The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2023-512 dated November 14, 2023, regarding speed limits in school zones.
A. McCrimmon-Jones presented an overview of the report. B. Cronkite was also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.
Questions were raised regarding the anticipated locations of the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras indicated in the report. A. McCrimmon-Jones noted their analysis identified 25 key schools, 21 of which are located on regional, major or arterial streets.
In response to questions from the Committee regarding the possibility of having ASE cameras with set times and corresponding signage, B. Cronkite noted this approach is likely to increase the number of ticket appeals received due to incident times, and has the potential to unnecessarily flood the court system. B. Cronkite also noted adopting ASE cameras with set times without corresponding signage indicating the hours, could allow for static speed limits, good enforcement decisions and would benefit community safety during all hours. It was noted staff would be required to continue discussions with the Region of Waterloo regarding the ability to alter ASE camera enforcement hours without corresponding signage to pursue this approach.
In response to further questions, A. McCrimmon-Jones noted the City currently has four active ASE cameras, including two on City streets (Westheights Drive and Franklin Boulevard) and two on Regional roads (Westmount Road and Victoria Street).
In response to questions regarding the benefit of enforcing speed limits at all hours, A. McCrimmon-Jones noted given the community function of school properties and the presence of children and other vulnerable street users throughout the day and year, staff recommend maintaining a consistent and static speed limit of 40 km/h for all school zones on Major Community Collector and City Arterial streets and maintaining a consistent and static speed limit of 30 km/h for all school zones on Local and Minor Neighbourhood Collector streets.
Councillor B. Ioannidis entered the meeting at this time.
Councillor D. Schnider brought forward the motion, including an amendment to include an additional clause, "that the timing for automated speed enforcement in school zones be set for 7am to 5pm Monday to Friday from September 1 to June 30 and not include school holidays."
Mayor B. Vrbanovic proposed an additional amendment, "that school zones located on streets designated Major Community Collector and City Arterial maintain a consistent and static speed limit of 30 km/h," rather than the 40km/h outlined in Development Services Department report DSD-2023-512.
A motion was then brought forward by Mayor B. Vrbanovic to defer the recommendation as outlined in DSD-2023-512 to the December 11, 2023 Council meeting, to allow staff the opportunity to continue conversations with the Region of Waterloo and provide additional information regarding automated speed enforcement times.