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01 - April 22, 2025 Rural Initiatives and Planning Advisory Committee Agenda PackageRural Initiatives and Planning Advisory Committee Orders of the Day Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 12:30 p.m. Council Chambers 450 Sunset Drive St. Thomas ON Note for Members of the Public: Please click the link below to watch the Committee Meeting: https://www.facebook.com/ElginCounty Accessible formats available upon request. 1. Call to Order 2. Election of Chair and Vice Chair 3. Approval of the Agenda 4. Adoption of Minutes 5. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof 6. Delegations 7. Reports/Briefings 7.1 Director of Engineering Services and Corporate Communications and Engagement Coordinator - Request for Improved Signage for Agricultural Equipment and Share the Road Communications Plan 8. Other Business 9. Correspondence 10. Closed Meeting 11. Motion to Rise and Report 12. Date of Next Meeting 13. Adjournment Pages 2 61 Rural Initiatives and Planning Advisory Committee Minutes April 30, 2024, 1:00 p.m. Council Chambers 450 Sunset Drive St. Thomas ON Members Present: Warden Ed Ketchabaw Deputy Warden Grant Jones Councillor Mark Widner Councillor Richard Leatham Donna Lunn, EFA Representative Staff Present: Blaine Parkin, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk Katherine Thompson, Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk Jenna Fentie, Legislative Services Coordinator 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 1.00 p.m. with Warden Ketchabaw in the chair. 2. Approval of the Agenda Moved by: Councillor Leatham Seconded by: Donna Lunn RESOLVED THAT the agenda for the April 30, 2024 Rural Initiatives and Planning Advisory Committee meeting be approved as presented. Motion Carried. 3. Adoption of Minutes Moved by: Councillor Widner Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT the Open Meeting and Closed Meeting Minutes of the April 3, 2024 Rural Initiatives and Planning Advisory Committee meeting be adopted. 1 Page 2 of 16 Motion Carried. 4. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof None. 5. Delegations 6. Reports/Briefings 6.1 Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk - Community Grant Program Allocation Recommendations The Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk presented the recommended Community Grant Program funding allocations for 2024 for the Committee's review and approval. Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Widner RESOLVED THAT the Rural Initiatives and Planning Advisory Committee endorse the Community Grant Program allocations as presented; and, THAT the Rural Initiatives and Planning Advisory Committee Chair be directed to present the proposed grant allocations to County Council for approval. Motion Carried. 7. Other Business None. 8. Correspondence None. 9. Closed Meeting 9.1 Closed Meeting Minutes -April 3, 2024 10. Motion to Rise and Report None. 11. Date of Next Meeting The next meeting of the Rural Initiatives and Planning Advisory Committee will be held at the call of the Chair. 12. Adjournment 2 Page 3 of 16 Moved by: Donna Lunn Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 1.13 p.m. to meet again at the call of the Chair. Motion Carried. Blaine Parkin, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk. Chair. 3 Page 4 of 16 Report to Rural Initiatives and Planning Advisory Committee From: Peter Dutchak, Director of Engineering Services Date: April 22, 2025 Subject: Request for Improved Signage for Agricultural Equipment Recommendation(s): THAT staff be directed to work with the Elgin Federation of Agriculture to develop a list of frequently accessed agricultural facilities along County roads and to implement custom roadway warning signage at those locations as approved by the County; and, THAT staff develop a communication campaign with input from the Elgin OPP to remind drivers to share roadways with agricultural equipment and to broadcast the messaging on municipal websites and social media during planting and harvesting seasons annually. Introduction: The County of Elgin has received a request from the Elgin Federation of Agriculture to improve roadway signage for agricultural equipment. This report discusses the specific request and provides an action plan that supports the agricultural community. Background and Discussion: The County of Elgin received a request from the Elgin Federation of Agriculture (EFA) that "all bridges, hazardous hills and curves be marked with No Passing signs and have solid line roadway markers" installed. The request is intended to inform motorists that conditions are unsafe for overtaking and to remind drivers that they share the roadway with large, slow moving farm equipment. Elgin is a predominantly rural area and farming is the cornerstone of our community. County roads have always supported the movement of agricultural equipment and staff are cognizant of the unique challenges farmers face when moving large, slow moving equipment on busy county roads. The County continues to support agriculture equipment by ensuring wide roads shoulders are present and when they are not, wider shoulders are constructed when road reconstruction works are implemented when feasible. Turning movements at intersections and roundabouts are designed to accommodate agricultural equipment. Construction work schedules recognize harvest activities and when possible, work schedules are modified to minimize disruption to farmers. It is also understood that roads in Elgin County continue to get busier with new Page 5 of 16 residents and businesses and that drivers can be aggressive and distracted from the driving task which puts all road users at risk. The request from the EFA is already partially fulfilled with proper pavement markings that restrict passing at all crests, curves and bridge locations as per the Ontario Traffic Manual. If there is a specific location that fails to meet this criteria, on a County road, staff would be pleased to review it to make improvements. The installation of "DO NOT PASS" signage is guided by the Ontario Traffic Manual as a regulatory sign. These signs may be used under exceptional circumstances to warn motorists that conditions are not safe for overtaking vehicles. Typically, pavement markings are sufficient, however in exceptional situations a DO NOT PASS sign may be used in addition to pavement markings. Examples include: • Construction zones where overtaking is hazardous; or, • Where collision statistics have established that the pavement markings are not being obeyed. Each location where the sign is implemented, a permissive "PASSING PERMITTED" sign must be installed denoting the end of the no passing zone. Signs may be repeated every 500-1000m if necessary in longer zones. With this design criteria noted, and recognizing that there are literally hundreds of bridges, hills and curves on County roads, approximately 500 signs may have to be installed to satisfy the request of the EFA. This blanket approach is not supported by staff since this solution is costly, will create sign pollution in which messaging will be disregarded, and may not yield the expected results. Staff is supportive of implementing signage at strategic locations where agricultural equipment frequents during busy planting and harvest seasons. For example, with input from the EFA and the RIPA Committee, staff can install modified "TRUCK ENTRACE" warning signage at grain elevator locations on County Roads. Staff envisions a modifed "TRUCK ENTRANCE SIGN" could be designed and created to illustrate a tractor instead of a truck entering the roadway. Page 6 of 16 TRUCK IENT1f wNICE Sigin Custom sign tabs can be installed to state, "WARNING, FARM EQUIPMENT", or similar text as determined appropriate. To compliment strategic signage, a public communication campaign can be created and broadcasted during planting and harvesting seasons. Staff envisions participation from the Elgin OPP who can patrol roads during these times with slow moving vehicle safety in mind. Elgin County communications staff can help to develop messaging for drivers reminding them to be patient around larger, slower moving agricultural equipment. Messaging can be shared through the County's website, local municipal partner websites, and social media outlets. Financial Implications: The costs of strategically located signage can be absorbed within the annual road signage budget. Cost of developing public messaging regarding agricultural equipment sharing public roadways can be developed in house. Broadcasting this messaging on municipal websites and social media can be completed with internal resources at no additional cost. Advancement of the Strategic Plan: The initiatives discussed in this report support the County's strategic plan with collaborative engagement and communication. Local Municipal Partner Impact: Local Municipal Partners will be requested to mirror messaging on their local websites. Communication Requirements: To be developed. Conclusion: The County has a long history of supporting its agricultural community. Efforts to improve roadway signage at strategic locations where agricultural equipment frequent will remind drivers that they share public roads with farmers and large, slow moving equipment. A communication campaign can be developed with the EFA and OPP and be broadcasted annually during planting and harvesting seasons to warn drivers of the Page 7 of 16 unique challenges farmer have navigating large slow -moving equipment on busy high- speed roads. All of which is Respectfully Submitted Peter Dutchak Director of Engineering Services Approved for Submission Blaine Parkin Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk Page 8 of 16 0 0 a� c� a 0 N N (6 0 a� c� a S 0 m ¢ 2 n � %LAW-Ampkilmism co 0 co ID cU a