Transcript - Addressing Water Infrastructure Crisis - Public Works Committee

Addressing Water Infrastructure Crisis - Public Works Committee - March 25, 2026

People seem ugly. Really, good evening everyone. I'd like to call the meeting of public works committee to order. Grimby is is situated on treaty land. This land is steeped in the rich history of the First Nations such as the Hodawand, the Hodnaches and the Anesnab, including the Missagas of the Credit First Nation. There are many first nations, matey and wounded people across turtle island that live and work in Niagara today. Grimby stands with all indigenous people past and present in promoting the wide stewardship of the lands on which we live. Our first agenda item is disclosures of interest. Are there any disclo disclosures of peunary or nonunary interest? Seeing none, move on to the approval of the agenda. Can I get a mover and seconder to approve the agenda? Moved by member Murphy, seconded by councelor How. Resolved that the agenda for the March 25th, 2026 public works committee meeting be received. All in approved. Sorry, I that's the wrong word. I put it in the wrong. Sorry. You better be sorry. Be approved. All in favor. That's carried. Next is receipt of the previous minutes. Can I get a mover and second her to receive the previous minutes? I got councelor How and Member Smink. Oh no. Yeah, I was trying to alternate because everybody had their hands up the last time. Uh moved by Councelor House, seconded by member resolved that the minutes of the February 25th, 2026 public works committee meeting be received. All in favor? That's carried. Thank you. We have no delegations, no consent reports. There is one discussion report tonight. DPW2611 2025 annual drinking water quality management system infrastructure review report. Can I get a mover and secondary to get that report on the floor for discussion? Councelor Dvoli and councelor How? Uh I don't see Jackson here. So who's Ben? Ben. Uh thank you. Um good evening everybody. Um through you the chair we're here to present the 2025 report on the town's drinking water infrastructure review. Uh the annual review is required to ensure the water system is managed effectively as per the DWQMS. Um overall the water system is performing well. In 2025 all major maintenance goals from completing emergency repairs to conducting a systemwide leak detection survey were met. Uh water quality within the town of Grimby system also remained status quo with zero incidents related to chlorine levels or harmful bacteria uh throughout the year. Upon our review, uh most operational targets were met. However, two specific indicators required further action or follow-up. Uh not being met, the target for water quality complaints was fewer than or is to be fewer than 10 calls, but the town received 11 calls last year. The review team did agree uh to modify the water quality complaint OPI to reflect a 5-year rolling average u providing a more accurate benchmark moving forward. Uh this will be reflected on uh future infrastructure review reports. Uh unavailable at this time is our uh water loss indicator. Um this is to be determined as billing data becomes available. It is expected that with the improvements made through the water billing or water meter initiative that this information will be available much earlier in the year for future infrastructure reviews. Um that concludes my intro into the report, but we're happy to receive any comments or questions. Questions for Ben? Member Thank you through you, Chair. Um I just had a couple of questions. One was about the unaccounted um water loss and I like the idea of the the three-year rolling. Um but it is significantly what we've had in the last three years that we have data for is is significantly greater than what our target is. I think it's kind of like 60% greater. Um I seem to recall from last year that this is an unusual amount for comparable municipalities and systems but uh if we're trying to reduce that what uh maintenance or what capital items are we um implementing to address that? I think from a capital standpoint, sorry through you the chair. From a capital standpoint, um the p primary driver for reducing that water loss is to um actively look at how we're replacing or maintaining aging infrastructure. Um specifically looking at the cast iron replacement strategy. Um these can be significant in that they might cast iron may be related to you know actual brakes, but also the components that connect the water system such as um valves or otherwise that are made of those materials should also be replaced. Most recently, we had um corrosion on uh a fitting on on a water main connection um that was causing a leak within a chamber that was um unknown to the town of Grimby until somebody popped the the manhole lid. So, I think actively looking at the the capital cast iron water main replacement strategy will drive our water loss down. Um but then from like an operation standpoint looking at things like um how we're doing our leak detection and moving you know in a direction of a whole system approach as we did in 2025 versus um a spring summer in kind of those aging infrastructure areas those targeted areas. Um this year or sorry last year we saw a number of we'll call it service leaks or chamber leaks that were identified as part of the whole system or whole system hydrant um leak detection survey. So I think just being proactive in one our our capital replacement and then two um you know looking at how we're actively managing operations to identify leaks in different ways. Um leak detection for a whole system using hydrants is is one of those. Um I I'm really glad that you brought up the cast iron replacement because that was kind of my second question. Um I see that um I see the beginning of the the plan for let's say the next three years. Clearly the uh the downtown streets that we have as part of the reimagine project are the 2026 and the 2027 um cast iron replacements. Um I guess the two questions are the ones that we have the design for which is like all of Casablanca um Nellis um are those uh would be planned for the 2028 and do we have something set up with that kind of amount because I think you you said that within the next 10 years um all the is the rest of the 10 kilometers of cast iron remaining would be replaced. I just just wondered um how that is set out uh through the chair. I'm going to defer over to to Brandon who can probably speak a little bit more to the the capital long-term replacement strategy for cast iron and other Cool. Thank you uh through you, Mr. Chair. So, we have our next 10 years planned out uh to replace all of our cast iron water man. There may be a few spots here or there, but I think we have around 10 km left of of cast iron water man. So over the next 10 years, the intent is to replace all of it. Uh in terms of the downtown water main, we'll provide an update on that later. But uh all of Lake uh and what other street and the section of now uh Ontario uh is uh in the design now. I think it's at 60%, the idea is we're we've u asked the consultant to focus on the downtown project as a priority first. Once that's complete, we'll they'll shift their focus towards the uh Ontario Street water man. So likely that uh that could occur as early as next year. Uh but we're just being cognizant of uh where it lies within the the other big project, the the downtown phase 2 work. So um hopefully that helps answer that question through you chair. I think actually I think it confused me. Are are the boundaries of of of all of those well not Lake and Olive abuing the the downtown? I just are there are there parts of Ontario Street for example that would be done at the same time as the downtown and then would the rest be done in 2028? Am I understanding this correctly? Yeah. So I I think the the the schedule in terms of that project is a bit up in the air. I know Casablanca is coming as well. uh phase one uh the downtown uh which will require road closures in the downtown Ontario Street is the although it's the opposite end of Ontario Street I just want to be cognizant of that we're not also Main Street east the region has plans to start construction there too. So it's a lot of things that go station a lot of things are converging at the same time. So, I just yes, it's a priority for us, but I just want to be I'm not sure how that fits in yet. So, I I'm hesitant on saying yes, it's a immediate next year kind of thing. I just want to be a little bit uh strategic and in how we roll that out. Thank you, Councelor Dully. Maybe a followup to that. Um would it be appropriate to ask our director to come with a map at the next meeting outlining where the cast iron um mains are so that we could just see which streets they're on or whereabouts they are? Uh through Mr. Chair, I'm gonna defer to Marvin. Do you is our GIS mapping that's public does that show cast a water man on it or is it just doesn't show network information? Do you know? Okay, Ben's I'm going to defer to Ben because he's waving me down. Uh yeah, through through you the chair. Um I'm happy to circulate. We do have a number of maps within our DWMS uh operational plan. Um, so I can circulate um the the map view which shows the the material and size as well as some other features. Um, they're required annually for us to submit as part of our MECP uh, inspection um, which was just recent as of a few weeks ago. Um, so I'm happy to circulate those documents for your review. Thank you. That would be great. Um, my other question um isn't so much about water quality, it's more about um water meters. So, I'll be I I will acknowledge I'm slightly off topic here. Um, but there was a report in one of the newspapers recently about the city of Toronto and their water meters and how they thought they were going to last for x number of years and they're finding that the expected life is nowhere near what they have been um, I'll say led to believe or originally thought when they purchased them. And so my question is really to ask about our experiences and what we are finding with the expected life of our meters. Um yeah so thank you three Mr. Chair. So as you know I think you know uh we did a a replacement of 2500 meters this year 2200 meters something like that this year um and we have a uh um earmarked uh a replacement of uh our remaining water meters on a uh I would say a what did I put it as a 5year cycle? Yeah, every 5 years we replace one-third of our system is how we've set it up going forward. Uh the I think we use the AWA standard which uh indicates I think water meters are supposed to last 20 25 years. I'm kind of speaking I don't I'm this is best to best my knowledge sorry so don't hold me to uh the exact but I think it's around 20 to 25 years. Uh and and in addition to that I'm I'm getting to your the answer. Uh in addition to that uh we we do regular um uh replacements throughout the year. I don't know if it's I think it's 100 or something a year. So we're constantly trying to turn over the older meters when we can. So it's not a big uh um impact when we do that uh when we have to do it as a bulk. Um that being with everything said uh as far as I understand from our operations team uh meters are reading uh they're pretty dependable in terms of uh their reliability and uh accuracy uh for a longer period of time. So we haven't uh really experienced any too too many issues. Um but we we do try to keep ahead of that. So, we're not uh you know, we're making sure that they're replaced in a timely fashion within that you know, 15 to 20 year cycle. Um but we can certainly keep an eye on uh if we do see any changes in the quality or the longevity of the water meters, we can certainly communicate that to council. I haven't seen that yet, but and um I probably did keep that article. I just don't have it with me at the moment. But I think Yeah. Um because I think it had to do with a particular brand that the city of Toronto was buying too. And I wish I remembered the years too. I think they were counting on 25 years and they were finding like 15 years was the um average life of the water meter. So um it was causing a great deal of consternation obviously to have to replace them much earlier than what they were expecting. Um, so I will go back and try and find that particular one as to what supplier or what brand it was that was causing them the grief as well. And when I find it, I will pass it along to you. But yeah, um, and I know as part of our asset management studies, of course, we looked at expected lives of roads and water manes and all those good assets that we own. Um but that's not to say that we don't keep monitoring it and knowing as um where we stand in terms of our capital plans. Thank you. Thank you councelor How. Uh thank you through you chair. Um not sure who wants to answer it. the playpipe or the cast pipe, excuse me, the cast pipe. I'm led to believe I think you've said over the years it's 60 years maybe lifespan to it less uh through you Mr. Chair. Oh, I'm just looking to Marvin. I think our life expectancy, we've identified it as 40 years. Uh that being said, uh there's plenty of water mane out there that's beyond 40 years, right? So, it's uh that's what we expect it to last. It lasts a little bit longer, but uh the longer it goes, the more risk there is for it to break. just if I can just fall okay if this so let's say 40 I I'll accept that the plastic pipe um that is now used what kind of lifespan does it have and I I'll tell you what one more question follow we kind of know how the the clay pipe fails what it's like but when the plastic pipe fails is it just like a seam that just Yeah. Yeah. Through you uh Mr. Chair. So the plastic pipe we give uh a service life of 75 to 80 years. I don't think we have any in the ground that long. So I I can't prove it yet, but uh that that's uh kind of the kind of the industry standard. And in terms of breaks, so far, and knock on wood, we we haven't seen PVC really fail unless it's hit uh or um not installed properly, for example. If that and an example might be instead of putting a bend, sometimes the contractor will try to cheat a little bit and just kind of bend it. Then you'll get like a like a blowout. It'll it'll crack and it'll blow out. Um, yeah. And then I I think cast like you know it typically you get those kind of ring breaks where you can put a clamp on it and and seal it. So yeah, thank you. If I can just add to Marvin, maybe I'll ask you to jump in too. Um, one of the challenges that we could see going forward with the plastic pipe is you still need uh metal fittings. So, um, currently we use anodes to, uh, um, that are attached to the metal that allows the anode to rust rather than the metal. Um, but again, 70 years life, we're not sure we'll get out of that out the same uh, length out of the the metal fitting. So, we're we're currently, you know, we we'll be keeping an eye on that. Um the other thing we're considering as we look through our engineering design standards uh that which are currently in progress is is uh whether anodess are the right technique for us going forward or there's other technology such as uh I think it's called denso denso material which is basically uh some form of a a tape that goes around the the metal and and keeps it uh from touching the uh outside um what do you call dirt and stuff like that in the ground water things like that. So go ahead council. Thank you. And it goes back to our asset management study and something you actually said Marvin that I remember and pardon me and stuck with me. Um we were looking at all of these particular things especially when it comes to water manes. We were talking about trying to extend their lives and about um and I'm not going to use as good an example as you gave, but you know putting liners in and all sorts of things so that if we think they're going to last 40 years, looking at what other technology is there that we can possibly use to extend the life um for another 10 or 20 years past that. Um is that something that we need to do sort of as a project? Is it just something that is always at the top of your mind when we're looking at all these capital construction projects or how can we actually sort of implement that idea? Yeah, through you Mr. Chair. That's a great question. So for sewers, there's a kind of a accepted approach to extend the service life through cleaning and lining water mains. They can also be lined. Um, in in my experience, like the local sewers on like a residential street, the cost of trying to line those to extend their service life is close to or maybe exceeds the cost of just open cut replacing it. Um, and part of the reason is because you you have to take it out of service. So then you have to actually run new water mane on the surface while you repair or line the old man. Uh and then then you can put it back into service. And then the second part is then you still have all the old surfaces which are could be 60 70 years old. So then you have to decide what to do with those. And really the only way to fix those is to to replace them. Open cut replace them. So, um, essentially to answer your question, there's there's really, um, I guess not a great approach to extending the service life of cast iron water manes. I mean we the operations does you know a great flushing program which helps keep them clean and get the tuberculation out and the water uh um you know flowing clean but in terms of extending their service life it's it's almost unfortunately it's it's waiting till they fail and then replacing them obviously try to do it before they fail but uh um now that being said we are looking at um I'll say the high-risisk water main so the ones that cross the CN tracks and the QEW which essentially we've we've agreed can't fail. U so we are looking at methods to take those out of service and and line those in the future. They're of an age that they're they're not high risk yet, but we do want to keep an eye on it and be mindful that we address them before we get to a point where we are concerned that they might fail. So but yeah, that's a great question and sorry just the only other thing I'd add is we're always looking at new technology that's coming out and keeping an eye on it. So if there is a technology that comes out in the future that would allow us to extend the life uh at a more reasonable cost then we'll certainly consider it. So some someone hasn't invented it yet but maybe they will. Uh my question is uh related to the regional so when we talk about water loss you might recall a few years back Brandon where there was the the big leak that I think Mikey found uh out by TSC or down by by the border of Grimby that was like more than $100,000 difference I believe in in what the region was billing us because there there's a leak in their system that we are being build for uh what can how do we know that any water loss that's occurring is not occurring in their part of the system and and that we're not being bu for it because we know that there we have an exp we this is not hypothetical it's happened before where we've been build tens of thousands of dollars for something that was a flaw in their system so how do we know that they're doing their job to make sure that we're not paying for for errors that are occurring in their part of the line. Yeah. Through uh to to you, Mr. Chair. Um this I guess the quick answer is it's difficult to determine but it doesn't mean you know in the example that happened a few years ago uh many years ago now I guess um we saw an a a large increase in our unaccountable water loss. This is the one time I've heard Bob of Bob Laroo our former director losing sleep and I think there was a joke about why you lose sleep about water loss but he took pride in in keeping a tight system I guess or tight ship. Um so uh you know at that time it was we did some further analysis on on why why this is going up. I I think we did some additional investigation with the region in terms of checking their meters making sure that their meters were reading accurately and and things like that. So, uh, there was a bit of an exploration or a an exercise to determine the cause and and, uh, it just happened that, uh, as part of that, we we stepped up our investigations and there was a leak found with that, uh, kind of that that helped us understand, okay, here here's where it's located, right? So part of uh you know our leak detection program as Benon kind of alluded to earlier is uh in previous years we would focus just on the cast iron pipe or the metal pipe I should say because it's easier to listen to uh to hear sounds or breaks. Um uh just last year we decided to do a townwide investigation where uh instead of focusing on just the pipes, it's they listen to the um metal uh uh pertinances, so the hydrants and uh and can pick up sound that way. So another way that we're trying to look at how we can reduce those leaks um just by again further analysis, further uh investigation kind of thing. So hopefully that answers your question. I sort of what what I'm asking is if there was no redundancy in you know if it was a a a single system that was completely controlled by the town of Grimby from the water treatment plant to the home without any regionally owned pipes or anything between there would that change the way would would that allow us to to ensure that there wasn't you know there that that wasn't happening along the and I know that most of that is town infrastructure, right? But there are parts where there are connections between municipalities, there are parts going to and from the plant, um those types of things. So I I guess the the the reason why it comes to mind is because of all the discussions that are occurring about this kind of thing. So to you, Mr. here. Uh I think the the quick answer is the water loss would still be there, but it's one one we're not paying the region for that loss. It's whoever is managing that system is incurring that loss, right? So, uh in one way it's it's coming out of one pocket, I guess, if that if that makes sense. Okay. Uh any further questions or comments? Seeing none, I've resolved that report DPW 2611 2025 annual DWQMS infrastructure review report dated March 25th, 2026 be received for information. All in favor? That is carried. No correspondence. Other business. Uh Brandon, I think you had a few things to update us on. Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh so, a couple updates that I thought since we have a late agenda, we could uh provide some updates to you. uh specifically on the downtown reimagined and and the Casablanca Boulevard project. So uh and then one other item, but I'll start with the downtown uh reimagined. So I'm excited to say that the design drawings and specifications for phase one are essentially complete. Uh there's a folder that says 100% drawings. So that's a good thing. Uh allows us to get the project to tender we expect in the next week or so. So we're aiming for uh March 30th. Uh that's our hope. Um we're pretty close. Um anticipate that the tender award process should take between four to 6 weeks. Um that puts us in a position for a June uh construction start date and a phase one completion this fall. Uh just wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to the team in particular Martin Reed. Uh they've been putting a lot of extra time in uh after hours uh to make sure the project gets done on time. uh amongst others. Uh the whole it was a whole team effort, but I I just wanted to say thanks to Martin. Uh also we're providing an update via our Let's Talk Grimsby project page and our social media in the coming weeks. Uh that will update the downtown businesses and the and the broader public. Um uh so we're continuing our collaboration with the BAA and developing a communications and marketing strategy. um communication specialist Christina has uh been leading those efforts in partnership with the BA and chamber and we've made a lot of headway in the last couple months uh and things are start rolling out uh in the next few weeks as uh uh we move from tender to award to construction. Um uh once we we're going to shift gears now uh towards the phase 2 design uh once the phase one is out uh and we're expecting again to have the phase 2 work done uh design work done uh later this year uh um for poss sorry possibly for a tender later this year or early next year. Uh but we're still kind of working out the the details on that side of things. Um do you want me to stop there if there's any questions and then I can do the next one? Is that would that be helpful or do you want me to just do my spiel if it's still downtown? No, it's not downtown rel. Okay. Questions? Councelor Devoy? Just a follow up to something you said. Uh so if we get the RFP out by March 31st, four to six weeks to get quotes and and do the award. And then what is the possible construction start date? We're looking at like early June, June one kind of thing. So, uh, obviously subject to dotting the eyes, crossing the tees, signing all the paperwork, getting the insurance, all that stuff, having a pre-construction meeting, but, uh, we we're that's our our target. So, we feel like we're we're confident that we'll get there. That assumes that the prices come in, that they're not crazy high, that I don't have to come we don't have to come back to council and ask for more money, that kind of thing. So, uh, but if all goes as planned, I there's no wood, but uh, uh, that's where we expect to be. Yeah. On the head. Okay. Any other questions? Okay, go ahead, Brenda. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, so the next one I wanted to give an update was on the Casablanca Boulevard and GO Transit project. Uh, as some of you attended, the uh, council meeting on the March 9th uh, region uh, provided an update on the GO station. Um, I will summarize that in four bullets. I'm not going to spend too much time, but if I if if uh people are interested, I recommend you go back and watch that. So, as as we understand it and what we're hearing is the province is eager to get the station in place as soon as possible in in Grimby. Uh so, we're hearing that we may see some action on the site starting the summer. Uh Metroinks in the region have uh commenced uh their environmental assessment for the station. Uh, and there is a public information center, a virtual public information center that's on the region's website from March 11th to the 25th, which is today. So, I think it ends it ends today, but there if there's any feedback, you can provide it through that uh point. Um, and I think as you know that the town is supporting various infrastructure improvements around the GO station. Uh and I think as we mentioned last meeting uh we were bringing a report forward to the finance committee uh to award or to retain uh engineering consultant WSP to help design the storm sewer uh and water main services for the Casablanca that need to go under the uh uh the railway there. Uh so just a quick update is we had a meeting with that team uh to kick the meeting off and and the design work is now underway and we have a meeting with the region to collaborate with them in the in the week uh next week or so. Um so I don't know if there's any questions there. Councelor H. Thank you through you chair. Um obviously there's going to be any number of issues that is going to come up uh with it out there at the GO but one thing we have talked about and wonder if it's uh uh being premature but is how we're going to move pedestrians not from you know the self service road to the other side of the tracks but from the uh uh Grimsby on the lake area over this way and you know in those discussions and I I don't not saying there's discussions yet but would it be over the uh over the highway as in Missaga? You see they they've done a number couple of real u large pedestrian crossing type bridges but maybe I'm being premature but um I think that's going to have to be part of the assessment I would think. Isn't it? Yeah through you Mr. Chair. So two two fronts. Um I think you've nailed it there. Uh f firstly the uh as part of the road rec the Casablanca Boulevard road reconstruction work, the region uh with our input and and input from the MTO obviously is looking at making improvements across the um across the highway over on that existing overpass by use of a multi-use pathway and a sidewalk. Uh that being said, we also have uh noted in the uh GO station Casablanca area secondary plan the need for a future uh pedestrian crossing bridge um located somewhere around Hunter Road and the North Service Road crossing there. Uh I wouldn't say it's an immediate need now, but as uh you know if if if what we're thinking is going to happen is going to happen. Uh once the GO station comes, there will be an influx of development in that area, intensification, which will push more uh that project maybe to more of a priority. Um so it will be identified as a maybe a more of a long-term project going forward, but it has been identified uh uh as as a future need. Councelor H then C and continue on that. Um guess they my concern is walking across that the Casablanca bridge let's call it uh from a pedestrian standpoint is not really attractive. and a couple of the uh the ways that the roads are bending around. Um it's going to take some real attention in order to get people to use it. But anyways, thank you. Um if I if I think I gather what you're saying is the off-ramps how they have a a dedicated kind of off-ramp or bend or whatever you want to call it. I guess not technical term but the idea be as part of this phase of the project phase one of the project they would be removing those um bend lanes and and bringing the intersections together. So it'll be a safer crossing point for pedestrians. So, uh there'll be like a typical intersection like like you might see at Christy Street where uh um the pedestrians don't have to worry about crossing that uh chneled access and uh you know the lights themselves. So, they're they're all going to be signalized intersections as well, which should improve uh pedestrian safety safety and as well as the the traffic flow through there. Yeah. and council. How I walk across there all the time and it's you have to make eye contact with those drivers coming off the highway because they're not looking for pedestrians and the the sidewalk is only on the west side and it's fairly narrow. So, it it's not you're you're right there. There's not a comfort that you feel there because the width of the road makes cars go fast. It doesn't do anything to slow people down. But that's all part of that reconstruction they've been promising us for more than a decade now. So, hopefully coming soon to a Casablanca Boulevard near you. Uh, member SM through you, Chair. Um, I maybe don't have the whole history of this, but it seems that um, the Ghost Station, which seemed to be on hold forever, has been moved up, but in a southside only configuration with sort of very limited amenities. Um what I wanted to make sure was there was enough coordination in the requirements um of that access to the GO station uh vehicular um transit pedestrian cyclist in the design of the Casablanca the two sections of the Casablanca that's my understanding is it's almost complete that there's enough coordination that we're not going to be going back and re-ripping up an intersection for example at Livingston and Casablanca that we've just you know made beautiful. Um I'm thinking of things like like you're going to need a traffic signal there clearly if you're going to be crossing pedestrians will all of that underground already be in place to just if you could speak to that through you Mr. Chair. Uh so um what's the way to say so the Casablanca or sorry the South Servers Road is being designed well that intersection South Service Road uh Casablanca basically the South Service Casablanca is being designed in in in a way uh that accommodates the future GO station where it was originally designed or the maybe the day two station or the ultimate design station with uh dual left turn lanes, additional prioritization, that kind of thing. The Livingston Avenue, Livingston Avenue uh section is is being designed to accommodate uh the Day One station plus future um uh through that area as well with things like sidewalks and either that or a multi-use pathway. I think we're we're looking at that. Um so uh the answer is yes. We're we're trying to you know in partnership with the region MTO is or Metroink's making sure that we're accommodating all of that in there. Um and hopefully that answers it. Uh yeah and further to your I good points uh members the Casablanca Livingston intersection interestingly enough when the superstore was built um despite the fact that it didn't meet the warrant for a light. The corporation offered to put a traffic light in there and the region said no thank you. So we it they they actually said no because they paid for all the the sidewalks and things that went in around there as that construction occurred as part of their development charges and part of the development. And the region said no thank you to a light at that intersection which has always been a troubled intersection because if you've ever used it when you're coming north on Casablanca um most cars are turning left. So, if you're going straight, there's no turn lane, so people don't know whether they should go around the cars that are turning left. It's wide enough for cars to go left, but there's there are no pavement markings to show that you should go around cars. So, some people just come to a stop that are going straight behind the cars that are making a left turn. Other people go around. So, it it's it's a it's a headache there. It's maybe it's hard for you to picture, but as somebody who drives through there like four times a day, I can tell you that that that intersection's been chaos for a long time. The further your point though, I think that the reconstruction of Livingston uh west of of Casablanca, if the parking goes in there needs to be so going towards Stony Creek, west of Casablanca, um as I talked, we spoke about this before, the there are it's a residential neighborhood with ditches and no sidewalks and young families in there and people who have grown accustomed to being able to walk on the shoulder because it was a safe neighborhood that nobody really drove down because there's no really reason for anybody to drive down unless they made a mistake and drove down it by accident. And we put up signs that said no exit and all that thing to to prevent that. Um if they build that the parking lot where they where the indicate the the images show they're going to go which is past those streets there extending Livingston. I assume that there will be a reconstruction of that entire roadway with curb and gutter and sidewalk to make sure that it's a safe pedestrian and bike pathway for everybody that uses it from that point on. Uh Brandon, you might want to speak to that. Sorry. Yeah, sorry. Uh just maybe to clarify, uh Mr. Sure. Uh so yes, the Livingston section from basically Casablanca to the um end or where the region's uh transit hub property is, I guess you want to call it, uh will be reconstructed. Uh curb and gutter, uh new storm sewer. Uh I think we're upgrading the water main for a potential future extension. Um what else? uh sidewalk on one side for sure and I think we're looking at a potential uh multi-use pathway on on one on the other side. So, we still need to sort out that detail. Thank you. Was there anything else that you wanted to update us on? Uh yeah, one more. Yeah, go ahead. Uh thank you. So, the last item was just the kid uh kid avenue traffic calming. So, um you know, I just wanted to again give you a quick update. Uh so we had brought a report to the April committee meeting uh recommending that we install um school zone signs on uh Kit Avenue and Bolton Avenue and reduce the posted speed limit from uh 50 km/h to 40 km uh per hour. So we had some questions from the committee just asking whether or not we should be considering similar changes to St. Andrews Avenue. So I have an opportunity to take this away with the team and have some further discussions. So to give you a a a kind of a brief update um uh or or a summary of of those discussions. So there's essentially two approaches for uh school um uh to school warning signs around schools. There's what you call a school zone and a school area. School zone signs are typically used on the street that the school is fronting. Uh the industry standard is to place those uh signs within 150 m of the principal entrance to the school. And these signs are normally accompanied by the speed reduction. So those that's what we're proposing on uh uh Bolton and a kid. And then the other uh one is the school area signs and they may be used in areas adjacent to the school uh outside of the the smaller kind of zone and and typically they're uh in areas beyond that 150 m um what do you call it location from the primary entrance. So apply applying this to the Crim Center school, we we're recommending that we install school area signs on St. Andrews upstream and downstream of Bolton Avenue uh while maintaining the existing uh 50 per 50 km per hour speed limit. Uh you know, we feel this approach is consistent with Ontario standards. Um so you know, as we're not reducing the speed limit on St. Andrews, it'll be not there won't be a need to amend the bylaw that we brought forward uh previously in April. Uh and we've tasked uh the operations team to uh install the sign. So we expect them to see uh them go up in and in the next month or so. Uh some time for locates and obviously if uh we get any more the word I'm not going to say um then uh that could delay things. Um, so and just uh in terms of as we install new signs uh and just in general based on the complaints we've heard uh we'll continue to monitor the situation and uh keep an eye on things and and and see how things are um uh progressing and if we need to we can always make uh tweaks later. Uh the one other thing too I just wanted to close the loop on the committee is just to confirm that we the delegate uh who uh had originally brought the matter forward to the committee has been notified of the committee and council's decision. We sent him an email and made sure that he had access to the report and and the video online. So I think we've closed the loop on that. Happy to take any questions attorney. Thank you councelor H. You chair and I'm going to see if I can make you use that four-letter word that starts with S. How did our salt uh supply end up? And salt's not the four-letter word I was thinking about. I through you, Mr. Chair. I don't know offhand, but I also haven't heard any concerns as of late. So, I know we did have was it last week or the week before where there was a snap snow at like Friday at a 1:00 in the day and you look out and there's like 2 inches of snow. So, we had to do some immediate response to I haven't said the word yet. Immediate response on Molverton to uh to make sure that we could clear any cars that were getting stuck in the uh or had trouble making traction in the material that was on the ground. Hopefully that answers that question. Uh I just wanted to say thank you for looking into it so quickly. The St. Andrews uh issue, I'm surprised that St. Andrews is further than 150 m away from the entrance to the school because it seems like it's pretty close. Uh but also having driven it a few times since we had the discussion, that slight bend does act as kind of a natural traffic calming in in St. Andrews. So I I'm I'm happy that you you know, you were reasonable about it. You looked at it. You you didn't see a need for it, but I'm glad that you explored it. So thanks for doing that. Any other questions or comments or any other new business from members of the committee? Seeing none, are I Oh, sorry. Go ahead, Noah. Yeah. So, the uh end of term presentations, a lot of you have heard about it so far. There was a memo that went out a few months ago as well. Uh so for the public works committee uh we'll be collecting the uh committee's accomplishments and future opportunities to be put into this um report is a bit of a strong word for it. Uh but it'll essentially be a part of the um committee chair's report to council. Uh so the next two meetings will have time dedicated in the agenda to to putting these together. So there won't be time spent outside of the meeting. no working groups or subcommittees on that. Uh the finalized list of the accomplishments and future opportunities will be given to me. I will be putting together with uh the chair, councelor DFlavio, his comments for the chair's report uh which will be happening in at the meeting in June uh to council and that will be where that's delivered and that will mark the end of the uh of this committee for this term. Uh so as I mentioned the chair uh councelor DeFlavia will present the report during the sorry I misspoke not the June meeting the July meeting July 13th council meeting and other members of this committee are welcome and invited to attend in person or online. Thank you Noah. And if there are anything anything that you uh comes to mind from for committee members, uh please feel free to email Brandon and Noah and and myself and we'll make sure that those things get mentioned. Uh I can tell you that I appreciate the work of this committee and all the things that we've learned and and all the things that staff have done up until now. So, thank you for all that. I'll thank you again before our last meeting. The next public meeting uh works committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 7th, 2026th at 6:30 p.m. Meeting's adjourned. Have a great night, everybody.

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