A $4.5-million redesign of Charlotte St. downtown - between Aylmer and Water streets - is expected to give priority to pedestrians, especially in summer.

At City Hall on Monday, councillors will consider hiring the firm AECOM to do a detailed design for Charlotte St.

The idea is to design the street with pedestrians in mind.

A new city staff report shows how there could be on-street parking in the winter only, for example. In summer, the on-street parking areas would serve as street cafes using portable furniture (and also portable bollards separating the traffic from the seating areas).

It's also anticipated that the street will be blocked off to traffic regularly in summer when there are large gatherings in the new urban park (a public square that will be built soon over the former Louis St. parking lot).

The design also considers cyclist safety, states the staff report. It includes many areas where the curbs protrude beyond the on-street parking zone, for example, and there would also be street trees and street furniture closer to traffic.

"This technique is a proven way of reducing traffic speed, making it safer for pedestrians and cyclists," states the report.

The design also includes elements such as curb bump-outs and special paving at a pedestrian crossing over Jackson Creek in front of the Charlotte Mews.

The report doesn't say exactly when construction on Charlotte St. may begin, but it mentions that Bethune St. is going to be torn up soon so new sewers can be installed.

Bethune St. is expected to be rebuilt so it looks like a linear park, complete with street cafes and bike lanes.

Reconstruction of Charlotte St. will depend on how the construction of Bethune St. is phased, states the report.

On Monday, councillors will be asked to hire the firm AECOM to do the detailed design, for a fee of $545,579 (including HST).

The city staff report recommends AECOM because the firm is already doing the Bethune St. project and the urban park.

Hiring AECOM again here will "ensure there is optimal coordination and consistency along the entire downtown Charlotte St. corridor and the urban park," states the report.

Also on councillors' agenda Monday:

Stillman Park

City councillors will consider approving a plan on Monday to rename a north-end park after two-time NHL Stanley Cup champion and city native Cory Stillman.

The proposal is to rename Olympus Park on Olympus Ave., where Stillman grew up. It would be called Stillman Park instead.

The city's arenas, parks and recreation committee has already approved the idea, and city staff recommends it. Now it's up to councillors.

Stillman, who has coached the Ontario Hockey League's Sudbury Wolves since last May, is also a co-owner of Firehouse Subs on Lansdowne Street West.

Steve Terry, who obtained permission to proceed with the proposal from the Stillman family, made the name change request in a March 21 letter to the city.

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The Stillman family home, where he was raised, is on Olympus Ave. and for many years throughout the 1970s, his family built and maintained the skating rink in the park bordered by Royal Dr.

It was there that he learned the basic skating and hockey skills.

Stillman's later success - including cup wins in Tampa Bay in 2004 and Carolina in 2005 - brought recognition to his hometown.