MARKHAM PARKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2009

CANADA ROOM, MARKHAM CIVIC CENTRE

 

MINUTES

____________________________________________________________________________

 

Attendance:

 

Members of Council

Deputy Mayor J. Heath (3:05 p.m.)

Regional Councillor G. Landon

Regional Councillor J. Virgilio

Councillor A. Chiu

 

Regrets

Regional Councillor J. Jones

 

Staff

J. Livey, Chief Administrative Officer

Alan Brown, Director of Engineering

Bill Wiles, Manager of By-Law Enforcement & Licensing

Barb Cribbett, Treasurer

Meg West, Manager of Strategic Initiatives

Brian Lee, Manager, Development Engineering and Transportation

Lorenzo Mele, Transportation Demand Management Coordinator

Murray Boyce, Senior Project Coordinator, Policy and Growth Management

Judy Kee, Committee Clerk

Guests:

Dylan Passmore, IBI Group
Brian Hollingworth, IBI Group

Ralph Bond, BA Group

 

 

The meeting was called to order at 2:15 p.m. with Regional Councillor J. Virgilio presiding as Chair.

 

 

 

1.                  MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2009
            PARKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

 

Moved by Councillor A. Chiu

Seconded by Regional Councillor G. Landon

 

That the minutes of the September 14, 2009 Parking Advisory Committee meeting be approved.

 

CARRIED

 

 

 

2.                  MARKHAM PARKING MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

            DRAFT RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES AND

            IMPLEMENTING ACTIONS

 

Mr. Brian Hollingworth and Mr. Dylan Passmore, IBI Group, were in attendance, and distributed copies of a presentation on the Parking Management Strategy and Draft Recommendations.  Mr. Ralph Bond, BA Group, was also in attendance as resource.

 

Mr. Hollingworth outlined the purpose of the presentation which was to recap the objectives and scope of the Strategy; to provide contextual information on existing and future parking supply and demand; to present preliminary recommendations and the background/rational for their inclusion; and to confirm next steps.

 

Members were provided with details of the following:

·        Parking strategy framework

·        Draft guiding principles

·        Parking supply and demand forecasts – on-street parking

·        Parking supply and demand forecasts – off-street parking

·        Structure of recommendations

·        Strategies that increase parking capacity and efficiency:

o       Review of parking zoning standards

o       Expand municipally-owned public parking supply

o       Optimize on-street parking management

o       Improve user information

·        Strategies that reduce commuter parking demand:

o       Continue to improve transit options

o       Promote active transportation

o       Encourage ridesharing and TDM

o       Parking pricing

 

 

 

 

·        Supporting strategies:

o       Enhance parking governance model

o       Funding parking management and development

o       Parking payment technology

o       Urban design

 

Committee raised questions, and provided comments, as follows:

 

-         on-street paid parking would be possible on Main Street Markham and Main Street Unionville; a large culture shift would have to occur for this to happen

-         queried principles of “why we are doing this”; there has to be a philosophy

-         there should be public consultation prior to any action taken

-         concern expressed with commercial building complex at south-east corner of Highway 7 and South Town Centre Blvd.: there is no quick, easy parking; vehicles have to go underground to park; retailers are concerned

-         proposal to revise parking ratios – not draconian

-         suggestion that staff plant more trees, as some residents tie their bicycles to trees; and the installation of more bike racks (i.e. Pacific Mall; Steeles Avenue in the Brimley and McCowan Road areas)

-         more bike racks on buses – transit-supportive measures and TDM

-         more on-street parking may assist in traffic calming

-         residential parking permit system established to address parking concerns, i.e. Cornell Community

-         with respect to improving transit options: feasibility of shuttle bus service within subdivisions (Cornell, Markham Centre) rather the usual E/W, N/S transit routes; developers could be approached by municipality or local transit system to pick up the tab for this services; or include as part of condo fees and make shuttles free

-         Mississauga example of such a shuttle initiative: buses were not well used

-         under “Continue to Improve Transit Options” - 5th Bullet should read: “Find ways to implement options for innovative …..

-         another option would be the offering of “bus passes’ – negotiated between each corporate building and transit system

-         reference to City of Ottawa’s development of parking guidelines and protocol relating to BIA’s – Ralph Bond to forward format of agreement with BIA’s

-         consideration of paid parking at Pacific Mall and Markville Mall

 

Some concern was expressed that the Town may get “push-back” from certain stakeholders in the Town if paid parking was implemented.  Members were advised that usually there has to be some sort of problem before a municipality would start charging for parking in an area.  Alternatively, paid parking may be initiated after the municipality has improved an area, such as by erecting a parking garage, a parking lot, or enhancing streetscaping.

 

 

 

 

It was noted that if there was a constant concern such as a lack of parking on streets such as Main Street Markham and Main Street Unionville, something could be worked out with the local BIA’s regarding the installation of paid parking.  However, it was pointed out that some business owners believe that paid parking would negatively affect their livelihood.

 

Mr. Hollingworth explained that “public consultation” is already part of the parking strategy, and that residents should be provided with the broader level of the Parking Management Strategy and asked what their issues are.

 

Committee stressed the importance of creating a governance model first.  Then a parking authority would be established, which could be comprised of some Councillors and outsiders with expertise.  It was requested that staff report back at the next meeting with a recommendation to this effect, following consultation with the Town Solicitor.  The need to move forward soon on this matter was emphasized.

 

There was some discussion regarding the availability and cost of additional pay and display machines, and staff was requested to provide financial information on start-up costs a the next meeting.  Members were advised that the current recommendation is to monitor evolving technology at this time.  Committee noted that any future machines purchased should have the ability to accept credit cards.

 

With respect to the area of Urban Design, the matter of the Town’s current approach to “drive-thru” facilities was briefly discussed, and Mr. Hollingworth advised that they will come back with more detailed information on this matter.

 

Committee requested staff to refine the draft recommendations, and Members were advised that staff and consultants will come back to Committee at the next meeting with options and choices, including a solution strategy regarding the issues raised this date and some concrete recommendations. 

 

Members discussed the next steps, and, after the next meeting of the Parking Advisory Committee, staff was requested to deliver a presentation to Part A of the Development Services Committee in December, if possible, or January 2010.  It is hoped that the Town could go to the public in February, and the strategy be completed by March or April.

 

 

 

3.         NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting of the Parking Advisory Committee is scheduled for:

 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008 AT 2:00 P.M.

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The Parking Advisory Committee adjourned at 3:45 p.m.