Transcript: Bus Detour Safety Crisis Debated - Public Works Committee - April 13, 2026 | Summary 295

Sound check. 1 2 3. Sound check. 1 2 3. Good morning everyone and welcome to the public works committee meeting for today April 13 2026. We have quorum present in for today's meeting and I'd like to call this meeting officially to order. A reminder that all electronic devices will be switched to a non-audible function during committee meetings and there are no ceremonial activities. In the room with me for quorum is councelor Francis, councelor Tatterson, councelor Jackson, councelor Bey, councelor Pauls, councelor Cooper, councelor M. Wilson, councel McMaken, councelor Cretch, councelor spataphora, councelor hang and councelor casar. Um moving on to approval of the agenda among you. May I have a mover and seconder to put the agenda for approval? Thank you, councelor Hang. Second by councelor Crretch. Any discussion on the agenda? Seeing none, show a hand vote, please. All those in favor? That carries. Thank you. Next is declarations of interest. Any? Seeing none, we'll move on to five. Adoption of the minutes of our previous meeting which was held on March 23rd, 2026. A mover and seconder to put the minutes on the floor. Councelor Kasar and Councelor Hang. Thank you both. Um, any discussion on the minutes? It's been a while. Just pausing for dramatic opportunity. Uh, all those in favor, please show hands, vote. Any opposed? Seeing none, that carries. On to delegations. Before we begin our delegations for today, members are reminded that questions of delegations are for clarification purposes only and not for debate. And a note to all of our delegates who are speaking today in person or online. You have five minutes to complete your oral delegation. At the four minute mark, you'll hear a little ping sound, which is a one minute warning for you just to kind of help you think about a one minute wrap-up. Um, and then when you're done, I ask you to stay at the podium. There's likely going to be some questions from committee members. Give me a chance to acknowledge my committee fellow fellow committee members to ask you questions. stay sta standing until those questions are done and then we'll let you know and you can go back to your seat or uh turn off your camera online. So for today we do have five different topics for delegations. Uh first up is Kathleen Pierce respecting the proposed HSR bus stop at Maple and Edgemont. Councelor Wang Sorry, my apologies. Give me a second. Thank you. Uh, chair, I wonder if we could ask for uh two minutes extra. Um, sure. Move by yourself. Councelor Pauls. Thank you. No problem. Thank you. Committee members, we're just going to make a quick amendment to the agenda to extend the time for this delegation by two minutes. And that will be an electronic vote because it's a formal change to the agenda. It will be the first electronic vote of the meeting. So you all know it may take a moment to load on your screens, but as soon as you see it, please vote electronically. Thank you. I see your thumbs up, councelor Jackson. Okay, if you can refresh your pages, the voting in progress symbol is there. I just refreshed and the vote disappeared. Um, okay, it is loaded now. Councelor Francis is in the affirmative. Councelor Jackson is in the affirmative. And that carries. Thank you for bearing with us to get that extended time. Delegate Pierce, go ahead when you're ready. chair and members of the public works committee. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Kathleen Pierce and I am here as a concerned Ward 4 resident regarding HSR's temporary bus route along Maple and Edgemont due to LRT construction. You may recall that in December 2025, a delegation was presented and raised serious and foreseeable safety concerns about this temporary route. At that time, safer alternatives were identified. Despite these concerns, HSR is moving forward with the current plan and has advised that rider communication will be mailed out imminently. Today I am asking council to act now and direct HSR to choose the safer temporary option before this route is implemented. This is the route which HSR has selected along residential streets Maple and Edge Mount which are not designed or equipped to handle buses. This slide here shows multiple routes that HSR has reviewed. One option in purple, the base route, avoids all the safety concerns I will address today. I want to be clear that we are not asking to delay LRT work or undo any of the HSR's careful planning. We are simply asking council to choose the safer route HSR has already identified. Next slide. HSR has selected the L rout route along Maple and Edgemont with the primary reason that it limits rider walk to bus stops. The base route has been acknowledged by staff as the safest route. To date, a petition of 75 residents, town halls, countless emails and letters, and now a second delegation have occurred. Despite this, HSR is choosing ridership over safety. While I understand this is a temporary detour, temporary measures still require careful planning and a strong focus on safety. A slightly longer walk is a reasonable and necessary trade-off if it helps prevent serious harm. Convenience should never outweigh foreseeable harm. For context, this issue affects far more than a few households. Delta United Church, sitting directly on this route, serves over 1,500 vulnerable users each month, including adult day programs, scouts groups, and multiple church groups. There are also over 1,000 students attending three adjacent elementary schools, many walking independently. Add on top of that residents, seniors, daily pedestrians, private school buses, and darts buses who run along this route. While some riders may need to walk a bit further to the base route, bus riders are generally able to do so safely. In contrast, children, pedestrians, vulnerable darts vehicle users face this far greater risk. Residents have already witnessed multiple near misses and collisions, showing this is not a theoretical concern. High traffic and sighteline concerns have already existed on this street. In August 2025 on Maple Street, just one block away was a pedestrian fatality. Across Hamilton, we have seen recent tragedies involving crossing guards, children, and those with disabilities. While those incidents happened elsewhere in the city, they highlight the same population group in our community and show that foreseeable risk occurs when safety concerns are not addressed proactively. Hamilton's vision zero action plan is based on a simple principle. Traffic injuries are preventable. The city has committed to acting before tragedies happen. Allowing HSR to move forward with this detour in despite documented risks, community engagement, and safer alternatives goes against that commitment. HSR's route choice focuses on rider convenience. Dismissing our safety concerns, indicating that their drivers are professionally trained. This falls under outdated traditional thinking of road safety and contradicts vision zero, which requires us to design systems that account for human error and to prioritize prevention. Narrow residential streets leave little room for human error. This detour would operate daily from early morning to late at night over extended period of time. That means repeated exposure to a known risk at an already problematic intersection. If you were to walk our street on any given school hour or evening, you can see lines of parked vehicles with elderly residents trying to slowly access church, children running in and out of programming, darts buses trying to secure residents safely inside buildings. We are not just raising a concern. We are offering a practical solution. The base routes keep buses on Ontario roads designed for this traffic and removes the key hazards along Maple Street. It does not require additional cost or work. The only trade-off is a slightly longer walk for some riders. We believe that is reasonable compromise to significantly improve safety. If the SI city is serious about preventing injury, then safety must guide our decision-making. Since our last delegation and a huge engagement from our neighborhood, HSR plans remains unchanged. This is deeply disappointing to our community. We believe there is still time to make a meaningful change before harm occurs. We respectfully ask council to bring forward a motion directing HSR to implement the safer base route that has already been evaluated. You do not have to choose between progress and safety. HSR has already provided a way to do both. Now is the time to move forward from discussion to action. Thank you. Thank you for your delegation. We do have some um committee members identified on the speakers list. First up we have councelor Hang. Thank you. Thank you so much for your delegation. It was excellent. Uh I think uh just to get a kind of sense and clarity uh what's the in terms of the base route you're asking to take all the way down King Street all the way to Kennallorth go around the traffic circle down Kennorth again. So then that way you're eliminating you're asking to eliminate all of those stops in between. Is that what you're asking for? Sorry if I can answer that. My name is Jay Pierce. I'm her husband. Uh so through the chair um it's a good question. So basically there's uh I believe four stops between um Park Row and Kennallorth. Yes. Those are the stops that would be impacted. Right. So uh the distance between Park Row which is the furthest stop to where the bus route would still be on Kennallorth at uh at Maine is only 590 m. Okay. So it's not it's not necessarily eliminating it's just adding a short distance of a walk to um a stop at Kennorth and Main. Oh, okay. Cuz I I I know you put up the picture, so I'm thankful that you guys did that because in that way it just shows that rather than trying to keep close, you're asking to move the base route all the way down to the traffic count or traffic circle and then back down back downward street. Okay. Thank you again for your advocacy. Thank you so much to all of your uh neighbors that are here today, too. I do recognize that there are a bunch of them in the audience today. So, but I thank you for taking this time and coming down here. Thank you so much. If I can just say one thing to that just uh the baser was designed by HSR so it's not something we've come up with. They've actually designed that as a a potential route that could be utilized by the bus and we can definitely ask them later on after we receive your delegation. We can ask to staff how to clarify any of these. But thank you so much. Thank you councelor Hang. Just a reminder to the remainder of my committee members. It's through the chair to speak to the delegates. Thank you. Uh next up we have councelor Pauls. Thank you and thank you Kathleen and Jay. It's nice to have a couple come and share and I know you have done lots of work on this. So I want to thank you. Can you let me know as HSR uh specifically answered uh your concern? Did they call you? Did they answer your concern? And what if they did what was the main problem why they did not want to change? Thanks uh through the chair if I can answer that question. So, um, early on, uh, when this was all kind of, uh, coming to light in relation to the detour, there were some emails that I sent to HSR, uh, the email response I got back was basically, thank you for your concern, but we're moving ahead. Um, it wasn't a discussion um, in relation to, uh, how we felt. It was basically, this is happening, it's happening in February. Um, sorry, can you just ask the second part of your question there? The the second question, what what if they did reply, what was their main concern? Because I want you to know that the city takes safety first priority is safety. That's number one. So if the city has that priority, did they tell you the reason why they would not implement your uh I can answer. You want to answer that your request? Sure. Uh through the chair. um that what what their response was was that their drivers are professionally trained. So, it's fine, that this is temporary, that even though it's a narrow residential street, that temporary detours happen all the time and this isn't something that the community, you know, needs to worry about, that their riders are professionally trained and they'll they're able to navigate this. Okay. Yeah. And through the chair, just the specific sticking point for them was the distance that their riders were going to have to walk. So, um my understanding is that they have a uh discrepancy of about 400 m that they will re implement a new stop. Um and it was just outside of that 400 m. Um so for them it was more about convenience for their riders uh as opposed to the safety of the community. All right. And you know it's going to start soon. Did they tell you the time and and how did they tell you how long it would be and the time? Yes. So through the chair. Uh so we were told uh back last year that it was going to start February this year. Obviously um uh that hasn't started at this point and I think it just kind of shows uh the way that you know contracting and construction works within the city. Um they said that it was going to be four months but at the end of the day I think it's uh it's you know if we take an honest look at you know how quickly construction moves that that's going to be delayed and not to mention the fact that yes this is one component of uh of water manes that are going to be changed and cables that are going to be uh moved within the ground but when the actual LRT needs to be going in is this a route now they're going to be implementing for the next you know two three four five years and that's a huge safety concern for our community. You're right. And I am concerned because it's uh you said there's schools and there's over how many a thousand ch how many children? Yeah. Over a thousand per three uh schools walking. So I think we really need to look at it if that's what it is. And also residents and and I'm concerned about the darts as well. So you did uh you did a great presentation and I think I know it's temporary. It's only four months. they say could be six months, but probably uh I'm sure counselor uh Wang has communicated with you and she'll find out how long and she'll ask questions to staff to make sure. But even if it's four months, I think safety has to come first, you know, and not ridership, you know, and I think we'll take it from there. And I'm sure you're in good hands with counselor Wang and she will be asking staff some questions and we'll see where we're at. Okay. Thank you. And again, it's great to see a couple coming doing the work and coming and delegating together. Thank you. Thank you, councelor Pauls. Next up, we have councelor Jackson. Thanks, Chair Nan. Good afternoon and nice to meet you both. Kathleen Jay. Uh, so I detected from your presentation that you both are, if not supporters, but you're okay with the LRT proceeding. Can I just get that confirmed through you, Chair Nan, if I interpreted that correctly, please? Yes, through the chair. We have we are well aware that there will be lots of construction moving forward related to the LRT and we do not want to hinder or put up any barriers to that um or actually add any work or cost. We are simply analyzing what HSR has already proposed and requesting on behalf of the safety of the community. Thanks Kathleen. Just to get my geography straight um Maple is east west and Edge Mount is north south. Is that correct? Correct. And so it's the zigzag coming off of Ottawa onto Maple and then going north on Edgemount to resume. Correct. Correct. On the one King line. Correct. So is it more and I've heard your plea safety is paramount. Is it more that you're just skeptical about the 4month time period and that Tom if they would absolutely guarantee this could be done in two months, 3 months max. All right, we'll put up with it. We're not happy. Or is it just still the overall principle of your concerns? Through you, uh, Chair Nan, please. Thank you, Council Jackson. Through the chair. Um, because this bus runs every 15 minutes from 5:00 a.m. till 3:00 a.m. I believe 1:00 a.m. Sorry. Um, 4 months is still exposed like ongoing risk. So, it is still a concern for us. Not just that it's a four potentially a four-month period, but that the near misses we see on a daily basis. Um we still see it as very problematic. Okay. Appreciate the sincerity of your answers. Thanks, Chair Nan. Thank you, Councelor Jackson. Uh there Oh, councelor Tatis. Hi, I'm over here. Hi. Um, I do have one caution about what you're stating here and and it goes to the distance where you say base one for some of these for some of your ridership it's going to be an extra 650 m um and then I do sit on a committee it's called ACPD accessibility committee for people with disabilities and anyone along that route that is that uses the um HSR but also uses a wheelchair that gives me concerns about that extra distance for those people traverse in order to to take the suggested route. Do you have any comments about that? Yeah, through the chair. Um, I do appreciate that as well because I think that is a valid um concern. I think um living on that on our street um along Maple there is constantly full of darts buses. So, and private school buses that run at that exact location that are coming on and off at London and Maple. So the extra distance does disadvantage some, but if you're looking at a comparison between those that are already at a higher disadvantage in accessibility, then I guess it's it's those people aren't accessing the bus because they can't. Okay. Perhaps uh through the chair, if I can just uh just uh just add on to that. Um I I think I think if we look at this practically um yes there will be some riders that are going to be disadvantaged and that's understandable. I guess what the uh the community is saying is that there's going to be a lot more people that are at risk within that community as a result. Um, so is there something that HSR can put into play uh to assist those people uh for that time frame as opposed to inconveniencing and potentially uh causing safety risk for um thousands more? Okay, I appreciate that answer. Um and that's always an alternative I guess that wasn't presented um to you as an option. It's just like I said for me that that caution is when when people with disabilities have to cross intersections and and they would probably have to cross seven or eight to get to the closest stop. That that gives me a a rise in concern. Not that it's not navigated regularly anyways, but anytime we add to that population more difficulty, it just becomes like exponentially greater for them than say the regular uh people who have mobility to just like walk a little bit. Okay, so that's that's my concussion about your presentation today. But I really thank you for coming in and actually, you know, maybe giving us some consideration about options for people that ride the HSR and have disabilities. Thank you. Appreciate that. Thank you, Councelor Tatis. That exhausts our speakers list in terms of questions to your delegation. Thank you both for coming in to delegate. Um, it's been do we are we going to do them individually or are we doing all of them at the end in terms of receiving them? I did want to separate this out because I did hear councelor Hang indicate at the beginning of this that there would be an opportunity once we received this delegation to get some clarity from staff on this specific one. I do prefer if committee is okay with it just to wrap up one topic at a time. Uh so if I could get a mover and councelor Huang and seconder and councelor Paul's in receiving the delegation. You're both welcome to join your seats there and listen in on the keen questions coming in uh from my committee colleagues to HSR and to traffic operations. Uh so that's been duly moved and seconded. Uh it's a receipt. Show a hand vote. All those in favor? Any opposed? Seeing none, over to you councelor Hang in terms of your clarifying questions to HSR and staff. Thank you. I wanted to ask through you chair just a question around um how are we dealing with uh a lot of those vulnerable users that uh our delegates have brought up. So around Delta United the church the day program there. Uh so I wonder if I could ask staff to help with clarifying that that question please. Uh through the chair Nancy Perer, director of transit. Um we have uh taken uh everything into consideration in the area um to ensure that the route is safe um and that um uh the bus can maneuver in the area without incident. I will have uh Nick Shalo, manager of transit uh planning um to actually answer um more detailed on this question. Good afternoon, council. Just confirming I'm heard. Yep, we can hear you. Please proceed. Thank you. Um, so starting with the Delta United Church and the darts travel there, the day program that exists with a lot of users. Um, I have my colleague on the line as well with ATS, but we've confirmed that the layover zone for those users will be maintained. There should be no impact to Dart's clients accessing the church. it will be much as it is today. Um, in terms of vulnerable users using conventional service, so the one king route, as the delegates were mentioning, our focus has been on maintaining walking access to the route. Um, some of the options, including the base route that's been discussed, push bus service over 800 meters out of the way for folks. And it essentially would mean that Maine and Ottawa does not have transit service within walking distance from that intersection. Um that is one of the main reasons as was noted we chose this route to maintain that access. Um I think you may be asking some of these in later questions but we do have a number of safety interventions we've made on the street right of way in collaboration with our road safety and traffic divisions which are intended to keep this route as safe as possible. I'm happy to give some more details on that if needed. Thank you. My second question through you is um perhaps to the LRT office around time frame and timelines. So I wonder if I could ask one person from the LRT office. Director Shake is in the room. Go ahead through the chair. This is the Abdul Shik director LRT project office. So as uh previously mentioned once the construction start uh then the closure of that intersection will be up to 4 months and obviously we will try to optimize if we can complete sooner in terms of we where we are though the procurement that project is under the procurement right now and what I understand is going to go into the market probably sometime very soon and if I'm not mistaken it will go up to four weeks for tender process. So technically we could see shovel in the ground probably sometime in late June. Late June. All right. Thank you. Uh also is there any um question around uh sorry I perhaps I could ask HSR staff to just go ahead and examine or tell us why the base route was eliminated from their um from their dis from their consideration. So could if uh HSR could provide the clarity on the decision-making matrix and why the several options were weighed out and this one was the preferred one. Over to you. Uh so again uh Nancy Perer, director of transit. I will start and then I'll pass it over to Nick. Um Nick already alluded to our service standards that our um local routes travel are within 400 meters. So uh people can access the bus within 400 m of the stop. Um this route would be over um 800 m. We are using this base route to uh detour our express service. The beline is going to follow that base route because it has a service standard of 800 meters and so people will accept that. Um I'll hand it over to Nick for some more details. Thanks, Nick Schloom, manager, trans strategic planning. Um, as noted, the walking access at 1 King was key. Uh, as the director just noted, we did split out our service. So, there are actually three routes that would have been affected by this detour. Uh, and we did maintain two of the three routes on arterialbased detours because of the service standards and the route design being targeted to more cross city travel. One king is a local oriented route. it's really on maintaining that local access. So, keeping the route within 400 meters of its original stops was much more of a priority relative to the other two routes. The other factors we took into consideration were travel times for our customers and for our operations. Um, so the the route that we selected is a much more direct route than following the arterials down to Kennallorth. That creates travel time savings for our riders. It means they're not having to wait as long for this detour. We're trying to maintain the level of service that we conventionally give them. Um, and it also does have some savings on our operational side in that we're not running the buses as long out on the streets. Um, the last thing we did consider were the possibility of safety mitigations. Um, so when we were looking at local routes that we saw had the accessibility and time savings benefits, we were balancing that only when we were able to put in safety interventions like moving stop bars, adjusting parking, and introducing temporary stops that would keep the buses moving through the community safely. My last question um as it relates to what are the safety mitigations because I do know that manager Nick had already um outlined a bunch of them, but I do know that there um in the delegation it specifically asked for a temporary stop at Maple and Edgemont. Just wanted to get clarity from traffic teams, safety teams about whether that stop is temporary or permanent. Please uh through the chair Vincent Fraser, director of transportation. uh we're going to have to come back to with that answer to identify if it's a permanent or temporary, but we can do that hopefully by the end of the meeting. So, chair, I do recognize that director Sprazza is new. I do have an email confirmation from staff um saying that there it's already supposed to be permanent, but I'll uh double check and make sure that we're um that we're confirmed 100%. But, uh I know I put you in a rough spot there, director. I'm really sorry about that. So, it's all right. through the chair. That's quite all right. Okay. Thank you. Those are all my questions. Thank you very much. Thank you. Uh next up we have councelor Casar followed by councelor Wilson. Thanks chair nan and through you. Um to my best recollection is this is the first time a detour has come to this committee uh for deliberation because it's you know I think it's generally an operational activity. Um so my question to either director Per or manager Shaloo is I I believe and just looking for confirmation chair that you know detours are part of normal process for construction. Uh, I think we're also going to be expecting detours through LRT. And so I'm just want to make sure that we're holding integrity in the process and allowing staff to go through what they need to do to ensure safe, reliable, cost-effective transit through the detours that happened today and then are going to happen through the LRT. So maybe just looking for confirmation that what I've said is is correct. Thank you. Uh, through the chair. Uh, yes. Uh detours generally are considered operational um and determined by staff based on um risks. Uh they looking at things like turning radiuses um ability to maneuver within the streets within the area. Um we follow already um uh set service standards by council to try and maintain those service standards. Uh so from a council perspective um from you know governance is making sure that we are following those practices and not introducing additional risk. Okay, that's helpful. And then I heard manager Shaloo say chair a list of safety interventions. I wasn't sure if those were specific to what was done here or those are just general considerations. So maybe if manager Shaloo could just uh articulate what was done to improve safety during this detour. Thanks. Of course. Uh thank you councelor through the chair. Um we've made a number of changes. One of the big ones is adjusting parking on the street and stop bars so that buses can move and turn safely. I know turns are the one of the more risky movements a bus can do. So for example, the route is only running in one direction. We've shifted the parking from essentially the right side of the street to the left wherever possible so that the buses first of all have more clearance and second of all don't have a vehicle blocking their sight lines. That's the same logic with the stop bar adjustments at both Maple and Ottawa and I believe Maple and Edgemont um where the buses will have a safer stopping position that traffic won't block them. We've added a temporary stopped sign which I believe has now been confirmed as permanent as the other counselor was alluding to at Maple and Edgemon itself. We did hear when we were out in the community last year um that that was a priority for the residents because there were near misses and a lot of incidents in the past. So we prioritized that temporary stop and I understand that's why it's become permanent. Um the other thing we've done in several locations we have our temporary bus stops. These are essentially a trafficcoming and safety measure as well. We position stops in such a way that they are at crossings like the pipeline trail so that buses are going to stop before that major pedestrian crossing and similarly the other stops on the route are right immediately following a turn where buses will not be moving as quickly and will have good sight lines as they come to a stop. Uh I believe that is the majority of the measures. Uh there are some others on the arterialbased routes but I know that is a different focus from one king. Great that's very helpful. Thank you. Thank you councelor Casar. Next up we have councelor Maren Wilson. Thank you chair. Um thank you to councelor Casar for that last question. It was going to be my first. Um, I'd like to thank the delegates um for bringing um this matter to our attention. I think when any resident highlights um a concern with its safety, increasingly these elected councils and this council in particular um must pay attention. Um but I admit a little confusion on the premise of the concern. Um on our agenda today um we happen to have the annual collision report. So on the thesis that HSR buses present a risk particular particularly to our most vulnerable my assumption would have been that in the absence of buses this could induce um more singular occupancy vehicles. um it could disable um some of our some of the residents of the ward from accessing church and school. So if I may ask through the chair to staff uh does the collision report uh give us any comparative analysis on the collision history of HSR buses compared to single vehicles. Thank you. Through the chair, through the councelor, Vince Baras, the director of transportation. Uh to answer the question, yes, the data in the report does provide a comparative analysis of collisions with buses and collisions with single occupancy vehicles. And um the data indicates that buses are considerably less involved in any collisions uh relative to single occupancy vehicles. Thank you. Um do you have any uh specific numbers to reference that just so into the public record? Yep. Uh through the chair I'll ask the manager Mike Field to provide that specific data. Thank you. through the chair to the councelor. It's a good day to ask this question because the annual collision report as you mentioned is uh is uh soon up on the agenda. There's a series of tables within the collision report. Intersection pedestrian collisions by vehicle type. Um buses are involved in approximately 2.8% of those types of collisions and passenger vehicles are 75% of those collisions. Um uh for road segments for the same the same uh thing uh pedestrian involved collisions within road segments for buses 3.5% versus 75.8%. It's considerable difference. Thank you. There's no further speakers on this. Uh oh my apologies. You have to indic Well, okay. Uh sorry. Thank you. Thank you, chair. I just wanted to go back on the timeline. I heard that shovels are going to be in June. So, uh, so June, July, August. So, by before school starts again, this will be all done. I just want to confirm the timing because the concern also is sometimes we say four months and it could be eight months. So, I just want to confirm shovels in June and the finish line before school starts. Director Shake. through the chair this is Abdul Shek director LRT project office so uh as as I mentioned earlier that we are planning shovel on the ground end of June it depends upon the procurement right now the information is with procurement and we are hoping that it's going to go in market anytime soon right so depends upon the procurement and depends upon how the procurement processes go but that's really what we are aiming to go and shovel in the ground by end of June right and director shake if you could just clarify you've heard from the community pretty loud and clear about trying to uh have this construction project done in advance of the school year starting again and then subsequently through both town halls in W three and four. There was discussion about mitigation efforts that will be built into the construction should the construction need to go past September and back to school which I think is essentially what councelor Pauls is trying to get to is the student population safety considerations inside this construction project. I'll entertain that question. And I know it's just slightly off, but the whole purpose of this detour is related to the LRT construction line. So, if somebody can respond to that, please through the chair. I will probably ask Dennis. He's our construction uh SPM and he can probably provide more timelines if you don't mind. Dennis, you can come here. Dennis, you're going to have to come to a mic. Yeah. And um please introduce yourself before you speak. Okay. Thank you. Thank you through the chair. Uh good afternoon everyone. Dennis Pusen, senior project manager within the LRT cons uh constructions office within the city of Hamilton. Uh we will be four months. We will be into when the school recommences. With speaking about the school though, we have been in communication now for the past 3 months with the school board trustees, with the principal. Uh we have sent notices that we have sent to councelor Nan and councelor Quang's offices as well advising that the construction will be commencing soon. We have made arrangements for pickup and drop off of children on Dunmir where there's a pathway there. Um we still have pedestrian access along Main Street as well as Ottawa Street. There will be some parking, if you will, on Ottawa Street, just north of Maine, uh, between Dunmere and and Main Street for some parents that do perhaps or guardians that wish to park there in order to bring their smaller children to school and whatnot. Uh, we've also had conversations with regards to the daycare activities that'll be taking place there. We have put in some additional mitigation measures within our contract during the construction while the children or whomever is playing outside or perhaps is visiting the school. Uh we have also planned to add some additional police enforcement throughout the neighborhood. Uh obviously during the beginning of beginning of the project we will have a police officer there. We'll be making arrangements with them to complete enforcement to complete speeding to complete those and you know issue tickets to those who may uh perhaps run a stop sign or potentially cause an issue. Uh we have been working with the school crossing guard team as well to ensure that when school does re return in September that we do have the necessary people and staff to be there to assist them to get around and whatnot. Thank you so much councelor Paul. Does that help clarify? Uh yeah I really thank you for asking that uh question that I was going to ask too. Safety measures are so important to put and timing is important. uh PE residents are saying sometimes when the city does something takes longer. So uh we want to make sure the timing uh is there four months and uh make sure the safety uh measures are there. So thank you for the answer. Thank you committee members for clarifying all your questions related to the delegation. We're going to move on in our agenda now. Um vote to receive. Yeah, it was moved and seconded already. We did vote to receive in order to ask these questions. So done. Um councelor Casar, if I could ask you to take the chair. Go ahead. Thank you through you. Uh councelor Casar. It's been brought to my attention that we do have a couple of high school students who are on the agenda to delegate and they're pressing up against the time they need to move on to their jobs. Okay. Um, and so I'm requesting an accommodation for young minds to bring their voices forward. Uh, and move up 6.4 on the agenda. Okay. So, uh, you're moving that moved by myself and seconded by council me. Thank you. And do we need a hand vote or electronic vote? Hand vote for that. All those in favor? Any opposed? Seeing none, that carries. Thank you. So, we'll move up. Uh, item 6.4 four is next, which is delegations respecting multi-use court at Gage Park in W 3. And we have Julia Neans and also going to be joined uh by a fellow neighbor. This is your time to come on down and this is related to item 11.1 on the agenda. committee members. And as the slideshow is being uh loaded to our two first-time delegates to the public works committee, just a reminder again, you've got five minutes. At the one at the four-minute mark, you're going to hear a ding. That just means you've got a minute left to wrap up. Whenever you're ready, and if you could both introduce yourselves, uh first and last name for the public record. So far, we only have Julia Neans listed. Thank you. Okay. Um chair, members of the public works committee, thank you for moving us up. Um, my name is Nori and I'm in grade 11. I play on school basketball team and I am currently a student living in Ward 3 and I work as a lifeguard at the YMCA. Chair and members of the public works committee. My name is Julia Nevin. I'm a grade 11 student living in W 3 near Gage Park. I play for my school basketball team and a rep team. I work at Burning Raleigh Rec Center and I'm a national youth ambassador at Live Different. We both love basketball and play any chance we get. And today we are here as youth from W 3 representing our community. We are request requesting that the timeline for the city's previously existing plan to build a basketball multisport court engaged park be moved up and planned to be built within the next year. In the city's master plan, a basketball court engaged park is already recognized as a need and that will serve the community well. Both Nory and I are in agreement with this recognition of this need. So, we are here to convince and inform you that this need should be fulfilled sooner than 201. That is the current year set in the city's master plan. That is 25 years from now. I don't know about you, but I will be 41 when this court is supposed to be built. And I'm just speaking from seeing my parents that I will probably be more focused on back pain than playing recreational basketball. Just just saying. Oh, yes. The basketball court is a need that would serve the community well. Especially now in the past few years, we as a city and us personally have seen significant rise in interest in basketball, specifically from young women. We are very excited with about the WNBA team Toronto Tempo and many have heard of Shay Gil Alexander. He is an NBA all-star and MVP from Hamilton. It is an amazing thing to see someone who is from our city making the NBA and encouraging young players like us that maybe you can be the next Shay. It is inspiring and incredible thing to see how many girls and boys are trying out for basketball teams all over the city. Hamilton city of Hamilton in schools, rep teams and HBA teams. And in recent years, we have noticed that basketball open gyms and outdoor courts throughout the city have become packed with youth from our community. ages ranging anywhere from 10 to 18 years old. Even at the rec centers where we work, the basketball open gyms are always completely full. We've noticed that Gage Park, while being a beautiful and diverse park, there are not a lot of options for teens. They have a playground and splash pads for the younger kids. And unless teens these days are really into lawn bowling and joining tennis clubs, there aren't a lot of options. Nory, when's the last time you went lawn bowling? Never. Okay. The park isn't serving the teens in our community as well as it could be. A court-gaged park would get so much use and be a great addition to an already amazing area. As well as that, studies show that youth who have sport recreation available to them lowers the risk of drug use, vandalism, and crime, and they are way more likely to be successful in the future. Which is why a court would be such a positive thing for the youth in our community. This court would provide more opportunities within a closer distance for youth in the city to play basketball and other sports. This is what a multisport court could offer. And this is why we want the addition of the court to be moved up so that today's youth can have a nice outdoor court within walking distance to play basketball with their friends. There is a dense population of youth around Gage Park that don't all have a court within a kilometer or two of their homes. And we want to change that. The city builds excellent multisport courts. For example, sometimes we go to Montgomery Park to play. It is wellused court, but is far walk from where the youth in our area live. The Montgomery basketball court is a nice multisport court with lots of nets and room and it gets so much use out of it and it is the base idea for the type of court we would like in Gage Park. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen and we hope that you will consider the need and hopefully decide to move up the construction of this court to the next year so that today's youth can have an opportunity to play on a court close to home. Uh we will take any questions. Thank you both for your delegation and uh you came in uh 30 seconds sparing your time limit. Uh first up we have councelor Wilson. Thank you very much uh to the delegates. Uh that was an excellent overview. Um and I appreciate the reference to the back pain. You're not far off. Um uh it uh it always a comment and then I do have a question confounds me. Um that I as a mother of three I often hear uh comments out there bemoning the fact that uh you know kids are lazy, kids don't get off their screen. Um, we're concerned about kids and yet we don't give youth uh of your age um many options other than a splash pad or a lawn bowling club. So, thank you for pointing that out. Um, can you speak to me? Uh, I don't represent Ward 3. Um, you did reference McGomery Park. Um, but can you speak to me about kind of the the profile of what you do have access to at present in terms of um physical fitness or physical uh wreck assets through the chair. Um, so yeah, so basketball isn't quite only the is the only issue. It's all sporting facilities in W three. We have no arenas, no proper size soccer fields, and only two baseball diamonds, and only two adult-sized basketball courts. So, the only courts we can play on are still, like we showed in the pictures, quite a distance from us. Thank you very much. Um, and when did you start playing basketball? Through the chair. Um, through the chair. Uh, I started playing basketball in grade seven and am currently still playing through my school. and through the chair. Um, I started playing in grade eight and yeah, it's just picked up since then. Um, and through the chair, how does it make you feel when you're out on the court? Um, it's a really like freeing experience. It's just great to get your mind off things and help relieve stress or when you're worried about something, just going and shooting around, not necessarily with people, but just having something close to you is just a really nice way to just relax and work on your skill. Yeah. And through the chair, uh, for me too, it's like whenever I'm stressed out, basketball is kind of like the outlook. It's just something fun that I feel confident in. And I have my like the best times and it's a free activity whenever I get to hang out with Nory and some of our other friends playing at the courts. It's always just something I love to do. Thank you very much again and appreciate your delegation. Thank you, Councelor Wilson. Um, no other questions. So, through you, uh, Vice Chair Casar, thank you both for coming in to delegate. Uh, thank you for bringing forward your idea in the first place, being brave enough to be like, "Hey yo, Councelor Nan, I I want to talk to you one day. How do I make that happen?" I think that you've uh really demonstrated just how important it is that young people feel confident and comfortable and that their counselors are accessible to hearing their ideas. Um so I did have one question for you through the vice chair and that is um can you tell me a little bit more about your community? Can you tell me about more of the young people in our local neighborhood around Gage Park? Have you had conversations with your peer group? tell us a little bit more insight in terms of what they're asking for here. Yeah, through the chair. Um I one time at a youth group, I went to Nor's youth group and I we got on the topic about basketball and there was like three guys who just pitched in right away and they're like, "Oh, we love playing basketball." And I was like, "Oh, where do you play?" And they're like, "Well, we have to drive and go to rec centers and stuff because we don't have one in our area." And they're saying how they go to Gage Park a lot, but they don't have a court there. So that kind of really sparked the idea and yeah I yeah I have a lot of friends too in the neighborhood like Nory and we just like I always see kids playing basketball and there's so many kids playing basketball. I see kids dribbling a ball in Gage Park without the net um through the chair. I have three younger siblings and we go to the park all the time. Uh we actually go to Lifesaver Park which isn't too far from our house. It is roughly a hundred meters or so further than Gage Park. And we have friends that we can play with, but it's actually a lot harder, we found, to make plans because going to Lifesaver is a great option, but everybody on the other side of Gage Park doesn't have the same access to that park. So lifesaver is a great option for the people in the immediate area, but trying to make plans and having people come from almost at like province to way down at Life Park on the opposite end. It's actually harder and gauge park is a lot more of a central area in our ward and we would that's why we want a park. Thank you. Uh no further questions. I'll take back the chair. Thank you both for your delegation. There's nobody else with supplementary questions, so you can uh head back to your seats. Thank you both. Next up, we have uh 6.2, which is delegations respecting placing replacing the playground structure and adding shade structures at Memorial Elementary School, 1175 Main Street East, Hamilton, uh in Ward 3, item 11.2 on the agenda. First up, we have Robin Heidi Curry in person. Welcome to the public works committee. Um, as I mentioned to previous delegates, you have 5 minutes in total at the 4-minute mark. You're here holding is just a little reminder to you that you've got time to wrap up. So, whenever you're ready. Am I on? I'm on. Thank you so much. Thank you so much, chair. Thank you so much, council. Um, my name is Robin Curry. Um, I am here today as a parent and as a mother of a child at uh, Memorial School. Some of you may recognize me from my professional role. I work with Wesley and I'm a director there, but I am not in that capacity today. So, just so we're all clear. Um, not to brag, I'm also on the parent council. So, in case you're Thank you. It's a I value that role so very much. Um, I'm here before you to ask for your support in in the hopes of getting a new playground at Memorial. Our current structure is nearing or is at its end of life. It is rusty. It is not able to support members of our community who have physical disabilities and we would just really like to see it replaced. Um, by having a working operating playground, this allows our children, um, just lost what I was saying here. Bear with me. Um, allows our children to engage in important physical activity, which keeps them off of screens as we've heard our previous delegation for the basketball court mention. um uh promotes risk-taking in safe spaces, allows children to play with their peers, and generally gets kids outside, which is so important, especially for young children and as they grow up. And uh overall, it is the hottest spot for the tenant under crowd in uh the memorial area. If you're if you think I'm joking, if it's warm today and it's 4:00, you're going to see that playground rammed. Um, but currently the way we're seeing it, it saddens me and my my friends and other parents and community to see it fall to such disrepair. Um, it is rusty and like I mentioned before, it is bordering on dangerous. While I just outlined the physical attributes and why it's important for children on a physical level, it also builds community. And the definition of community I'm using today is incorporating a group of people who not only live in the same area but have shared values and a sense of belonging. So while the playground is great for children, it actually helps build community and a sense of belonging between us. Um and as you probably also know, a cornerstone of a healthy functioning society is community is that sense of belonging and shared values. So while we are helping our children, the playground also helps. You know, how many times have I gone to the playground and engaged in awkward conversation? And now months later, those people I started that awkward conversation in small talk with are friends. And in doing that, we are also role modeling what I believe the kids these day call adulting. Um, we are role modeling that for kids, right? And so when they're seeing parents engage with one another and building community and belonging, the kids are also going to learn that and practice that in their in their coming as they grow. There we go. So that's basically it. I just want to thank you for your time today. I'm going to keep it short and sweet, but I am also open to, I'm sure, any hard-hitting questions you have about playgrounds. Thank you for your delegation. Uh much appreciated. First up, we have councelor Tatterson. I'm over here. Um, 22 years ago, 2003, I was appointed the VP at Memorial City, and the playground was new at that time. So, I can appreciate that if it's that same playground structure that I was involved with for 5 years, it probably would need renewing at this point. Um, not to say that other areas in the city are as needy, um, but I just wanted to flag that that uh, I do have personal experience with that. And, um, I would love to see something that the school board recommends. Um, because I believe it was a shared collaboration between the city and the school board at the time. And the city probably installed the first one. And I did have kids jumping from the top. It's like probably 15t high down. And it it could use some remodeling. So, thank you. So, no question there, Councelor Tatterson. Thank you for those comments uh through you, uh, Vice Chair, if I could. Just one one question for you, Delegate Curry, and that is if this one if this one play structure was not replaced, the city-owned asset was not replaced, how far would the students and the community have to walk to get to a play structure that meets all those outcomes that you mentioned before? uh through the chair. Vice chair, right? Vice chair. Great. Thank you. Um great question. Uh you know, it's it's a it's a sizable walk, and when I have a four-year-old, you only have little legs, and that's what we affectionately call her. So, uh you would be walking half a kilometer or more to get to a structure at, let's say, Gage Park or AM Cunningham or Holy Name of Jesus. Those are the closest ones. Um, and I know that off the top of my head because I do go to all of them, but the closest one for a lot of us is Memorial. And it is so important. Um, and we it's used all the time. Like the weekends, it is it is a it is a hot spot to be, let me tell you. Thank you. And through you, vice chair, do you have a sense of the catchment area for Memorial Elementary School? How far north does it go in terms of the population that it supports? How far east west? Do you have a sense? Yeah, through the vice chair, I do. the catchment for memorial. Uh it is Canon Street I believe to the north. It is I believe the Escarment to the south. Um Ottawa Street to the east and Gage or just after Gage to the west. So it is a sizable um area. Y yeah. Thank you. Great. No further questions. I'll take back the chair um and we'll move on to the next delegate on our agenda which is uh Adriana Baker also in person. Hi Adriana. There is a button on the desk itself that will actually elevate the button or the desk to an appropriate height for you. Maximum height. Oh boy. And this is on. Thanks. Okay. Uh good afternoon everybody. Thanks for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Adriana. I'm a resident of W 3 in Hamilton. I'm a parent of children who go to Memorial. Uh and that's the school that's adjacent to the play structure that we're talking about. Go Mustangs. I'm here to support the motion that's being brought forward for the replacement and the upgrade of this existing playground. Uh the problem is that the current play structure has reached the end of its usable life. It's visibly aged. It's rusting. The surrounding grounds are frequently muddy and uneven. Beyond this normal wear and tear, the playground's not accessible for children with different mobility needs. And it doesn't meet uh today's expectations for inclusive, safe public spaces. For years, there's been uncertainty about the responsibility for this site, which uh ownership kind of bounces between the city and the school board. And while that uncertainty has continued, the structure continues to deteriorate, and the kids are losing access to a safe place to play. So this matters because playgrounds are not just recreational spaces, their essential community infrastructure. They support physical health, social development, creativity, and inclusion. So, I talked with my own children about what they would like to see in a new play space, and I was so proud of their responses. My oldest son had many requests. He spoke at length about the importance of climbing, sliding, swinging. He included the idea of a wheelchair accessible swing, uh, which reflects a desire for inclusion that our current structure simply doesn't support. He would like for there to be a big sign with a rainbow that says, "Memorial playground. Everyone is welcome." Um, and he also asked for a trampoline. My daughter talked about a quieter space, ideas for art, shade, rest, greenery, and connection to nature. I feel like their ideas highlight that not all children play the same way. Uh, and that inclusive play means creating spaces for movement and for calm and for creativity. Uh, my youngest son, who just turned four, simply requested that the new structure be blue. I was proud of the responses because they reflected values that I've worked hard to instill in them, including inclusivity and belonging. A modern replacement would not only improve safety, but also reflect the values of Hamilton as a city that supports equity, belonging, and healthy childhood development. That's the type of community I want to live and raise children in. In closing, I strongly support the proposed investment to replace and upgrade this place structure. It represents a long overdue resolution to an ongoing issue and a meaningful investment in our children and our community. I couldn't let this opportunity pass without adding, "Won't somebody think of the children?" which is a line from Helen Lovejoy of the Simpsons in case my reference doesn't land. Uh I encourage the committee to support the motion uh and move this project forward. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. I'm happy to take any questions. Thank you. First up, we have councelor Paul's. Thank you and thank you for your delegation. I want you know on Ward 7 I make sure all my parks are uh taken care of but I want to tell you Armstrong School they had the same issue that part uh park was just falling apart but because it was a school and you know city property we had it done and we had all the kids involved it was so exciting uh to do then decide what color the slide and all that. So, I commend you and of course I support this. Anything to do with children, anything to do with safety, uh anything to do with bringing families together. And I notice I I'm sure every ward has this that parks are where families gather. All my parks, I can't I'm having inch park, accessibility park. It's going to start now and by September it'll be all done. inclusive park, all ability park. So, it's so important and I really appreciate you coming and I support this 100%. Thank you. Thank you, Council Poles. Uh there's no further questions. Thank you so much for your delegation for spending some time with us this afternoon. Thank you, everybody. Thank you. Next up, we have pre-recorded videos on the same item. So, we'll ceue up them cue them up in order. Okay. First up is Liz Enriquez. rated playground at Memorial School. Currently, there are significant issues with the existing structure. It has incredibly poor drainage. It is converted into a muddy sand pit, mud pit every time it rains, every time there's snow melt, which makes it inaccessible to children, family, anyone with mobility aids. It's rusty and it is at its end of life. This playground in its current condition does not meet AODA standards because the surface is not firm or stable. So, anyone with canes, crutches, or wheels will sink into it. Anyone with anyone will sink into this mud pit essentially anytime it rains. The surface is not level. There are significant slopes in the playground around the playground and water essentially just goes straight into this area. A quick history of the playground is that this specific site has been a topic of conversation for close to a decade. So, this article was published by the school board and uh in collaboration with the ward counselor at the time and the trustee at the time indicating that there was going to be significant investment to memorial um in the form of new basketball courts, uh plantings, naturalized play area, pavement, line paintings, and there was a huge list of things that the decision makers at the time were going to commit to. Unfortunately, most of those did not come to fruition for whatever reason. There was an outdoor classroom that was built at Memorial, and I I don't know if funding or priorities changed, but the play structure remained the same. And many of the items listed, such as benches, shade, the new play structured, covered, long jump p lighting never came to fruition, which led to a lot of disappointment and community frustration. And people to this day, close to a decade later, still talk about how their kids or their neighbors were all brought together to the school. There was this big announcement. Everyone got super excited and they were let down. And so that's become this common sentiment of feeling let down. Now, I understand that there is a funding shortfall. It's difficult to get the investments required for these upgrades at playgrounds. It's becoming more expensive to get the proper materials and playgrounds don't re don't create any revenue and so that's a challenge. But these feelings of the community is not just about the playground. There's also soot in many of our communities. We all walk out and have to wipe down our furniture, our play structures in our backyards and our toys because of the soot. There's a lot of neglected uh buildings in the neighborhood. This picture is one of the school uh the in September the school was completely overgrown. And I know this is not a municipal issue, but it's just an example of that feeling of neglect. These buildings beside Memorial School got a lot of media attention because for years these burnt decrepit buildings with constant activity of drug use and um illegal dumping were right beside the school and people would be coming out talking to the children. Um and so it just was not a safe environment. And uh these are a lot of those examples that lead to the community feeling let down, disappointed, frustrated. And since I've been a Crown Point member, like I've just been constantly advocating for change to the school board, to industries, and to the city. So volunteers are trying our best. I've been doing a lot of grant writing with different community members, doing community advocacy, showing up to town halls, writing letters to the ministry, um the the ERRO postings, collaborating with school board trustees in the W 3 office, collaborating with local businesses, but that a volunteer can only do so much. I have a busy life. I have a full-time job, you know, and I we really just need the city's support. Um, and I don't speak just for myself. This is all volunteers. We we're doing our best, but at the end of the day, we need the city's investment and to be in alignment with the different master plans that the city has. WE SUPPORT THIS MOTION. YOU CAN see how excited the community is to support this motion. Um, and we WOULD LOVE THIS MOTION. HAVE this generation of students motion. Thank you for that. Uh, next up, Lynden. Uh, Mus Muscleman, Lindel Musleman. Thank you for the correction. Hi there. My name is Lindel Muslin and uh my pronouns are she and her. I'm the mom of a nine-year-old boy who goes to Memorial uh school. I want to uh thank you for listening to um what I have to say about requesting the update or just some maybe a whole new if possible play structure um in the community park that I believe is um city property but right adjacent to um the school uh playground at Memorial. So, um I really really support um any improvements um to the play structure. Um my son and his friends uh use the playground uh regularly um for the past 5 years. I we have uh lived in the community very close to the school and my son has attended uh Memorial and the afterchool program run through the YW.CA CA uh and uh through um that time um he has uh regularly been using the playground. It's a major focal point for the kids and the community. Um it it really brings people together. Um, one of the things that I like first noticed when we were um dropping off um our kid at school and then picking him up afterwards, we would see uh parents all congregating around the play structure um and their kids would uh play and we would all just hang out there um and enjoy the nice weather when we were lucky enough to get it. And um yeah, we we would really utilize um that uh resource and um unfortunately we've noted that there is quite a bit of uh like erosion of the material um on the play structure um or rusting as um even my um my kid has noticed um and he pointed it out to me this morning and I'll try to integrate some of the photos into this video if I'm able to before the deadline. fine today. But uh yeah, we really are concerned because uh it's just such a valuable uh uh place for um for playtime and for community like coming together um building community um around that structure and it needs some TLC. Um there is um kind of some health and safety concerns um around the play structure with the um like tearing away wearing away of like either the paint or the plasticky kind of uh surfaces. Um also I've noticed it's not that accessible. Um there is a ramp that I believe was probably designed to allow um folks in mobility devices to be able to access and go up to the upper level there. However, there's a hard ledge like there is a step that blocks the ramp. So that seems not very effective. Um maybe that means in the future uh design of the play area if there is that um I guess it's the rubber kind of ground um that would make a harder surface that would allow the on-ramping um for folks with uh disabilities and mobility devices to get onto the structure. This play structure really is like a an immediate kind of a like destination um for uh the young folks in the community for the kids and their parents um to just gather around. Another thing is we would love to see some shade if possible created and also um a bench. There is no um seating area like a bench um for caregivers. uh uh caregivers have to just sit on. Like there is a bit of a curb like um ledge kind of thing to sit on, but it's not probably up to the standards that the city probably expects for um seating and uh bench options. So, just putting that out there. Oh, and my my little guy would love to see some swings if possible, but maybe that's a kind of safety risk. I don't know. But anyway, I just thought I'd share his um his request as well. And um thank you so much for all of your time and your effort um in considering Thank you. And then we have two more pre-recorded videos. Uh, next up is Trisha Moldun. Trish and I'm a local parent of two kids and we lived here when my son was up until 26 months old. I live just around the corner. My son goes to the school and I need shade. Can you Can you tell nice and short? Thank you. Appreciate that, Trisha. Next up, we have Vanda. Oh, no, we don't. That one, the video never made it in on time. Thank you so much. Okay, on to 6.3, which is James Kemp respecting accessible portable toilets in Ward 12 community parks. Um, delegate Kemp is online. Thank you. Good afternoon. And, uh, you know the drill, so we'll pass the mic to you. Thank you very much, Madam Chairperson, members of the public works committee. Thank you for taking the time to hear from me today. Uh I'm going to be winging it, which is unusual for me. I normally have a speech prepared, but my shoulder wouldn't allow that. So, please bear with me if I lose track. I want to thank uh counselor uh for um putting forward this motion, award 12. Uh ostensibly though, I'd like to use it uh to talk about accessible washrooms or accessible portaotties in general uh and whether they actually are uh actually accessible. And and I don't mean this as to any comment on any counselor. I I see these motions all the time and I've been meaning to speak to at least one of them. Uh I appreciate all the efforts to uh see the needs of their constituents in in these parks and areas. Um but I had the opportunity to actually give it a real test run last year at the Festival of Friends. It was a quiet evening. I had my vehicle. Uh I stripped it down. I tried to use the porta potty. I didn't actually use it, but I did run through a whole test of what I would need to do if I had had a chair and I needed to use an accessible porta potty. And I'd like to to go through some of those issues I had uh just quickly so you understand just how inaccessible these uh accessible portaotties are. Um firstly, I tried to drive in and couldn't get all my machine in to shut the door with my foot plates down. Unfortunately, I keep my foot plates down in a tight space so I don't break my feet. Uh it is is a bit of a concern with some power chairs. So I had to back out again, lift my foot plates, drive back in. Uh and the door just barely shut behind my machine and my feet were crushed up against the uh the edge of the porta potty. But then I realized I couldn't lock the door from my position. There's no way I could reach behind me. The the door lock was way back here. Uh there's no way to to activate it. Uh furthermore, there's a urinal sitting in front of you uh in the chair. I'm not sure why the urinal was needed in the accessible washroom. Um, but that was also an issue of trying to get in. So, I uh I tried to stand up and I tried to do a transfer as somebody would do. Uh, but there weren't appropriate grab bars around. The only large grab bar was at the very back of the toilet, which means somebody would have to lean all the way across. Uh, there is no way to do a proper trailer transfer, at least not safely. Um, furthermore, there is no light. You need to be able to see uh in dark dark light, you need to be able to see what you're doing, especially an accessible washroom. Uh and there was no space for a support person. Uh so people that need assistance in in washrooms from time to time, uh this would be in unfeasible for them. So to top it all off, I wasn't able to actually use the facilities. I wasn't able to complete a full transfer. I couldn't safely turn around and sit down and use the facility as one would. uh a complete failure. So, I I wanted to put this in front of everybody's attention that um just because something has an accessible sign on it does not necessarily mean it's accessible. Just because something is approved by the AODA does not necessarily mean it actually will help the people that it's supposed to help. Um so, I wanted to point out that there are some fully accessible washrooms. Unfortunately, they're more expensive. Um they they require a bigger footprint. they require ramping uh and so they're much more of an investment. So I do want to put it on everybody's radar that if there are parks and there are parks that are seeing more people with mobility devices. For example, Inch Park was mentioned, but I do believe they have a fieldhouse. Um these sorts of parks, you might want to consider investing in a more serious accessible washroom to make sure that those people's uh needs are being seen because washroom access is a significant barrier to a lot of people with disabilities. Uh, I know that the field houses are slowly being updated and that is great. Um, but people need to be able to plan out where they're going. They need to be able to make sure that if they're going there that they can use facilities in case they need to. And if they don't know that there are facilities for them, they won't go. So, literally have not having an an accessible washroom is a barrier in itself. So, I just want to say that I I I love the effort and I I I'm not saying anything about that. I'm just saying the ones that we actually have available to us are not necessarily as accessible as we think we are. Um we need to include everybody. Um nothing about us without us. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you uh Delegate Kemp. There are two speakers. First up is councelor McMe with a question. Yes. Thanks chair. Mr. Kemp, appreciate your your sharing. Um, you know, it's accessibility particularly around neighborhood parks is a is a parallel concern that uh that I hear all the time. You know, those I'm privileged to represent uh understand uh big investments like bus depots and uh and homelessness and LRTs and stuff like that. But when the the pitch hits the ground, it's really about neighborhood parks and accessibility, and it's a real issue. Um, have you experienced um um portable uh toilets that are fully accessible? And can you describe uh um you know an alternative that the city council might embrace that would accommodate uh uh usefully um accessibility for people uh with chairs and and other uh other situations. Thank you for your question to the chair uh to councelor McMin. There are uh more complex washrooms that are available. Like I said, they're much larger. They require a much larger footprint. They might need ramping because they might have to be up on the ground so that they're level. Um they do exist. They they use them on, for example, movie shoots and whatnot. They are they are a higherend um washroom facility, which again, I understand that a lot of these washrooms take a lot of wear and tear. So, you might be judicious on where these these facilities might be used. Uh it wouldn't be used in every every um park, unfortunately. there's just no way to afford that sort of um upgrade. But uh in in certain judicious places, I would suggest that it might be an alternative um just to make sure that people uh can access it, especially during major public events sort of thing. Thanks. That's uh that's very helpful. I know u we recently had a group out to our community council that were doing some work with councilor Paul's up inch park fully accessible park there and the dream because it's a very popular place but not accessible you know the foundations and related ancillary services like accessible washrooms uh are really important so I appreciate you bringing us to to our attention. It's a kind of thing that's easy to miss sadly and uh something we need to be very serious about addressing. So, thanks. Thank you, councelor McMahon. Next up, we have councelor Casar. Yeah, thanks Chair Nan and through you councelor McMan asked my question. So, I'll just say thank you to James for your enlightening delegation. You certainly provided me with a new perspective and I think it's been educational for all of us and given us something to follow up on. Appreciate it. Thank you very much. Thank you, Chancellor and thank you again for coming to delegate. Next up we have uh 6.5 Pierre Roy respecting report PW26025 the annual collision report Oh, thank you. Thanks uh through the chair. Good afternoon, members of the public works committee. Uh like Mr. Kemp, I'm a bit less scripted today, but I do have some slides, so I'm going to play off those and uh hopefully everything goes well for me. So, I'm speaking to the collision report and some of our vision zero goals and some of the uh trends identified in the collision report. Um, oh, not the arrow clicking. Um, so I wanted to first thank staff for bringing forward this report. I really enjoyed the staff report. It was a long staff report accompanying with the collision report, but it included a lot of uh useful information and analysis um that was separate from the collision report, but just on the city's state of um analysis on some of these matters. I really appreciated the uh forthcoming public health uh interplay with roadway safety um to provide insights into different demographics and the equity dimension of roadway safety. Um I particularly found it interesting the numbers that they presented of hospitalizations amongst marginalized communities where the least marginalized communities saw about 7.8 hospital hospitalizations per 100,000 residents and the most marginalized got up to about 54 hospitalizations per 100,000 residents. Um, I pulled together the Ontario marginalization index map and uh, you can see how it it, you know, predominantly clusters in areas of the lower city, but also throughout the entire city. And I went ahead and overlaid fairly crudely the city's u official plan uh, roadway uh, um, classifications map. And um while it's not a 1:1 ratio and it's not the only factor affecting where marginalized communities lie, you can see that in the densest areas of the city or in the areas of the city with the highest clusters of uh higher speed, higher collision, higher traffic roads, there is a higher portion of marginalized communities. So, you know, it'll be really interesting to see what kind of analysis we can come up with uh going forward about uh the relationships between roadway safety and marginalized communities and how um the city can work on uh those goals together uh in that analysis. Um looking at some of the trends that I uh saw in the report um just at a high level, uh traffic levels have returned to what they were at. Um the collisions remain relatively consistent uh only down about 1.6% 6% over six years and uh we are seeing a reduction in fatalities which is good. Now I don't want to take the full of what everyone else is saying later but I want to kind of speak to some of my points on that. Um so we're seeing uh an increase in collisions uh generally over the couple years but a reduction in injuries. And so that's kind of a question I want to look at is um you know we're seeing less injuries but more collisions. So how how is it happening? Are drivers more aware of pedestrians? Are pedestrians more cautious? Are we seeing less people walking? These are kind of some of the questions I was interested in in learning about, but I haven't had full chance to dig into those and I don't quite have the ability to do that with the information. But um one thing that stood out to me was speeding has been consistently uh the cause for about 18% of collisions over the past six years and it varies a little bit on whether it's the link or the red hill, but on city roads it's about 18% over the past six years. And so that really has been unchanged. So, it presents an opportunity to uh really implement some more robust traffic calming um throughout the city on city roads to hopefully bring down the number of collisions caused by speeding. Um pedestrian collisions are hope are thankfully going down, but we're still at 190 in 2024. Fatalities have gone down significantly, but cyclist collisions appear to have gone up uh in recent years uh especially over the six-year average. So, that's a question I'd like to look at is, you know, how um we can support more active transportation and reduce uh cyclist injuries because as they as we get more uptake of active transportation, we're going to likely see more injuries as a result unless we figure out how we can address that. Um so, in light of these numbers, one thing that stood out to me in the uh collision report was some language. Uh Hamilton's goal is to improve safety for all road users. And then there's a a table showing not not directly in the same page, but later on showing how, you know, we're standing up a little bit better than maybe the provincial average. But I want to point out that our real goal from the vision zero action plan is not to improve safety for all road users. It's to bring our roads to vision zero and have only uh zero acceptable collisions or fatalities rather or major injuries. So it's a big difference between improving safety and actually getting to zero major injuries. Um, so that brings the question of, you know, 344 pedestrian and cyclist injuries. How do we how do we figure that out? How do we get to the bottom of that? Uh, and what's the best way to direct our resources to affect that uh, goal? And, um, can we be proactive and edify past collisions on standard road designs, implement those on other roads that all exhibit the same features? Um, you know, it's systemwide intervention, right? Can we do lowcost capital works while we're doing other things like paving and road work? I'm going to skip through things. One thing that I saw um was in some of the hotspots, I I noticed that things were removed from the pedestrian hotspots, but were added to the uh cyclist hotspots without really any discussion as to why. So saying that, for example, King Street between Steven and Ashley is no longer on the pedestrian hotspot list, but is now also on the cyclist hotspot list without any major changes is concerning. Uh that kind of narrative showed up along Queenston and Nash Road where no longer pedestrian hotspot but now a cyclist hotspot. And uh Victoria Avenue was the opposite. Um was no longer pedestrian hotspot but now a cyclist hotspot. Um I recognize I might be out of time. Um maybe I can click through a couple slides. I know it's been a long run. Maybe give me one more minute and I can kind of technically I do have to ask for an extension for one more minute. Um if unless my council colleagues want to be creatively ask a question about the following slides. All right, there we go. Thank you for your delegation. First up is councelor Hang. I'd like to creatively ask for um additional uh explanation on the following slides, please. Okay. Well, I'll move into um some of the other things that I saw that was more on the data side of things. So I saw that the report focused a lot on Hamilton specific but and the maps were fairly limited in what they showed. I want to also recognize that we are a city of many communities and I didn't see a lot of focus on injury collisions that are not you know fatalities in other areas. So in Ancaster and Dundas in on the beach strip uh and in Westdale and Bimbrook, how are we you know analyzing collisions in those areas as well because as those areas grow and see other you know intensification what kind of things can we do to support road safety in those areas and then on the open data front um I mentioned this before in a presentation um data sharing and transparency is like the biggest thing in the vision zero action plan. It shows up in all five of the pillars and we're still not quite at what we where we are saying we need to be for data sharing. Um I noticed the dashboard isn't updated but the open data doesn't exist. So I can't download that and and look at it on my own computer with my own layers on my own maps to see how things are changing. It's kind of in the city's walled garden of data. And I think that is you know that's that's that's not how we want to be on vision or open data rather to allow people to do their own analysis. And um lastly is about sharing our progress. There aren't a lot of maps that show what vision zero implementation we've done and how we've been able to improve our safety. So showing where we've put measures and whatnot, not just speed humps, but actual real measures, I think is valuable. And I'll wrap it up there. Slides are online. Perfect. Thank you. Um just a couple of follow-up questions and through you chair. Uh so when you're talking about all the different areas of interest and concern um and I I recognize that currently on your slide you have talking about opportunities. So perhaps could you perhaps narrow it down to say what are some of your top concerns with this report that you might have seen? I think uh being okay with the level of injury. It almost seemed like 345 pedestrian and cyclist collisions was okay and some of the ones are no longer an issue this year. So that means they'll probably not be an issue in the future. Now, I know that's not what's being said, but by removing them from the list, it makes it seem like they're no longer on the radar. And concurrently, the vision zero action plan calls for vision zero reports and annual vision zero like um major projects. Those don't exist to show what we're doing to actually make change. The collision reports are one thing, but that's just, you know, cars hitting people. That's not us making change. Um, and I think that would show the other side of this of where we're actually impacting change. Okay. Because the city does a lot of great work and it'd be great to be able to show it off in a really great way. Thank you. So then um through your chair just question as the data researcher here, what are some of the imagine that we are at a blank slate when it comes to data sharing. What are some of the sort of key features or data points that you're truly looking for that you believe would make it a much more robust data set that um especially because we haven't really been sharing it. So now is a real good opportunity for you to potentially ask for the wish list right now, right? Uh through the chair. Well, as much I mean in the city's open data policies are, you know, as much as possible, as often as possible, and if you can't share it, tell us why you can't share it. um you know there's be specific exemptions only for those certain things. It's not about we decided to only show you a little bit. For example, the current collision data doesn't show where they happened at least on the downloadable one. So that leaves a gap of the analysis. But um you know put as much as you can out there for people. Um don't don't cut it back, right? Um you know we speed levels, we want to be able to see those too, right? where where is where are people speeding and understanding hotspots so that you know you can actually develop a you know suggestion rather than just coming up and you know throwing out concerns um that's kind of some of it but thank you and then just as a quick u wrap up then um where are you sharing this presentation like how do it's oncribe it's on the header I guess I wasn't paying attention sorry thank you thank you those are all my questions thank you councelor hang there's no further questions thank you so much Pierre for your presentation and uh for your delegation today. Okay committee members that takes care of our delegations list. Um we can please get a mover and secondary to receive both the video delegations and the remainder of the in-person delegations. Moved by councelor Cooper, seconded by councelor Spataphora. All those in favor please uh show a hand vote. Any opposed? That carries. Okay. On to items for information. First up is PW report 26025, our annual collision report. And over to you, uh, director of transportation for the intro through the chair. Uh, thank you very much, uh, Vincent Spratza, director of transportation services. So, as Mike makes his way down to the podium, um it's my honor and I'm very pleased to introduce uh the report PW26025, which is our 2023 24 annual collision report to be received for information. Uh the report provides the committee with a summary of recent collision data and trends on Hamilton's roadway network for 2023 and for 24 and does uh support the city's ongoing road safety uh work. I would like to thank the staff for the exemplary efforts uh preparing the report particularly the roadway safety team for the outstanding work uh conducted behind the scenes. And I'd like now to turn it over to Mike Field, the manager of transportation operations, who will present now more of the highlights and key findings from the report. And following his presentation, we will be um uh honored to answer any of your questions. So, thank you, Mike. It's on. Sorry, I'm just getting over a cold, so might have to clear my throat a couple times. Um, good morning or not good morning, good afternoon, uh, uh, public works committee. I'm, uh, really happy to present the annual collision report this year. Uh, I don't believe we've done a presentation for annual collision report before. Uh, so I thought it'd be a good idea to maybe do that and highlight some of the the changes and the updates to that content for everyone. Thank you. I can work the slide deck. Thank you. Okay. This is the seventh edition that we have had we have issued of the annual closure report. There's actually older versions but I would say this is the uh seventh modern uh version. Sorry, just have to make one adjustment. Um this report unlike past ones combines both 2023 and 2024 information. If you recall the past reports just focused on one year. Um I believe at another committee meeting I made mention of there was a bit of a delay regarding how we access collision data um through uh 23 2023 and 2024 as Hamilton Police Services changed the method in which they delivered collision data to the city. uh they deliver that directly to MTO and then we grab the data from MTO now. So through that process we were unable to formally report on uh the annual collision data for 2023 and 2024. So that's why this year's is combined. Today I'll give a brief overview of the report um and I'll highlight some of the key safety trends and notable additions to this year's analysis and the broader implication for the city's ongoing vision zero work. So through the chair just for reference this is information report. We're just asking for it to be received. One of the most important takeaways for this year's report uh and uh Mr. Roy kind of uh alluded to it that we're seeing um uh positive measurable improvements within the roadway safety outcomes in the city. Since 2019, when council approved the vision zero action plan, collisions resulting in injury or fatality have declined by approximately 34% from 1483 to 978. In 2024, injury and fatal collisions fell below 1,000 for the first time in recent years, possibly um for many many many years. Um at the same time, as traffic volumes increased through the rebound of the pandemic, the total uh number of collisions also increased. But under the v the city's vision zero framework, the most important measure is not simply the number of collisions that we experienced in the city, but whether those collisions resulted in serious injury or loss of life. This year's report also includes several notable additions and context items. This report introduces new urban and rural collision context to provide a fuller understanding of how collision patterns vary across Hamilton's transportation network. The transportation division is expanding roadway safety analysis through a partnership with public health which will help strengthen the future reporting. As mentioned, this report combines both 2023 and 2024 data. And we anticipate returning to the normal annual report cycle with the 2024 annual collision report either coming at the end of this year or early 2027 depending on uh what uh public works committee looks like post uh post election. This slide uh shows the broader trend over time and is one of the most important showing the positive uh things that we have within uh the city's um transportation network. You see during the pandemic total collisions declined significantly as people changed the way that they uh drove around the city and that uh that uh activity has rebounded uh across the network as well. But as those traffic patterns normalized in 2023 and 2024, total collisions increased and they're now approaching prepandemic levels. However, collisions resulting in injury and fatality uh can continue continued decline over that same period. That distinction is important uh to the road the vision zero perspective because it means the network is becoming busier again, but the severity of collisions is moving in a positive direction as a result of a combination of of many things. The report also shows that in 2019 approximately 15% of collisions resulted in injury or fatality compared with approximately 10% in 2024. In practical terms that means the likelihood that a collision results in serious harm has declined which is a key indicator of progress under the vision zero framework. Note that the number of fatal collisions ranges between 11 and 16 over this time period. And that's definitely a number that we want to bring to zero per Mr. Royy's comment. The real object of vision zero is that there's no injuries or fatalities occurring on the city's road network. The committee report includes the difference between how roadway safety concerns are experienced within the community and where the highest risk of serious collisions uh occurs across a transportation network. The transportation division receives around 1,500 to 2,000 roadway safety requests each year each year and about 64% of those are related to local residential roadways. Uh these concerns remain important and continue to be reviewed. Residents and ward offices experience roadway conditions directly within their neighborhoods and those requests provide valuable insight into how the transportation network is functioning at the local level. At the same time, collision data shows that the most serious collisions tend to occur at higher volume arterial roads and at major intersections where traffic volume and road user interactions are the greatest. In fact, 50% 54% of all collisions occur at major intersections across the network. Understanding both perspectives is important. Community requests help identify local concerns while collision analysis helps staff focus safety interventions where the potential benefit in reducing serious injuries and fatalities is greatest. That's why collision data remains essential in helping us prioritize where roadway safety resources can have the greatest impact. A new addition in this year's report, as I mentioned, was the inclusion of rural uh and urban collision context. This was added to strengthen the understanding of how collision patterns vary across Hamilton's full transportation network. That analysis shows that 92% of collisions occur within the urban areas. Approximately 80 uh 9.6% of injury and fatal collisions occur in the urb urban areas as well. When normalized by network length, collision density is also significantly higher in the urban network. At the same time, rural roads can involve higher operating speeds and collisions in rural settings can often be more serious when they do occur. So, while this new analysis adds important context, it also reinforces that the greatest overall roadway safety burden remains concentrated within the urban transportation network. This report also reinforces very clearly why vulnerable road users remain a key focus under vision zero. Between 2020 and 2024, approximately 91% I think I have a difference here, but about 90% of of pedestrians involved in collisions are injured. An injury just by definition is not something that people typically walk away from and need a band-aid. it usually requires emergency assistance and possibly hospital visit and hospital stay. Uh and then for cyclists, 71% or 70% of the times that they're involved in collisions, uh they're injured as well. These rates are significantly higher than uh collisions not involving pedestrians or cyclists and the m majority of these collisions occur at arterial and collector intersections within the network. The transportation division has partnered with public health, which will strengthen future roadway safety analysis by incorporating health-based injury outcome information alongside traditional transportation data. This will help provide a more complete understanding of roadway safety outcomes and support stronger evidence-based prioritization moving forward. While the human impact of traffic collision remains the primary concern, the report also highlights the broader societal and economic impacts associated with roadway safety. Using Transport Canada's planning level estimates, collisions resulting in injury or fatality in Hamilton during the 2023 and 2024 period represents an estimated societal cost of approximately $470 million. This includes broader impacts such as health care, emergency response, loss, productivity, insurance, and quality of life impacts. This is useful context because it reinforces that roadway safety improvements are not only important from a public safety perspective, but also from a broader economic and community impact perspective. Helps illustrate why continued datadriven roadway safety investment matters. Just for context, the photo in the image there, this involved a a collision at a red light, one of our red light camera locations, coincidentally as well. And uh the people who were involved in in this collision were not injured, even though it may appear uh differently. So, in closing, the 2023 2024 annual collision report shows encouraging progress in roadway safety across Hamilton. While total collisions increased as traffic volumes returned from the pandemic, collisions resulting in injury or fatality continued decline, which is the most important measure under the city's vision zero framework. Report also adds meaningful new context through urban and rural analysis and reflects the city's continued effort to strengthen roadway safety analysis through partnership with public health. Staff will continue building on this work through ongoing datadriven roadway safety initiatives and the development of the next phase of the vision zero action plan. Uh through the chair, the recommendation is that this report PW26025 respecting the 2023 2024 annual collision report be received for information. Thank you, manager. Um did do you want to grab a seat back at the bench or you good to stay standing? I can I can stay standing for now. All right. So, we have three speakers on the speakers list just so you're aware. Uh first up is councelor Hang followed by councelor Kazar and then councelor McMakin. Councelor Hang, thank you for this report. Thank you for all the work. Um perhaps the first question is when can we expect the newest one for 2025? Um, what does what does that look like and what would that enhanced collision analysis for a 2025 report look like through the chair to the counselor? Um, we're just lining up the report uh we always have a one-year lag from when we're reporting on. So, we always report on the uh in the current year about the previous year the way that we're collecting analyzing data. So we're expecting either at the end of this year in December public works committee or very early in 2027. Okay. With that the enhanced piece is um more related to uh we're always looking for ways to improve the data and the information in these reports. Uh adding the rural context in this report as example. Um we try to add something new every year providing uh another layer of information. The biggest one that we have, the largest opportunity is building in some of that public health data that I'm loosely making reference to. Doesn't appear within the annual collision report at this moment. There's some information in it in the staff report, but that's where we would be looking at starting to integrate that type of data into the new reports as well. Okay. Thank you. um through the chair. My question actually relates to some parts of traffic and safety, including collisions that are not necessarily captured within this report in Ward 4. And as you know, I've already messaged your office multiple times about this is that we've had collisions into buildings. Um, and in particular, not only at Ottawa and Canon, where two commercial buildings have been ran into several times, but we've also had many up to seven collisions into buildings along King Street at Graham, which is a terrible jog. And so, the corners of that intersection have had thankfully no injuries, no um, but how do I talk about that in this particular report? And also what we get in my office is I get a lot of complaints about near misses. Uh so like how do I speak about those sort of aspects um as it relates to this particular report through you chair through the chair to the counselor? That's a great great series of questions. The uh collision data includes all collision types. So even when uh uh vehicles are striking buildings the most recent example of a vehicle going off the edge of the scarman in councelor Jackson's ward. uh no no uh serious injuries in that collision either. Um we are looking at that data as part of the day-to-day work that we do. Uh part of the important thing that we look at is tri triaging these uh these issues as they happen within the network and we really want to focus on um you know uh looking at collisions that uh are are really related to people being injured and killed within the network. Sometimes that means that uh some types of collisions will um sit in the waiting room so to speak a bit longer uh as we uh spend our resources on the more uh important collisions. Um I think when there's localized concerns and you've talked to me about about that specific specific location before. I think that that's where the community input uh from the ward offices and then from the residents directly helps. Um same with the near misses. We're not recording near misses within the collision data uh because it's police reporting. So those near mississ information as we get from from residents from counselor's office helps supplement that information. The public health information provides a new dynamic in that it's reporting on emergency room information and we know that um there's a proportion of uh cyclist related collisions, pedestrian related collisions don't get reported to Hamilton police services for a variety of different reasons. So that data set can can evolve or reveal that type of information as well. So we're looking at different ways of gaining information uh directly from residents from ward offices the traditional collision based looking at other data sources available to us um to build that uh that story line essentially. Thank you. I would like to learn more about how we would capture that kind of information through you chair. I think that the question that I get in my ward office all the time is always um my my residential street there's a perception of speeding. This is why there is an increase in the number of um petitions for speed humps. Um there is as we heard from the delegation today there is that perception of safety especially when we have anything from HSR detours. This summer we are going to have so many construction projects. There are going to be so many detours, so many drivers that are going to be driving down slower collector residential streets. So, I think that that's where I would really like to understand how we best capture that data because otherwise the only ones that really make it to our office is really the loud and really angry ones. Um, but like I don't know how best we can capture all of the more quieter ones that might speak about again near misses because I think near misses are are indicative of a potential bigger problem. So um perhaps you could just expand about that particular aspect like what's the what's the opportunity here? How do we get that community engagement uh through the chair to the counselor? Um I think uh working in partnership with the ward offices. So, as you receive those uh those insights from the public, passing those on as you do um we also those you know the majority of the 1500 to 2,000 engagements we receive from the public are direct to us. Um so you can contact us through the the my.ca portal or through the uh the customer contact center or to us directly at transportation ops hamilton.ca. So we're happy to receive all those requests. But the one thing that I think is important within the context of the goals and objectives of vision zero is recognizing that while there's a lot of um concerns about the function of local roadways, that's not where people are being injured and killed in the network. So just a point of consideration is when we have to uh expend resources to examine those things, we don't have infinite resources. So that may take us away or limit our ability to look at parts of the city where there are very significant issues, but it doesn't undermine or it's not meant to to reduce the the uh concern from residents who live on their streets. Um and near misses, I don't think we're ever going to be able to have a method where we're going to capture those things. So we re really rely on that localized uh input from residents and from w offices to contribute to that that layer of information. Thank you. And just for a second, director also wanted to respond to that one. uh through the chair just to compliment what Mike just said. I think there's going to be an opportunity uh for this committee and council to provide feedback to us perhaps on an intake process for traffic calming. So recognizing that you do receive quite a bit of requests, all counselors do with respect to conducting some form of safety review for as you can see most of them are for local roads for yourself that perhaps we can assist you in developing a process to help prioritize exactly where we do have finite resources when it comes to staffing and where we can leverage those resources to make sure we maximize the most. So I believe we'll have an opportunity later on when we come back with an update on the vision zero action plan and also a formal traffic calming policy which um we haven't had an opportunity to get approved by this council but I think we'll have that chance and hopefully receive your feedback on that. Thank you. Okay, next up we have councelor Kasar. Yeah, thanks Jiren. It's a really really heavy report to read. Um see 140 people have died in a decade about 14 was the average per year. Uh it's really really tough to read. Um and that's not even knowing any of those individuals. Can only imagine. Um and doesn't include any injuries. I I know a good friend who got hit by a car. Wasn't a serious injury, but it's a psychological impact, too. So physical is one thing, psychological is another. But I do have some questions. Um, so kind of touching on what Delegate Roy had said, you know, the numbers are getting better. Can we explain what we've done and attribute certain improvements on getting specific better results? It's it's one thing to have correlation, but it's another thing to know that they're causal and that it's repeatable and can get improvement in other areas as well. So, through the chair, through the chair to the council, I'll I'll start with that. I'm sure Vince will want to add to it as well. um the um when we see changes whether they're positive or negative within the safety of the transportation network the reasoning behind those things are very complex. Um and we recognize that uh roadway safety is successful from a systems approach recognizing that there's a bunch of things that go together and uh collectively help improve safety within the city. Um there's very incremental changes that we may make. putting up a sign, changing traffic, signal timing, and there may be major things that we do as such as re reconstructing entire a roadway under a complete streets uh lens. So, it's very specific to the location and to the the thing that we're trying to look at. Communicating all of those actions that we're taking as a municipality is difficult to do. It's not just the transportation network that is working on those things. it's engineering services, it's environmental services, it's planning, it's everyone else uh involved too. So, it's that collective that systems approach. Uh however, I believe that there's a way that we can communicate at least some of the core things that we're doing um systematic and maybe some localized things in in each ward to identify the types of uh of factors or uh things that we're implementing across the network. I think it's going to be impossible to uh make a list of everything and correlate those directly to the results just just based on the complexity of the way that uh this information works. But I acknowledge that uh and that's one of the goals of the of the renewed vision zero action plan is speaking about those things a bit more um uh clearly. What are we doing about it? These are the things that we're doing specifically or holistically. So we're looking at different ways to improve that type of thing through the chair. Um so in my three weeks here that's one of the uh things I've already started having discussions with staff is about how we're able to in fact overlay the work that we have accomplished against some of the reports that we received here today. So where in fact you heard some intersections are no longer on the list. Well, is that attributed to the trafficcoming vision zero action plan initiatives that were implemented in those specific locations or could it be for a host of other reasons? So, we would like to do that integration looking at the collision data against the various multiple services and niches work that we have done over the last 10 years. Absolutely. And it's mult and there's a lot of it. So, communication is very important. That's something that I would like to um like to initiate with each of the counselors in their ward, get you that information. Um it's going to take some time as Mike said there's a a lot of work has been done but that's one of the key objectives that we would like to do is to it's not a question of promoting but it's just a question of being transparent and communicating the work that has been done and its casual effect on collisions and fatalities and injuries. Yeah, thank you for that and appreciate the the focus on communication and my question was really even one step before that just understanding internally that this combination of changes at an intersection because you'd indicated uh that intersections where the majority of accidents or collisions happen. Uh do we know some loose combination of things that do make a significant improvement because we want to repeat that and and I think that our delegate talked about that too. If we know we have arterial road intersections, uh do we need to understand the specifics of everyone or know that there's a just a formula there of you know risks and can we actually uh be more efficient by applying general principles to an intersection. So with that just wanted to ask your thoughts on that and do you have any examples on at intersections what has been effective through your chair? Thank you through the chair. Thank you for uh clarifying that question cuz I can answer elements of that. Um in the annual collision report, you'll see that there's a listing of the top 10 uh intersections and road segments that collect the most frequent highest number of collisions. Uh in the transportation division, we undertake comprehensive inservice roadway safety review of all of those locations. uh and I I think every counselor is aware that those reviews output a short, medium-term, long-term list of uh imple uh recommendations which we begin to implement uh based on that uh that cadence those uh I think are contributing to um the improvements within the network especially when it when it shows some of the locations which uh main and Dundurn and um King and Dundern have been on our list as the top two most unsafe intersections in the city for decades. They're not on the list as the top 10 anymore. I think that that's uh partly because of the work that we've done with those types of things. Um we're also scanning the network in our data to look for uh consistencies across the city and look for um methods that we can apply. It doesn't matter if it's in Ancaster or if it's in Stony Creek, that these are universal things that can improve roadway safety at intersections. A good example of that is last year we brought forward our guideline about um leading pedestrian intervals, leading cyclist intervals, no right turn on red where we have a method in which we are going to holistically go across the city uh and using those guidelines apply that universally in in the locations which have deemed to be most beneficial. So there are things that to your point we can do and we do do across the whole city and then there's very location specific actions that need to be taken based on the factors of those specific locations. Thank you. May I ask one more question? Technically out of time. Okay, I'll go on a second. Thank you. Uh next up we have councelor McMe. Thanks very much chair and director field. U want to begin just by thanking you for your uh um unrelenting attention to uh traffic and safety issues uh up our way. I've appreciated the three-hour tour we went on and u one that your successor is in the job is agreed to to and I'm looking forward Vince to getting to know you better. We'll stop for coffee and talk about some of the issues there. Um interesting uh stat you said 54% of the major you referred to major accidents just coincidentally um 54% of all the calls I get into the office are about traffic safety red lights turning speeding um and uh most dramatically um you know the the u The satellite that circled the moon came in at what four 40,000k an hour. That's almost as fast as some of the truck speed down the eighth concession. It's really uh amazing. Um so so I I'm interested in in the data that's being collected. Um I like the idea of traffic calming options coming and we'll have some input there. Uh what percentage do we know what percentage of uh of accidents um are caused by um uh road conditions through the chair of the counselor. I I wish my my brain operated where I could remember every single stat. Um I I would say those are um within the collision data. I don't believe that that is one of the things we're reporting on. Um those are um we rely on Hamilton Police Services, let's put it that way, when they investigate a collision to determine some of the causation and some of the factors uh involved in it. Road condition, there's no doubt that uh it contributes to to collisions um especially in rural areas. Um that's where uh road conditions can can have a lot of impact on a collision and uh the significance of that collision. Um we don't have stats today in speaking to uh that lens, but that's something that Vince and I can take away and see if we can tease that information out of the data. Um understanding the the good state of um repair in the city. Uh we all acknowledge that that has some bearing on roadway safety. I like using um a simple example of a sunken manhole chamber where a vehicle doesn't want to drive over that for a variety of reasons and they may cross the center line or they may cross into a bike lane. So that's an example where uh it's creating unsafe conditions not intentionally but uh inadvertently. I I appreciate you mentioning identifying specifically rural road and road conditions. I I know there's a subsequent report coming which I very pleased to see by the way although it was the kind of report you can't pick up once you put it down you know was really um you know between u you know my passion for a pothole protocol um I didn't catch a lot of that in in either of the reports um I have a hunch it's a gut that's telling me that that is a sign coupled with the speeding that you've already mentioned on on rural roads. Um, you know, and the lack of enforcement and that not being critical. It's this you you the police enforce the busiest streets where most of the accidents occur. That isn't always always on rural roads. So, we don't see as much enforcement there. So, speeding, potholes, road conditions are are very serious. Um, I'd be interested in any attempt we could make to gather data that would relate uh the accident rate to to those factors. I'll leave that with you and u again thank you for your uh spe very special efforts. You're a special special person and I appreciate it and I look forward to working with Vince who you you rave about. You say he's a great guy and we're going to find out pretty soon. Thanks very much. Good morning. Thank you uh councelor Mcme. Next up we have councelor Jackson. Thanks Chair Nan. Thanks always manager field for an incredible comprehensive report. Two questions from me. Do we really bombard you every year the 16 of us with 1500 to 2,000 requests for traffic safety? Did I read that stat correctly through you chair Nan please? through the chair. Unlike councelor B Meakin, he has 54% of his inquiries are about roadway safety. 100% of the inquiries that we receive are about roadway safety. But yes, we we receive annually around 1,500 to 2,000 requests. That's a combination of from ward offices, but also from the public direct. I would say mass majority of those are coming direct to us from the public. And that' be redesigning an intersection like you did at Stone Church upper gauge, speed humps, uh intersection pedestrian signals, conversions to full lights, all those type of things are combined in that manager field through you, Chair Nan, through the chair. That's right. the the full gamut of every request, whether it's uh uh a senior who has a concern about uh not having enough time to cross a road uh up to uh someone who has experienced um or they haven't experienced but they have someone that they know has experienced a fatal collision. And second question uh in the collaboration with Hamilton police services. So manager field you can only do so much in terms of preventative proactive work redesigning a roadway making it more pedestrian cycling safe safely. Um we can put in the speed cushions. We can put up the 40k signs instead of 50. Uh redesign an intersection. At the end of the day, I'm trying to understand enforcement still at the end of the day is incredibly enforce important. So, Chair Nan through you and I'm not asking you to speak for Hamilton Police Service, but exactly where is um where's the collaboration, the cooperation where manager field goes, okay, uh Hamilton Police Service, I've now redesigned that m major arterial road, it should be safer, but you still have knuckleheads that want to travel double the speed. I'm trying to understand the synergy between you and police services through you chair Nan please through the chair to the counselor. Uh enforcement plays an important role in making the road sa safer I would say in the in the in the tier of things of all things. Um remove the hazard first is the number one and and poling enforcement kind of falls more to the to the bottom as far as we want that to be the least relied upon thing. Um, but we meet uh regularly, quarterly in fact, with the uh Hamilton Police Services traffic services unit and we exchange information. Um, and we are evolving that uh relationship as time goes on and uh we are uh connected with them and we're looking at always looking at synergies between uh what we do within the transportation division and what they do as Hamilton Police Services in a supportive model. But just like us, they have uh limited resources. So that's probably why those uh interactions, those discussions are most important so that collectively we're putting our resources where they're needed the most in which they uh they will work towards that goal of vision zero to eliminate uh all fatal and injury collisions. Just a quick subsequent please chair Nan just a quick to this. So you would know then in meeting with them quarterly uh hey guys uh have you pulled back from um your um your ride program? Have you pulled back from your uh speed radar pro? you would know that and that would then be a matter of I guess conveying that uh to um to this body andor uh to the police and saying look um you know I've noticed a cut back again I'm not asking you to speak for them but I'm trying to understand if you must know where the stats show that maybe they did 100 ride programs last year but they're only doing 75 this year any comment on that manager field and that's my last question chair through the chair of the counselor we exchange statistics performative statistics uh so We do have an awareness and it's quite frequent for us outside of those quarterly meetings even to ask for consideration for enhanced enforcement and that could be you know an area that we see or that we've received uh concerns about. That's raised my comfort level. Thanks Chair Nan. Thank you councelor. Next up we have c uh councelor cr. Before you go counselor over to the director. Sorry I need to look at the benchmark. It's all right. uh through the chair. Um I'd also like to say I like to look at it as the three E engineering enforcement but education and I think we also have an opportunity to also uh invest into a education campaign around the information that we just presented here today. Um those three E when implemented equally can have a rather significant impact. But I can also tell you as well that u uh in my discussions with Mike and my team that uh I plan on having these conversations with Hamilton Police Services and thinking outside the box. What can we do if they do have limited resources? If it's not a ride program, is this some other type of blitz program? Is this some type of targeted program? What can we do beyond just normal enforcement? So, it's something that I'm committed to, but I look at it as um equal implementation of the three E engineering, enforcement, and education. Thank you, President. Thank you. Over to you, Councelor Crutch. I'll pick up there to start then since we're already on this hot topic about this. As far as I know, and I've talked to Mike about this quite a bit over the years, if we're talking about in terms of engineering enforcement, education, we'll just use that language for for lack of another language. Engineering to me means road design really. It's been shown pretty substantially in the evidence around this that road design far outweighs education enforcement. The rule I guess understood when I first got involved in this space, which is long before I was elected, was 8515, which was 85% of the ability to to implement or change the behavior of drivers is dependent upon road design. If anyone wants to go down Queen Street South in a W 2 for a drive where it's marked as 40, you feel weird driving 40 because the road is designed for you to drive 70 still, right? Like that's a great example if anyone wants to to experience that in person. But yeah, isn't that the the case that enforcement education are a small portion of it and you can't enforce them equally? So, can I have that clarified through the chair to the counselor? Yes. Uh, in the in the tier of effectiveness, removing the hazard is the number one best thing we can do and and often that requires partial or full roadway reconstruction to reconfigure a road road to a safer uh element. Unfortunately, uh, as you point out, driver behavior, um, as much as we'd like people to behave perfectly, that's an unrealistic expectation. So, we want to reinforce safe behaviors through design. Uh, and that is through the complete streets uh, perspective and uh, leveraging the police the complete streets guideline. Thanks for that clarification. I think it's extremely important to understand that yes, enforcement, education play a role, but nothing compared to road design. And I want to give you an example of that since we brought it up. And Barton Street's a great example. Barton Street in W 2 in that section on both east and west is a through street, but a lot of the people who don't who live on that street who have residential homes there because this this street has changed quite a bit over the last 25 years. It was a little bit more commercial before and now it's a lot more residential with a lot of the commercial buildings either going away or being developed. And because it's a through street, people have a sense of wanting to drive quickly on that street. And I've heard from lots of people who live on the street who don't have parking, for instance, and we're addressing this, by the way, but who don't have parking, who will pull over to the front of their home briefly to drop someone off and have someone come barreling through in a truck who stops and swears at them and curses at them and their child because they're trying to unload them from the car. Like, that's the that's the impact of a lot of what's happening here psychologically for people when we're talking about road design, right? I'm not educating. No one's educating the person who stops in their truck to scream at a mother and child. We're going to change that by road design and that's the end of that. So, I want to be really clear about those are the impacts that happen locally here and that's what I hear from residents on a on a frequent basis, much more than 54% of the time uh in W 2. I wanted to point out that this report disproportionately focuses on in the top 10 and top lists on W two and W three. If you look at if you just combine W and W three together, that's disproportionately the majority of what's going on here. when you look at all the wards across the city. And so again, I want to keep highlighting that for everyone here that that that is where the most danger is for people to die if they're a pedestrian, to die if they're a cyclist, is in the lower city. And so we'll have a report later this week where we're going to talk about a downtown revitalization plan. One of the pillars in that plan is about this exact issue, saying we must prioritize how we structure safe streets downtown and in WS two and W three if we're going to save people's lives. actually dramatically reduce that number because if it keeps happening there and it keeps staying at around 14, we're not making major progress unless we deal with what's happening downtown. Period. I also want to say I'm thankful that that some of the things that have happened downtown that are helping I think a lot to provide pedestrians with a sense of safety and that confidence that people have to step onto the roadway like Main Street which is a sacrifice zone. The leading pedestrian interval inter intervals, for instance, which you've implemented, have made a huge difference to people's sense of safety. Those who don't know what they are, it means that before vehicular traffic gets a chance to go through an intersection, the light starts with the hand goes to the walking person so pedestrians can start to get a bit of a lead in and stopping those right turns on red at the same time. That combination of those two things together creates a much much safer intersection for people. So, there are some things that we can do, but I do think we have to focus on road design. We're having a meeting tomorrow in council chambers at 7:00 with everybody on Bay Street about the Bay Street safety review that we did last year to talk about these very issues. Um, and I think data has to continue to underpin what we do here. I think it's startling to hear how many issues are raised by counselors overall in terms of and coming into your office and that I know and we all know and I'm just going to say this very plainly, we don't have a good system now for tracking all these things and the relationships they have with one another. So, we don't know how all the different things that are happening in a city relate to the different safety issues that have come in. And so, if someone writes in and says, "I'd like a stop sign over here." Okay. What that person's really saying, "I feel unsafe." Right? Um, our traditional methodology here at the city for a long time, and I know that's changing now, and I'm really grateful for that, has been, well, this person asked for a stop sign, so we're going to go down there. We're going to evaluate the stop sign, right? Um, and we're changing that and slowly to say, "No, uh, actually we're not going to evaluate the stop sign. We're going to see if the intersection's safe." So, could you speak a little bit about that? Because I think it's actually a transformational thing to do. These counselors, members of the public don't know actually what the result should be. They know there's an issue to come there and they say, "Gosh, I feel unsafe here." And sometimes we realize, you know, maybe the first thing to do is to put a stop sign in, but it's not going to be the last thing to do. So, what are we doing to try to change that culture of putting in evidence and database solutions to keep people safe instead of just saying slip slap that in there through the chair to the counselor? That's a that's a great question. Um, and uh I I like to when I'm at town halls or that sort of thing, speaking to residents say, "Don't tell me what the solution is. Tell me what your issue is. What what are you worried about? Let us work on the piece of of what that is." Uh maybe that's part of the education component to speak in those terms to say we we you know we understand that a stop sign you may think a stop sign is the solution but don't worry about those details. Tell us what your concerns about because that helps our staff really investigate that. Um but as far as trans transforming that perspective um when staff are receiving those uh requests that is the first thing that they are examining is kind of what's the basis of this request and uh is the stop sign the right solution in this in this scenario and when it's not to articulate those things back to the resident and say you know what uh a stop sign does not solve speeding issues and that's not a tool that should be used to deal with speeding. a speed cushion is or a bumpout or something like that. So, um that is the the evolution of uh traffic safety in the city. Um but in terms of uh residents, how they can help us um and counselor's office too is describing what they're feeling, what they're seeing, what they're worried about as opposed to um not sending in something so specific as it's a speeding issue, it's a stop sign issue. That's helpful. Last thing I'll say is, and this will save me from making comments when the report comes, so I'll just say it now. Um, exit agreements for developments, existing pedestrian pathways and flows. These things also need to be really considered when we're doing this kind of stuff. I think one of the missing components is I'm glad that I'm hearing from the new director, we're going to develop an intake system because we need an intake system. One that's clear, easy, simple with drop downs. People can submit similar to the my.Hamilton thing that's going on right now that's integrated with that. But what also is missing for me is coordination internally. So when a development happens right now, what we do in case everyone doesn't know this is we just return the street to the form it was before the development started. We don't inquire or ask a question about should we or shouldn't we do that. We just do it. The developer just returns the street to the fabric it was. Well, three years we shut down a street for, we should be asking the question, does it still make sense three years later based on population density, pedestrian pathways, what's going on to return it back or should we be doing something different? Maybe we leave it closed. Um, Gore Park is a perfect example of that. Gore Park was closed for 3 years and pedestrians felt wildly safer in Gore Park without having cars driving through the center of it. But at the end of that, we don't have a process at the city to turn things back. Um, you know, same thing with pedestrian pathways like um, you know, on James Street where we see people are trying to cross where we have crossways, but then we have rules that say, well, we can't put a cross in there to make it safe. So, those are missing gaps for me. I think that there's still a lot to be done and coordination is a must. So, I'm hoping everyone in public works can coordinate with one another around this, not leave it just to transportation division. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, next up we have councelor Pauls followed by councelor Cooper. Thank you. And uh thank you manager feel. I just been talking about road design. I just uh remember a few months ago, maybe four months ago, we just finished um redesigning upper Wentworth from Stone Church to Mohawk. And the day we finished doing the design, there was a death of our beloved crossuard. And that wasn't because of road design. it was because of human error and it's human error and so we have to really look at uh I think education because um it's we all make mistake when we drive you know we're not perfect people so that is so important as well I just want to bring that out it's not just the road design and I remember somebody saying oh it's the road I said we just finished it we had just finished it so I think we got to look more than just the road design. But I want to ask you something. I found it interesting that the majority of collision occur during dry surface condition. That is unbelievable. And then it says collision occur wet and snow ice cover. It's only 14%. It that's doesn't make sense, does it? I don't understand that. And also most collision happen in the daytime and not at night. Am I reading this right? Through the chair to the counselor. You are. I think the simple explanation is the collisions occur when the road network is the most busiest. Dry weather, sunny day, not at night. So that's what's happening uh with with that when uh collisions occur when when um uh conflict of points exist. So that's why they show up within the downtown core because that's where the most activity, the most volume, most things are happening. So that's that's kind of the reason what we really want to pay attention to is when and you'll see some reference saying that that is in line with provincial averages when things become different. So say we see a huge increase in night collisions, that's indicating something is going very wrong within the road network that possibly has an engineering solution to it. I'm glad you mentioned about night vision. I had uh a couple over for dinner and they're elderly and they said that they think and I didn't know the answer that Ontario government is trying to change the lighting of night like the high beam because it's too bright and it blinds people. Have you heard anything like that that they're changing the lighting of cars through the chair to the counselor? I've heard some discussions around the brightness of uh headlights, but I don't have direct insight into uh into that. I'm not too sure if Vince does. He has his So, the Ministry of Transportation is in fact doing a study into uh Glare from uh Headlights. Um so, that's a new initiative that they just started. Um, so I don't know when they're going to complete that study and what the objectives are, but I know they are looking at uh headlight glare and does it in fact have an impact on collisions and is there anything that could be done uh to mitigate that potential glare if it at all exists? That's good to know. It's it's amazing that one of my resident had to tell me that that they're looking into it and I thought that was very interesting and it is uh I find night uh with the glare it is bad so it'd be interest to know if that's going to be implemented but again I said the road design of course is important but I think human error is also uh a factor and I think education I know I don't know many years ago there was a beautiful young girl but had your uh headphone on and just got struck by crossing uh near McMaster and I just thought, you know, so human error on every side. So, it's very important. So, thank you for that. Thank you, councelor. Uh next up, we have councelor Cooper followed by councelor Maren Wilson. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, manager Fields. This is a very informative and detailed report. Uh really appreciate it. I wanted to ask you if you do any assessments on our policy decisions. we make as a council. And what I'm getting at here is, you know, many times I hear things like congestion around our city, how it takes people longer to get around and we've got metal cars tightly knitted with bikes, we got bikes on main streets. And that's a decision this council made. You know, you think of things like uh you know, I get feedback on our our we're speeding up putting in bike lanes, but instead of making them integrated, we're just creating more of them. And the feedback I get from residents is why haven't we made the strategic decision to integrate? Why have we just made more? because they still have the same danger on the roads where you can go along in a bike lane and then all of a sudden you're comingled with cars. Okay. And I also think we had discussion on red light cameras. There was a whole discussion about do red light cameras cause more accidents and as we put in more red light cameras, what impact does that have? And so in order for us to kind of delve into some solutions, I think we have to be honest with ourselves in terms of the policies this council is making and how it's having an impact on collisions around Hamilton. Like when I hear things that severity is down but you know we we're the volume's going seems like it's going up. It sounds like okay if you think something like just intuitive like like uh congestion and slowmoving traffic when I hear stories about like stop lights I think red red light cameras and so just interesting your thoughts on that and as to whether we take an honest reflection on our policy decisions and if not if that's something we could do in the future through the chair of the council. That's an interesting question. I think I'll seek some help from uh director Mallaloy at the top from transportation planning and parking because they more deal with the uh the policy perspective but we are uh very connected with uh peed who looks after the policy perspective. Um we we but the we do look at um um we do we do involve ourselves in as much as we can the transportation division I'm speaking to um given opportunities to review uh view whatever it is that's in front of us um and uh pro provide our perspectives into them to ensure that uh our um our policies and practices that maybe the person who's working on the item is not as familiar with at least were given and an opportunity to to contribute to it. Um, and things with red light cameras, I'll just address that question. Um, we do look at the effects of whatever safety measure we implement to see is it doing exactly what we want it to do uh or not. And then if it's not, we should do something different. Red light cameras, they're meant to uh reduce the number of angle collisions. Um, but a consequence of that is an increase in rear end collisions. But from a human factor, um the number of uh injuries and fatalities is greatly reduced because angle collisions are more frequently um akin to to injuring or killing someone as opposed to rear end which might give someone whiplash or a sore neck. But maybe I'll let Steve comment from a planning policy point of view. Thanks Mike. Uh so through the chair uh Steve Mallaloy, acting director transportation planning and parking. Uh so we have numerous uh policies uh councelor and really they were enshrined as part of the our 2018 uh council approved transportation master plan that really set out the framework of how we develop our transportation system uh and taking really a sustainable and integrated view of our various transportation networks whether it be the truck route network, our cycling network, uh our sidewalk network and of course the road network and really trying to integrate them all. And really as part of all that um those various networks that's why complete streets exists and we're trying to develop streets that are equitable for all road users all ages and ability um to really overlay and develop a network that does truly integrate them uh to create a more seamless transportation network. Um that also includes our transit networks. I didn't mean leave out transit. So, uh, in terms of the, um, downtown environment, which is usually a little bit more complex, uh, our our rightway widths are a little bit narrower to to make all these things work. Um, so that that from a and because of the volume of people because the downtown is certainly uh, where we have higher density of population. Um, we're trying to find different ways for people to move around in a more sustainable way and have uh, modal choice. Uh so that's really how we're trying to shift our transportation network is to offset uh more vehicles and create a more efficient transportation system by giving more options to residents. Um as part of that uh again as we develop out our cycling network uh is making sure that it's connected. And I think a lot of those problems uh I I would agree that when we have a disconnected network and we uh have um cycling routes that end nowhere, they're orphans, that becomes more of a problem and that creates more of a safety issue. Uh I think really the the intent of our policies is to be more multimodal and to integrate uh transportation as best as we can and over time. Yeah. Thank you. Um just a request is that going forward could we critically evaluate our policies because I know as councelor crutch mentioned we could be well intended in terms of what we want to do but then the reaction to that action is such that maybe it's it's worse than what it was and I and as you said manager field sometimes there are trade-offs and so it would be nice to see our policies assessed under this light to come back and say hey you know what it has created more accidents but maybe they're not as dangerous but maybe there's a trade-off for something else but I think we have to look at it through that lens to not just kind of say, "Hey, this council or you know the the staff have come up with the decisions and are above being assessed. I think we have to constantly go through that iterative approach to find better ways to do it and if decision- making we're making is not good, I'll just use that term good or could be better then let's go there." So, if we could do that in the future, I greatly appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you, Chair. Thank you. Next up, we have Council Moren Wilson. Thank you. Um, I think data keeps you pretty honest if we're into the reflective mode. Um, and in terms of tradeoffs, it's live or die, sustain a permanent debilitating injury or don't. And I think uh the value of the annual collision report is to uh keep us honest on our need to commit to the most fundamental objective and that is to uphold the health and safety of residents particularly our most vulnerable residents who are our children and the seniors in our communities. Um thank you to um Manager Field for um this report. and the richness of the data. I did have a a few questions. Um, I noticed going back to I think one of the earliest of your submissions, 2019 or earlier, you always include a gender overview and I'm wondering if you could explain the value of that from your professional perspective and those perhaps of your colleagues in other municipalities through the chair. Absolutely. Through the chair to the counselor. That's a great question. That's one of the additions that we made. Um, adding it to the collision report on reporting on that type of information. Um, for me, that's looking at different types of data to see what story it tells us. Um, we know, and uh, Nancy Perser will back me up that women uh, need to rely on or rely on transit far more often than than men do. Um so looking at instances of collisions involving um men and women and other genders is is part of looking at the data, seeing what the story tells us so that we can plan out um a strategy to deal with those issues. Um the more information that we can take from parties like public health or our own collision data that helps inform where we need to spend our time. uh investing and uh and applying resources helps a lot and it that's the only way that we're going to get to zero by looking at all those factors and uh figuring out where things are happening within the network. Public health data is going to be fundamentally critical to us moving forward because it really digs into different data sources that we've never seen before. Um it looks at uh marginalization of communities and how they are impacted or not impacted by collisions and uh that information I think will prove to be invaluable as we move forward with our vision zero program and evolve it over time. Not too sure if that completely answered your question but it in essence it's just another piece of information that uh has value. Sometimes we may look at information and we may decide that it has no contributing value to the overall scheme of things. Um, and then other things like the public health information, when we see it, we're like, "Wow, this means a lot. This is very important information." Thank you. Um, I would have to agree. I think the more uh the better in terms of um helping us to reflect and ask questions. Um to that end, um it was more than a year ago where this council unanimously called for and supported a gender safety audit. Um and there have been actions uh since that time. Um, a few weeks ago I was at a function which was uh nearly sold out talking about gender safety and Hamilton's particular audit and to the point um I am getting to a point but to the point made by my colleague councelor Cretch on uh design I found it interesting um it was raised that at present 52% of people who have a driver's license um in Ontario I believe are males identify as males 48% um identify as females and then when I looked at uh the Ministry of Transportation in Ontario's um record of offenses um those uh receiving um an offender and they broke it down by gender. Um 27% were women, 73% were males. When you looked at multiple offenses, it didn't seem to be much of a deterrent for male drivers. And in fact, the number went up. It dropped considerably for women drivers down to 12.5%. for male drivers, it went up to 87%. I'm raising this um because uh women experience the city differently uh but that's never been reflected in the design of our city. We take public transportation um more than than men. Um, and we value the safety of our children, of our aging parents, um, and each other in our efforts to traverse the city. Um, so I really appreciate you including that and I think it is in keeping with a gender safety audit. Um, could you tell me a little bit more about your intention in the future on the economic and social consequence of collision, please? What can we expect on that front if anything through the chair? It's a good question. I think it's a point of data that we have been inconsistent in including inclusion reports and I think it's an important piece of data to show the overall societal impacts of collisions. I believe I can't cite the uh the cost of of an injury collision, but I believe um the cost of a fatality according to Transport Canada is about $8 million on society. So um just listening to the news today I know that there was or in the spectator I believe about a report about insurance rates in Hamilton and how they are higher than a lot of other municipalities and that's a consequence of a number of factors including traffic collisions obviously um the correlation between those societal costs and what we do in roadway safety uh is direct uh for a lot of things. So if we reduce the number of collisions, the number of fatalities in the in the city, then those uh in theory the insurance cost should should drop and the overall cost of society and the burden on the health care system would drop in turn. Uh I think it's just one of those things that we need to continue reporting upon and uh build our understanding as far as what is the interaction between what we do for the vision zero program um and and how it uh matches or complements those societal impacts. I I won't go on a second time, but I I would like to uh state that yes um Statistics Canada the um the healthc care cost uh medical costs related to motor vehicle collisions $4.4 $4 billion. Loss productivity, $2.9 billion, direct economic cost, $7.3 billion. Um, and for pedestrian and motorists, um, they have higher medical and recovery costs. Um, and it could go as much as $30,000 per individual. So when the hospital comes to us and asks us for funding um we can assist in those costs with the design of of of our city and I appreciate councelor Paul's comments about um human error and I absolutely agree with her comment but I guess I would add that we know that humans make mistakes. We all do. But the cost of those mistakes should not be the life of a child, of a neighbor, or a senior. And that's why design um matters. Thank you, Chair. Thank you. Um through you, Vice Chair Casar, just a couple of comments and a question and then we'll go into second time speakers. Um so, if I could through you, thank you, Mike, for your report. Um, like some of my other colleagues, it's always the hardest report to see every year. Um, anytime that we have to look at the number of Hamiltonians or or residents who've passed away or have been critically injured, it's a tough uh it's a tough day um at public works. So appreciating the content and also the professional commitment of yourself, the director, the team, the entire bench when it comes to that collaborative thinking around prioritizing roadway design, around prioritizing our response every time those fatalities and critical injuries do take place. It's really important to hear from the city of Hamilton as a corporation. And I I'm I'm just always honored and uh appreciate and respect that it's a joint effort. It's not just council and elected representatives. We also hear from our staff on that. So, thank you for your leadership. Um, the report continues to highlight four of the most frequent intersections with fatal or critical injuries related to collisions are in W 3. Um, over the years since 2019, we've been working collaboratively between the W3 office and city staff. I finally rolled up the numbers. Um $6.35 million for more discretionary funds have been allocated to traffic and roadway safety. $6.3 million. So can you talk to me a little bit about and perhaps this is going to come in the next report related to our vision zero strategy going forward, but it shouldn't take discretionary dollars to get the ball moving. I understand that it did and to your point earlier about iterative prog progress until there's a systemswide solution. Can you speak to me a little bit more about what we can anticipate as a city around that systemwide solution and the investment that's required through the vice chair to the counselor. Um we do have uh so the current vision zero plan was 2019 to 2025 and we are just putting the final touches on the next version of it and we anticipate to bring that to committee. Um we're just working out the date likely in in June and that is will be the evolution of the vision zero action plan and uh it'll have some main some primary changes to the way that we've approached roadway safety in the city and um the natural evolution of the plan from what it is today to what it will be. One of the main components of that, I don't want to spill all the beans, but if you if you're familiar with the vision zero action plan, it doesn't actually have an objective to it. Apart from eliminating vision zero or eliminating injury and fatalities, the new plan will have benchmarks and measurable uh goals. Um, and then it outlines a whole plethora of things on how are we going to deliver that. Funding has to be part of the equation, of course. Um and uh the the funding question as far as how much do we invest in roadway safety as a municipality is not an easy question to answer uh because it's embedded in all over the place. So as much as uh WI 3 contributed to $6 million uh there's contributions from the vision zero action plan and those funds engineering services every project that they do there's always an opportunity to do uh upgrades as well. Um, so sometimes it takes a a multitude of different funding sources to come up with those solutions as they evolve. But, um, I maybe I'll put it at this. The investment in uh, roadway safety has to support and complement our objectives. Um, and we need to continue to reinvest or invest in roadway safety uh, going forward. And likely uh in the past we have been trying to rely on the reserve, the red light camera reserve, but um not always. Uh but we need to to make sure that the funding keeps pace with what our objectives are. Appreciate that. Thank you so much. Okay, take back the chair. We've got two second time speakers. First up is councelor Casar and then councelor Wilson and then we will be done seven point Oh, you're off the second time. Okay, just council casar and then we're on uh we'll be done our first report. Councelor Casar, so I'll take the hint and try to be brief. U just a quick comment about headlight laws and what councelor Paul was talking about. It's actually Transport Canada that's doing a survey right now until April 20th. I've completed the survey. It's quite in-depth, but asking for feedback on headlights and how it affects road users. So, just wanted to put that out there. Um just some closing comments on this then. Uh this is a huge endeavor. So thank you very much to the staff that have done all this work. Um to retrofit a transportation system to actually be safe is monumental. And I think kind of what we're talking about here a little bit of elephant in the room is there is a huge safety deficit. I mean we have our director of asset management here about infrastructure deficit. We know that's $5.2 million over 10 years to just maintain what we have. But what we I don't think we have quantified is there's a safety deficit in order to retrofit our transportation network to actually be safe. It's probably a pretty big number and we've talked about the lack of funding and accessing potentially other funding. Uh but I think it would be really helpful if at some point we were able to ballpark quantify that because without actually having a goal of what's there and what we need to do. So again that's just rhetorical at this point but that's just an observation from this conversation. Um so just some comments and um this is none of this is criticism but I think it's just important to have the full context of when we're talking about our transportation network because a force focusing on collisions and reducing collisions, fatalities and injuries is absolutely necessary but that's not that's necessary but not sufficient for really building chair healthy and safe communities. So, the other two parts of that three-legged stool are um convenience and comfort because we can have safety, but if we don't have convenience and comfort, we don't really have a good network. So, we know I think we know certainly professionals know that pedestrians will avoid certain areas if they're they're uncomfortable because it's just unsafe and you can take elements of downtown areas in downtown uh where people just won't go. So, you're not going to have collision data there. Uh so, that would look good from one perspective on safety because there's no collisions. That's good. Focus somewhere else. So, we do need to focus elsewhere, but there's actually an economic impact to that. Not from a collision, but from people not patronizing businesses and businesses being successful. So, so that's very real. We need to consider that as well. Um, but it is a true opportunity cost that we just don't capture. And again, just like the safety deficit, you know, what is the opportunity cost of economically from unsafe streets? Um, and then just a comment around neighborhoods. So that was in the presentation earlier and that you know huge majority are requests are in neighborhoods but that's not where the collisions are happening. Um but again we're not measuring what's not showing up in collision data because for people people want to be safe and that's what I hear from and I think we all hear from people living in residential areas. They want to feel safe and if they don't feel safe you know parents aren't going to feel comfortable letting their kids walk to school or go out and play and so there are costs to that that we don't capture in collision data. So that's, you know, the convenient and comfort part of it, too. And I know many of us have worked with the daily school route. I'm working with them in war 12 right now. And they actually identify neighborhood streets as dangerous streets that they won't cross to get to school to play, right? So again, this isn't criticism. I think it's just important to have the full context that safety is just one of them. So I guess in closing, you know, obviously obviously we need to do better in safety and a lot of that happens on uh arterial streets, but um a single fatality is of course too many, but we also as a council, you know, direct policy to what was brought up earlier and budget. So if we don't have enough resource, you know, human resource and you know, financial resource and this is a priority, then we need to look inward and you know, is it a priority and how do we fund it? So I'll leave it there. It's just rhetorical at this point, but that's kind of what I take away from the conversation. Thanks, Chair. Thank you. Um, thank you, uh, Manager Field for staying on your feet for that long. Um, and I'll take a mover and councelor Moren Wilson and seconded by Councelor Casar to move and second the report and the presentation, please. Yep. A show of hand votes because it's just receipt. There's no recommendations. Anybody opposed? Seeing none, that carries. Okay. On to 7.2 PW26032 rural road safety report 9 wards 9 10 11 12 13 and 15. I'll take a mover in councelor Cooper and councelor Casar uh to put the report on the floor and back over to you director for um and is there an intro overview or just to answer questions? Well, through the chair, I can certainly just provide a quick introduction. Yeah. So, uh PW26032, our rural road safety report. Uh this report actually is response to council direction to complete a comprehensive review of the rural road safety and to develop a more structured approach to addressing safety concerns across Hamilton's rural road network. Uh the work included a few um a few exercises. one, we did a jurisdictional scan, we did a systematic safety review, we did some field investigations, pilot case studies, uh, and with the primary outcome being development of now a practical evidence-based rural road safety toolbox that's tailored to Hamilton's considerable rural environment. So, the toolbox has been appended to this report. Um, it is quite extensive and tactical. It's over 400 pages. Um we will be offering an opportunity to meet with interested counselors in doing a meeting/workshop where we'll go over a summary of prey of the structure of the framework and of the tools that will be part of this toolbox. So, we'll be offering this to the counselors that'll be interested. And in practical terms, it will now function now as a decision support tool that helps staff assess the reported safety concern. They'll work through a series of diagnostic questions based on specific site conditions and identify now potential counter measures that are appropriate for the specific location. So its purpose is to enhance the city's ability to ensure that the rural road network is as safe as reasonable as possible by providing more consistent, transparent and now datadriven defensible process for assessing concerns and identifying cont uh context appropriate counter measures for each site location. And by adopting the principles now of vision zero um this work is innovative. It is very progressive in the sense that many municipalities across the world do not have a structured rural road safety program with a toolbox to apply a host of counter measures. This is a um opportunity for the city of Hamilton to be a leader in this very specific area and we're very proud to present this report for information but now for staff to implement. Thank you so much for that overview. Really appreciate it. Uh this is why councelor Jackson your uh your manual package for today is as thick as it is. This report appendix is 423 pages. Um, councelor Casar is our first one on the speakers list. Next one is councelor Tatison and then it's councelor McMaken. Thank you, Chair Nan and uh council or committee may recall it was back in December 2024 that I brought this motion to this committee uh because and many of us it was it was a collaboration but many of us had heard constant concern about rural road safety and it was there weren't any tools. So to I know it took longer than it anticipated, but to hear the overview and how it's offering Hamilton the opportunity to lead and it's kind of setting a precedent for other municipalities, I I think it's really good outcome and worth the wait. I do have a couple questions. Um there were some pilot locations mentioned in here. There was 10. I wonder if it might be helpful just to explain kind of generally what was done with the pilots and what the outcomes were or maybe pick one particular pilot just uh for the public to get a sense on the process and what the toolkit is might be helpful. Chair uh through the chair I'll begin to answer that question then I'll ask uh manager Mike Field to uh to finish off. Um so yes there were uh pilot locations identified to actually help develop the process of creating this diagnostic question uh framework. So to see if in fact are the proper questions are the proper um uh are the proper investigations happening to determine if in fact it's identifying the issues in that particular area. So it was an opportunity to test the diagnostic framework then from there to determine if in fact specific counter measures will address the issues that were identified. The counter measures have been developed. They haven't been implemented per se. So we do have that opportunity now to in fact implement the counter measures that were established for each one of those specific uh locations. But it was really an opportunity for us to assess and evaluate the entire framework in from questioning investigation to developing counter measures and options to address those issues. Okay. Yeah. Thank you. That's that's helpful. So then just to follow up and segue from the previous report when we talked about resources and funding and now we have a toolbox for rural road safety. How does that fit in with the resources human and financial that we have? Because this would say, oh, we have a toolbox, we want to go use it, but we still have a lot of I would suggest a backlog of safety want measures we need to investigate all across the city. So, how does this actually become meaningful if we don't increase the amount of time and effort we're able to spend on it through your chair? Through the chair to the counselor. Um, in in many ways it it creates efficiencies in what we do in roadway maintenance or roadway safety, sorry. Uh, because it provides a um a toolkit uh that we can that staff can work through. Um, you see that operates based on a series of questions. as you answer the questions and it kind of gives an output as far as what the proposed counter measures are. So we're very familiar to working in this way with uh warrant analysis for many other things like traffic signals or stops always stops that sort of thing but there's no doubt that um that it will create more work. Um but uh that that's yet to be um seen because we want to start working with this toolbox and testing it out, using it, applying it and we'll be better um we'll be better acquainted with the level of effort that's required to use this toolbox once we start using it. Um but again uh when we come to uh prioritizing under the vision zero lens uh this would fit into that equation as well uh in terms of uh making sure we're applying resources where you know they're needed the most. So this will intermingle with all the other work that's happening within the within the urban area and it's a tool that will help uh manage prioritization within the rural network too. But to your point, it will create more work uh for us and we need to assess that and watch that and if we feel that there needs to be an increase in resources um then then we can come forward with those asks uh at that time. Right. Yeah. Thanks. So that's about council setting priority. Got it. Um then last question for now as I run out of time is when we're talking about uh building and development projects that there's a term shovel ready and you know it's easier to get funding from upper levels of government if something's shovel ready. So in this case, does having this kind of toolkit help us access funding, more funding, better chances of funding? I thought I read something about that in the report. Maybe give you an opportunity to uh respond through your chair. So through the chair, absolutely. This in fact sets us up to better success for funding opportunities. And the Good Roads Association of Ontario has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Transportation uh to develop a $200 million rural road safety program. And there will be a application process with criteria. And by having this toolbox in place, by having this data-driven structure framework established, we'll in fact probably improve our chances of getting our applications approved. So yes, we're hoping that that funding will be approved by the provincial government in 2027. Um, I can tell you as a former director of the Good Roads Association, I was part of that proposal and um, I'm very hopeful that in fact that will be approved and hopefully we'll be able to get access in next year. Okay, great. Really helpful. Thank you, Chair. Thank you. Next up, we have councelor Tatterson. Thanks, Councelor Casari. You're along the same lane of line of questioning as I have. Um, I, this is to the new director. I keep hearing phrases such as development pays for development. The enhancements come counselor when development will come. So I live in an area where the city is encroaching upon the rural areas. Um in terms of say I'll give you an uh a situation. We have two lane curves. Uh I've got an S-ben that's going to be enhanced. It's going to be turned into two traffic circles possibly at some point. But in the meantime, we have continued accidents that occur. Uh so what's the philosophy on putting implement putting steps in place now even though that development that's going to improve the road is going to happen in say three or four years? Through the chair, I'll begin. Um, in some situations, you're right that a possible redesign may be currently being u considered through an environmental assessment process or some other more detailed process and that takes some time. We appreciate that. Um, this toolbox may be applicable in those situations. I'm not going to say at this point that it definitely will be, but we'll certainly look in fact if it can be um uh be applied to at the very least ask some of the fundamental questions to determine if anything could happen in the interim. Recognizing that there is a more long-term process like an environmental assessment that will ultimately determine the outcome for roadway design and other safety features. Okay, thanks for that. And then I guess a follow-up question. What's the philosophy of rumble strips on rural roads through the chair to the counselor? We utilize rumble strips uh in the rural area uh far more often than we do. I don't know if we have any uh rumble strips within the urban area um at all. Um, so they're typical. The ones that come to mind are along Ridge Road in Snowy Creek to warn drivers that uh it's T intersection if you continue that um uh you you know the road's ending. Um so we use them as as a countermeasure uh as they're described by the Ontario Traffic Manual um and those types of resources. Uh so they're frequently used within the um rural areas, not only the the ones that go across the road, but also the center line uh rumble strips or edgeline rumble strips too. Yeah, I'm speaking about the edgeline rumble strips. Um final question are widened and or what we call widened road or paved shoulders are they part of this toolbox for rural roads so that we can improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists on the rural roads through the chair to the counselor. Yes. Uh widening or reviewing the configuration of the roadways is included in the toolbox. it it's uh uh not unlike our other uh approaches where it can have very small changes pavement marking signage up to full roadway reconstruction up to including widenings. Can I just ask then, will the process involve the team meeting with each rural counselor individually or as a team to to bring forth um concerns that we have uh that may be addressed in the toolbox or is it just going to be like you're going to approach us with your suggestions of where um things would happen? I saw that there was 10 different sections and and I had one of them which was an intersection which I do have concerns about and I don't know is that going to take place together or will that take place individually through the chair of the council always happy to receive requests from w offices and residents um and then apply the tool uh the toolbox based on that um so I would say continue on with uh the level engagement uh with our teams And now I think the way to put it is now we have a toolbox which we can apply and utilize and then similar to say the traffic calming policy uh show and be very transparent as far as what was reviewed, what the outcomes were and then what the suggested recommendations are. So happy to work on um large projects if a counselor has a large concern. Um but the day-to-days we'll continue to deal with the day-to-days which this toolbox will also help with. So, so final comment is if I've been working on an issue such as paved shoulders for three years, say on a a road like White Church, do I need to re boot that and bring that up or is that something that you guys that your team is already considering? So, uh we'll look into that specifically. I believe we have already received a request to uh look into that. that would be one that we would now uh utilize within this toolbox. Right? So we will certainly as Mike indicated engage with you yourself and the other counselors understanding that we now have a transparent data-driven evidence-based scientific approach towards uh solutions and recommendations. Thank you. I will uh go on a second time. Thank you counselor. Next up, we have councelor McMegan. Thanks, chair. Um, you put me down for four time. No, I don't kidding. We heard from Pierre Roy this morning about uh some of the potential advantages of mapping. So, I see some real potential here for that. Um, this is a really good start. Um, but the toolbox just can't be a good a feel-good exercise. There's got to be uh there's got to be the case to cause component. Um, and and and I think you've identified that uh or have at least begun to articulate that. That's why you chose certain pilot sites to push from that uh to some potential learnings. And I think that process needs uh certainly to continue that diagnostic framework. Um I hope this does create lots more work Mike and and lots more revenue dedicated um you know we we seem on some of the rural worlds we seem to have competing goods. There are some that say um safety's the big issue and it you know I get called prince of potholes. I say I got nothing to do with being the prince of potholes. It's been a long winter, as you say, an early winter and lingered much longer than it should it should. Um, but pothole safety and then others, truckers mostly who who want to speed through. Um, and that's kind of like a rural um two two-waying of um of Main Street, you know, um the trucks that just want to race through um versus what we're trying to do downtown. We're making it pedestrian safe where people can stop, shop, park, walk, ride bikes, you know. um the challenges are in some ways remarkably similar in in the rural rural area when when you when you kind of open your mind and and think about it. Um so I'm uh I'm really pleased that this is happening. Uh I'm keen to uh make sure we follow through with the province on their $270 million proposal, you know, and and by the way, I absolutely agree if we have good data, well researched um collaborative collaboratively developed, we'll be in a much better shape to uh tackle this. Thank you for the good work. I'm really pleased with this start. Uh, one suggestion I would make and I'm sure I'm sure sure those of us around this horse who have the privilege of of serving rural con constituency would would appreciate um a formal presentation to the agricultural and rural advisory committee. Um, it might maybe send out a precede of what the the report, as I say, it's the kind of report it's hard to pick up once you put it down. Okay, thank you very much for it's a good start. I'm really pleased that this has happened. Thank you so much for the good work that's gone into this and the wonderful results that we're anticipating down the road. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor McMahon. Next up, we have uh first time speaker councelor Bey. Thank you, Chair and 3U. Uh thanks to staff for this very comprehensive as you mentioned chair 423 page report. Um in in the context of this on table 9 um happy and concerned I think to see the the word 10 component there highway 8 between Glover and Lewis is ranked middle of the pack. I'm glad that we're at least there. Um but then when I go down to table 13 chair uh I see that that same stretch is the only only um piece that has no identified issues or corresponding counter measures. Everybody else has some kind of commentary on what's taking place in that area. I'm just trying to figure out if maybe there's something why some explanation as to why no issues were identified even though it the SSRI ranks it I would say as something of a concern but we weren't able to or or whoever the you know when this process is going through no identified countermeasures and no uh explanation as to what might be taking place there and just for the context of uh committee members. This particular stretch uh goes past an elementary school, goes past a legacy industrial complex, Ed CD Smith factory. Uh there's a very very large uh Roman Catholic parish uh on on the on the street and a lot of uh competing traffic interests, I would suggest in a road design that goes back to probably 1920. Uh highway 8 was uh the original Queenston highway that connected Niagara Falls eventually to Toronto before the QEDW was built and the road configuration is about the same as it was 100 or so years ago. So then back to the question at hand any insight as to why there was um seemingly no ability to identify issues and solutions for this specific stretch through the chair. So through the cheer um not unlike my colleague I wish my brain did have all that data uh at my fingertips. So um admittedly I don't have we don't have that information really available but I'd be more than happy to establish an off-site meeting with us for us to go through that information with you. So um I apologize that we don't have that at this moment. Uh but we will make a commitment to you to get that for you. Absolutely director. And I think we're trying to establish a time for you to come out and and visit uh the the W 10 community. So maybe we can package that all together and make that part of the agenda. Absolutely. Okay. Thank you, chair. Thank you, counselor. Next up, we have second time speakers. So, first up is councelor Casar, then councelor Tatison and councelor McMaken on our second report of the day. Yeah, just just for the record, I think councelor McMe got that adage backwards. Once you put it down, you can't pick it up. I think it's the wrong way to say it. It was very engaging. So, my personal opinion, chair. Yes, I know. Uh me too. Maybe failing. Okay. Uh just an additional question because um it's on page 38. I'll just give the context because the reason this I brought this forward was repeated concerns about speeding in rural areas that more often than not coincided with a shift change at a large retail operation. You know, traveling from war 12 to 11. You can fill in the blanks. Um, a lot of people working there and repeated every day on schedule, very very fast driving. And on page 38, there's a culmination of a whole bunch of 85th percentile speeds that range from in a 60 km an hour zone, they range from 65 km up to over 90 km an hour. So it's quite alarming to see the speed, but that sort of jives with reality. So my question is what's written just on the top of page 39, and I'll just summarize what it is. It says, "For identifying road segments that warrant further investigation for speed management interventions, the following thresholds are established." And I'll just use the 60 km an hour signed speed limit. And I think what this is telling me that we wouldn't look at this as a concern because it says speed limit plus 20 km an hour unless the 85th percentile is at 80 kilometers an hour or higher. Now I just want to ensure first that I'm understanding that correctly through you chair through the chair of the committee. Sorry. Uh I can't find which page you're referencing. I think it's one of the in the appendix. Oh, it's in the appendix. Yes. The report was not pages long. It's in the appendix. Yeah. So I haven't had time to actually look. So maybe I'll just restate it. Yeah. So it's talking about uh speed because there's many different aspects in the report. um to consider. But talking about speeding, it says to identify road segments that warrant further investigation for speed management interventions, the following thresholds are established. And it lists different posted speed limits. I'm just using 60 km an hour as a speed limit example. It says that the threshold is 20 km an hour above the speed limit. So 80 km an hour or faster. uh which I just like to understand that because that leaves a lot of room still for dangerous driving if that's clear. Sorry to the chair I left my mic on. Um I I think it's best uh the director offered uh to walk through the entire report and its function um with counselor's office would like to uh and in that instance we can also invite the consultant to go through um their uh decision-m that they made within it. Um one notable thing when it comes to speeding is it's a departure from you'll see some reference to departing from kind of the standard MTO speed. uh evaluation assessment which it uses 85th percentile to increase the posted speed limit um as opposed to this strategy is looking at looking at it differently. So not using 85th percentile to po to increase the posted speed limit but to deal with the speeding issue from a mitigation standpoint. So there is kind of a um a change in the way that we would deal with speeding on rural roadways compared to what say the MTO would would uh recommend when it comes to the speed limit making policy. But unfortunately I wish I could answer the question very specifically to you at this meeting but I'm not able to but I'm happy to and Vince and are happy to okay answer any questions that you may have. Yeah thank you and apologies for not queuing up a question ahead of time. Should have done that. So appreciate it. We'll talk offline. Appreciate that. First time speaker, councelor Crutch. Unfortunately, councelor Casar issued a keyword to my brain that has uh caused me to react and need to say something. Thank you, councelor Casar. The 85th percentile issue is been something I've been speaking about publicly at this council and a public works committee for four years. So, my question is when are we getting a report on that issue? I'm I'm pretty sure un unfortunately former acting director field knows all about this. I was just told by the former director publicly we would get a report in 2024 at the end of the year. It didn't come forward in 2024 at the end of the year and then I was told we would get it in 2025 at the end of the year. The reason why it's important is because it directly relates to the concern councelor Kazar is raising. The methodology we use here is not based on the posted speed limit for many things that we use when we think consider the 85th percentile. What we instead do is use the speed that cars are already traveling to determine the safety value of whether or not we have an intervention because of the way we use the 85th percentile. I'll give you the example in W 2, right? We're we're assessing the road in an area where the kilometers were 30 km an hour was the posted speed limit. And when I got the report back, the data told me that it was cool if people traveled 38 there. No big deal. And so because of the methodology we have, we're actually saying it's totally fine for people, it's safe for people to exceed the speed limit. And this is having massive ramifications on the way that we understand and study things in our city. So my question is just when are we going to get an analysis about that with respect to how we're using that methodology? And I'm aware that it's a quote unquote industry standard. In North America, this debate has been going on for 25 years. this city can be a leader in solving this problem because it is absolutely killing our ability as leaders to address safety issues in our community. Yeah. Through the chair. So earlier in uh the committee meeting I mentioned that we're going to be coming forward with a traffic calming policy and I think it would be at that point where we can explain the circumstances that you're describing but also also explore if in fact we should be considering an alternative approach other than what you just described. So I would that's our intent is to submit to this committee for consideration a trafficcoming policy this year and I would uh I would recommend that we include it as part of that report. I appreciate your enthusiasm and and trying to get that report done this year. I've unsuccessfully tried to get it done for the last three. So for me I'm I'm maybe just going to bring a motion to the next public works committee asking for a report in the 85th percentile so we can get it done as soon as humanly possible. I know some preliminary work's already been done on this in the department and people have talked about it, but it's having a really serious impact on our ability to make decisions. When we come to you and say, "Is this segment of road safe? Do you think we should warrant something?" And by the way, everyone's ears should go up for that keyword. Is we should warrant something or not? Sometimes, too often, it's based on this rule. Um, it doesn't make any sense. It doesn't doesn't protect uh the residents. It doesn't make sure that we're honoring the speed limits that we have. It's something, frankly, that's been used in other applications where it makes sense, especially we're talking about highway traffic stuff on specific highways. Like on the highway, there's there's there's applications um where it makes sense at a provincial level. But when it comes to some of the decisions we're trying to see here for our communities, it just keeps sending us back to the situation where we end up having to politicize safety measures instead of having them just be taken care of as a matter of fact. So, I appreciate that a traffic poly policy might come forward at some point this year, but I'll just take it for the next public works committee meeting. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, we're going to move on to second time speakers. Um, again, if there's clarifying questions perhaps that both counselors might be able to pursue offline recognizing that we have a 423 page report that you were speaking to and I want to honor that. Um, I also want to acknowledge as the chair we're at 7.2 to we have several items under the next agenda section. So, councelor Tison, councelor McMaken, burning questions that have to be asked. Okay, councelor Tatison, thank you for this time, Chair. Um, one of the experiences that I've had and and and it's been a difficult one and and again, I want to go back to something that councelor Kretch said about engineering is part of the issue and a major factor. So on our rural roads in my jurisdiction or my ward, we share common borders with other jurisdictions, other municipalities. So those municipalities don't always have the same conditions or the same standards that we have. And I'm and I'm trying to and I know that they are shared I guess they're shared proincially and so forth. But my question is how how have we dealt with this with other municipalities in dealing with something say like a Haldderbrook Road which is between my word of Glenn Brook and Halddederman or Westbrook Road which is West Lincoln and Glenn Brook. How are we going to deal with those issues? If we're trying to implement something and the other jurisdiction says, "Sorry, um, that's not in the cards for us through the chair to the council. We have legal agreements, boundary road agreements between our adjoining municipalities. So, we have to abide by the terms of those legal agreements. Um, so if they're unsatisfactory for our objectives to as a municipality, kind of back to councelor Cooper's um, question about policy is that that's something that council could consider asking us to do to look at those boundary road agreements if they if you believe that they are not functioning properly. Okay, I appreciate that. And when we say a boundary agreement, what we're talking about is one kilometer is taken up by Halddederman, the next kilometer is say Glenn Brook or the city, and then the next, you know, so I guess that's what, you know, we're going to have two standards on the road if we don't if we don't address that and maybe help the other municipalities come to our our way. Last question. Um, I understand that funding is going to be a concern here. So, is there potential for counselors to utilize, say, our uh minor maintenance road budgets in uh supplementing, you know, some enhancements that the toolbox might suggest? Through the chair of the counselor, there are some caveats around using those types of funding sources. I would say it would apply sometimes, but meaning not always. It would be dependent on whatever that specific thing is. Um, yeah, there's a variety of different funding sources that we we could uh look at using. Okay. Thanks. And I'll take that up with you personally on my own time so as to not waste the valuable time of our committee. I appreciate you, committee member. Over to Council McMe. I was going to try to say something funny again, but I won't. I was thinking of, you know, not wanting to choose the evil of two less, but uh that would probably fly over everybody's head. Yeah. Poof. Um my my question is a simple one. We I had raised the possibility uh uh and practicality of meeting with the agriculture and rural affairs um advisory committee. Um we don't need a motion to make that happen. No. Okay. Thank thanks very much. I look forward to having that opportunity. Thank you, Councelor McMaken. Okay. Uh, councelor Bey, councelor Tatteris, are you good to move and second? Thank you. Um, and sorry. Oh, Cooperus already did it. Sorry. Um, show of hands. Anybody opposed? Carried. All right. On to 7.3 and 7.4, which we're going to move together. Moved by Councelor Crutch, seconded by myself. Over to you, Councelor Crutch, on this issue. This is literally just a report back to the public works committee about the outcome of the petitions for speed cushions on two streets. What I did was did it in reverse. As you may recall, we approved it already. So, uh, this has been done and, uh, this is sort of the Tatison clause, I would say. He asked that it come back to the committee just for information. So, this isn't approval. It's already been approved. This is just the outcome of that and it's on the agenda. Um, and this is obviously the first time you've ever done this at the city. So, this is the model we'll use. You just, if anyone wants to know, you add it to correspondence, then you pick it off correspondence and you put it on the agenda. It's just here for information. I won't comment on it again in the future. Just wanted since it was the first time for people to understand what was happening. Thank you. Well done. Thank you so much. Uh, and that is now up for your hand vote. None opposed. That carries. Okay. Items for consideration. First one is 9.1 waste management subcommittee minutes. Um my mover has left chambers. So I need somebody to thank you councelor um crutch and seconded by councelor hang. These are the waste management subcommittee minutes for March 30th 2026. Any discussion? Seeing none, it's been moved and seconded and before committee for electronic vote. council. Yeah. Okay. And that carries. Thank you. On to 9.2. Fleet services contract extension C11-52-7. That's PW26045. Move and second to put the report on the floor. Thank you, councelor Hang. Seconded by Councelor Crutch. Thank you very much. Um, Director Wright, did you want to provide an overview or just here for questions? Anybody have any questions? Councelor Bey. Nope. My apologies. There's a speakers list. Councelor Hangs first, then it's councelor Bey. Thank you. Just wanted to get it onto the public record. Um I know that this extension is really until November, but what's our process right now on how are we um putting it back into procurement's queue and and that sort of thing. So I just wanted to ask director if he could just provide a like just an overview as to how we're getting us beyond November. Thank you. Director Wright, corporate asset management. Um I do have the director of procurement uh here and I'll pass it over to her in a moment. Um, I'm pleased to say that we do have a contract uh out for bid right now and it is wrapping up April 21st, which is a week away. Thank you through the chair. I apologize. I just stepped outside for one second and you asked me a question. Could you repeat it, please? Uh, yes. Through you, uh, chair to director Yako. Just a question around I know that this contract goes until November. just what are what are our steps right now on how are we getting to a new procurement like a new contract um just so that it's on public record as to be as transparent as possible that's all sure through the chair Tina procurement uh director um the new request for proposals is actually on the street and it's set to close um April 21st so uh barring any reasons to extend and for receiving any abnormal number of questions. Um, we anticipated closing and then shortly thereafter doing the evaluations and then hopefully moving to an award of a contract. Okay. So, chair, it strikes me that when I'm reading this report that it's really just a tiny little extension just to get us on track raring to go. So I feel like this is uh in line and in uh it's one of those like tiny little exceptions but but that's just for me to understand a little bit better. Thank you chair you and uh councelor bey you're good the answer asked and answered. Thank you. Um before committee for electronic vote that carries on to 9.3PW26010 standardization of Hamilton water equipment and services. Could I get a mover and seconder to put the report on the floor? Moved by councelor Hang, seconded by councelor Moren Wilson. Uh, any questions? Did you want to do overview at all? No. Okay. Any questions? None. Wonderful. It's before committee for a vote. Electronic, please. Wonderful in that the report was so clear. Zero questions. That carries on to 9.4 PW report 26047 update update to bylaw 26034 regarding transit fairs. Could I get a mover and secondary to put the report on the floor and then we'll have um our Q&A. First up is uh moved by councelor Crutch, seconded by councelor Casar. First up on the speaker's list is councelor Jackson. Thank you uh Chair Nan. Uh through you to director Perser. So the essence of this report is you wanted to alter your original direction to start a fair increase on September 1st of this year and instead unwind that and keep the existing fairs frozen across the board going into this fall through you chair Nan. Correct. Uh through the chair. Yes, that is correct. So, um, Director Perser, I just, it's on page two of appendix A. I'm looking at all the seniors passes, monthly, annual, uh, fair assist, and the golden age pass. And since a lot of people around this table today have put in lots of um u backpadding, I just want to say that I've been proud that after amalgamation, um I was part of council that innovatively initiated the uh senior's golden age pass, one of the first ones, thanks teacher Tison, I appreciate that. That initiated this uh across the province so that seniors 80 and over could ride our public transit system free anywhere, all year, anytime. I'm just wondering if the timing is getting near and if it's not for today, Director Percer, let me know when it might be, but I'm just wondering if the timing is near to review the Golden Age Pass of 80 years to to possibly reduce the free golden age pass to 75, 70 or 65. Of course, chair nan always maintaining the income threshold qualifier for eligibility and but we would also need to know any downside in terms of budget pressures. So if you get the uh thrust of what I'm asking uh director perser is it today if I got my colleague support to put a quick motion to say take under advisement the review of the golden age pass with the notion of looking at 75765 lowering it but also coming back with the cost and budget pressures that may result from that through you chair nan director purser can you help me with that please if this is today or another time uh through through the chair I would um highlight that on Wednesday at GIC um a userfree framework framework project an update is coming forward. So this uh user fee is going to um help uh us decide going forward um how to increase fairs what our fair should be and at what frequency we should be increasing them. Um it would also probably speak help speak to our fair structure. So it would be under that um umbrella of work that we should be looking at any revisions to our uh senior pricing. Okay, Director Pur, I'm going to take you up on that offer. So in the next 48 hours, Chair Nan uh for GIC, I'll see if I can quickly cobble together a motion with Director Perer's help. And again, it's just a hypothetical hypothetical review uh just to see exactly the upside downside of potentially uh lowering the golden age pass for seniors because I know as the demographic and what 20 25% of our population increasing is getting near that demographic and to increase wrership on public transit as well. Um I think it's a worthy of a pursuit. So I will do that try to prepare for Wednesday. Thanks, Chair Nan. Councelor Bey, thank you. And through you, I I I'm not sure procedurally how to ask a question. There's a correspondence that's attached to this happens to be uh a resident of mine. And so, so just pause right there. We'll have you uh move and councelor Jackson second the receipt of that correspondence. Now, both items are on the floor. Please proceed. Fabulous. Uh done. Do we need to vote on that or can I proceed? Wonderful. The the the content in the middle. some good questions asked, but I'm more concerned with the bottom portion than what's called the PS and it was questions to the legislative coordinator in terms of um a reconsideration or just procedurally what may be required to to actually do this to make sure that we aren't accidentally doing something that we shouldn't be doing procedurally. Uh, is there any comment either from the bench or from clerks as to the questions pertaining to the twothirds majority or whether or not um this was part of the tax supported budget? I'm just trying to understand and make sure that we are procedurally moving in the correct direction through you chair. Director Perer, do you have uh clarity on the question? Uh so through through the chair um procedurally I I was uh instructed to bring a report forward just to um uh be transparent and uh highlight that um this was overlooked in the entire budget process. So from a budgeting perspective, the revenue from the fair increase has already been removed. We just didn't remove the actual fair increase because of the timing of when the user fees were approved versus when HSR next was um removed from the budget. It's was just a timing. Okay. But in terms of uh there's no amendment to an outstanding or there's no reconsideration that's required commit to councelor bey on your question is that uh in time for council we'll have the clarity we need that should anything need to be procedurally corrected council would be the appropriate body by which to do it anyway uh and we can do that then. Okay I'll follow up at council then. Thank you chair. Sounds good. Okay. Um so back to the report that was moved and seconded. Um we need an electronic vote on those recommendations. Oh my apologies, councelor Tatter on the report. Thank you. Uh just on the report, can I have any comments if there is any effect to the 50% reduction basically for the fair assist program? uh through the chair uh 50% fair assist program uh is still applicable um but on the fairs set from uh 2025 so it's based on those fairs okay so based on those fairs that we set those fairs were reduced from I think it was like a 25% or 30% down to 50% is that still is that 50% rebate still in effect through the chair. Yes, it is. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. On to the electronic vote for item 9.4. Nope, my apologies. 9 point. Yep. 9.4 on the report. Votes in the affirmative from councelor McMaken Pauls and Cooper and Francis. That carries. And then show a hand vote for the correspondence. That's already been moved and seconded. All those in favor of receiving the correspondence. Any opposed? That carries as well. All right, we've exhausted our reports. Way to go, team. Uh on to motions. First up is 10.1 upsizing the existing cross culverts in the vicinity of 20 no 3225 Cemetery Road in Ward 11. Um councelor if you could please introduce your motion and your seconder. Okay. Uh this motion is from me and it's seconded by councelor Francis. Um basically I've been asked not to read it so I'll just do a quick explanation. Um, I've been prop I'm proposing this motion to address drainage and flooding issues near 3225 Cemetery Road. It basically directs transportation division to replace the existing cross cover culvert with a larger one or install an additional covert if if upsizing is not feasible. I've spoken with the director of roads about this motion. He's fully supportive and assisted in writing the motion. So, we'll leave it at that. Thank you. There's nobody on the speakers list, so it's before committee to vote. I thought you'd give me a high five. That carries on to 10.2 investment in new downtown washrooms. Councelor Crutch. Thank you. I will do the same since I was one to request councelor Jatis not read it out. I will also not read mine out. But I think that the title is a little misleading and that's my fault. So I wanted to clarify that this is not new in any way. This has been on the budget books for the last three years. uh first started out as a budget allocation to a downtown washroom at Ferguson Station. When staff began an initial discussion about this, we realized that actually it wasn't feasible to put a washroom there. We would have had to remove the existing amenities and there were plans to use them. And so at that point, they were kind of stagnant. We thought, well, maybe this is a way to to revitalize the Ferguson station area, but then everyone said, "No, no, we're going to do something differently." So then the be the question became, where is a downtown washroom going to go? And so this discussion started uh two and a half years ago about that and the answer is we looked at a bunch of areas downtown and the first place that it makes sense to put one is John Rebecca Park because it's a close to a bunch of different services and there's space for it there which is important. I'll say to you that um the only thing we're really doing here is just transferring from one project ID the money that already exists and has already been budgeted for to a different project ID. I just wanted to take out the Ferguson station reference and the budget because it was confusing. People wrote to me saying, "When's the washroom coming to Ferguson Station?" I was like, "Oh, it's not." And when I said to staff, "Can't we just edit it?" They said, "No, we need to move it to a new project ID." That's the whole motion. The only other excitement here is that it's announcing the location. Um, and that there's consultation that will happen with me. The downtown subcommittee put a motion in place at our uh at our meeting last week to have consultation be done on this through the downtown subcommittee. So, there's two things happening in tandem. Again, this isn't new except for the location which has not been fully confirmed yet. So, part of this is a feasibility study to make sure it will work and that's what we're doing. And then that'll come to my office. We'll review that with residents to make sure it makes sense. There's a process through the downtown subcommittee to review with businesses and business owners in the BIA. And then it will proceed forward from there. The goal, just to be clear, is and if you don't know this about washroom science, um this is new information for you. One washroom doesn't work. So, this is meant to be uh a standalone washroom, but not a brick-and-mortar building. So, not like we're not building a brick-and-mortar building of a washroom. We're doing something that can be standalone installed to municipal services, but that is coming pre-fabricated. If we're able to get the feasibility of it to make sense and to work operationally, then the the plan is to expand those downtown. If you only have one, it's not very successful because when the one breaks down, then there's a great need and a great demand. You create an imbalance. The idea is to have between three and five in an area eventually and then that will create a situation where if there's maintenance needs for one, there's still others that people can go to. So that's the long and short of it all. If people have questions, I'm happy to answer it because I'm trying to steward a lot of this behind the scenes through the budget process for years, but that's what's happening. It's just we're moving it from one project idea to the other. Thank you. Thank you. And your second was councelor Moren Wilson. Uh nobody's on the speakers list. It's before committee to vote. Councelor Fes thumbs up. Thank you. That carries and then we need to show a hand vote to receive the correspondence and we'll keep the same mover and secondary. Anybody opposed? Carried. Okay. On to 10.3. Ancaster Business Improvement Area Beautifification Assistance for 2026 season. Councelor Casar, please. Thanks, Chairan. I'll also make it brief. This is to provide funding for the Ancaster BIA for beautifification assistance just for 2026 uh for flower baskets and planters with some standardization of the process. This year, uh the BIA in Ancaster wasn't going to receive the same level of funding. Uh so with the help of manager pard was able to work out what the costs are and total costs um will be covered in the combination by BIA fees and their budget and then an additional 17,632 from the war 12 uh non- tax revenue account. Uh and that is the gist of it. Wonderful. Who's your secondary? Oh, councelor Wayne. Thank you. Oh, we do have a question uh on this one. Councelor Bey, thank you. you had me at Horiculture hanging baskets and planters. Um I'm just trying to understand what materially is the change because I I've been in downtown Ancaster many many times. It's always beautiful, but is this and I I think that there was some kind of a full cost recovery change model to 2026 just to compare and contrast what was done previously. What is the go forward and is this something that therefore uh unfortunately the the Ancaster council is going to have to continually bring forward for funding. Just trying to see where we were, where we are, where we're going through you, chair. Yeah, good question. I'm happy to clarify. So over the years there were different levels of funding provided to the Ancaster BIA. Most recently there was uh more funding provided to the BIA because of some perception of uh previous agreements that were in place. We couldn't validate that they were in place to guarantee funding going forward. Therefore the plan here is for one year of funding from this fund while they it gives the BIA time to figure out plans going forward. So on the street everything will look the same as it has in recent years. same level of beautifification. This is just the funding um change for this year as a result of the standardization that was done corporately. Hopefully that helps. Thank you, chair. Thank you. And it's time to vote. That carries on to 10.4. Improvement to Hamilton Amateur Athletics Association Ground Fieldhouse in Ward One. Council Marine Wilson, please introduce your motion. Seconder. Thank you. It's moved by myself and seconded by Councelor Cretch. Um in ward 1 we have been following an intentional plan to invest in four major uh parks across the ward. We have four neighborhoods. Um in those parks there are existing field houses that have been underutilized um or not utilized. Those are public assets that all the neighborhoods uh would like to gain access to. Um this is also an intentional uh direction to provide for uh accessible universal washrooms, public washrooms across Ward One. To that end, the muchbeloved HAA, which is just on the border of of W 2, hence um my colleagues willingness to support, uh it is going to be redeveloped the park uh this month, starting this month. And in that park, there is a historic fieldhouse. Um we are going to open that fieldhouse up for public use. And uh this motion is to uh for me to accept my gratitude, my immense gratitude for the um overwhelming um charitable offer from the Patrick J. McNal Foundation for their donation of $650,000 to enable Ward One to provide for those accessible washrooms. Um, so I want to thank them. I want to thank them for their commitment to public space and park development across this city and I know all residents will be very grateful. The motion is also to um advise my colleagues and to seek your permission to expend $1.5 million in Ward One capital reinvestment money uh to enable this work in the HAA fieldhouse which will provide for a kitchenet. There will be full public use, full washrooms that that will be winterized and um it is there for your consideration and I hope your support. Thank you. Next up on the speakers list is Councelor Crutch. Just briefly want to say thanks to councelor Morin Wilson for organizing all this and stewarding this asset. Many, many, many Wii residents use HAA Park. And the main thing I hear from people is what's that weird fieldhouse doing? Why can't I go in there? I have to go to the, you know, I want a better washroom facility. So on and so forth. So this is a question I get asked a lot. I think also it's worth highlighting just briefly that this is what it takes to get an excellent public washroom in our downtown. It's what takes some times to get these facilities upgraded. This happened uh you know thankfully councelor Farrre last term of counselor he put forward a motion to help with improvements to Simony Hall so we could have a kitchenet there and have washrooms there and this is coming out of area rating money to have these kind of basic assets maintained and these basic things happening in our city and so I'm grateful for donations from charitable organizations and from area rating reserves but this is a basic amenity hopefully that we'll be able to build into our budgets in the future. Thank you. Okay, it's before committee for vote. That carries. Thank you. On to 10.5. Councelor Wilson. Thank you. It's moved by myself and seconded by Councelor McMe. Um along the same lines of social capital and the importance of an giving a place for community to to meet, to play Uker, to hold neighborhood association meetings, uh to do a little yoga, whatever their hearts desire, uh perhaps a birthday party. Um this is the expenditure of Ward One monies um from our discretionary account not to exceed $20,000 for uh for um furnishings which will enable them uh to meet um and to sit and it'll be um foldable so that um and it can go outside on the new plaza that we're will we are building um outside that fieldhouse. Um so I hope you will support it in the Aninsleywood neighborhood. Thank you. It's before committee to vote. That carries on to 10.6. Replacement of his ex existing benches at Victoria Park Plaza 500. King Street West Hamilton. Councelor Wilson. Thank you. It's moved by myself and seconded by Councelor Ted McMein. Um, as the title suggests, we are uh we'd like to remove uh the pre-cast benches that are there and replace them with uh park benches that have armed rests. Um this is a a wonderful park, Victoria Park in the Strath Kona neighborhood. And there is um our neighbors are city housing Hamilton. It's a senior's building. They make tremendous use of this park. Um, and they did uh highlight that sometimes it's difficult to get um up from the seating arrangement in the absence of of those armrests. So, we want to do everything we can to ensure that our public spaces are inclusive and this is to uh provide for that expenditure. And we are also um doing things to address the greyness um of our of our city. And uh this will allow for a pop of color which is in keeping with the Crystal Palace design which is there now as a consequence of investments we made last year. Um and it will allow us to store that material um and replace in the event of damage. Thank you. No speakers on the speakers list. So it's before committee to vote. Councilor Francis is in the affirmative. That carries on to 10.7 accessible portable toilets in Ward 12 community parks. Councelor Kazar, your motion and seconder, please. Thank you, Chair. It's moved by me, seconded by Councelor Wang. As you mentioned, this is for accessible portable toilets in war 12 community parks. Uh the parks are Melan's Community Park, Amberly Park, James Smith Park, and London Legion Park. Uh I'm removing I am removing Coptown Lions Park because they are actually implementing a better, more permanent solution. So won't need funding for uh portable toilets. So it's those four parks uh for amount that will probably less than the $9,500 listed here uh from the War12 nonpropy tax revenue account. Thank you. No one's on the speakers list. So before committee to vote and that carries. Thank you. On to 10.8. Improvements to Lincoln Alexander Elementary School play structure at 50 Ravenbury Drive. Councelor Jackson, your motion and seconder, please. Sure. Chair Nin, and I'm the last one. I'm not sure how I became the last one on the agenda with the motions, but I'm okay with that in my humble state of mind. Moved by myself, seconded by W 10 counselor Jeff Bey, improvements to Lincoln Alexander Elementary School play structure on Ravenbury Drive. Where is the Hamilton Winter District School Board has provided space on their property at this location for an existing play structure that is available for public use? And where's the subject play structure is approaching end of useful life and needs to be replaced. Whereas the proposed improvements will allow for enhanced accessibility for users with the new play equipment and new pathway. Whereas these amenities provide recreational opportunities for children, youth, and families in the greater W 6 community. Whereas there's an additional opportunity to plant approximately 20 trees around this play area and pathway. Whereas the planting of the trees will be coordinated by the city of Hamilton's forestry section with the trees maintained until establishment approximately 3 years. After such time, the trees will be recognized as a Hamilton Wentworth District School Board asset. And finally, whereas this project will be added to the park's capital work plan with community engagement of the play structure replacement commencing this year, therefore be resolved. Eight. The replacement of the existing play structure and tree planting at the school be approved. Funded from the war 6 capital reinvestment reserve number noted at an upset limit contingency included not to exceed $375,000. B. the GM of public works or designate be authorized to approve execute any and all required agreements and celery documents such terms and conditions form satisfactory to city celestials in relation to the replacement of the play structure tree planting at this school and I just want to say chair Nan that this is a wonderful collaboration uh between the city of Hamilton and the public school board. I want to thank uh senior project manager Andrea McDonald always for her care and always uh bringing in initiatives forward that uh the W 6 community can engage in and uh and participate in and ultimately support. So I want to thank her for helping me with the language of this motion and through W 6 uh trustee public school trustee Kathy Archer. This is a great example where the city of Hamilton, unfortunately, a very rare neighborhood on the East Mountain, does not actually own the green space, but because the Lincoln Alexander School has lots of green space, we've historically had a play structure and a working agreement with them, and this is just my uh contribution uh on behalf of the city, hopefully with your support that will provide modernized, up-to-date, accessible play equipment. Seconded by councelor Bey. Thank you, Chair Nen. Thank you. Nobody's on the speakers list, so it's before committee for vote. That carries. Okay, now we're on to notices of motions. So, you're not the last one, Councelor Jackson. Um, I'm going to pass the chair over to Vice Chair Casar. Thank you, chair. So, we're on to notice motions. 11.1 is the multi-use court at Gage Park, W 3, subject of amazing delegations from a couple of uh young delegates this morning. Uh, so, Council Nan, can you introduce your motion and confirm you'll be seeking to suspend the rules? Yes. Um, so the motion, as you already mentioned, I don't need to speak to it at all. I think our delegates did a fine job, uh, wonderful job. But ultimately, uh, what I'm seeking to do today is to have public works staff report back in Q1 of 2027 on the feasibility to expediate the timeline for a multi-use court at Gage Park in the 2027 2028 time frame, including costs and potential revenue sources, project timeline, and public consultation, etc. and that the public works staff consider the costs that would be required to be part of the 2027 capital budget and work with the W 3 office to for the considerations of area rated or other discretionary funding from 2027 to implement it and uh I will be seeking to wave the rules. This is a timing issue. Um, we all know that public works staff as it relates to environmental services and parks related work have a very extensive to-do list and every time we move a motion related to parks, it adds and causes points of tension, which is why I've worked with staff to push this report back to 2027, not looking to implement anything in 2026, but to get it on the work plan, I do need to move the motion today. Okay. So, you're moving to wave the rules. I'll second that. Okay. Okay. Uh speakers, councelor bey on no. So we'll hold that over. Okay. So we will then go to the vote to suspend the rules. Thank you. That'll be digital vote. It is available. Okay, that carries unanimously. So now on to the motion. you've already spoken to it, but uh council n it's moved by myself and second by councelor crutch and I already spoke to it. Okay, so councelor bey turned from green to red. I think it was going the wrong way. Uh thank you, Vice Chair Casar. Um happy to support this. Um, I just have a question as it pertains to the resolution part. Um, I've in W 10, we've had the the good fortune to renovate four basketball courts already since 2022. We have a fifth that we're renovating in 2026 with the creation of a new one also in 2026 for a total of of six that we've been able to accomplish uh since 2022. Very very proud of that. But um maybe I'm confused by the wording and I just seeking clarification in terms of um asking this to be a part of the 2027 capital budget. And the reason for this is maybe the distinction because at face value it might look like we're asking this to go into the the big budget that we discuss in in uh January and we have a standalone project very very worthwhile that then comes up through the crosshairs of all of that deliberation in our global budget conversation as a as a project ID that may or may not proceed or is this just asking this to be inserted it into the global parks budget and just trying to seek clarification on which is which because I would say that I wouldn't want any of my projects to come forward in that global uh positioning system and and uh end up as part of the broader debate over what's worthy and what's not. Just some clarification. Sure. Through you get the question. Yep. Um because the park's master plan for the gauge park m master master master plan didn't itemize the multicort till 201. It's nowhere in that multi-year capital budget. So to your secondary point it is to have it get clarified as being if it's approved by committee and council at that time that it then can get put into the multi-year capital budget process. Does that make sense? Yep. So then this sorry through the vice chair this is then seeking to uh change the positioning within the master plan which then would have to find a companion funding source from somewhere uh be it through um assoc discretionary discretionary award funds or through some other but that is all part of the identification that would come forward by by staff. Okay. Thank you very much for the clarity. happy to support. Okay, I don't see any further speakers. We'll go to the electronic vote. And that also carries unanimously. That takes us on to 11.2, two, which I'll retain the chair because it's also councelor Nan's uh motion. It's a replacing the playground structure and adding shade structures at Memorial Elementary School, 1175 Main Street, East Hamilton in Ward 3. So, councelor Nan, do are you going to seek to wave the rules? I am seeking to wave the rules and my second to do so is councelor Hang and the time it is about timing and working with the school board in order to figure out when implementation can take place. So just given school year is about to end, they've got a process on the school board side. Um the timing is urgent. Okay. Not seeing any speakers. So a vote to suspend the rules. The vote is up. That carries unanimously. Okay. Back to you, councelor Nan, to introduce your motion in your secondary. Thank you. It's moved by myself and seconded by councelor Huang again. And I think the delegates again both in person and uh in the pre-recorded videos uh already outlined all the reasons why it should happen. Um what I'm seeking to do, however, is in the therefore be resolved, there's a bit of a change from the one that was available to you publicly. Um, committee members, we will be moving $240,000 from the Ward 3 capital reinvestment reserve and the account listed, but we're also adding a contribution from Ward 4 counselors um capital reinvestment reserve at the tune of $40,000 with an acknowledgement that the uh students and children that attend Memorial Elementary School are from both communities. Um to clarify, in one of the delegations there was reference to the fact that $150,000 was moved by a previous term of council to Memorial Elementary School for playground purposes. And uh through a lot of back and forth with city staff, what we've been able to establish is that $150,000 did move from the city of Hamilton to Hamilton Wentworth District School Board to Memorial um for playground enhancements that did not speak specifically to playground structure. And so those funds to my understanding have been used to create a outdoor classroom as well as address some of the shade structure needs in the community. It wasn't straight shade structures. They planted trees. There's this beautiful outdoor space where uh Memorial students did take advantage of that outdoor classroom especially during the pandemic and just when students were returning to school served as a really important space for uh the student population to continue to gather safely. Um so that is my understanding. I have requested corporate finance to get some accounting around the previous $150,000. Um, given the vagueness of the motion in the previous term of council, looking to address it very specifically for the community, this playground is a city asset. It is deemed by the city as end of life. It needs to be closed down if it's not going to be replaced. And I'd much rather see the asset be replaced to a standard by which it meets the existing student population during school hours, but also meets the needs of our community after school through a community shared use agreement. That's it. Thank you. Great. Thanks, Councelor Nam. We have two speakers. Councelor Bey followed by councelor Wang. Councelor Beyone. Thank you, Vice Chair. And through you, uh, Councelor Nan has basically taken all the wind out of my first question because, um, that picture triggered me and and I was watching the video. Uh, I well, uh, we had, uh, former board chair, trustee Todd White standing next to councelor Matt Green. and I was vice chair at the time, so I didn't make the cut in the photo, but I remember the announcement being made and then I I came up with the same thought process. Uh, vice chair was where did that 150,000 go? So, thank you for the clarification on that. That was going to be my my question. My my followup is more of a comment in terms of I would imagine that this now has to go to the joint property asset committee for conversation which is the operational u committee between the two organizations. It has nothing to do with counselors. It's staff to staff in terms of the school board to um the uh the city uh trying to figure out if there's um timelines that need to be met permits etc. all that or is this strictly that we just cut a check to HWDSB and they do the work? I'm just trying to determine if the where's the city's involvement begins and ends and uh what what is the the next step for this? Okay, clarity on next steps. Who would like to answer that? Um happy to just mention that in item B of the therefore be it resolved um through you vice chair that that that the council is directing city staff to work in conjunction with the schoolboard staff to establish the agreements required to consider all the costs shared use of space maintenance and upkeep and any other requirements associated to the redevelopment of the playground structure and the shade structures. I'm also requesting that it's through staff that they then uh clarify the school board will clarify directly to the city and my office the timeline for procurement installation as well as their public consultation process so that the W 3 office can help promote information flow to the community and um part public works staff will be the ones that will be working with um with the school board staff directly. And if there's anything else that needs clarifying, I'm sure staff can do so. Council B, anything further? Yeah, sure. I'm just trying to figure out, are we building the playground on the schoolboard property or are we giving the money to the school board to build the structure themselves? Graham, through the chair, Cynthia Graham, director of environmental services. This one will be a provision of funding to the school board and the school board will lead the procurement, oversight of construction, timing, coordination and maintenance with input from city staff. Okay, thank you. That's it. Okay, councelor Wang. Microphone. Microphone for council Wang, please. Thank you. I'm happy super happy to um support this because actually a significant amount award for students do attend memorial. Uh I myself am a memorial alum and grad. I am also proud to say the valadictorian of my graduating class. So I have a I have a significant um interest in ensuring that we are supporting Memorial City students. I'm also uh glad to see that we can potentially put this forward. Um, this is also coming out of area rating funds, but you'll see actually I wonder if I could ask um Elsie Macintosh to put the wording up on the screen just so that it's on public record. Um, because yes, as it's coming out of W4 area rated funds, it is asking for committee to provide um special exception to this because typically W four funds should be spent in W 4. However, this is one of those areas where I believe very firmly and strongly that this is infrastructure and this is um supporting students uh that attend this school from Ward 4. So, wonder if I could ask Elsie Macintosh to put it on the screen. She's just working to bring that up. So, as you can see, it's uh in the ward for capital reinvestment reserve um not to exceed a total of uh $40,000, but this is a one-time exception to the ward specific initiatives policy. And this is asking committee to um approve this exception. Okay, that's it. Thank you. Thank you, Valatoran W. I don't see any further speakers, so we'll go to the vote. The vote is loading. There it is. Thumbs up from councils Francis and Jackson, Kelsey Macintosh. And that carries unanimously. Congratulations. Thank you so much. Uh committee, on to our next one. Notice of motion is 11.3. No. Oh, my apologies. Councelor Casar still needs to do that or Yes. Whoops. Councelor Casar, you have to move to Oh, the correspondences. Yeah. So, yeah, to receive the correspondence, need a mover and seconder. Councelor Nan, Councelor Wang. Show of hands. All those in favor? That is unanimous. Thank you. Awesome. Okay, now we're on to 11.3. 11.3 is Eastwood Park. Is that correct? Okay. Hang on. Give me a second. Sorry, Cheryl. I'll pause. Council to you. No, there's a lot of thrills going on here in the council chamber about this notice of motion which shall remain a notice. See what the next public works committee. about washrooms for Eastwood Park for the playing season there because as you all know the configuration of the park makes it so that not all the players can get to all the washrooms in time. So we're putting them in as we did last year I believe. Thank you. Lovely. Thank you. It'll come back next committee meeting. Uh 11.4 over to councelor Francis. First motion is to wave the rules so I can introduce my motion to get this on the spring in installation program please. Thank you. Who's your seconder? Uh councelor Tatison. Thank you. No questions. So that's before committee for electronic vote to weigh the rules. Couple thumbs up. Councelor Jackson and councelor McMaken. Councelor Crutch is is leaving. What? What's going on? Two minutes. Hey. Carries. Okay. On to your motion, Councelor Francis. So, this is actually the last motion of the day, and I'll make it short. If committee votes yes for this, they're supporting two speed cushions as petitioned by 68% of the residents on Mont Morreny Drive at an upset limit of $6,000, asking for committee support. Thank you. And your second was councelor Tison. Thank you. Nobody's on the speakers list and it's before committee to vote. Thumbs up by councelor Jackson Mc Beacon and councelor Francis. And that carries. Uh any other notices of motion? Just thought I'd check. Seeing none. Thank you to everybody in the public works uh department for your support for the meeting today, for all the preparation of the reports, responding to all the questions. Thank you to the clerk's team for your support for today's meeting. Have a good night. We are adjourned.

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