Members Present:	E. Kolb; M. Morrison; P. Saito; J. Sprovieri*; R. Starr; A. Thompson
Members Absent:	P. Palleschi, due to illness
Also Present:	Region of Peel: D. Labrecque, Commissioner, Public Works; D. Albanese, Director, Transportation; K. Lockyer, Regional Clerk and Director of Clerk’s; J. Avsec, Manager, Traffic Engineering; S. Jurrius, Committee Clerk; J. Schwartz, Acting Legislative Assistant M. Parks, Manager, Traffic Engineering Services, City of Brampton; A. Sousa, Manager, Traffic Engineering and Operations, City of Mississauga

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* See text for arrivals
¨See text for departures

Chaired by Councillor P. Saito

1. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - Nil

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION ARRASC-5-2013:

That the agenda for the November 21, 2013 Arterial Roads Review Ad hoc Steering Committee meeting, be approved.

3. DELEGATIONS – Nil

4. REPORTS

a) Traffic Signal Operations and Maintenance Service Agreements between the Region of Peel and the Cities of Brampton and Mississauga – All Wards

RECOMMENDATION ARRASC-6-2013:

That subject to cost neutrality, the Commissioner of Public Works be authorized to execute a Traffic Signal Operations and Maintenance Service Agreement with each of the Corporation of the City of Brampton and the Corporation of the City of Mississauga, on the terms as substantially set out in the report of the Commissioner of Public Works, dated October 24, 2013, titled "Traffic Signal Operations and Maintenance Service Agreements between the Region of Peel and the Cities of Brampton and Mississauga, All Wards" and to the satisfaction of the Regional Solicitor;

And further, that subject to cost neutrality, the Commissioner of Public Works be authorized to execute any amendments to the Traffic Signal Operations and Maintenance Service Agreements that may be required from time to time;

And further, that a copy of the subject report be forwarded to the City of Brampton, the City of Mississauga, and the Town of Caledon for information.

In response to an inquiry from Councillor Saito, Dan Labrecque, Commissioner of Public Works, stated that there would be no significant staffing impacts to the Region of Peel as a result of the transfer of Regional traffic signal operations and maintenance to the Cities of Brampton and Mississauga. Dan Labrecque undertook to report back to the Committee with information related to the cost neutrality and finalized agreement.

Al Sousa, Manager, Traffic Engineering and Operations, City of Mississauga, stated that on the subject of its existing service levels, City of Mississauga would be taking on additional maintenance services on behalf of the Region of Peel, as well as the traffic control system. He informed the Committee that staff at the City of Mississauga is planning to take on two full time equivalents (FTEs) who would be required to maintain the City's existing service levels, with the expectation that there would be full recovery from the Region of Peel on labour costs.

Michael Parks, Manager, Traffic Engineering Services, City of Brampton, confirmed that Brampton would be following the same process as Mississauga.

David Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer, questioned the efficiency of this approach if the Cities of Brampton and Mississauga are planning to hire two staff each and the costs of four staff would be charged back to the Region of Peel.

Joe Avsec, Manager, Traffic Engineering, Public Works, clarified that the functions related to operations and maintenance of the traffic signals and systems would be transferred from the Region of Peel to the Cities of Brampton and Mississauga, which would result in the contracting out of two staff. The Region will be reallocating the jobs of existing Regional staff to do in-house capital-related traffic signal works currently overseen by consultants. He stated that it becomes cost neutral when the Region is recovering from the capital side and not in operations.

David Szwarc expressed concern that a charge back from the two cities for the four staff will be greater than what the Region anticipated and could result in an increase in costs.

Councillor Morrison suggested that a clause be added to the main motion that there should be no increased cost to the Region of Peel. She noted that the Region of Peel should only pay for two staff and if there is a need for additional staff, it should be the responsibility of the two municipalities, not the Region.

Councillor Saito expressed her concern that the discussions on the transfer does not seem to be cost neutral and the financial implications contained in the report listed as Item 4a on the November 21, 2013 ARRASC agenda were insufficient. Councillor Saito suggested that the report be referred back to staff and report back to Regional Council for additional information about financial implication.

Dan Labrecque assured the Committee members that no agreement would be executed that is not cost neutral. He advised that Legal staff from the Region of Peel and the Cities of Brampton and Mississauga would be performing due diligence with the agreements in the next six to seven months. In the interim, Dan Labrecque suggested that the second clause of the main motion be amended to include "subject to cost neutrality" or, alternatively, the Committee could direct staff to report back on the agreement. He cautioned that the latter approach could further delay the execution of the agreement.

Councillor Sprovieri arrived at 11:35 a.m.

In response to questions from Councillor Starr, Damian Albanese, Director, Transportation, Public Works, provided an overview of the process involved to execute the agreement between Regional and area municipal staff. He advised that an endorsement or approval from the respective area municipal council is required before the Region can proceed with the transfer. The expectation by all parties is that the agreement will be executed in July 2014.

Regional Chair Kolb stated that Durham Region utilizes the Traffic Signal Control and Operations Model that allows the Region to oversee its traffic operations for all of its area municipalities. He noted that the model is cost effective and provides seamless service to the public that is better served at a Regional level. Regional Chair Kolb expressed his concern about the additional Full-Time Equivalents in the Cities of Brampton and Mississauga.

Michael Parks stated that the Cities of Brampton and Mississauga staff are expected to report to their respective Councils about the subject transfer early in the new year.

The Commissioner of Public Works was requested by Councillor Saito to present the final draft agreement for the Committee's review and consideration at the appropriate time.

b) Transfer of Coleraine Drive from the Town of Caledon to the Region of Peel

Received

In response to questions from Councillor Sprovieri, Dan Labrecque, Commissioner of Public Works, stated that staff from the Region of Peel will be working with City of Brampton staff with respect to the future uploading of Coleraine Drive (Highway 50 to King Street), as it relates to funding and taking over construction projects in the subject area.

Councillor Sprovieri sought clarification if the Region could expedite the transfer. Dan Labrecque responded that the Cities of Brampton and Mississauga decided to defer the transfer of jurisdictional issues until the Cities are satisfied with the operations and maintenance issues. He advised that Regional staff would report back with information on the status of the full implementation of Option 4A and the transfer of jurisdictional issues on street lighting, multi-use trails and sidewalks, before the end of the current term of Council.

In response to a question from Regional Chair Kolb, Damian Albanese stated that the York Region completed its Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Highway 427/Major Mackenzie area and that Regional staff are waiting for staff from York Region to confirm its timelines for the implementation of the EA.

Regional Chair Kolb requested that staff ensure the City of Brampton would be involved and provide input with respect to the transfer of Coleraine Drive to the Region of Peel.

5. COMMUNICATIONS - Nil

6. IN CAMERA MATTERS - Nil

7. OTHER BUSINESS - Nil

8. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Arterial Roads Review Ad hoc Steering Committee is scheduled for Thursday, March 6, 2014, 9:30 a.m., Council Chamber, 5th floor, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Brampton, Ontario.

Please forward regrets to Stephanie Jurrius, Committee Clerk, (905) 791-7800, ext. 4502 or at stephanie.jurrius@peelregion.ca.

9. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m.