Minutes of Regular Meeting - City Council

Council Chamber, 4th Floor, City Hall

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4th Floor City Hall
Present:
  • Mayor Danny Breen
  • Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O'Leary
  • Councillor Maggie Burton
  • Councillor Dave Lane
  • Councillor Sandy Hickman
  • Councillor Deanne Stapleton
  • Councillor Hope Jamieson
  • Councillor Jamie Korab
  • Councillor Ian Froude
  • Councillor Wally Collins
Regrets:
  • Councillor Debbie Hanlon
Staff:
  • Kevin Breen, City Manager
  • Derek Coffey, Deputy City Manager of Finance & Administration
  • Tanya Haywood, Deputy City Manager of Community Services
  • Jason Sinyard, Deputy City Manager of Planning, Engineering & Regulatory Services
  • Lynnann Winsor, Deputy City Manager of Public Works
  • Cheryl Mullett, City Solicitor
  • Elaine Henley, City Clerk
  • Shanna Fitzgerald, Legislative Assistant
  • Susan Bonnell, Manager - Communications & Office Services
  • Garrett Donaher, Manager - Transportation Engineering

​​Land Acknowledgement

The following statement was read into the record:

“We respectfully acknowledge the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador, of which the City of St. John’s is the capital City, as the ancestral homelands of the Beothuk. Today, these lands are home to a diverse population of indigenous and other peoples. We would also like to acknowledge with respect the diverse histories and cultures of the Mi’kmaq, Innu, Inuit, and Southern Inuit of this Province.”


  • SJMC-R-2020-05-05/216
    Moved ByDeputy Mayor O'Leary
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hickman

    That the Agenda be adopted as presented.

    MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)
  • SJMC-R-2020-05-05/217
    Moved ByCouncillor Korab
    Seconded ByCouncillor Stapleton

    That the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on April 27, 2020 be adopted as presented.

    MOTION CARRIED (10 to 0)

At the Regular Council Meetings of April 13 and April 27, 2020, Councillor Hickman presented information regarding the pedestrian movement during the current COVID-19 pandemic and sought Council approval for changes. Consideration was given to the potential for street reconfiguration and signal timing adjustments and staff was asked to provide recommendations to Council as part of the City’s response to COVID-19. Councillor Hickman outlined the information contained in the Decision Note and presented the following sample projects to Council:

Sample Projects

  1. Portugal Cove Road - Empire Avenue to New Cove Road: 
    Street space on the western side of the street reallocated to widen sidewalk. Shown as a yellow line in Figure 1. Also shown in this figure is Baird’s Lane in green which permits a connection to Kenny’s Pond via Tiffany Lane. This project connects neighbourhoods to the Elizabeth Avenue commercial area and recreational opportunities.
  2. Elizabeth Avenue - Portugal Cove Road to Torbay Road: 
    The curb lane on both sides of the street is reallocated to active space. Shown as a purple line in Figure 1. This improves the connection from the previous project to the commercial area including the grocery store at Torbay Road and Elizabeth. An extension of this project further west along Elizabeth Avenue would further improve this connection but has increased impacts on vehicle travel.
  3. Lemarchant Road - Campbell Avenue / Pleasant Street to Cookstown Road: 
    The parking lane on the south side of Lemarchant would be reallocated to active space. Shown as a yellow line on Figure 2. This parking lane is currently underused due to business closures. Two pharmacies are in close proximity of the western end of this sample project. It also allows connection into the downtown at several places and serves St. Clare Hospital. An extension of this project further east along Military Road would further improve this connection but has increased impacts on vehicle travel.
  4. Parade Street - Lemarchant Road to Merrymeeting Road: 
    Street space on the eastern side of the street would be reallocated for active use. Shown as a red line on Figure 2 this is a short connection between sample projects c and e.
  5. Newtown Road - Merrymeeting Road to Elizabeth Avenue: 
    Street space on the eastern side of the street would be reallocated for active use. Shown as a purple line on Figure 2. The space allocated for this project would be narrower than others given the constraints imposed by existing infrastructure. However, this sample project provides a good connection to recreational opportunities and a grocery store for the surrounding community.
  6. Harbour Drive: 
    The parking lane on the south side of Harbour Drive would be reallocated to active space. Shown as a yellow line on Figure 3. Demand for parking along Harbour Drive is currently very low. Connecting Harbour Drive through downtown to Lemarchant Road or Military Road is desirable but no individual route was identified that makes this connection with a good balance of benefit and impact.

During discussion the following was noted:

  • Walking is an essential movement and a primary mode of transportation for people as well as for recreational purposes.
  • The focus of this project was the core of the city where the residential density is higher, and the streets and space are confined making it more difficult to maintain social distancing while walking.
  • Sidewalk snow clearing was referenced in the note and will be reviewed in the coming weeks. 
  • Businesses using outside space who will be affected by these projects will need to be considered.
  • The sample projects are examples selected to maximize the effectiveness of this initiative and can be implemented anywhere Council feels there is a need.
  • There should be a trial period of a month with staff monitoring and evaluation throughout the 30 days.
  • Lemarchant Road corridor should be extended as far East as possible for people travelling on foot to Bannerman Park and the Gathering Place to do so safely. Additional length should be added.
  • Downtown businesses should be consulted about pedestrian free times downtown.
  • Water and Prescott Street and areas downtown could be marked off on weekends as public space.
  • Closing downtown (Water Street) to vehicular traffic for periods of time to open it for public space was discussed with Downtown St. John's last year. This should be revisited as a way to aid affected businesses and restaurants with occupancy limitations and may be a good way to reopen the downtown area after the Water Street Infrastructure project is complete.
  • The Inclusion Advisory Committee was consulted and suggested yellow or red warning tape for visibility. The use of warning tape will be reviewed by Staff as driveway access must be considered.
  • Communication to the public for pedestrians to walk facing traffic was suggested.

Following discussion, the following recommendation was moved by Councillor Froude:

  • SJMC-R-2020-05-05/218
    Moved ByCouncillor Froude
    Seconded ByCouncillor Hickman

    That Council approve changes to the transportation network in response to COVID-19. Network segments included in this initiative would be divided into phases using the candlesticks option. Pilot Phase 1 over 30 days includes the following sample projects:

    • B: Elizabeth Avenue - Portugal Cove Road to Torbay Road
    • D: Parade Street - Lemarchant Road to Merrymeeting Road
    • E: Newtown Road - Merrymeeting Road to Elizabeth Avenue
    • F: Harbour Drive

    Consideration will be given to future projects depending on the outcome. Staff to evaluate during the 30 day period. Consultation with downtown businesses is required.

    MOTION CARRIED (8 to 2)

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:58 pm.