Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works - 1996-09-09PWTC\1996-09-09 PUBLIC WORKS & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 9, 1996 CITY OF KITCHENER The Public Works and Transportation Committee met this date under the Chairmanship of Alderman John Smola, with all members present. His Worship Mayor R. Christy and Councillors G. Lorentz and J. Ziegler were in attendance for part of the meeting. Others Present: Messrs. K. Bowman, W. Beck, S. Gyorffy, J. Gazzola, R. Pritchard and L.F. Parkhouse. This meeting of the Public Works and Transportation Committee commenced at 8:35 a.m. 1 .HIGH TEMPERATURE PLASTIC VENTING The Committee was reminded of the following resolution which was adopted on August 21, 1995, namely: "That Kitchener Utilities offer a $100.00 rebate to residents of the City of Kitchener that have Plexvent, Selvent or Ultravent Venting Systems, which have been installed on a mid-efficiency furnace and decide to upgrade their furnace to a high efficiency model, and further, That Kitchener Utilities not offer preferred financing for this furnace upgrade program, and further, That, if expenditures for this program exceed $10,000.00 in either 1995 or 1996 budget years, then a status report will be tabled with the Public Works and Transportation Committee." The Committee was advised that $9,400.00 has been paid out in rebates, however, there are still approximately 200 customers that have not upgraded their venting nor their furnace. These people will be contacted in early September and, if the necessary upgrading has not taken place and in accordance with a Safety Order issued by the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations, gas to that appliance will be cut-off. It is being recommended that the existing $100.00 Rebate Per Customer Program be continued for a period expiring December 31, 1996. The Committee was advised that this could result in a total expenditure of approximately $35,000.00 rather than the $10,000.00 originally approved. In response to Councillor M. Wagner, Mr. K. Bowman expressed the opinion that the implementation of this Rebate Program will not expose the City to any additional liability. Councillors G. Lorentz and J. Ziegler entered the meeting at this time. Following further discussion and on motion by Councillor B. Vrbanovic - it was resolved: "That Kitchener Utilities continue to offer the $100.00 rebate to residents of the City of Kitchener that have Plexvent, Selvent or Ultravent Venting Systems, which have been installed on a mid-efficiency furnace and decide to upgrade their furnace to a high efficiency model and that the rebate be offered until December 31, 1996." Councillor John Smola requested Councillor M. Wagner to Chair the next portion of the meeting. Councillor M. Wagner assumed the Chair. 2. MILK RUN COMMUNITY BUS The Milk Run Community Bus was first implemented in 1995 as a demonstration project to determine how and where wheelchairs could be accommodated on Iow floor buses. If the demonstration project is successful it would go a long way in making existing transit services more available to the handicapped population. On June 17, 1996, the original Milk Run route was extended along a section of Union Street to serve Participation House which is located at 20 Union Lane. The extension of the route to Participation House accommodated individuals at that location who must use wheelchairs. MILK RUN COMMUNITY BUS (CONT'D) PUBLIC WORKS & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 9, 1996 - 53 - CITY OF KITCHENER The Transit Division has received many complaints from residents living in the vicinity of Union Street between Margaret Avenue and Union Lane as the result of the extension of the Milk Run. The residents are concerned about a 40 foot bus travelling on the section of Union Street through Breithaupt Bush. His Worship Mayor R. Christy entered the meeting at this time. The Committee was advised that there are presently 6 trips a day to service Participation House and approximately 60 to 70 passengers make use of this community bus route on a daily basis. Councillor John Smola suggested that the extension to the original community bus route was never approved by City Council and the residents are concerned about the amount of bus traffic which is now taking place on a very narrow street. The Committee was also advised that Project Lift is presently undertaking a survey in an attempt to determine why their total ridership has decreased. As a result of the decrease in ridership, Project Lift will be considering a revision to their fare schedule in an attempt to make their service more available to the handicapped, Iow income people. Councillor John Smola was of the opinion that the extension of service along Union Street through Breithaupt Bush to service Participation House should be discontinued as of October 1, 1996. When questioned by Councillor Jake Smola, Mr. W. Beck advised that the existing Milk Run could not be modified so that Participation House could be serviced without using Union Street due to time constraints. Mr. Beck did point out, however, that existing Route 4 already services this area and could be utilized by the residents of Participation House by adding a Iow floor bus to this route. Mr. Beck reminded the members of the Committee that the Milk Run was established as a demonstration project and, accordingly, attempts have been made to involve as many wheelchair patrons as possible to obtain a true picture of possible problems in the securement of wheelchairs. Mr. Beck pointed out that there is no question that the costs of providing this service far outweigh any revenues at the present time. A total report regarding the demonstration project will be prepared around the end of 1996. Mr. Beck suggested to the Committee that he would like to see the existing service to Participation House continued until at least the middle of December so that the consultants preparing the report have an opportunity to obtain meaningful input from the residents of that facility. Councillor J. Ziegler supported the existing routing until the middle of December with assurances to the residents that the service would be discontinued at that time. Councillor John Smola suggested that at the present time it appears that Project Lift and Kitchener Transit are competing for the same type of ridership. It was the view of Councillor Smola that it was important to demonstrate to all residents that this type of competition is not taking place. When questioned by the Committee, Mr. Beck advised that since the Milk Run was implemented many requests have been received to have the service extended to other areas of the City. From a cost justification point of view, such an expansion cannot be warranted at the present time. Following further discussion and on motion by Councillor John Smola - it was resolved: "That the Milk Run Community Bus Service, presently provided along Union Street through Breithaupt Bush to Participation House, be discontinued as of October 1, 1996." Councillor John Smola re-assumed the Chair at this time. MILK RUN COMMUNITY BUS (CONT'D) When questioned by the Committee, Mr. W. Beck agreed to provide members of Council with a list PUBLIC WORKS & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 9, 1996 - 54 - CITY OF KITCHENER of busy routes and the times at which these routes are the busiest. Mr. Beck will also make arrangements for any member of Council who may wish to ride these routes during a busy time. Councillor Jake Smola requested a staff report outlining the costs and revenues for community bus routes and also the financial implications of servicing community routes with smaller buses. A report in this regard will be submitted to the Public Works and Transportation Committee at a future meeting. 3. ROLLING MEADOWS DRIVE - DRAINAGE PROBLEMS Councillor G. Lorentz noted that flooding on Rolling Meadows Drive has been discussed in the past and this problem still exists. It was the view of Councillor Lorentz that some action must be taken to correct the existing problem. In a previous staff report several options were identified ranging from doing nothing to implementing a program with a price tag of approximately $2,000,000.00. Councillor Lorentz suggested that it would appear that the do nothing option has been adopted and expressed the view that this was unacceptable. He suggested that the City must accept some of the responsibility for the engineering design which has led to the flooding problems. Councillor Lorentz suggested that, in his opinion, a solution could be achieved for less than $2,000,000.00. The Committee directed staff to prepare a report outlining the possibile options to correct the flooding problems on Rolling Meadows Drive with this report to be presented to a future meeting of the Public Works and Transportation Committee. 4. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m. L.F. Parkhouse, AMCT Deputy City Clerk