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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-03-03ENVY1993-03-03 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 3, 1993 The Environmental Committee met this date commencing at 4:00 p.m. under the Chairmanship of Alderman C. Weylie with the following members present: Alderman T. Galloway, Alderman G.L. Leadston, Mr. D. Hilker, Mr. M. Barker, Dr. J. Kay, Mr. J. Maine and Mr. S. Cooke. Officials Present: Mr. S. Klapman, Mr. B. Stanley, Mr. G. Nixon, Mr. W. Beck, Mr. C. Ford and Mr. L.W. Neil. 1. MINUTES On motion by Mr. D. Hilker it was resolved: "That the minutes of the Environmental Committee regular meeting held on February 3, 1993, and the special meeting held on February 17, 1993, as mailed to the members, be accepted." 2. OFF PEAK REDUCED TRANSIT FARES Further to discussion at the Committee's February 17 meeting, Mr. W. Beck, Director of Transit, attended the meeting relative to the suggestion of charging reduced rates on Kitchener Transit during certain off peak hours. Mr. Beck stated that actually there were two issues related to this matter, the first being subsidization, and the second being off peak reduced rates. Mr. Beck advised the Committee that approximately 10 years ago, the City approached industrial firms for their support to subsidize transit passes of their employees and not one business participated. However, he stated that they were successful in having Mutual Life participate and the Subsidy Program is still in place. Further, he noted that there was an effort within the Canadian Urban Transit Association to ask that subsidized transit passes not be deemed a taxable benefit of employees. Mr. Beck stated that in the past, an effort had been made to encourage monthly discounts in the Downtown as part of transit fare structure and not one business in the Kitchener Downtown has participated. He noted that off peak reduced fares has been tried another municipalities without success. As well, Mr. Beck commented that there would be a dollar cost to any Off Peak Reduced Fare Program given that half of the transit ridership travels in the off peak period. He pointed out that staff are investigating new technologies involving debit cards and smart cards which could provide valuable information as to who is riding the bus and would allow for analysis of ridership that could be considered in conjunction with any promotion programs that target operational aspects of the system. In reference to ridership losses by all municipalities, Mr. Beck stated that Kitchener was down only 10% while other municipalities were down much more in the current recessionary environment. He noted that the bulk of ridership at this time falls in the age group 15-24 years but that staff expect growing ridership given the aging population, and de-institutionalization policies. In reference to the service level provided by the system, Mr. Beck advised that by the end of the year, a plan would be in effect to accommodate persons who have difficulty reaching a bus stop location. Further, he noted that only Iow floor buses will be purchased in future and that by the end of 1993, 25% of Kitchener Transit Fleet will be Iow floor buses. Dr. J. Kay questioned if surveys had been done of potential ridership that could be gained through reduced fares or promotional programs. Mr. Beck stated that a survey of users and non-users was completed last year. Mr. Beck advised that the biggest single factor impacting transit ridership levels was the cost of parking. In addition, he noted that people assign a value to their time, and generally the more affluent people are the less likely they are to utilize the transit system. He stated that staff were working with the Department of Planning and Development to bring about change of habits and personal preference and policies that are being developed in the Official Plan will assist in this regard. In summary, he stated that Transit was essentially involved in a fight for those users who currently have a choice between ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES - 16 - MARCH 3, 1993 2. OFF PEAK REDUCED TRANSIT FARES. (CONT'D) public transit and private transportation. In reference to the environmental aspect, he stated that staff support the concept of non vehicle movement of people and that policies should focus in the order of pedestrians, bicycles, public transportation, and private vehicles. He noted that telerider service increased off peak ridership and that staff were looking at further changes to the system to better utilize the telerider system. Alderman C. Weylie commented that at a recent conference she attended in New York City, a point had been made that municipalities must extend transit routes into new subdivisions as soon as they open up so as to offer new home owners a transportation alternative before they must out of necessity purchase a second family vehicle. Mr. W. Beck advised that this was Kitchener's practice. Alderman C. Weylie commented that Thursday evening was an off night in the Downtown and questioned why something could not be done to promote both the Downtown and use of the transit system between the 7 pm and 9 pm off peak hours just for people coming Downtown. Mr. Beck advised that staff could prepare an estimate of lost revenue for passengers with a Downtown destination between the hours of 7 pm and 9 pm. Committee members also suggested that staff should give further consideration to an annual free transit day on the system and to resurrection and to promotion of the bus token system. Mr. J. Maine questioned if any studies have been done to determine how the Municipality could become a Iow car use City. Mr. Klapman stated that as part of the Official Plan Review, Corridors and Nodes were being promoted that would support more intense transit use. Mr. Beck stated that as an example, King Street is a corridor with regular 6 minute service between the City of Kitchener and the City of Waterloo. 3. KITCHENER DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION - WINDOW DISPLAY Further to discussion at the Committee's last meeting, Mr. S. Klapman advised that the K.D.B.A. would have window space available from approximately mid April to mid May that the Committee could utilize to decorate with an environmental theme. Mr. G. Nixon advised that Parks Staff were drafting a package store front display of environmental issues, and would be consulting with several other City Departments. He questioned if there would be any funding available to assist with display material and agreed to obtain an estimate of costs and report to Mr. S. Klapman. He noted that the window display could actually be a changing display through the involvement of several departments so that a fixed display would not be in place for the one month period. Mr. J. Maine requested that in any display, information be included that advises of the City's Environmental Strategic Plan, how to contact the Committee and how to facilitate local action on environmental issues. Mr. S. Cooke suggested that a press release be developed with respect to the environmental window display and consideration be given to creating a portable environmental display for future use throughout the City. By general consent, it was agreed that the City accept the invitation by the K.D.B.A. to decorate their King Street window with an environmental theme between the dates April 13 and May 19, 1993. 4. DEFINITION OF SCENIC ROADS Mr. B. Stanley advised that the Heritage Group had held a meeting to consider the matter of scenic roads but had been unable to agree on a definition. He commented that the definition appeared to be getting more complicated the more it was considered. He indicated that he was trying to arrange a meeting with individuals who were responsible for completing earlier studies to assist in arriving at a definition and that he would bring the matter back to the Committee at a future meeting. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES - 17 - MARCH 3, 1993 SECONDARY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL FAIR Alderman G.L. Leadston referred to the Annual Secondary School Environmental Fair and suggested that their exhibits might also be displayed in the K.D.B.A. window, Dr. J. Kay suggested that consideration could be given to piggy backing some of the displays with the University's Environmental Awards Program, Mr. S. Cooke advised that the Annual Fair was being held at the Woodland Christian High School, Alderman G.L. Leadston left the meeting at this point. VISION PRINCIPLES FOR A NEW REGIONAL OFFICIAL PLAN Mr. B. Stanley advised that the Regional Vision Principles that have been developed arose out of the Vision Statements that were considered earlier. He noted that when the Region decided to translate the Vision Statements into Vision Principles, essential elements of the Vision Statements were lost. In addition, the hard edge with respect to rural growth and development has been lost and there was no sense of growth areas and how and where growth would be accommodated in future. Mr. B. Stanley commented that the Regional document still relates to Vision Statement "C" and he advised that staff had no concern with this as it promotes the Region's Sustainable Development Vision. He then reviewed aspects of Vision "C" and policies directly related to the environment. Dr. J. Kay stated that the new Vision Principles document was a step backward in terms of communicating a vision for the future and stated that the new format does not work and suggested that the City's concerns in this regard be conveyed to the Region. Mr. J. Maine questioned what the remainder of the process was. Mr. Stanley advised that a Regional decision model has been developed to test relationships of the Vision Principles. Further discussion took place as to what further input the Committee could provide respecting the process and Mr. Stanley stated that at this time he did not have a sense of the final product. However, he advised that the City has communicated its reaction to the Region through the Planning and Economic Development Committee. OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW - DRAFT MUNICIPAL PLAN, FEBRUARY 1993 Mr. B. Stanley introduced the Draft Municipal Plan dated February 1993, and pointed out that the draft document would be reviewed by various committees and groups for input during the next few months. He emphasized that the document was now being called a Municipal Plan rather than an Official Plan to stress the fact that it represented a corporate document and not just a planning document. Mr. Stanley noted that the Principles of the Municipal Plan provide for: - Sustainable development - Efficient and effective delivery of community services including the blending of social planning needs with land use planning. - Efficient and effective growth management - Conservation and preservation - Transit supported Urban System with the emphasis being on pedestrian and transit usage - Designation of Nodes and Transit Corridors with Nodes having mixed uses and primary transit corridors providing for quick transit high frequency trips with secondary transit corridors providing a lesser level of service - Policies related to Nodes and Transit Corridors have the effect of overriding other policies in the Plan (Page 3-4). - Nodes allow for concentration of residential uses, employment and community facilities ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES - 18 - MARCH 3, 1993 7. OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW - DRAFT MUNICIPAL PLAN, FEBRUARY 1993 The intention is to try to build a frame work that induces use of public transit Density is no longer stressed as the key ingredient of development and the primary interest is in the form of development being Iow, medium or highrise. Mr. B. Stanley noted that the thrust has been to get away from specific land use planning and that General Policies in the Municipal Plan override the Land Use Policies. He invited the Committee to provide its input, particularly with regard to whether or not the Plan implements the City's Environmental Strategic Plan or if it was deficient in any areas. Following the presentation and brief discussion, it was agreed to hold a special meeting on Wednesday, March 10, 1993 to continue consideration of the draft Municipal Plan. In this regard, a number of questions and concerns were raised by the Committee that Planning Staff recorded so as to respond to at the special March 10th meeting. 8. ENVIRONMENTAL LOGO Mr. C. Ford advised that two months ago, the Environmental Study Group proposed the idea that the Environmental Committee should have an Environmental Logo and in this regard, Mr. Tim O'Brien (Parks & Recreation Department), Ms. Sandra Baldry (Utilities Division) and Mr. Bob Wakefield (Planning and Development Department) have developed a proposed logo to uniquely identify environmental projects undertaken by the City and were in attendance at the meeting in this regard. Mr. Ford illustrated the proposed logo and noted that the color choices were based on water, land and sky. Mr. B. Wakefield advised that the design was saved on the computer file and could be down loaded for printing production. In response to Alderman C. Weylie as to how the Logo could be used, he indicated that it could be used on billboards, on letterhead, on t-shirts or on Adopt-a- Program promotion. Mr. S. Cooke questioned if the Logo could be incorporated into a naturalization program and Mr. G. Nixon indicated that it could and be used with promotional brochures. On motion, it was resolved: "That the logo presented this date be adopted as the official Environmental Logo for the City of Kitchener." It was suggested that consideration be given to a press release promoting the Environmental Logo when Council approves it. 9. DRAFT PROPOSAL - ENVIROFUND KITCHENER INC. Alderman T. Galloway distributed a concept of the form of organization that would assist the City in meeting environmental objectives and asked that the Committee review the proposal. He noted that the proposal represented the beginnings of a concept to develop a charitable foundation that would support environmental activities. Alderman Galloway pointed out to the Committee that the structure proposed on Page 4 contained a fundamental flaw and would have to be significantly different than what was outlined in the draft. He noted that alternatives that might be considered would be private legislation similar to that obtained in regard to Kitchener Housing or finding an existing local group to assume the function and its responsibilities. Following brief discussion, Alderman T. Galloway indicated that his purpose was simply to table the draft as information at this time. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE MINUTES - 19 - MARCH 3, 1993 10. NEXT MEETING - MARCH 10, 1993 It was earlier agreed to hold a special meeting of the Committee on March 10, 1993 to consider issues of concern with respect to the Draft Municipal Plan. 11. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. L.W. Neil, AMCT Assistant City Clerk