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MINUTES - Trails and Active Transportation Committee - 20171117 Town of Aurora Trails and Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes Date: Friday, November 17, 2017 Time and Location: 10 a.m., Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall Committee Members: Councillor Tom Mrakas (Chair), Councillor Sandra Humfryes (arrived 11:03 a.m.), Richard Doust (PRCSAC Representa- tive), Laura Lueloff, and Nancee Webb (EAC Representative) Members Absent: Alison Collins-Mrakas and Bill Fraser Other Attendees: Sara Tienkamp, Acting Parks Manager, Gary Greidanus, Senior Landscape Architect, Michael Bat, Transportation Analyst, and Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Secretary The Chair called the meeting to order at 10 a.m. 1. Approval of the Agenda Moved by Laura Lueloff Seconded by Richard Doust That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services, with the following addition, be approved:  Delegation (b) Klaus Wehrenberg; Re: Trail Alignment through BG Properties Subdivision and Cattle Crawl  Item 7 – Verbal Update from Christina Nagy-Oh, Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives; Re: Bicycle Friendly Communities Carried Trails and Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes Friday, November 17, 2017 Page 2 of 7 2. Declarations 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. 3. Receipt of the Minutes Trails and Active Transportation Meeting Committee Minutes of April 21, 2017 Moved by Nancee Webb Seconded by Richard Doust That the Trails and Active Transportation Committee meeting minutes of April 21, 2017, be received for information. Carried 4. Delegations (a) Mark Schollen, Schollen & Company Inc., representing BG Properties (Aurora) Inc. and Ballymore Homes South Aurora Re: Proposed Trails and Connections in BG Properties and Ballymore Homes Developments Mr. Schollen presented an overview of the trails and connections within the BG and Ballymore lands, situated north of Ridge Road between Yonge Street and the Metrolinx Corridor, including site context, trail system hierarchy, elements of the Aurora Trails Master Plan, land ownership, proposed trails on public and private lands, and the Yonge Street to Metrolinx trail connections. He further reviewed the proposal for a 3.0-metre wide trail at the railway berm and three options: Option A – Ramped trail with retaining walls; Option B – Angled concrete tunnel through berm; and Option C – Concrete tunnel with ramp. Mr. Schollen noted that Option A was the preferred option. Moved by Nancee Webb Seconded by Laura Lueloff That the comments of the delegation be received for information. Carried Trails and Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes Friday, November 17, 2017 Page 3 of 7 (b) Klaus Wehrenberg, Resident Re: Trail Alignment through BG Properties Subdivision and Cattle Crawl Mr. Wehrenberg presented history and context regarding the subject area, including the existing cattle crawl, which he noted was backfilled in the 1990’s and is shown as a grade-separated railroad crossing in the Trails Master Plan. He stressed the importance of a direct trail route for cyclists and pedestrians, including students, from the cattle crawl to Yonge Street and noted that the current configuration of the BG subdivision would not facilitate a direct route. Mr. Wehrenberg suggested that the challenge of land elevations east of the cattle crawl could be managed through the use of elevators or escalators. He requested that the Committee make a recommendation to Council to reconsider the proposed trail routings, and he requested to receive a copy of any formal communication with Metrolinx regarding the cattle crawl crossing. Moved by Laura Lueloff Seconded by Nancee Webb That the comments of the delegation be received for information. Carried 5. Matters for Consideration 1. Round Table Discussion Re: Cycling Master Plan The Committee briefly discussed options and priorities related to development of the Cycling Master Plan, efforts of the sub-committee, re-application to the Bicycle Friendly Community Award Program, and the possible involvement of Activate Aurora. Moved by Laura Lueloff Seconded by Nancee Webb 1. That the comments of the Committee be received and referred to staff for consideration and action as appropriate. Carried Trails and Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes Friday, November 17, 2017 Page 4 of 7 6. Informational Items 2. Verbal Update from Acting Parks Manager Re: Oak Ridges Trail Association Request to Realign Trail Through Rotary Park Staff provided a brief update regarding the Oak Ridges Trail Association trail realignment through Rotary Park and along Kennedy Street East, noting that local residents have been informed and the trail signage has been reposted. Moved by Richard Doust Seconded by Nancee Webb 1. That the verbal update regarding Oak Ridges Trail Association Request to Realign Trail Through Rotary Park be received for information. Carried 3. Verbal Update from Acting Parks Manager Re: Wellington Street Crossing – Request for Proposal Staff provided a brief update regarding the potential trail crossing east of John West Way on Wellington Street East, noting that a consultant was retained and options are being considered, including a crossing at grade, an overhead bridge, and a light system. The Committee expressed a preference for the overhead bridge option with Aurora signage. Moved by Laura Lueloff Seconded by Nancee Webb 1. That the verbal update regarding Wellington Street Crossing – Request for Proposal be received for information. Carried 4. Verbal Update from Acting Parks Manager Re: Trail Signage Strategy Staff provided a brief update and presented images of the new trail signage that has been installed, noting that the next phase would occur in 2018. Staff Trails and Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes Friday, November 17, 2017 Page 5 of 7 advised that they have also worked with Highland Gate Developments Inc. on trail signage that will be installed by the developer. The Committee commended staff on the clear, concise and colourful design of the new signage. Moved by Laura Lueloff Seconded by Nancee Webb 1. That the verbal update regarding Trail Signage Strategy be received for information. Carried 5. Extract from Council Meeting of April 25, 2017 Re: Trails and Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes of February 17, 2017, and Summary of Committee Recommendations Report No. 2017-03 Moved by Richard Doust Seconded by Laura Lueloff 1. That the Extract from Council Meeting of April 25, 2017, regarding the Trails and Active Transportation Committee meeting minutes of February 17, 2017, and Summary of Committee Recommendations Report No. 2017-03, be received for information. Carried 6. Extract from Council Meeting of July 11, 2017 Re: Trails and Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes of April 21, 2017, and Summary of Committee Recommendations Report No. 2017-06 Moved by Nancee Webb Seconded by Laura Lueloff 1. That the Extract from Council Meeting of July 11, 2017, regarding the Trails and Active Transportation Committee meeting minutes of April 21, 2017, and Summary of Committee Recommendations Report No. 2017- 06, be received for information. Carried Trails and Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes Friday, November 17, 2017 Page 6 of 7 7. Verbal Update from Program Manager, Environmental Initiatives Re: Bicycle Friendly Communities Staff provided an update respecting the results of the 2012 application submitted by the Town to the Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) Award Program, which is run by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition. Staff suggested that it would be more important to implement the programs and infrastructure required to support cycling prior to reapplying for any designation. The Committee and staff discussed various aspects of moving forward with this initiative, including priorities, application deadlines, budget support, coordination with York Region programs, BFC workshops, and bike lanes. Staff agreed to investigate the options and costs of upgrading and adding bike lanes and provide information at the next meeting. Moved by Nancee Webb Seconded by Richard Doust 1. That the verbal update regarding Bicycle Friendly Communities be received; and 2. That the Trails and Active Transportation Committee recommend to Council: (a) That a line item be added to the 2018 Budget to hire a consultant for the creation and development of a Cycling Master Plan in conjunction with York Region’s Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan. Carried 7. New Business Further to Delegation (a) Mark Schollen, regarding the proposed trails and connections within the BG Properties and Ballymore South developments, the Committee and staff reviewed the proposed options for a trail connection at the railway berm along the Metrolinx Corridor. Trails and Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes Friday, November 17, 2017 Page 7 of 7 New Business Motion No. 1 Moved by Nancee Webb Seconded by Laura Lueloff 1. That the Trails and Active Transportation Committee recommend to Council: (a) That construction of the 3.0-metre wide trail at the railway berm proceed with the design as proposed by BG Properties (Aurora) Inc. in Option A – Ramped trail with retaining walls. Carried 8. Adjournment Moved by Nancee Webb Seconded by Richard Doust That the meeting be adjourned at 11:43 a.m. Carried Committee recommendations are not binding on the Town unless otherwise adopted by Council.