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May 2/05 Report
Start: 9:40 am. Adjourn: 11:35 am
Present:
- Mitchell (Chair)
- Braden
- Bruckler
- Collins (out 9:45, in 10:44)
- Ferguson (out 10:33, in 10:54)
- Jackson (arrived 10:001)
- Merulla (out 10:01, in 10:03, out 10:25 phone, in 10:30, out 11:16 phone, in 11:22)
Also present :
- McCarthy (part of meeting)
- Bratina (20 min.)
Media :
- Spectator (McGuinness),
- CHML (Mann),
- Brabant (Werner)
Staff present :
- Chris Murray,
- Scott Stewart,
- J. Harnum,
- M. L. Tanner,
- Ida Bedioui
6. CONSENT ITEMS
6.1 Full Closure of a portion of King William St. between Mary St. and Walnut Ave. for the Hamilton Police Service Festival (PW05048) - (Ward 2)
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
public-works/2005/May02/PW05048.pdf
An application has been received from Hamilton Police Services for a full road closure of a portion King William Street between Mary Street and Walnut Avenue to hold the "Working Together with our Community Partners" festival on May 18, 2005.
Although a majority of the activities will be held in the Municipal Parking Lot adjacent to the police station (Lot #5), the organizers have requested to close King William Street between 5:00 am and 8:00 pm in the interest of public safety.
The Public Work's Department will install advance warning signs on King William one week in advance of the event to advise motorists of the road closures.
6.2 2005 Race Canada Cycling Event (PW05053) - (Ward 2)
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
public-works/2005/May02/PW05053.pdf
An application has been received from Race Canada organizers to hold their cycling event on Monday May 23, 2005 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The same event was held in 2001 and 2002. The race will follow the same route as in previous years, starting on Main Street West to James Street South, to Hunter Street West, to Bay Street South.
Consent items approved with no discussion.
8. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
8.1 City of Hamilton Water and Wastewater Master Plan Policy Paper (PW05050) - (City Wide)
(Bruckler/Braden) CARRIED
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
public-works/2005/May02/PW05050.pdf
The Water and Wastewater Master Plan for the Lake Based Systems will be comprised of three documents:
- Water and Wastewater Master Plan Policy Paper : provide a framework for planning water and wastewater infrastructure.
- Baseline and Optimization Report: review of existing infrastructure and identify opportunities/constraints with respect to optimization and servicing future growth.
- Integrated Water and Wastewater Master Plan for the Lake Based Systems : follow the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process and be integrated with the Transportation and Stormwater Master Plans through GRIDS (Growth Related Integrated Development Strategy).
This report is a summary of the Water and Wastewater Master Plan Policy Paper. The purpose of the Water and Wastewater Master Plan Policy Paper is to provide the guiding principles for the development of servicing alternatives to service the proposed growth scenarios identified through GRIDS. Attached to this report in Appendix "A", is the Water and Wastewater Policies Summary Tables which identifies 30 policy statements for adoption by the City to provide direction for water and wastewater servicing in the future.
The proposed policy paper:
- harmonizes and documents water and wastewater servicing policies, providing consistent direction to all City staff.
- incorporates current regulations, legislation, and best practises.
- supports the City's long-term vision, Vision 2020, and the nine Strategic Directions of GRIDS.
The policies have been identified by one of three categories: General, Water, and Wastewater. The attached summary tables in Appendix 'A' provide a listing of which category the policy pertains to, the policy statement, and commentary with respect to the best practices or criteria as justification for the policy.
Presentation by Jim Harnum
8.2 Accessible Transportation Services Policy - Trip No Shows, Late Cancellations and Excessive Cancellations (PW05051) - (City Wide)
(Merulla/Jackson) CARRIED
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
public-works/2005/May02/PW05051.pdf
As part of the 2004 settlement approved by Council with the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) and Complainants under the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessible Transportation Services (ATS) staff of the Transit division have completed development of a new policy dealing with "no shows" and "late cancellations" by passengers using DARTS service, attached as Appendix A to this report.
Staff reviewed similar policies implemented in Ottawa, Toronto, and Peel Region and developed a framework for consultation with the City's Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities (ACPD). The ACPD resolved the following motion:
That the Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities (ACPD) endorse Accessible Transportation Services (ATS) Policy No. 2005-01, Trip No Shows, Late Cancellations and Excessive Cancellations, subject to the following conditions:
- that a relevant training program be developed and the training be a requirement for all individuals involved in the administration of the appeal process;
- that a steering committee be established to assist with and evaluate the implementation of the policy, and to monitor the process and its impacts;
- that the Trip No Shows, Late Cancellations and Excessive Cancellations Policy be re-evaluated at 6 months and 12 months.
The ACPD resolution also noted the following:
The Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities discussed the policy. There was acknowledgement that the policy is not meant to penalize users but to focus on possible abusers of the system. However, because it will apply to all users, there were concerns and questions raised about the policy. The committee questioned the way the policy will be implemented; possible impact on users who are not able, due to their disability or circumstances, to meet the requirements of the policy; whether or not a person would be at risk of being permanently removed from the client list ; who is responsible for interpreting the policy ; and at whose discretion clients are placed in the system. Concerns expressed included the concern that a language barrier, low literacy or mental disability barrier could be the reason behind the no show or frequent cancellation, and that persons who use the system for transportation to and from work would be possibly caught in the penalties due to a vacation period or a change in work schedule. A suggestion was made to allow a doctors note certifying an inability to meet the requirements of the policy as sufficient to waive the penalties. Recommendations proposed include training for anyone involved in the appeal process to ensure they are aware of the impacts of suspensions of service on the users, for a steering committee and for frequent evaluation of the impacts of the policy.
The policy conforms to the terms of the settlement with the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) and Complainants. The policy addresses the principles agreed upon with the ACPD, namely that:
- No shows, late cancellations, and excessive cancellations by individual passengers have a direct impact on the effectiveness of the specialized transportation system in meeting the needs of all passengers, by limiting the general availability of trips and causing service delays.
- Providing the highest level of trip availability and fulfilment within existing resources is a principle that contributes to effectiveness and efficiency of the service, to the benefit of all passengers and the community.
- While personal circumstances of passengers outside of their control may contribute to occasions where a no show or late cancellation is unavoidable, each passenger is responsible for maintaining stated levels of no-shows, late cancellations, and cancellations, as defined within the Policy Conditions.
Key aspects of the policy include:
- a change in passenger requirements regarding advance cancellation of trips, such that a cancellation must be made by 4:30 p.m. of the day prior to the day of service (current policy allows cancellation up to one hour before the trip);
- the use of a progressive system of service sanctions where individuals exceed the conditions of the policy (current policy imposes a $5 charge for no show, no sanction for late or excessive cancellations); and
- an appeal process which allows for evaluation of circumstances which individuals may experience and may have an effect on their ability to comply with the terms of the policy.
As part of the implementation process, staff will communicate the new policy to Registrants prior to commencement, and will work with members of the ACPD to address concerns through the use of a Steering Committee including staff and members of the ACPD, specific training, and consideration of policy modification after evaluation periods recommended by the ACPD.
It is expected that the new policy will encourage earlier trip cancellations by passengers, freeing up usable service availability for others who have been unable to get the trips that they need.
8.3 Niagara - GTA Corridor EA Terms of Reference (PW05054) - (City Wide)
(Bruckler/Braded) CARRIED with recommendation
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
public-works/2005/May02/PW05054.pdf
This report is a review of the draft Terms of Reference for the Niagara GTA Corridor. The Terms of Reference was released by MTO in January, 2005. Comments are due back to the Ministry by May 6, 2005.
Staff has reviewed the EA Terms of Reference. Appendix "A" to this report contains the technical comments on the document. The balance of this report outlines strategic issues for the City and relationships to other initiatives such as GRIDS and Provincial Policy Initiatives. This report recommends that the City support the EA Terms of Reference and that the comments in the report be forwarded to MTO for editing of the EA Terms of Reference.
Presentation by M. L. Tanner
9. DISCUSSION ITEMS
9.1 Train Whistle Blowing at Carlisle Rd. and CPR (PW05052) - (Ward 15) Public Works, Infrastructure & Environment Committee Outstanding Business List (P)
http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
public-works/2005/May02/PW05052.pdf
Deferred at request of Councillor McCarthy.
13: GENERAL INFORMATION
Braden reports on success of tree planting on April 30 - 25 volunteers and 6 city staff and equipment planted 2000 trees along the Linc near Upper Gage. Took 5 hours.
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