Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCIS Minutes - 2024-12-02 Community and Infrastructure Services Committee Minutes December 2, 2024, 5:30 p.m. Council Chambers - Hybrid City of Kitchener 200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7 Present: Councillor S. Davey Councillor D. Schnider Councillor J. Deneault Councillor C. Michaud Councillor A. Owodunni Councillor B. Ioannidis Councillor M. Johnston Councillor D. Chapman Absent: Mayor B. Vrbanovic Councillor P. Singh Councillor S. Stretch Staff: D. Chapman, Chief Administrative Officer 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 K. Hughes, Assistant City Solicitor C. Spere, Director, Engineering Services D. Saunderson, Deputy Clerk E. Riek, Project Manager, Development Engineering M. Mills, Committee Coordinator _____________________________________________________________________ 1. Commencement 1 The Community and Infrastructure Services Committee held a meeting this date commencing at 5:32 p.m. 2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof 2.1 Councillor C. Michaud - Biehn Drive and Sanitary Trunk Sewer Environmental Assessment, DSD-2024-374 Councillor C. Michaud declared a pecuniary interest with respect to Biehn Drive and Sanitary Trunk Sewer Extension Class Environmental Assessment (EA) - Environmental Study Report, DSD-2024-374 due to a family member owning property within the vicinity of the subject Environmental Assessment area and did not participate in any voting or discussion on the matter. 3. Consent Items 3.1 Modernizing Human Resources Policies 2024, COR-2024-514 On motion by Councillor S. Davey it was resolved: "That the modernized Human Resources policies, attached as Appendix A to Corporate Services report COR-2024-514 be approved; and, That the redundant Human Resources policy, attached as Appendix B to Corporate Services report COR-2024-514 be repealed; and further, That staff be delegated the authority to update relevant Human Resource policies that may contain dates which are superseded by negotiated or legislated changes as outlined in Corporate Services report COR-2024- 514." Carried 3.2 New Dundee Road, Local Improvement, Petition Participation, DSD-2024- 518 On motion by Councillor S. Davey it was resolved: "That the General Manager, Infrastructure Services, be authorized to sign a local improvement petition, specifically related to a city owned property municipally addressed as 32 Ridgemount Street, which is a stormwater facility owned by the City of Kitchener and within the identified local improvement boundary, to allow staff to continue to review the feasibility of 2 the local improvement request, as outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-2024-518." Carried 4. Discussion Items 4.1 Biehn Drive and Sanitary Trunk Sewer Environmental Assessment, DSD- 2024-374 Councillor C. Michaud did not participate in any discussion or vote regarding this matter due to her previously declared conflict. The Committee considered Development Service Department report DSD-2024- 374, dated September 4, 2024 recommending the Biehn Drive and Trunk Sanitary Sewer Extension Class Environment Assessment (EA) and the Environment Study Report (ESR) be received and filed with the Ministry of the Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP) for the mandatory 30 day review period. The Committee was also in receipt of written submissions from L. Thompson, A. Joy and K. Kuzyk. C. Spere presented an overview of the Staff report and responded to questions from the Committee. K. Hughes, E. Riek and S. Taylor, the City's Engineering Consultant were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee. K. Kuzyck, R. Angod, Y. Fernandes, M. Funck, J. Arudda, M. Spiar and B. Woodhall provided comments in opposition of the Staff recommendation noting the proposed road extension is not necessary as it will not effectively redistribute traffic from local roads. Further, concerns were raised related to potential adverse environmental impacts including increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions and increased flooding in the subject area if the existing wetland is disrupted to facilitate the road extension. D. Aston, MHBC Planning provided comments in support of the Staff recommendation and responded to questions from the Committee. A. Owodunni left the meeting at this time and re-entered. In response to questions from the Committee, S. Taylor noted the proposed preliminary design ensures majority of stormwater run-off would be diverted towards the existing stormwater management pond. Further, S. Taylor advised the proposed water main and sanitary sewer will be constructed subsurface and the portion of the road proposed to run through the wetland will be elevated above the wetland to minimize impacts of ground water run-off and to prevent 3 flooding. In response to questions from the Committee regarding traffic in the subject area, S. Taylor noted the expansion of Biehn Road is necessary and valuable to address future population growth and anticipated changes to travel patterns in the area. Councillors J. Deneault and D. Chapman noted they would not be voting in support of the staff recommendation as the proposed road extension will disrupt the wetland in the subject area. Further, it was noted there are other alternatives that could be considered to maintain the wetland. On motion by Councillor A. Owodunni it was resolved that: "That the Biehn Drive and Trunk Sanitary Sewer Extension Class Environmental Assessment (EA) - Environmental Study Report (ESR), prepared by BT Engineering, dated November 2024, attached to Development Services Department report DSD-2024-374, be received; and further, That the Biehn Drive and Trunk Sanitary Sewer Extension Environmental Study Report (ESR), be filed with the Ministry of the Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP) for the mandatory thirty (30) day review period as required by the Environmental Assessment (EA) Act." Carried 5. Information Items 5.1 Update on Urban Forestry Program INS-2024-477 5.2 September 2024 Variance Report, FIN-2024-512 6. Adjournment On motion, this meeting adjourned at 6:56 p.m. Marilyn Mills Committee Coordinator 4