Despite pleas from some Clemens Mills residents, councillor Nicholas Ermeta's motion to get speed bumps installed in two problem locations of Saginaw Parkway failed to get support from fellow councillors last night.
Councillors who voted against the motion asked for the motion to be amended to refer the request to the 2025 budget. That amendment later carried in a vote of 6-2.
Coun. Corey Kimpson confirmed with staff that automated speed enforcement cameras already planned for one Saginaw school zone this year would be cancelled by the Region of Waterloo if speed bumps were installed instead.
She also reminded residents that residential roads and school zones throughout the city are getting speed limit reductions soon, including Clemens Mills, this fall. The move will see limits drop to 40 km/hr and 30 km/hr respectively.
Ermeta tabled his request, seconded by Coun. Helen Shwery, asking staff to have two sets of the permanent speed bumps added to Saginaw between Cowan Boulevard and Chamberlin Drive and Burnett Avenue and Granite Hill Road.
"The area that I've allocated for these is a long enough stretch that I believe you can have both," Ermeta said, referring to the speed cameras. "I respectfully find it very difficult to believe the region would go back on their commitment."
He also asked that funding for the speed bumps, estimated to cost between $12,000 and $15,000 each, be taken from the city's capital reserve fund. Donations and sponsors could also be sought from residents and local businesses to support the measure.
But Kimpson reminded Ermeta that the problem with speeding is not exclusive to his neighbourhood and is rampant throughout the city. She wants to see a comprehensive road safety strategy developed by staff to be part of upcoming budget discussions.
"I think of equity across the city. If we have one area that has speed bumps, then we'll be asking our regional representatives to reallocate the speed cameras to other areas," she said.
Mike Devine agreed with Kimpson's recommendation to wait for the speed cameras, believing they are the ultimate answer to the city's speeding problem.
Speed bumps, he said, are old technology that are known to cause wear and tear on city vehicles, particularly emergency response vehicles and snow plows.
It also "doesn't take that $50, $60, $70 bucks out of your pocket," Devine said.
"It might take the transmission out of your vehicle, but it has no financial effect on you whatsoever. I think the photo cameras are the way to go."
"I'm pretty convinced if you get the speed bumps there you're not going to get the cameras," he added.
Shwery disagreed, saying she's heard from residents and is sick of watching council go in different directions than what taxpayers want.
"I'm not sure why speed bumps are all of a sudden bad for emergency vehicles," she said, noting that she sees bumps and cushions and speed pillows all over the region.
