1 00:00:53,442 --> 00:00:55,122 All right, folks, where do you get started on the 2 00:00:55,122 --> 00:00:59,842 agenda? As you can see, Colleen is not here. She's 3 00:00:59,842 --> 00:01:03,522 out somewhere in the cold, knocking on doors, and I'll 4 00:01:03,522 --> 00:01:06,402 be taking her place for now and perhaps into the 5 00:01:06,402 --> 00:01:13,628 next meeting. And depending on how well she does, perhaps 6 00:01:13,628 --> 00:01:15,788 for the rest of the term, I'm not. Quite sure 7 00:01:15,788 --> 00:01:18,668 about that. But anyways, first of all, what I like 8 00:01:18,668 --> 00:01:24,859 to do is welcome everybody. And to ask Chris to 9 00:01:24,859 --> 00:01:29,499 conduct the roll call. Thank you. Chair. Regional chair Redman. 10 00:01:29,499 --> 00:01:37,165 Present chair, Craig. Here. Councilor Erb. Councilor Foxton? Present. Councillor 11 00:01:37,165 --> 00:01:44,097 Harris is away. Councillor Huinink. Can you hear? Councilor 12 00:01:44,097 --> 00:01:52,417 Liggett here. Councilor McCabe. Councilor Novak, Councilor Salonen. Councilor Shantz. 13 00:01:52,417 --> 00:01:57,989 Present. Councilor Vrbanovic has regrets. Councilor Williams. Here and Councillor 14 00:01:57,989 --> 00:02:07,534 Wolf. Here. Like to start with the land acknowledgment. Like 15 00:02:07,534 --> 00:02:09,934 to acknowledge the land on which we gather today is 16 00:02:09,934 --> 00:02:15,654 their traditional territory, the Haudenosaunee. The Anishnawbe, and the 17 00:02:15,654 --> 00:02:19,494 Chonnonton peoples. We acknowledge the enduring presence of the 18 00:02:19,494 --> 00:02:24,123 indigenous people with whom we share the land today. Their 19 00:02:24,123 --> 00:02:29,593 achievements. And their contributions to our community. Any declarations of 20 00:02:29,593 --> 00:02:38,676 pecuniary interests from members of council. Okay, seeing none. Need 21 00:02:38,676 --> 00:02:41,916 a motion to go into open session. I need someone 22 00:02:41,916 --> 00:02:48,508 to move a motion. Councilor Foxton. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. 23 00:02:54,483 --> 00:03:03,036 Councilor Foxton. My apologies. Yeah. Pardon me. All those in 24 00:03:03,036 --> 00:03:11,449 favour? Oh, it's escribed. My apologies. Yes, you, Escribe. 25 00:03:20,235 --> 00:03:30,197 Okay. Just. Councilor Wolf. Councilor Wolf. She's in favour. 26 00:03:30,998 --> 00:03:39,522 We'll get that case. Okay, it's passed. 27 00:03:43,301 --> 00:03:47,621 There are no presentations today. Delegations. We will now proceed 28 00:03:47,621 --> 00:03:50,021 with delegations as listed on the agenda. I'd like to 29 00:03:50,021 --> 00:03:55,621 remind all delegations of some of the guidelines of participation 30 00:03:55,621 --> 00:03:59,381 for those who are joining us in person, please proceed 31 00:03:59,381 --> 00:04:03,778 to the podium. When you are called upon to speak, 32 00:04:03,778 --> 00:04:06,058 please press the button on the base of the microphone 33 00:04:06,058 --> 00:04:08,258 to turn it on. And if the light screen, the 34 00:04:08,258 --> 00:04:12,169 microphone is on. For those who are joining us electronically, 35 00:04:12,169 --> 00:04:16,702 please leave your video camera turned on. And your microphone. 36 00:04:16,702 --> 00:04:19,862 Audio muted until you are called upon to speak. Okay. 37 00:04:21,339 --> 00:04:23,899 So we have a number of rules here. We just 38 00:04:23,899 --> 00:04:28,259 ask you to be mindful of interrupting. Counselors or staff 39 00:04:28,259 --> 00:04:32,899 or other delegations is not permitted. Derogatory statements. Turning your 40 00:04:32,899 --> 00:04:36,259 camera on off at inappropriate times and hate speech of 41 00:04:36,259 --> 00:04:42,135 any type or a deflamatory comments. Aren't appreciated or accepted. 42 00:04:42,135 --> 00:04:45,535 One last reminder for delegations. Please do not take offense 43 00:04:45,535 --> 00:04:50,015 if following your presentation. There are no questions from council. 44 00:04:50,015 --> 00:04:54,095 That happens periodically. We are interested, but we always. Don't 45 00:04:54,095 --> 00:04:57,975 always ask questions. This is Kelsey's time to really listen 46 00:04:57,975 --> 00:05:02,106 and reflect upon. The options. An idea shared with us 47 00:05:02,106 --> 00:05:06,826 from our community members. So we got Isaac Rensom of 48 00:05:06,826 --> 00:05:12,848 corporate affairs. Neuron mobility. Canada. Please welcome, sir. Have five 49 00:05:12,848 --> 00:05:22,017 minutes. Good afternoon. I think there's a presentation. Sure, if 50 00:05:22,017 --> 00:05:27,647 it's been circulated. There we go. 51 00:05:32,326 --> 00:05:35,484 Perfect. Good afternoon. My name is Isaac Ransom. I'm head 52 00:05:35,484 --> 00:05:38,564 of corporate affairs. It's great. To be back to share 53 00:05:38,564 --> 00:05:44,592 some information about. The progress of the shared mobility program 54 00:05:44,592 --> 00:05:50,678 in the region of Waterloo. And the partnering municipalities. Next 55 00:05:50,678 --> 00:05:54,623 slide, please. So today I'll just share some high level 56 00:05:54,623 --> 00:06:00,755 information around the progress of the program. There's some really 57 00:06:00,755 --> 00:06:06,169 encouraging trends. That we're seeing and so wanted to share 58 00:06:06,169 --> 00:06:10,464 that with you. And certainly if there's questions following, happy 59 00:06:10,464 --> 00:06:13,544 to answer those. So this year we've really started to 60 00:06:13,544 --> 00:06:16,904 see how the program operates, and we've seen a real 61 00:06:16,904 --> 00:06:20,218 shift in how people are using the service. On average, 62 00:06:20,218 --> 00:06:23,778 the trips just clock in under around 2 km. About 63 00:06:23,778 --> 00:06:28,533 twelve minutes to eleven minutes of riding time. Our writers 64 00:06:28,533 --> 00:06:33,955 this year traveled over 310,000 km. With over 172,000 trips. 65 00:06:36,139 --> 00:06:37,659 And most of the trips are rated just over four 66 00:06:37,659 --> 00:06:40,379 out of five stars. So at the end of the 67 00:06:40,379 --> 00:06:42,979 ride riders can provide some feedback, and that's one of 68 00:06:42,979 --> 00:06:45,939 the ways that they rate our trips, and we've continued 69 00:06:45,939 --> 00:06:48,499 to be out in the community doing safety events. This 70 00:06:48,499 --> 00:06:53,000 year distributing 500 helmets. With about, I think, 24, 25. 71 00:06:54,439 --> 00:06:59,143 Community safety activation events. Next slide, please. So we've seen 72 00:06:59,143 --> 00:07:02,814 a lot of upward trends this year. Near the tail 73 00:07:02,814 --> 00:07:05,894 end of the operating season. We go out and we 74 00:07:05,894 --> 00:07:08,174 survey our riders, and we ask a number of specific 75 00:07:08,174 --> 00:07:10,734 questions about how they're using the devices and some of 76 00:07:10,734 --> 00:07:13,897 the things that we're seeing happen. So there's some really 77 00:07:13,897 --> 00:07:15,937 interesting things that have happened this year as the program 78 00:07:15,937 --> 00:07:23,451 has matured. We've seen that rides. Replacing car journey. So, 79 00:07:23,451 --> 00:07:26,011 like, an Uber or taxi or personal vehicle has increased 80 00:07:26,011 --> 00:07:30,047 slightly. Commuting to work has jumped over 20% from last 81 00:07:30,047 --> 00:07:33,840 year, which is probably the biggest jump. So this means 82 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:36,600 that people are using this specifically for a use case. 83 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:40,440 So travel or study, which is very encouraging news. And 84 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:43,160 similarly for things like running errands, we're seeing a large 85 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:48,080 jump connecting to public transit when we surveyed, riders was 86 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,920 nearly 24%, and this correlates with what we've seen in 87 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:55,233 where trips end and start at transit stations. About 36,000 88 00:07:55,233 --> 00:07:59,833 trips started and 36,000 trips ended at transit stations, which 89 00:07:59,833 --> 00:08:03,153 is just over 20% of the rides. So this surveying 90 00:08:03,153 --> 00:08:06,073 data would be fairly accurate in about just over one 91 00:08:06,073 --> 00:08:10,785 in five rides are connecting to transit. Public transit, which 92 00:08:10,785 --> 00:08:15,408 is quite good. And certainly we're seeing people use this 93 00:08:15,408 --> 00:08:17,448 more to get around and go to appointments and that 94 00:08:17,448 --> 00:08:21,083 kind of thing. So very defined use cases are emerging 95 00:08:21,083 --> 00:08:22,443 in the region, which is what we want to see. 96 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:25,680 And sustained ridership as well. So it's a very positive 97 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:28,280 outcome this year when we start to see these numbers 98 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:32,944 trend upward. The next slide, please. The last thing I 99 00:08:32,944 --> 00:08:34,384 want to share with you today, as you may have 100 00:08:34,384 --> 00:08:37,584 seen in the report, we are looking at our adaptive 101 00:08:37,584 --> 00:08:39,744 vehicle program here in the region of Waterloo. This will 102 00:08:39,744 --> 00:08:42,504 be the first of its kind that we're aware of 103 00:08:42,504 --> 00:08:47,413 in Canada. Where we'll be diversifying the fleet for vehicles 104 00:08:47,413 --> 00:08:51,004 for those with mobility impairments. Providing some other options for 105 00:08:51,004 --> 00:08:53,964 people to engage in the program. So we do have 106 00:08:53,964 --> 00:08:56,084 two vehicles that are coming to market. One is a 107 00:08:56,084 --> 00:08:59,204 hand cycle. Which you can see on the left side 108 00:08:59,204 --> 00:09:02,764 of the slide, and the other is an adult tricycle. 109 00:09:02,764 --> 00:09:06,994 Each of these provides a different need. And based on 110 00:09:06,994 --> 00:09:10,154 our conversations leading up to the development of this program, 111 00:09:10,154 --> 00:09:12,394 these seem to be the two most suitable devices to 112 00:09:12,394 --> 00:09:15,394 proceed forward with based on what we're hearing. So we 113 00:09:15,394 --> 00:09:19,543 are. Excited to bring these to market this year. And 114 00:09:19,543 --> 00:09:23,079 seeing. How they integrate with the demand in the fleet. 115 00:09:25,243 --> 00:09:27,283 So without all kind of wrap up. Those are my 116 00:09:27,283 --> 00:09:29,363 brief comments on the update for the year. I'm certainly 117 00:09:29,363 --> 00:09:37,749 happy to take any questions. Any questions? Delegation? Yes. Council. 118 00:09:37,749 --> 00:09:42,040 Your next first. Oh, I see elf there. Okay, Councillor 119 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,720 Huinink, thank you. Chair, Craig. And thank you, Isaac. For 120 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:49,970 coming today, and I want to thank neuron for. Their 121 00:09:49,970 --> 00:09:53,797 openness to exploring different mobility options. In my view, this 122 00:09:53,797 --> 00:09:58,277 is a pivotal project for us because it demonstrates equality 123 00:09:58,277 --> 00:10:02,307 between spending municipal dollars. Or reasonable dollars, I should say. 124 00:10:04,156 --> 00:10:06,636 On projects for people of various abilities, and so I 125 00:10:06,636 --> 00:10:11,675 hope that this serves as an example every time. We 126 00:10:11,675 --> 00:10:14,715 spend money on municipal projects or reasonable projects, we need 127 00:10:14,715 --> 00:10:18,853 to consider people of varying abilities. And so I don't 128 00:10:18,853 --> 00:10:22,253 know how much there will be uptake when this happens. 129 00:10:22,253 --> 00:10:24,813 Initially, but I plan to promote it widely, and I 130 00:10:24,813 --> 00:10:28,450 hope that you all will as well. And I'm happy 131 00:10:28,450 --> 00:10:31,370 to be used as an example for the hand bike. 132 00:10:31,370 --> 00:10:35,605 So definitely we'll be in touch. Thanks so much. Through 133 00:10:35,605 --> 00:10:39,005 your chair. Thank you for the comments, councilor. We're certainly 134 00:10:39,005 --> 00:10:41,685 excited to bring this. To market, and we'll certainly be 135 00:10:41,685 --> 00:10:44,685 keeping you updated as we get ready to launch the 136 00:10:44,685 --> 00:10:52,006 program. This year, so very exciting, and I think it's 137 00:10:52,006 --> 00:10:54,726 a huge step forward again for Waterloo. Being first to 138 00:10:54,726 --> 00:10:57,886 market and market leader on these sorts of projects, so 139 00:10:57,886 --> 00:11:02,278 we're very excited. To launch this program, and hopefully we 140 00:11:02,278 --> 00:11:08,221 will. Have. A lot of participation. In. These additional devices 141 00:11:08,221 --> 00:11:17,767 that we're bringing to the service this year. Councilor 142 00:11:17,767 --> 00:11:22,507 McCabe. Thank you. Thank you. Chair. Thanks, Isaac, for the 143 00:11:22,507 --> 00:11:26,870 update and report. And it's encouraging numbers for sure. And 144 00:11:26,870 --> 00:11:29,590 similar to what councilor Huinink said. Really pleased that you. 145 00:11:29,590 --> 00:11:34,231 I know we had talked about adaptive bikes. And before, 146 00:11:34,231 --> 00:11:37,658 so thank you for listening. To the concerns and questions 147 00:11:37,658 --> 00:11:39,538 from the community as well as from some of us 148 00:11:39,538 --> 00:11:44,126 here. My question is around the catchment area. Do you 149 00:11:44,126 --> 00:11:46,806 have the capacity? And I guess it's partly to staff 150 00:11:46,806 --> 00:11:49,246 as well, and I know some of the conversations have 151 00:11:49,246 --> 00:11:52,126 to happen at the local municipalities, but is there a 152 00:11:52,126 --> 00:11:57,924 capacity to expand the catchment area to just. The entire, 153 00:11:57,924 --> 00:12:00,084 like, the three cities. I know there's the townships. I 154 00:12:00,084 --> 00:12:01,284 mean, if you want. To have them out in the 155 00:12:01,284 --> 00:12:04,324 townships. I'm totally fine with that, too, but I'm. Partly 156 00:12:04,324 --> 00:12:08,604 wondering about your like, how many, how many bikes and 157 00:12:08,604 --> 00:12:11,244 scooters you actually have. Like, what is your capacity to 158 00:12:11,244 --> 00:12:20,082 expand the catchment area? Through chair. Mayor, councilor. We do 159 00:12:20,082 --> 00:12:24,566 have the capacity to do that. If there's a willingness 160 00:12:24,566 --> 00:12:26,326 to expand the area, it's always a discussion that we're 161 00:12:26,326 --> 00:12:30,244 willing to entertain. I know that. You've approached us on 162 00:12:30,244 --> 00:12:32,044 expanding to some areas, and we're already working on that. 163 00:12:32,044 --> 00:12:37,144 For Waterloo for this year. And. What it'll ultimately take 164 00:12:37,144 --> 00:12:41,145 to do that. Generally. This becomes a question around the 165 00:12:41,145 --> 00:12:44,665 number of devices that will be required. Right now we 166 00:12:44,665 --> 00:12:48,581 are struggling. To have good coverage throughout the region and 167 00:12:48,581 --> 00:12:52,554 the existing service area with the existing fleet. So we 168 00:12:52,554 --> 00:12:55,834 probably would be looking at requiring additional devices to meet 169 00:12:55,834 --> 00:13:01,065 that. And it's not that you'll necessarily see. All those 170 00:13:01,065 --> 00:13:03,185 devices being utilized at the same level that they are 171 00:13:03,185 --> 00:13:05,545 now, but it's very much that we need to provide 172 00:13:05,545 --> 00:13:09,025 a complete service and have scooters available in order to 173 00:13:09,025 --> 00:13:14,265 create uptakes. So, depending on. What that expanded service area 174 00:13:14,265 --> 00:13:16,905 looks like. You could be looking at a considerable number 175 00:13:16,905 --> 00:13:22,404 of additional devices. To meet the service area expansion. I 176 00:13:22,404 --> 00:13:25,524 don't want to speculate the number that I could be 177 00:13:25,524 --> 00:13:28,004 today, but I suspect that you're looking at a number 178 00:13:28,004 --> 00:13:31,364 of additional devices just to meet that at a base. 179 00:13:31,364 --> 00:13:34,364 Level beyond the 500 e scooters that are out there 180 00:13:34,364 --> 00:13:38,195 today and the permitted cap of 500 ebikes. I think 181 00:13:38,195 --> 00:13:41,195 the bike number is probably appropriate, but the e scooter 182 00:13:41,195 --> 00:13:43,315 one would have to be a point of discussion to 183 00:13:43,315 --> 00:13:49,825 expand on. Okay, thanks. Because. Part of my thought. There 184 00:13:49,825 --> 00:13:52,985 seems to be a lot of concentration of the scooters 185 00:13:52,985 --> 00:13:56,265 and the bikes where there's also pretty good service of 186 00:13:56,265 --> 00:13:59,865 transit, which I understand makes sense, but it's like my 187 00:13:59,865 --> 00:14:02,545 thought is also like, how do we, because we're always 188 00:14:02,545 --> 00:14:07,052 thinking about how do we get. People. In more of 189 00:14:07,052 --> 00:14:09,452 our neighborhoods as they go out from the course. How 190 00:14:09,452 --> 00:14:14,092 do we get them interested? In alternative or, sorry, multimodal 191 00:14:14,092 --> 00:14:19,653 transportation options. And so that's where my mindset is. And 192 00:14:19,653 --> 00:14:22,813 I know, again, some of this is the work that 193 00:14:22,813 --> 00:14:27,190 has to be done. In consultation with the local municipalities. 194 00:14:27,190 --> 00:14:29,830 But just something I think we should keep in mind 195 00:14:29,830 --> 00:14:33,470 because part of what the goal is is to encourage 196 00:14:33,470 --> 00:14:35,670 people to find other modes. And so if you're. In 197 00:14:35,670 --> 00:14:38,510 a suburb and could take a scooter or a bike. 198 00:14:38,510 --> 00:14:41,150 From this point, your house to the bus stop and 199 00:14:41,150 --> 00:14:43,190 then take the bus or the eye and the rest 200 00:14:43,190 --> 00:14:45,901 of the way. I think that makes a lot of 201 00:14:45,901 --> 00:14:48,701 sense, too. So I'll leave that with staff and you 202 00:14:48,701 --> 00:14:55,237 to sort through. All right, chair Ridmond. Thank you. Chair. 203 00:14:55,237 --> 00:14:57,117 Craig, thank you very much for coming. And this is 204 00:14:57,117 --> 00:14:59,717 obviously a good news story. In the past when you've 205 00:14:59,717 --> 00:15:01,597 come and presented, one of the things we talked about 206 00:15:01,597 --> 00:15:05,694 was helmets. And do you have a way of tracking 207 00:15:05,694 --> 00:15:12,049 if helmets are being worn? Future. Thank you, chairperson Redman. 208 00:15:15,416 --> 00:15:18,196 We do have some ways of tracking. When the helmet 209 00:15:18,196 --> 00:15:21,576 is released from the clip, so we know. When a 210 00:15:21,576 --> 00:15:25,172 rider. Has opted to take the helmet out of the 211 00:15:25,172 --> 00:15:26,852 clip and keep it out of the clip. We can 212 00:15:26,852 --> 00:15:29,052 track that. But what we found is that it's not 213 00:15:29,052 --> 00:15:33,862 a very good metric because. Some people will just end 214 00:15:33,862 --> 00:15:36,862 up putting it on the handlebar during their trip. They 215 00:15:36,862 --> 00:15:38,462 don't. Realize that they can put it back in the 216 00:15:38,462 --> 00:15:40,262 clip. So we don't know if the helmet is actually 217 00:15:40,262 --> 00:15:43,342 being worn or if it's just being put on the 218 00:15:43,342 --> 00:15:46,742 side of the handlebar until the trip ends. Some people 219 00:15:46,742 --> 00:15:49,062 do this for various reasons, like they may put it 220 00:15:49,062 --> 00:15:51,102 on. Take the helmet selfie to get the ride credit. 221 00:15:51,930 --> 00:15:53,010 And then keep it out of the clip to ensure 222 00:15:53,010 --> 00:15:57,830 that they get that credit. So there's. A couple of 223 00:15:57,830 --> 00:16:00,110 sort of things that aren't really necessarily foolproof with that 224 00:16:00,110 --> 00:16:05,786 technology. When we do survey riders around helmet use. We 225 00:16:05,786 --> 00:16:08,626 seem to see an overcorrection of people who perceive that 226 00:16:08,626 --> 00:16:11,666 they wear helmets, but they actually don't, which has been 227 00:16:11,666 --> 00:16:16,360 a problem when we look at the helmet issue. So 228 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:18,640 we really don't have a good grasp from that perspective. 229 00:16:20,310 --> 00:16:21,870 What I can say safely is that we're probably looking 230 00:16:21,870 --> 00:16:26,309 at about. A ten to 20% compliance rate with helmets. 231 00:16:28,336 --> 00:16:30,256 Somewhere in that range. It's very hard to tell, though, 232 00:16:30,256 --> 00:16:34,181 based on the fact that. We don't know. The helmet. 233 00:16:34,181 --> 00:16:38,231 Selfie verification is a good indicator, but again, We don't 234 00:16:38,231 --> 00:16:40,471 necessarily know if it's staying on for the whole ride. 235 00:16:42,119 --> 00:16:44,519 So we do have these indicators, but it's always very 236 00:16:44,519 --> 00:16:47,936 difficult for us. And then there's certainly the aspect of 237 00:16:47,936 --> 00:16:51,176 just seeing what we see when people are outriding. Not 238 00:16:51,176 --> 00:16:55,263 wearing a helmet necessarily. Or having it on the handlebars. 239 00:16:55,263 --> 00:16:58,823 So, not to make this answer very complicated, but in 240 00:16:58,823 --> 00:17:00,663 short, there's a number of metrics that give us a 241 00:17:00,663 --> 00:17:04,623 good indication, but not necessarily. A good answer. I'm sorry 242 00:17:04,623 --> 00:17:08,263 I don't have more definitive information I can share. I 243 00:17:08,263 --> 00:17:12,655 appreciate your answer. Thank you. Councilor Henick, please. Thank you, 244 00:17:12,655 --> 00:17:16,963 Chair Craig again. Isaac the report, I think, indicated that. 245 00:17:18,741 --> 00:17:21,741 You encourage writers not to park on the sidewalk. And 246 00:17:21,741 --> 00:17:24,781 while I appreciate that there have been instances where I've 247 00:17:24,781 --> 00:17:29,594 seen scooters tipped over on the sidewalk. Is there any 248 00:17:29,594 --> 00:17:35,646 incentives we can offer? Or by further ways to encourage 249 00:17:35,646 --> 00:17:39,166 people not to leave the scooters in the way of 250 00:17:39,166 --> 00:17:43,678 people on the sidewalk. Through. Chair. Councilor, thanks for the 251 00:17:43,678 --> 00:17:50,877 question. I think at the very onset, I think most 252 00:17:50,877 --> 00:17:52,877 trips end, and in a very responsible way, I think 253 00:17:52,877 --> 00:17:54,557 we need to acknowledge that most people are trying to 254 00:17:54,557 --> 00:17:57,538 do the right thing when they park. And we do 255 00:17:57,538 --> 00:18:00,138 have a lot of first time riders that are out 256 00:18:00,138 --> 00:18:02,578 there who are students coming. To the region for the 257 00:18:02,578 --> 00:18:03,938 first time and that sort of thing. So we do 258 00:18:03,938 --> 00:18:09,258 have these issues. With parking. But as the operational period 259 00:18:09,258 --> 00:18:11,738 kind of prolongs through the year, these things should become 260 00:18:11,738 --> 00:18:15,365 a little more apparent to writers. We do have incentives 261 00:18:15,365 --> 00:18:18,965 for parking properly, we do have safety campaigns to park 262 00:18:18,965 --> 00:18:20,885 properly, and we can look at those in very targeted 263 00:18:20,885 --> 00:18:25,973 areas. If we know that. They're persistent parking problems. One 264 00:18:25,973 --> 00:18:27,733 of, and I shouldn't say this is an issue, but 265 00:18:27,733 --> 00:18:30,573 the general design of the program is controlled with geofenced 266 00:18:30,573 --> 00:18:32,933 parking, so riders have to end in a very specific 267 00:18:32,933 --> 00:18:37,875 area. And the capacity of those stations is sometimes. Much 268 00:18:37,875 --> 00:18:40,315 less than what ends up at those stations, which we 269 00:18:40,315 --> 00:18:42,675 end up with. Some of those results. Where people are 270 00:18:42,675 --> 00:18:44,715 leaving a scooter where they shouldn't or they're not. Able 271 00:18:44,715 --> 00:18:46,755 to park properly or they think they're doing the right 272 00:18:46,755 --> 00:18:51,435 thing, but it's impeding pedestrian traffic, which we certainly don't 273 00:18:51,435 --> 00:18:55,288 want to happen. So I think the best way to 274 00:18:55,288 --> 00:18:57,208 do this is continue on with the education that we're 275 00:18:57,208 --> 00:19:00,771 doing great. We do have two pieces of technology that 276 00:19:00,771 --> 00:19:03,451 are continually improving that are in the app now. One 277 00:19:03,451 --> 00:19:08,150 is our ar core technology, which means that. A rider 278 00:19:08,150 --> 00:19:12,070 periodically will be asked to scan the surrounding area to 279 00:19:12,070 --> 00:19:18,612 match. The imaging background. With what's in the background. With 280 00:19:18,612 --> 00:19:20,212 what is in Google Maps to ensure the scooter is 281 00:19:20,212 --> 00:19:23,238 in the right area. The other is the parking photo 282 00:19:23,238 --> 00:19:28,478 audit, which continues to improve with new technology and AI 283 00:19:28,478 --> 00:19:30,678 to better affirm that the scooter is in the proper 284 00:19:30,678 --> 00:19:35,777 area, so those technologies are becoming better. The other thing 285 00:19:35,777 --> 00:19:37,937 that we have been doing as well has been doing 286 00:19:37,937 --> 00:19:42,017 proactive rebalancing. Which is the process of having our patrollers 287 00:19:42,017 --> 00:19:44,857 out moving scooters at peak times. To move them off 288 00:19:44,857 --> 00:19:47,657 sidewalks as quickly as possible. It's kind of a cat 289 00:19:47,657 --> 00:19:52,469 and mouse. Game because scooters, common scooters, go so. We 290 00:19:52,469 --> 00:19:55,290 do try our best to do that as well. And 291 00:19:55,290 --> 00:19:56,850 the final thing that we do is that if these 292 00:19:56,850 --> 00:20:00,293 things do persist as issues with parking, Usually kind of 293 00:20:00,293 --> 00:20:03,453 that 2nd, 3rd strike. We do look at removing people 294 00:20:03,453 --> 00:20:06,693 from the platform and so that has happened as well, 295 00:20:06,693 --> 00:20:09,053 to try and send a message that improper parking won't 296 00:20:09,053 --> 00:20:13,626 be tolerated. It's one of these things that we try 297 00:20:13,626 --> 00:20:15,786 to do on a case by case basis. But in 298 00:20:15,786 --> 00:20:19,612 instances where it's a blatant. Disregard for the rules. We're 299 00:20:19,612 --> 00:20:23,492 going to make an example of those users. And finally, 300 00:20:23,492 --> 00:20:27,292 the last piece of technology which is there to make 301 00:20:27,292 --> 00:20:31,131 the situation. Less cumbersome or burdensome for people. In the 302 00:20:31,131 --> 00:20:33,411 unlikely event that there is an escooter kind of parked 303 00:20:33,411 --> 00:20:36,611 out of place is toppled technology, so the scooters trip 304 00:20:36,611 --> 00:20:39,131 can't end if it's on its side, so at least 305 00:20:39,131 --> 00:20:41,291 it will be upright. Which is usually a little easier 306 00:20:41,291 --> 00:20:43,691 to navigate if it is on a sidewalk in an 307 00:20:43,691 --> 00:20:48,411 inappropriate area. If somebody's ended their trip somehow with it 308 00:20:48,411 --> 00:20:51,409 being upright, so. There's a couple of pieces of technology 309 00:20:51,409 --> 00:20:54,409 that try to prevent that. I'm not saying it's 100% 310 00:20:54,409 --> 00:20:58,151 pool. Thank you for extremely Folsom answer. I by no 311 00:20:58,151 --> 00:21:00,951 means meant to blame you or neuron. And I realize 312 00:21:00,951 --> 00:21:03,951 that most people are doing everything they can to do 313 00:21:03,951 --> 00:21:05,271 the right thing. I just want to make sure that 314 00:21:05,271 --> 00:21:07,031 we are doing everything we can to be on top 315 00:21:07,031 --> 00:21:09,836 of it. So thank you very much. Well, thank you, 316 00:21:09,836 --> 00:21:12,876 sir. I have no more questions for you. Just want 317 00:21:12,876 --> 00:21:16,751 to thank you for your presentation today. To members of 318 00:21:16,751 --> 00:21:19,631 council. We have to move through the agenda because we 319 00:21:19,631 --> 00:21:22,831 possibly can lose quorum. We don't want to come back 320 00:21:22,831 --> 00:21:25,951 tomorrow. Okay? So I'm going to move through. This as 321 00:21:25,951 --> 00:21:29,308 speedily as possible. And Mr. Regier, you're going to be 322 00:21:29,308 --> 00:21:34,862 next in terms of strategic. Priority. Climate align growth. Okay. 323 00:21:34,862 --> 00:21:37,782 And you'll be dealing with the next item in peril. 324 00:21:37,782 --> 00:21:45,330 Go ahead. Thank you, chair. I actually am not responsible 325 00:21:45,330 --> 00:21:47,690 for this particular line of business. I'm going to hand 326 00:21:47,690 --> 00:21:51,170 it over to Commissioner Rose, who's actually going to carry 327 00:21:51,170 --> 00:21:53,930 the day here. Well, my apologies. I thought you would 328 00:21:53,930 --> 00:21:57,984 want to. I'm just a pretty face, okay? Just. My 329 00:21:57,984 --> 00:22:03,991 apologies. Go ahead, please. Thank you. Chair, Craig. And commissioner 330 00:22:03,991 --> 00:22:08,275 Regier. This report. We're bringing forward to you today is 331 00:22:08,275 --> 00:22:16,412 in response to questions around. The request for. 18 temporary 332 00:22:16,412 --> 00:22:19,012 staff for up to a two year contract to support. 333 00:22:21,053 --> 00:22:23,653 The new waste collection contract that's rolling out in March 334 00:22:23,653 --> 00:22:28,933 2026. So, Jon Arsenault, our director of waste is here 335 00:22:28,933 --> 00:22:32,213 to provide a short presentation to provide you some extra 336 00:22:32,213 --> 00:22:37,078 context to the report. Yes, thank you. Through the chair. 337 00:22:37,078 --> 00:22:40,318 Thanks for allowing me to present today. As Commissioner Rose 338 00:22:40,318 --> 00:22:42,638 has mentioned. Last year was a pretty busy year for 339 00:22:42,638 --> 00:22:44,918 us in waste management. Lots of different reports, lots of 340 00:22:44,918 --> 00:22:46,838 approvals, lots of the changes. So we have a new 341 00:22:46,838 --> 00:22:51,278 collection contract coming on board, as noticed. March 2026 of 342 00:22:51,278 --> 00:22:57,360 next year. It's for eight years. With two one year 343 00:22:57,360 --> 00:23:01,564 extensions possible. It maintains a lot of the service level 344 00:23:01,564 --> 00:23:04,534 issues. We see as part of the existing contract in 345 00:23:04,534 --> 00:23:08,614 terms of biweekly garbage collection organics however, there's a significant 346 00:23:08,614 --> 00:23:11,694 change in the collection methodology as we're moving to cart. 347 00:23:11,694 --> 00:23:17,690 Collection. Which will impact. All eligible residents and obviously the 348 00:23:17,690 --> 00:23:22,425 downtown cores as well. That we're dealing with. I'd also 349 00:23:22,425 --> 00:23:25,505 like to note that a reminder that as the transition 350 00:23:25,505 --> 00:23:27,745 to the blue box occurred last year. We're no longer 351 00:23:27,745 --> 00:23:31,876 responsible for that. For the residential side, so it's not 352 00:23:31,876 --> 00:23:36,036 part of this contract. However, with the exception of downtown 353 00:23:36,036 --> 00:23:38,716 core collection, which has already been directed by council to 354 00:23:38,716 --> 00:23:43,230 look at. Next slide, please. So, as you can imagine, 355 00:23:43,230 --> 00:23:49,345 the magnitude of the work involved with this undertaking. Is 356 00:23:49,345 --> 00:23:54,918 significant. With this rollout, the new contract. We impact over 357 00:23:54,918 --> 00:24:00,198 165,000 residential properties and growing, as well as approximately 1500 358 00:24:00,198 --> 00:24:04,678 designated downtown business improvement properties that will get service some 359 00:24:04,678 --> 00:24:08,324 of the key tasks. Just to keep in mind. We 360 00:24:08,324 --> 00:24:11,404 need to support the delivery of over 330,000 garbage and 361 00:24:11,404 --> 00:24:15,033 organics carts to all the eligible properties. Over a four 362 00:24:15,033 --> 00:24:17,593 month span that will occur later this year and into 363 00:24:17,593 --> 00:24:21,793 early next year ahead of the contract. We are embarking 364 00:24:21,793 --> 00:24:25,153 an engagement with the downtown business improvement areas and area 365 00:24:25,153 --> 00:24:30,113 municipal colleagues through working groups to determine cart sizes, number 366 00:24:30,113 --> 00:24:35,648 of carts, set out locations. And specific collection days. As 367 00:24:35,648 --> 00:24:38,528 well as introducing a brand new organics collection program to 368 00:24:38,528 --> 00:24:42,848 the downtowns so that all has to be finalized through 369 00:24:42,848 --> 00:24:47,402 these working groups. And in order to support. That obviously 370 00:24:47,402 --> 00:24:51,885 our existing staff are working on existing contracts. It's a 371 00:24:51,885 --> 00:24:53,645 lot of extra work, so we're looking to hire a 372 00:24:53,645 --> 00:24:56,885 number of temporary staff, most of which are proposed, are 373 00:24:56,885 --> 00:25:01,125 students and what we call community connector positions that would 374 00:25:01,125 --> 00:25:05,356 be out physically. In the community to connect with residents 375 00:25:05,356 --> 00:25:09,076 where they are, to help spread the understanding of what's. 376 00:25:09,076 --> 00:25:12,821 Coming and how this car program. Is going to impact 377 00:25:12,821 --> 00:25:17,581 folks as well as a lot of new community engagement 378 00:25:17,581 --> 00:25:23,114 outreach resources will be required. Next slide, please. So the 379 00:25:23,114 --> 00:25:26,474 implementation plan, as we've shown previously, is over four phases. 380 00:25:28,984 --> 00:25:34,223 Intended to start immediately. And. It's consistent with successful rollout 381 00:25:34,223 --> 00:25:38,527 programs that we've had here. In our own backyard that 382 00:25:38,527 --> 00:25:41,607 we've done through our own learnings, but we've also used 383 00:25:41,607 --> 00:25:44,607 jurisdictional scan. Understand what others have done specific to cart 384 00:25:44,607 --> 00:25:49,324 rollout programs that some good learnings to understand. How we 385 00:25:49,324 --> 00:25:53,448 best roll this out and communicate to the public. So, 386 00:25:53,448 --> 00:25:56,448 to summarize, we need to do a lot of awareness 387 00:25:56,448 --> 00:26:00,043 up front. Build the awareness, prepare the community, and how. 388 00:26:01,391 --> 00:26:04,071 It will affect them. Implement the change and then monitor 389 00:26:04,071 --> 00:26:08,453 the program moving forward. Next slide, please. I've got a 390 00:26:08,453 --> 00:26:10,413 couple of slides here of some of the key components. 391 00:26:12,546 --> 00:26:14,466 Just to provide a little bit of the scope. So 392 00:26:14,466 --> 00:26:16,626 initially we were going to start with some information in 393 00:26:16,626 --> 00:26:19,506 the community about the upcoming change. Again, why is it 394 00:26:19,506 --> 00:26:24,273 happening? Who's affected what's? Changing. As this will just not 395 00:26:24,273 --> 00:26:26,033 just be the resonance in the community, but again, the 396 00:26:26,033 --> 00:26:30,193 downtown areas and the bias that we're having to have 397 00:26:30,193 --> 00:26:33,967 discussions with. A lot of communications will occur throughout these 398 00:26:33,967 --> 00:26:35,967 phases and throughout the whole program. In terms of news 399 00:26:35,967 --> 00:26:42,817 releases and newsletters articles online. Wraps on trucks, advertisements. Lots 400 00:26:42,817 --> 00:26:45,617 of different things will be going up, as well as 401 00:26:45,617 --> 00:26:50,177 the intention to do pop up events and stationary displays 402 00:26:50,177 --> 00:26:54,193 again out in the community where people are. Trying to 403 00:26:54,193 --> 00:26:59,202 target local community centers. And libraries as examples and special 404 00:26:59,202 --> 00:27:03,626 events just to get the messaging out. There will also 405 00:27:03,626 --> 00:27:07,106 continue to be messaging about some of the exemptions and 406 00:27:07,106 --> 00:27:11,026 supporting services such as medical exemptions extra. There's still garbage 407 00:27:11,026 --> 00:27:16,385 bag tag program and assisted collection services. These will be 408 00:27:16,385 --> 00:27:20,505 promoted to assist residents who may require some additional help 409 00:27:20,505 --> 00:27:25,549 throughout the program with waste collection and. We've already initiated 410 00:27:25,549 --> 00:27:29,389 some contact with groups like the Grand river accessibility advisory 411 00:27:29,389 --> 00:27:33,229 committee and the Cambridge Accessibility advisory committees, amongst others, and 412 00:27:33,229 --> 00:27:36,919 we'll continue the dialogue with them to. Help assist with 413 00:27:36,919 --> 00:27:40,497 the program. As we get into phase two and prepare 414 00:27:40,497 --> 00:27:44,322 the community for the carts. As I mentioned. There will 415 00:27:44,322 --> 00:27:48,478 be the delivery between. October of this year and February 416 00:27:48,478 --> 00:27:52,918 of next year. Of over 330,000 carts to the community. 417 00:27:52,918 --> 00:27:55,838 So garbage cart and an organics cart to every eligible 418 00:27:55,838 --> 00:27:58,238 household, and then those that will be. Going to the 419 00:27:58,238 --> 00:28:01,358 downtown cores as well. And of course, we're going to 420 00:28:01,358 --> 00:28:03,798 be sharing information. So don't start early. Wait till the 421 00:28:03,798 --> 00:28:09,559 new contract because that becomes problematic. Again additional education. With 422 00:28:09,559 --> 00:28:15,953 cart set out. Where do you put them? How does 423 00:28:15,953 --> 00:28:18,553 it work when you're also putting out bulky items? Or 424 00:28:18,553 --> 00:28:22,273 yard waste. One of the other significant changes that we 425 00:28:22,273 --> 00:28:25,353 need to communicate, and communicate well, is we're switching from 426 00:28:25,353 --> 00:28:27,833 a five day collection week of Monday to Friday to 427 00:28:27,833 --> 00:28:31,989 a four day collection week from Tuesday to Friday. So 428 00:28:31,989 --> 00:28:34,069 some residents will see a change in their collection day, 429 00:28:34,069 --> 00:28:37,501 and we have to make them aware. And understand this. 430 00:28:39,562 --> 00:28:42,770 And again for the businesses during that phase. Later this 431 00:28:42,770 --> 00:28:44,970 year, we'll have a plan in place with the working 432 00:28:44,970 --> 00:28:49,450 groups of how many? Days. Or what days are collection 433 00:28:49,450 --> 00:28:52,130 and what number of carts and how that program will 434 00:28:52,130 --> 00:28:56,490 work and specifically try and address issues of new organics 435 00:28:56,490 --> 00:28:59,918 program and how that will be rolled out. Next slide, 436 00:28:59,918 --> 00:29:05,301 please. So once the program starts March 2, staff will 437 00:29:05,301 --> 00:29:07,421 again, a big focus will be at the curb to 438 00:29:07,421 --> 00:29:11,061 help folks and see how things are going and monitor 439 00:29:11,061 --> 00:29:12,581 things so we have, like, what we call a curb 440 00:29:12,581 --> 00:29:16,621 team to goat and education tools that we typically use 441 00:29:16,621 --> 00:29:23,023 and have been successful with stickers and just. Having conversations 442 00:29:23,023 --> 00:29:26,223 with residents will also be required to finalize a new 443 00:29:26,223 --> 00:29:28,663 waste bylaw that will come into play at that time. 444 00:29:30,351 --> 00:29:33,911 Customer support services through things like the service first Contact 445 00:29:33,911 --> 00:29:38,149 center will continue. And contract management with a new contractor 446 00:29:38,149 --> 00:29:42,457 coming on board. One of the unique things about this 447 00:29:42,457 --> 00:29:46,577 program is after six months, residents do have an option 448 00:29:46,577 --> 00:29:49,497 to exchange out their garbage cart if they find the 449 00:29:49,497 --> 00:29:51,897 ones too big and they want something smaller, so. There's 450 00:29:51,897 --> 00:29:55,632 a process there through website. And through the service first 451 00:29:55,632 --> 00:29:57,392 contact center to look at that, and we'll support that. 452 00:29:59,077 --> 00:30:05,793 Initiative. As it goes. And again continue to monitor. Across 453 00:30:05,793 --> 00:30:08,713 the board, the downtowns and throughout the cities. And in 454 00:30:08,713 --> 00:30:12,153 the final phase, it gets more to day to day 455 00:30:12,153 --> 00:30:16,456 operations. And what we'll see. And as you can appreciate 456 00:30:16,456 --> 00:30:19,616 right now, we'll get into our full first winter season 457 00:30:19,616 --> 00:30:22,296 next year. And if it's anything like this year, you 458 00:30:22,296 --> 00:30:25,491 can anticipate. There could be some challenges, and we want 459 00:30:25,491 --> 00:30:28,011 to be there to support the residents and understand how 460 00:30:28,011 --> 00:30:31,670 we operate a program like this? When we have the 461 00:30:31,670 --> 00:30:36,823 snow events and what have you. Next slide, please. So, 462 00:30:36,823 --> 00:30:42,948 again, it's an extensive program, a lot of work. To 463 00:30:42,948 --> 00:30:46,988 do all this, and we require a dedicated staff team 464 00:30:46,988 --> 00:30:51,832 to plan, implement, monitor the program throughout. So what you 465 00:30:51,832 --> 00:30:55,748 have before you in the report and the positions. There. 466 00:30:56,989 --> 00:30:58,789 Would be starting spring of this year and I broke 467 00:30:58,789 --> 00:31:02,109 it into three. We'd be looking at four temporary waste 468 00:31:02,109 --> 00:31:07,154 coordinators, up to two year contracts. These positions. Will review 469 00:31:07,154 --> 00:31:10,354 unique collection areas like laneways and one way streets, coordinate 470 00:31:10,354 --> 00:31:17,135 exemption programs, update policies, procedures gis software. And the waste 471 00:31:17,135 --> 00:31:21,735 bylaw and administer the cart processes the supporting of getting 472 00:31:21,735 --> 00:31:26,752 them out. And exchanges, as well as be integral in 473 00:31:26,752 --> 00:31:29,712 the working groups with the downtown BIA groups to make 474 00:31:29,712 --> 00:31:34,617 sure everything is understood. Where we're looking at out on 475 00:31:34,617 --> 00:31:38,177 the street. The support is utilizing up to ten students. 476 00:31:38,177 --> 00:31:40,337 At any given time. These would be post secondary co 477 00:31:40,337 --> 00:31:42,897 op students. We've had great success. In the past with 478 00:31:42,897 --> 00:31:44,377 them, and they would be kind of like the street 479 00:31:44,377 --> 00:31:47,017 team, and they would be complemented by up to what 480 00:31:47,017 --> 00:31:50,337 we call four community connectors that are part time positions. 481 00:31:50,337 --> 00:31:52,457 So if there's a certain event that we want to 482 00:31:52,457 --> 00:31:55,121 target, that. Needs a bit more people, we'd have more 483 00:31:55,121 --> 00:31:58,901 people go to it. But the intent there is to 484 00:31:58,901 --> 00:32:01,261 kind of measure out how much support and when we 485 00:32:01,261 --> 00:32:03,261 need it. But have folks go in groups of two 486 00:32:03,261 --> 00:32:05,301 or three and go out in the community and support. 487 00:32:06,770 --> 00:32:13,417 Our communication and outreach. Next slide, please. So as identified 488 00:32:13,417 --> 00:32:21,873 in the report. The estimated operating costs are approximately 1.25 489 00:32:21,873 --> 00:32:28,873 million in 2025, 1.49 million in 2026 and 452,027, we 490 00:32:28,873 --> 00:32:32,993 have an opportunity to offset those costs. Certainly in 2025 491 00:32:32,993 --> 00:32:37,673 by one time revenue associated with an agreement. We have 492 00:32:37,673 --> 00:32:40,037 to support the blue box. Transition with a contractor or 493 00:32:40,037 --> 00:32:44,757 with the producers. We are still receiving and managing the 494 00:32:44,757 --> 00:32:47,397 materials on their behalf and getting paid to do so, 495 00:32:47,397 --> 00:32:49,117 and that will occur up until the end of this 496 00:32:49,117 --> 00:32:52,437 year. At which time a private facility that's being built 497 00:32:52,437 --> 00:32:55,117 in north Dumpries will come online. And that will then 498 00:32:55,117 --> 00:33:02,243 take over. Costs associated with 2026 and 2027. We're looking 499 00:33:02,243 --> 00:33:05,203 to fund them from the waste management reserve. So at 500 00:33:05,203 --> 00:33:08,051 the end of the day. We're not looking for any 501 00:33:08,051 --> 00:33:12,045 additional tax levy impacts to be incurred. And included in 502 00:33:12,045 --> 00:33:15,205 these costs are various components of education and outreach. So 503 00:33:15,205 --> 00:33:22,894 again, The brochures, calendars. Truck wraps. And the resources, such 504 00:33:22,894 --> 00:33:26,734 as we need some vehicle rentals and equipment and temporary 505 00:33:26,734 --> 00:33:30,293 staff to support. The. Implementation. And I would suggest that 506 00:33:30,293 --> 00:33:33,301 when I look at the cost breakdown, It's about a 507 00:33:33,301 --> 00:33:36,181 third of it is for the non physical or the 508 00:33:36,181 --> 00:33:39,701 physical. Sorry, resources. And about two thirds is for human 509 00:33:39,701 --> 00:33:43,845 resources. Next slide. And with that, I think that's the 510 00:33:43,845 --> 00:33:48,684 end of my presentation. Any questions. Happy to answer. All 511 00:33:48,684 --> 00:33:54,453 right. Questions. Councilor Huinink, please. Thank you, Chair Craig. And 512 00:33:54,453 --> 00:33:57,573 thank you, Director Arsenault for the report. I'm interested to 513 00:33:57,573 --> 00:34:01,093 know what is a medical exemption? Who would need one 514 00:34:01,093 --> 00:34:04,813 and how. They qualify or how they get designated as 515 00:34:04,813 --> 00:34:10,604 having one. So through the chair. That would be. A 516 00:34:10,604 --> 00:34:15,217 seamless continuation of an existing program where anyone who. Has 517 00:34:15,217 --> 00:34:18,337 a requirement for. They have more like inconvenience paths, things 518 00:34:18,337 --> 00:34:21,337 like that need to come out to the waste and 519 00:34:21,337 --> 00:34:25,297 have in excess of the typical limits they can apply 520 00:34:25,297 --> 00:34:28,577 to get an exemption, and we provide bag tags at 521 00:34:28,577 --> 00:34:31,737 no charge to allow that to happen and keep it. 522 00:34:31,737 --> 00:34:35,976 Discreet and they would get collected alongside. With the card 523 00:34:35,976 --> 00:34:38,096 at any given time, so it's intended to be a 524 00:34:38,096 --> 00:34:42,252 seamless transition. Of what we're doing today. But adjusting to 525 00:34:42,252 --> 00:34:44,732 recognize it has to go with the cart. But beside 526 00:34:44,732 --> 00:34:49,062 the carts, it's bags. Of thank you. That's the first 527 00:34:49,062 --> 00:34:51,342 that I'm hearing of this program. So if we could 528 00:34:51,342 --> 00:34:55,300 be careful. To publicize that as we roll out the 529 00:34:55,300 --> 00:34:59,450 cards, that would be really important. All right. Councilor Salonen, 530 00:34:59,450 --> 00:35:02,850 please. Thank you. Through you chair. Thank you very much, 531 00:35:02,850 --> 00:35:05,490 John, for bringing this information forward. I'm going to be 532 00:35:05,490 --> 00:35:08,410 really honest when I read through the agendas I was 533 00:35:08,410 --> 00:35:11,410 pretty confused of this coming forward because I thought we 534 00:35:11,410 --> 00:35:16,181 had dealt with this budget. In particular, I'm talking about 535 00:35:16,181 --> 00:35:19,501 part C of the motion of adding the 18 temporary 536 00:35:19,501 --> 00:35:23,461 ftes. I thought that that was debated and discussed. If 537 00:35:23,461 --> 00:35:26,301 memory serves, I think we gave, like half of that, 538 00:35:26,301 --> 00:35:30,471 I think. Eight or nine ftes to execute this, so 539 00:35:30,471 --> 00:35:32,831 I'm a little confused how this is. Coming forward without 540 00:35:32,831 --> 00:35:37,148 a reconsideration. Also a bit confused why the business plan 541 00:35:37,148 --> 00:35:39,548 that's a little more hashed out in here wasn't included 542 00:35:39,548 --> 00:35:43,599 initially in budget or for that matter, All of this 543 00:35:43,599 --> 00:35:49,753 information included when we did our contract renewal. Because I'm 544 00:35:49,753 --> 00:35:53,621 not really loving. The new spends, even though they aren't 545 00:35:53,621 --> 00:35:56,741 levy impacting, they're coming from our reserves which do still 546 00:35:56,741 --> 00:36:01,087 impact. Our budget overall and how much money we. 've 547 00:36:01,087 --> 00:36:04,451 been asked. Commissioner Rose, please. We can answer that. Or 548 00:36:04,451 --> 00:36:08,200 respond to that. Thank you, Chair Craig to the counselor. 549 00:36:08,200 --> 00:36:11,720 So at budget time, we did discuss this 18 contract. 550 00:36:14,313 --> 00:36:17,393 Staff and it was asked at budget time for us 551 00:36:17,393 --> 00:36:21,696 to come back with a more fulsome. Description of what 552 00:36:21,696 --> 00:36:24,336 these 18 contract staff would be doing. And that's why 553 00:36:24,336 --> 00:36:28,197 we're bringing this report. Forward to you today. There was 554 00:36:28,197 --> 00:36:30,957 no discussion at that time for cutting the numbers. I 555 00:36:30,957 --> 00:36:34,992 believe that was for a different program. You had a 556 00:36:34,992 --> 00:36:40,232 question about why this work wasn't included in the report 557 00:36:40,232 --> 00:36:47,809 when we brought it forward. For the waste contract. Because 558 00:36:47,809 --> 00:36:50,689 at that time we had intended to bring it forward 559 00:36:50,689 --> 00:36:56,823 later in the fall of last year. However. Since. We 560 00:36:56,823 --> 00:37:00,223 received all this information and done her analysis. It coincided 561 00:37:00,223 --> 00:37:03,983 at the same time as budget, so. We decided that 562 00:37:03,983 --> 00:37:06,783 instead of doing a separate presentation that we would included 563 00:37:06,783 --> 00:37:11,836 in the budget and provide that information. Through the budget 564 00:37:11,836 --> 00:37:17,680 documents that council received. All right. Councilor Harris, please. 565 00:37:21,077 --> 00:37:24,477 Well, yeah, I think that there's maybe some still unanswered 566 00:37:24,477 --> 00:37:28,277 questions from councilor. Selman's question. But I had two questions. 567 00:37:28,277 --> 00:37:31,157 Thank you for the presentation. Maybe for. Those that haven't 568 00:37:31,157 --> 00:37:34,197 read in depth in the report. I know you said 569 00:37:34,197 --> 00:37:37,117 we've gone from five down to four days of collection. 570 00:37:41,323 --> 00:37:44,043 One of the major factors of that will people see 571 00:37:44,043 --> 00:37:47,803 their saying pick up dates is what they've experienced now 572 00:37:47,803 --> 00:37:54,574 over that change. Through the chart. That's certainly. One of 573 00:37:54,574 --> 00:37:57,054 the points of this communication plan. There will be changes 574 00:37:57,054 --> 00:37:59,774 at the curb for some resident. Some residents may have 575 00:37:59,774 --> 00:38:02,494 the same collection day, but they certainly will have a 576 00:38:02,494 --> 00:38:05,654 change. And that was part of the approval of the 577 00:38:05,654 --> 00:38:09,054 overall contract previously to go from the five to four 578 00:38:09,054 --> 00:38:11,854 in terms of it is a trend in the industry 579 00:38:11,854 --> 00:38:15,746 and the level of service. Okay, now, you did mention 580 00:38:15,746 --> 00:38:20,199 the transition of the blue box program. Going from a 581 00:38:20,199 --> 00:38:25,199 producer. Pay now from the municipal end of things. I'm 582 00:38:25,199 --> 00:38:28,119 just wondering what. Would have been the staff complement at 583 00:38:28,119 --> 00:38:34,332 the region to manage the recycling. Program, the legacy recycling 584 00:38:34,332 --> 00:38:37,412 program. How many staff, roughly, in your estimation, would we 585 00:38:37,412 --> 00:38:47,149 have? To oversee that program. So. 586 00:38:48,561 --> 00:38:50,382 I'm trying to understand. Your question a little more in 587 00:38:50,382 --> 00:38:54,182 terms of, I think because it hasn't fully transitioned till 588 00:38:54,182 --> 00:38:58,212 next year and. We haven't seen the full implications of 589 00:38:58,212 --> 00:39:02,689 the transition. We haven't seen or we don't have a 590 00:39:02,689 --> 00:39:06,609 different staff complement at this point. In time. If the 591 00:39:06,609 --> 00:39:12,366 question is. If that was included as part of this, 592 00:39:12,366 --> 00:39:14,806 we would probably have to look at additional staff on 593 00:39:14,806 --> 00:39:18,642 top of what's being here. To kind of. A couple 594 00:39:18,642 --> 00:39:21,602 more, possibly to help with that discussion about what's the 595 00:39:21,602 --> 00:39:26,296 recycling angle? Well, yeah, I guess once we've fully transitioned. 596 00:39:26,296 --> 00:39:31,216 Just to clarify, once we fully transition. To extended producer 597 00:39:31,216 --> 00:39:37,096 responsibility where they're responsible for the collection processing of the 598 00:39:37,096 --> 00:39:43,054 blue box contents. We would have managed that program. Up 599 00:39:43,054 --> 00:39:47,701 until transition. I'm just curious on. What the current regional 600 00:39:47,701 --> 00:39:52,541 staff complement would be within waste management to manage just 601 00:39:52,541 --> 00:39:58,353 the recycling aspect of things. So through the chair. We 602 00:39:58,353 --> 00:40:02,611 don't have specific staff that are specifically recycling. They might 603 00:40:02,611 --> 00:40:06,397 be working on garbage, recycling, all the different things. Within. 604 00:40:07,205 --> 00:40:11,169 That customer service unit. So I would say, since the 605 00:40:11,169 --> 00:40:16,162 transition has occurred, Are we receiving less phone calls? Because 606 00:40:16,162 --> 00:40:19,442 they should be going to the producers for blue box, 607 00:40:19,442 --> 00:40:21,602 yes. To some degree, but we are still getting a 608 00:40:21,602 --> 00:40:25,202 lot that we're having to action or push forward, and 609 00:40:25,202 --> 00:40:29,319 there's still a lot of. Legacy things, as you said, 610 00:40:29,319 --> 00:40:32,906 that we're still dealing with and we don't have. A 611 00:40:32,906 --> 00:40:35,986 full. Appreciation of what the overall outcome is until next 612 00:40:35,986 --> 00:40:39,321 year when we get to full transition. They're just a 613 00:40:39,321 --> 00:40:44,445 file. There may be additional staff resources that were spending 614 00:40:44,445 --> 00:40:49,449 a good amount of time on blue box. Collection, not 615 00:40:49,449 --> 00:40:54,997 just managing calls, but managing the overall. Collection of materials 616 00:40:54,997 --> 00:40:58,117 and processing of materials for the blue box that we'd 617 00:40:58,117 --> 00:41:03,722 have additional staff. Resources freed up to support. Other waste 618 00:41:03,722 --> 00:41:07,963 management programs, correct? Yeah, through the chair. That's correct. And 619 00:41:07,963 --> 00:41:10,123 certainly it is our intention as we go through. This 620 00:41:10,123 --> 00:41:13,923 coming year's process for budget and even our work area, 621 00:41:13,923 --> 00:41:16,483 we're looking at these things to see how is it 622 00:41:16,483 --> 00:41:18,763 changing and how are we going to make refinements? Going 623 00:41:18,763 --> 00:41:22,604 forward. It's still a little too early to understand the 624 00:41:22,604 --> 00:41:27,458 full implications. I would caution that because an element of 625 00:41:27,458 --> 00:41:29,618 that comes out, it's not always a one. For one, 626 00:41:29,618 --> 00:41:33,723 there's still a lot of. Other activities that we may 627 00:41:33,723 --> 00:41:36,003 not have gotten to. Even our staff haven't gotten to 628 00:41:36,003 --> 00:41:41,049 that. Working on some policy issues. For instance. So. We 629 00:41:41,049 --> 00:41:44,129 are cognizant of that and looking at those staff complement. 630 00:41:45,954 --> 00:41:48,874 All right. Good interview. Maybe follow up on as we 631 00:41:48,874 --> 00:41:52,274 discuss further transition. And thank you, John. Thank you very 632 00:41:52,274 --> 00:41:55,614 much. Councilor McCabe, please. Thank you very much. Through you 633 00:41:55,614 --> 00:41:59,614 chair. Thanks, John, for the presentation and just a quick 634 00:41:59,614 --> 00:42:03,614 note, I think. We're having a really different winter, sort 635 00:42:03,614 --> 00:42:07,134 of a traditional canadian winter, but as far as I 636 00:42:07,134 --> 00:42:10,494 see on my street, the waste management pickup has been 637 00:42:10,494 --> 00:42:14,094 still really good. So thanks to the people still monitoring 638 00:42:14,094 --> 00:42:20,511 running that contract. Just. A couple of things. I certainly 639 00:42:20,511 --> 00:42:23,351 support where councilor Harris was going with his question there 640 00:42:23,351 --> 00:42:25,751 and hope that in the fullness of time, there's some 641 00:42:25,751 --> 00:42:31,565 ability to maybe redeploy staff. Or in the fullness of 642 00:42:31,565 --> 00:42:33,245 time. I know that it's going to take a little 643 00:42:33,245 --> 00:42:35,165 bit for this to move through, because this is a 644 00:42:35,165 --> 00:42:43,472 big change. I think. With 18 part time staff or 645 00:42:43,472 --> 00:42:47,472 temporary staff may sound like a lot, but my perspective 646 00:42:47,472 --> 00:42:49,952 is that this is going to need some really heavy 647 00:42:49,952 --> 00:42:54,072 lifting on the communications and the outreach side because the 648 00:42:54,072 --> 00:42:57,302 more we do up front. The better I would expect. 649 00:42:58,643 --> 00:43:01,203 The uptake and understanding of residence is going to be 650 00:43:01,203 --> 00:43:04,790 on the back end. And so one of my questions 651 00:43:04,790 --> 00:43:09,959 is just on the advertising piece. Have you been connecting 652 00:43:09,959 --> 00:43:14,595 with or. Are you considering working with local municipalities? Because 653 00:43:14,595 --> 00:43:17,515 in our rec centers and places like that, and I 654 00:43:17,515 --> 00:43:21,093 know community events was on the list. But even, like, 655 00:43:21,093 --> 00:43:25,293 our neighborhood associations and that to just push out this 656 00:43:25,293 --> 00:43:29,347 information, because I think. This is a really broad, broad 657 00:43:29,347 --> 00:43:34,621 communications effort. So have you reached out to local municipalities 658 00:43:34,621 --> 00:43:38,543 to just check in on. Communications avenues we have that 659 00:43:38,543 --> 00:43:42,876 can be utilized for this. So through the chair. The 660 00:43:42,876 --> 00:43:46,539 simple answer is yes. And we continue. So I mentioned 661 00:43:46,539 --> 00:43:48,699 about the BIA in downtown working groups, and that's sort 662 00:43:48,699 --> 00:43:51,219 of specific. To those areas in a sense, but it's 663 00:43:51,219 --> 00:43:53,019 more of an operational issue to figure out. How that 664 00:43:53,019 --> 00:43:56,259 goes and working with economic development partners and what have 665 00:43:56,259 --> 00:43:59,379 you. But the broader sense, our communications folks, too, have 666 00:43:59,379 --> 00:44:02,659 reached out to all the area municipal communications folks because 667 00:44:02,659 --> 00:44:05,584 right now, We do continue to leverage, and it's a 668 00:44:05,584 --> 00:44:08,504 big part of our. So the bag tags. And things 669 00:44:08,504 --> 00:44:11,584 like that. For instance, we rely on our community partners, 670 00:44:11,584 --> 00:44:15,584 being area municipalities and others, to sell and provide those 671 00:44:15,584 --> 00:44:17,224 on our behalf as part of our program. So we 672 00:44:17,224 --> 00:44:20,304 try and work and lock step in those areas. So 673 00:44:20,304 --> 00:44:23,384 we see the benefits to continuing to do that to 674 00:44:23,384 --> 00:44:28,505 the point. Of getting outreach out there. Our focus is 675 00:44:28,505 --> 00:44:32,145 probably more so, not the big events that bring in 676 00:44:32,145 --> 00:44:34,865 tourists from the outside, but the smaller community events. And 677 00:44:34,865 --> 00:44:38,745 that's why community centered library things. That it's the local 678 00:44:38,745 --> 00:44:42,634 population that we want to target. So working hand in 679 00:44:42,634 --> 00:44:45,834 hand with area municipalities is very important on that. And 680 00:44:45,834 --> 00:44:48,914 I would add that we're in the throws. We've just 681 00:44:48,914 --> 00:44:51,802 started. The long term strategic planning under the waste management 682 00:44:51,802 --> 00:44:55,923 plan. And we will be going for community engagement as 683 00:44:55,923 --> 00:45:00,066 part of this, so. One of the, I think, great 684 00:45:00,066 --> 00:45:02,546 options for us here is to leverage the staff that 685 00:45:02,546 --> 00:45:06,624 are out. Doing these things. And combine that work and 686 00:45:06,624 --> 00:45:09,504 do some of the messaging there where possible. Great. Looking 687 00:45:09,504 --> 00:45:13,318 at different. Waste activities. Good. Thank you. I'm glad. It's 688 00:45:13,318 --> 00:45:18,673 really fulsome. My other question. Is with the containers themselves. 689 00:45:18,673 --> 00:45:22,673 Have you considered making the default container the first one 690 00:45:22,673 --> 00:45:26,953 that you distribute? The smaller of the options because there's 691 00:45:26,953 --> 00:45:31,070 a big in a small mid size whatever. With the 692 00:45:31,070 --> 00:45:35,204 idea that. If you give someone. Like a bigger container, 693 00:45:35,204 --> 00:45:37,444 they may just fill it up. And if you start 694 00:45:37,444 --> 00:45:40,233 them with a smaller one. And then, as you said, 695 00:45:40,233 --> 00:45:43,633 there's an option. Six months later, let them try the 696 00:45:43,633 --> 00:45:47,550 smaller. One first because. I say small, but they're not 697 00:45:47,550 --> 00:45:51,870 really that small. They're bigger than the green. BIN Container 698 00:45:51,870 --> 00:45:55,153 quite a bit bigger than that. Because we've been making 699 00:45:55,153 --> 00:45:57,393 such an effort over the past number of years to 700 00:45:57,393 --> 00:46:01,283 have people reduce. Is it two bags that you can 701 00:46:01,283 --> 00:46:03,283 set out right now? I'm not even sure, because. We 702 00:46:03,283 --> 00:46:07,589 never hit that limit. But to start. The point being, 703 00:46:07,589 --> 00:46:10,029 can we start with the smaller of the two options? 704 00:46:11,294 --> 00:46:15,590 To continue with that mindset of. Like less is more. 705 00:46:17,274 --> 00:46:20,874 Through the chair. Contractually, and I guess the way we 706 00:46:20,874 --> 00:46:23,954 had a level of service approved by this council before. 707 00:46:23,954 --> 00:46:26,594 We went out that had the larger ones and the 708 00:46:26,594 --> 00:46:30,130 smaller ones. As to potentially interchange. And that's how we 709 00:46:30,130 --> 00:46:33,570 went out for the contract. So that's. How. By default, 710 00:46:33,570 --> 00:46:35,890 that's how we start. I totally understand where you're coming. 711 00:46:35,890 --> 00:46:37,890 From, and I think that's where we may want to 712 00:46:37,890 --> 00:46:40,810 go. There is an initial process. As part of the 713 00:46:40,810 --> 00:46:43,570 contract where someone could get a hold of us and 714 00:46:43,570 --> 00:46:46,850 say, I want the smaller one. I don't want the 715 00:46:46,850 --> 00:46:50,491 big one right from the get go. But I think 716 00:46:50,491 --> 00:46:52,371 this is probably going to have to be a more 717 00:46:52,371 --> 00:46:59,060 fulsome conversation. About. A service level discussion because. What we're 718 00:46:59,060 --> 00:47:01,020 referring to is the bigger one. The 240 liter card 719 00:47:01,020 --> 00:47:03,860 is equivalent to roughly three bags. Three bags. And it's 720 00:47:03,860 --> 00:47:06,460 a three bag limit right now, every other week, so. 721 00:47:06,460 --> 00:47:08,780 It would be equivalent to the level of service in 722 00:47:08,780 --> 00:47:12,340 a sense of what a resident is getting. Today. But 723 00:47:12,340 --> 00:47:14,260 to your point, I think the intention is as we 724 00:47:14,260 --> 00:47:17,943 move forward, Can we go to lower smaller carts and 725 00:47:17,943 --> 00:47:20,543 drive that on the diversion side? Because we all know 726 00:47:20,543 --> 00:47:23,103 there's still a lot of stuff in that black bag. 727 00:47:24,813 --> 00:47:28,653 That's divertible. Either organics or something else. Okay, I'd like 728 00:47:28,653 --> 00:47:32,888 to move. On. If I may. Please, Councilor sean. Thank 729 00:47:32,888 --> 00:47:38,075 you. Just a quick question about. The sort of fte 730 00:47:38,075 --> 00:47:43,116 and co op piece. Do we anticipate these positions filled 731 00:47:43,116 --> 00:47:46,316 for the whole two years, or how does that play? 732 00:47:46,316 --> 00:47:51,794 Out, so through the chair. What's presented is kind of 733 00:47:51,794 --> 00:47:56,514 that high end scenario. There is a potential where and 734 00:47:56,514 --> 00:47:59,674 this is where there's some flexibility involved, where we can't 735 00:47:59,674 --> 00:48:03,234 get that full compliment at certain terms because of where 736 00:48:03,234 --> 00:48:05,474 the universities are in their cycles with their co op 737 00:48:05,474 --> 00:48:07,914 students, and that but the intention here and the way 738 00:48:07,914 --> 00:48:10,870 it's costed over this assumption that there's, Ten co op 739 00:48:10,870 --> 00:48:14,030 students the entire two years, but that we anticipate that 740 00:48:14,030 --> 00:48:17,519 will change. Especially as we get further into it, we 741 00:48:17,519 --> 00:48:22,367 might see. Okay, there's not a need. This term for 742 00:48:22,367 --> 00:48:24,647 ten students. We can get away with six or what 743 00:48:24,647 --> 00:48:27,207 have you, and that might be all that's available to 744 00:48:27,207 --> 00:48:31,889 us. So. That's how we approached it. Okay. Going to 745 00:48:31,889 --> 00:48:33,769 move on. And, folks, I'm going to ask you make 746 00:48:33,769 --> 00:48:37,569 the questions concise. Where we have a time issue here. 747 00:48:37,569 --> 00:48:40,209 We have a special council meeting we got to do. 748 00:48:40,209 --> 00:48:43,569 And Councilor Foxton, I'm watching you go. Ahead. I saw 749 00:48:43,569 --> 00:48:49,430 you watching. Chair Craig just a quick comment about what 750 00:48:49,430 --> 00:48:52,790 Ms. McCabe said. Councilor McCabe, in regards to the size 751 00:48:52,790 --> 00:48:54,790 of the bins. I would like you to know that 752 00:48:54,790 --> 00:48:57,070 on a daily basis. My staff are going out and 753 00:48:57,070 --> 00:49:00,350 picking up garbage that is dumped in the countryside, not 754 00:49:00,350 --> 00:49:02,750 just the countrysides. Believe it or not, we get a 755 00:49:02,750 --> 00:49:05,971 lot of calls from rare of people dumping. On their 756 00:49:05,971 --> 00:49:08,811 borders that we have to pick up as well. So 757 00:49:08,811 --> 00:49:12,805 let's do this. Right. I think a lot of people 758 00:49:12,805 --> 00:49:15,725 are quite good about it, but there are those that 759 00:49:15,725 --> 00:49:18,365 if they've got extra garbage. They're going to dump it 760 00:49:18,365 --> 00:49:20,765 and we've seen them. Dump them in blue bins at 761 00:49:20,765 --> 00:49:25,567 schoolyards and everything else. I'm sorry, chair Redman. You're the 762 00:49:25,567 --> 00:49:28,847 last speaker. Chair Craig, I will try. To be really 763 00:49:28,847 --> 00:49:31,527 quick and say, I do appreciate the fact that this 764 00:49:31,527 --> 00:49:34,607 proposal has no impact on the levy and that we 765 00:49:34,607 --> 00:49:37,647 are going to have some remuneration. It says in part 766 00:49:37,647 --> 00:49:43,366 a it's a one time. Revenue. I'm wondering if we 767 00:49:43,366 --> 00:49:48,069 have. Our arms around what that actually looks like. If 768 00:49:48,069 --> 00:49:52,389 there's any leftover from the 1.25 million. And then what 769 00:49:52,389 --> 00:49:55,819 happens with B and C, because. I'm assuming there will 770 00:49:55,819 --> 00:49:59,605 be no more revenue coming in. So if the 1.25 771 00:49:59,605 --> 00:50:02,285 million isn't used up, that's going to be. What we 772 00:50:02,285 --> 00:50:06,783 fund BNc out of. Through the chair. That's correct. I 773 00:50:06,783 --> 00:50:10,065 think the 1.25. I have to do. Mine is pretty 774 00:50:10,065 --> 00:50:12,025 close to what we anticipate we'll get. In terms of 775 00:50:12,025 --> 00:50:14,745 that one time revenue, that will be the end of 776 00:50:14,745 --> 00:50:18,562 this year. What's available to us. But on this premise 777 00:50:18,562 --> 00:50:20,922 of once the hiring is done and all that understanding, 778 00:50:20,922 --> 00:50:24,242 whatever is left over. Would go back into the pot 779 00:50:24,242 --> 00:50:28,337 for, say, to be moved forward. So right now, though, 780 00:50:28,337 --> 00:50:31,937 we anticipate utilizing, or would be expected, that we'd utilize. 781 00:50:31,937 --> 00:50:34,377 Pretty much the entire revenue, one time revenue from this 782 00:50:34,377 --> 00:50:38,742 year. Thank you. All right, ladies and gentlemen, I'm going 783 00:50:38,742 --> 00:50:43,812 to move on. In terms of the recommendation, need a 784 00:50:43,812 --> 00:50:46,932 mover and seconder, there's three parts to this. You have 785 00:50:46,932 --> 00:50:51,052 it in front of you. Moved by Councillor Foxton, seconded 786 00:50:51,052 --> 00:50:54,932 by Councillor McCabe, go to escribe now, folks. 787 00:51:01,595 --> 00:51:06,849 Thank you very much. Councilor Wolf. 788 00:51:13,550 --> 00:51:19,029 Yeah, paver. That carries. Okay. It's Kerrie, folks. 789 00:51:27,701 --> 00:51:33,197 Moving on, folks. Regular business. Call on Doug Spooner, acting 790 00:51:33,197 --> 00:51:38,437 commissioner, transportation services, to introduce the report on the GRT 791 00:51:38,437 --> 00:51:45,189 2025 fair change proposal. Yeah. Thank you, chair, council. So 792 00:51:45,189 --> 00:51:48,589 this report proposes changes to the fees and charges bylaw 793 00:51:48,589 --> 00:51:52,789 to amend affordable transit program fares. And there's an emotion. 794 00:51:52,789 --> 00:51:57,029 There's an emotion included. So we identified a gap that 795 00:51:57,029 --> 00:52:00,189 we here in chambers had created inadvertently when we froze 796 00:52:00,189 --> 00:52:04,125 the monthly affordable transit pass program. During the plan and 797 00:52:04,125 --> 00:52:06,525 budget process. So I think good decision. We all knew 798 00:52:06,525 --> 00:52:09,205 why we did that. What had happened when we did 799 00:52:09,205 --> 00:52:12,205 that was that the monthly affordable transit product is now 800 00:52:12,205 --> 00:52:16,205 at a 54% discount and the other affordable transit program 801 00:52:16,205 --> 00:52:18,965 discounts are at 50%. So somebody only able to buy 802 00:52:18,965 --> 00:52:21,565 a daily ticket is getting less of a discount than 803 00:52:21,565 --> 00:52:25,874 somebody able to buy a monthly. So. What is proposed 804 00:52:25,874 --> 00:52:27,834 in the report would correct it. It also deepens the 805 00:52:27,834 --> 00:52:30,194 discount for those who need it most, which is all 806 00:52:30,194 --> 00:52:34,474 of our ATP customers. It would apply a consistent 55% 807 00:52:34,474 --> 00:52:38,874 discount. On all fair products for customers who. Qualify for 808 00:52:38,874 --> 00:52:42,398 ATP. We're here today because we've got a lot of 809 00:52:42,398 --> 00:52:44,758 back end work to get. That ready for the July 810 00:52:44,758 --> 00:52:48,918 1 fair changes. No impact on the tax levy here 811 00:52:48,918 --> 00:52:52,162 will absorb the changes. Into GRT. We'll do it in 812 00:52:52,162 --> 00:52:58,011 the following way. 10,000 of the 30,000. Gap created. We'll 813 00:52:58,011 --> 00:53:00,411 use increased ridership because we've got this product drop. So 814 00:53:00,411 --> 00:53:03,996 we anticipate some increased ridership through the program. And the 815 00:53:03,996 --> 00:53:06,236 second spot is to pull 20,000 from our customer acquisition 816 00:53:06,236 --> 00:53:09,316 budget. This is what we use to run programs like 817 00:53:09,316 --> 00:53:12,276 seniors training when we support the UPAss vote that just 818 00:53:12,276 --> 00:53:14,556 happened. So we do have a bit of flexibility in 819 00:53:14,556 --> 00:53:15,996 year to how we apply that, and we think this 820 00:53:15,996 --> 00:53:18,236 is the right place to put it. This is only 821 00:53:18,236 --> 00:53:21,036 a 2025 challenge, as you know. All of the GRT 822 00:53:21,036 --> 00:53:23,156 fair products are being evaluated as part of our new 823 00:53:23,156 --> 00:53:25,889 business plan. So when we're back in April, we've actually 824 00:53:25,889 --> 00:53:29,529 got a proposal on this program. That would address this. 825 00:53:29,529 --> 00:53:31,689 So again, the proposal today is that we flatten that 826 00:53:31,689 --> 00:53:34,489 ATP discount. We make it the same across all products 827 00:53:34,489 --> 00:53:38,129 at 55%. And I'm welcoming if any questions. Or comments. 828 00:53:38,129 --> 00:53:43,264 Thank you, chair. Let's start councilor Foxton again, please. I 829 00:53:43,264 --> 00:53:44,784 was going to move it, but I'm. Going to ask 830 00:53:44,784 --> 00:53:47,224 that the church used somebody to move it, because I 831 00:53:47,224 --> 00:53:49,864 think it's. A no brainer. Let's just move on. Sorry. 832 00:53:51,942 --> 00:53:56,567 While calling you the second with councilor hunch, please. Yeah. 833 00:53:56,567 --> 00:54:01,834 Thank you. Sorry. I was confused, everyone. Thank you. Doug. 834 00:54:01,834 --> 00:54:08,589 You're awesome. Well, I forgot your name initially, too. Mr. 835 00:54:08,589 --> 00:54:11,029 Speaker, I want to get away from the idea that 836 00:54:11,029 --> 00:54:16,502 special customers. Get special deals on special services all the 837 00:54:16,502 --> 00:54:21,903 time. Can you speak to. Fare parody around the price 838 00:54:21,903 --> 00:54:25,343 of MP tickets. It was a little bit difficult to 839 00:54:25,343 --> 00:54:31,550 understand because they're going down. And. That doesn't typically happen. 840 00:54:31,550 --> 00:54:33,270 Yeah, through your chair, Councilor Huinink. Thank you for the 841 00:54:33,270 --> 00:54:36,550 question. So, confirming that we have fair parity across our 842 00:54:36,550 --> 00:54:39,270 conventional services and our mobility, plus service. So in this 843 00:54:39,270 --> 00:54:44,517 proposal, An electronic fare would be $3, a ticket for 844 00:54:44,517 --> 00:54:47,997 mobility plus, and a ticket book would be $3 those 845 00:54:47,997 --> 00:54:50,757 enjoying the affordable transit program discount, and both of those 846 00:54:50,757 --> 00:54:53,637 cases would pay a dollar. 35. So we're consistent across 847 00:54:53,637 --> 00:54:57,237 the business lines, buses, trains, ion, all of it. Everything 848 00:54:57,237 --> 00:54:59,277 is the same in terms of what people pay. Thank 849 00:54:59,277 --> 00:55:02,571 you very much. I love equity. And consistency. All right. 850 00:55:02,571 --> 00:55:04,531 Thank you, Councilor Foxton. Are you going to move a 851 00:55:04,531 --> 00:55:07,731 motion I believe chair Redman had a hand up, and 852 00:55:07,731 --> 00:55:11,658 I've moved enough for this afternoon, so. Chair Redman. Moved 853 00:55:11,658 --> 00:55:15,698 by chair Edmund, seconded by councilor Huinink. Okay, we'll call 854 00:55:15,698 --> 00:55:24,882 the question on escribe, folks. Are we just moving on? 855 00:55:41,970 --> 00:55:48,502 That's carried, folks. Okay, we're going to move on to 856 00:55:48,502 --> 00:55:52,772 the next item for the regular business. Again. I'll call 857 00:55:52,772 --> 00:55:58,452 on Doug Spooner, acting commissioner. Introduce the report. Shared Micro 858 00:55:58,452 --> 00:56:02,117 mobility program. Through your chair. Thank you again, counsel. I 859 00:56:02,117 --> 00:56:04,317 hope you're feeling the partnership in the room. Today through 860 00:56:04,317 --> 00:56:07,437 Isaac's presentation and a thank you to Isaac and his 861 00:56:07,437 --> 00:56:09,757 team and our city. Partners for continuing to deliver this 862 00:56:09,757 --> 00:56:12,957 program with us based on Councilor Huinink's earlier encouragement, we 863 00:56:12,957 --> 00:56:15,117 may need to plan another council ride along like we 864 00:56:15,117 --> 00:56:19,436 had at Kitchener City hall. Last year. Council today, the 865 00:56:19,436 --> 00:56:21,316 region and our city partners are looking to align with 866 00:56:21,316 --> 00:56:25,156 the MTO's. Extension of the provincial escooter program that's extended 867 00:56:25,156 --> 00:56:28,156 five years to 2029. So, to be clear, the ask 868 00:56:28,156 --> 00:56:31,036 in front of you today, with motion included, Neuron, will 869 00:56:31,036 --> 00:56:34,436 be operating again in 2025 starting in April. The ask 870 00:56:34,436 --> 00:56:36,836 today is you grant me the commissioner of transportation, the 871 00:56:36,836 --> 00:56:43,418 ability to issue plus. One contractual years 2627-2829 provided region 872 00:56:43,418 --> 00:56:46,298 and city staff deemed the performance satisfactory as they have 873 00:56:46,298 --> 00:56:49,778 done for the last two riding seasons. This doesn't mean 874 00:56:49,778 --> 00:56:52,458 I won't. Return with an annual report. We'll absolutely do 875 00:56:52,458 --> 00:56:55,418 that. This is more to ensure we hit the timelines 876 00:56:55,418 --> 00:56:57,458 to give neuron enough time to prep for the following 877 00:56:57,458 --> 00:57:02,901 riding season. As you heard this morning. Neurons going to 878 00:57:02,901 --> 00:57:06,021 introduce an accessible fleet option for us. Another area of 879 00:57:06,021 --> 00:57:09,821 innovation in micromobility. And this was identified for the project 880 00:57:09,821 --> 00:57:12,673 team, so we're very excited. To kind of work on 881 00:57:12,673 --> 00:57:15,673 the community feedback and push in this direction. Council, in 882 00:57:15,673 --> 00:57:18,873 closing this one's pretty straightforward. The program has no levy 883 00:57:18,873 --> 00:57:22,313 impact. We receive a $60,000 licensing fee that we reinvest 884 00:57:22,313 --> 00:57:26,033 in the program. The ebike and escooter. Network is growing 885 00:57:26,033 --> 00:57:28,113 again. Thank you to our city partners. We move from 886 00:57:28,113 --> 00:57:33,689 40 in the past year. We're seeing our safety record 887 00:57:33,689 --> 00:57:36,649 increase, which remains a focus for ourselves and the neuron. 888 00:57:36,649 --> 00:57:39,569 Team, and we've got an established user base with over 889 00:57:39,569 --> 00:57:44,257 170,000 rides in 2024. And a lot of those. Converting 890 00:57:44,257 --> 00:57:47,217 to daily commuters. So I'll recommend that we continue our 891 00:57:47,217 --> 00:57:49,937 partnership with Neuron. And welcome any questions or comments. Thank 892 00:57:49,937 --> 00:57:53,457 you, chair. All right. Councilor Huinink, please. I'm happy to 893 00:57:53,457 --> 00:57:57,881 move this chair, Craig. You know, movement. Yeah. Okay. Do 894 00:57:57,881 --> 00:58:02,857 you have a seconder, please? Councillor McCabe. Okay, turn to 895 00:58:02,857 --> 00:58:04,337 your escribe, folks. Let's go. 896 00:58:22,256 --> 00:58:28,506 All right. That passes, folks. Okay? The next item is 897 00:58:28,506 --> 00:58:32,286 a moving on to the item. It's Rod Regier would like 898 00:58:32,286 --> 00:58:37,021 to. Commissioner. Planning, development and legislative services. Going to introduce 899 00:58:37,021 --> 00:58:41,371 the report. He said he only needed 30 seconds. Thank 900 00:58:41,371 --> 00:58:47,474 you very much. Apologies to Ryan and Danielle, who. Have 901 00:58:47,474 --> 00:58:50,559 been sitting here for the presentation. Just a very brief 902 00:58:50,559 --> 00:58:55,481 summary. We did a really great survey of businesses and 903 00:58:55,481 --> 00:59:00,601 workplaces in the Waterloo region last in 2024. We surveyed 904 00:59:00,601 --> 00:59:08,475 about 11,000 establishments. Of which 8300 successfully completed the survey, 905 00:59:08,475 --> 00:59:12,155 and the report simply outlines the findings of this survey. 906 00:59:12,155 --> 00:59:14,555 One of the very interesting things about the project was 907 00:59:14,555 --> 00:59:21,629 that we did extensive work amongst our rural. Workplaces and 908 00:59:21,629 --> 00:59:24,749 got some very interesting results that are helping to inform 909 00:59:24,749 --> 00:59:28,389 our economic development strategy that the townships are working with. 910 00:59:29,910 --> 00:59:33,030 Waterloo economic development on so this is a great piece 911 00:59:33,030 --> 00:59:36,670 of work. It illustrates some excellent collaboration between our area 912 00:59:36,670 --> 00:59:40,470 municipalities, our business community and the region. So thank you 913 00:59:40,470 --> 00:59:46,169 very much to staff for facilitating this work. If there's 914 00:59:46,169 --> 00:59:49,650 any questions. Chair Redman chair Craig just a comment to 915 00:59:49,650 --> 00:59:55,546 say that I think this data. Is just a goldmine 916 00:59:55,546 --> 00:59:59,466 of information, and we often have conversations about how we 917 00:59:59,466 --> 01:00:03,127 go to other levels of government, and this gives. Us 918 01:00:03,127 --> 01:00:05,967 the data and the illustration in the profile of our 919 01:00:05,967 --> 01:00:08,447 entire region when we go forward. So whether it's at 920 01:00:08,447 --> 01:00:13,007 Roma or Amo or FCM, it arms us as politicians 921 01:00:13,007 --> 01:00:16,909 and advocates for the things. And the focus that we 922 01:00:16,909 --> 01:00:19,903 have in our community. With the actual information, so thank 923 01:00:19,903 --> 01:00:25,821 you. Great job. And such a rich. Resource. Thank you, 924 01:00:25,821 --> 01:00:29,021 chair Redman. Okay, we're just going to move on, folks. 925 01:00:29,021 --> 01:00:33,141 You have the information correspondence, the council committee tracking list. 926 01:00:36,054 --> 01:00:40,814 Letter of support for neuron mobility. Any other business members 927 01:00:40,814 --> 01:00:46,937 of council? You're being very good today. Good? Okay. Next 928 01:00:46,937 --> 01:00:51,217 meeting is March 4, and I need a motion to 929 01:00:51,217 --> 01:00:57,716 adjourn, please. Councilor Foxton, councilor Huinink. Go to Escribe, 930 01:00:57,716 --> 01:01:07,622 folks. That passes. And just a reminder, 931 01:01:07,622 --> 01:01:09,662 folks, we have a quick special council meeting.