Trip to review best-practices prior to Transportation Master Plan refresh

Voyage en vue d’étudier les meilleures pratiques avant la mise à jour du Plan directeur sur les transports

ACS2007-CCS-TRC-0012

Councillor Doucet explained his reasons for proposing the trip, noting that the review of the Official Plan (OP) and the Transportation Master Plan (TMP) will be occurring soon. He stated that, to his knowledge, the Committee has never taken a professional development trip and he felt that having first-hand knowledge and experience would be a great benefit to the Committee during its customary deliberations as well as those associated with the upcoming OP and TMP review. He explained that he had proposed Eugene, Oregon, and Seattle because they are close in proximity, vary in size and are well known for their innovative transportation and transit measures.

Councillor Leadman noted that the TMP was developed and approved by Council without any trips having been taken by the Committee prior to or during its development. John Moser, Director, Planning Branch and City Planner, Planning, Transit and the Environment confirmed that the Committee had not taken any professional development trips during the original development of the TMP, primarily due to lack of financial resources, but he felt there would be benefit in doing so. When asked by the Councillor about how much this trip would cost, Mr. Moser responded that he could only estimate it would amount to thousands of dollars per person. Councillor Leadman acknowledged there could be some benefit to the trip but she expressed reluctance to support such expenditure at this point in time, particularly without knowing the exact cost.

Chair McRae inquired whether staff had ever taken any professional development trips. Mr. Moser responded that some senior staff took such trips during the light rail discussions.

Councillor Wilkinson noted that although trips are beneficial, there are other ways to obtain information, such as websites and printed literature. She suggested it might be wise to have staff bring relevant examples to the Committee’s attention.

Councillor Bloess expressed similar thoughts as Councillor Wilkinson. He felt the public would not be supportive of such expenditure and he was of the understanding that staff does undertake professional development in the form of conferences, courses, information sharing and so on. Mr. Moser affirmed this does occur but on a limited basis due to budget constraints.

Councillor Legendre requested clarification that staff has not had the resources to do any professional development trips. Mr. Moser reiterated that staff has only been able to do that on a very limited basis, primarily only if a conference is happening nearby or locally. Professional development is encouraged but only what can be done at minimal cost. Councillor Legendre felt there has long been a culture in Ottawa that disapproves of any municipal spending seen as unnecessary, and he felt this would be no different in the public and the media eye. He suggested it would be a short-changing staff and the Committee not to allow this type of professional development, and that the cumulative decision-making process could be much enriched if it were approved.

Councillor Cullen expressed similar sentiments as Councillor Legendre. He noted that other cities allow for this practice and he questioned why the City of Ottawa would not. He felt this item should be referred to staff to bring forward as a budget item so that a cost analysis could be provided at that time.

Councillor Bédard felt that professional development trips would be beneficial to the City, and in order to give it a better chance of being approved, he suggested that Councillor Doucet’s motion be amended to delete the words ‘Standing Committee members’.

Councillor Thompson acknowledged the importance of professional development but was reluctant to support the expenditure at this time. He felt there should be some kind of policy and budget developed for such activities and he proposed to move a motion to that effect.

Councillor Doucet questioned Ms. Schepers as to whether there would be money in the TMP development fund to cover this trip. She responded there would not be, as this had not been anticipated during the budget development for the TMP review.

Councillor Doucet advised he would not support Councillor Cullen’s motion as he felt it would be better to vote on the matter at this time.

The Committee then voted on the motions put forth by Committee Members.

Moved by Councillor A. Cullen:

That Councillor Doucet’s item re sending a delegation of members of Transportation Committee and staff on a professional development trip to Eugene/Portland and Seattle to investigate transportation issues there be referred to staff for a cost analysis, to be brought back as part of the 2008 budget process.

LOST

YEAS (2): Councillors A. Cullen, C. Leadman

NAYS (7): Councillors R. Bloess, M. Wilkinson, G. Bédard, J. Legendre, C. Doucet, D. Thompson, M. McRae

Moved by Councillor G. Bédard:

That the report recommendation be amended to delete ‘Standing Committee members’.

LOST

YEAS (2): Councillors M. Wilkinson, G. Bédard

NAYS (7): Councillors R. Bloess, A. Cullen, J. Legendre, C. Doucet, D. Thompson, C. Leadman, M. McRae

Councillor Thompson, following discussion on his proposed motion regarding the development of a policy and a budget for professional development, withdrew it from this discussion and put it forth as a Notice of the Motion for a future Transportation Committee meeting.

The Committee then voted on the report recommendation as presented.

WHEREAS the City of Ottawa is about to undertake a significant refresh of its Official Plan and Transportation Master Plan;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Transportation Committee approve sending a delegation of Standing Committee members, a senior member of Planning, Transportation and the Environment staff and a senior member of Traffic, Parking and Operations staff to Eugene/Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington to study road, pedestrian and transit projects, programs and policies as part of the development of the Transportation Master Plan.

CARRIED

YEAS (5): Councillors A. Cullen, G. Bédard, J. Legendre, C. Doucet, C. Leadman

NAYS (4): Councillors R. Bloess, M. Wilkinson, D. Thompson, M. McRae