City Council Meeting Abstract

Summary

City council grappled with pedestrian safety concerns following a summer fatality, ultimately rejecting a blanket ban on right turns on red lights downtown while approving year-round parking restrictions on several residential streets and extending authority for seasonal road closures to support local businesses.

Topics Discussed

1. HIGHWAY 417 BRIDGE REPLACEMENTS: Major infrastructure project to replace aging bridges at Woodruff and Maitland Avenue underpasses, requiring 6-8 week road closures and 48-72 hour highway shutdowns in 2028. The $200M+ project will raise bridge profiles by 750mm, add cycling infrastructure, and cause significant traffic disruptions with detours through Baseline and Carling corridors.

2. RIGHT TURN ON RED SAFETY DEBATE: Emotional debate over banning right turns on red lights in the downtown core following the death of pedestrian Salony in front of City Hall. Despite testimony from Vision Zero Ottawa, residents whose children were struck by vehicles, and data showing 60% increase in pedestrian injuries where turns are permitted, council rejected a blanket ban in favor of intersection-by-intersection evaluation.

3. ROAD SAFETY ACTION PLAN DELAYS: The city's Road Safety Action Plan update has been pushed to 2027 due to budget constraints from lost Automated Speed Enforcement revenue. Council members expressed frustration that safety improvements at dangerous intersections are being delayed while collision data may undercount incidents by excluding "near misses" and minor injuries.

4. YEAR-ROUND PARKING RESTRICTIONS: Council approved permanent, full-time parking bans on one side of seven residential streets (Sicily, Corout Routt, Jensen, Spring Beauty, Sweet Flag, Twylade, and Water Shield), replacing winter-only restrictions. Implementation required before April 1, 2026.

5. PRIVATE APPROACH BYLAW MODERNIZATION: Comprehensive update to 2003 regulations governing driveways and walkways crossing into city right-of-way. New rules allow homeowners to install walkways and limited driveway expansions without permits if they meet specific criteria, while introducing hardscape contractor licensing effective March 1st and tree protection requirements.

Motions

Passed: - Year-round parking prohibition on seven residential streets (Sicily, Corout Routt, Jensen, Spring Beauty, Sweet Flag, Twylade, Water Shield) - implementation before April 1, 2026 (2 dissents) - Extension of delegated authority for seasonal road closures for placemaking and economic activity through December 2027 - Receipt of staff inquiry report on right turn on red restrictions (1 dissent)

Deferred: - Road mural regulations development (to be completed by end of Q2 2026) - deferred to next meeting

Withdrawn: - Motion to maintain current "hybrid approach" to right turn on red restrictions (withdrawn due to procedural concerns)

Rejected/Not Advanced: - Blanket ban on right turns on red in downtown core

Attendees

Present: - Chair (name not specified in transcript) - Vice Chair Kits - Councillor Truster - Councillor D. Ro - Councillor Gower - Councillor Kavanagh - Councillor Brockington - Councillor Bradley - Councillor Devon/Divine

Absent: - Councillor Johnson (sent regrets)