Staff assured council residents should be able to use King Street for the remainder of the year with finishing touches completed next spring.
"Is there a reason (King Street) is not opening up as it finishes?" asked Coun. Beth Prost, at a recent council meeting.
Andy Campbell, executive director of environment & infrastructure, said a section from Bay Street through to Bayshore Drive will open up before the end of the month.
"There is work still to be completed in that area, but given the turn of the weather, we won't be able to finish it this winter," he added. "We will have to close it again for short periods of time once we start work again in the spring."
The balance of the street, up to Yonge Street, will open on Nov. 30, said Campbell, noting the work that still needs to be done is around the crosswalks.
"The design is to have the paving stones similar to the parking stalls going through the intersections," he said. "The big closure next year will be when we do the work right at Bayshore Drive and Yonge Street. That will be about a five-day closure.
"We're appreciative the weather held out and we're on schedule and on budget."
On the topic of crosswalks, Coun. Bill Gordon asked when rainbow crosswalks would be put in.
"We've talked about the location, but with the construction going on, we've set it aside," said Campbell. "It's one of the first projects for our new engineer to work on."
Gordon then asked about potential parking problems people may face with Percy's peaks and bollards in place on side streets.
Percy peaks form when the town plows snow to the middle of the streets before lifting it, explained Campbell.The name comes from a former director of public works that came up with the method.
"The street is not narrower than before, it is the exact same width," said Campbell. "We've only narrowed the cross streets at the intersection. Operationally, we're thinking about how do we plow the road with these nice stainless steel bollards all up and down? Who is going to be the first resident that runs over those? Well, we'll find out."
That will be one of staff's biggest learnings, he said.
"People are used to backing into the parallel parking stalls and are used to touching the curb to know when they've gone too far," said Campbell. "We don't have a raised curb anymore. When people back up too far, there's nothing to stop them. Most people don't want to damage their car so they'll be respectful, I'm sure."
Coun. Cher Cunningham wanted to know what provisions the town could provide to seniors for staying active during the winter.
"Our residents, who are older, are looking to walk inside the North Simcoe Sports and Rec. Centre," she said. "There is a concern with COVID and winter coming on that getting out and getting exercise is going to be a challenge. One of the things that we're looking for is there a way for our staff at the rec. centre to oversee a walking program for our senior so there can be registration, tracking and tracing without them mingling with Askennonia."
Further, Cunningham asked, are there options for senior residents to get their daily activity outdoors.
CAO David Denault said staff was looking at a number of options.
"One of the reason why we've kept one ice pad in the rec. centre is to allow us the flexibility with that other pad that doesn't have ice on it," he said. "It gives us the flexibility to offer different kinds of service during winter."
Askennonia is also in the mix, said Denault.
"We've reached out to Askennonia, not only to test with them how they felt about offering these types of services to seniors, but also to see if there's any interest on their part to coordinate it," he said. "Under the framework, there's a whole coordination aspect to offering any of these services that takes time and effort. Having a participation of groups who do this certainly helps manage the resources in doing that."
In addition, Denault said staff is working with the YMCA to determine what they can do (in terms of funding) to continue to offer their services.
"We're hoping to bring an update back to council before the end of the year," he added. "That might be an alternative if we can agree on how that help would get them to open their doors. I do like your idea about opening up something outside as well. It's an idea we've been kicking around."
