Development Services Committee Meeting Minutes

Meeting Number: 9
-
Live streamed
Roll Call
  • Deputy Mayor Michael Chan
  • Regional Councillor Jim Jones
  • Regional Councillor Joe Li
  • Regional Councillor Alan Ho
  • Councillor Keith Irish
  • Councillor Ritch Lau
  • Councillor Reid McAlpine
  • Councillor Karen Rea
  • Councillor Andrew Keyes
  • Councillor Amanda Collucci
  • Councillor Juanita Nathan
  • Councillor Isa Lee
Regrets
  • Mayor Frank Scarpitti
Staff
  • Andy Taylor, Chief Administrative Officer
  • Trinela Cane, Commissioner, Corporate Services
  • Morgan Jones, Commissioner, Community Services
  • Frank Clarizio, Acting Commissioner, Development Services
  • Claudia Storto, City Solicitor and Director of Human Resources
  • Joseph Silva, Treasurer
  • Giulio Cescato, Director of Planning & Urban Design
  • Darryl Lyons, Deputy Director, Planning & Urban Design
  • Loy Cheah, Senior Manager, Transportation
  • David Porretta, Manager, Traffic Engineering
  • Soran Sito, Manager, Environmental Engineering
  • Denisa Necula, Brownfield Environmental Technologist
  • Erica Alligood, Election / Committee Coordinator
  • Rajeeth Arulanantham, Assistant to Council / Committee

​Alternate formats for this document are available upon request

1.
CALL TO ORDER

 

The Development Services Committee was called to order at 9:32 AM with Regional Councillor Jim Jones in the Chair.

Councillor Amanda Collucci arrived 9:37 AM. Regional Councillor Joe Li arrived at 9:40 AM.

INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We begin today by acknowledging the traditional territories of Indigenous peoples and their commitment to stewardship of the land. We acknowledge the communities in circle. The North, West, South and Eastern directions, and Haudenosaunee, Huron- Wendat, Anishnabeg, Seneca, Chippewa, and the Mississaugas of the Credit peoples. We share the responsibility with the caretakers of this land to ensure the dish is never empty and to restore relationships that are based on peace, friendship, and trust. We are committed to reconciliation, partnership and enhanced understanding.

2.
DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST

 

There were no disclosures of pecuniary interest.

3.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

 

3.1
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES - MARCH 26, 2024 (10.0)

This item has attachments. 
1.Post-Meeting Minutes - DSC_Mar26_2024 - English.pdf
  • Moved byCouncillor Karen Rea
    Seconded byDeputy Mayor Michael Chan
    1. That the minutes of the Development Services Committee meeting held on March 26, 2024, be confirmed.
    Carried

4.
PRESENTATIONS

 

4.1
YORK REGION VISION ZERO TRAVELLER SAFETY PLAN (10.0)

This item has attachments. 
1.Presentation - York Region TSP.pdf

Frank Clarizio, Acting Commissioner, Development Services Committee, provided an introduction advising that Staff from York Region was in attendance to provide a presentation on the Vision Zero Traveller Safety Plan. Acting Commissioner Clarizio advised that this plan was developed by York Region using a vision zero approach, with the goal of reducing injuries and deaths on roads to zero. Acting Commissioner Clarizio advised that the plan will enable the Region and local municipal partners to work together to enhance road safety. Acting Commissioner Clarizio introduced Joseph Petrungaro and Nelson Costa of York Region to deliver a presentation. 

Joseph Petrungaro, Director, Roads, Traffic and Fleet, York Region and Nelson Costa, Manager, Traffic Safety and Signal Operations, York Region delivered a presentation.

The Committee provided the following feedback:

  • Asked about staffing levels at York Region to implement and enforce the program. Mr. Petrungaro commented that the York Region traffic team is about 30 individuals, noting that they are able to leverage experts and consulting services to help achieve the goals and analyze results. Mr. Petrungaro added that the Vision Zero Traveller Safety Plan will largely be education based and focused on changing behaviors, for which a large staff team is not required.
  • Asked if the City will need to add support staff and whether this will be provided by York Region. Mr. Petrungaro explained that through the plan, an information library will be created to provide municipalities with options and solutions based on the traffic issue they are trying to manage. Mr. Petrungaro explained that this library will include costs and information related to returns on investment to assist municipalities in achieving effective solutions. By way of further partnership, Mr. Petrungaro confirmed that York Region would work with York Region Police regularly to focus enforcement on areas where speeding is found to be an issue. 
  • Inquired about residential outreach, asking if it is part of the overall plan. Mr. Petrungaro confirmed that several social media campaigns are planned throughout the year to educate residents. 
  • Expressed concerns with the funds allocated to the program, noting that it may not be successful if the main solutions being looked at are the most simple and inexpensive ones. Mr. Petrungaro confirmed that $12M is committed to the plan in the first year, noting that the Region will be leveraging opportunities when roads are being rebuilt to incorporate safety measures at the design stage. Acting Commissioner Clarizio added that implementation and vision zero would be a journey, and time will be taken to ensure the right measures are established for the right areas. 
  • Asked if the intersection hashmarks referred to include McCowan Rd and Southdale Dr and were similar to what is outside of fire stations to ensure the entrance is not blocked. Mr. Costa confirmed that the hashmarks are the same as at emergency accesses, noting that signage will also be installed to reinforce restrictions.
  • Inquired about the installation of automatic speed enforcement (ASE) cameras at various locations. Mr. Costa advised that following Provincial direction, permanent ASE cameras would be installed at public schools along Regional roads in the next three years.
  • Asked if roundabouts would be considered more frequently as they are considered a safe intersection option. Mr. Costa explained that many traffic solutions were looked at through the intersection review, noting that roundabouts require more land than other traffic control options and thus are not feasible for all areas.
  • Asked what the $12M allocated to the program is being used for. Mr. Costa clarified that $12M is the approximate annual budget for delivery of the overall Traveller Safety Plan which will include additional ASE cameras on Regional roads along with a variety of other measures.
  • Asked how the locations for ASE are chosen and whether pavement markings will also be a tool as part of the speed reduction strategy in school zones. Mr. Costa advised that the Region has worked with municipalities and experts in the industry to create a risk index to determine the priority of implementation based on the highest risk areas. Mr. Costa advised that the Region then used the criteria to rank the priority of each school and begin implementation for the highest priority locations first. Mr. Costa confirmed that pavement markings would also be installed to advise drivers to slow down toward school zones, coinciding with school zone signs to further create awareness.
  • Inquired about the implementation of ASE on local roads. Acting Commissioner Clarizio advised that the City is undertaking a Road Safety Plan which would leverage the Traveller Safety Plan and would look at a number of safety measures for local and collector roads throughout the City.
  • Asked if the Region tracks total vehicles on the roads over time. Mr. Costa advised that there is tracking which shows that the Region has seen an overall increase in traffic volume of 2% year after year. Mr. Costa noted that they do anticipate this to continue as populations increase throughout the Region, adding that they would continue to work with all levels of government to analyze how many vehicles and travelers are coming into the and exiting out of the Region to further understand travel patterns.
  • Sought clarification on the purpose of red-light camera installation on roads with higher speeds such as Donald Cousens Pkwy and 9th Line or Donald Cousens Pkwy and Highway 7. Mr. Costa advised that the red-light camera locations are based on criteria and prioritization and are often considered as a measure to reduce right-angle collisions at signalized intersectionsrunning, which can be an issue on higher speed roads where vehicles will try to beat the amber or red light.
  • Asked if there is a process to have the Region assume City roads or intersections which are found to be problematic, such as the 19th Avenue and 10th Line (Reesor Road) intersection, noting that there are public concerns with collisions at this intersection. Mr. Costa advised that typically the Region would provide support for local municipal staff and can assist them in looking at intersection improvement options. Mr. Costa further advised that if Council were to pass a resolution for the road or intersection to be uploaded to the Region, the Region would consider and provide a response.
  •  
  • Moved byCouncillor Amanda Collucci
    Seconded byDeputy Mayor Michael Chan
    1. That the presentation titled "York Region Vision Zero Traveller Safety Plan", be received for information.
    Carried

5.
DEPUTATIONS

 

There were no deputations.

6.
COMMUNICATIONS

 

There were no communications.

7.
PETITIONS

 

There were no petitions. 

8.
PRESENTATIONS - TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE MATTERS

 

8.1
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR LAND CONVEYANCE TO THE CITY, AND MANAGEMENT OF EXCESS SOIL (10.0)

This item has attachments. 
1.Environmental Policies and Procedures for Land Conveyance to the City, and Management of Excess Soil - Apr 9 2024.pdf
2.Attachment A - Land Conveyance Policy.pdf
3.Attachment B - Excess Soils Policy.pdf
4.Land Conveyance and Excess Soil Policies Presentation - Apr 9 2024.pdf

Frank Clarizio, Acting Commissioner, Development Services, introduced this item as related to the presentation of two policies including the Environmental Policies and Procedures for Land Conveyance to the City, which is a revision to an existing policy intended to improve and expedite City processes, and a new policy related to the Management of Excess Soil. Acting Commissioner Clarizio introduced Denisa Necula to deliver a presentation, noting that Tabitha Lee and Andrew O'Connell, consultants of Watermark were also available for questions. 

Denisa Necula, Brownfield Environmental Technologist, Engineering, delivered a presentation. 

The Committee provided the following feedback:

  • Asked if there are guidelines surrounding the mention of waiving a peer review with respect to the Management of Excess Soil Policy. Soran Sito, Manager, Environmental Engineering, confirmed that there would be a process involved in waiving the peer review, noting that the background and history of the site would be considered, and a consultant would be engaged to provide a recommendation to the Director of Engineering with respect to waiving or proceeding with a peer review. 
  • Asked for future policy changes to be laid out in a chart format to clearly outline the changes to policies, with what was formerly included and what is included or what has changed in the update.
  • Asked if the Management of Excess Soil policy is to be applied only to City projects or also to third party projects. Mr. Sito advised that this policy applies to land conveyed to the City and to capital projects. Mr. Sito added that developments or third part projects within the City are governed directly by the Ministry of Environment. 
  • Asked if soil had previously been tested to ensure that it was not contaminated. Mr. Sito advised that previously the quality of soil would be tested to ensure accordance with levels outlined by the ministry of environment. Mr. Sito added that through the new Management of Excess Soil Policy, soil would need to be registered with the Ministry of Environment and the movement of soil would need to be detailed including locations and volumes. 
  • Expressed concerns with how new projects would be budgeted without knowing the costs of complying with the new regulations. Acting Commissioner Clarizio advised that the new requirement to analyze soil will add to costs but added that they are difficult to establish as it is a new requirement. Acting Commissioner Clarizio advised that the RFPs for each project would contain an inclusion of cost for the analysis and potential movement of soil, which would differ for each project. 
  • Inquired about the current project on Church Street, asking if the soil has been tested and if that new requirement could cause delays to the project. Acting Commissioner Clarizio noted that he did not have the current particulars of that project but clarified that during the design and tender preparation stage a consultant is typically hired to bore holes to inform on the soil condition to ensure that the City can then budget accordingly. Acting Commissioner Clarizio added that at the construction stage, the contractor is required to hire a qualified consultant to conduct an analysis of the soil and to ensure the condition of the soil is indicated on the Ministry of Environment registry. 
  • Asked if excess soil could be reused a different site than the project the soil was removed from. Mr. Sito confirmed that the intention of the Excess Soil Policy is to encourage reuse of reusable soil and discourage excess soil going to landfill sites. Acting Commissioner Clarizio advised that a requirement for the contractor to reutilize excess soil within municipal boundaries, such as in cases where soil is required to change the grade of certain land, would be included within the tender. 
  • Asked if soil could be relocated to other municipalities in the case that the City does not have a place to reuse excess soil within the municipal boundary. Acting Commissioner Clarizio confirmed that the purpose of the new regulation is to ensure that every opportunity has been explored to reutilize soil within municipal boundaries. Mr. Sito added that the City is not responsible for monitoring where contractors move the soil, noting that this is governed by the Ministry of Environment. 
  • Moved byCouncillor Reid McAlpine
    Seconded byCouncillor Isa Lee
    1. That the staff report titled “Environmental Policies and Procedures for Land Conveyance to the City, and Management of Excess Soil” be received; and,
    2. That Council adopt the revised Environmental Policy and Procedures for the Conveyance of Land to the City (“Land Conveyance Policy”) in substantial conformity with the Land Conveyance Policy set out in Attachment ”A”; and,
    3. That Council adopt the Policy and Procedures for Managing Excess Soil (“Excess Soil Policy”) in substantial conformity with the Excess Soil Policy set out in Attachment ”B”; and,
    4. That the Director of Engineering be authorized to waive the Environmental Site Assessments (ESA), including Record of Site Condition (RSC) and/or restrictions in the Certificate of Property Use (CPU), as set out in the Land Conveyance Policy and outlined in this report; and further,
    5. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
    Carried

9.
MOTIONS

 

There were no motions.

10.
NOTICES OF MOTION

 

There were no notices of motion. 

11.
NEW/OTHER BUSINESS

 

There was no new business. 

12.
ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

There were no announcements. 

13.
ADJOURNMENT

 
  • Moved byCouncillor Amanda Collucci
    Seconded byRegional Councillor Joe Li

    That the Development Services Committee adjourn at 11:47 AM.

    Carried
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