Public Works & Transporation Committee Meeting Minutes - February 21, 2001

Date:

Wednesday, February 21^st, 2001

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Lyn Greenhill, Chair
Councillor Ken Johnston, Vice-Chair
Councillor Harold Steves

Absent:

Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt
Councillor Derek Dang
Councillor Kiichi Kumagai

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:40 p.m., and indicated that the order of the agenda would be varied to deal with Item No. 5 after the adoption of the minutes.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, February 7^th, 2001, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

TRAFFIC SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK (MARCH 5 - 9, 2001)
(Report: Feb. 8/01, File No.: 6450-09) (REDMS No. 275292, 285023)

Senior Transportation Engineer, Victor Wei, briefly reviewed the report with the Committee. Ms. Pat Broz, Traffic & Safety Representative for the Richmond District Parents Association, voiced her support for the project.

It was moved and seconded

That the 2001 Traffic Safety Awareness Week (March 5 - 9, 2001) activities initiated by the Richmond District Parents Association, with the sponsorship of ICBC Loss Prevention and the RoadSense Team and the participation of the Way to Go! School Program, be supported, and that staff involvement as part of the City’s on-going traffic safety education strategy, be endorsed; and

That the week March 5 - 9, 2001 be officially proclaimed as "Traffic Safety Awareness Week".

CARRIED

BROADMOOR WEST NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION REGARDING ZERO TOLERANCE NOTIFICATIONS FOR ILLEGAL CHANGES TO BOULEVARDS AND DITCHES IN THE BROADMOOR AREA - Mr. Harold Erbe and others.
(File No.: 6045-07-01) (REDMS No. 280117)

The Director, Engineering, Jeff Day, accompanied by the Manager, Engineering, Design & Construction, Steve Ono, reviewed the report and the history of the zero tolerance notifications with Committee members. During the review, Mr. Ono circulated photographs of illegal changes to ditches in the Broadmoor area and the remedial work which was undertaken to correct one of these illegal changes. (A copy of the photographs is on file in the City Clerk’s Office.)

Mr. Harold Erbe, of 9951 Greenlees Road, accompanied by his wife Faye, and representing the Broadmoor West Neighbourhood Association, advised that he supported the proposed policy. He urged the Committee to support the recommendation of staff to endorse the policy and forward it to Council for adoption.

During the discussion which ensued, the Chair noted that even with the adoption of the proposed policy, a number of cases would have to be reviewed and the ditches and boulevards returned to their original state because of safety issues.

Reference was made by Mrs. Erbe to the last photograph in the series, which showed that the property owner had complied with the City’s direction to return the ditch to its original condition. She expressed concern about the location of the concrete/brick fence near the edge of the ditch and questioned whether, over time, the side of the ditch would erode to the point where the fence would collapse into the ditch. Mrs. Erbe suggested that in some cases, removal of the ditch reinforcements could lead to other problems.

Mrs. Erbe continued, indicating that the association hoped to work with City staff to examine possible solutions to deal with existing and future erosion problems, as well as to improve the appearance of the neighbourhood.

In response to questions from the Chair, Mrs. Erbe confirmed that residents in the neighbourhood had been invited to attend the February 26^th Council Meeting, and that a package of information would be provided to these people on the proposed policy.

ZERO TOLERANCE - CITY PROPERTY POLICY 9015 - RESTORATION OF EXISTING UNAUTHORIZED CHANGES
(Report: Feb. 9/01, File No.: 2270-00) (REDMS No. 207384, 280060)

It was moved and seconded

That "Zero Tolerance - City Property" Policy 9015, be repealed, and that the "Unauthorized Changes or Damages to City Property" Policy 9016 (attached to the report dated February 9^th, 2001, from the Director, Engineering), be endorsed and forwarded to Council for adoption.

CARRIED

MR. BIL KOONAR, 115200 BLUNDELL ROAD REGARDING BLUNDELL ROAD, BETWEEN NO. 4 ROAD AND NO. 5 ROAD.
(File No.: 6000-02) (REDMS No. 286256, 286595)

Mr. Koonar voiced concern about the condition of Blundell Road, between No. 4 Road and No. 5 Road. He noted that there was a narrow walking/cycling lane which provided very little room to walk on the south side of the road, and that a number of years ago, the north side ditch had been filled in. Mr. Koonar stated that it was his understanding that the ditch infill work had not been properly completed and was to be redone. He indicated that he would like to see the improvements made to Blundell Road west of No. 4 Road, extended to No. 5 Road. Mr. Koonar also spoke about the increase in traffic along Blundell Road since the development of the entertainment centre at Steveston Highway and No. 6 Road, and expressed concern for the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists walking along Blundell Road.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members, the delegation and staff on this matter. The comment was expressed that the north side of Blundell Road appeared to provide sufficient room for walking, however, Mr. Koonar indicated that between Shell Road and No. 5 Road, the north side of Blundell Road either had a swale or the ground was sinking. Advice was given that the sunken area was in fact a swale and had been constructed in that manner to drain water away. It was also noted that Blundell Road (between No. 4 Road and No. 5 Road) was on the list for possible Canada/BC/Municipal infrastructure funding for stabilization and a bicycle route, as well as in the City’s 2003 capital budget for watermain replacement.

In concluding the discussion, the Chair thanked Mr. Koonar for making his presentation, and advised that staff were aware of the problems. She added that hopefully the City would be successful in its application for an infrastructure grant.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK (MARCH 5 - 9, 2001)
(Report: Feb. 8/01, File No.: 6450-09) (REDMS No. 275292, 285023)

Please see Page 1 of these minutes for action taken on this matter.

RIVERSIDE INDUSTRIAL AREA - TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR ON-STREET PARKING REVIEW
(Report: Feb. 7/01, File No.: 6455-01) (REDMS No. 280180)

Mr. Wei briefly reviewed the report with the Committee.

It was moved and seconded

That staff proceed with a review of on-street parking in the Riverside Industrial Park in accordance with the Terms of Reference (attached to the report dated February 7^th, 2001 from the Manager, Transportation).

CARRIED

DEAGLE ROAD WATERMAIN REPLACEMENT - AFTON DRIVE TO WILLIAMS ROAD
(Report: Feb. 6/01, File No.: 6340-20-P01406) (REDMS No. 274735)

Mr. Day reviewed the report with Committee members. In response to questions he confirmed that funding for the project was now available through a dedicated water utility reserve fund.

It was moved and seconded

That:

The Deagle Road watermain replacement project which is proposed for construction at a budgeted cost of $225,000 in 2001, be approved for construction in advance of approval of the 2001 Capital Program.

Where illegal pavement in boulevards is encountered during the Deagle Road watermain construction, the illegal boulevard pavement be removed and restored with a 0.75 m gravel shoulder and grass boulevard in accordance with Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw 7055.

CARRIED

MANAGER’S REPORT

The Director, Operations, Eric Gilfillan, advised that the TransLink Board had agreed to go to the Ministry of Transportation & Highways (MOTH) to extend the contract with Mainroad Contracting for the maintenance of that portion of Knight Street within Richmond. He added that the administration of the contract would be undertaken through TransLink and MOTH.

Mr. Gilfillan further advised that TransLink had passed a motion which would result in the reduction of their 2001 and 2002 Major Roads Network budgets by $2 Million for each year. He stated that the 2001 reduction could be accommodated within the City’s budget, however, 2002 budgeting levels would have to be reviewed if existing maintenance levels were to be maintained.

Victor Wei advised that the City had been successful in its application for a grant from the Cycling Network Program, for the Westminster Highway Bicycle Path Project (between No. 6 Road and No. 7 Road) in the amount of $200,000. He indicated that he would be sending a memo to all members of Council to provide details on the award.

Councillor Johnston referred to correspondence which he had received from Mr. Norman Achtemichuk, of 11240 Seahurst Road, in which in Mr. Achtemichuk expressed his concerns about the light, noise and air pollution occurring at the Transit Centre, 11133 Coppersmith Way, during the time that the buses were prepared for service.

In response, Mr. Wei advised that staff had received a copy of the letter, and were in the process of responding to the complainant. He noted that many of the complaints were related to the operation of the Transit Centre and that staff were meeting with representatives of the centre to come up with possible solutions to resolve the problems. Mr. Wei stated that any proposed solutions would be addressed with Mr. Achtemichuk before forwarding the matter to the Committee.

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, February 21^st, 2001.

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Councillor Lyn Greenhill
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant