exiting this facility and it was suggested that staff should be available to assist motorists in making left hand turns. Following further discussion, it was suggested that further consideration of this matter should be deferred for a period of two weeks. During this time period, Mr. Snow will obtain more first hand information and staff can review the comments which have been presented at this meeting. The members of the Committee agreed to defer further consideration of the changes to the theatre parking rates and refer this matter to the meeting of the Public Works and Transportation Committee to be held on November 9, 1998. 3. DOPWR 98-47 - AUTHORIZED REQUESTOR AGREEMENT Mr. J. McBride advised the Committee that, in 1994, the City opted into Bill 25 and, as a result, were required to issue a Notice of Impending Conviction prior to registering a conviction against those persons who failed to pay outstanding parking tickets. If an individual ignored this Notice a conviction was then registered and a Notice of Fine and Due Date was issued. There was a surcharge of $7.00 added to the original fine amount with the municipality keeping $4.00 and the balance being sent to the Ministry of Attorney General. As a part of this process, the City obtains ownership information from the Ministry of Transportation. In an attempt to recoup some of their costs, the Province of Ontario has recently added a $9.00 surcharge to all parking tickets that result in a conviction. Staff are of the opinion that this $9.00 surcharge is excessive and pointed out that the Province of Quebec provides the same information for $0.36. The Committee was advised that the impact of this surcharge on the City of Kitchener will be additional charges for computer programming, more inquiries, more trial requests and more reports to be provided to the Provincial Government. When questioned by the Committee, Mr. McBride advised that if the City does not enter into an agreement with the Ministry of Transportation, parking tickets can still be issued, however, up-to- date residential address information will not be available. As a result, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to take those who do not pay their parking tickets to Court. In the final analysis, this could result in a revenue loss to the City of Kitchener in excess of a quarter of a million dollars. Mr. McBride also advised the Committee that there are Freedom of Information regulations which apply to the address information received from the Ministry of Transportation. Councillor Jake Smola suggested that the Regional Police have this residential address information at their disposal and possibly the City could get their information in this manner. In this regard, Mr. McBride pointed out that traditionally the Courts only recognize information which has been received from the Ministry of Transportation. Mr. McBride acknowledged, however, that the possibility of getting the information could be reviewed but, in the past, Police have been reluctant to make it available and there is also the concern that the Courts may not accept the information if it has not been obtained from the Ministry of Transportation. Several members of the Committee were of the opinion that further consideration of this matter should be deferred until staff have had an opportunity to determine whether or not the residential address information can be obtained from the Regional Police and, if so, whether or not this information would be accepted by the Courts. In this regard, it was agreed that Mr. McBride would look into this matter further and report at the next meeting of the Public Works and Transportation Committee to be held on November 9, 1998. The members of the Committee did agree, however, to adopt a recommendation to be forwarded to the local Members of Provincial Parliament, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers. 3. DOPWR 98-47 - AUTHORIZED REQUESTOR AGREEMENT (CONT'D) PUBLIC WORKS & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 1998 - 83 - CITY OF KITCHENER On motion by Mayor C. Zehr- it was resolved: "WHEREAS Ontario Regulation 945, (which defines the costs payable upon conviction of a Parking Infraction Notice, as amended by Ontario Regulation 240/98), and Ontario Regulation 949, (which defines the amount of Court costs collected by the municipality, as amended by Ontario Regulation 241/98), introduces additional costs to be collected by the municipality on behalf of the Ministry of Transportation; AND WHEREAS the legislation will result in additional implementation and ongoing operating costs to the municipality in excess of the compensation which municipalities will receive; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener strongly urges the Province of Ontario to amend the provisions of Ontario Regulations 945 and 949, as amended, in order to allow for a more equitable cost sharing arrangement to reflect the true costs of maintaining the ownership databases and obtaining and processing the data for Court purposes; AND FURTHER THAT a copy of this resolution be circulated to local M.P.P.'s, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Association of Municipal Clerk's and Treasurers of Ontario." CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT - SANITARY SEWAGE SERVICING SCHEME - GRAND RIVER SOUTH COMMUNITY Mr. D. Mansell advised the Committee that all developers in the Grand River South Community have requested that MTE Consultants Inc. be retained to determine the preferred sanitary sewage servicing scheme for the Grand River South Community. It was noted that this Consulting Engineer presently has several clients in the area and, accordingly, has extensive background information. When questioned by Councillor Jake Smola, Mr. Mansell confirmed that any study will result in a determination being made as whether or not one or more pumping stations will be required. In response to comments made by Councillor Jake Smola, Mr. Mansell advised the Committee that the proposed consultant will do everything possible to ensure that the City of Kitchener gets the best possible solution at the lowest possible price. It was also noted that, because of the information that this Consulting Engineer already has, the cost of undertaking the study will be substantially reduced. The Committee then undertook a discussion about how any unused capacity in the Montgomery Trunk may be used in the future. In this regard, Mr. Mansell suggested that it is unlikely that there will be any unused capacity except during off peak hours. The extent of any unused capacity will not be known until building in the community nears completion. Following further discussion and on motion by Councillor J. Ziegler- it was resolved: "That the City of Kitchener waive its normal procedure for the selection of consultants and retain MTE Consultants Inc. as our engineering consultant for an upset fee of $17,500.00 (not including GST) to undertake a Schedule 'B' Class Environmental Assessment to determine the preferred method of providing a sanitary sewage servicing scheme for the Grand River South Community." 5. INFORMATION ITEMS PUBLIC WORKS & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 26, 1998 - 84 - CITY OF KITCHENER The Committee received the following information items: Ministry of Environment Regulation Made Under The Ontario Water Resources Act Community Safety Zones K-W Expressway Improvements - Ministry of Transportation 6. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 10:40 a.m. L.F. Parkhouse, AMCT Deputy City Clerk