Attendees:
John Sankey: He presented the agenda for the meeting and asked for any additions.
Motion: To appoint Yacoub Abu-Al-Hawa as director. Moved by John Sankey, seconded by Alan Asselstine, carried.
Motion: To appoint Christine Johnson as director. Moved by John Sankey, seconded by Alan Asselstine, carried.
Motion: To approve the March 2012 minutes. Moved by John Sankey, seconded by Yacoub Abu-Al-Hawa, carried.
John Sankey: He introduced the April Councillor's Report. He talked about the structural problems with the Airport Parkway Pedestrian Bridge caused by inadequate quality control of the concrete. He is concerned that there will be political pressure to accept an inferior solution to them.
Jerry Beausoleil: He will meet with the City engineer and ask him what's going on and how do we go about getting lane changes on Riverside Drive south-bound.
Christine Johnson: The Planning Summit, April 26 would be a good time to raise the issue of traffic problems on Riverside Drive. We should register now.
Alan Asselstine: The City is expanding the number of lanes on Prince of Wales Drive from two to four but there will be a short stretch that will stay as two lanes. In effect, there will be no relief to the biggest problem which is the intersection of Hunt Club and Prince of Wales. 50% of the north-bound traffic on Prince of Wales turns east onto the Sheflin Bridge. From there 30% turns north onto Riverside and 20% continues east-bound on Hunt Club.
John Sankey: The net result is the Bridge is jammed! He described a small change at the ends of the bridge that would provide a useful improvement. It will be needed once the eastern connection to the 417 is complete.
Jerry Beausoleil: He has arranged to meet with city staff to discuss the traffic problems which have plagued our community for well over a year at Riverside Drive, Hunt Club Rd and Prince of Wales Drive. The Hunt Club community is concerned these major arterial roads are blocked for extended periods twice a day during morning and evening rush hours. As a result, traffic is increasingly using Uplands Drive as a cut through in an attempt to avoid the bottle-neck at the intersection and is making Uplands Drive unsafe for local traffic and residents. Moreover, emergency vehicles responding to situations have been stuck in traffic jams. These issues have been brought to the attention of the HCCO and our Councillor for more than a year. We have attempted to arrange a meeting with city staff. Mr Beausoleil renews his willingness to meet.
John Sankey: He encouraged individual directors to register for the Planning Summit, April 26, 2012 to be held at the new CE Centre on Uplands. Registration is at 8:00 and the sessions start at 9:00.
Gisèle Loiselle: The new casino should be built at Scotia Bank Place and not downtown.
Next meeting: Monday May 7 at 19:00