Council Highlights - Oct. 21, 2019
View the video recording of Council and Committee of the Whole
New website
Marc MacDonald, communications and public relations specialist for the Town updated Council on some of the changes of the recently launched Pelham website. Outlining the timeline of the project, stemming back to May of this year, MacDonald noted the various changes the site has gone through, most noticeably the visual and informational upgrades on the landing page.
"This redesign was needed," said MacDonald. "Users were having a difficult time navigating our site and finding information, and for a municipal website that's a major problem. We want to ensure that information is waiting for a user when they visit our site, and this redesign has addressed many of the issues we would hear about."
In addition to the new look, information has been realigned, creating an easier flow from page to page and topic to topic.
Feedback on the new website can be sent to MacDonald via email or by phone: 905-892-2607 x309
Intermunicipal transit update
Matt Robinson, Director, GO Implementation Office, provided an update to Council on the Region's goal of moving transit forward through intermunicipal transit (IMT). The system is comprised of routes travelling between municipalities, and are primarily provided the Region; they are hub-to-hub connections.
Though there are still several steps to take before IMT is fully integrated throughout Niagara, Robinson's presentation provided a clear snapshot of where the project was, is, and will be going.
To Woornerf or not to Woornerf
Sitting as Committee of the Whole, Council determined the fate of the Woornerf (or urban square) at the Meridian Community Centre.
In a community planning and development report, Committee was asked to receive the report and maintain the vision for the main urban square, including it in the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, Community Culture and Recreation Grant.
On August 12, 2018 Council passed a motion directing staff to provide a report regarding the ‘Woornerf’ lands including a description of the original concept for the lands that was previously approved by Council, but not limited to the purpose, community need and alternative options for the lands.
One of the general development objectives in the East Fonthill Secondary Plan is to design roads at a pedestrian scale that are also bicycle friendly, with attractive public spaces, capable of performing a supporting role to the open space network.
A Woornerf is a Dutch term that means a shared street that includes traffic calming, low speed limits, landscaping and pedestrian activity. It is designed to accommodate pedestrians and vehicular movements equally in contrast to a traditional street design which gives priority to motor vehicles.
The design elements within the Main Urban Square that the Site Master Plan identifies include
- A central lawn area
- Skating trail
- Water feature
- Raised pavilion
- Pedestrian pergolas
- Screen walls/fencing
- Street furniture
- Deciduous canopy trees
As discussion moved forward, Council focused on the need for additional parking at the community centre, highlighting that if the Woornerf was to be included in the grant, and the grant was successful, the Town would be commited to almost one million in funds to complete the project. Understanding that parking assessments would cost money, it was agreed to put the parking assessment tin the grant ask instead.
"We just can't afford it right now," said Councillor Mike Ciolfi.
The motion to maintain the vision of the urban square was defeated.