Sound check. 1 2 3. Sound check. 1 2 3. Good afternoon and welcome to the public works committee of May 4th, 2026. May the fourth be with us. As we all do have quorum present for today's meeting, I'd like to call the meeting to order. Want to acknowledge that joining us virtually is councelor Matt Francis. in the chambers is councelor Bey, councelor Paul's, councelor Cooper, councelor Moren Wilson, councelor Crutch, councelor Hang, and councelor Casar. Um, could I please have a mover and seconder to approve the agenda that is before committee? Thank you, councelor Hang, councelor Bey, and that is Oh, any discussion on the agenda? Seeing none, then that's before committee for a show of hands vote. All those in favor? Any opposed? Seeing none, recognizing councelor Jackson and councelor McMaken in the room and voting in approval for the agenda. Moving forward to declarations of interest. Any to declare? Seeing none, we'll move on to adoption of the minutes of our previous meeting which was held on April 13, 2026. Mover and seconder on the minutes. Thank you, councelor Crutch. Seconded by councelor Hang. Any discussion on the minutes? Seeing none, it's also before committee for show hand votes. Those in favor? Any opposed? That carries. On to delegations. Uh before we begin our delegations for today, members are reminded that questions are for delegates for clarification purposes only and not for debate. A note to our delegates. Uh you have 5 minutes to complete your delegation. You'll hear a tone at the 4m minute mark and that is just a reminder to let you know that you have about a minute left to finish up your delegation. First up, we have 6.1, which is uh Michelle Laok respecting item 10.3, exemption from municipal sewer and drain bylaw number 23-234 and waterworks bylaw number 23-235 at 909 North Waterdown Drive, development application 25 CDM-20201. So, if you could make your way Oh, you're virtual. Thank you. Um, so I can hear you. I can see you. You have five minutes. Please proceed. >> Perfect. Thank you, Madam Chair. My apologies for not being in person today as I am in OLT mediation. Um, but my name is Michelle Lorac. I'm a partner with the Bigly Group and a registered professional planner. I represent live communities who are the owners of the property at 909 North Waterdown Drive. Um, just a bit of history on the property. This represents phases three and four of liv's kaleidoscope development which are their last two phases within waterdown. Uh phase three fronts onto North Water Down Drive while phase 4 is located to the rear of the property and will be accessed through the phase three area and through the phased lands um through shared access agreements. Conditions of site plan approval were were provided to this development through an OOLT mediated settlement in December of 2023 and final site plan approval was provided by the city in January of 2025. Phase 3, which is currently under construction, has 84 townhouse units with servicing also being installed and three blocks of town houses nearing the end of completion. Phase four will be the second phase in this stage of their development is at the rear of the property and will be developed in the future with a maximum of an 8tory uh mid-rise development. Each of these two phases will be a separate condominium corporation which is part of the reason why we're in front of you and why this motion is in front of you. The two condominium corporations will have a shared access, so a shared driveway for both phases. They will share outdoor amenity area and storm water management facilities. This these shared utilities, shared access, shared amenity areas will be created through agreements between the two continuum corporations and registered on title. We've been working with city staff for over the past year to come to a resolution regarding the wording in bylaws 23-234 and 23-235 as both condominiums have been planned to be serviced through one connection from North Waterown Drive. It should be noted that the servicing permits were provided in the fall of 2024 and the water main commissioning was provided by the city in February of 2025. At the request of city staff, we have investigated if servicesvicing separate servicing could be provided to each of these condominium corporations. However, this is not feasible nor reasonable due to the constrained nature of the site and the fact that services have already been installed and any requirement of additional servicing lines would result in the demolition of units which are currently under construction and will be ready for occupancy by homeowners shortly. We would encourage the public works committee to support this motion as a servicing design is currently constructed, has been commissioned, and will be a able to allow us to move forward with the condominium registration. Any maintenance agreements for infrastructure will be created and registered on the title of the land and will be between the two condominium corporations much like the access agreements which will also be required to provide phase 4 with access to Northwater down drive. I am available for any questions should members of the committee have any. >> Thank you for your delegation. Committee members, any speakers on the delegation? Seeing none, thank you so much for joining us this afternoon. >> Next up, uh oh no, sorry, I need a mover and second to receive the delegation. >> Councelor Paul's and Councelor McMe. Thank you both. All in favor? Show of hands. Any opposed? That carries. Next up on our delegation list is Jen Baker, Hamilton Nationalist Cub, respecting report PW26028, Safari Road, Municipal Class Environmental Assessment. Jen's joining us virtually as well. Thank you, Jen. You know the rules. Uh you have five minutes. If you could just say good afternoon so I can test that I can hear you. >> Good afternoon. >> We can hear you and see you. So please proceed. >> Okay. Thanks. Wish I could join you, but if I start coughing, you'll you'll understand why I'm not there. Um so hello members of the public works committee. My name is Jen Baker, general manager of the Hamilton Naturalist Club. Thank you for letting me share comments on item 9.2 in your agenda. For those who don't know, Hamilton Naturalist Club is a 107year-old charitable organization with over 400 members dedicated to the study, appreciation, and conservation of our wild plants and animals. We are strongly urging you to keep Safari Road closed between Valance and Kirkwall roads. This section of road runs through a wetland that has been recognized proincially and in the city's official plan. This important wetland provides habitat for countless species, including at least three federally and proincially recognized species at risk, which have been documented using the wetland during their breeding season. Unfortunately, there have been a multiple records on I naturalist of this section of road being a roadill roadkill hot spot. This loss of biodiversity is concerning with our biodiversity crisis that has been recognized by the city of Hamilton through the biodiversity action plan which is a multistakeholder collaborative plan to protect and restore Hamilton's biodiversity. Hamilton is also a signator to the Montreal pledge cities united in action for biodiversity. The BAP identifies four three four key threats to biodiversity. One of these is fragmentation of natural areas particularly by roads. An action that the city has committed to is 3.1 which will investigate, identify and prioritize wildlife corridors, particularly where roads bisect core identify core areas identified within the natural heritage system and respond by investigating appropriate best management practices and tools. In action 7.5, the city committed to consider the biodiversity action plan when initiating city projects and studies looking for opportunities for mitigation of key threats to local biodiversity. We see no evidence of the BAT being considered during the planning for this project. This is concerning to HNC, a BAT partner, as this seems to be a tremendous opportunity for the city to meet its biodiversity commitments. instead appears that biodiversity commitments have not even been considered. HNC suggests removing Safari Road as an official truck route. Trucks have found alternative routes over the last 5 years, including regional road 97 to the north and highway 5 to the south, both of which are already official truck routes. We believe the integrity of this wetland should not be further compromised to provide a faster route when there are part parallel roads that can and have been used since the road has intermittently been closed for several years. The costs and work involved to restoring this 2.5 kilometer section of road are estimated to be between 8 to 9 million minimum. The potential impacts from a rapidly changing climate could mean that regular repairs might be needed at additional cost and harm to the wetland and the species that depend on it. Drivers have adapted to Safari Road being closed, but s seems like the city has not yet adapted to meeting today's reality of the climate and biodiversity crisis and the need to be open to adapt plans and routes. Roads do not belong in wetlands because wetlands want to be wet and so will flood regularly. We have a chance here to fix this small section of road while also meeting commitments the city has made. Wetlands flood and engineering isn't always the fix, especially with increased flooding becoming the norm. We believe keeping Safari Road closed would honor the city's commitment to biodiversity, save p save taxpayers the cost of re-engineering and rebuilding and maintaining this road. If the road is reopened, the city's commitment to biodiversity protection and restoration needs to be leading the final design planning. This must include at a minimum exclusion fencing along the full width of the wetland and wildlife crossing structures to allow free access for all wildlife to prevent further roadkill. The city will need to consult with local and regional experts to determine the best type of passages that will meet the needs of the wildlife that need to cross through the wetland. HC appreciates your consideration and asks to be kept informed as decisions are made on this project. Thank you. >> Thank you for your delegation committee. Any questions for the delegate? Seeing none, may I please have a mover and second to receive the delegation? Moved by councelor Crutch, seconded by councelor Huang. Thank you both. Uh, all those in favor, show a hand vote to receive. Any opposed? Seeing none, that carries. Thank you. Thank you for your delegation. On to item seven of our agenda. Items for information. Uh, first up is 7.1 PW22079K, which is our accessible transportation services performance report. May I please get a mover and second to put the report on the floor? Moved by councelor Paul, seconded by councelor Bey. Thank you. Um, and director of transit Nancy Perer is available if there's any questions. So, committee members, are there any questions? Please begin populating the speakers list. Otherwise, we'll just move to the vote to receive the report. Okay, no questions. Um, show a hand vote. All in favor? Okay. Any opposed? Seeing none, that carries. On to 7.2 PW25068A rural broadband expansion plan update. May I please get a mover and second to put this report on the floor. Thank you, councelor Casar. Seconded by councelor Huang. Um, and then again, uh, if there's no questions, thank you for populating the speakers list. It's been moved and seconded. First speaker on the list is councelor Kazar. >> Yeah. Thanks. And through you, chair. Maybe just a a quick overview for everyone listening and then I'll have a question. Thank you. >> Through the chair, uh, Brian Holyworth, director of engineering services. Um, this is the next update on our report on the rural broadband service. you'll recall uh we brought a report to public works committee in September 29 uh September 2025. Um since then uh we have had another meeting with with Rogers um to to further the discussions on the program. Uh we learned some different things in in that meeting. Uh we heard about their their alternative service the 5G service which is providing uh coverage across a rural area today. Uh maybe not to the speed that dedicated fiber would be but it does exist. Uh we also um have reached out proactively to uh Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Energy and Mines to confirm the status of the rural broadband program because it was started in 2021 and it's it's been going on for a while. Uh they uh suggested that they will be providing some further updates um on the on the program in the spring of 2026. That's now, but we haven't heard anything. Um so we're still in a holding pattern. Uh we haven't received a detailed application from Rogers. Uh we still have some uh questions around the rural side uh ditch plowing and the implications of that on our ability to to maintain our roadways. So um that that's the update and happy to take some questions. >> Yeah, thank you for that. Appreciate it. Yeah, just a question about 5G because it's mentioned at the beginning of the report and for those who u may be reading in the public or heard that summary is Is it being suggested that possibly using 5G service as a substitute for home broadband is a solution? Because I if so, I think there'd be concern from the rural community who are looking as it's pointed out in the report to get the economic benefits and quality of life benefits from having high speeded internet. And it just reads that that that actually might be a solution. And I'm not aware that 5G um cellular service is a solution for fiber connection for highsp speeded internet. So maybe if you could elaborate on that through you chair. >> Uh so I I I can elaborate and I I will through the chair qualify that I'm not speaking on behalf of of Rogers as to what their uh business strategy is. Um but I do note that the 5G does uh meet the requirements of the original rural broadband program. So, it's a 5010 upload download. Um, I would I'm not a technology expert, but I would agree with you counselor that that that the the fiber to home or fiber to business, which is this is intended on businesses, not residences, uh, is is probably a better service. But, um, I think it comes down to, um, you know, where where they're willing to direct their their resources in terms of this program. >> Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. And through your chair, I appreciate that comment and understand you can't speak on behalf of Rogers, but I think it was just important to get that on the public record uh because it probably would catch the attentions of individuals uh who are maybe thinking that they would need to have cellular service instead of a hardline connection. But uh understanding more work is to come and there are no decisions being made. This is just an update. Thank you, chair. >> Thank you, councelor. Seeing no other speakers on the speakers list, it's been moved and seconded and before committee to receive the update. It's a show a hand vote. All those in favor? Any opposed? Seeing none, that carries. On to uh PW26018 or 2025 annual water main break report. Could I get a mover and second to put this on the floor? Councelor uh Crutch, seconded by Councelor Wang. Uh and first up we have Councelor Crutch. Nope. I lie. Councelor Moren Wilson was number one on the list. >> Number one in your heart. Number one with number one ward. Thank you uh chair. Um if I could some initial questions just on definitions. Um could I just give a uh first of all an explanation between uh that which is accounted of ground movement, what does that mean versus corrosion and then another um explanation of the difference between transmission water manes and distribution water manes through the chair. >> So through the chair Nick Winters, director of the Hamilton water division. Uh just noting that we have a number of experts from Hamilton Water Engineering Services who are here today. So I'll direct that question to uh Dave Albertton, manager of water distribution >> through the chair, Dave Albertton, manager of water distribution. Uh I'm going to answer the questions uh the way they came through. So uh ground movement is what we see during the winter months when you have the the freeze thaw cycle. The ground is moving as the frost is penetrating into the ground which is putting extra stress on top of the water man. That is what we classify ground movement. Uh corrosion. Uh we do see areas in the city that have corrosive soil and that soil that is sitting on top of the water man is is starting to uh eat away at the water man uh and it will create a hole in the the water man and that would then surface to the the ground and we would find that water man break uh through corrosion as that's how we're classifying that one there. The difference between transmission water mane and local distribution water main. Transmission water mane we classify as any water man that is 400 millimeters and greater. And that water man is bringing large volumes of water throughout the city uh taking water from our drinking water plant and they're bringing it to reservoirs and towers around the city. And the local water distribution uh mains are the water manes that are less than 400 millimeters and they are the water manes that you find in your residential area that is bringing water from the transmission mains to the uh local houses. So those are the smaller water manes uh and they do tend to uh break more frequently than the transmission mains. >> Thank you manager uh Albertton that was really helpful. So could I ask then with those definitions in mind if I go to um I think it's uh appendix F uh the the bar chart at the top is um what is that telling me? Um, and I do recall uh after 2018 when I was first elected uh someone in Hamilton Water telling me something that kept them up at night as a consequence of the transmission andor the distribution, but I I don't recall anything the details further than that through the chair. >> What is this picture telling me? >> So through the chair, I'll I'm happy to take that one. Um what the graph is telling you for appendix F, there are three bars there. Uh and it is separating our water main inventories uh by uh age. Um and so the first bar there is telling you that we have around just over 400 km of water manes that are 1950 and older. Um the second bar is telling you that we have uh around 600 km of water maneu that is aged 1951 to 1980. And then the final bar is telling you that we've got around 1100 km of water manes that are 1981 or newer. Um the colors on there, the orange is our distribution water manes. So those are your local water manes that properties are connected to and service from. Uh and the blue is our transmission water manes. Uh as Albertan had mentioned, the the water manes that are moving large volumes of water from one area of the city to another. Uh and I will uh mention um and it might have been me years ago talking about concerns about risk. Um we are concerned about risk associated with the age of infrastructure uh in our water system in in a number of different areas. Uh this report and this graph in particular is speaking to uh water manes that are getting quite old. Um but we also have plans. Um the some of the water manes that are in particular and and councelor Hang um uh would be particularly familiar with these are are water manes that run through the pipeline trail uh from the Woodward Avenue water treatment plant uh towards downtown and have been on the ground for a long time. Someone going back to the 1880s. Um >> thank you counselor. uh there is some comfort. I mean uh in those days a lot of the infrastructure was built uh overbuilt from a construction standard and so has proven to last a lot longer than engineers would have projected uh it to last. However, um we have seen some catastrophic breaks uh within that pipeline trail over the past several years and we know that it's time to be getting after rehabilitation of those water manes, some of the oldest that are here in the in the city of Hamilton. And uh just to finish this off uh and to give uh committee hopefully some confidence uh we have implemented programs to achieve that uh we have ramped up our critical water main inspection program um which is looking at those transmission mains which are critical components of our water uh system without a lot of redundancy. So, we're inspecting them more frequently to get an idea of whether or not we have challenges from a risk perspective. And in particular with some of these oldest water manes, those are being programmed for rehabilitation or replacement as early as 2028, if I remember. Um, the current schedule for two of the water manes in the pipeline trail. >> I think I'm at time. However, if I could just in fairness uh plant three questions for you to ruminate before I get back on. My first question is when I did the rough math if I look at the original older city from wards 1 to eight almost 70% of the breaks are happening in that city if that math is correct and then I'm looking at the blue the transmission um the transmission is would be really worrisome I'm assuming I'm just my next my question is going to be how are we or are we informing our budget process uh in a way that reflects this reality um in terms of uh addressing what I think is our responsibility so we don't end up like Calgary or Montreal. So I'll let you that's my question when I come back on. Thank you. >> Okay, as staff m that over uh councelor Wilson you'll get your answers on the second time. Next up we have councelor crutch. >> Thanks very much. Just firstly want to say I appreciate the fact that there's a couple of other charts in here that were in last year's report that I asked for to make it simpler to see the math across WS how it breaks down where water manes water main repairs are being done. So we understand geographically how it stacks up and quite a lot are being in the lower city. If you look there from WS one to five being only a third of the wards the majority of the water main breaks are happening in the lower city. So it's good to be able to see that a little more clearly. One thing I noticed year upon year here is that the cost for water main breaks in ward one is the highest. And so I just I know I asked this last year and we had a conversation I talked to director Hollingworth offline about this a bit in terms of the way that we do things how we reline or choose to replace whether we can get ahead of some of these things. Um the nature of emergencies and so on and I think right now we're kind of working at a very even system. My question is meaning like it's just as useful for us slightly more advantageous for us to do relligning than it is to do replacement. as we continue to reline. So, I don't have that question again, but can you maybe explain, which I don't think I asked last year in any good detail, why is it why is it that in W one we do see so so much of a cost there specifically geographically in our city? >> Through the chair, uh Ward one sees did see the highest cost uh as part of the 2025 water main brakes. Uh and a lot of the cost associated with repairing the water man brakes is the final restoration and as part of 2025 a the 634,000 a lot of that was associated with the final restoration of a water main break or multiple water main breaks where the excavation was large. So if I think about the one water man break uh near McMaster that was an extensive restoration which would be very expensive to complete the final restoration which would have bumped up the numbers for ward one. >> Thanks. My last question is about large restorations. So thanks for broaching the subject. There are a couple of water main breaks recently in recent years in WI, especially one on James Street North near Malbury that was kind of a geyser and flooded the street and then there was a large patch and and several patches. And when you look at James Street now after a series of water mane breaks and then we see ashalt patching on those spaces. The way I understand what happens is we have different kinds and grades of ashvault we're using. Um sometimes it's immediate where we're trying to just patch something. But in a large hole like that, we have to do something a little bit more deliberate. Um when we end up with series of patches, we we see weaknesses. Then when the seams are happening, how do we mitigate and understand this and report this and deal with it? Because when a patch that's applied in a large area is then combined with other patches in a large area over a period of time, when is it get to the point where we say we have to reconstruct this road and how is that coordinated? Because when I've been recently walking up and down James Street, including with new director, it was kind of obvious that there were a lot of patches from these types of events um leading to the point where the whole street felt like a patch. So I'm just wondering if you could comment on from your perspective sort of the stages that happen, right? So in larger sections, how we address those larger sections, how that work happens >> uh through the chair. We're we got a number of of different um areas of influence on on the bench here. So, I'll take a a first cut at it. Um you're correct in describing the road cut program. Um most road cuts are are due to either a water mane fix or a utility. Um that gets patched up in the interm usually using cold rolled ashvault. It's kind of temporary. Um and then that gets put into a program where we do the permanent road cut. we've got a a contractor on board that basically is working every day across the city to do those more permanent cuts. Uh we do look at the the type of infrastructure underneath if it's concrete road base etc and and inform our our our permanent repair strategies on that basis. And then I think to to your direct question is where is that critical point where you've got so many so many patches and and that would feed into our uh pavement inspection program which measures roughness and and condition of the road and it depanker can can elaborate on this a little bit more but it it will eventually show up on the program for resurfacing or full repair. >> Okay. Thank you. I think I understand enough about what I was asking to get a sense that there's that two different stages if I understand what you said. Stage one is immediately trying to address that situation by filling the hole in with some ashalt. Then there's a cut program that goes by and does some kind of nicer job. Is that my general understanding what you're saying? One is kind of we cover the hole. And the second one is we go back and cut it nicely and make sure it's it's it's structurally sound. Um that's helpful. Thank you. Those are my questions. >> Thank you. Next up we have councelor Bey. >> Thank you chair and through you. Um thank you for the report. I'm sorry, my back is to uh the the hardworking individuals that have put this together. Good to see everybody um and the effort that you've put into this. And I do want to frontload this by saying that I I do have a meeting scheduled with Director Winters and and his team to delve into this in a little more detail, but at a high level, Community Avenue, Pinelands, Grace Road, Green Road, in the last four years that I've been sitting here receiving those reports, those three roads are always on this list. Predictably, one may assume that we will continue to see these problem areas on the list. I am encouraged that we see um a plan to to make some permanent changes for upgrades starting in around the window of 2029, 2031. But in some cases, predictably, we're going to continue to see water main failures on major thorough affairs for the next six or seven years. like we we can almost plan. You can almost set your watch to it. I'm just trying to get an idea of the decision making behind the scenes that may occur in trying to accelerate some of these. If we know that the water man system is failing on these streets, they're constantly breaking. Um what do we do to try to move things up a little faster on the list so that we don't continually spend bad money repairing bad infrastructure? How soon can we maybe make a change to get in there and do a permanent upgrade so we stop uh losing losing money to ongoing maintenance costs of this through the chair? >> Uh through the chair. Thank you counselor for the question. Um and I believe a field a similar question when we brought the 2024 report. Uh and so there is a constant balancing act um within our uh distribution water distribution asset uh portfolio about what needs the most attention um at what point in time and there are a lot of factors that go into thinking about what is the appropriate time uh for rehabilitation or replacement of infrastructure. Uh one, we know that uh the city and our taxpayers and rateayers get the best value for projects when we marry full road reconstruction uh with replacement of the subsurface infrastructure at the same time. And so part of our engineering construction program is looking to program those opportunities uh so that we can do that full reconstruction and provide the best value for the money that we're entrusted with and spending. Um there are other factors that could push out uh water manes um in particular uh that are showing signs of their age such as if there's coming growth in an area um and we're waiting for confirmation of what replacement of a water man would look like. A lot of times we're not just replacing a pipe like for like. Um a lot of the times we're upsizing that infrastructure to make sure that we can service growth in that area. And those studies do take time. And so we find um many situations where yes, we recognize that we've got a challenge with an aging water mane um but we're still waiting on more information again to make sure that we're spending money wisely when we come in for a replacement and and a likely full road reconstruction at the same time. Um so there's a factor. Um from a prioritization perspective uh generally uh not exclusively but almost 99% of the time the local water distribution mains we can fix in a timely manner. Um I hope I don't jinx anything but I don't recall a situation uh in my career where we had um residents or businesses without water for an extended period of time because of a local distribution failure. And so we do have that ability to come in quickly uh fix it, keep everything flowing and make sure that there's no uh loss of service um which is the way that the system was designed. There's a fair amount of redundancy uh in that local distribution system. However, there are cases where uh if we have water manes that are fronting uh critical sensitive facilities such as hospitals um or other care facilities that are showing that type of age, that would be a reason to prioritize a replacement because we can't tolerate the risk of potentially putting those types of facilities for out of water for even short periods of time. Um the rest of the balancing act is really we see water manes reacted differently year-over-year. So yes, we're we have a number of water manes on our radar where they're they're showing a a break or two breaks per year in different areas of the city. Um and we get those programmed through for rehabilitation whether that is lining um so a less invasive uh pay of method of rehabilitation where we're not digging up the entire road or full road reconstruction. Those moving forward those projects generally takes 3 to 5 years um from the initial uh conceptual we need to replace or rehabilitate this water man getting it through engineering design to tender and award for construction. Um uh I apologize. I just lost my uh train of thought there. Um there are opportunities though uh for acceleration in certain areas and we're always looking for those opportunities because we want to minimize maintenance costs. We don't want to go out and and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars uh repairing a water man, repairing the road over and over again. and and finding that balancing act uh for the right time to go in with an intervention is something that between the engineering team and the Hamilton water team we're constantly talking about and we do see water manes move up and down that prioritization list on a on a yearly basis based on what we're actually seeing in the field from a break and and a repair perspective and so uh we do have those conversations as we see things change then we will rep prioritize um and put those into the budget um for that prioritization and I hope that answers the question. I know it was a lot. >> It was about a fivem minute answer. So, thank you. Uh, if I may indulge for one final question. Um, just in terms of of um, you know, presumably some folks in in Warttown are are watching this with interest particularly in these communities, Grace Road, Green Road, Community Avenue. Um, when there's a failure on a main or multiple failures, we have to go in and and make repairs. Um and repairs are not from an engineering perspective I would imagine ideal because we're not actually dealing with it as a system. It's localized. But is there any possibility and this this is just a layman asking the question that it it perpetuates meaning that one failure now loosened like a lot of this is due to loose soil conditions. A failure here loosens the soil and then you can't quite put it back together as it was, which then causes a failure a meter away because of loose soil, which then perpetuates and causes another failure due to loose soil and the whole thing just kind of moves down the line and it's just repair after repair, loose soil condition after loose soil condition. Does one in theory does it perpetuate the other or is that um maybe uh me dreaming on my part? uh through the chair uh counselor that that does happen. Uh however, the team when they're making the repairs to the water man, they will bed the pipe at the end. So, they're going to go ahead and they're going to put some some stone underneath the pipe, make sure that it's laying flat, making sure that there's no real room for the pipe to bounce up and down, I guess, when the ground is shifting. Uh but it does happen. Uh we've seen, you know, a car strike a fire hydrant and then two days later a water man breaks up water mane break shows up down the street. Uh so those those transients I guess you want to call them pressure transients uh challenges with people striking infrastructure you could see a break happen uh a meter down 2 meters down at a later date. >> Okay thank you so much been really informative and look forward to having a conversation uh with the team soon. Thank you chair. >> Thank you councelor Bey. Next up we have councelor Jackson followed by councelor Paul's and then second time councelor Maren Wilson. Thank you and good afternoon, Chair Nan. Um, I just want to say uh first of all, complimentary uh Manager Albertton, you and your team are outstanding in terms of communication uh to my community and my office when there is a water main break and as well estimated time of uh repair and completion and when it may go beyond what your original estimate might be, you're you and your team are constantly communicating and I'm deeply deeply grateful for that question I have for you chair Nand either Senior Director Winters, Director McCauley, our manager Albertton, restoration seems to be in a two-phase um a program and it sometimes is a little bit frustrating for my community and I'll give you an example and then I'll uh hopefully get an answer. Uh, Chair Nan, first of all, once the water main break is done, I believe Hamilton Water just does a coal patch, just does a quick um restoration as simple as possible to cover the uh hole that was dug to fix the water main break. Number one, when that happens, often shortly after that area begins to sink and it becomes dangerous for motorists traveling over it. So my question overall to any one of those three gentlemen, Chair Nan, is this. First of all, does Hamilton Water keep a track of after they have repaired even in a temporary way a particular location to come back every week, every second week to ensure that that area is not sunken down to a dangerous level and or following that in phase two of restoration, when do they hand it over to corridor management to do a complete and proper and wholesome restoration? Through you, Chair Nan, please, whoever wants to respond. uh through the chair uh councelor Jackson that is correct. There is the two phases of restoration. So there's the temporary restoration right after the water main break has been repaired uh which is uh coal patch a little bit of a heave uh to allow it to sink a little bit and yes those locations are tracked. Um they are tracked they are sent to the engineering services team for permanent restoration. The team goes out once a week on average to go look to make sure that they are safe. Um, we do respond to emergency calls as well if we get a call from any a resident through the CC3 through the counselor's office where there is some concern about the safety of the cut, the the shape of the cut. We will go out make sure it's what we classify is in good condition. If we need to top it up, we'll top it up. uh and then over a period of time and and we can let the the team from imaginary services uh can highlight the information, but it's usually within 16 weeks. They have to let the time for the cut to settle a little bit. It needs to dry out a little bit. If you do a restoration right away, right after the water man, there's a chance that it could sink afterwards. So, for the most part, within that, you know, 10 to 20 week period, those cuts should be restored. In the winter time, uh you'll see the cuts get in a little worse shape. uh as a plow goes by, we have the little hump, the plow will be taken away. When it rains a lot, same thing. Uh some of the the nice heave that we would have would lose its shape because of of the elements. >> Okay. Thanks, manager Albertson. You've raised my comfort level. You've explained further. I am grateful. And so it could take as much as 4 months, 16 weeks for corridor management to complete the restoration in a wide swath and properly and in its fullome. It may take as much as four months and is that simply because of volume. That's my last question. Chair Nan to the manager uh through the chair. Uh I believe our typical target is within one to two months. Uh four four months would be I think on the extreme side of things and um if we want any stats I have manager Dave Lamont on the line who could provide some stats on numbers, but it's literally thousands and thousands of cuts and the you know the contractor tries to group them a little bit. um so that they're not bouncing around the city and and they can do them efficiency which is which is part of the part of the delay uh our our planning work and and it is also also volume and sometimes time of year as well um whether they can get out there and do it do it properly um given the weather conditions. Thanks Chair Nan. I like Director Haulingworth's answer better of two months versus four months but I'm very respectful of manager Albertton as well. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you. Next up, we have councelor Pulse. >> Thank you. And through the chair, I don't have my glasses, so I'm hope I could read the numbers uh correctly on uh appendex B to report the PW26018. I'm looking at the wards, all the number of water breaks. I know water breaks caused by old infrastructure, weather related. We know that we've had a horrible winter. My first question is I look at W seven, it says 37 breaks and then I look at W six and it's only 12 and I'm just wondering does he have better roads than I do? Uh I'm >> answer to that issue. >> So I'm just wondering first of all is that for the this year 37 water breaks in W 7 that was my question first question and second is the weather affects all roads. So why is W seven the most? And we spent almost a half a million 440,000. I can't read. I don't have my glasses through the chair. Uh yes, councelor Paul's 37 water main breaks occurred in 2025 in W 7. And as part of appendix B, uh W 7, if you're comparing it to W 6, has uh the older infrastructure. It has 26 kilometers of water mane that is 1950 and older. And w 6 has only 10 kilometers of water main that is of 1950 and older. Uh so if you look across the columns there older infrastructure tends to break more often and uh ward 7 does have uh elevated levels of kilometers of water mane that are older than 1950. >> Wow. I know I have the most populated ward now. I have the most uh uh water break like um water mane breaks. Uh it's not a good thing. But anyways, then I I look at I can't believe number uh war nine only had four this year, which is amazing. Um so uh I guess it's because of the length and uh how old they are. That's the two reasons. Is that right? >> Through the chair. Uh water breaks uh for a bunch of different reasons. Uh W 9 does have um newer infrastructure uh 75 kilometers. The majority of of the water manes in W 9 are are 1980 and younger. So they do have newer water manes in war 9. >> So as my last question as we fix them year by year we should start having less because uh when we fix them we put new uh water mans. Is that right? So >> through the chair uh repairing a water man break uh does not add we're not adding a new section of water man uh when the when we replace or reline a water man uh then the structural integrity is regained. So by putting a clamp or replacing a small section of pipe uh we could still see water mane breaks occur on that segment of pipe. Uh but if a water man has been lined or fully replaced uh we don't expect to see water manes on water man breaks on new sections of water man. >> Okay. Thank you for that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Next up first our second time speaker councelor Marine Wilson. >> Thank you. If I could just pick up uh on manager Albertton's uh distinction there please. Um on the distinction between lining and rehabilitating or providing new. Could I just better understand the conditions or circumstances that would cause staff to determine that something is a good candidate for lining um versus new and then I'll let you parlay into what's going on in Main Street right now and why that's a good candidate. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councelor Bilson, uh through the chair. So uh lining is a rehab program that we have for uh uh for water manes that have uh breaks and will if we do replacement that will disturb the area. So lining would be used on areas that are more congested just uh such as downtown. Um main street is a good example that we were talking about. Um there was uh lining that would also take place in complex situations uh such as Kennallworth. Uh we also did a lining project recently uh on 90 in which was near Woodworth. So it based on complexity of the location is based on the complex complexity of the project itself. Um and also we want to make sure that we have the minimum disruption. >> Thank you so much. through the chair if I just might add on one component. Uh lining does not increase service uh associated with the pipe and so any time where we are aware that there are developments taking place that require more water in that area uh lining is not a candidate for that because we actually need a bigger pipe whereas lining replaces the existing pipe like for like it's doesn't provide anything bigger. So, thank you. Just on that point, however, my understanding, and please correct me because I do think this is important public information, um, the the subsurface along Maine qualifies or is a good candidate for lining because both of its age and right now the pipes are um, this is my really good engineering term, gunky. Um, like they're like a bad artery. Um, so the balloon goes in, blows it out, extends the life. It's really costefficient for us to do this work now on Maine as opposed to resurface it, dig that up, have breaks, um, and go in with a much more expensive non-trenching method after. That's kind of what I'm seeking clarification on through the chair, >> uh, through the chair. Um, again, Brian from engineering services. Uh yeah, I think you summarize it well and and we made that decision process across a number of directors taking into account different factors including the fact that that main the main on Main Street, the local service main wasn't providing the capacity it was designed for because it was tirculated and so cleaning it out and lining it increases flow. Uh and we even worked on the development side of things and and suggested that we could we could accommodate a lot more development on that corridor through the lining program. And there's other infrastructure way down the road uh in in in Main Street that that would be an opportunity for full replacement. So is seem to be the right solution for the right for that corridor. >> Thank you. So it was gunky. Um we need it's costefficient to do it now and it helps take the intensification that some of my other colleagues may not wish. Thank you. On to my second question. Um, if I could just understand please the relationship between the uh water main rates and our capacity to do what we need to do in our rehabilitation and to address this problem. My thesis is that when we had the lowest rates in the province, that was not um a good deal for Hamiltonians because it ended up costing us at the other end with um poor service, waterbane breaks, and terrible costs of reconstructing a road. So through the chair um I would agree with with uh your uh perception or your experience and one of the things that one of the messages that I deliver to council is we end up spending the money uh one way or another. Um we can spend money in our water wastewater storm water systems proactively and get the best possible value uh for the things that we needed to spend or we can spend it reactively. And when we're spending reactively on repairs, catastrophic failures, uh we do not get good value for our rateayers and and taxpayers. And so that speaks to uh the importance, the responsibility for good asset management uh practices and planning and council and committee have heard a lot about the progression of the city's asset management plans uh going back to 2022. Um and so those asset management plans absolutely do uh inform budget development. Um we have I will say it this way um there is a lot of money that needs to be invested in the city's water wastewater and storm water systems. um in order to one maintain the current service levels, but to put a dent into our uh backlog and actually increase uh grades for conditions of our assets. That's an even even more significant uh expense that the city is going to have to come to terms with. Now, we do have that built into our budgets presently. Um we have an aggressive rate strategy. It is largely focused on the city's affordability for some of our aging facility assets and so our wastewater treatment plants, our water treatment plants, but it's very much on our radar that that same level of investment is going to be needed in the future to address into our linear systems in our pipes um to replace and upgrade that infrastructure to make sure that those services are still available as we wait for opportunities because we can't do everything all at once. Um we are monitoring and planning for risk. Uh and so um you'd mentioned uh earlier counselor um the uh Calgary water main failure uh the Montreal water main failure from last year. >> One of the things that is missing from uh both the province of Quebec and the province of Alberta uh is they do not have a drinking water quality management standard uh similar to what is in place in Ontario. And so one of the great things about uh drink and water quality management is that there's a disciplined process where on an annual basis city staff are getting together and we're evaluating risk. Uh where can we tolerate risk, where can we not tolerate risk for uh these infrastructure assets and that's been going into our infrastructure rehabilitation and replacement planning now for uh just about 20 years. Um and so we're aware of of where we have challenges because we've been having those conversations. uh across our team for so long and we've programmed inspection and rehabilitation replacement programs accordingly. With that said, uh there is a a um there's more of an awareness of the risks of critical failures now, particularly for transmission infrastructure coming out of both of those provinces, Quebec and Alberta. And so we have uh programmed more crit or more inspections for those critical assets to give us additional information. We are seeing here in 2026 based on a number of inspections that were delivered in 2025, we're doing a lot of transmission main repairs. We've been doing them over the winter months, which is not something that we typically did, but because we prioritized the inspection, found leaks on those pipes. We've been able to uh do those repairs over the winter months here in 2025. We're doing similar inspections throughout 2026 and we'll anticipate more of those repairs moving into 2027. And this is all about uh keeping our risk at an associated level um while we focus on other needs in the system but building towards those broader plans for rehabilitation and replacement of our city's pipes. I hope that helps. >> It does. Just a final comment from from me and I know we want to get on with the agenda. Um I say this uh respectfully and it is much uh our responsibility if not more than staffs in that in my experience there is a disjointed ex there's a disjointed nature or experience between um some of the asset management uh information and facts that we hold and then when we yet to budget. When we're in budget, as the budget chair who has to go through those things in a lot of detail, I don't get that expression of urgent and I don't get that criteria of need. And I think it was my colleague, councelor Alex Wilson, who at the end of this year's exercise says said something similar but much more eloquent. Um, we received a report on the status of our recreational facilities which were if we do not dramatically change how we're funding and increase funding, we are going to see our recreational assets which are strictly local, there's no fuzziness on who does what here, shutting down. And if it's anything like these, which is almost half in the lower city from wards 1 to five, it's going to be those very children who don't get to go to a private cottage, who don't get to go to um um any other facility. This is it for them. And I think uh the responsibility is ours to rearrange, re-imagine and inform our budget process so that we have less sleepless nights on our transmission stuff um and on all of our assets because I I think that exercise needs to to be more complimentary and and I'll take that responsibility on but I'm just I'm finding this is disjointed. Thank you. >> Thank you, councelor. That exhausts our speakers list. The report's been moved and seconded. Thank you to staff for response to all the questions. Uh all those in favor, please show hands, vote. Any opposed? That carries. Thank you. And welcome to Council Spataphora who joined at the beginning of this item. Next up is agenda item 8, public hearings. Um as required under the city's bylaw number 14-204, a public meeting is required. Notice of this public meeting was provided and posted on the city of Hamilton's website. The notice advises um that anyone whose lands are uh prejuditially affected may appear before committee and the clerk has advised that there is two individuals who have pre-registered to delegate today. Um so we'll hear from them first. Um and there's also a correspondence on the agenda as well. Um, and I'm just going to pause here for a quick second to confer with uh Elsie. Got it. Thank you. Okay. So, first up we have sorry. >> Thank you. Susanna Duft. Yeah. Come on forward. Good afternoon, Susanna. When you're ready, um, let us know. >> Good afternoon, chair and members of the committee. Um, before I begin, may I ask for just an additional minute. I'm pretty close to the five, but I just can relax me a little bit through this process. Sure. Could I get a mover and secondary to extend by one minute? Councelor Hang, second by councelor Paul's. Uh, that does require an electronic vote. And just take a moment to load the vote. And uh councelor Jackson, I see your vote. Affirmative. It's the first electronic vote of the committee meeting. It does lag in the system, so bear with us. That's my minute. >> Okay, the vote should be up for committee members. Oh, I'm lying. Says voting in progress on my screen. Should we just do a manual vote? Any opposed? >> Seeing none opposed, that carries. So, you have an additional minute there. Um, so please proceed. >> Good afternoon, chair and committee members. My name is Susanna Duff, daughter of the legacy and historical owners of two Walnut Grove, the property abudding the road allowance. I'm also one of the co-contributors to the naming of Walnut Grove back in 1981. I'm honored and compelled to represent my parents, my home, neighborhood, and community of over 53 years. Having grown up here, I can speak to many aspects of the neighborhood and property as observed over half a century. Furthermore, in 1974, the town of Dundas obser town of Dundas agreed that our family would care for this property, which included the responsibility to physically and financially maintain and landscape it. My mother and father, Monica and Harry, were true stewards of this land, and never in over 50 years has the town of Dundas nor the city of Hamilton touched this property. First, we must ground this decision today in a land acknowledgement of the traditional territories we stand upon. The land we speak of is part of the traditional territory of an anesabi and hur nooni. And we have a collective responsibility to continue to steward this land response sustainably and aligned with the city's existing climate goals and strategies without ignoring, compromising or contradicting them. I'm advocating that the overfield road allowance be preserved as permanent open space. In preparation for this meeting and in formulating my letter of opposition, which you have a copy in the agenda, I was impressed with the many positive initiatives, goals, and strategies the city of Hamilton already has in place, essentially offering a clear vision to a positive outcome and a solution for the best scenario and use of this parcel of land. I am here to discuss with council how the closure of the overfield road allowance already has a favorable path without compromising the climate emergency declaration, which mandates every municipal decision be viewed under a climate lens. But I must say that the very notion to sell this land as a buildable lot goes against every climate action strategy goal for Hamilton and the parks master plan, especially as we look through the climate lens as mandated that is even considered is perplexing. My reasons of opposition are listed in my letter sent to public works in March. But in addition to this letter, I've provided a proposal that incorporates many directions and initiatives Hamilton already has with their climate action strategies without contradicting the climate emergency declaration. This proposal offers the community, which includes an ever growing aging population, residents of the St. Joseph's Villa and their family, and the villa estates who regularly frequent this area, a small, inclusive, and accessible parkquette, a safe place to rest out of a three-way intersection. And yes, many do convene in this space. A few benches surrounded by native trees landscaped with native plants will not only beautify this area more, but invite the villa residents to physically be and feel a part of their neighborhood included along with others in their community. Under the 2023 parks master plan, the city identified a critical need for parkland in established neighborhoods, and the 2026 budget specifically allocated $33.9 million to acquire and develop parkland using existing city-owned assets. Deeming this a buildable lot for a single private residence would be a missed opportunity to utilize land already owned to meet public green space targets. And I will add that under the provincial planning strategies, this road allowance is a natural heritage area and developing would fragment this contiguous land violating the intent of the PPS which prioritizes the protection of high functioning natural heritage systems over private residential expansion. essentially an unbuildable lot. Therefore, I'm urging council to recognize this land as a vital piece of our future green network, not as a surplus buildable lot. Here's a great opportunity to put into action existing city plans and strategies and stay fully in sync with the climate action plan. I recommend council direct staff to retain this land as permanent green space, ensuring our land use decisions reflect our stated climate goals. invest our 2026 parkland funding here to create a community asset that breathes rather than a development that builds over climate targets. And I urge council to withdraw this lot from the buildable market and instead integrated into Hamilton's park master plan or leave as is as it was for over 50 years. This property, a natural heritage area, has been a buffer part of the subwhed, a natural corridor for the fauna and has met all climate goals for over 50 years. Let's maintain that stewardship and ensure a future that protects green space, honors and acknowledges our elders, and meets our climate targets without compromise. Let's put our words and our goals into action and turn a buildable lot into a lasting community legacy. And I'm just going to now switch over to the images above. Bear with me. That's why I needed that extra minute. So, this is the proposal that I'm offering. Um and uh here we're looking at the overhead over overfield road allowance as seen from the intersection. Um a drone image here is identifying the two abuing properties to Walnut Grove and 54 Taliho. Um and the two the two red lines are in showing the parcel of land here in circled in white is a heritage tree estimated to be over 100 years old. We call her the grandmother walnut tree. Um, another image of her from the backyard of Walnut Grove, our mother tree. Again, over 100 years old. Uh, I'm going to move over these quickly to save some time, but this is just to emphasize the concrete infrastructure in and density in this particular area. And the little yellow markings here are just to identify the properties um surrounding that red area, which is the um road allowance. just to identify the the disproportionate size of that road allowance parcel to the uh existing uh properties around. Okay. Uh here we are back at the intersection. It's a three-way stop. It's a school bus zone and that is the road allowance. Squeeze in this is AI generated but you squeeze in a house. You now put a driveway into the intersection. Add our seniors in the mix and this is reality there. Our seniors come to this area. This is the end of Overfield Road and they come and they they convene here. you can see what can this lead up to. So that's uh and so this is my solution uh or proposal anyway to bring them out of the intersection. A social space designed to encourage an en encourage interaction and community involvement, minimal disruption to the existing land, the natural corridors preserved, the buffers maintained, and the fauna protected. The design ideas are endless. The potentials are infinite. And I see that we probably have three options. Keep the open space, leave as is, as it has been for over 50 years. Add a lasting legacy community parket. Resting safe space, accessible, inclusive, open space is still preserved and climate goals are all met. Or three um add adding um this in here. We're compromising all our climate goals. And I think I've gone over my time. Thank you. >> Thank you so much for your presentation and your delegation. Um, committee members, are there any questions on this? Thank you, councelor Hang. >> Thank you for your delegation. I just wanted to ask what is beyond the because it's cut right in the middle and I know that it like based on the pictures, it kind of looks like it could connect further. What's what's on the back side of that of that little bit of property? >> Thank you through the chair. Um, that's a great question and I would really love to see some of our counselors actually be impresent on that property because the pictures don't give it justice, but there is a large hill beyond that intersection. So, it's a quite a higher grade and then it proceeds down into a slope of the ravine. So, it's connected directly to the Hamilton conservation area and um and I have noted my concerns about any kind of development on that land and the disruption to the level and grade as well as the direction. This is a natural corridor that has been never touched. Um, and it's been a a pathway and a trail for our deer, fauna, fox. It's a resting area. Um, I think I have even more images, but I've lost my scroll, so I can't I have more images to show you a little more of the deer and and it's like there's herds that come through there daily. And then um just because I couldn't really see, you said that the grandmother walnut that you that you've highlighted in your pictures, will they be inside of that little red zone that >> Yes. Okay. >> And the drift line. I think Nancy will speak to that as well through the chair. >> All right. Thank you very much. Thanks for your delegation. >> Thank you. >> There's no further questions. So, thank you so much for coming this afternoon to delegate. >> Thank you. And we'll go next to Nancy Greenspoon, who is also pre-registered on this item for public hearing. Oh, I was just gonna >> Okay. Good afternoon, >> Madame Chair and members of the community. Thank you very much for this opportunity to speak here today. My name is Nancy Greenspoon. I live at 54 Taliho Drive. Um, my property abuts the property we're talking about. I have some pictures that should give you an idea. Um, it's not working. >> Okay, so this is the property and you can see more clearly the large walnut tree. It's just above that stop sign. I have a few points I'd like to bring forward. Um firstly, the disruption to the ecosystem. The biodiversity is at risk. Development of the site risks disrupting the local ecosystem including flora and fauna in especially species dependent on the natural habitat. There are deer, foxes, birds, bunnies that travel this route even more now with Margaret's place having been built adjacent to this and taken away some of their land. The second is the slope of the property. You can see a bit there's a retaining wall on my property. Um there's quite a slope and it would require extensive grading and landscaping significantly altering the natural land form and some one of the people here mentioned about disrupting the soil and disrupting the whole property that has been there for over half a century and we're worried that that's going to impact uh drainage etc on our property. This is the heritage black walnut tree. It is a heritage asset with ecological and historical sign significance. The drip line needs to be protected impacting any construction and also the slope. We don't want to have any pro problems or losing that tree. The natural drainage concerns impacts or abudding properties. Alterations to the land could disrupt natural water flow leading to flooding or winging water pooling on neighboring properties. Most important is the unique character of the neighborhood. The area's tranquility and history is integral to its identity. The natural beauty and green spaces contribute to the community's appeal. development could underline undermine, pardon me, the efforts to preserve the resurgence of local heritage and the neighborhood's unique charm and senior population. One more point I'd like to make is that this property is in the middle of an intersection. The driveway would be very unsafe for backing out considering the safety of all the seniors and children in the area. The Hamilton Conservation Authority did recommend the lands to be retained by the city of Hamilton. Any potential future development, if any, would remain subject to Hamilton Conservation Authority policies and permitting permitting recommen requirements. And the landscape architectural services also mentioned uh possible future trail forestry acknowledged that it's a wooded lot. Develop must consider development must consider environmental sustainability, heritage protection and community values. We propose that the land remain under the ownership of the city of Hamilton with maintenance responsibilities undertaken by the abuing land owners at their own expense. In summary, we are here today to present you with all of our concerns as a community. We understand that this is our only public presentation. All the neighbors are deeply concerned and upset at the possibility that our very limited green space will be destroyed. It feels it's part of the Dundas conservation area and the beauty of Dundas. Um if any questions. Thank you for your delegation. We do have a council member nope two that have questions for you. First up is councelor Moren Wilson. >> Thank you. Thank you for being here. It's it is a beautiful area. I think you said in on the public record that you lived that you live on Taliho. How what would be the age of your house or the subdivision generally that you're in? >> My house is 17 years old. Um there was an old house on the property that was torn down and the um lot the rear like the foundation and it was exact put in the exact same spot >> and the age of your subdivision generally I guess your neighbors >> guess up to Susie it's 52 years old. Mhm. >> So that property was um we have maintained half and our abuing neighbors maintained half just as a just as to beautify it and it's been planted. I actually think that people should come out and take a look at physically what it looks like so you get a better idea. Thank you. >> Sorry that was through the chair. Sorry. >> No worries. Thank you. Uh, next up we have councelor Bey who has questions. >> Thank you Nancy. Um, I I was listening to the first presenter and you offered another layer of dimension to to the conversation I saw in both the presentations yourself and and um the other one earlier and then just kind of pulling it up on the the old uh hopefully reliable Google Street View. Um it does look like it's just beautifully maintained and and blends seamlessly into the um surrounding neighborhood. You'd never even know that really there was allowance there. I was going to ask if uh you participate in the maintenance of it, but you answered that question uh before I had the chance to to ask it, but maybe if there's any additional detail uh the history of maintaining that property um and and how far back that may go, any anything else that you wanted to color uh color the situation with >> through the chair? um since we've been there and prior to us the owners prior and prior to them I believe we we have divided in half we cut and fertilize and maintain the and and keep it natural I mean it's been planted it's got a lot of fettheas and beautiful evergreens and it's a forested looking property that slopes up quite high and then drops down into the Dundas conservation area and the river down below. I mean, it's a pretty big drop. And like we said, the deer are constantly going, the bunnies, the foxes, many birds. And it's just it's just so natural that nobody like when we unfortunately most of our neighbors did not know about this um proposal at all. And so when we just spoke to a few of them, um, they were totally shocked and nobody could believe that that actually could be a building lot. We're not even actually sure that it can be because of the grade and of that walnut tree that the perimeter needs to be the drip line needs to be protected and it's quite sloped. So, um, we just, you know, like to keep things the way they are or what Susanna suggested. So your preferred option would be leave well enough alone >> for sure. >> Okay. Um in terms of this I mean this is a a public thorough affair technically or it's public right unopen. >> Um is there any uh public access? Do you have people that kind of wander through there on their way down to the conservation area? >> Okay. Through the chair. Um, Warren Park is four houses down and that is basically where there is a maintained path down into the ravine. So this is more of a natural beauty element. What it was ma not maintained but conservation did have a say in it in in the past. >> And so nobody actually would consider going down there when they know Warren Park is four street four houses literally over. But it's for the animals. This is their spot. So, it's become a nice naturalized area in the community. >> It's naturalized, but it's also groomed a bit, so it fits into the neighborhood. It's not wild, you know. We we take care take care of it >> um at our own expense. Just >> No, I can see I can see through the pictures. >> It's beautiful. And everybody should take a drive out to Dundas. >> Absolutely. >> And take a look at it. >> Okay. And through the chair just to kind of sign up. So, again, your uh preference would be like just just kind of leave it alone and >> we'd be happy with that. >> Okay. All right. >> No further questions, chair. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. There are no further questions from council members. So, thank you for your delegation. >> Thank you. We're going to we're okay to go. >> Uh yes, you are okay to to leave. Um if you need to. There's also correspondence on the item as well. So, I just wanted to draw committee members attention to that. So, are there any other members of the public wishing to address committee on public works report 26037, which is the closure and sale of a portion of untraveled road allowance at Overfield Street in Dundas? Are there any other members of the public seeking to speak on this item? >> No, it's just new new speakers only. Um, any others seeking to speak on this item? Seeing none, then uh, third and final time, uh, may I please have a mover and seconder to receive the delegations and the correspondence on this public hearing matter. Moved by councelor Hang, seconded by councelor Bey. Thank you both. Um, all in favor, that's a vote by hand. None opposed. That carries. Uh next up, if I could get a mover and second to close the public meeting as there is nobody else indicating. Thank you, councelor Spafura, Councelor Huang. Uh and that will be an electronic vote. Sir, council. >> Uh, it's a vote in favor. >> Yes. And carried. The public portion of the meeting is closed. And now on to the report. May I please have a mover and second to put the report on the floor? Uh, Councelor Wang, thank you very much. Councelor Cooper. Um, any discussion on the report? First up is Councelor Crutch encouraging committee members to indicate on the speakers list. Go ahead. Thanks very much. So, when I look at the report, I understand I want to say up front that city staff met the technical requirements that they needed to meet in terms of completing the report. They reached out to abuing land owners and went through the process here. But when I read the report, there's some things in it I don't quite 100% understand. So there were two abuing property owners. So based on the survey here, we asked two people what their opinions were on doing this. Both are opposed to doing so. And that's the measure we have right now because we've done that kind of technically. And so it's hard for me to look at something like a citywide decision when we have the opinion of two people on the formal record. So I'll say that firstly even though I know that was technically required. I think that maybe that that was a missed opportunity to consult more widely. But my question is I think what's happening here is an applicant has asked for this alleyway to be closed and what's going to happen if I understand it correctly through real estate is we're going to retain the alleyway. I I'm confused about the retention piece here because it seems like there's other parties who were interested and then real estate says well we're going to we'll negotiate the sale but it doesn't say with whom and I obviously think that the applicant who paid the fee would have preferential some preference in that negotiation and then there's other suggestions here saying if it doesn't sell then we'll retain I just don't understand what the actual process looks like what's a time what's an arc right we close the alleyway then what happens next then what happens next then what happens next so can someone answer those questions through the chair. Um, I think those questions are best first directed to real estate and if they aren't answered by real estate, I think Liam McNamera is online. Uh, I can speak to the process in the report. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Through the chair, Leam McMara, manager, strategy and portfolio planning in the corporate real estate office. So the corporate real estate office were the applicants for this closure of public right ofway. Um the ultimate strategy for the site has yet to be determined. We recognize there's interest from adjacent property owners uh and there's a potential interest to retain in a naturalized state. So at this time uh the direction was for uh real estate to have authorization for potential disposition should that be the strategy. Um but that has not been finalized at this state. Thanks. So I guess I'm just confused as to what we're exactly approving here. So if we don't have a disposition strategy at this point, are we just saying that we approve that the the sale of this portion of roadway can be closed and then we'll come up with the strategy later? Does the strategy come back here? Um I'm also mindful that the W 13 councilor isn't here. So that makes it extra tricky in terms of a decision today and maybe that's something worth deferring if this isn't an emergency. But before we get to that, I just wanted to understand if we don't have a disposition strategy, how are we best informed upon making a decision here? >> Through the chair, the closure of the public right ofway would allow us to do a few things with the land itself that we're unable to do in its current state as rightfway. Um, so it would create a proper property parcel that we could divest to the adjacent property owners should interest reside. Uh it would also allow us to sell in the open market should we deem the site to be developable in its current form with naturalized uh limitations that exist. Um or it would allow us to convert the land into a more public-f facing asset in some form of a parkquette or some sort of a public use. Um so we'll still work through those decisions. Uh ultimately the report is written giving us authority to proceed with disposition should that be uh the decision that the corporate real estate office in consultation with city groups come to. >> Fair enough. I think I understand what you're saying. I think I just disagree with with us not knowing what's going to be happening with the land and making a decision kind of saying dispose it as you wish leaves me in a bit of an awkward spot. Usually we have some line of sight to the disposition strategy in terms of what's going to happen. and we understand exactly what the applicant's going to do and we understand where it's going to end up and what it's going to serve. Here we're just sort of saying um we'll do this and leave it to a strategy we have no sight to. So for me I can't support that. Um and again I'll say that maybe if it's not urgent last question is is this urgent or couldn't this wait until um the future attendance of the war 13 counselor >> through the chair. I would not state there's anything urgent about this situation. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Next up we have councelor Bey. >> Thank you chair through you. Um read through the report and noted that there are no alternatives given and it strikes me that you know I asked myself the question what problem are we trying to solve here and I I don't actually see a problem. I see a lovely maintained piece. Yeah. is technically a right of way that could be opened up for through travel, although highly unlikely because of the destination is a conservation area. Um what would happen if we chose to um vote against this recommendation? Would they just stop here and we continue on? Leave it as a road allowance and everything continues with status quo through you chair through the chair. Um as authors have said report engineering services and just I think everyone understands the process here. We we receive the the application in this case from real estate. We go through the uh circulation. Uh the the comments and objections are noted in the report. Um you know, typically in these types of reports, uh we don't provide a lot of alternatives because it is fairly black and white. Um stop up and close the road or or not. And I think that would be the case here. Um and uh and sorry, could you repeat the last part of your question there, Councelor Bey? >> Certainly through the chair. What I I guess Brian, I'm just trying to understand is um the the decision point is to either stop up and close the road allowance or to not. And so there's no alternative given other than to vote against the recommendation if this body decided that they didn't see the value in going down that road. Um pardon the pun. uh noting that as as my colleague from W 2 said there really isn't a a strategy developed about if we did start this process then what and without knowing that um I know that it's a chicken and egg conversation but I'm I'm struggling in and trying to again coming back to the beginning seeing what problem I'm trying to solve. So is to reframe the question um director are we really faced with voting against this motion as written or this direction as written um if we did not see the value in closing the road alone and starting this process through the corporate real estate office. Is that really the only decision >> through the chair? I'm going to uh if he's um online, I believe he is call upon Dave Lamont um just to talk a little bit about the process. I don't want to say, you know, it's okay not approving it if there's time limitations where somebody can't come back again for eternity or not. Um so Dave can comment on that process. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Yep. Thank you very much. Uh through the chair, David Lamont, manager of Geomics and Quarter Management. So we receive applications I'm and and we process them and this is where we are right now and what we're trying to do here is to process the stop up and close and retain which means they'll still be owned by the by the city and they can they can do with it after what they want. For example, um if you if you vote no on this today and and your and the two buddy neighbors decide they want to purchase a portion of it, we have to go through this process again where if we uh if if we accept it today, uh it's it's it's basically trans transferring the asset from our friends in transportation um and and and transferring the asset to our our our our friends in real estate to manage the land moving forward. So that's what we're really trying to do is is take away the the uh the public highway status of this and leave it as just a piece of land we own similar to what we do with with with parkland today. Um and uh and and the speakers today expressed interest in in in in beautifying and making it a parkquette. And there's nothing wrong with that. That's that's how that would be. But we're taking away um that portion of the uh of the public u designation of a public highway which means uh it it it transfer the asset and and I think that's and re and and to to vote this down today would mean that if the neighbors decide in the next couple of months or couple years they they want to buy a portion of it, you know, they they uh they want to to to acquire um whatever portion of they want, we'd have to go through this process again. But if we go through this process today, stop up close, we have council direction uh to proceed with the with the closure of the public highway and and retain it for public use after the fact. And that allows our friends in real estate to uh to have more freedom in dealing with uh any inquiries that come, no pun intended, down the road. Does that does that help your question through the year? >> Uh thank you for that, Dave. Always appreciate your insight on this. I think I understand. It just seems to me that where we are in in our process of decision-m, I don't know that the community's been brought along to the same level of understanding that doesn't seem that they understand this process. So, as a third alternative, we can vote in favor, we could vote against, we could defer this. I think that's been suggested. Um and and I see some nodding heads of that may be coming forward uh because I think we want to handle this with sensitivity and uh we we want to not be seen as um placing the future of the property in jeopardy so as to allow the destruction of what's been what's been going on here. So I'll I'll leave it and see where the conversation going and if there's a deferral motion or referral motion coming I'd happily support that. >> Thank you councelor Bey. Next up we have councelor sphapora. >> Thanks chair. I was just looking to move deferral of this item to the next public works meeting or the next time that it's sufficient this way the war 13 counselor can be here as well can do whatever community engagement he needs to do allow staff to have some more conversations with him. So I'll move that and if someone would be willing to second that. >> Happy to second it as chair and recognizing that councelor Alex Wilson uh is ill and not even able to participate virtually today. So definitely support that as well. Um, so the motion is on the floor to defer this item. Uh, and that would require an electronic vote. >> Just a question. >> Oh, question on deferral. >> Instructions. >> Instructions. >> What does a future meeting look like? So, I don't know. Like, we we're we're not usually good with like very vague deadlines, so I don't know what a future meeting looks like. I don't know if that's next next public works or Yeah, you're on. >> I wanted to leave that up to the ward counselor who will work with staff and make that decision. Maybe staff needs an extra cycle. Maybe the ward counselor needs an extra cycle. So, I' I'd like to leave it with the next meeting and let uh councelor Wilson make that decision as he works through the process. >> Appreciate that response. Thank you. And then as chair, we'll be able to clarify a date in order to help manage the Obl as well. So happy to report back on that as well. Um, okay. It's been duly moved and seconded. Uh, clarified instructions and it's before committee for vote. That carries. Thank you all. Uh, next up we have item nine, items for consideration, PW26027, which is Highway 52 and Powerline Road intersection improvements municipal class and environmental assessment in Ward 12. Uh, this item does include a presentation. So, we'll take a moment to enable stuff to get set up. Just experiencing a bit of technical difficulty and getting the presentation operational. chair. >> Yes. >> As we're waiting, I just might introduce u the presenter. Um it will be uh Depanker Sharma, uh manager of infrastructure renewal. Uh we're looking forward to uh bringing forth this this um highly anticipated report on a on a very important intersection. >> Thank you for that. And if that laptop can't present, is there an ability to do so through the two LC laptops? And then Okay, we're good to go. >> Thank you. Go ahead. >> Perfect. Good afternoon, uh, public works committee. Thank you for having me here. Uh the purpose of this presentation is to provide you a highle summary of the process and the recommendations tied to the municipal class year project that we have worked on. The project is to look at roadway and intersection improvements at highway 52 and power line road. All right. In today's presentation, we'll go over an introduction to the project, including an overview of the study area, and key planning considerations, the municipal class environmental assessment or the MCEA process that was followed uh and some of the results coming out of it and what are the next steps. I also have my team present with me. I have Megan Salvuchi uh who led the project and the project manager Stephen who can answer any questions after. So, let me give you some project background. So, the Highway 52 and Powerline Road environmental assessment looked at the section of Highway 52 between Powerline Road West and Power Line Road East. All three roads are rural two-lane crosssections with one lane in each direction. Highway 52 is a designated truck route. At the intersection of Highway 52 and Power Line Road West, there is a parking lot entrance. And just south of the intersection, there's also a rail trail crossing. Over the years, there has been ongoing discussions about the roadway design and particularly about the northern intersection. in order to develop and implement a solution which shows a class C environmental assessment. There are some additional works that are being completed this year to provide some interim measures until the long-term measures are in place. This is being done through our transportation division. So the schedule C municipal class EA or the environmental assessment process consists of four phases and the fifth phase is the implementation which includes both detailed design and construction. For phase one, a problem and opportunity statement was developed. Based on the preliminary feedback and the initial data, we confirmed that there were two key areas of improvement. The first being the operational safety. We want to make sure that the drivers can successfully and safely navigate the intersection whether they are driving or turning through the intersection. The second being the active transportation needs. The current facilities required crossing midblock on a high volume roadway which is not safe for phase two. The development and evaluation of the alternatives, six options were reviewed. These were assessed against 17 criterias with four core areas. Natural environment, social, cultural, environment, technical, and financial. This assessment resulted into a preliminary recommendation to proceed with alternative two, north roundabout and south left turn lane. This recommendation was confirmed uh following the first public information center and it was again confirmed and shared during the public meeting and it was also posted online during the phase three which is the development and the evaluation of the alternative design. Three options were assessed against 18 different criterias. This process includes the second formal public engagement opportunity with another public meeting. Through this assessment, the recommend recommended design alternative ended up being a centered roundabout at the north intersection. And in the next few slides, we'll go over some of the key rationale and the benefits for this recommendation. The preferred design reflects the city's complete street principles, which means the intersection improvements are designed for all users, not just the vehicles. On the active transportation side, the roundabout integrates dedicated pedestrian crossings with safety measures such as rectangular rapid flashing beacons on all approaches. We also looked at the Brford uh Hamilton Brford rail trail crossing. This is being realigned through the south leg of the roundabout which places the existing uncontrolled midblock crossing of Highway 52 and connects trail users safely across the highway. From a roadway perspective, uh the roundabout geometric geometry naturally reduces the vehicular speed which is one of the most effective tools for improving safety at a rural intersection. The design also accommodates large trucks which is critical given that Highway 52 is a designated truck route. It is also worthwhile noting that there's around 16,000 vehicles per day that uses this road. Green infrastructure is also a part of our design intent. The current uh center island that is shown on the screen and the splitter island will be landscaped contributing to a tree canopy, strong water management and some visual comfort for the active transportation users. Beyond the user experience, the design also delivers specific measurable safety improvements which is what the next slide will cover. So safety is one of the main reasons we are doing this project. The core problem today is the drivers on power line road have to turn across fastmoving truck traffic on Highway 52 without any signals or protected turn. They're waiting for gaps and these gaps are very hard to find. The roundabout removes that conflict entirely. Everyone slows down and takes turns so dangerous crossings movement are no longer happening. The roundabout also brings the rail trail parking lot entrance into the intersection rather than leaving it as a separate midblock driveway on a 70 km uh an hour arterial road. This is a meaningful improvement for the hundreds of trail users including me who have access to the parking lot and particularly what we had noted through our study on a long weekend when these counts are heavy. it becomes a heavier risk. So let's talk about the site. The site sits next to two protected wetlands, a proincially significant natural area. So our solution is a centered roundabout precisely to stay as far from those natural features as possible. No wetlands are disturbed, no woodlands are removed, and everything stays within the existing rightway. On the community side, the news is pretty straightforward. Um, no one loses their property, the rail trail parking lot stays open, the Canada Post mailbox stays in place, and no homes or farms are affected. We also confirmed through a heritage assessment that there is no cultural heritage concerns with the preferred design. So the design is just not technically sound. It is also the option that causes the least disruption to the natural and the community environment. This brings us to the part four or the phase four which is the environmental study report that documents everything we just walked through. So phase four is the preparation of the ESR or the environmental study report which documents the full MCA process, the problem statement, the alternative consider considerations, the evaluation criteria and the findings. We also document stakeholder engagement and the rationale for this preferred design. The final recommendations out of this process are two intersection improvements at north intersection highway 52 and power line road west. A centered roundabout which provides a great uh great site distance from north approach avoids the proincially significant wetlands and requires no property acquisition at the certain intersection. Highway 52 and Power Line Road East, a new southbound left turn lane with a painted median accommodated entirely within the existing rightway. The class D highle cost estimate for the design and construction of both the improvements is approximately $4.75 million. The construction is anticipated to begin in 2028 and last till 2029. So right now we are at public works committee and the council stage. Should the approval to proceed with the final environmental assessment be given, we will then prepare a notice of completion and commence the 30-day review period. During this review period, the full environmental study report and technical findings will be posted both online and at three physical locations. Following the completion of the 30-day review period, the ministry will then review the project for another 30 days. Following these two review periods or and any resolutions to a section 16 order, the project will then move to detailed design and then to construction. And now for any questions. >> Thank you for that detailed overview. First up, we have councelor Kasar. >> Yeah, thank you very much, Chair, and through you. Uh thank you very much for the work that's been done here. did a great job uh articulating all the variables that need to be balanced and taken into consideration and have come up with a solution that I know that virtually everyone in the community uh is looking forward to. This has been a topic going on for many many years, a very dangerous intersection. And the other unique thing about this is what was commented around the rail trail crossing. Uh it is the Hamilton to Brford Rail Trail is a great recreation and commuting trail. Frankly, I've used that for commuting to my mother-in-laws. um and crossing that as an adult and also with children which I've done as well is a harrowing experience and I would not recommend it to anyone. So this is taking a step to um acknowledge that and make it safer. And I had an opportunity chair to speak with staff a before this meeting and just wanted to put on the public record you know the question I asked was how are we going to make sure that it is actually will be usable for people on foot on bikes or whatever to cross because my first reaction was well the roundabout 2 km south of this is has been in place for several years and it's one lane the one as articulated here in the at least the drawing which is not detailed design I acknowledge that has two lanes each way on the roundabout which increases the the um space to cross acknowledging there is an island in the middle. But just wanted to make sure that if we're going to build this, you know, can we build it in the detailed design, looking to, you know, the best practices worldwide, not just in nearby jurisdictions, uh, but making sure that it is something that people who don't have a high-risisk tolerance, frankly, would say, "Yeah, I would be happy to cross there, and I would have very little concern because I'm comfortable and confident that it is going to be safe." So, you know, not looking for an answer, chair, uh, because, you know, I'm just recommunicating what was already shared prior, but I just want to put that on the record that, uh, it's a great solution here. Just want to make sure we get that particular part of it right because I think for the vehicle travel and the left turn lanes, which was the or the left turning movement, which was the main concern, has been addressed here and want to make sure the pedestrian and cycling element is also done well. So, thank you again to staff. Um, really appreciate it. >> Thank you, councelor Casar. Next up, we have councelor Jackson. Thanks Chair Nan uh manager Chararma as you did with uh the Rhyal Road expansion five lane uh last year uh outstanding presentation so thorough detailed and you have a wonderful way of delivering um uh the information so I just have a couple of questions generally speaking about roundabouts I've heard that and I I don't think I have one on the east mountain Kennorth uh the top of the Kennorth access is more of controlled uh now roundabout if you will and that was through all community involvement chair Nan so the only downside I've heard about roundabouts is that they are not cycling and pedestrian friendly to cross through you chair nan comment from your professional standpoint please manager uh thank you counselor through the chair um that is uh somewhat correct somewhat uh uh miscorrect uh but when you look at a intersection as compared to a roundabout. Um the best part about a roundabout is you have to wait for your gap and wait for your turn to come in and especially when you uh look at the design that we are proposing uh we have beacons and we have security features when you're coming in that will um I that will help navigate through uh the trails to the crossing. So what councelor Kasar was talking about was a rail trail crossing that uh right now has a bit of a jog into it. So what we are doing is we are realigning both the crossings um and hoping with when we get into the detailed design with the right uh advanced uh notice advanced lighting uh we can mitigate most of the uh safety elements for it. >> Okay, appreciate that answer. Thank you. I just I guess the roundabouts I've traversed in our city and other parts uh of of Hamilton. I it could be just the moment that I'm there. I just hardly ever see a pedestrian crossing roundabouts cuz I've just heard that they're not the most friendly. But that's fine. Now, specific to this area and when I visit friends and cousins in Ancaster along Wilson Street, uh the several roundabouts at Shaver and I think two other uh streets, you've got signs up there that says for uh heavy trucks or big trucks uh may be using both lanes to enter and exit the roundabout. Will this be given how heavily a truck route this is through you chair Nan um how are you going to potentially accommodate that or once again that type of signage may be necessary through you chair Nan please uh through the chair counselor that's a great question um so um we have uh if you look at the roundabout on highway 52 and jerseyville it's a one lane roundabout and that's why it's heavy on signage around uh the truck route here we are proposing a 3.5 m lane width and there's two lanes. So that should help trucks to navigate through this. Uh so we we took that in consideration but also this is a 30% concept design. When we get into the 60% those details will also be honed out. >> Appreciate that for my edification. Thank you. Otherwise I'm supportive. Thank you chair Nan. >> Thank you councelor Jackson. That concludes the committee members questions. Uh so at this point I need a mover and seconder to put the report on the floor as well as uh seek to receive the presentation. Uh councelor Casar, seconded by councelor Huang. Thank you both. Uh so first would be a show of hand vote on the no both of it is all tied together into one electronic vote. Thank you councelor point. Yeah. Sorry. The councelor Casar is indicating a manual vote in favor. Councelor Francis, are you still here? If so, please vote. No confirmation. Okay, that carries on to 9.2 PW26028 which is Safari Road Municipal Class Environmental Assessment. And um I think we also have a presentation for this one. So as we switch over to staff, just take a couple of minutes to get the presentation online. through the chair. Once again, I'll take the opportunity to introduce the speaker as things are getting set up. Uh this one will be presented by senior project manager Megan Salvuchi. Um and this is a bit of a different type of environmental assessment. Um um a rural rural roadway uh which we've evaluated a number of alternatives on and Megan will walk you through those. Perfect. Thanks, Brian. Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon, attendees. As Brian said, my name is Megan Salvuchi and the purpose of this presentation is to provide a highle summary of the process and recommendations tied to the Safari Road municipal class environmental assessment project that we've looked at to work or worked on to look at roadway and drainage improvement options. In today's presentation, we'll go over an introduction to the project, including an overview of the study area and key planning considerations, the municipal class environmental assessment process that was followed, and some of the results, and what the next steps are. The Safari Road environmental assessment looked at Safari Road between Kirkwall Road and Valins Road. Safari Road is a rural arterial road with a two-lane cross-section, one lane in each direction, and no active transportation facilities. It is a full-time commercial truck route and is abudded by pro proincially significant wetlands. In recent years, there's been an increase in storm water and flooding concerns. This has led to roadway closures, initially short-term, but now long-term, which has been a challenge for residents and users of Safari Road. Over time, the impacts have become more significant, impacting accesses, properties, and livelihoods. Through a review of the issue, the city's vision for Safari Road in the impacted areas, two approaches were developed. One being the municipal drain project, which focuses on private property impacts, and the other being the completion of a municipal class environmental assessment, which focuses on right-of-way improvements. While both the municipal drain and the municipal class environmental assessment are separate projects, they will have complimentary results. The need for an environmental assessment was further confirmed through a council motion in 2022 that reiterated Safari Road's important role in resident access and in the transportation master plan and that the goal should be to complete works required to permanently open the road. Before getting into the rest of the presentation, I also want to acknowledge that this project was extremely challenging from start to end. There have been many opposing perspectives and trying to navigate data, public feedback collected through previous planning documents, public feedback collected through this project, the concerns of residents along Safari Road and community advocates. This has been complex. decisions made throughout the course of this project truly took into consideration all of these different factors and I hope you will see that over the course of this presentation to develop the solution for the right of way and in accordance with the council motion a schedule B municipal class environmental assessment was carried out. The schedule B process consists of two planning phases and then an implementation phase which includes both construction and detailed design. Phase one of the planning process is the development of the problem and/or opportunity statement. Typically, this is developed through based on known challenges um and through existing conditions or recommendations from larger studies. For this project, we had data um identifying preliminary issues and gener general direction from council, but we also received a substantial amount of public concerns and stories. In response to this, we voluntarily held a public meeting for phase one to ensure that we really heard and understood the concerns of residents and road users. Through the review of this data and input we received during phase 1, it was confirmed that there were a number of issues that needed to be addressed. The first being drainage. The current conditions prevent the road from being operational and roadways should be able to address not just daily drainage but also storm events. For active transportation, there is currently no active transportation infrastructure along Safari Road. For truck accommodation, there is a need to ensure the road is opened and designed in a manner that supports the truck route network. And for safety, concerns were voiced about a few different safety aspects. Whether it was the road being closed, water covering the road, or the fact that when the road was open, active transportation users were sharing a lane with truck traffic. For phase two, the development and evaluation of alternative solutions, three options were assessed. Do nothing, close the road, and raise the road. These options were assessed against six core areas including technical socioeconomic environment, natural environment, archaeology and cultural heritage and cost. This process or phase also included the second public meeting for the project. Of the three options, option three, raise the road was recommended going into the public meeting. While it will obviously have impacts on the area, there were a lot of benefits associated with it, which I'll go into more detail over the next few slides. Option one, do nothing, was eliminated as it did not address any issues identified through phase one and has detrimental impacts such as roadway safety, reduction in access to abudding properties, and environmental harm from leaving deteriorating ashvalt in the ecosystem. Option two, close the road, was also eliminated. Similar to option one, it does not address any of the issues identified during phase one of the project. It would also significantly disrupt the wetland as the ashalt would have to be removed without having any of the benefits associated with option three. It would be costly as it would entail ashfelt removal, property buyouts, the construction of two culde-sacs, and reinforcement of other roads and structures to accommodate truck traffic. And it would significant or and it would not significantly impact maintenance costs or efforts as both culde-sacs would still have to be maintained. After the public meeting and the formal confirmation of the preferred solution, the project team continued building out the concept to ensure feasibility and constructibility. Over the next few slides, I'll provide additional details on the solution and associated benefits. The recommendation to raise the road and implementation of the associated drainage infrastructure will have significant benefits on drainage within the right ofway. The proposed recommendation includes both raising the road and improvements to culvert infrastructure within the study area. This will help not only with the day-to-day drainage, but will also support significant storm events. The recommended solution will ensure that infrastructure is resilient up to the 100-year storm event. The solution will also improve conditions downstream and upstream of this area allowing water movement that takes place through culverts will ensure consistency with water levels and will work in support of the natural environment. And then lastly, this project has also been coordinated with the municipal drain project to maximize drainage solutions for the area. This recommendation also allows us to incorporate changes that are in alignment with complete streets guidelines for rural roads. Beyond reopening the road and eliminating roadway flooding, the recommendation includes the maintenance of two vehicle lanes, one in each direction, and the addition of buffer space and a paved shoulder on each side of the road. This ensures that road users have a safe facility and dedicated space regardless of the mode they choose to use. The raised road and improved road base. Oops, sorry. The raised road and improved road base will restore vehicle access and reestablish Safari as a goods movement corridor. And the addition of buffer space and paved shoulders ensures that active transportation users are not sharing the same space as truck traffic. And then finally, one of the largest concerns we received was about the preservation of and support for the natural environment. We really tried to factor this in as much as possible when developing this solution. The recommended solution does not compromise biodiversity in the area. The way we did this is to ensure that wildlife movement is supported through the design. The recommendation includes culverts that are designed to facilitate fish passage and culverts and dry passages within the wetland segment to facilitate the movement of animals like mammals and turtles. These passages will be coupled with turtleproof barriers to ensure that wildlife is guided to and uses the safe routes. The road has also been planned in a manner that minimizes the footprint of both the road and the grading, meaning that impacts on the abuing natural environment are also minimized. There will still be some impacts to the area, but through these impacts, we have the opportunity to control invasive species such as the European common reed or fragmitees and ensure new plantings are native and provide long-term ecological contributions to the ecosystem. And that brings us to the final recommended solution to raise the road 0.6 6 m, add buffer spaces and paved shoulders, upgrade existing culvert infrastructure, and ensure the implementation of wildlife crossings. Through this solution, we address the concerns identified through phase one. We ensure that residents on Safari Road will have access to their homes and livelihood, and it gives us an opportunity to make the road as safe as possible for wildlife and the ecosystem. Right now, we are at the public works committee and council stage. Should approval be received to proceed with the final stages of the environmental assessment process, we would then prepare the notice of completion and commence the 30-day public review period. During this period, the full project file report and technical findings will be posted both online and at three physical locations. Following the completion of the 30-day review period, the ministry will then review the overall project for 30 days. And following the two reviews, the and the resolution of any section 16 order requests, the project would then move to detailed design and construction. And that concludes the presentation. Thank you. >> Thank you so much for that overview. We have a speaker list uh growing. First up is councelor Jackson. I'm going to name everybody after Councelor Jackson is councelor Casar, then councelor Cooper, and then councelor McMaken. So first up is councelor Jackson. >> Thanks, Chair Nan. And thank you senior project manager Salvuchi for your uh presentation. Uh I'm sorry I was late uh for a few minutes at the start of public works. I understand there's even though there's people in the gallery, but no delegations were allowed on this topic unfortunately. So um but I have done a little bit of homework leading into today given the lobby uh with across the city not just on Safari Road but across the city where everybody seems to want to have input and going in a particular direction chair Nan um 302 SPM Salvi uh your public information centers exactly what type of feedback did you receive there and specifically I understand again working through the MPP's office Donna on a Skelly's office that represents that area that there's a half a dozen or so residents that actually live on Safari Road. So, can you give me some understanding about the directly impacted SPM Salvi and beyond that which your PIC showed through you chair Nan please? >> Through the chair. Um there has been a significant amount of public engagement for this whether it's through the two public meetings or on-site visits as recently as last week. Um the first public meeting was a collection of background stories and information from the residents knowing that they have extensive history on the site and the issues at play. Um when we went and had that public meeting um it was kind of along the lines of what we were expecting. A lot of imminent issues, a lot of um requests for quick fixes, action in the near future. Uh and a variety of the other topics we talked about. So, cyclists um not feeling comfortable using the road with trucks, um concerns about natural heritage, but mostly about drainage. At the second public meeting, um those in attendance again really wanted the priority to be placed on a um quick solution to enable access to the road again. Um overall, we did get a lot of questions and comments outside of the public meeting, but those in attendance at the second public meeting uh I believe generally wanted the road reopened as soon as possible. So SPM, thank you. SPM Salvi, you must be aware that with the lobby I got, I'm sure you must be aware that the lobby beyond the directly impacted homeowners on Safari uh has wanted um to uh not have your recommended option number three to raise and pave the road higher, but has been to instead to just support the preservation of the wetland. Um, can I ask through you how have you uh have you taken those uh comments under advisement and yet you're still coming forward with recommendation three? Could you elaborate a little further please given the environmental concerns that the greatest number of uh communication I've received have been from that standpoint >> through the chair. This issue isn't unique to this project. Oftent times we have a lot of very involved community members each with a different perspective and and passion behind them. Um so going into this it wasn't too much of a shock to have those different perspectives. We we are aware of the intense um concerns about biodiversity and the natural environment. Through the environmental assessment process, we weigh all of those different inputs into the project. So understanding that no environmental assessment is perfect. No construction project we do is perfect. There's going to be um benefits and there's also going to be um negative impacts from it. the environmental assessment weighs the overall best case scenario considering all of those factors and still acknowledging that there will be some impacts. So, uh at no point in this study do we say it's it's not going to have impact. So, we recognize that when we've heard um all of that feedback about the natural environment and biodiversity. Uh I spoke to it briefly on the one side, but we did put a lot of emphasis into ensuring that when we're opening the road, um if that that does come to fruition, we're putting in all measures possible to support the natural environment in that area. So that's including wildlife crossings to support both fish and terrestrial animals. Um that's ensuring that we're removing invasive species in the area that really impacts biodiversity. It's making sure that we're staying aware of what's going on in that area. if there's changes between now and permitting and the actual implementation, we can adjust. So, we still welcome those comments. Um, and so this environmental assessment is alternative solutions. So, at a high level, some of those ideas and concepts to preserve the wildlife and biodiversity will still remain fine-tuned in detail design. So, if there's specifics that others would like us to consider and incorporate, we are we're open to that. Thank you. >> Am I allowed one more question so I don't have to go back on a second time? Please, Chair Nan, thank you so much. Are you aware of the fact again my information through MP Skelly's office that the half a dozen or so homeowners living on safari are not supportive of your option, your preferred option or any of the other two options, but want more time to consult. And that's my last question. Chair Nan through you to SP SPM Salvi. Not a trick question. I'm just sincerely asking because that's the feedback I've had. they're not supportive of any of the three and want further opportunity to consult and meet with staff >> through the chair. So, we've documented all comments we've received today. If there's other perspectives or opinions that weren't captured in the environmental assessment and again as part of today's request, placing it on public review for 30 days where you'll see the full breakdown of comments received and options evaluated. Um, we more than welcome those comments. However, we did do an intensive public engagement um component of this project and we hopefully captured things within that assessment. I do understand that there's a need for imminent action though and that might be done outside of the realms of this environmental assessment. >> Thanks for the sincerity of your answers. Thanks for the your indulgence, Chair Nan. >> Thank you, Councelor Jackson. Next up, we have councelor Casar. >> Thank you, Chair and for you. Thank you for the work on this project. Um and certainly a lot of interest. Um couple questions maybe just to start for clarification because there has been a lot of correspondence about urging committee to choose a different option maybe through you chair um could you just explain uh what decision is before committee today um because there are options or alternatives presented but it's not pick one if you can just elaborate on what is happening today please >> through the chair so this stage of the environmental assessment the environmental assessment looked at all the all possible considerations that go into a project and it recommends the b best case solution. So the balancing of all of the different inputs and needs for the area. So the report you have in front of you highlights what that final recommendation is um from a technical and professional perspective um from the project team and experts associated with the project. The final stage of the environmental assessment process is to place it on public review for 30 days. This does not um and that's partially why we have the second recommendation. It does not begin um construction or budgeting associated with it. It's really just acknowledgement that the environmental assessment was completed and if there's any other outstanding concerns, we can accommodate them. uh in the event that there were to be changes to it um I think it would have to be reviewed in more detail and an amendment to the municipal class EA would have to be done or additional technical work um as the technical work in the environmental assessment after you pass the phase two of it and all of that kind of more technical um detailed work was completed following the second public meeting. All of that focused on the second or on the the recommended solution that was chosen. So there would be a gap in information >> right thank you and through the chair I wanted to get to that in a second but first uh in one of the appendices there's the waiting and the evaluation that shows uh technical socio um cultural uh environmental and so on or so economic excuse me natural environment cultural heritage cost um so technical is 40 socioeconomic is 15% uh environment 25% cultural heritage archaeology 10% % and cost 10%. Um, where do those numbers come from? Is that a prescribed process or a waiting of the EA process >> through the chair? It's not a standard approach. So, it's tailored depending on the project and consultation with the consultant we have at the time, internal experts, and through even public engagement that we've heard to date. So, that's reflective of the the overall analysis and what priorities are um accentuated through this project. >> Okay. Uh, thanks for that. That's helpful to understand. uh just through deliberations with committee and council, certainly through the budget process, the cost of anything has been large area of focus. And in this case, you know, $8.1 million is what is forecasted as the cost to bring this road up to spec. And so um that that's just one observation uh that the cost of residents and tax increases and this focus of this council I my opinion that cost would be a bigger factor but okay um and then coming back to the comment you said about other options would would there be a gap in information so the EA process has recommended this option and so the the committee has before it this is a option to put forward and then to go to a future budget process. So is it I what I interpret here is that there's not information on any of the other options on the impact or cost. I think you alluded that to your presentation. You said there could be significant costs, but could you just confirm that work on costing and other impacts of the other uh options were not fully fleshed out >> through the chair? That is correct to certain extent. So this is a schedule B environmental assessment. um it's a little bit different than the typical schedule C's we see where you really do go into that detailed a little bit more detailed um considerations of all all of those elements as the options were eliminated we did a preliminary scan uh and then they were eliminated and we didn't explore them further. Uh some of the assessment tied to that is sensitive in nature as well. So we were mindful of that when we were doing um the the estimates and analysis of what options worked and and what didn't. >> Okay. through your chair just supplementary to that then this is a schedule B not a schedule C could you just walk us through the rationale for that decision >> yeah for sure so through the chair uh the the only difference between a schedule C and a schedule B is and why we chose that process is there is a chart that outlines different project types within the municipal class environmental assessment guide book uh that the municipal engineers association publishes and it interprets the environmental assessment act and so in that chart the proposed work. So the installation of new culverts and to address flooding concerns triggers a schedule B through their requirements, not a schedule C. And so that's the process that was followed. >> Okay. So it's a technical reason. Okay. Thanks for that. Um as I've circulated to committee, I have an amendment uh that I'll propose and put on the floor at the appropriate time. Thank you. >> Thank you for that. Next up, we have councelor Cooper and then followed by councelor McMaken. >> Thank you, Chair. Um, so if I understand this correctly, we have a road that's flooding and it's getting worse and what we're looking at is doesn't sound like it solves the problem. It's it's something that's going to help us get by with uh with what we're what we're finding is happening. What's the root cause of the flooding? Is water being redirected, you know, or what's what's causing it? >> Through the chair, uh, this is a complex area and there's multiple different sources of flooding and an increase in in drainage issues in the area. So over time, storm events have gotten more significant. Um, we haven't kept up with maybe some infrastructure in the area or there's new infrastructure needs that weren't previously considered when the road was built out. There's changes on abuing properties that might have an impact on it. Uh, and just changes in in the ecosystem in the area all contribute towards why we're seeing changes on the roadway. >> Would Thank you. through your chair. Would any of the changes in the ecosystem be related to dumping >> through the chair? I believe there are allegations, but that's not something that we cover through the course of this project. >> Thank you. Through you, chair. Where would something like that be investigated? >> Through the chair. I believe there's bylaw team within planning and economic development that would look into any concerns tied to that. >> Thank you. Through your chair. Uh, has anyone from that department looked at this at all >> through the chair? I'm not sure if someone from planning and economic development is here to comment on that or if that's something we can take offline. >> Just one second. The GM has a comment. >> Oh, I thank you. Jackie Kennedy, general manager of public works. Um, I just would like to say I think we're here to talk about the EA and SPM Saluchi has responded indicating wasn't part of the scope there. If there's questions about that, we'd be I'd be happy to connect you with the right people offline, counselor, through the chair. Thank you. >> Um, >> so staying within the scope of the presentation and the report then councelor and if you have any more clarifying questions as as mentioned by the GM, we can continue making sure you get the information you're looking for, but it may not be appropriate at this time. >> Thank you. Thank you, chair. So really what we'd be saying if we want to go down that path is to defer it. >> Sorry, could you say that again? I didn't hear you. I what I was saying is that if we wanted to go down and get that additional information there, the only thing we could do today is really defer it. >> Uh deferral would be an option to get more information before making a decision. But I do want to remind committee members that there is amendments that have been tabled uh for your consideration that have been already been indicated by councelor Casar. So factor that in prior to any decisions around deferral. But just to clarify, GM, >> uh, I think that the the question that you're asking about the, um, the allegations in properties nearby is is really external to what the scope of the environmental assessment is um, endeavoring or required to review. So um, deferral of this report would not lead to the inclusion of that. It's a separate process. Um, >> so it might may I suggest then as your chair uh procedurally speaking if you're looking for further direction to staff that might be a separate motion or consider an add-on to the potential amending direction coming forward. >> Okay. Thank you, chair. >> Okay, next up we have councelor McMaken. >> Thanks, chair. Um, the couple questions I was intent on asking have been asked and answered and uh, so I look forward to uh, the amendment. >> Thanks. >> Thank you, councelor McMaken. Next up, we have councelor Bey. >> Thank you, Chair. Just seeking some clarification in terms of I think you gave some um, insight just a few moments ago because it sounds like there's there's a potential of there's there's something else at play here. uh maybe uh but this is dealing with it. This is the forum for public works. We're dealing with it through the deliberations on this particular issue, but wanting to get a full picture as part of the decision-making process in terms of what else is happening here. What what was the best way to go about doing that in terms of a an amendment or a change of direction? deferral referral because I I think that dealing with it in isolation doesn't really do any justice to the over overall decision that we're trying to make here. If you could just restate. >> Yeah. So my clarification would be that we are dealing with the environmental assessment specifically within the recommendations of this report and the overview of the presentation you received. if committee members are seeking additional information that would require specific direction not tied to this report. So you might want to consider another motion that is that stipulates all the information that committee members are seeking on this file or related um and that would be separate to the recommendations in this report. >> Okay. What would be the appropriate time then to do that to deal with this? >> Yes, you have a couple of options. So I I I really respect not doing things on the fly. um in order to give committee members the opportunity to get the right language to make sure it's procedurally correct. So committee members have the option of bringing forward a new motion at council. So when we are ratifying the decisions of public works committee at council, we could move a motion at that time within the PW agenda item at council. Alternatively, you could do it at Okay. Can we get confirmation that the live feed is up? Thank you so much. Okay. Back over to you, Councelor Wilson. Sorry that the force was not with us for our technical difficulties today. >> Thank you. lost. Oh, there. Thank you. Um I'm I don't want my question to come across as challenging um the integrity of anyone on the staff, but I just trying to understand how the problem statement was devised because absent from the problem statement is any objective of environmental impact or mediation. Could you help me help me figure that out >> through the chair? The problem and opportunity statement was developed based on the overall challenges that we were hoping to address. Natural environment is a feature we consider in 100% of the environmental assessments we do. Um, and so I think we knew from the get-go that that was going to be a big factor in whatever solution we proposed. So the issues identified through the problem and opportunity statement were mostly in alignment with the transportation master plan, trucks master plan, active transportation master plan, uh the known drainage issues acknowledging that we we would 100% be considering again the natural environment um with whatever solution we develop. Thank you. >> Okay. Oops. Okay. Um and I thought I heard um staff say that just leaving it which is alternative one there is environmental impact from these are my words beg your forgiveness everyone comes leate over time from the ashalt whereas is that affirmed if if the ashvault is not removed compared to the long-term impacts these or staff words long-term impacts include exposure to potential contamination from road activity, water quality impact, etc. >> Through the chair, the material tied to ashalt is not something that is typically suitable for the ecosystem and it's not something we would recommend. So both the material as well as the impacts to water quality. So leaving a um hard permeable surface near the water is going to increase the water um temperature and decrease biodiversity due to the dissolved oxygen levels. So from a few different fronts, keeping the road as is and allowing the flooding to continue is not something we would recommend. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. And can you help me understand under the socioeconomic through the chair um some property acquisitions under the the alternative that is being recommended some property acquisition is required for road widening. Can you expand on that so I can understand the significance of it or not >> through the chair? any property needs associated with the preferred solution would be limited to closely um abuing segments by the right ofway just due to grading needed to achieve um the road base that we're looking to have in this segment. So it would be uh less impactful than the other option considered of closing the road. >> Okay. And is that cost of I would assume that would be a cost incurred at property acquisition or I'm sorry did you say that's in the rightway and if uh is that part of the 8.1 million guesstimate for 2.5 km >> through the chair I believe that 8.1 million includes any property needs. So the exact amounts again due to it being a schedule B we didn't go into as depth design as other projects might that exact amount will be confirmed during detailed design but it would be relatively minor in nature. >> Okay thank you for your help. >> Okay that ex nope councelor bey for a second time. Apologies chair. We were talking about uh property uh acquisitions and it it triggered me that in alternative two there is a mention under the socioeconomic impact about the required buyout of several properties and I'm wondering how we might compare and contrast uh the different options. We're talking about acquisition, I think, on one hand for road widening, but I'm not sure what the buyout of several properties listed under alternative 2 might refer to if, uh, maybe we could get some aliteration on that >> through the chair. um the exact property impacts. So if we were to go ahead with option two, the exact property impacts would need a little bit more refinement um based on water conditions at the time when we actually go to construct it. Uh a few other elements, but right now you would be looking at the property acquisition of between six and 10 properties in the area >> or sorry just as a correction through the chair at at least four properties but potentially more. Thank you. >> Sorry, chair. I pushed the wrong button. Um, as opposed Okay, so thank you for that. Uh, through the chair, the property acquisition that we're talking about in alternative 3 speaks to road widening. And when we do road widening, we're typically uh we're purchasing uh small slivers uh portions of of properties. In your response, you said purchasing properties. And I'm wondering if if you can just define that. Are we talking about buying entire parcels or are we talking about again small abuing um remnants or or fragments of existing parcels? Just just to hone in on what we're talking about in property acquisition through the chair. >> Through the chair with the closure of the road, you would need to do full property buyouts due to the removal of access um to Safari Road. Uh without the access, you are making all of those properties landlocked. So those would be full property purchases. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. That's a that's a big difference. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. Now we've exhausted the questions on the presentation. So at this point I'll have a mover and seconder to receive the presentation. Moved by councelor Hang, seconded by councelor Spataphora. All those in favor show a hand vote. Thank you. Any opposed? None. That carries. Okay. Now on to the report. uh mover and seconder for putting the report on the floor. Councelor Hang and I'll second it to put the report on the floor. And then now um councelor Casar, you had an amending motion. >> Thank you, Chair Nan. Uh yes, I do have an amending motion. Um maybe it'd be helpful to put on the screen, but I have circulated to all committee members. uh I don't wish to frustrate the EA process. Uh I'd ask some questions to clarify what was actually before us today and it is to just improve the professional work that was done. So there are two parts to the recommendation. A is to um continue with the steps that were outlined in the A process, put it out to the public and and all those steps. Um no changes to that. Um what I would propose though is a different part B here because what it said in the recommendation was put this forward uh and have direction to implement uh for with putting forward to a future capital budget as is. So through the conversation today I think it's been highlighted that there is a lot of information that we don't have in terms of cost implications and uh whatnot. Um and there's two parts to that. one is around the environmental part of it which has been virtually all of our correspondence and on the front page the first page of the presentation was I think a great picture showing the road right through a wetland um so I've included that at the end of the uh amendment but my primary concern actually which I think is would be a concern for almost everyone in in the city is just the cost and not understanding the cost of this versus the cost of the closure and including the life cycle cost of a road at this level of usage versus every other road we have in our city and a roughly $100 million I think annual spending infrastructure infrastructure deficit. So when we're looking to be financial stewards is should we be spending $8 million here versus rehabilitating all the roads that are used by tens of thousands of users every day. So, um, the amendment asks to bring more information back while allowing the EA process to continue. Bring more information back so that what could be put forward to a future budget actually is something that has been fully vetted and this committee and council have had an opportunity to consider the pros and cons financial and otherwise. So, it's on the screen there and u I'll leave it at that. >> Thank you. And your second council council >> crutch. >> Councelor Crutch. Thank you. Okay. So, we have a speaker list on the amendment. First up is Councelor Jackson. >> Thanks, Chair Nan. This amendment sounds like it's a reopening alternative to which is the full closure of Safari Road. So, I will not be supporting the amendment. Again, this has been very, very unfortunate that homeowners who live on Safari Road up in the gallery did not have an opportunity to express their opinion to us today. And if you want to be um consistent with what we did with Overfield in Dundas 2 hours ago that the local counselor is not here. >> If I may just clarify, that was a public hearing. Public hearing process opens up the process for those who are in the gallery to be able to submit comments to a public hearing. That was the situation for Overfield. The situation on this report and recommendation is that delegations have a deadline to which they have to forward their submissions and that is followed and that is procedurally fair and correct. And so it's unfortunate that both scenarios are being conflated as your chair. I'm holding the procedure correctly and I don't appreciate the insinuation otherwise. >> Thanks Chair Nan. I still say it's unfortunate that people who have spent hours here today from Safari Road would not have a chance to express how they would be most impacted by a potential road closure andor the staff preferred option. So I'll conclude by saying I'm voting against the amendment. The amendment carries. I'll vote against the original report as amended and my my comments stand and again the W1 13 counselor isn't here to speak to us about this matter. I don't know how where he stands on it. Chair Nan and I was simply offering a comparison to what councelor Crutch did with Overfield several hours ago because councelor Alex Wilson wasn't here that we should defer the matter as well. That's where I was going with that comment to be quite frank with you. Thanks, Chair Nan. >> Okay. Any other comments on the amendment? Councelor Kazar. >> Yeah, thanks Chair. I should have said before introducing the amendment that I have had dialogue with councelor Alex Wilson on this topic. unfortunately not here because they're rather ill, wanted to be here, but not possible. Uh so, um councelor Wilson is supportive of this direction and I'm doing that on their behalf. >> Oh, sorry. I didn't realize I'd been activated. Um, in terms of speaking to the amendment, uh, a question to the mover and as it relates to the impact on on people, I guess I'm if we're asking for more information to come back on cost, uh, would you give any consideration to uh, some kind of impact on the the residents on the street or um the socioeconomic uh, considerations that are are outlined in here, but But really the the direct impact on residents on the street if if there's an ability to um incorporate that and to have that information come back at the same time. I don't know if you're agreeable to that uh or not. >> Yeah, thanks for the question. Absolutely. Uh I think the staff had gone through the process with the evaluation criteria. Um I think it would be actually helpful if all those criteria were fully vetted through option two. So absolutely want to look at the impact of people and everything else that was done as part of the EA. So if if there's other wording that would be helpful to amend the amendment, I'm open to that to make sure it covers that topic. Okay. So thank you for that. It would be considered friendly if I could come up with the wording to try to have the information come back. But just to understand then u in terms of what's next um let's say we get wording agreed upon studying the impact on residents on the street. If we settle on that and the amendment were to pass then as part of this package the EA continues forward. um staff are moving as if we're reconstructing the road. That information then for option two for the total cost packaging impact on residents that comes back. I'm trying to understand where that intersection of the additional information comes back during the EA process which is heading down the path of road reconstruction. So where where does that all meet? seeking response from staff. >> I'll give it a shot and I will invite SPM Salvi to correct me. Um I I think it's separate from the EA process though. I think the EA process would go on and then we would look at the alternative to as a separate report back. Is that the >> So through the chair it does become a little convoluted um in terms of what the next steps for the EA are. So, we have documentation highlighting a highle overview of what the other two options entailed and why we didn't go ahead with them. doing a more in-depth assessment of option two um not necessarily will contradict things we've done through the environmental assessment but if we went ahead with that option down the line. So if we did the the additional work council decided to go ahead with option two instead of option three we would have to do an an environmental assessment addendum because right now we have a document outlining all of the reasons and rationale as to why we're recommending option three. So for transparency and due diligence, we would have to go through that documentation process again to clearly outline why our recommendation has changed from the initial recommendation. >> Oh, okay. Um, so then by voting to accept this amendment, we're actually placing ourselves in a contradictory form because option three proceeds, but at the same time, we'd be asking for information to come back to then do a U-turn on that direction at some future decision-making point. Have I kind of encapsulated that correctly? >> Through the chair. Yes. >> Interesting. Okay. Um, I don't have any further questions at this at this point and I'm not sure not sure where to go from here. Apologies, chair. Okay. Are there any other questions on the amendment? Okay. So, um, for committee members who feel a little frustrated in the process, perhaps you'll have clarity and time for counsel. Um but in the meantime, the amendment has been duly moved and seconded. It's before committee for vote. Okay, that carries for now. That carries today. Thank you. The amendment um carries on to 9.3 then. No. Oh, thank you, Councelor Hang. You're absolutely correct. Now we have to vote on the recommendations as amended. Thank you. And that also carries on to motions. First up, we have 10 point. Nope. >> My apologies. Jeez, I'm just trying to get on with the agenda clearly and missing the steps. My apologies. Usually I'm on top of these procedural things. Um, next we need to receive the correspondence. So, could I get a mover and second to receive the very large list of correspondence on this item? Thank you, councelor Casar, second by councelor Cretch. And that is a show of hand vote because it's receiving the correspondence. Any opposed? Seeing none, that carries on now to motions. 10.1, which is accessible portable toilets in Hamilton Parks for wards 2, 5, 11, and 14. Uh over to councelor Spataphora. >> Thanks chair. It's moved by myself, second by councelor Francis. This is a motion, as you can see, that's been piled together between ws 2 5 11 and 14. just makes it easier so we wouldn't have 17 individual motions uh asking for 17 different portaotties or whatever the fancy word is for these uh washrooms. Um so you'll see the parks are listed in there uh for the different wards and there are all the money's coming out of each wards discretional discretion accounts all that fun stuff. The numbers are in there and we're going to ask the general manager of public works or doesn't it to authorize and direct all the necessary documentation and hopefully we can get a quick vote and move on to the next one. Thank you. >> Appreciate the collaborative spirit of getting all those uh in in one motion. So, it's moved and seconded. Uh we have no further speakers on the list. It's before committee for vote. Councelor Fans says, "We see your thumbs up." Thank you. That carries on to 10.2. Uh, Councelor Jackson, >> my apologies, Chair Nan. Thank you. Uh since the entire world the last few months knows all about Broutton East Park. If I could go straight to the therefore be it resolved. Thank you. Moved by myself seconded by the hardworking councelor from Ward 14 Mike Spedaphora. Therefore be resolved that the redevelopment design process of 16 Avenue be approved to be funded from the W 6 capital reinvestment reserve account number noted at an upset limit including contingency not to exceed 250 grand. Place an exist existing project ID number noted park upgrades and be part that our general manager of public works Jackie Kennedy or designate be authorized directed to approve execute any and all required agreements and cillary documents with such terms and conditions in a form satisfactory to the city solicer. Thanks again to the Broutton East Park Citizens Committee and a special thanks to senior project manager Andrea McDonald and manager Wes Kindred for their input helping me with the language of the motion and staff had put in a placeholder of their own $250,000 over the last couple of years in anticipation of the land swap. And so my $250,000 will be a matching amount with your hopeful approval. And my town hall meeting much anticipated after 11 years of the long journey is for Tuesday May 19th at Michelangelos. Thank you chair Nan. It's before committee for electronic vote. Thank you. Councelor Francis, are you able to vote electronically? Nope. Thumbs up. Thank you. That carries. Thank you. Uh, now next up is 10.3. Councelor McMaken, if you would please introduce your motion and your seconder. >> Thanks, uh, Deputy Mayor. chair. Um this is um it's moved by myself, seconded by my esteemed colleague, councelor Marie Wilson. Uh it's a very technical thing. It has to do with a project that's been to the um I don't want to read all the whereas >> so let let me just say there's some confusion around uh what can and can't happen after certain things have been approved and and and given the blessing of the Ontario tribunal which means we now need to move uh with the notwithstanding or sorry the therefore be resolved is basically to have uh authority to move forward to solve a problem that needs needs a solution and so I'm moving that. >> Any technical questions you can ask tech staff who have technical expertise in this area. >> Very clear and appreciated. Thank you councelor Mcme. I see no speakers on the speakers list. So your motion is very clear. uh is before to vote and council Francis again manual vote. Thank you. Appreciate it. And that's carried. Uh onwards to notices of motion. First up is 11.1 coordinated fragmitees control strategy. Councelor Bey, >> I believe this is councelor Tatison's motion, so I don't have the details in front of me, but we'll let it stand as a um notice. If there's questions between now and it coming forward at the next PW, please direct them to councelor Tavis. >> Appreciate that. Thank you. Next up is 11.2 2 Grindstone Creek Bridge 451 replacement contingency extension. Councelor McMaken, over to you for your notice of motion. >> Thanks, Chair. I was 5 foot 8 when I came in. I think I've been reduced to 5'6 somehow, but uh we'll move forward. Uh notice of motion um has to do with the bridge very elaborate bridge work at uh on Dundas Street um which the community and uh and our very wonderful staff uh 22 staff members who attended uh a public meeting you know with grateful thanks from the counselor for being there um to help sort out some of these things. So I'm moving a notice moving a motion to suspend the rules. So I can put the motion >> and your second council McMed by my my friend from >> Thank you. >> Councilor is seconding the waving of the rules >> uh to suspend the rules to um address the notice of motion as a motion today before committee for vote. Councelor Francis, >> the traveling pen, >> yes, absolutely. Okay. Waving of the rules is carried. Uh and then now on to the main motion. >> Okay. Thanks chair. There there are number of wherees but the bottom line is after an very productive community consultation with about 300 people there and 22 senior staff. We discovered there were some uh uh potential changes needed to a contract that had already been entered into. Uh that required changing u one-way travel east across the busiest road, our main street, similar to Main Street in Hamilton, going east and and everybody trying to figure out how the heck they're going to get to work and get home. uh to creating a two-way uh system, 12 hours one way, 12 hours back. Additional costs of uh for a a light uh control and u and uh the fact that some asbestous was discovered during the repair of the bridge which resulted in a month of delay. Well, we did a federal environmental assessment and got it all sorted out. So the additional costs which we're uh looking to uh approve and I understand from staff having worked closely with them that the money is there u and previously they would simply go ahead with this contingency but we have a process now that requires it to come here is 1,254,000 and u I'm moving that seconded by my favorite Armenian counselor um Tom Jackson and by the way I'm really pleased to see our prime minister visiting Armenia. That's a very very important visit. Anyhow, that's my most >> next uh speaker list. First up is councelor Casar. >> Thanks chair and through you just a couple of clarification questions. So councelor Mcme said normally or previously this would have just been handled as a contingency but now it needs to come through here. So just looking for an explanation on the process change for public consumption please. >> Yeah through the chair just a couple clarifying statements. Um as as noted by councelor McMaken there is budget available. Um it's just in the interest of of transparency. We're exceeding the 12% contingency. Um using it up largely by these two items there. it it wasn't um you know it was this city-led changes to the project which caused the changes in the scope um and that's put us in a position where we we don't have any more contingency for the for the project. So uh we thought we would bring this forth in in just keeping council council informed as opposed to using our discretion and just taking it from the extra budget. >> Yeah. Got it. Thanks for that. And then just around funding source because typically a resolution would say funded from reserve whatever and it says that overall the project has money but I'm just looking for clarity on how we need to take more contingency money but there's still money available if if it just something doesn't connect there for me through you chair. >> Um this is a case where throughout the year we we we refine our budget. So in in this case um the project came in under our budget that that we estimated it it was a favorable bid. Um so in that case we have uh funds in the budget. Um over time as we would bring for projects closer to the finish we would give that money back to the whip uh would be the proper proper process or give it back to the levy. I'm not sure the exact term but in this case it it it we do have funds. that we're not asking for any additional money from the levy. >> Got it. So, procurement process got a favorable result versus the budget, but still exceeding the 12% contingency, but because of the better procurement process, there actually is more funds in the budget. Thank you. >> Okay, no further speakers. Committee, uh, the vote is up for your vote. And the thumbs up from councelor Francis. >> And that carries. >> Councelor McMaken. Thanks very much to staff for their work, good work on this. Again, I just want to stress that um this was a very complicated uh and uh situation that caused a lot of anxiety in the community. The changes have brought peace to the community and um and a lot of that chaos has dissipated. There are still struggles with all the work that's going on, but uh thanks to staff and listening very closely to the community, we've we we're moving forward in a very positive way. Thank you. >> Thank you for those closing comments um and the affirmative motion uh vote. Okay, so there are no private and confidential agenda items. Uh thank you to residents who attended today, to public works committee members and staff for all your support in today's meeting. Uh, seeing that there's no further business, this meeting is officially adjourned at 4:30