MINUTES - General Committee - 19990304
TOWN OF AURORA
General Committee Meeting No. 04-99
Council Chambers Time: 7:30 p.m.
Aurora Town Hall Thursday, March 4, 1999
ATTENDANCE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Councillor West in the Chair; Councillors Griffith,
Hartwell, Hinder, Hogg, Morris and Mayor Jones.
Councillor Healy was absent and Councillor McKenzie
was absent due to illness.
OTHER ATTENDEES Acting Chief Administrative Officer/Director of
Corporate Services, Director of Planning, Director of
Building Administration, Director of Leisure Services,
Director of Public Works, Fire Chief, Treasurer,
Solicitor, Manager of Human Resources and
Council/Committee Secretary.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Mayor Jones declared an interest in Report PL99-018-053 regarding Timberlane Tennis
and Country Club due to employment with same and did not take part in or vote on any
questions in this regard or attempt in any way to influence the voting on such questions.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
#1. Moved by Councillor Hartwell Seconded by Councillor Hinder
THAT the content of the Agenda as circulated by the Corporate Services
Department be approved as outlined herein with the following addition:
• Leisure Services Committee Report No. LSAC99-003 Thursday,
February 11, 1999 Leisure Services Committee Meeting
CARRIED
PRESENTATIONS
David Aspinwall, Director, Transportation Operations
Re: Parking Concerns, Yonge Street/Wellington Street Intersection
Mr. Aspinwall thanked the Members of the Committee for the invitation to speak, and
introduced Chris Philp, Manager of Traffic Systems for the Region of York, who would
be the technical assistant through the presentation.
Mr. Aspinwall outlined Regional Traffic Issues and gave a history of the Yonge and
Wellington intersection, outlining various Regional assessments and the implementation
of turning restrictions on a trial basis during the period of January to March 1998. The
temporary turning restrictions did result in a decrease of collisions for the 1998 year,
R E P O R T
General Committee Meeting No. 04-99 Page 2
Thursday, March 4, 1999
however it was commented by the committee that residents in the area had voiced
concerns over the amount of traffic and traffic related noise during the trial period.
The ongoing issues of congestion, collisions, signal timing, and parking were outlined
and traffic data resulting from various studies was presented. It was noted that peak
hour through traffic has remained constant in the past three years, however peak hour
turning traffic has decreased by 6%. Peak hours were determined to be between 7:30
a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The Region suggested that that eliminating all turns from this intersection would reduce
driver frustration due to turning and congestion related conflicts, and improve visibility
limitations. The Region addressed other options, including opposing left turns and
advance signal phasing, but after close study these options were found to be ineffective
and were not recommended.
It was concluded by the Region that there will be increased congestion and some traffic
diversion due to increased growth and a two lane portion of Wellington St., potentially
creating a bottleneck leading up to the intersection. It is the main concern of the Region
to ensure safety and in response to this directive the Region has installed on a trail
basis, a new pedestrian signal system at Wells St. on Wellington. It was suggested that
any input would be welcome regarding this new signal system.
Mr. Aspinwall expressed hope that the Committee’s concerns and questions had been
addressed in the presentation, and stated the Region’s aim to receive municipal input to
assist in the development of a Regional report to be presented to the Transportation
and Works Committee around the middle of April.
The Committee expressed concern that figures were not shown regarding collisions
resulting from driveway traffic going onto Wellington up to 100 metres away from the
intersection, or resulting from traffic turning into the IGA to avoid congestion, and it was
stated that this data might be relevant to the analysis.
To address concerns previously expressed by two local merchants, the Committee
inquired about any possible options that would allow parking on the south side of
Wellington to the East of the Yonge St. intersection.
The Committee inquired about the feasibility of establishing a Right-in, Right-out
entrance at the Mac’s Milk on the North side of Wellington East of Yonge.
#2. Moved by Councillor Hogg Seconded by Councillor Morris
THAT the Region be requested to bring forward the previous design for a
right turn lane Westbound on Wellington at Yonge Street.
CARRIED
CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS
York Region re: Appended Clause No. 11 in Report No. 3
of the Transportation and Works Committee, headed “Reduced
Vehicle Loads - Spring Thaw Period - Regional Roads”
#3. Moved by Mayor Jones Seconded by Councillor Griffith
THAT the correspondence be received as information.
CARRIED
General Committee Meeting No. 04-99 Page 3
Thursday, March 4, 1999
Town of Caledon re: Organ Donation Awareness
#4. Moved by Councillor Morris Seconded by Mayor Jones
THAT the motion from the Town of Caledon regarding Organ Donation
Awareness be supported; and
THAT an ad be placed in the Notice Board, and signs be posted
promoting Organ Donation Awareness; and
THAT the correspondence be referred to the Communications Committee
for suggestions of alternative methods of promoting these types of
campaigns.
CARRIED
City of Toronto re: Sustainable Funding for Blue Box Programs
#5. Moved by Councillor Griffith Seconded by Councillor Morris
THAT the City of Toronto’s resolutions regarding Sustainable Funding for
Blue Box Programs be supported.
REFERRAL: Upon the question of the adoption of the resolution, it was:
#6. Moved by Councillor Hogg Seconded by Mayor Jones
THAT the correspondence be referred to Regional and Town of Aurora
Staff to monitor.
CARRIED
ADVISORY AND AD HOC COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS
Business Development Committee Report No. BDC 02-99
Wednesday, February 17, 1999 Business Development
Committee Meeting
#7. Moved by Councillor Griffith Seconded by Councillor Hogg
THAT the contents of the Record 02-99 of the Business Development
Committee be received as information.
THAT staff telephone the businesses invited to the ISO 9000 Seminar on
February 24, 1999 to determine attendance and cancel the meeting if
fewer than 10 companies can participate.
THAT staff be asked to make a recommendation to the Business
Development Committee as to how to improve communications among all
related departments with regard to the Site Plan application process.
THAT Brian Morris, President Manufacturing, Powerlasers Ltd. be
appointed as an Aurora Business Ambassador.
CARRIED
General Committee Meeting No. 04-99 Page 4
Thursday, March 4, 1999
Communications Committee Report No. CC99-003
Monday, February 2, 1999 Communications Committee
Meeting
#8. Moved by Councillor Hogg Seconded by Councillor Hartwell
THAT Committee Record of the Communications Committee Meeting held
on February 2, 1999 be received as information.
CARRIED
Leisure Services Committee Report No. LSAC99-003
Thursday, February 11, 1999 Leisure Services Committee Meeting
#9. Moved by Councillor Hogg Seconded by Councillor Hartwell
THAT the minutes of the Leisure Services Advisory Committee held
February 11, 1999 be received; and
THAT the Highview School Millennium Project initiative be endorsed; and
THAT staff provide ongoing assistance in the development of the project
as required; and
THAT staff be directed to investigate potential funding for this project
through the Ronald McDonald Grant that is presently in existence; and
THAT staff select suitable candidate(s) to be nominated for the 1999
Ontario Volunteer Service Award and Outstanding Achievement Award
Programs if the deadline for submission is extended.
CARRIED
STAFF REPORTS
CO99-010-051 - Replacement of McDTag Software
#10. Moved by Councillor Griffith Seconded by Mayor Jones
THAT the proposal from McDonald Systems Group to update the McDTag
software at a cost of $24,100.00 which includes a trade-in allowance of
$3,000.00, be accepted.
CARRIED
LS99-003-052 - “Club Aurora” Fitness Centre
#11. Moved by Mayor Jones Seconded by Councillor Griffith
THAT contents of the Leisure Services Report No. LS99-003-052 be
received as information.
CARRIED
General Committee Meeting No. 04-99 Page 5
Thursday, March 4, 1999
PL99-018-053 - Planning Application Status List
#12. Moved by Councillor Griffith Seconded by Councillor Hinder
THAT contents of the Planning Applications Status List Report No. PL99-
018-053 be received as information.
CARRIED
Mayor Jones, having previously declared an interest in application No. #20 of this
Report, did not take part in the vote called for in this regard.
IN CAMERA
Legal Matter
#13. Moved by Councillor Hinder Seconded by Councillor Hartwell
THAT this Committee proceed In Camera to address a Legal matter.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
#14. Moved by Councillor Morris
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
CARRIED
(THE REPORT OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING NO. 04-99 WAS
CONSIDERED AND ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING HELD ON MARCH
10, 1999 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF RECOMMENDATIONS No. 2 AND No. 4 WHICH
WERE DISCUSSED AND ADOPTED AS SUBMITTED)
___________________________ ____________________________________
T. JONES, MAYOR L. ALLISON, MUNICIPAL CLERK