- Tom Wasik, Vice-President, Asset Management, Alectra Utilities
- Armando Porco, Senior Manager, Wireless Real Estate, and Joanne Caruana, Senior Manager, Wireline Network, Bell Canada
- Carrie Percival, Chair, Dave Kapil, Member, Rick Evans, Secretary, and Suzy Godefroy, Executive Director, Downtown Brampton BIA
Items 10.1.1, 10.2.5 and 10.3.1 were brought forward and dealt with at this time.
Carrie Percival, Chair, Downtown Brampton BIA, was not in attendance.
H. Persaud, Acting Manager of Engineering, Public Works and Engineering, and S. Mahmood, Senior Supervisor, (IDP)/Principal Planner, Planning, Building and Economic Development, provided a presentation entitled "Downtown Revitalization Program: Streetscaping Options – Phase1 of the Integrated Downtown Plan”, which included various options for Committee's consideration.
In addition, C. Barnett, Director, Economic Development, provided an update on the Downtown Projects Centre, and Mr. Mahmood provided an updated regarding the Welcoming Streets Pilot Program.
Tom Wasik, Vice-President, Asset Management, Alectra Utilities, provided a presentation regarding Alectra Utilities services, integrated planning, and consultation and collaboration with the City to support the revitalization of Brampton’s Downtown.
Armando Porco, Senior Manager, Wireless Real Estate, and Joanne Caruana, Senior Manager, Wireline Network, Bell Canada, provided a presentation titled “Brampton Broadband Plan – Bell Canada Network Planning” and outlined their willingness to work with staff to support Brampton’s Downtown revitalization.
Dave Kapil, Member, Rick Evans, Secretary, and Suzy Godefroy, Executive Director, Downtown Brampton BIA, addressed Committee on behalf of the Downtown Brampton BIA in support of the Downtown Revitalization Plan. They thanked staff for their efforts and outlined the importance of investing in this plan to make downtown a destination in the GTA, and urged Council to approve the cobblestone streetscape. In addition, the delegations requested that timelines be reasonable and shortened where possible.
Committee questions of the delegations included the involvement of the utilities in the Downtown Revitalization project.
Committee thanked staff for their efforts in bringing forward a comprehensive Downtown Revitalization Program in a short time, and discussion took place with respect to the following:
- Outreach and collaboration with utilities
- Expanded and holistic approach to the revitalization of the downtown
- Flexibility of streetscaping materials (e.g. tree planters and stone pavers)
The following motion was introduced to approve Option 2, as outlined in the subject report:
That the joint staff report from the Planning, Building & Economic Development, Public Works & Engineering and Transit Departments titled: Downtown Revitalization Program (DRP) – Streetscaping Options, First Phase of the Integrated Downtown Plan (IDP) to the Committee of Council Meeting of September 22, 2021, be received;
That Option 2, as outlined in this report, be chosen to begin the streetscaping work as part of the first phase of the immediate implementation of the broader Integrated Downtown Plan (IDP), in full coordination with the Region of Peel’s infrastructure work;
That the City implements key short-term initiatives and strategies noted in this report that will immediately engage the Downtown Community and enhance the downtown streetscape elements;
That Staff conduct an 8-week Urban Design Activation Strategy to study development opportunities for temporary and long-term urban design activations in the downtown;
That Staff develop a Downtown Brampton Streetscape Manual to complement the approval of the Integrated Downtown Plan which informs the diverse characters and local neighbourhoods within Downtown Brampton;
That Staff be directed to include funds in the 2022 budget to undertake the detailed design, including consultation with internal and external stakeholders for Garden Square and Ken Whillans Square; and
That a copy of the report titled “Downtown Revitalization (DRP) – Streetscaping Options, First Phase of Integrated Downtown Plan (IDP)” be provided to the Region of Peel.
A second motion was introduced regarding public art installations, as follows:
Whereas the creation of temporary art activations was one of the strategies for downtown vibrancy outlined in the June 23, 2021, staff presentation to Committee of Council, titled: Downtown Revitalization – Integrated Downtown Plan (IDP) Meanwhile Strategies - Short-Term Initiatives (CW341-2021).
Whereas staff engaged Sustainable Thinking and Expression on Public Space Initiative (“STEPS”) to support temporary art activations on City-owned buildings and assets in Downtown Brampton in Q4 2021.
Whereas Council deems it to be desirable to encourage public art installation on City-owned properties, buildings and assets, including both temporary and permanent mural installations.
Whereas Section 8(15) of the City’s Sign By-law exempts murals from the requirement for a permit, but requires that approval be obtained from City Council through Committee.
Now therefore, Council resolved:
1. That, subject to Clause 2, approval of an exemption for the installation of murals, both temporary and permanent, on all buildings and/or assets owned or leased by the City of Brampton, including urban furniture and assets located on municipal road rights-of-way, be granted pursuant to subsection 8(15) of the Sign By-law 399-2002, as amended.
2. That authority to approve of the content, design and placement of murals on City owned properties shall be delegated to the Director, Strategic Communications, Culture and Events and that the Delegation of Authority By-law 216-2017, as amended, be amended accordingly.
Further Committee discussion took place with respect to the following:
- Benefit of public art installations in downtown
- Cost difference between Options 1 and 2 in the subject report
- Downtown Reimagined project budget
- Collaboration with utilities and stakeholders
Amendments to the first motion were introduced and accepted by the mover to add the following clauses:
That the City of Brampton downtown revitalization plan incorporate a pedestrian realm and that the City will pay for any escalation in cost;
That this resolution also be provided to Brampton MPs and MPPs for information.
The motion, in its entirety, was considered as follows.