Public Works & Transporation Committee Meeting Minutes - September 19, 2001

Date:

Wednesday, September 19^th, 2001

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Acting Mayor Lyn Greenhill, Chair
Councillor Linda Barnes
Councillor Kiichi Kumagai
Councillor Harold Steves

Absent:

Councillor Bill McNulty

Call to Order:

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

MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, August 22^nd, 2001, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

2.

FOLLOW-UP REPORT ON PROPOSED AIRPORT PRIORITY / HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE (HOV) LANE ON RUSS BAKER WAY RESULTS OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION
(Report: Aug. 23/01, File No.: 6500-01) (REDMS No. 489380)

Transportation Engineer Jim Hnatiuk briefly reviewed the staff report with the Committee. During the discussion which ensued, information was provided on the non-permanent barrier delineation for the HOV lane. In response to questions on the wording of the proposed signs, Mr. Hnatiuk used an overhead projector to (i) provide samples of the intended wording, and (ii) to explain where the signs would be located. As a result of the discussion, the suggestion was made that the sign indicating airport access be located closer to Cessna Drive, and that an additional airport access sign be erected.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the provision of a northbound airport priority / high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane on Russ Baker Way between Hudson Avenue and the Arthur Laing Bridge be continued to be endorsed on a trial basis, for a period of nine months to one year, for use by vehicles destined for the airport or with three occupants or more, as proposed by the Vancouver International Airport Authority (YVR), subject to the following commitments by YVR:

(a)

That a non-permanent barrier delineation, to be reviewed by City staff before installation, is used between the general traffic lane and the proposed HPV/HOV lane; and

(b)

That the proposed HPV/HOV lane be implemented in conjunction with, but not before, the completion of the Airport Connector project.

(2)

That staff report to the Public Works and Transportation Committee on the outcome of the trial implementation of the above proposed airport priority / HOV lane.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

3.

WESTMINSTER HIGHWAY BICYCLE / PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY TENDER T.1530
(Report: Sept. 7/01, File No.: 0775-20-T.1530) (REDMS No. 495698)

The Director, Engineering, Steve Ono, reviewed the report with Committee members. In response to questions, he provided the following information:

the pedestrian/bicycle path would be constructed over top of the ditch infill completed in 2000 on the south side of Westminster Highway

the existing power poles would not be removed

funding from the BCTFA Cycling Network had been approved, and would be recovered (not requested as indicated in the staff report) once construction had been completed

the path would serve as a dual bicycle/pedestrian pathway and would be signed in accordance with BCTFA specifications

there are plans to pursue extension of the pathway from No. 7 Road to No. 8 Road in the future

BC Hydro and Telus have not been approached about undergrounding their utilities along this portion of Westminster Highway as part of the construction of the pathway; the City's priority has been to underground those overhead wires located in the downtown area of the City

The General Manager, Engineering & Public Works Jeff Day spoke further on the matter of undergrounding utility wires. He advised that there was minimal funding available for such work, however, he added that both BC Hydro and Telus had indicated that they would unofficially support the City's efforts to underground overhead utility wires over the next few years.

It was moved and seconded

That the City enter into a contract with Double M Excavating Ltd. in accordance with Tender T.1530 - Westminster Highway Bicycle / Pedestrian Pathway - No. 6 Road to No. 7 Road, in the total tendered amount of $367,431.25 plus GST.

CARRIED

4.

APPROVAL FOR ADDITIONAL AGEING SEWER PIPE ASSESSMENT WORK
(Report: Aug. 21/01, File No.: 6060-03-01) (REDMS No. 192168)

Mr. Ono briefly reviewed the report with the Committee. In response to questions, he advised that as a result of an examination of the Steveston sewer pipes, staff were of the view that the existing pipes could remain functional for an indefinite period.

(Councillor Kumagai left the meeting at 4:28 p.m.).

It was moved and seconded

That $320,000 of excess sewer utility funding from 2000 Sanitary Sewer Trunk Utility Bylaw No. 7084 be allocated for assessment of an additional 40 kilometres of ageing sanitary sewer in the Shellmont area in 2001 for identification of necessary repairs to the sewer network.

CARRIED

FINANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION

5.

9100 BRIDGEPORT ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR UNDERGROUND UTILITIES
(Report: Aug. 30/01, File No.: 2285-30-067) (REDMS No. 495346)

City Solicitor Paul Kendrick briefly reviewed the report with the Committee.

(Councillor Kumagai returned to the meeting at 4:30 p.m.).

It was moved and seconded

That the City grant BC Gas a three metre wide underground right of way over a portion of Lot "C" Section 27 Block 5 North Range 6 West NWD Plan 23658 (PID: 009-288-813) being 9100 Bridgeport Road.

CARRIED

The Chair welcomed the new Director of Engineering, Steve Ono to the meeting.

6.

MANAGERS REPORT

The Chair advised of a letter received from the Ministry of Transport which provided information on a new proposal which would allow the City to apply for funding to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The correspondence was then forwarded to the Manager, Engineering Planning, Paul Lee, for review and response.

The Manager, Engineering Planning, Paul Lee, reported that the GVRD had received an application to construct a 140 ft. Bell Mobility cell tower on the Iona Treatment Plant property adjacent to a tower approved by Council in December, 2000. Mr. Lee stated that in the past, Council had empowered staff to deal with these requests, and he questioned whether the Committee had any concerns about the application. A survey of the Committee members by the Chair indicated that there were no concerns.

On a different topic, Mr. Lee, in response to questions about the status of the installation of the No. 5 Road forcemain and pump station, advised that with respect to the Indian Cultural Centre, it was his belief that construction of the pump station was now underway and that completion of that structure and accompanying forcemain was scheduled for the end of November, 2001.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:33 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, September 19^th, 2001.

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Acting Mayor Lyn Greenhill
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant