CitySSMOne of the topics included on Council’s agenda on Monday is the third phase of the Second Line widening project.  A report from the city’s Engineering and Planning Department recommends that council enter an agreement with the province for money from the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund for this project.  A maximum of two million dollars would be available under the O-C-I-F program — more than half of the total project cost of 3.7 million.  Work on the third phase would consist of widening Second Line East from Pine Street east to Black Road.  Included in the project would be paved shoulders, road side ditches for drainage, streetlights and a sidewalk along the south side of Second Line.  An asphalt trail would also be constructed on the north side of Second Line connecting the new high school and Strathclair Fields.  A by-law approving an agreement between the city and the province must in place by Friday, for that funding to occur.

Council is expected to move forward on a plan to install yellow flashing lights in the area of Base Line and Airport Road.  That’s despite a recommendation in a report included in council’s agenda not to do that.  The document includes a section on justifying the presence of a beacon, overuse and logical ways for further countermeasures for stop-controlled intersections.  A seperate request is also being made tonight for Public Works to notify council on related issues, ranging from red and amber flashing lights working overnight at certain intersections.  Specific information including traffic and pedestrian volumes and accident levels would determine a pilot project involving the following intersections:

— Wellington Street West and Lyons Avenue
— Lyons Avenue and Patrick Street
— Korah Road and Wallace Terrace
— Wallace Terrace and Goulais Avenue

Council’s agenda also includes a report on a proposed comprehensive signs by-law.  The document highlights information such as the evolution of the city’s current sign by-law and framework affecting various sign types.  It also includes results of a public survey on the issue.  General survey findings range in order of importance from digital signage and distraction, portable signage and aesthetic impacts to too many signs in general and unmaintained signage that remains in place.  There are plans for additional public consultation on the matter sometime next month. Another issue relates to the 2015 City Budget.  A request is being made from council to have city staff put together a list of all external funded agencies and the corresponding grants it receives from the city.  Council is expected to receive that list at its next meeting in two weeks.