No Stopping/No Parking Prohibition

Muncey Avenue

 The Etobicoke Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (May 27, 1998) from the Commissioner of Works, Etobicoke District:

 Purpose:

 To present a status report to Community Council regarding the no parking/no stopping restrictions on Muncey Avenue.

 Recommendations:

 It is recommended that:

 (1)the No Parking/No Stopping prohibitions on Muncey Avenue currently in place be retained; and

 (2)staff continue to liaise with the administration of Timothy Christian School to ensure that the traffic guidelines adopted are adhered to.

 Council Reference:

 Council, at its meeting held on October 2, 1995, adopted Clause 159 of the Fifteenth Report of the Works and Environment Committee, which recommended:

 ATHAT stopping be prohibited on both sides of Muncey Avenue between Elmhurst Drive and Golfdown Drive, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.@

 This matter was placed before Council in response to a petition from the residents of Muncey Avenue requesting the introduction of this prohibition as a resolution to the traffic problems and inconvenience caused by the parents/caregivers of children attending Timothy Christian School who used Muncey Avenue to park their vehicles while attending to their children at the school. Since parking is prohibited on Elmhurst Drive in front of Timothy Christian School, parents/caregivers were using Muncey Avenue as a convenient drop off and pick up location.

 Following the introduction of this by-law, officials of Timothy Christian School indicated that the prohibition seriously limited parents/caregivers safe accessibility to the school. They were forced to use less convenient streets in the area which compromised the safety of the children.

 Staff met with the school administration on several occasions to discuss the matter, and recommended several on-site drop off and pick up alternatives. The school=s Building Committee evaluated these proposals and concluded that due to the limited space available on school property, and the current level of student activity, vehicle access to the property would be an unacceptable safety hazard.

 Council, at its meeting held on November 25, 1996, adopted Resolution No. 336, being a Notice of Motion to Council which recommended:

 ATHAT the matter regarding the implementation of the No Stopping restrictions on Muncey Avenue be reopened and officials from Timothy Christian School be given the opportunity to appear before the Works and Environment Committee to determine if a compromise could be reached on this matter.@

 Council, at its meeting held on January 20, 1997, adopted Clause 11 of the Second Report of the Works and Environment Committee, 1997, which recommended:

 ATHAT the >No Stopping, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday= prohibition on the east side of Muncey Avenue be amended to a >No Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday= prohibition;

 THAT staff meet with the school administrators and the Metropolitan Toronto Police to develop appropriate traffic guidelines;

 THAT these guidelines be conveyed by the school to the parents and the residents of Muncey Avenue; and

 THAT staff review this issue within five months and submit a status report to Committee.@

 Staff met with officials from Timothy Christian School to outline acceptable driving rules within the school zone. These guidelines were adopted by the school administration and conveyed to the parents of the school children.

 Since the introduction of the amendment of the ANo Stopping, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday@ prohibition on the east side of Muncey Avenue, staff has had the opportunity to review the parking/stopping patterns of the parents/caregivers of Timothy Christian School. The parents/caregivers are following the guidelines adopted by the school administration. Very few parents utilized Muncey Avenue as a drop off and pick up area; most continued to use Endicott Avenue and Turpin Avenue as the preferred drop off and pick up locations.

 Council, at its meeting held on June 9, 1997, adopted Clause 108 of the Eleventh Report of the Works and Environment Committee, 1997, which recommended:

 ATHAT the trial period for the current parking/stopping regulations on Muncey Avenue be extended to January 1998;

 THAT staff continue to review this issue and submit a status report to the Works and Environment Committee in January 1998; and

 THAT the parking/stopping guidelines adopted by the administration of Timothy Christian School be conveyed by the school=s administration to the parents of the school children and the residents of Muncey Avenue at the commencement of school in September 1997.@

 Discussion:

 Staff has continued to monitor the traffic activity on Muncey Avenue over the past year and has found that the vast majority of parents/caregivers are following the parking and stopping guidelines adopted by the school administration. Parents/caregivers continue to observe the No Stopping regulation on the west side of Muncey Avenue between Elmhurst Drive and Golfdown Drive and are using the No Parking/Kiss and Ride Zone on the east side of Muncey Avenue as intended. The administration of Timothy Christian School is continually advising parents/caregivers of their responsibilities when they use Muncey Avenue and staff provide support as required. A map of the area is Attachment No. 1.

 Conclusions:

 Parents/caregivers of the children attending Timothy Christian School are complying with the parking and stopping by-laws currently in effect on Muncey Avenue. The school=s administration continues to reinforce the adopted guidelines and has effectively addressed the concerns of the residents of the street. Based on staff=s evaluation of this matter, Council=s endorsement of the recommendations contained herein would be appropriate.

 Contact Name:

 Karen Kirk, C.E.T., Parking Co-Ordinator, Transportation and Engineering Planning

(416) 394-8419, Fax 394-8942.

 (Copy of Attachment No. 1, referred to in the foregoing report was forwarded to all Members of Council with the agenda of the Etobicoke Community Council meeting May 27, 1998, and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)