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HomeMy WebLinkAboutATTAC Minutes 2023-06-13 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER June 13, 2023 Minutes – June 13, 2023 Active Transportation and Trails Advisory Committee (ATTAC) The Active Transportation and Trails Advisory Committee met on Tuesday June 13, 2023, at 4 pm. Present: Matthew Bells, Emily Bennett, Phillip Charbonneau, Victoria Hand, Josh Orita, Greg Piccini, Craig Reynolds, Barry Tracey, Wanda West, Councilor Aislinn Clancy Regrets: Jorg Broschek, Lynn Dramnitzki, Bart Forwell, Rida Rahman Staff: D. Kropf, Manager Active Transportation and Development I. Balaban, Active Transportation Planning Project Manager A. Mills, Active Transportation Marketing and Events Co-op Student B. Cronkite, Director Transportation Services Delegations: Chris Nechacov, Design & Construction PM, City of Kitchener 1. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof. No conflicts reported. 2. DMAF Schneider & Shoemaker Creek. C. Nechacov from Sanitary and Stormwater at the City of Kitchener presented on the Environmental Assessment (EA) of Schneider and Shoemaker Creeks. DMAF is the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund from the Government of Canada. The Public Information Center (PIC) was in April, and the project is moving into the “Alternate Solutions” phase. A second PIC is coming up on June 28 at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate. The Project Study Area is the confluence of Schneider and Shoemaker Creeks, in the general area from Stirling Ave to Rockway Golf Course. The creek is currently in a concrete channel, which is no longer considered an appropriate treatment, especially considering an increase in large rainfall events due to climate change. The purpose of this project is to naturalize the creek and floodplain to provide better flood protection, and better habitat for wildlife. DMAF funding will contribute 40% of the infrastructure cost for upgrading projects of this type. There is also an opportunity with this project to facilitate community building. ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER June 13, 2023 A third PIC is planned for October. Construction is anticipated to start in 2025. Four design alternatives were presented: Alternative 1 – Do nothing. This option must be evaluated as a comparator for the other options as part of the EA process. Alternative 2 – Concrete channel with naturalized valley bottom. This option would remove a portion of the concrete channel to replace it with a vegetated floodplain. The creek bottom and one bank would remain the same. This would not provide an improvement for fish habitat Alternate 3 – Remove the concrete channel and naturalize the floodplain with vertical walls (likely armor stone) on either side. This helps to keep the general footprint similar to the existing arrangement. Alternative 4 – full naturalization – this option takes up the most space, but results in the best wildlife habitat. This would have the most impact to the Iron Horse Trail, and the trail may have to be relocated in some sections. The evaluation criteria include the Natural Environment, Socio-economic & cultural environment, and the Technical Environment. Consultation with Indigenous groups is ongoing. City objectives include reducing the flood risk, improving biodiversity, the social benefit of improved creeks and trails, and support from Indigenous Nations and Municipal partners. Questions were asked by committee members regarding costs associated with land acquisition and soil remediation. This project is still at the early stages, though these types of concerns are anticipated and will be worked through later in the process. G Piccini asked about the status of the rest of Schneider Creek. – C Nechacov notes that there are several Schneider Creek and Shoemaker Creek restorations, some complete, some planned, some ongoing, with the goal of naturalizing as much of the creek as possible. G Piccini asked if the development in the area has spurred this project. – C. Nechacov notes that the timeline is dictated by the availability of DMAF funding. M Bells asked if there are recreational opportunities through this? – C Nechacov – There is support from upper management and Indigenous partners to provide opportunities to better connect with the creek. M Bells asked if there are considerations being made for shade? – C. Nechacov – The city has tree canopy targets, and providing shade to the waterway and trail will be considered. ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER June 13, 2023 3. Highway 85 Ramps Debrief. D. Kropf debriefed the committee on the decisions made recently by the Region of Waterloo Council regarding closing the Highway 85 ramps at Lancaster Street West. Regional council originally voted to close the ramps. Feedback from City Councilors resulted in City Council taking a vote, voting to keep the ramps open. When the vote returned to Regional Council, the original vote was overturned. V. Hand asked, what can the committee do to ensure that a safe facility is built? B. Cronkite notes that the decision making in this instance is with the province and engagement would be with the Region’s advisory committee. This committee does not have jurisdiction over this project. Committee administrators note that for Provincial and Regional decisions, it is still possible to provide comment to the appropriate teams as a private citizen. 4. Land Acknowledgement Discussion. P. Charbonneau led a discussion on the land acknowledgement, noting that the preferred wording from the city is not ideal. The following edits were recommended: Neutral should be changed to Chonnonton – Neutral is a westernization of the tribe’s name. Pronunciation guidelines should be provided. Including the line “with whom we share this land” at the end of the acknowledgement. Lastly, the acknowledgement is missing an action or commitment – the following wording was proposed: “We also recognize that reconciliation requires more than land acknowledgement alone, and we in this committee re-affirm our collective commitment to truth and reconciliation.” B. Cronkite – In terms of process, the committee must agree to the changes to the land acknowledgement. The changes would need to be approved by clerks after the committee votes. V. Hand asked if it would be possible to meet with an indigenous group to discuss? – B. Cronkite noted that the City generally has a senior indigenous advisor, however that position is currently vacant. Once that position is filled, meeting with that individual would be a good place to start. The edits to the acknowledgement were shown on screen A motion was put forth “That ATTAC begin future meetings with a land acknowledgement, and: That ATTAC requests to city clerks that the wording be adapted as presented.” M. Bells notes that the wording of the last line, re-affirming collective commitment to truth and reconciliation, may be overstepping the boundaries of this committee, and may open the city to ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER June 13, 2023 liability. D. Kropf notes that clerks would approve or not approve the wording based on their legislative requirements. B. Cronkite suggests getting approval for the wording from legislative services before the committee takes a vote. The committee agrees. C. Reynolds suggests members review the articles of the Truth and Reconciliation report to ensure that members reflect on and have a personal connection to the wording of the land acknowledgement. 5. Strategic Plan. th D. Kropf presented on the City’s Strategic plan. It is expected to go to council on August 14, which allows for some time for this committee to discuss the plan. This years’ Strategic Plan includes a 20-year visioning portion – this does not happen every year. There has also been public input and a working group to get us to the wording provided today. Today, the committee can have a discussion surrounding the current wording. At the next committee meeting, a statement can be prepared for a delegate to bring to council. Comments from committee members include the following:  There is only one sentence on Indigenous relations – this should be expanded.  The plan does not touch on risks – the risks and costs associated with climate change.  Should the committee comment only on the items in the plan, or can we provide a list of items that we think should be included, in terms of transportation?  While the document is a good start, and covers a lot of good topics, how is this implemented? Is there a plan for implementation?  Technology is not included in the vision statement or vision story, and technology is a huge part of our lives.  There are some items from page 2 that are very holistic, and likely should be moved to page 1  From the ATTAC standpoint, trail networks are not covered, and should be included  The plan should acknowledge that these changes will inconvenience some people, for the greater good. Is there a way to include wording in the statement that can be referenced if meeting local resistance when advocating for better transportation options? D. Kropf noted that next month the “actions” will be released. These will include details regarding implementation and will show how the plan will move forward. At the July meeting, ATTAC can come up with general wording for a delegate to present to Council. ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER June 13, 2023 It is agreed that at the next ATTAC meeting the committee will revisit this item, having the details of the action items available, and will discuss the items in more detail in breakout groups. 6. Volunteer Opportunities. A. Mills, the City’s Active Transportation Marketing and Events Co-op Student presented on upcoming volunteer opportunities. The second annual Pride Ride is coming up on Friday June 16. Details were provided, and a call for volunteers – V. Hand and P. Charbonneau volunteer. A. Mills then presented on the upcoming BikeCheck events, including Multicultural Festival, Ribfest, Bluesfest, Kidspark and the Belmont Village Bestival. Volunteers from ATTAC would be welcome at all BikeCheck events, and A. Mills will send out an email with the event dates to ATTAC members once all dates are confirmed. 7. Councilor Rides. D. Kropf presented on the plan for hosting Councilor Bike Rides this summer. The committee has done this in the past – taking councilors on rides around their wards. This helps to build relations with the councilors and inform them of projects recently completed in their wards, as well as challenges and upcoming projects. Call for volunteers – one ATTAC member should be present on each bike ride. Some members volunteered for rides immediately – see table below. ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER June 13, 2023 Details of each ride will be circulated to ATTAC members once confirmed with the Councilor. For Ward 2, 4, and 7, for which no ATTAC member has volunteered yet, emails soliciting a volunteer will be sent once dates and times for the rides have been confirmed with the Councilor. 8. East Avenue 60% Design Review. I. Balaban presented on the City’s design for the reconstruction of East Avenue. Construction is planned to start in the Spring of 2024, all underground services are being replaced from Frederick Street to Krug Street. This allows for a complete redesign of the streetscape. The painted bike lanes will be replaced with cycle tracks in the boulevard, adjacent to the curb. A 0.3m stamped concrete buffer will separate the 1.3m bike lane from the vehicle lanes. Sidewalks will be widened to 1.8m. The intersection of East Avenue and Chapel Street will be narrowed and feature setback bike lanes. The bike lanes were not placed adjacent to the sidewalk due to the high number of mature trees along East Avenue. M. Bells asked if a 2-way cycle track was considered? D. Kropf noted that it was considered but ruled out due to the high number of driveways. B. Tracy asked if it was possible to bury the hydro line? D. Kropf noted that burying hydro lines is expensive, and technically very difficult in reconstructions due to minimum distances that must be maintained from underground gas and water infrastructure. P. Charbonneau asked for more details around the design of the intersection with Krug Street. I. Balaban noted that changes to the intersection would be limited to the west side as the reconstruction does not encompass the entire intersection. Details surrounding the pavement marking treatments will be worked through for the 90% design drawings. 9. Staff Updates D. Kropf presented the following: the ongoing reconstruction of Highland Road East, the WRPS bike event in the Laurentian Neighbourhood at Ottawa Street South and Strasburg Road, the Grand River Hospital fundraising concert event which the City provided BikeCheck service, the upcoming Iron Horse Trail extension opening event, and the Gaukel Block official opening upcoming on Saturday June 17. The Active Transportation progress report has been delayed to the September City Council meeting. Meeting adjourned at 6:05 pm.