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MINUTES - Trails and Active Transportation Committee - 20160520 TOWN OF AURORA TRAILS AND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Date: Friday, May 20, 2016 Time and Location: 10 a.m., Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall Committee Members: Councillor Sandra Humfryes (Chair), Richard Doust (PRAC Representative), Bill Fraser, Laura Lueloff, Nancee Webb (EAC Representative) Member(s) Absent: Councillor Tom Mrakas (Vice Chair), Alison Collins-Mrakas Other Attendees: Jim Tree, Manager, Parks, Lawrence Kuk, Planner, Jamal Massadeh, Traffic/Transportation Analyst, and Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Secretary The Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m. 1. DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND GENERAL NATURE THEREOF There were no declarations of pecuniary interest and general nature thereof under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. 2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Moved by Richard Doust Seconded by Bill Fraser THAT the agenda as circulated by Legal and Legislative Services be approved. CARRIED Trails and Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes Friday, May 20, 2016 Page 2 of 6 3. RECEIPT OF THE MINUTES Trails and Active Transportation Meeting Committee Minutes of November 20, 2015 Moved by Nancee Webb Seconded by Bill Fraser THAT the Trails and Active Transportation Committee meeting minutes of November 20, 2015, be received for information. CARRIED 4. DELEGATIONS General Committee consented, on a two-thirds vote, to waive the requirements of the Procedural By-law to permit the addition of Delegation (b). (a) Christina Nagy-Oh, Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives Re: Item 1 – Memorandum from the Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives; Re: Corporate Environmental Action Plan (CEAP) Update Ms. Nagy-Oh presented background and a brief overview of the Corporate Environmental Action Plan. She noted that this five-year Plan is due for an update and the Trails and Active Transportation Committee, as well as the Environmental Advisory Committee and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, were being invited to provide input. Ms. Nagy-Oh highlighted the relevant Plan objectives for the Committee’s consideration and feedback by August 1, 2016. Moved by Laura Lueloff Seconded by Nancee Webb THAT the comments of the delegation by Christina Nagy-Oh be received and referred to Item 1. CARRIED (b) Councillor John Abel Re: Trails Master Plan and New Developments Trails and Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes Friday, May 20, 2016 Page 3 of 6 Councillor Abel advised that, while there are many north-south trails, there is a shortage of east-west trails in Town. He suggested that there is an opportunity to raise awareness and identify any new areas for development where east-west trails could be accommodated. Councillor Abel noted that the Oak Ridges Trail Association also recognizes an opportunity for the Oak Ridges Moraine and has published information in this respect, and he requested that the Committee be provided with this information. Moved by Bill Fraser Seconded by Nancee Webb THAT the comments of the delegation by Councillor Abel be received for information. CARRIED 5. MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION 1. Memorandum from Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives Re: Corporate Environmental Action Plan (CEAP) Update The Committee agreed to discuss the relevant objectives of the CEAP at the meeting of June 17, 2016, toward formulation of the Committee’s comments for consideration in the CEAP update. Moved by Richard Doust Seconded by Bill Fraser THAT the memorandum regarding Corporate Environmental Action Plan Update (CEAP) be received; and THAT the Trails and Active Transportation Committee provide comment to be considered by staff in the preparation of the CEAP update. CARRIED 2. Extract from Council Meeting of April 26, 2016 Re: Special Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of March 31, 2016; Re: Item 2 – Parks and Recreation Master Plan Implementation Schedule Trails and Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes Friday, May 20, 2016 Page 4 of 6 Staff provided background to Task Number T41 of the Implementation Schedule respecting accessibility and surfacing issues of the trails system. The Committee discussed various aspects and suggested that the Town has an opportunity to play a visionary leadership role in providing trail accessibility. Moved by Laura Lueloff Seconded by Richard Doust THAT the Extract from Council Meeting of April 26, 2016, regarding Special Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of March 31, 2016; Re: Item 2 – Parks and Recreation Master Plan Implementation Schedule, be received; and THAT the Trails and Active Transportation Committee recommend to Council: THAT staff be directed to review the service levels, costs, and feasibility related to winter maintenance and year-round accessibility of the Town’s trail system; and THAT the Town investigate leadership opportunities in trail accessibility, such as the Ontario government’s Trail Mobile. CARRIED 6. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 3. Verbal Update from Manager, Parks Re: Various Trail Projects Staff provided updates regarding: (1) Metrolinx rail expansion and pedestrian crossings; (2) Highland Gate Developments Inc. and off-road trails; (3) Kwik Kopy Trail; (4) Wildlife Park; and (5) Trails Signage Strategy. The Committee noted that the Aurora Community Arboretum is considering adding signage and staff suggested that there could be coordination between the Town and the Arboretum. Moved by Richard Doust Seconded by Nancee Webb THAT the Verbal Update from Manager, Parks; Re: Various Trail Projects be received for information. CARRIED Trails and Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes Friday, May 20, 2016 Page 5 of 6 4. Extract from Council Meeting of January 26, 2016 Re: Trails and Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes of November 20, 2015 Staff requested clarification from the Committee respecting accessible bike hubs. The Committee provided input and staff confirmed that bike racks are required in all new developments. The Committee discussed ways in which bike riding could be encouraged and promoted in Town, including designation of a special day and a bike safety clinic. Moved by Laura Lueloff Seconded by Nancee Webb THAT the Extract from Council Meeting of January 26, 2016, regarding Trails and Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes of November 20, 2015, be received for information. CARRIED 7. NEW BUSINESS The Committee suggested that Council work closely with Metrolinx regarding the Cousins Drive pedestrian crossing. New Business Motion No. 1 Moved by Richard Doust Seconded by Nancee Webb THAT the Trails and Active Transportation Committee recommend to Council: THAT staff be directed to investigate the possibility of including a Cousins Drive underpass in the Metrolinx rail expansion project; and THAT the balance of the grade-separated crossings along the Metrolinx line in Aurora be endorsed by Council. CARRIED The Committee discussed and suggested that a special day be designated in Aurora to promote bike riding that could include a bike clinic to promote safety and etiquette. Trails and Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes Friday, May 20, 2016 Page 6 of 6 New Business Motion No. 2 Moved by Richard Doust Seconded by Nancee Webb THAT the Trails and Active Transportation Committee recommend to Council: THAT the Trails and Active Transportation Committee organize a “Bike Aurora Day” and a bike clinic to promote bike riding, safety, and etiquette. CARRIED 8. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Laura Lueloff Seconded by Nancee Webb THAT the meeting be adjourned at 11:33 a.m. CARRIED COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT BINDING ON THE TOWN UNLESS OTHERWISE ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AT A LATER MEETING.