Public Works & Transporation Committee Meeting Agenda - December 5, 2001

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ITEM

MINUTES

1

1.

Motion to adopt the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, November 21^st, 2001.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

6

2.

FEDERAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR DREDGING OF THE FRASER RIVER AND FLOOD PROTECTION WORKS
(Report: Nov. 16/01, File No.: 6045-01) (REDMS No. 557035)

Designated Speaker: David McLellan

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

That the following resolution be adopted and circulated to the Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Minister of Transport, Richmond Members of Parliament, Cities of New Westminster, Surrey, Delta, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, Districts of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows and the Township of Langley:

"WHEREAS in the 1900s the Federal Government developed and maintained commercial navigation channels in the Fraser River through the construction of training walls and regular dredging programs, and

WHEREAS until 1997 the Federal Government provided capital and operating funds for the said development and maintenance of the Fraser River navigation channels, and

WHEREAS significant waterborne commerce developed in response to the development and maintenance of Fraser River navigation channels, and

WHEREAS significant flood control benefits resulted from the development and maintenance of the said Fraser River navigation channels, and

WHEREAS users of the Fraser River navigation channels pay a Marine Services Fee to the Canadian Coast Guard but the Canadian Coast Guard does not include development and maintenance of the Fraser River navigation channels as services funded by the revenue generated by the Marine Services Fees, and

WHEREAS neither the Canadian Coast Guard nor the Federal Government now provide capital and operating funds for the development and ongoing maintenance of the Fraser River navigation channels, and

WHEREAS the Fraser River Port Authority has chosen to seek to keep the Fraser River navigation channels operational to the extent of the Authoritys limited financial resources and is now the sole funding source for the development and maintenance of the Fraser River navigation channels, including but not restricted to the removal of the annual spring freshet infill in the Fraser River, and

WHEREAS the above mentioned significant waterborne commerce and the flood control benefits will be jeopardized if the maintenance of the Fraser River navigation channels is not continued and infill removed annually, thereby threatening the socio-economic activities occurring on adjacent lands within the boundaries of our City, and

WHEREAS many of the secondary channels, including the Steveston Harbour, are silting up very quickly and soon may become unusable for navigation, and

WHEREAS many of the local dykes in the lower reaches of the Fraser River were constructed under a joint Federal/Provincial/Municipal funding program, and

WHEREAS the Federal Government does not have any current active funding programs which assist local agencies in maintaining or upgrading these dykes, and

WHEREAS when a flood breaches the dykes, Federal Government emergency funds required will be far in excess of prudent expenditures in both dredging and dyke upgrading,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the City of Richmond, in the strongest way possible, request the Federal Government, reinstate the funding for the continuing development and maintenance of the Fraser River navigation channels and dyking system and provide assurance that previous levels of development and maintenance of the Fraser River navigation channels and dykes will be maintained without jeopardy to waterborne commerce and flood control benefits."

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

69

3.

DITCH AND WATERCOURSE PROTECTION AND REGULATION BYLAW NO. 7285
(Report: Nov. 19/01, File No.: 8060-20-7285) (REDMS No. 466934, 492397)

Designated Speaker: Steve Ono

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

That Ditch and Watercourse Protection and Regulation Bylaw No. 7285 be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

83

4.

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW OF ICBC PROGRAMS POTENTIAL IMPACT ON CITY INITIATIVES
(Report: Nov. 22/01, File No.: 1000-03-006) (REDMS No. 501727)

Designated Speaker: Gordon Chan

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

(1)

That the benefits and success of the partnership between the City, other local agencies and ICBC in the undertaking of various pedestrian and traffic safety programs, be conveyed to ICBC and the Ministry of Finance, the Provincial Government ministry responsible for ICBC.

(2)

That the Provincial Government be urged to retain funding, through ICBC or another appropriate ministry or agency, for the pedestrian and traffic safety programs that provide net benefits to society.

(3)

That the above recommendations be conveyed to the member municipalities of the Greater Vancouver Regional District and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

92

5.

PROPOSED TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES LANEWAY AT 5500 BLOCK OF MINORU BOULEVARD
(Report: Nov. 22/01, File No.: 6450-01) (REDMS No. 551540)

Designated Speaker: Gordon Chan

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

(1)

That the proposed traffic calming measures on the laneway at 5500 block of Minoru Boulevard, (as recommended in the report dated November 22^nd, 2001, from the Director, Transportation), be endorsed to be implemented at an estimated cost of $4,000.

(2)

That the source of funding for the recommended traffic calming measures be the 2001 Minor Capital Program.

(3)

That staff monitor the traffic conditions at this location for one year after the installation of the recommended traffic calming measures, at which time a follow-up report be presented to the Public Works and Transportation Committee on the findings of the monitoring activities.

6.

MANAGERS REPORT

ADJOURNMENT