City of Waterloo council summary June 14, 2021

** The council summary below provides a snapshot of the major items presented at today’s council meeting. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.

Parkland strategy seeks public input

Council has directed staff to seek input from the community on the draft parkland strategy to ensure the direction set out by the strategy aligns with the community’s vision for parkland.

The parkland strategy will establish a vision for the park system for the next 10-15 years and will provide strategic recommendations on how to achieve this vision. The recommendations include improvements to policy, capital works and operations, to better serve the community, considering factors such as the changing demographics/community interest, climate change and the forecasted growth in the city.

Residents can view the draft strategy and provide input on the project webpage on Engage Waterloo.

Traffic calming

Following a thorough review and community input, Council has approved a project to introduce traffic calming on Dunvegan Drive, Margaret Avenue and Woolwich Street. Calming measures include: pavement markings, speed humps, raised crosswalks and raised intersections. Work will be completed this year and in 2022.

Separated cycling pilot outcome results encouraging

Council has approved the retention of painted buffered bike lanes on Albert Street and directed staff to implement separated cycling facility (curbs and flexible bollards) as an interim solution for Columbia Street and Albert Street. In addition, staff will develop a long term strategy for the Columbia Street corridor.

The separated cycling pilot project infrastructure will also be removed from Columbia St, the planters removed from Albert St. and the bollards will be retained if possible, and are advantageous from Albert Street, and if not removed prior to winter control commencing.

Leaf collection remains

Following a review, Council has agreed to continue with its annual loose leaf collection, and have directed staff to implement an enhanced communication plan to encourage residents to implement on-property alternatives to traditional raking and leaf removal and that the environmental advantages of rethinking traditional yard leaf removal be noted and measured. Staff will also continue to monitor the volumes of traditional yard waste in response to the enhanced communications program.

In addition, staff have been directed to work with the Region and area municipalities to promote the on-property alternatives throughout the Region and that a long-term strategy be considered that further reviews the alternatives and approaches for the loose leaf collection program after the impacts and success of the enhanced communications program are understood.

-30-

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