City of Waterloo council summary January 18, 2021

By City of Waterloo - Jan 19, 2021

** The council summary below provides a snapshot of the major items presented at the Jan. 18, 2021 council meeting. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.

 

Draft Transportation Master Plan

Active transportation, Vision Zero program; and speed management are key focus areas in the city’s draft Transportation Master Plan (TMP). Each of these themes have a direct connection to goals and objectives of the 2019-2022 Strategic Plan. 

Council has directed staff to circulate the latest version of it’s draft TMP to interested stakeholders, agencies and organizations to ensure the community has a say in this foundational document. Feedback will be collected until February 21, with a final report considered by Council on April 19.

The draft TMP takes an “all ages and abilities approach” by developing a transportation system that aligns with provincial, regional and local policies and plans. Additionally, the plan will align with how the city’s urban form is planned; provide a supportive transportation network for the ION LRT system; promote alternate travel choices for Waterloo’s community with an emphasis on pedestrian and cycling needs; and strive to reduce the dependency on auto travel modes. The TMP update has been prepared to be flexible in the planning for, and accommodating new and developing technologies in transportation. The planning horizon for this master plan is 2041, to align with regional and provincial planning horizons. 

Vision Zero is a global movement transforming the way we use, interact and travel on our roads. It has a simple and clear goal: ZERO fatalities or serious injuries on roadways. Vision Zero aims for safer streets through improved education, enforcement, engineering, evaluation and engagement.

 

Council approves funding for Waterloo Park enhancements

Council has approved a total of $1.5 million to continue the enhancements to the popular Waterloo Park. Planned enhancements in 2021 include:

  • Design and Pilot Phase Implementation of park-wide Wayfinding and Entrance Signage
  • Minor repairs at the community gathering space adjacent to Erb Street, at the Erb Street West and Caroline Street intersection. Additional capital funds have been allocated in 2021 and 2022 for implementation of Laurel Greenway Feasibility Study recommendations in this area.
  • Functional plan for the Park Circuit (contract to include detailed design of Bauer Lot upgrades and a new east-west crossing of Laurel Creek)
  • Service extensions to the Grist Mill 5. Screening of LRT fence in priority locations in Waterloo Park

 

The City of Waterloo is working with the City of Kitchener and local Indigenous communities to provide three permanent Indigenous gathering places, one of which will be in Waterloo Park, with the remaining two located in City of Kitchener in 2021.

 

Council calls on province to cap greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from gas plants

City of Waterloo has unanimously agreed to call on the provincial government to place a cap on greenhouse gas pollution from gas plants and to develop and implement a plan to phase out all gas fired electricity generation by 2030.

Council is asking that the plan ensures that Ontario meets its climate targets and to support the City of Waterloo as we endeavour to meet our goals. Council had previously declared a climate emergency and formally adopted a corporate emissions target of a minimum 80 per cent reduction in GHG emissions below 2011 levels by 2050.

Council has also directed staff to consider scenarios related to GHG emissions output from the electricity grid and to monitor and report back to Council.

Neighbourhood strategy projects – uniting residents

Implementation of the city’s Neighbourhood strategy continues to play an active and important role in connecting people, which is especially helpful during these challenging times. In its annual report to Council, the neighbourhood team reported that new relationships among neighbours were formed, new leaders emerged in areas without formal neighbourhood groups and neighbourhood programs were reprioritized to better support neighbourhood-led and delivered initiatives during the pandemic. Each of these elements are contributing to a sense of belonging, safety and community cohesion that will support residents during the pandemic and beyond.

The report provided an update on the implementation of the Neighbourhood Strategy in 2020 and outlined key initiatives that occurred throughout the year. Examples include:

  • Hiring a full-time, permanent Neighbourhood Development Coordinator to continue implementation and work alongside new neighbourhood groups and Homes Associations
  • Retooling neighbourhood focused monthly eblast to a weekly/biweekly source for information
  • Creating the Hey Neighbour! Block Connector program which recruited 34 new community leaders in its first round, including residents in areas that do not currently have a neighbourhood group and multi-residential settings
  • Facilitating the community garden program to operate and expand during the pandemic with appropriate protocols.
  • Enabling the neighbourhood outdoor rink program to operate and expand, including the use of tarps to respond to the impact of climate change, with appropriate COVID-19 protocols in place.
  • Continuing operation of the Neighbourhood Matching Fund and Mini Grant for Neighbours program
  • Development of popular content for the Waterloo@Home Initiative on the Engage Waterloo platform aimed at keeping residents active and connected during the pandemic
  • Launching the Gardening at Home Pilot Program and the Pandemic focused Mini Grant program, both programs utilized all funds allotted

2021 Neighbourhood projects include:

  • Expanding the Hey Neighbour! Block Connector program and recruit additional community leaders throughout the year.
  • Finalize the Gathering Spaces Asset Mapping project; this will be a valuable tool for pandemic recovery when it is safe for neighbours to gather again.
  • Initiate Neighbourhood Name/Identity program that will aim to build identity and belonging across all neighbourhood areas in the city.
  • Complete the neighbourhoods focused microsite for online tools and resources to support community building.
  • Begin planning for innovative ways to support a “restart” of in person neighbourhood gatherings when it becomes safe to do so with enhanced community building post-pandemic.

 

 

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Media contact:
Tony Iavarone
Director, Corporate Communications
tony.iavarone@waterloo.ca

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