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Home My WebLink About2019-04-25 GRAAC Date: Thursday, April 25, 2019 Location: Conestoga Room, City of Kitchener Present: Donna Hartzler, Brenda Robinson (Co-Chair), Jolene MacDonald (Co-Chair), Councillor Sue Foxton (Region of Waterloo), Councillor Debbie Chapman (City of Kitchener) Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener/City of Waterloo) Sanjay Govindaraj (Region of Waterloo), Sharon Giles, Amy Harron (Township of Wellesley), Rob Bender, Paula Saunders, Janis McKenzie (City of Kitchener) Regrets: Jeff Smith (Township of Woolwich), Tracey Murray (Township of Wilmot), Greg Moore, Keri Cameron, Ashley Sage (Township of North Dumfries), Gail Brunsdon, Dawn Clelland Absent: Guests: John Stephenson (Region of Waterloo), Niall Lobley (City of Kitchener), Shen-Hao Chang (Region of Waterloo) Welcome and Introductions Jolene called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Round table introductions 2.0 Approval of February/March Minutes Motion to accept the February and March minutes Donna motioned, Sharon seconded 3.0 Declarations of Pecuniary Interests None 4.0 Region of Waterloo Road Redesigns 1. Highland Road Reconstruction at West forest and East forest roads. The existing conditions are rural. It will be changing to two lanes and multiuse trail on either side of the road. Committed to taking a hard look at Intersections to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists (more visible to motorists) to cross. Provide cross rides to alert drivers. Incorporate protected intersection approach and standardize intersection circulation for cyclists. Accommodate potential future signal phasing adjustments Goal is to make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to cross safely. 2. Ottawa Street Reconstruction from Fischer-Hallman to Alpine Construction to start next year. Looking to shorten crossing distances at the intersection. Proposing smart channels, dedicated bus pads. Compress the space to slow drivers down. Shadow Island at Williamsburg is being considered. Strasburg Road is under review. Ottawa and Westmount potentially changing to a two lane roundabout. Median on Ottawa. Comment made that trails are not just for cyclists but for pedestrians as well. 5.0 GRAAC Reps on Committees Lolita did an overview of City of Kitchener Mayors Task Force on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee and asked who would be interested in representing GRAAC. Jolene MacDonald and Sharon Giles will be representing GRAAC. Sanjay spoke to the Accessible Taxi Fund Committee and asked for representation from the GRAAC committee Donna Hartzler will represent GRAAC. 6.0 Township of Wellesley Status Update 1. Sidewalk Replacement 415 metres of 1.5 metre wide sidewalk with detectable warning plates were replaced St. Clements Herrgott Road (5 Metres) Lobsinger Line (85 metres) Linwood Isabella Street (100 metres) Alfred Street (80 metres) Wellesley Doering Street (85 metres) Queen's Bush W (60 metres) 805 metres of New Sidewalk were installed in the Village of Wellesley Parkview Drive (650 metres) 24 driveways Catherine Street (155 metres) 2 driveways 2. Recreation - Significant staffing change which reduced the number of project completed in the summer. 3. The Recreation Department installed a new railing at the Hawkesville Community Centre that is now higher and extends down to the basement. 4. A new railing was added in the St. Clements Community Centre stairwell to allow guests access to a railing on both sides of the stairwell. 5. A railing and ramp was installed in the new picnic shelter in the St Clements Lions Park. 6. New accessible playground equipment was installed in Linwood at the playground behind the Community Centre. 7. The Township has a couple projects coming up this summer including the development of more recreation trails and a new fire station which will both be presented at a future GRAAC meeting. 7.0 City of Kitchener Update on the Winter Sidewalk Maintenance Program Sidewalks snow clearance pilot project update presented by Niall Lobley. The past winter was average with unique issues with less snow events and a couple of ice events which did not melt right away as would be per usual. Spike in complaints, but fewer notices were given out and sidewalks were in better condition than previous years. Pilot Projects: 1. Proactive bylaw enforcement In the winter of 2018/2019 four bylaw officers proactively enforced fixed routes. It definitely made a difference. Two thousand residences were checked and only four hundred notices were given out stating the homeowner had 24 hours to clear the sidewalk. Only three notices then needed to be resent and cleared making that only one percent needed to be left another notice. Some feel this is the wrong approach and that bylaw officers needed to use discretion. Very few received a notice and even less people received a clearance notice. 2. Fifty properties part of this pilot program utilizing the working centre with only two complaints. Some complaints were they would like to see it from the front door to the sidewalk. Looking for approval to explore private companies as the working centre was overwhelmed and at maximum capacity. 3. Five hundred dollar grant application to go and purchase snow blowers. Only eight out of the ten snow blowers were applied for and received. All or three residents take responsibility for the snow blower. Report public on Monday Recommendations to council: 1. Bylaw is effe complying. Looking at feedback regarding revising the bylaw, not necessarily changing it only discussion. 2. Pilot routes to have the city take care of a few sidewalks in the city to see how much that would cost. Heavy lifting over 8cm. Different classes of removal like the roads with priority sidewalks first. 3. Keep monitoring the snow blower project but not offering more. 4. Assisted service program to continue on current level or open up the program to more people. Eligibility criteria the needs to be the right criteria and the right resources to accommodate as well as having a pool left over for emergency situations. 5. Heavy Lifting and Above 6. Assisted Servicing 7. Statistical survey on what citizens want the City to do regarding sidewalk removal and how much they are willing to spend. GRAAC committee position paper submitted in 2017 to the City of Kitchener regarding snow Break 8.0 Region of Waterloo GRT Rerouting Shen-Hao Chang updated the committee regarding the proposed GRT rerouting of Route 55 Grand Ridge. It was noted that perhaps this topic might be better suited in front of the Cambridge Accessibility Advisory committee as the bus route location is in Cambridge. 9.0 Built Environment Sub-Committee update Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex: Paula and Lolita reviewed the plans that Kevin and Mary Cathryn presented to GRAAC regarding the layout and provided feedback such as: For gender specific washrooms if no sight line issues then suggested no doors Suggested furniture in hallways be movable Suggested more automatic door openers for program rooms because there will be senior use Kevin and Mary Cathryn will continue to share updated plans with Built Environment subcommittee. 10.0 Brenda Trails committee - Not just about cyclists but about everyone on the trails Update from 11.0 Councillor Reports Councillor Debbie Chapman Please send feedback regarding the snow removal report. 2017 report to be sent via email by the committee. Councillor Sue Foxton Committee is invaluable to share knowledge. Proud to be part of this committee. 12.0 Co-chair/Staff Reports No updates from Co-chairs Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener/Waterloo) reminded the committee to read over the email from Karen Cooper regarding City of Kitchener Strategic Plan Draft Goals and Actions. Deadline for survey comments is April 30, 2019. Accommodation requests should be sent directly to Karen Cooper. Amy Harron (Township of Wellesley) to bring Staff members back to next meeting regarding new Fire station and trails. Sanjay Govindaraj (Region of Waterloo) shared that his annual report going to council for the Region of Waterloo and asking if the committee has any thoughts or feedback to please share. Donna motioned to Adjourn, seconded by Sharon and carried. Next meeting will be on Thursday May 23, 2019 City of Kitchener, 200 King St West, Conestoga Room Please send regrets to: Janis McKenzie at janis.mckenzie@kitchener.ca or call 519-741-2200 Ext. 7225