Hamilton Cycling Committee

Minutes of Meeting

Wednesday January 3, 2007

Attendees:

Greg Ellis, Al Horzelenberg, Tarquin Adams, Thom Oommen, Michael Donaldson, Bob Brown

Committee Member Regrets: Daryl Bender (Chair), Rob Wazny

Public Works Staff representative: Rich Shebib

Committee Participant: Jordan Fysh

Acting Chair: Thom Oommen

Minutes taken by Bob Brown

A. Business Items from last meeting held December 6, 2006:

1. Red Hill Expressway multi-use path. The Committee still needs clarification on some aspects of the design of this path. Two specific areas are:

i) the path going East/West under the bridge at the south end to allow cyclists/hikers to cross the Expressway to continue along Mud Street

ii) the tie-in and provisions to access the path at Lawrence Road

ACTION ITEM: Rich Shebib will contact Marco Oddi re coming out to the start of the next Committee Meeting (February 7, 2007) to review the design. Design drawings will be required to show the proposed layout for the above items.

2. James St. bike racks (King to CNR): Locations to be decided in the Spring with a “walk about”. Thom Oommen volunteered to participate as a Committee representative.

3. Full-time Bicycle Coordinator: No decision by the City has been made.

ACTION ITEM: Thom Oommen will draft a letter to the City emphasizing the importance of including this new Staff position in the 2007 City Budgeting process.

4. Parking Passes: These are available to Committee members and will cover parking at the Second Level of City Hall through to (and including) the June 2007 meeting. HSR bus passes are not feasible at this time.

5. 8 Route Brochures:

ACTION ITEM: Rich Shebib will arrange for ordering 3000 brochures and will charge these to the appropriate City Budget account.

NOTE: These will be required for the Toronto Bicycle Show the first weekend in March.

6. Department of Tourism participation in the Bikeways, Trails and Parks Map: It was decided not to pursue this any further at this time.

7. Sanders Blvd.: A proposed letter prepared by Daryl Bender was reviewed and accepted.

ACTION ITEM: Daryl to review what parties the letter is to be sent to.

ACTION ITEM: Rich to review property access with Leanne Coveyduk off of Sanders Blvd. in light of the fact that it appears that private landscaping features have been placed on municipal property

8. HSR Bike racks: HSR staff are reviewing problems implementing the racks due to space and safety concerns at the Upper James Garage facility. Committee are deferring a decision on the suggestion brought forward by Steve Begley that specific stops only be designated for cyclists to place their bicycles on these racks. This is important to recommend once HSR have resolved their concerns.

9. Committee Status: This is to be reviewed by Staff.

ACTION ITEM: Rich to prepare necessary documentation to ensure the Committee is recognized officially by the City.

10. Power Assisted Bicycles: Michael Donaldson requested clarification on these as recently approved by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.

ACTION ITEM: Committee requests that Rob Wazny e-mail Rich Shebib (rshebib@hamilton.ca) the details of the MTO approval and where the documentation is available for viewing.

11. Project Updates:

i) York Blvd.: Design Drawings are being processed

ii) Hunter Street: No Update

iii) South Service Road: No Update. Staff are reviewing the operation of the gate (locked at times) at the East end of Confederation Park on the multi-use trail.

12. Financial Statements: To be reviewed at next meeting when updated statements will be available.

13. Selection Sub-Committee: To be apprised of progress by the City when advertising for Committee Members is proceeding in the next few months

B. Other Business Items:

1. Website linking: Links between the HCC Web page and the City Website could be improved.

ACTION ITEM: Committee members are asked to review these sites and recommend changes at the next meeting.

2. Update of “Shifting Gears”: This document is being reviewed by the City’s Consultant “IBI” and recommendations for changes are to be presented to the Cycling Committee. Cycling Committee members are urged to give input on any changes they see appropriate.

3. Toronto Bike Show: Recommended booth #645 (near Niagara Cycling Committee). Registration form to include passes for 2 Committee Members (these are passed from one shift to the next for the duration of the show ), 1 table, 2 chairs and a table skirt. No electrical supply is required.

ACTION ITEM: Rich to submit registration form and include details as above.

ACTION ITEM: Greg will work on obtaining staffing for each of the 4 hour shifts for Friday through Sunday.

NOTE: Al Horzelenberg and Bob Brown stated that regretfully, they would not be available to attend this year’s show.

4. Cycling Tours: Jordan Fysh described a proposal to hold informal bicycling tours of such interesting Hamilton facilities as the Water Falls, Historical Facilities, Restaurants etc that interested cyclists could participate in on their own time. Maps and brochures would be made available. It was suggested that an excellent form of promoting such a program would be through the Web’s “My Space” site as there is no cost to do this. URL: http://www.myspace.com/

5. Adjournment: Motion by Al Horzelenberg, seconded by Tarquin Adams.