Approve the draft by-law and any required amendments to the Traffic By-law Number (2022) - 20698 to permit the operation of personal use e-scooters effective August…

4:53:06And why don't we just get to the delegations?

4:53:11I believe we have Adrian Salvatore.

4:53:25I could just get one of those beautiful

4:53:28strategic plan booklets after, make it worth my time.

4:53:33Thanks for coming and thanks for waiting this long.

4:53:36Your time starts now, whenever you're ready.

4:53:38Great, thank you.

4:53:40Good afternoon, Mayor Guthrie, esteemed members of council

4:53:43and respected city staff.

4:53:45My name is Adrian Salvatore.

4:53:48And I'm here today in my capacity

4:53:54as the chair of the Guelph Coalition

4:53:56for Active Transportation.

4:53:58We are very happy to see this recommendation

4:54:00has come back to join the Ontario pilot

4:54:04and allow economical, sustainable micro-mobility

4:54:08for our city.

4:54:10The Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation's opinion

4:54:13remains that electric kick scooters are a member

4:54:17of the Active Transportation family

4:54:19and an excellent transportation option

4:54:22to help reduce car dependency.

4:54:25We recently put out a survey to our membership

4:54:28requesting feedback for them to inform our advocacy.

4:54:32A major point that arose was nearly two thirds

4:54:35of the respondents were concerned about ambiguities

4:54:38and gray areas in bylaws around micro-mobility.

4:54:41A clarification that we believe would be helpful

4:54:44with e-scooters is defined rules around bike lane use.

4:54:48We hope that e-scooters will be allowed

4:54:49to be used in cycle lanes and we don't see any concern

4:54:52with them mixing with similar speed cycle traffic.

4:54:56Additionally, there was a clear consensus

4:54:58from our survey respondents with nearly 95%

4:55:01in support of e-scooters sharing bike lanes.

4:55:05With respect to limitations placed on e-scooter use

4:55:08in trails and multi-use pathways,

4:55:10we understand staff's concerns,

4:55:12though we see a few situations,

4:55:14particularly with multi-use paths

4:55:18where this may place an e-scooter in an unsafe position.

4:55:22A prime example of this is Woodlawn Road,

4:55:25where the 60 kilometer an hour speed limit,

4:55:28volume of vehicle traffic, truck traffic,

4:55:30slip lanes and highway connection

4:55:33presents a serious hazard to vulnerable road users.

4:55:37The adjacent multi-use path presents a much safer route,

4:55:40where there is already an expectation

4:55:43of cycle traffic traveling at similar speeds to e-scooters.

4:55:47Hamilton, for example, has a specific carve out for this

4:55:50in their bylaw, allowing e-scooters

4:55:53on Boulevard adjacent multi-use pathways.

4:55:56Our ask is that consideration are made

4:55:59for situations such as this,

4:56:01to ensure that vulnerable road users

4:56:03will be as safe as possible.

4:56:05Regarding education, as a community organization,

4:56:08we also aim to do our part,

4:56:10educating our members and the public

4:56:12about responsible safe e-scooter operation.

4:56:15We are very happy to see our city catching up

4:56:17with our municipal peers.

4:56:19Thank you for your time.

4:56:21Okay, thank you, Ms. Adrienne.

4:56:24I'm gonna open the floor to members of council

4:56:27for any questions.

4:56:29Yeah, Councillor Goller.

4:56:31Thank you, through you, Chair Chew, Mr. Salvador.

4:56:34Thank you for bearing with us.

4:56:36And I wanted to just follow up within your membership.

4:56:41How many people would you say about

4:56:43are you using e-scooters in Guelph?

4:56:47We haven't done broad research

4:56:49on how many of our members are e-scooter users.

4:56:53At a recent bike valet

4:56:54that we operated at the Multicultural Festival,

4:56:57we did see about two dozen e-scooters come through

4:56:59out of, I think it was 250 bicycles.

4:57:03So there is some representation there.

4:57:05I mean, that is considering that they're,

4:57:07at this point, technically not allowed for use.

4:57:10Okay.

4:57:11Thank you very much, I appreciate that.

4:57:14I do have a question.

4:57:16Agent, just from my understanding of how GCAT works,

4:57:21how are you guys educating your members

4:57:24on safety and liability of e-scooters

4:57:26and just micro mobility in general,

4:57:28within Guelph and even outside the city walls?

4:57:32Thank you for the question.

4:57:34Safety and education is a big part of our mission.

4:57:37Of course, we want to expand the quantity, quality

4:57:39and safety of all our active transportation,

4:57:41infrastructure and education is a huge part of that.

4:57:44Some of our board members support safe cycling courses.

4:57:48I believe Canbike is the name of that course.

4:57:51We also put out regular updates, both to our newsletter.

4:57:55It's about 750 subscribers on our newsletter,

4:57:58our website, our social media.

4:58:00So there's multiple factors that we use

4:58:02to put out messaging about being safe

4:58:05and how to properly use infrastructure.

4:58:09Okay. Any other additional questions?

4:58:13No. Thank you for your time.

4:58:15Thank you.

4:58:18Okay. I guess we can open up for discussion.

4:58:21Mayor Guthrie.

4:58:24Thanks to you, Chair.

4:58:25Only got one question.

4:58:27Multiuse path issue.

4:58:29That's it.

4:58:32Are we good to go?

4:58:34How are you thinking how you design the bylaw right now

4:58:38versus the concerns that are up there?

4:58:41Because I've heard some concerns

4:58:42about the exact same thing outside of GCAT

4:58:44and I appreciate GCAT coming.

4:58:47I've heard the same concerns as well

4:58:49for people trying to get around

4:58:50and then they're not allowed to use multiuse paths.

4:58:55Through the chair to Mayor Guthrie,

4:58:58as indicated in the report,

4:58:59obviously it's been a quick turnaround for this.

4:59:02Staff hadn't had the opportunity to look

4:59:05into this, the resources.

4:59:06However, I can take it back to the transportation staff

4:59:09who are back at the end of the month, if not in October.

4:59:13We have not had the opportunity

4:59:14to explore the safety aspect of it.

4:59:18Okay, just through you, Chair.

4:59:20Not, you don't have to say the October part

4:59:22because this is gonna be,

4:59:23this isn't something that's gonna come back on October.

4:59:25I don't think this is something that we can actually approve

4:59:27by the end of July, right?

4:59:30Through the chair to Mayor Guthrie,

4:59:32we can report back at the end of the month if it's possible.

4:59:34And if not, perhaps recommend that it be reviewed again

4:59:37in October.

4:59:39Okay.

4:59:41Well, I'm certainly not wanting that.

4:59:43I think we need to get people into compliance

4:59:47with the e-scooters,

4:59:48the hundreds of them that are out in our city right now

4:59:50and not wait three, four more months.

4:59:52But so, okay, Councillor, through you, Chair,

4:59:57I think Councillor Goller has a potential amendment

5:00:01on that issue.

5:00:02And I think we should just give the direction

5:00:04to make it clear now.

5:00:04Yeah, and just to clarify,

5:00:06this is an amendment to the initial motion

5:00:08or is this an additional motion?

5:00:12Through you, Chair, too.

5:00:12It would actually be an amendment to the motion

5:00:16that I've sent it to the clerks.

5:00:19Currently the motion reads that the Council approve

5:00:23the draft by-law,

5:00:24which would be coming to the end of the month.

5:00:27And part of the staff report indicates

5:00:30that e-scooters would only be allowed on city roadways.

5:00:33I'll based on feedback from the public

5:00:39and looking at the provincial regulations

5:00:41that e-scooters should be allowed

5:00:43wherever bicycles are allowed.

5:00:45I am moving number one,

5:00:48that e-scooters usage be limited to city roadways

5:00:52and multi-use paths.

5:00:55And then this would allow city staff

5:00:58to come back at the end of the month with a by-law

5:01:00that includes multi-use paths

5:01:02or rationale why that would be folly.

5:01:05So, but I just wanna make it clear

5:01:08before we send them down the road to say,

5:01:10you said only city roadways.

5:01:13We also want you to use multi-use paths.

5:01:17If Council does not believe

5:01:18that we should use multi-use paths,

5:01:19now's the chance to vote this down

5:01:21and then staff doesn't have to do.

5:01:23So, my amendment to the motion is that e-scooters usage

5:01:26be limited to city roadways and multi-use paths.

5:01:29I don't know if I have a second there.

5:01:32His worship, Mayor Guthrie, a second there.

5:01:34Mayor Guthrie.

5:01:35Okay, before we get to that,

5:01:37I do wanna give staff an opportunity to respond

5:01:40and I'll just preface maybe the response

5:01:43by saying this,

5:01:45we only have around six formal multi-use pathways

5:01:48around the city.

5:01:50Is this really going to be a hindrance

5:01:52in terms of liability and safety

5:01:55when it comes to drafting,

5:01:57scoping out the legal mechanisms

5:02:01associated to your review?

5:02:05To you, Chair, as indicated in the report,

5:02:07the transportation staff,

5:02:08the active transportation staff

5:02:10had not had the opportunity to review

5:02:12the impact of e-scooters on the multi-use paths

5:02:15with different levels of speed

5:02:18and that of the or engage the other users

5:02:21of those multi-use paths.

5:02:23My recommendation is that I speak to them

5:02:26and report back at the end of the month.

5:02:29Hope you won't.

5:02:30Okay, CEO Stewart.

5:02:34Through you, Mr. Chair, sorry,

5:02:35I guess I'm feeling like I'm always grouchy

5:02:38about these things this evening.

5:02:40I think because of the way you phrased that,

5:02:43I think we ought to check with our legal folks.

5:02:46Because you've asked the public like that,

5:02:48we've got the answer, what a liability attaches to it.

5:02:51I completely understood what the delegate was talking about

5:02:53when he was speaking about the one example.

5:02:55It would make more sense.

5:02:57And I think that's what GM Godfrey's gonna have to do,

5:03:00is now that you've asked it that way,

5:03:01we're gonna have to report back on,

5:03:04because the really good news is here,

5:03:05staff got this in front of you

5:03:07so that you could approve the e-scooter bylaw.

5:03:09That's the really positive news.

5:03:11But now if we want to extend it to other places,

5:03:13we haven't signed it, we haven't done any of those things.

5:03:17And yes, it's happening today,

5:03:19but there is a bit of a little bit of ignorance

5:03:21as bliss component to that, as you know.

5:03:24But now that we're talking about liability publicly,

5:03:26I'd actually like to get an opinion on that,

5:03:29so that at the end of the month,

5:03:30your eyes are wide open on that one too.

5:03:32And it's just the way that you're prefaced it.

5:03:34I thought, well, that's problematic now,

5:03:36because now the way you've asked it,

5:03:37we have to tell you, we don't have that answer tonight,

5:03:40but we should get it for you now.

5:03:42So I would just say you can vote for that,

5:03:43and we would be able to answer that at the end of the month

5:03:46when it goes to full council as well.

5:03:49Mayor Guthrie followed by Councillor O'Rourke.

5:03:51So through you, Chair, and to my colleagues, perhaps then,

5:03:55this is the exact same formula,

5:03:58as was the original discussion around patios,

5:04:00which is to ask staff,

5:04:03do you require a motion from us right now,

5:04:07or because you understand what we're asking,

5:04:10that you would go away and be before the end of the month,

5:04:12you'll provide a memo attached to the addendum,

5:04:15at least, telling us of the concerns

5:04:18that maybe are raised from a liability point of view,

5:04:21but also on the usage of multi-use paths,

5:04:24and then we can make the final decision

5:04:25at the end of the month.

5:04:26Through you, Mr. Chair, we were listening intently.

5:04:28We'll come back at the end of the month without any motions,

5:04:31and let's not add to that this evening.

5:04:32We'll just get that in front of you.

5:04:34Okay, so I'll leave it to you, Chair,

5:04:36to talk to the mover.

5:04:38Okay, I'll let Councillor Wurk say something.

5:04:42You have a comment?

5:04:45So no, my question was whether Councillor Goller

5:04:47would then consider removing the motion,

5:04:50because as it stands, and having heard C.O. Stewart,

5:04:54we're trying to make a decision with zero,

5:04:57like there's no staff report,

5:04:59there's no recommendation, I don't know, right?

5:05:01So I don't want to support it today,

5:05:03but if you withdrew it, and there was more information,

5:05:05maybe I support it at the end of the month,

5:05:07with zero information around, what does that mean for,

5:05:12parents with strollers and that kind of stuff,

5:05:13or how many multi-use paths do we have,

5:05:15or how do we define a multi-use path?

5:05:17Are they paved?

5:05:18Is it a recreational trail?

5:05:20I don't know, right?

5:05:21So it makes sense.

5:05:22If I can have my e-bike along the Hanlon Creek Boulevard,

5:05:26that's a beautiful multi-use path, it's paved,

5:05:28that makes sense to me,

5:05:29but I don't have enough information to vote on this tonight.

5:05:32So I'm just wondering if you would consider withdrawing.

5:05:36And through you, Church,

5:05:37having heard from city staff that we will get more information

5:05:41on multi-use paths,

5:05:42I'm happy to withdraw the amendment.

5:05:49Okay, perfect.

5:05:50So the initial motion is on the floor.

5:05:53I do want to say just to provide some clarity,

5:05:57I also don't want to be a Debbie Downer here,

5:05:58like maybe our CAO is, for legal reasons,

5:06:02and for just to provide some clarity.

5:06:07That's just a joke, by the way.

5:06:09I see a new handle for me around city hall now.

5:06:11Debbie Downer, thank you very much, Church.

5:06:15I just want to say,

5:06:16I think this is also similar to the wood firing,

5:06:20recreational, yeah, the wood firing discussion we just had.

5:06:29I think let's put this in this perspective.

5:06:31We have limited multi-use paths,

5:06:33and there is an opportunity here for us

5:06:36to raise some expectations around the safety

5:06:39and usability of micro-mobility.

5:06:48Losing my words here.

5:06:49Just around micro-mobility overall,

5:06:52I'm just thinking right now in my ward, ward six, Nisgar Road.

5:06:56We have some multi-use paths already.

5:06:58They're not being used as frequently

5:07:01as they were intended to,

5:07:03but perhaps if this bylaw review,

5:07:06where if this was being considered,

5:07:11maybe there's an opportunity to talk about safety

5:07:14and also even reduce the probability

5:07:18of illegal trucking traversing through Nisgar,

5:07:21which we get complaints about all the time.

5:07:24I'm just trying to put everything

5:07:25into perspective as well.

5:07:27We shouldn't be too restrictive,

5:07:28because front-facing, it does seem very innocent,

5:07:32but at the same time, just acknowledge our CAO.

5:07:35There are a lot of liability issues

5:07:36that we need to consider

5:07:38before we make a sober decision at the end of the month.

5:07:42So with that being said,

5:07:44let's just put the motion on the floor.

5:07:46I'll read it out and when we have the vote.

5:07:50Clarke's can put this up on the screen.

5:07:54Okay, e-scooter bylaw.

5:07:56That council approved the draft bylaw

5:07:59and any required amendments to traffic bylaw number 2002-2069.

5:08:05Eight to permit the operation of personal use,

5:08:09e-scooters effective August 1st, 2023.

5:08:13Any opposed?

5:08:15Okay, motion is carried.

5:08:19All right, I think that leads us to adjournment.

5:08:25Does anyone wanna move in second adjournment?

5:08:27Okay, moved by councillor Allt,