MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meetings of the General Purposes Committee held on Monday, November 2, 2009 and the Special General Purposes Committee held on Monday, November 9, 2009, each be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

1.

UPDATE ON NELSON ROAD-HIGHWAY 91 INTERCHANGE - PROPOSED CITY OF RICHMOND CONTRIBUTION

(File Ref. No.:  01-0150-20-THIG1/2009-Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2743838)

In reply to queries from Committee, Victor Wei, Director, Transportation,  and Jerry Chong, Director, Finance, advised that:

§          

staff would be meeting with the President and CEO of the BC Trucking Association next week;

§          

Port Metro Vancouver has paid the City for its 2008 and 2009 payments in lieu of taxes (PILT), however prior years remain outstanding;

§          

enforcement will be challenging, however traffic control measures would be implemented to prevent trucks from turning left onto or right from Westminster Highway west of Nelson Road; and

§          

in consultation with the Agricultural Advisory Committee, these physical deterrents are not anticipated to affect local trucks.

Discussion ensued regarding this projects history and George Duncan, Chief Administrative Officer, noted that the financial information in the current staff report is significantly different than that of the July 2009 staff report.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the proposed contribution of $2.13 million by the City of Richmond to support the implementation of the Nelson Road-Highway 91 Interchange, as described in Option 4 of the attached report, be approved subject to the following conditions:

(a)

the recommended design of the interchange, which minimizes impacts to adjacent farmlands as illustrated in Attachment 3 of the attached report, be adhered to as the project advances to the detailed design stages and that it not preclude the future addition of a flyover at Westminster Highway;

(b)

traffic control measures are implemented at the intersection of Westminster Highway and Nelson Road as part of the project to prevent trucks from turning left onto or right from Westminster Highway west of Nelson Road;

(c)

upon opening of the interchange, trucks weighing more than nine tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight are banned from using Westminster Highway between Knight Street and Nelson Road; and

(d)

the City continues to be part of the design review team as the project progresses.

(2)

That staff be directed to submit the project as part of the 2010 Capital Budget process.

(3)

That the General Manager, Planning & Development, be authorized to execute a term sheet with the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure and Port Metro Vancouver for the project funding arrangements based on the conditions stated in Recommendation 1.

(4)

That the removal of Westminster Highway between Knight Street and Nelson Road from the Major Road Network be supported as required by TransLink staff for their recommendation to the TransLink Board for approval of the proposed truck ban on this roadway section.

(5)

That staff continue to pursue Port Metro Vancouver for payment to the City of its outstanding payments in lieu of taxes (PILT) for the 2000-2009 periods and subsequent periods; and

(6)

That staff be directed to consult with TransLink regarding additional buses and bus stops along Westminster Highway.

Bill Zylmans, member of the Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC), provided background information and mentioned that the proposed project has the AAC and Farmers Institute’s support.

The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED with Councillor G. Halsey-Brandt opposed.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:41 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Monday, November 16, 2009.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie

Chair

Hanieh Floujeh

Acting Executive Assistant

City Clerk’s Office