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HomeMy WebLinkAboutATTAC Minutes 2022-09-13 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER September 13, 2022 The Active Transportation and Trails Advisory Committee met electronically on Tuesday September 13, 2022, at 4 pm. Present: E. Bennett, J. Broschek, L. Dramnitzki, B. Forwell, V. Hand, G. Kirk, J. Orita, G. Piccini, Councillor S. Marsh Staff: D. Kropf, Manager, Active Transportation and Development I. Balaban, Active Transportation Planning Project Manager L. Christensen, Multi-Use Pathways & Trails Project Manager A. Fritz-Walters, Engagement and Program Manager, Strategic Plan 1. City of Kitchener 2023-2026 Strategic Plan A. Fritz-Walters introduced the engagement currently ongoing to update the City’s Strategic Plan. This includes a 20-year vision and strategic goals for the next 4 years. A phone survey was completed to get initial feedback from the community. Housing was the top concern. Sustainability and urban growth were also top themes. Engagement is occurring online on Engage Kitchener and all the advisory committees will have a meeting on October 5 to discuss this further. This meeting will help to solidify the list of priorities that Compass Kitchener will present to City Council on the Strategic Plan. Artistic contributions towards the 20-year vision are also being gathered on the Engage Kitchener page. The committee discussed their vision for the City, with the desire to see Kitchener become a “15-minute” community as the strongest theme. This would mean everything in life can be done within 15 minutes without using a car, and would build on the Region’s commitment to 15-minute neighbourhoods in their Official Plan. The City would be more walkable and have better public transit to get places without having a car, with more missing middle housing (6-8 story buildings). Other ideas for the City’s vision included:  a strong focus on arterial roads that are not safe for active transportation  more drastic measures for traffic calming and discouraging car use to promote more climate-friendly transportation  city sidewalk clearing to make sidewalks accessible year round  getting creative around using streets for people. Closing King Street to vehicles to show it’s better for business to have people there instead of cars. Can be more affordable to close streets like King completely to cars instead of installing separated bike lanes ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER September 13, 2022 2. New Term Appointments I. Balaban provided a reminder to the Committee that the current term is coming to an end, and that the City will soon begin the selection process for the next Active Transportation and Trails Advisory Committee. Any current committee members wanting to continue serving on the committee are invited to fill in an online application. The application can be found at https://www.kitchener.ca/en/council-and-city- administration/advisory-committees-and-boards.aspx The application process has already begun, and committee members were informed of the process via email on August 30, 2022 when the applications page went live. The applications period will end in three days at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 16. 3. Trail Updates L. Christensen provided an update on trail work completed through the construction season:  Filsinger Park is paved with a small section outstanding along Westmount with some restoration work and entrance features also to be completed  Wilson Park & Montgomery Creek trail work is ongoing with some portions already paved  Erinbrook Park has one section paved to complement the rest of the paved trails in the park  Lynnvalley Park Pedestrian Bridge was put in a couple weeks ago, with some restorations still to occur  Rolling Meadows and Timberlane Park is fully paved with entrances still to occur  Shoemaker Creek Trail work is ongoing with paving still to occur in coming weeks A list of all the projects that have been added to this year’s winter maintenance schedule includes 7.43 km from the City and 3.8 km from the Region. 4. Bike Parking D. Kropf provided an update on the Bike Parking Memo endorsed by the committee at the July 12 2022 ATTAC meeting. B. Cronkite suggested most of this could be done without going to City Council. There was a program that was developed to have a bike rack request program. This program was not fully operationalized but could be revived. This can be done on public property. Requests for private property would need further research and likely need a Council report to be completed. New standards for bike parking in zoning bylaws would be addressed when the next iteration of zoning bylaws is reviewed. ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER September 13, 2022 J. Orita requested a written response and a meeting with the subcommittee to further understand how the request program would work. Also requested some staff guidance and information on the website for private businesses if they are trying to install bike racks. G. Piccini noted that Toronto has an application form to request bike racks near businesses. 5. Bikecheck Summary I. Balaban presented a slideshow highlighting the success of the Bikecheck program in 2022. Bikecheck is a free, safe, and convenient bike parking service at local events provided by the City of Kitchener. Over 1,200 bicycles have been parked at 4 events by a team of 15 dedicated volunteers and City staff. The service has run for 119 hours thus far this year, with 12 more hours coming up at the Belmont Village Bestival on Saturday th September 17. The City determined that it was not able to provide the Bike Check service at Oktoberfest. J. Orita suggested better for volunteer sign-ups. J. Brosheck shared he used the service for the first time as a family and loved it. 6. Delta Street Conversion to Iron Horse Trail – Opening Event D. Kropf provided an update on the progress being made of the conversion of Delta Street into an extension of the Iron Horse Trail. Paving and concrete work are now complete, furniture / amenities have been added, and the line painting and pavement markings are installed. Sod was being installed today. The ATTAC Events Sub-Committee will be hosting a small event from 6-7pm on Thursday September 29 to celebrate the opening of the trail. Some Councilors are planning to attend, and the media has been informed. Sarah noted another event that is happening on Friday to unveil an Every Child Matters crosswalk at the end of Water at Jubilee. 7. Staff Updates I. Balaban shared:  The Region posted an RFP for a bikeshare provider in August and that posting has since closed, with 5 companies submitting proposals. The project team is now evaluating those proposals. D. Kropf shared: ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER September 13, 2022  The Region is upgrading the Iron Horse Trail/Stirling/Courtland intersection to improve it for cycling and enhance bus stops  The Region of Waterloo is engaging the public on improvements to its cycling network in the City of Waterloo as well as a section in Kitchener on Bridgeport connecting to the Walter Bean Trail. Please visit https://www.engagewr.ca/waterloocycling to find out more.  There is a Belmont Village Urban Corridor Study to better align with the vision for Belmont Avenue West and its role as an "urban corridor" within the city. If necessary, the City might make changes to zoning by-laws and urban design guidelines.  Downtown Cycling Network work continues on Cedar Street and is on track to be completed before winter  Transit Hub Trail recently opened one more section for use, between Joseph and King. Two more sections to go: Rail crossing along private development and Stewart Street & Joseph Street reconstruction G. Piccini asked if we are able to meet in person in the future. Staff will ask clerks. Meeting adjourned at 5:30 pm.