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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCIS Minutes - 2023-12-04 Community and Infrastructure Services Committee Minutes December 4, 2023, 11:00 a.m. Council Chambers - Hybrid City of Kitchener 200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7 Present: Mayor B. Vrbanovic Councillor S. Davey Councillor D. Schnider Councillor J. Deneault Councillor C. Michaud Councillor A. Owodunni Councillor P. Singh Councillor B. Ioannidis Councillor M. Johnston Councillor D. Chapman Staff: D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer M. May, General Manager, Community Services and Deputy Chief Administrator V. Raab, General Manager, Corporate Services J. Readman, General Manager, Development Services J. Lautenbach, Chief Financial Officer, Financial Services D. McGoldrick, General Manager, Infrastructure Services R. Bustamante, Director of Planning B. Cronkite, Director, Transportation Services G. Stevenson, Manager, Development Review A. McCrimmon-Jones, Manager, Transportation Safety & Policy N. Goss, Manager Policy & Research R. Kelly-Ruetz, Senior Planner D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk M. Blake, Committee Administrator _____________________________________________________________________ 1 1. Commencement The Community and Infrastructure Services Committee held a meeting this date commencing at approximately 11:30 a.m. 2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof 2.1 Councillor P. Singh - Rental Housing, Eviction and Displacement Study, DSD-2023-486 Councillor P. Singh declared a conflict regarding the Rental Housing, Eviction and Displacement Study, DSD-2023-486, noting they were going to be seeking legal advice related to a potential conflict due to their ownership of rental properties. Councillor P. Singh noted for the discussion this date they would declare a conflict and did not participate in any voting or discussion regarding the matter. 3. Consent Items 3.1 Assisted Services Program - Grant, INS-2023-521 The Committee considered Infrastructure Services Department report INS-2023- 521 dated November 13, 2023 regarding a grant to support the assisted services program, subject to annual budget approval, and that the General Manager of Infrastructure Services be authorized to renew the grant agreement outlined in the report and also outlined in report INS-20-010. On motion by Councillor D. Schnider it was resolved: "That subject to annual budget approval, Council provide a grant of up to $96k per year to The Working Centre to support the assisted services program (winter sidewalk clearing), as outlined in Infrastructure Services Department report INS-2023-521; and, That such a grant be adjusted based on the number of residential properties serviced year over year and be reflective of the operational costs incurred by The Working Centre to deliver services; and, That the grant is not eligible to be used for sub-contracting third party commercial contractors to perform the services outlined in this report, and further, That General Manager of Infrastructure Services be authorized to renew the grant agreement to provide the services outlined in this report and also in INS-20-010, subject to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor." 2 Carried 4. Discussion Items 4.1 Speed Limits in School Zones, DSD-2023-512 The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2023- 512 dated November 14, 2023, regarding speed limits in school zones. A. McCrimmon-Jones presented an overview of the report. B. Cronkite was also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. Questions were raised regarding the anticipated locations of the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras indicated in the report. A. McCrimmon-Jones noted their analysis identified 25 key schools, 21 of which are located on regional, major or arterial streets. In response to questions from the Committee regarding the possibility of having ASE cameras with set times and corresponding signage, B. Cronkite noted this approach is likely to increase the number of ticket appeals received due to incident times, and has the potential to unnecessarily flood the court system. B. Cronkite also noted adopting ASE cameras with set times without corresponding signage indicating the hours, could allow for static speed limits, good enforcement decisions and would benefit community safety during all hours. It was noted staff would be required to continue discussions with the Region of Waterloo regarding the ability to alter ASE camera enforcement hours without corresponding signage to pursue this approach. In response to further questions, A. McCrimmon-Jones noted the City currently has four active ASE cameras, including two on City streets (Westheights Drive and Franklin Boulevard) and two on Regional roads (Westmount Road and Victoria Street). In response to questions regarding the benefit of enforcing speed limits at all hours, A. McCrimmon-Jones noted given the community function of school properties and the presence of children and other vulnerable street users throughout the day and year, staff recommend maintaining a consistent and static speed limit of 40 km/h for all school zones on Major Community Collector and City Arterial streets and maintaining a consistent and static speed limit of 30 km/h for all school zones on Local and Minor Neighbourhood Collector streets. Councillor B. Ioannidis entered the meeting at this time. Councillor D. Schnider brought forward the motion, including an amendment to include an additional clause, "that the timing for automated speed enforcement in 3 school zones be set for 7am to 5pm Monday to Friday from September 1 to June 30 and not include school holidays." Mayor B. Vrbanovic proposed an additional amendment, "that school zones located on streets designated Major Community Collector and City Arterial maintain a consistent and static speed limit of 30 km/h," rather than the 40km/h outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-2023-512. A motion was then brought forward by Mayor B. Vrbanovic to defer the recommendation as outlined in DSD-2023-512 to the December 11, 2023 Council meeting, to allow staff the opportunity to continue conversations with the Region of Waterloo and provide additional information regarding automated speed enforcement times. On motion by Mayor B. Vrbanovic it was resolved: That the following motion be deferred to the December 11, 2023 Council meeting to allow staff an opportunity to continue conversations with the Region of Waterloo and provide additional information regarding automated speed enforcement times: "That school zones located on streets designated Major Community Collector and City Arterial maintain a consistent and static speed limit of 40 km/h, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD- 2023-512; and further, That school zones located on streets designated Local and Minor Neighbourhood Collector maintain a consistent and static speed limit of 30 km/h." Carried 4.2 Recess The Committee then recessed at 12:55 p.m. and reconvened at 1:00 p.m., Chaired by Councillor D. Schnider, with all members present except for Councillor M. Johnston and A. Clancy. 4.3 Rental Housing, Eviction and Displacement Study, DSD-2023-486 Councillor P. Singh declared a conflict regarding this matter (due their ownership of rental properties, and did not participate in any voting or discussion regarding the matter.) 4 The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2023- 486 dated November 15, 2023, regarding an update on the rental housing, eviction and displacement study. N. Goss, Manager, Policy & Research and Chris White, Parcel Economics, City Consultant presented the report. G. Stevenson and R. Bustamante were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. Councillor M. Johnston returned to the meeting at this time. A. Bonaparte, Waterloo Region ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), R. Murdock, Waterloo Region ACORN, M. Walker, Eviction Prevention Waterloo Region, D. DeGroot-Maggetti, S. Walker and M. Markham were in attendance in support of the staff recommendation, due to the additional protection provided to existing residents and the intent to prevent eviction and displacement. It was requested this matter be handled with a recorded vote. On motion by Councillor S. Davey it was resolved: "That staff be directed to engage the development industry and community stakeholders on a rental replacement by-law as outlined in Option 3 of Development Services Department report DSD-2023-486; and, That staff continue to work with community stakeholders to explore the transitioning of displaced residents; and further, That staff continue to collaborate with the Region of Waterloo on shared solutions related to rental housing, eviction, and displacement." Carried, unanimously on a recorded vote 5. Information Items 5.1 None 5 6. Adjournment On motion, this meeting adjourned at 2:07 p.m. Mariah Blake Committee Administrator 6