Integrated Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting

Minutes

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Virtual

Jason Manayathu (Vice Chair), Beth Revelle, Don Richardson, Nick Morrison, Tim Park, Jim Young, Alexander Andrenkov

Carm Piro, Briana Petersen, Greg Pace, Doug Benton

Councillor Shawna Stolte, Catherine Baldelli (Manager of Planning and Business Services - Burlington Transit), Jeff Black (Manager of Traffic Operations and Signals), Kaylan Edgcumbe (Manager of Integrated Mobility), Georgie Gartside (Clerk)

The Vice Chair read the city's land acknowledgement.

On motion, the minutes from the meeting held September 27, 2021 were approved as presented.

Jenna Puletto, Coordinator of Community Initiatives - Community Planning Department, provided the committee with a presentation (attached) regarding the Major Transit Station Areas (MTSA) project that includes the areas around Aldershot, Burlington and Appleby GO Stations.

Questions:

How are parking minimums handled for developments?
During the implementation phase, policy directions will be created that will address parking rates. The city-wide parking review and the new Zoning By-law will reflect updated parking rates. There will be rates for the entire city and others for intensification areas. Further studies will also be undertaken to see how the areas will intensify and that will further reduce the parking standards.

How are development applications being handled now?
When a development application is made, the policy framework in effect on the date the application was made is what is used to review the application. Recognizing that there will be policy changes in the future, staff will ask for active transportation measures in exchange for parking reductions.

Is Burlington GO the only place where there is an application freeze?
The city brought a motion to the Ontario Lands Tribunal to life the freeze on all lands except those around the Burlington GO Station. Refer to the city's media release for further details.

Next steps:

Public engagement is currently underway and committee members are encouraged to complete the workbooks for each of the GO stations. Further details and videos from the public meetings are available at https://www.getinvolvedburlington.ca/mtsa.

Further questions can be sent to: mtsa@burlington.ca.

ACTION:

  • Tim, Nick, Don and Alexander will complete the workbooks. The completed workbooks will be emailed to the committee for approval prior to submitting to city staff.
  • Georgie to invite Kyle Plas, Acting Manager of Development in the city's Community Planning Department, to attend the next meeting to talk to the committee about the Interim Control By-law and the lift to the freeze. 

Nick Pongetti, Traffic Operations Technician Assistant - Transportation Services Department, provided a presentation (attached) about an initiative to increase connectivity through "No Exit" streets.

Questions:

Which of the three studied locations would be the best to achieve the city's modal split goals?
St. Matthew’s Avenue due to its close proximity to the GO station and more development proposed in that area.

Which location has the most potential to achieve the city's greenhouse gas reduction goals?
Graham’s Lane and Stephenson Drive has benefits to reduce greenhouse gas emissions because it would allow vehicles easier access from Brant Street, rather than having to drive around to Fairview Street and Maple Avenue.

Kevin Arjoon, City Clerk, attended to seek the committee's feedback regarding a campaign contribution rebate program for Burlington. Rebates are currently given to donors for provincial and federal election campaigns, but not for municipal campaigns. The rebate program would be paid for by taxpayers.

Questions:

Was under the impression the program wouldn't be going ahead due to administrative workload. Is the program going ahead?
Council passed the following motion in July 2021: Direct the City Clerk to bring forward an option for a modest election finance rebate program by Q4 2021, and to seek feedback from our advisory committees on that option and use any other opportunities to engage the public. The option(s) could focus on smaller donations and aim for a modest cost to the city, similar to the programs in Whitby and Mississauga and limit eligibility to Burlington residents only.

Where do the provincial and federal rebates come from?
The contributor receives a receipt from the candidate and submits it through income taxes.

Comments:

  • need engagement to get residents interested as municipal politics affects our community
  • partially in support of the rebate program because it’s a barrier for candidates to fund their own campaigns
  • research shows there isn’t a lot of change to the number or quality of candidates with a rebate program
  • if we already have a good degree of candidates, why do we need to fund more
  • could higher levels of government assist with the rebate program
  • rather than taxpayers subsidizing candidates, could we subsidize voters to increase voter turnout

ACTION:

  • Committee members to send Georgie any ideas or additional feedback.

Georgie shared the following timelines to complete and approve the committee's 2021 annual report and 2022 workplan:

November - 2022 workplan discussion
December - no meeting
January - annual report and workplan to be approved by the committee
February - report to Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability Committee with all advisory committee's annual reports and workplans

Kaylan provided the following update related to the Integrated Mobility Plan:

  • kicking off public engagement on the preferred Integrated Mobility Network later this week
  • promotional materials will be shared with the committee to distribute via social networks
  • engagement will run for 3 weeks
  • will report back to ITAC in November to summarize public engagement feedback
  • if the recommended network is ready (hoping only minor edits), it will be presented to ITAC in November
  • asking that ITAC delegate at the special Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee meeting on the morning of December 13 in support of the IMP process to-date and the staff recommendation of the integrated mobility network

No update.

Jeff said that a staff report should be presented at the December 7 Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee meeting regarding the area wide speed limit initiative and a reduction to 30 km/hr in school zones.

Catherine said the ITAC working group met to discuss on-demand transit. On-demand service will be implemented at some point and will include:

  • a late night, bus stop to bus stop service
  • will replace routes 50, 51 and 52
  • an App will be launched for the service
  • requests can be booked 24 hours in advance either through the App, online or by phone
  • cancellations permitted up to 1 hour in advance
  • fare payment the same as Burlington Transit fares
  • flag down trips not recommended, but will not be denied
  • soft launch will happen along with the fixed route. Staff will be on board the fixed route educating riders about the on-demand service

Jim said the committee did not have quorum at this morning's meeting and had an informal discussion about on-demand transit.

Tim said the committee discussed developments, potential bird-friendly city proposal and closing off a street.

Committees can work through their Council representative and their Committee Clerk to determine the best way to bring forward new items. Committees are also encouraged to delegate during the annual report presentations and can include information and/or recommendations in their annual reports.

Chair adjourned the meeting at 9 p.m.