HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-20
CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JANUARY 20, 2009 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Cycling Advisory Committee met this date commencing at 4:00 p.m.
Present: Councillor J. Gazzola, J. Alexander, S. Anderson, S. Burek, D. Class, B. Forwell,
P. Ji-Taylor, T. Kenyon, B. Laube, N. Mehés
Staff: R. Schirm, Committee Administrator, J. Kuwabara and K. Reinert from DTS,
Engineering Services.
Regrets: D. Hilker and T. Muller
WELCOME/INTRODUCTION
1.
R. Schirm welcomed members to the inaugural meeting of the Cycling Advisory Committee.
R. Schirm is not the chair except for today to expedite the meeting. He will be looking after
reports and will hold the position of committee administrator. Mrs. J. Kuwabara and Ms. K.
Reinert were introduced to the committee and will share the administrative duties, i.e. K.
Reinert will be minute taker and J. Kuwabara will look after agendas and other admin duties.
Committee members are welcome to email any one of the three staff people for information
and they will ensure that the appropriate staff member is contacted.
Each member introduced themselves and stated their interest in cycling and for applying to the
Committee.
ORIENTATION
2.
R. Schirm distributed binders to the committee and provided a brief overview of the information
contained therein.
?
work plan will be included once developed by the Committee;
?
membership – information will be emailed to committee members;
?
Agendas and minutes – minutes will be emailed along with the agenda at least one
thth
week prior to upcoming meeting, i.e. on or by February 10 for the February 17
meeting. A hard copy of the agenda and minutes will be available for committee
members at the meeting. Agendas and minutes will also be posted on the internet;
?
Parking passes will be available at each meeting. Parking is available at City Hall on P1
and P2. There is bicycle parking on P1. R. Schirm is investigating the feasibility of
obtaining access to the locked bicycle storage facility on P1. Also, there are bicycle
racks at various locations around the circumference of City Hall.
?
R. Schirm is looking into obtaining transit passes in lieu of parking passes but they are
not available as of yet.
?
refreshments will be served at every meeting and if a committee member has a special
request, please email R. Schirm
?
2009 meeting schedule. The meetings are scheduled for the third Tuesday of the
month from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Conestoga Room. Meetings are not scheduled
for July, August or December.
R. Schirm asked members of the committee to review the binder at home and bring any
questions to the next meeting.
CAN-BIKE INITIATIVES IN WATERLOO REGION
3.
Mrs. C. Cooper, Region of Waterloo Public Health Nurse, explained that her involvement as a
Regional lifestyle resource has enabled her to work on the Can-Bike Initiatives and her job is to
train the trainers and organize training events for the community. Although this is still in the
planning stage, Mrs. Cooper has the mandate from the Region to reinstate this program.
The Can-Bike Initiatives are to provide the training for students to give them the skills and
confidence in road-worthy cycling in accordance with the Ontario Cycling Association
standards. There were not enough copies available as a handout but the information can be
“Googled” if committee members wish to see it. The Can-Bike program had been offered in the
past but ended due to lack of interest about four or five years ago. The Region would like to
CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JANUARY 20, 2009 - - CITY OF KITCHENER
2
CAN-BIKE INITIATIVES IN WATERLOO REGION – CONT’D
3.
resurrect the Program and is actively looking for community partners. A three-day program is
required for Can-Bike trainer certification; more training is required to become a Canadian
National Standards for Bicycle Safety trainer.
The Y.M.C.A. has committed to be a partner this year for a children’s summer camp for
children aged nine to thirteen years-old. The week long course will consist of 12 hours of
specific training for certification and will consist of: 1) classroom, 2) parking lot, and, 3) on-
road training. A National examiner is booked for the last two weeks in April and Mrs. Cooper is
looking at recruiting individuals to attend the training in order to become certified trainers.
There will be a charge for the training but students would receive training as part of their
employment as Y.M.C.A. camp counsellors.
Eventually, the Region would like to provide the course to adults, similar to what is offered in
Toronto, but it will not be available at this level this year.
Specifics could not be addressed at this meeting since this was for information only at this
time.
R. Schirm to include as an agenda item for the next meeting.
PARKS PLANNING UPDATE FOR 2009
4.
Mr. Peter Wetherup, Parks Planner, explained that his area is responsible for the design and
development of all the trails and parks and associated work within them for the City of
Kitchener. The trails are scheduled to be checked once a year in the spring; after that, it would
be “on call” or checked if work is being done in that area. If there is a serious problem, it will be
assessed. There are some trails that are more than 30 years old.
Trails can be in low land, wet land and in flood plains; trails in flood plains require G.R.C.A.
approval and cannot be paved because they are in peat and bog and, therefore, require more
maintenance, i.e. Pioneer Tower area has been replaced on numerous occasions due to
flooding of the Grand River and also winter damage. Presently, the Chicopee area trail is
closed because the slope has given way.
Areas to be completed this year;
Doon South – new Monarch subdivision
o
Strasburg Creek -- Brigadoon and Wards Pond area planning process is being done at this
o
time.
Walter Bean Trail -- ongoing with final design approval, hopefully, soon and construction to
o
follow thereafter
Pioneer Tower Trail – to start right away; anxious to get bridge underway
o
McLellan Park – bike park this year
o
Start Master Plan for Parks and Trails – master plan for all trail and park system, and open
o
spaces throughout the city -- public meetings to be held in spring
Budget has been an ongoing issue with $250,000 budgeted per year for trails and new trails
costing $120 to $150/m to build. Trail maintenance is drawn from a budget at approx. $60,000.
Possibly, this committee should raise the consciousness of Council to the cost vs. budget
allocation and value of trails.
Discussion took place and R. Schirm commented that we already have an extensive good trail
system and that marketing of the trail system to enhance its exposure would be prudent. The
best trail map is on the transit map and R. Schirm will get copies for the next meeting.
Mr. Wetherup will be working closely with the Cycling Advisory Committee and he can be
contacted via email at peter.wetherup@kitchener.ca.
CYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JANUARY 20, 2009 - - CITY OF KITCHENER
3
BIKEWAY STUDY UPDATE
5.
1998 Bikeway Study Update will be distributed to committee members by, hopefully, Friday of
this week. The document is being transferred to PDF at this time. R. Schirm will also be
emailing a link for the Regional Cycling Master Plan Update, for committee members to review
before the next meeting.
Application has been made to the Ministry of Transportation to co-sponsor at a commitment of
$45,000. In October, the City of Kitchener had made the initial short-list but, to this date, has
th
not received confirmation. This item will be deferred to the February 17 meeting.
TH
FEBRUARY 17 MEETING
6.
Some important items to note for future discussion:
work plan to be developed;
o
look elsewhere if funding is not received from MTO;
o
form ad hoc committee once projects identified and funds (where applicable) received;
o
reports to standing committee – Development & Technical Services or Community
o
Services if trail related;
provide citizen perspective but Council makes ultimate decision
o
link to Cycling Advisory Committee will be provided
o
Any questions call or email R. Schirm before next meeting or can be addressed at next meeting
Mr. John Hill, staff representative from Region of Waterloo Cycling Committee, will be invited
to attend the next meeting. Ms. Karen Anderson, representative from the City of Waterloo
Community Cycling and Walk Committee, will also be invited to attend the next meeting; the
City of Waterloo has expanded their committee to include more than cycling.
Mr. B. Forwell questioned whether the meeting date could be changed from the third Tuesday
of the month due to a conflict with the Regional Cycling Advisory Committee meetings which
he attends as vice-chair. Consensus was that the second Tuesday of the month would work
for everyone. R. Schirm to check with the Clerk’s Department to ensure date and room
th
availability and will report back at the next previously scheduled meeting of February 17.
8. ELECTION OF CHAIR, VICE-CHAIR
R. Schirm indicated that he was facilitating this meeting only and that a chair and vice-chair
o
will need to be elected before the end of the meeting. He reviewed the meeting overview,
as outlined in the binder, to help committee members understand the responsibility of the
committee and the chair/vice-chair roles.
Mr. T. Kenyon was nominated and approved as Chair and Mr. B. Forwell was nominated and
approved as Vice-Chair of the Cycling Advisory Committee. R. Schirm to check into and
confirm the duration of two years.
Councillor Gazzola’s role will be that of Council Liaison and advisor.
9. ADJOURNMENT
On motion, the meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Ronald Schirm
Committee Administrator