At the city council meeting on September 21, 2021, ten Council Information Packages (CIP) — July 16 to September 17 — were received and filed. Several are worth making time to read.
Transportation to 2051: in the September 3 CIP is a nine-page report from Executive Director of Community Planning Heather MacDonald, sharing the comments from transit, transportation, and planning department staff on the Ministry of Transportation for Ontario (MTO) document Towards a Greater Golden Horseshoe Transportation Discussion Paper. This discussion paper puts forward a long-term mobility vision to 2051. This is important to Burlington as our community and region continue to grow. The MTO plan is built on three sets of solutions: new infrastructure with more connected transit, walking and cycling paths; improved roadway capacity in congested areas; and better transit services through buses, trains, and on-demand shared vehicles. City staff feedback is grouped into three sections: transportation planning, community planning, and transit. This report is well worth a read. You’ll find it at https://www.burlington.ca/uploads/21581/Doc_637662738555202118.pdf
Nelson Aggregates: in the August 20 CIP are two notices from Halton Region regarding the proposed Nelson Aggregates expansion in the area neighbouring Guelph Line and in Mount Nemo. The first announced the public meeting held on September 15 and the second includes recommended Regional Official Plan Amendments (ROPA) regarding six “mineral resource extraction areas.”
Tennis domes and pickleball courts: in the July 16 CIP is a memo from Doug Pladsen, recreation planner for sport, sharing information about proposals for two tennis domes and numerous outdoor pickleball courts received by staff. One of the tennis dome requests came from the Burlington Tennis Club, located at Central Park, and the other relates to Leighland Park. Pickleball demand has increased in part due to indoor restrictions on other activities; the need for additional indoor and outdoor courts will be reported during the Recreation Facility Master Plan process if not before. If you’re interested in racquet sports or live in the area around Central or Leighland parks, read this memo at https://www.burlington.ca/uploads/21581/Doc_637626450614357247.pdf
In the August 6 CIP is a report from Jeff Black, manager of traffic operations and signals, with an update about locations for rainbow crosswalks in each ward. Fairview Street and Drury Lane in Ward 2, Plains Road West and Botanical Drive in Ward 1, and Upper Middle Road at the M.M. Robinson High School entrance in Ward 3 are the locations recommended by staff. These are expected to be in place by the end of 2021. A similar update report was provided in the July 30 CIP.
The July 16 CIP includes an update from Jennifer Spence about three community projects approved for Neighbourhood Community Matching Funds in 2021: as you may know by now, Roseland and Orchard community garden projects, and Grow for Change Urban Farm Community Therapeutic Programs.
The report about a hybrid council and standing committee meeting strategy (Report CL-25-21) was approved unanimously. This report authorized $20,000 in capital costs. Implementation was referred back to the city clerk “until such time as there is a much-improved safety environment.” While city facilities are reopening with screening processes in place and limits on numbers, welcoming citizens back to meetings in council chambers in person is being delayed.
Report RPF-18-21 was about winter services and included direction to roads, parks, and forestry staff to discuss pathway maintenance with the Halton District School Board and Halton Catholic District School Board. Specific mention was made of the pathway connecting Blue Spruce Avenue to the rear of Alexander’s Public School (north of Upper Middle Road and east of Appleby Line). The goal is to add all unmaintained pathways connecting city streets and school properties to the list of pathways and trails maintained in the winter. This would be a positive outcome supporting active transportation and the city’s Integrated Mobility Plan.
During the daytime and evening portions of this council meeting, there were three hours and five minutes spent in closed session discussing confidential matters. This is unusual, as most of the discussion about items for consideration usually happens at the committee meetings, rather than at council.
Lots going on in Burlington!
