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DEPUTATIONS REGARDING MOTION 19-G-104 - THE 2018 BUDGET AND BUSINESS PLAN YEAR-END REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 4.16 OF PROCEDURAL BY-LAW 2013-072, CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERED TWO EMERGENCY DEPUTATION REQUESTS BY MS. MOROZUK AND MR. THOMSON IN OPPOSITION TO MOTION 19-G-104 - THE 2018 BUDGET AND BUSINESS PLAN YEAR-END REPORT. UPON A VOTE OF CITY COUNCIL TAKEN, MS. MOROZUK AND MR. THOMSON WERE PERMITTED TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL.
Robb Meier provided a Deputation in opposition to motion 19-G-104 concerning the 2018 Budget and Business Plan Year-End Report.
Mr. Meier advised that listening to the debate two weeks ago concerning this motion was difficult to watch. He expressed his disappointment with the Committee choosing to further improve tennis courts and adding Wi-Fi in the downtown over the much needed investments on infrastructure for safe places that the community can walk and ride on. Mr. Meier commented that the Wi-Fi and tennis being luxury items and should not be fund from the bonus gas tax funds. He expressed that in his opinion the City has the ability to make investments that serve the most vulnerable people and for those who travel on bikes and by foot. Mr. Meier suggested that an ongoing service and maintenance for public Wi-Fi and tennis courts would be better suited for the City to engage in a public/private partnership.
Mr. Meier discussed the City’s opportunity with the Official Plan and Transportation Master Plan that are currently under review. He commented on the 2014 Multi-Modal Active Transportation Master Plan and that he felt a lack of progress has been made in shifting the mode of single passenger vehicles to other modes of active transportation. He noted his concerns associated with the City’s pushing these targets back 10 years. Mr. Meier provided suggestions for the use of the bonus gas tax funds towards active transportation in order to meet the previous set targets for active transportation and implementation of a connected network of on-street bike lanes.
Mr. Meier discussed his rationale associated with why active transportation infrastructure makes good business sense including increase in home value, benefits of business, reduction in vehicle speeds, reduction in greenhouse gases and better health for the community. Mr. Meier expressed his concerns that there is no cycling infrastructure proposed for Essa Road and requested such infrastructure be considered for Dunlop Street. Mr. Meier expressed his concerns that the motions recommends $300,000 is dedicated towards active transportation infrastructure and noted that he felt that is not enough.
A member of Council asked a question to City staff and received a response.
Ms. Judy Morozuk advised of her connection to the local community and her deep sense of community that she felt was her choice to make active transportation her lifestyle. Ms. Morozuk commented on her costs of living and indicated that car payments were not feasible. Ms. Morozuk discussed the areas where she spends most of her time including the downtown. She advised that she feels marginalized as a bicycle rider and as an active transportation user by the community. She provided her experience as a lone rider at her place of employment and the reactions she receives from other employees. She expressed her concerns for the lack of active transportation infrastructure in the City including her safety to move around the community. She expressed her disappointment concerning previous discussions on Wi-Fi and tennis courts and indicated that she was disheartened. Ms. Morozuk questioned why people are not using bike lanes, and riding bikes within the City, and she commented that she feels it is the lack of safety and security that the community have when riding within the City. Ms. Morozuk advised that she is in opposition to the motion and asked members of Council to think better and do better to promote a healthy and safer City to allow more opportunities for the community to take better advantage of active transportation.
A member of Council asked a question to Ms. Morozuk and received a response.
Mr. Andy Thomson advised that he is an Architect that moved to the City from the GTA. He expressed his appreciation for the City’s sensational planning around the waterfront and other places such as Sunnidale and the Downtown Core. Mr. Thomson advised that he and his family bike and skateboard throughout the City. He expressed his concerns associated with the safety of other parts of the City that do not have the same type of planning and safety provided for active transportation. Mr. Thomson commented that if the Sunnidale and Anne Street had on-street bike lanes he felt that this would be a huge step in the right direction. Mr. Thomson provided information associated to the Dutch Cycling Embassy, and provided the dollar per resident amount the Netherlands, Montreal, Victoria and Toronto use per year on cycling infrastructure. He discussed the investment, money saved, statistics and the positive effects on the community from cycling infrastructure. Mr. Thomson suggested that the City investigate further opportunities for cycling infrastructure and it’s benefits.
Mayor Lehman asked a question to Mr. Thomson and received a response.