Minutes

Brampton School Traffic Safety Council

The Corporation of the City of Brampton

-
Council Chambers - 4th Floor, City Hall - Webex Electronic Meeting
Members Present:
  • Patrick Doran (Chair)
  • Max Kazman (Vice-Chair)
  • Wendell Cole
  • Renee Crone
  • Charles Gonsalves
  • Michael Gyovai
  • Mazhar Khan
  • Mohan Balasubramaniyam
  • Trustee Kathy McDonald, PDSB
  • City Councillor C. Williams - Wards 7 and 8
Members Absent:
  • Baljit Mand
  • Zeenath Mahajan
  • Abdul Rashid
  • Pathik Shukla
  • Jashandeep Singh
  • Trustee Darryl D’Souza, DPCDSB
Staff and Agencies:
  • Craig Kummer, Senior Manager, Traffic Services
  • Peter Bryson, Supervisor, Enforcement and By-law Services
  • Violet Skirten, Crossing Guard Supervisor
  • Dave Marcotte, Peel District School Board
  • Krystina Koops, Dufferin-Peel District Catholic School Board
  • Chandra Urquhart, Legislative Coordinator

Note: In consideration of the current COVID-19 public health orders prohibiting large public gatherings of people and requirements for physical distancing between persons, in-person attendance at this Committee of Council meeting was limited and physical distancing was maintained in Council Chambers at all times during the meeting.

The meeting was called to order at 9:51 a.m. and adjourned at 10:58 a.m.

As this meeting was conducted with electronic participation by Members of the Committee, the meeting started with the City Clerk calling the roll for attendance at the meeting.

  • SC041-2020

    That the Agenda for the Brampton School Traffic Safety Council  meeting of November 5, 2020 be approved as amended to add the following:

    10.1  Discussion at the request of Charles Gonsalves, Member, and Max Kazman, Vice-Chair, re: Whether there is a need for Site Inspections with School Operating at Fifty Percent Capacity

    Carried

The minutes were considered by Committee of Council on October 21, 2020, and approved by Council on October 28, 2020.  The minutes were provided for Committee’s information.

Chandra Urquhart, Legislative Coordinator, noted that Patrick Doran, Chair, was in attendance at the meeting. He was listed in error as being absent on the members attendance list on the second page of the minutes.

Craig Kummer, Senior Manager, Traffic Services, provided an overview of the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program. He noted that ASE is 'an automated system that uses a camera and a speed measurement device (radar) to enforce speed limits on our roadways'. The following was highlighted:

  • Vision Zero Emphasis Areas
  • History of ASE in Brampton
  • Introduction of Bill in May 2017 to date Camera went live - September 2020
  • Vendor - Australian Headquarters serving 15 countries
  • How ASE works
  • How pictures are processed 
  • ASE threshold speed - not public information
  • Signage indicate approach to an ASE camera
  • Five camera location areas in Brampton - details available on City's website
  • Criteria for location of camera based on several factors
  • How to avoid a ticket -  limit distractions and drive the speed limit
  • Next steps include a report to Council in early 2021

Committee discussion took place. Mr. Kummer responded to questions of clarification from Committee which included:

  • Confirmation that ticket is given to license plate owner with no impact on points or insurance - include commercial vehicles
  • Status of the red light cameras which is overseen by the the Region of Peel on Regional Roads
  • Owner of stolen vehicles who receive a ticket will have to attend court 
  • Owner of commercial vehicles will be ticketed  
  • Legislation requires that signs have to be posted at locations before they are operational 
  • Some locations have seen a decrease in speed by approximately 10kh
  • Details on the number of tickets served - approximately 6,000 tickets - Ray Lawson Boulevard has received most number of tickets
  • Highest speed noted was 99kh in a 40kh zone
  • Budget allocation for the program - approximately $1.2 million annually 

The following motion was considered:

  • SC042-2020

    That the presentation by Craig Kummer, Senior Manager, Traffic Services, to the Brampton School Traffic Safety Council Meeting of November 5, 2020, re: Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) Overview be received.

    Carried

Violet Skirten, Crossing Guard Supervisor, provided an overview of the Peel Safe and Active Route to Schools (PSARTS) meeting which was held on October 20, 2020. She noted that discussions included the following:

  • different methods to provide training virtually
  • Walk and Roll initiative by the Region of Peel with the focus on activity and healthy lifestyle 
  • camera on school buses
  • community safety zones in Brampton
  • restarting of the sub-committees to look at infrastructure that is in place 

Violet Skirten, Crossing Guard Supervisor, provided an overview of the site inspection request. She explained that currently a crossing guard is located at the front of the school. New traffic signals were installed at the intersection of North Park Drive and Nasmith Street. She suggested that Committee undertake a site inspection do determine whether the crossing guard should be relocated to the intersection. 

Committee reviewed the request and considered the following motion:  

  • SC043-2020

    1.  That the Site Inspection Request from Violet Skirten, Crossing Guard Supervisor, to the Brampton School Traffic Safety Council meeting of November 5, 2020, re: Relocation of Crossing Guard - St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Separate School, 550 North Park Drive - Ward 7 be received; and

    2.  That a site inspection be undertaken.

    Carried

Krystina Koops, Dufferin-Peel District School Catholic School Board, advised that Holy Name of Mary Catholic Secondary School will be reopening in January 2021 following renovations. 

Krystina Koops, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and Trustee Kathy McDonald, Peel District School advised that Kindergarten grades have seen a significant decline in student enrollment. 

Max Kazman, Vice- Chair, noted comments on behalf of Charles Gonsalves, member, and himself. He questioned the need for site inspections at school sites given that schools are operating at reduced capacity. He advised that no significant traffic or safety issues were observed at the inspections recently undertaken, traffic volume was almost 'nonexistent' with only thirty to forty percent of the students attending school.  He viewed observations at school sites at this time as unrealistic and suggested that site inspections not be undertaken until schools are fully operational. 

Committee noted the comments provided. A motion was introduced as follows:

That site inspections not be undertaken by the Committee until attendance at schools have resumed to full capacity.

Committee discussion followed. It was suggested that the motion be amended to add the following:

 That site inspections be undertaken when it was deemed to be a safety matter.

The motion in its entirety was considered as follows:

  • SC044-2020

    1.  That the discussion at the request of Charles Gonsalves, Member, and Max Kazman, Vice-Chair, to the Brampton School Traffic Safety Council meeting of November 5, 2020, re: Whether there is a need for Site Inspections with School Operating at less than Fifty Percent Capacity, be received; and,

    2.  That site inspections not be undertaken by the Committee until attendance at schools have resumed to full capacity, unless it was deemed by the Committee that it was a safety matter concern. 

    Carried

Review Park and Ride, Traffic Congestion School Street/School Property, School Bus Zones - Thursday, October 8, 2020 - 7:45 p.m. and 2:10 p.m.

Committee reviewed the observations and recommendations in the site inspection report and considered the following motion.

  • SC045-2020

    1.  That the Site Inspection report to the Brampton School Traffic Safety Council meeting of November 5, 2020, re: Marguerite d'Youville Catholic Secondary School, 10815 Dixie Road – Ward 9 be received; and,

    2.  That the Principal be requested to continue to educate and encourage the drivers to use the designated Kiss and Ride area to drop off students and use the parking lot area to turn around when needed; and,

    3.  That the Brampton School Traffic Council revisit this school when the number of students attending school has returned to normal to capture a true sense of the interaction between all components at arrival and dismissal of the school.

    Carried

Review Park and Ride, Traffic Congestion School Street/School property, School Bus Zones - Tuesday, October 6, 2020 - 8:25 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Committee reviewed the observations and recommendations in the site inspection report and considered the following motion.

  • SC046-2020

    1.  That the Site Inspection report to the Brampton School Traffic Safety Council meeting of November 5, 2020, re: Kingswood Public School, 235 Kingswood Drive – Ward 1 be received; and,

    2.  That the Manager of Enforcement and By-law Services be requested to arrange to monitor and enforce the parking restrictions at Kingswood Public School during school arrival and dismissal times; and,

    3.  That the Principal be requested to:

    • Arrange for the placement of cones at the entrance and exit to prevent vehicles from entering school property at arrival and dismissal times;
    • Continue to educate and inform the student population on safety rules and responsibilities in and around the school.
    Carried

Review Park and Ride/Kiss and Ride Safety Concerns - Wednesday, October 14, 2020 - 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Committee reviewed the observations and recommendations in the site inspection report and considered the following motion.

  • SC047-2020

    1.  That the Site Inspection report to the Brampton School Traffic Safety Council meeting of November 5, 2020, re: Goldcrest Public School, 24 Goldcrest Road – Ward 8 be received; and,

    2.  That, in an effort to encourage Active Transportation to and from school, the Principal be requested to contact the designated Peel Health Nurse to participate in the School Travel Plan Program in Peel;

    3.  That the Manager of Enforcement and By-law Services be requested to enforce the parking restrictions on Goldcrest Road in the vicinity of the school during arrival and dismissal times; and,

    4.  That the Principal continue to educate and encourage the student population and families to exercise safety in and around the school.

    Carried

Review Crossing Guard inquiry at intersection Williams Parkway & Valleyway Drive - Tuesday, October 20, 2020 - 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. 

Committee reviewed the observations and recommendations in the site inspection report and considered the following motion.

  • SC048-2020

    1.  That the Site Inspection report to the Brampton School Traffic Safety Council meeting of November 5, 2020, re: St.Jean-Marie Vianney Catholic School, 75 Jordensen Drive - Ward 6 be received; and

    2.  That a Crossing Guard is not warranted at the intersection of Williams Parkway and Valleyway Drive at this time.

    Carried

St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Separate School, 550 North Park Drive - Ward 7

Relocation of Crossing Guard - North Park Drive and Nasmith Street - Tuesday, November 10, 2020 - 8.00 - 8:35 a.m. Max Kazman, Patrick Doran,  Mazar Khan, Councillor Williams - Report - Max Kazman

Kathy McDonald, Trustee, responded to a question regarding measures undertaken in the event of a Covid-19 breakout at schools. She noted that standard operating procedures and protocols are followed in accordance with Peel Public Health.

Violet Skirten, Crossing Guard Supervisor, responded to a question regarding the safeguarding of Crossing Guards while ensuring the safety of children. She outlined the safety measures that are followed which include the mandatory mask wearing and social distancing, noting that an electronic whistle will be used once available. She advised that the use of face shields is not recommended for use in this instance. 

The public was given the opportunity to submit questions via e-mail to the City Clerk’s Office regarding any decisions made under this section of the agenda.

No questions were received.

The following motion was considered:

  • SC049-2020

    That the Brampton School Traffic Safety Council meeting do now adjourn to meet again on December 3, 2020.

    Carried