SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 4TH @ 1:00 p.m.
Yes, you can say May the 4th be with you!
It is a CLOSED SPECIAL MEETING to consider CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS related to "the Facility Lease and Licence Agreement Extension between the City of Oshawa and Generals Hockey Inc. and the amended and restated Facility Operation and Management Agreement between the City and Global Spectrum.
Delegations for the Oshawa Generals are owner Rocco Tullio, Roger Hunt and others...

So the shared e-scooters arrived in Oshawa this week (Tues April 25), (the only municipality in Durham Region so far to have contracted with Vendors for this pilot project.)

But the day before, Mon Apr 24, the Province announced 2 additional MICRO MOBILILTY pilot projects.

More on that below, but first note that Hamilton launched its e-scooter program 3 weeks before Oshawa's, on Apr 3rd (See the CBC news article about Hamilton's 'roll out' here: https://www.cbc.ca/.../hamilton-e-scooter-pilot-1.6799976 

Does anyone notice something different about how the e-scooters are placed on the sidewalk ...beside the Hamilton article picture showing the e-scooter tied to the bicycle stands, are some pictures I took of the Oshawa's e-scooter displays downtown and at the lake to compare.​​

QUESTIONS:
Bird and Neuron are responsible for collecting and charging their shared e-scooters in Oshawa. These two companies have an agreement with the City (which is not costing the city any tax dollars) and are available to respond to inquiries as follows:
for the BIRD (blue) e-scooters the public is invited to call: 1-866-205-2442
with any concerns or questions
Email: 311_oshawa@birdcanada.co
website https://www.bird.co/
for the NEURON (orange) e-scooters the public is invited to call: 289-272-8997
Email: OshawaSupport@neuron.org
website https://www.rideneuron.com/
and also more information is available on the City's website here: https://www.oshawa.ca/.../tra.../e-scooters-and-e-bikes.aspx
​
UPDATE: a friend sent the following pictures from today, 4 days since the launch of the Oshawa shared-e-scooter program. It seems the Vendor's collection of the e-scooters and public understanding of the pilot program and where to  PARK them need  work.

Also, since people have asked me about liability, I've posted that in my opinion, no matter what waiver of liability, agreements, insurance policies state, issues can arise of how enforceable they are, and ultimately  may be decided on a case by case basis in the Courts. Here are a couple articles that spell out the complex nature of the liability question: 

The Canadian Bar Association: https://www.cba.org/Sections/Insurance-Law/Articles/2020/Rentals-of-e-scooters

and this one titled: The legal realities of e-scooters in our communities Giving the green light to electric scooters in Ontario: Questions of liability and the right to sue
www.stratfordtoday.ca/spotlight/are-e-scooters-an-accident-waiting-to-happen-5510191

The above pictures are from Tuesday April 25 for another Ward 1 Earth Week Community Clean Up.

It was fun and satisfying to join with Ward 1 volunteers and complete a collection of SEVEN BAGS OF LITTER from the Taunton/Grandview area around the water retention pond and trail.

Like the other Ward 1 community litter pick up last weekend, it seemed crazy how many THC tubes, alcohol bottles and cans, plastic STRAWS and food containers are in an area where the litter originating from vehicles or wind blowing residents' blue bin materials is NOT a factor.

A big thank you to Dan and Lisa pictured here who did a fantastic clearing job!

SIDE NOTES:

1. See in the picture on the left, how the stormwater pond water level is drawn down. I recently asked city staff when the water will be raised since a constituent wanted to know...he and his wife miss seeing the water and the ducks that come. Staff said the pond drains will be shut off this week and should be back to normal shortly. Staff also indicated that they will be reviewing the annual draining, as it may not be a best practice in the industry.
   
   
2. The pics on the right are of the big mess immediately east of the Smart Centre Plaza...as there was literally (pun intended) too much litter in this one location for the volunteer team to tackle on Tuesday, I called the City Operations Department for help and asked if they could also reach out to Smart Centres for assistance removing the litter and abandoned shopping carts around the Smart Centre water retention pond on Coldstream and along the Harmony Creek Trail to the east of their plaza.
   
   
3. I know a number of Ward 1 residents who regularly make a point of picking up litter in their neighbourhood. They deserve recognition and also might appreciate some support from neighbours. Joining with others in a 'pitch-in ' ADOPT A PARK, TRAIL, ROAD' schedule can be a social activity. Other municipalities like Ajax, Whitby, Barrie, Sarnia, and Scugog promote volunteer groups, families, friends or businesses helping to collect litter from a designated park or area on a regular basis and recording this on their city website. Some even have an actual app on their website to help organize the Adopt a Park, Trail, Road Volunteer activities among families, neighbours, friends, and community groups or businesses interested in helping protect and improve their city's outdoor landscape. Residents can adopt a park or trail on-line for a year or two. Kindly email me if you think Oshawa providing such an Adopt a Park, Road or Trail app for organized clean-ups may be something beneficial and good to support! RMcconkey@oshawa.ca

​Oshawa Fire Services posted today that they have received delivery of the new Rapid Response/Haz Mat truck!

It finally! will be going into service soon, which I understand should be in a few weeks once the new firefighter recruits finish training.

​It has been a long wait since it was included in the 2021 City Capital Budget, after the Dillon consultant completed the new Oshawa Fire Master Plan and Community Risk Assessment. Unfortunately then there were various supply chain issues. I understand that this apparatus is to help with service from Fire Hall #1 (at 199 Adelaide St W and Arena St.) for Hwy 401 accidents and medical calls in the downtown.

This April 13, 2023 Court decision of Justice Green is a must read for Oshawans. Not only does it provide sharp focus to the City's drug trafficking and gun problems in a very clear and immediate way, but the Court's response to the serious negative impact on the community is a welcome stance. It is the lens needed by all involved in dealing with our drug and gun problems.

Paragraphs 12 & 13
"The residents of Durham Region are suffering considerably because of a fentanyl being trafficked in this community.
Possession for the purpose of trafficking and trafficking in narcotics is not a victimless crime."

After citing a 2011 decision( R. v. Berry, 2011 ONSC 8016) Justice Green writes:

"[14] Twenty years later, trafficking in illicit drugs continues to wreak havoc across Canada, if not more so than before, because of the introduction of stronger and more lethal drugs like fentanyl. Fentanyl is a true social evil and an ongoing threat to the welfare of our community. There have been media reports detailing the devastating impact this drug has had in Durham Region, particularly in Oshawa.

[15] As a judge who presides in Oshawa, I am entitled to take judicial notice of the numbers of deaths that have been associated with this poison. Sitting in the plea court, we have heard countless reports from vulnerable addicts about friends and family members who have died from fentanyl overdoses. Charges have been withdrawn because the defendants have died from fentanyl overdoses. The hundreds of baggies that Mr. McPherson carried to disperse these lethal drugs should have been stamped with a coffin because it is a drug that leads primarily to two places, the grave or jail."


The sentence delivered ELEVEN YEARS — 8 years for trafficking and a consecutive three years for possession of a loaded prohibited firearm.
https://www.canlii.org/en/on/oncj/doc/2023/2023oncj160/2023oncj160.html?fbclid=IwAR3s5zTCqSO6h6RxmOq_pKrMvJcTkgUrhs-OI1suojYRS00RjX39T04tv5Q

The decision includes details of the Durham Region Police Services investigation in the spring of 2021 — how they observed numerous brief attendances at the rear door of the downtown multiplex which they believed to be indicative of drug trafficking.

There is a description of the arrest of the defendant in downtown Oshawa and the charges related to his possession of a 9 mm Sig Sauer handgun, loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, in an over capacity magazine and the large quantity of drugs and cash in his possession. Also the drugs and cash seized in his downtown Oshawa apt.

Reading Justice Green's detailed reasons brings realization how hard the task is of arriving at a sentencing decision. The impressive consideration given to the complexity of the issues and setting the aggravating factors down in a context that reflects judicial fairness is highlighted in paragraph 41:

[41] In this case, the nature of the substance trafficked, the impact of trafficking in fentanyl in our community, the nature of the weapon possessed by Mr. McPherson are all significant factors that tip the scales towards a sentence that will emphasize denunciation and deterrence while still considering Mr. McPherson’s potential for rehabilitation. I must consider that he has no prior related offences, he is an addict himself and he has never been sentenced to serve time in the penitentiary before.

​With his over 1 and half year of presentencing custody and 4 and a half months of a mitigating period, the defendant's 11 year sentence has a remaining sentence of 9 years and 3 months.

​In the boxes below are Checklists for the items on today's Standing Committee meetings. In addition, under Items to be Introduced by Members, I've submitted 2 motions concerning the DELPARK HOMES CENTRE -(re parking accessibility and a special outdoor basketball court).

PARKING ACCESSIBILITY
1. Whereas a concern was raised by staff at the Delpark Homes Centre (DHC) during the Mayor and CAO’s recent Employee Town Hall that some members of the public are having difficulties with the location of accessible parking at the DHC, finding it is too great a distance to travel to the library/pool and Seniors Centre services provided in the DHC;
Now therefore staff find out more about this concern and investigate ways how the accessible parking for the public with special needs can be improved, and report back to the Accessibility Committee and the Community and Operations Committee with action plan options.

SPECIAL NEW OUTDOOR BASKETBALL COURT
2. Whereas many families in the Taunton Part II Planning Area have requested the City install an outdoor basketball court in Coldstream Park; and
Whereas with the new Harmony Creek trail opening to the Delpark Homes Centre, an alternate location option presented is to build a special new outdoor basketball court at the Delpark Home Centre;
Now therefore staff report back to Committee with potential location options, costs and grants available to have this outdoor sport enhancement installed at the Delpark Home Centre to open during Oshawa’s upcoming Centennial year.

I found the committee's 'refer to staff motion' inexplicable.

This matter is about whether Oshawa Council member support or are opposed to the Province enacting a process that could have elected members removed from Municipal Office when a Court finds an elected member committed egregious acts of abuse and harassment.

IT IS A POLITICAL MATTER TO BE DECIDED BY THE ELECTED WHO ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC, NOT STAFF.

Considering it is a wholly political matter, well, when the staff report the Corporate and Finance Services Committee voted for comes back, it will likely 1st describe what any elected can find out themselves by reading BILL 5 on-line (its not long) https://www.ola.org/.../bills/parliament-43/session-1/bill-5 and then recommend  that Council can decide to support it or not. 

I very much appreciate those who have called and written me expressing their understanding of this matter and encouragement.

But a further problem is that any REFERRAL MOTION, under the City of Oshawa Council Procedural By-law, BLOCKS FURTHER DISCUSSION until the matter comes back.

So at the May 1st, 2023  Council meeting when the referral is on the agenda, no comments can be made other than 'timing and direction'.

Of course I hope Bill 5 passes 2nd and 3rd reading and receives Royal Assent in the Legislature.
But I will always remember feeling very alone on Oshawa Council on this issue WHEN SPEAKING UP SAYING WE SHOULD SUPPORT DOING THIS.

There is an Oshawa Council meeting May 1st.
Any who want to see Oshawa support Bill 5 can help by making it known to Oshawa Council before the May 1st Council meeting by sending an email to:
clerks@oshawa.ca and c.c.ing council@oshawa.ca; Jennifer French jfrench-co@ndp.on.ca and Todd McCarthy todd.mccarthy@pc.ola.org

​Earth Day April 22 2023, 4 bag community litter pick up before the rain this morning!
IT'S COMMUNITY CLEAN UP WEEK, lining up areas in Ward 1 where clean up needs to be done...Next is north side of Taunton east of the Smart Centre Plaza, along the trail West of Grandview. Message if you are available to pitch in Tuesday 4 -5 p.m.!

There are two e-scooter sharing companies, Bird and Neuron, that will be launching in Oshawa starting this Tuesday April 25th under the City's Micro Mobility Pilot Program. Their contract with the Oshawa will end December 31, 2024. Council approved the program last June with the passage of Report DS-22-163. https://pub-oshawa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx...

Although I voted against the pilot program with concerns about accessibility and abandoned scooters, and wanting to wait for the results of the Province's 5 year pilot project, which is soon up, Dec 31, 2024, I am very interested in seeing how smooth the transition and uptake for this new project will be.

Obviously a lot of eyes will be watching because right now Oshawa is the ONLY ONE of the Region's 8 lower tier municipality to have signed up for shared e-scooters. For this reason, with the e-scooter geo-fencing app at Oshawa's city borders the e-scooter will come to a gradual stop.

The Neuron Mobility vendor (the ORANGE e-scooters) will be making its opening presentation at 21 Simcoe St S on Tuesday Apr 25 at 21 Simcoe St S. 9:30 - 10:00 a.m.

The Bird Canada vendor (the BLUE e-scooters) is having their kickoff at Lakeview Park from 2-6 pm same day They will have a table where they are giving out free helmets and allowing residents to try out the scooters free in a sectioned-off area of the parking lot.

The City has added e-scooters to its By-laws and details regarding Oshawa RIDER REGULATIONS can be seen on the City's website here: https://www.oshawa.ca/en/transportation-parking/e-scooters-and-e-bikes.aspx  The City has included a tab where the public can leave a comment on concerns about the ride sharing vendors or equipment.

Note that e-scooters or e-bikes can be ridden on the City’s multiuse pathways, cycling facilities like cycle tracks and bike lanes, and on roads with a speed limit of 50 km/h or lower. However, E-scooters are NOT allowed on Oshawa sidewalks.  Safety awareness campaigns will be held throughout the duration of the program.

The e-scooter maximum speed in Oshawa is 20km and one of the vendors said its battery fully charged should last for 60 km. Device stations will be placed on paved portions of boulevards on City property. The companies will have an app for the location of their many scooters stations around the city, which can change based on usage.

All users must be minimum 16 years of age, and under 19 they must where a helmet. Only one individual is to ride on an e-scooter at a time and there are fines for contravening the rules from $250 to $2,500 depending on the types of violations.

The e-scooter maximum speed is 20km and its battery fully charged should last for 60 km.

​For more details check out this Provincial information link: https://www.ontario.ca/.../electric-kick-style-scooters-e...
the Neuron Mobility link: https://www.rideneuron.com/ and
Bird Canada link: https://www.bird.co/

Oshawa Committee of Adjustment meeting begins at 6:00 pm in the lower Committee meeting room and can be seen on-line here http://video.isilive.ca/oshawa/COA_2023-04-19.mp4.html

There are 11 applicants involving 17 addresses on the April 19, 2023 Agenda.

​For more details of the applications variance requests see here https://www.oshawa.ca/en/business-development/resources/COA/2023-04-19-Agenda.pdf as the 2 pages below are simply a summary of the 50 page Agenda

On tomorrow morning's meeting agenda, re the two Corporate and Finance reports CF-23-24 & CF-23-25 concerning the Oshawa 2024 recommended budget meeting timeline in November and the tools for public engagement:

It seems that formally beginning a fulsome public budget engagement process in the spring would be more meaningful and effective. (Peterborough begins its 2024 budget public survey early, in fact it is ongoing now. Whitby has its public feedback invitation on budget priorities on its website and Facebook page generally between May and July...in fact it reported that over 3,500 residents engaged on its connect.ca budget page for the 2023 budget between May and July.

Whitby also holds spring and fall budget meetings where the public is invited to attend both IN-PERSON and electronically to ask questions and make suggestions. Oshawa dropped those budget meetings where the public can make comments and ask questions in person even before COVID and instead holds a telephone engagement with the Mayor giving an intro, the Finance Commissioner giving an outline and then a telephone Q&A, which imo does not compare to LIVE engagement and there is the opportunity to do both.

To improve financial transparency and understanding, Oshawa Council could direct Finance and Communication departments to
1) involve Oshawans early in the 2024 budget process and
2) INFORM RESIDENTS with an easy-to-read format of the previous years approved BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS, as other municipalities have
3) especially including BUDGET INFOGRAPHICS and an on-line reader-friendly Budget Highlights publication, example from Whitby 2023 Budget Highlights here:
​

On the Agenda for the Monday April 17th 6:30 p.m. Public Planning Act meeting is the application for the development of 555 Rossland Road West, Oshawa.

Email clerks@oshawa.ca by noon today April 14th  if you would like to speak over the phone at the meeting, and email clerks@oshawa.ca before 4pm today April 14th to submit written comments.

555 Rossland Rd. West  is the corner vacant property at Stevenson Rd -north R.S. McLaughlin Collegiate and opposite Paul Dwyer High School.

Bryce Jordan from GHD is on the Public Meeting Agenda to present on behalf of the property's new owner Rossland Residences Corp. 
They are requesting to amend the Oshawa Zoning Bylaw and permit 6 stacked townhouse apartment buildings with a total of 179 stacked dwelling units to consist of 47 one-bedroom units, 114 two-bedroom units and 18 three-bedroom units.

This represents a proposed density of 168.86 u/ha (68.37 u/ac.) The Proposed Maximum Building Height is 17.36m (56.96 ft.) (generally presenting as 4 to 5 storeys)

The applicant's proposed # of parking spaces is less than the required 260 spaces for residents & 54 spaces for visitors. Instead they propose parking with 179 spaces for residents & 36 spaces for visitors

Here is the link to the 9 page report on this project https://pub-oshawa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx... and here is the link to some public letters of concern on the Agenda stating objections: https://pub-oshawa.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx...

Below is a picture of the site plan and building renderings.

The Monday April 3, Oshawa Council meeting Agenda is now on-line.  Below is the NOTICE OF MOTION Councillor Neal and I are recommending to Council —it is near end of the Agenda, after the closed reports:

WHEREAS the City is committed to providing snow clearing services that make the City safe; and,

WHEREAS this important municipal service is to be delivered in an effective and efficient manner with service standards appropriately set, monitored and delivered upon; and,

WHEREAS the City has operational service staff who are dedicated to continuing to find ways for improvement;

NOW THEREFORE in preparation for the 2023-2024 winter season Council directs staff to:

1. formulate a plan to initiate regular resident feedback surveys that will gather customer feedback and satisfaction data over the period of winter maintenance operations; and,

2. review what adjustments to the City’s snow clearing response plans can be made during heavy snow events when the expected snowfall exceeds 6 inches (15 cm) or more in 12 hours or 8 inches (20 cm) or more in 24 hours; and,

3. investigate the City of Oshawa buying or renting for the 2023-2024 winter season:

a) a snow plow with articulating blade to help with windrow clearing;
b) a snow melter to assist with major accumulation of snowbanks;

and report back to Committee on their findings before the 2024 budget deliberations.

Here's hoping a majority of Council votes to approve this motion!

During the previous term of Council my motion for staff to investigate plowing windrows on residential streets was turned down. This motion is different. It is always good to have the right tools for a task isn't it? Although Oshawa plows are equipped with side blades, none have the joint mechanism to raise and lower the side blade. Seems obtaining one with an articulating side blade is a first step the City of Oshawa can take to assist with finding ways for continuous snow clearing service improvement.

I wish to thank Oshawa resident Tim Bird for writing Council members and then following up with an email to clerks@oshawa.ca and making a pitch for this.  

​The people of Oshawa are key to this initiative and at the Metroland Spring Home Show I witnessed many show their enthusiasm and share their ideas. Note the final design concept and location remains to be finalized subject to the City's discretion.

​
​The City of Barrie sign was $200K last year

The Tuesday March 21, 2023 Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee (OAAC) meeting brought home how much more the City of Oshawa could be doing to improve accessibility when redeveloping its parks. OAAC volunteer committee members and I have been trying to stress this for some time. When searching to see what other cities are doing (as some municipal playground consultants just don't seem to have a good grasp of what constitutes a pleasing and accessible playground) I came across this fantastic good news story. Three months ago the City of Barrie was awarded a $2 million, 21,000 square foot playground courtesy of the Canadian Tire Jumpstart charity!
"The Barrie park is one of three locations in Canada to receive a specialized playground in 2023, and it will be bigger than any of the 15 they've built across the country to date.
It offers many unique and subtle features, including the debut of a swing system that kids needing wheelchairs can use without supervision."
Sending this news article details on to Oshawa senior staff because it hopefully can help inspire!
https://barrie.ctvnews.ca/barrie-park-revamped-with-new...

Tuesday March 21st 6:30 p.m. the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee (OAAC) has two park redevelopment plans (Raglan Park and Sunnyside Park) on the meeting Agenda.
​
The OAAC volunteer committee members will be reviewing the plans for accessibility. The OAAC meeting can be watched live on-line, or afterwards by opening the video link on the City's calendar.

PUBLIC NOTICE OF ROAD CLOSURE & LANE RESTRICTIONS (AROUND THE THORNTON/CONLIN ROUNDABOUT - just when it seemed like the the project was complete...the Regional of Durham is "resuming construction of new feedermain on Conlin Rd W from Thickson Rd N to Stevenson Rd N, and on Garrard side road approximately 400 metres south of Conlin Road in the Town of Whitby and City of Oshawa.

In co-ordination with the City of Oshawa, the work also includes road reconstruction, watermain, sanitary and storm sewer construction on Conlin Rd from the west city limits to 250 metres west of Stevenson Road North in Oshawa, as shown on the attached map.

Construction Schedule
The Region’s contractor, New-Alliance Ltd., anticipates completing the work by October 2023.
Road Closures and Lane Restrictions
Conlin Road is being closed to through traffic in stages during the 2023 construction season to complete the work. Access for local traffic and emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.
• Upcoming Closure – The existing Conlin Road closure limits will be extended to include Conlin Road from east of Garrard Road to west of Stevenson Road North and the intersection of Thornton Road North and Conlin Road West.

This closure will be in effect beginning March 6 until August 2023. "Unfavorable weather conditions and work progress may influence the closure schedule."
​
The closure area and detour routes are as shown on the attached map.