Public Works & Transporation Committee Meeting Minutes - May 3, 2000

Date:

Wednesday, May 3^rd, 2000

Place:

W.H. Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Lyn Greenhill, Chair

Councillor Ken Johnston, Vice-Chair

Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Derek Dang

Councillor Kiichi Kumagai

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

Councillor Kumagai requested that an item regarding "Planning for Richmond Rapid Transit" be added to the agenda as an additional item, and this was agreed to by the Chair.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, April 19^th, 2000, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

(Letter: Apr. 13/00, File No.: 6360-01) (REDMS No. 149199, 107048, 107493)

(Report: Apr. 20/00, File No.: 6360-01) (REDMS No. 149681)

The Manager, Engineering Design & Construction, Steve Ono, briefly reviewed his report with the Committee.

Mr. Manzoor Cokar, of 10440 Williams Road, addressed the Committee on his request for the provision of access to his property from Williams Road. A copy of his submission is attached as Schedule A and forms part of these minutes.

The Chair referred to a statement in Mr. Cokar’s submission about registering City bylaws and restrictive covenants on the land titles for all properties located on Williams Road, between No. 4 Road and No. 5 Road. She advised that only restrictive covenants were registered with the Land Title Office and not bylaws, which could be amended at any time by the Council of the day.

In response to questions from Committee members, Mr. Cokar and staff provided the following information:

changes had not been made to the design of the house to put the garage at the rear because of the additional time which would have been required to construct the home

the addresses given by Mr. Cokar had been in existence subsequent to the adoption of the Williams Road Access bylaw in 1981; when Williams Road was widened to full urban standards in 1996, a number of driveways were found which were not included in that bylaw, however the bylaw was not amended to ‘grandfather’ these particular driveways; further advice was given that it was possible that subsequent to that, there may have been new construction which was approved without the driveway access being checked

the properties shown in yellow on Mr. Cokar’s map had driveways accessing Williams Road now, but were not listed in Bylaw 3967 in 1981; when the dwellings on these properties were demolished and new homes constructed, driveway access was still allowed from Williams Road when the road was upgraded; this situation also applied to 10440 Williams Road

the purpose of the proposed lane policy, which would be City wide, was to limit or eliminate entirely direct access to the City’s arterial roads; adoption of this policy would make it easier for City plan checkers to be consistent about denying access to arterial roads; the focus of the policy would be to construct lanes which paralleled arterial roads

the house plans were not changed to relocate the garage to the rear of the dwelling because Mr. Cokar intended to establish a licenced day care facility in his home at the rear of the property, with access only from the lane and not Williams Road; construction of a garage at the rear would have made this more difficult to achieve

the dwelling was shifted to one side to provide access along the side of the property to the garage.

Discussion ensued among Committee members about (i) the request of Mr. Cokar, (ii) the 24 driveways which had apparently been permitted after the adoption of the Williams Road Access Bylaw in 1981, and (iii) the anomaly which appeared to exist with regard to this situation. The suggestion was made by Councillor Kumagai that the matter should be referred to staff to determine the status of the 24 driveways to which Mr. Cokar had referred in his presentation, and to make recommendations on whether these driveways should be ‘grandfathered’ in the existing bylaw. He stated that if staff recommend that these driveways be added to the bylaw, then Mr. Cokar’s situation would have to be reviewed in that context.

As a result of the discussion, the following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated April 20^th, 2000, from the Director, Engineering), regarding the request for Williams Road access from 10400 Williams Road, be referred to staff for the compilation of a history of the 24 driveways suggested by Mr. Cokar to be in contravention of Williams Road Access Bylaw No. 3967, and to report to the Committee in no more than one month’s time with the results.

Prior to the question being called, staff were directed to:

advise Mr. Cokar when this matter would be presented to the Committee;

make recommendations on those driveways which were found to be constructed after the adoption of Bylaw No. 3967.

Reference was made to the pending adoption of a City Lane Policy, and the suggestion was made that at the time of the adoption of this policy, that Bylaw No. 3967 should be rescinded. The Mayor indicated that as a result, any house which was demolished on Williams Road and a new dwelling constructed, would only be permitted access from the rear lane.

The question on the motion was then called, and it was CARRIED.

At the request of Mayor Halsey-Brandt, and with the agreement of the Chair, the order of the agenda was varied to deal with Item No. 9 at this time.

(Report: Apr. 20/00, File No.: 7400-20-PARA1) (REDMS No. 149524)

The Chair noted that an amendment was required to the report, to indicate that the temporary closure of No. 3 Road and parts of Granville Avenue would be required, and not Minoru Boulevard as indicated in the report.

Mr. Chuck McDonald, Chair, accompanied by Mr. Bob Jones, Secretary of the Remembrance Day Committee, referred to the proposed 2 hour ceremony and suggested that because of the manner in which the Committee hoped to conduct the event, the ceremony would extend beyond the 8:30 p.m. limit.

In response to questions, Mr. McDonald explained that veterans would assemble in the parking lot located on the north side of the new City Hall building and exit the south side driveway to march east along the westbound side of Granville Avenue, to No. 3 Road, where they would stop in front of the cenotaph and participate in the rededication ceremony. He stated that at the conclusion of the ceremony, the parade would continue north to Westminster Highway to the Royal Canadian Legion facility. (At this point, the Chair noted that the map which accompanied the staff report was in error and requested that a revised map be prepared for circulation with the Council agenda.)

It was moved and seconded

That approval be given to Branch No. 5 of the Royal Canadian Legion to conduct a parade on Tuesday, June 6, 2000 as part of the New City Hall opening event.

That the cost for City services for this parade be charged to Special Events - Cenotaph Account No. 1501-40-000-CTAPH-0000-45931.

CARRIED

(Report: Apr. 13/00, File No.: 0775-20-T.1518) (REDMS No. 148078)

It was moved and seconded

That the City enter into a contract with E. Mathers Bulldozing Co. Limited in accordance with Tender T. 1518 for the construction of the Ferndale Roadway and Utilities Construction Project, in the total tendered amount of $ 1,208,057.81 plus GST.

CARRIED

(Report: Apr. 17/00, File No.: 0775-20-T.1519) (REDMS No. 148684)

It was moved and seconded

That the City enter into a contract with Hexcel Construction Limited in accordance with Tender T. 1519 for storm sewer construction on the south side of the 11000 Block of Granville Avenue, from Shell Road to No. 5 Road, in the total tendered amount of $ 326,371 plus GST.

CARRIED

(Report: Apr. 11/00, File No.: 6400-07-02) (REDMS No. 147680)

It was moved and seconded

That the Administration Board of the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District be requested to extend the boundary of its Fraser Sewerage Area to include the lands owned or controlled by the EcoWaste Industries Ltd. (as shown in Attachment 1 to the report dated April 11^th, 2000, from the Director, Engineering).

Prior to the question being called, in response to questions, the following information was provided by the Manager, Engineering Planning, Paul Lee:

the areas marked in ‘green’ on the map (attached to the staff report) were not (i) located within the Agricultural Land Reserve, and (ii) agriculturally zoned; these lands were all zoned for industrial use; and

with reference to a statement in the report regarding the possibility of the City deferring the imposition of its sewer levy on the subject properties until such time as a development agreement had been reached, subsequent to the preparation of the report, staff had based their statement on the process used for Fraser Port Authority lands east of the subject site. Ecowaste was not under Federal jurisdiction and would therefore be treated as all others are in Richmond, and would be levied immediately upon inclusion in the sewerage area. (Mr. Lee indicated that he would amend the report prior to submission to Council).

The question on the motion was then called, and it was CARRIED.

(Report: Apr. 20/00, File No.: P.00305) (REDMS No. 148727)

It was moved and seconded

That City forces construct:

The No. 8 Road Storm Sewer Ditch Infill - Capital Project Budget $329,000; and

The General Currie Road Improvements - Capital Project Budget $300,000.

CARRIED

(Report: Apr. 6/00, File No.: 1000-18-004) (REDMS No. 139943)

The Manager, Environmental Programs, Suzanne Bycraft, advised that an amendment was required to Section 17 of the proposed agreement, to add at the end of the first sentence, the following words "except as required pursuant to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act of BC, or as required by law."

In response to questions, Ms. Bycraft advised that:

the Society had, in the past, stipulated a response time of one week from the time that a complaint was received about rodents, and provided a fee for service to private home and building owners for mosquito control

Attachment 1 (to the staff report) had been included for the information of the Committee only and had not been reviewed by the Advisory Committee on the Environment; however she indicated that staff would be working with the City Liveability Team to develop an environmental management strategy, and the suggestion was made that ACE either be involved with the preparation, or review the plan once it had been completed.

It was moved and seconded

That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute an agreement with Richmond Health Services for the provision of rodent and mosquito control services on City property (as outlined in Attachment 2 to the report dated April 6, 2000, from the Director, Engineering).

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That a copy of the report (dated April 6^th, 2000, from the Director - Engineering), regarding the 1999 Environmental Services Review and Outcome, be forwarded to the Advisory Committee on the Environment for its information.

CARRIED

The Chair referred to the possibility that Waste Management Inc. might be on strike in the near future and questioned the impact that this might have on the City. In response, Ms. Bycraft advised that the company had successfully settled its contract negotiations, and therefore, a strike would not take place. She added that had a strike occurred, there would have been no direct impact on the City as the company provided the waste transfer service for the City of Vancouver.

(Report: Apr. 11/00, File No.: 6480-03-01) (REDMS No. 147356)

It was moved and seconded

That the routing of the #480 Richmond-UBC bus service via Granville Street/41st Avenue in the City of Vancouver, be supported in principle as an introductory service; and that this service be monitored by TransLink and City staff over a one year period to determine the ridership response and operational performance characteristics.

That TransLink and City staff report to Council, through the Public Works & Transportation Committee, on the results of the monitoring of the #480 introductory bus service noted above, and that Council be advised on any required routing and service changes, based on public feedback and service performance.

Prior to the question being called, concern was expressed about the use of the Granville Street/41^st Avenue transit route rather than Southwest Marine Drive.

In response, information was provided by Councillor Kumagai (as the City’s representative on the Board of TransLink) that a public process would be initiated with respect to the possible use of Southwest Marine Drive, however there was concern that this process could not be completed in time to meet the September start date for the new transit service.

The Manager - Transportation Gordon Chan also advised that 41^st Avenue was already an existing transit service and therefore required no public process.

The question on the motion was then called, and it was CARRIED.

(Report: Apr. 20/00, File No.: 7400-20-PARA1) (REDMS No. 149524)

See Page 3 of these minutes for action taken on this matter.

PLANNING FOR RICHMOND RAPID TRANSIT

Councillor Kumagai advised that the Board of TransLink had approved a co-operative planning program for a rapid transit link which would connect Richmond, the Airport and Vancouver, subject to the agreement of the proposed participants.

He also spoke about (i) the funding to be provided by the Federal and Provincial Governments, (ii) the proposed program which is to be implemented in three stages, (iii) the need for a decision on a future transportation corridor, i.e. Arbutus or Cambie Street, and (iv) the importance of City staff involvement in the planning program.

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated April 26^th, 2000, from Ken Dobell, Chief Executive Officer to the Greater Vancouver Transit Authority Board of Directors), regarding Planning for Richmond Rapid Transit, be forwarded to Council for information.

CARRIED

MANAGER’S REPORT

Freshet 2000 - The Manager, Roads & Construction Services, Tony Hillan, reported that it appeared that this year would be an average year as the snow pack was below the 1999 figures. He advised that the Provincial authorities were not anticipating any major problems arising with respect to potential flooding. (A copy of the material which he circulated on the Spring Freshet is on file in the City Clerk’s Office.)

Flood Protection Assistance Fund - Mr. Hillan advised that the City had obtained funding from that fund for 1999 and the specified projects completed. He further advised that an application had been submitted for 2000 for an amount of $335,000.

Road Closures - Mr. Hillan reported that road closures would occur this coming weekend at (i) Westminster Highway and No. 9 Road to allow CNR to make improvements to the railway crossing at this location, and (ii) Granville Avenue and No. 3 Road (portions) to accommodate milling and grinding of the road surface.

Work being undertaken at the north end of No. 3 Road - Mr. Ono advised that the work involved the undergrounding of utility lines by BC Hydro in anticipation of the construction of the Rapid Bus line.

Gilbert Road Bicycle Project - Mr. Chan advised that because of the denial of the application for funding to complete this project, staff were deferring the project until 2001. He advised that the application had been unsuccessful because the BC Transportation Financing Authority had chosen to providing funding for projects in smaller municipalities. He noted that the City had been very fortunate in receiving significant grants from BCTFA for the past 4 or 5 years.

Emergency Preparedness Symposium - Ms. Bycraft reported that the Symposium would be held on Saturday, May 6 at the Fairmont Hotel at the Vancouver International Airport. She advised that there would be many speakers, including the Director, Operations, Eric Gilfillan, on such topics as earthquake preparedness and flooding. A brief discussion then ensued between the Mayor and Ms. Bycraft on the suitability of the venue for the symposium.

It was MOVED and SECONDED

That the meeting adjourn (5:10 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Wednesday, May 3^rd, 2000.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Lyn Greenhill

Chair

Fran J. Ashton

Executive Assistant