Public Works & Transporation Committee Meeting Minutes - February 20, 2002

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, January 23^rd, 2002, be adopted as circulated.

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The Director, Transportation, Gordon Chan, briefly reviewed the report with the Committee. A brief discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on bicyclists and traffic using City streets, during which Mr. Chan stressed that it was important to remember that bicyclists should observe the same rules of the road as motorists.

That the proposed 2002 initiatives of the Richmond Community Cycling Committee regarding cycling education and awareness, (as described in the report dated January 22^nd, 2002, from the Director, Transportation), be endorsed.

That staff report to Council on the outcome of the proposed 2002 initiatives for the Richmond Community Cycling Committee.

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THE FEDERATION OF CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES RESOLUTION TO REQUIRE ACTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA REGARDING CRTC JURISDICTION
(Report: Feb. 6/02, File No.: 0060-20-FCMU1-01) (REDMS No. 571794)

The Manager, Engineering Planning, Paul Lee, in responding to questions from the Committee, explained that the five principles adopted by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and referred to in the proposed resolution, were as follows:

Municipal governments must have the ability to control the number and type of above ground telecommunications equipment as well as the underground infrastructure.

The use of Municipal Rights-of-Way by telecommunications companies must not impose any financial burden on municipal governments and taxpayers.

Municipal governments must not be responsible for the costs of relocating telecommunications infrastructure if relocation is required for urban planning or for other reasons deemed necessary by local government.

Municipal governments must not be liable for economic loss, legal costs, or physical restoration costs resulting from the disruption of telecommunication service arising from its normal activities.

Municipal governments must receive an economic rent for providing access to rights-of-way as compensation for the use of municipal property for profit."

Mr. Lee then provided information on the history of the proposed resolution and explained the involvement of the FCM. During the discussion which ensued, Mr. Lee spoke about the three access agreements entered into by the City and the impact which the CRTC ruling could have on these agreements.

A brief discussion then ensued among Committee members on the access agreements, and whether these agreements would provide any opportunity for re-pricing which would allow the City to generate additional revenue.

That the following resolution be adopted and forwarded to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) for debate at the next National Board of Directors meeting:

"WHEREAS the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) approved at their 1999 annual conference and adopted at the May 2001 conference the "Occupancy and Use of Municipal Rights-of-Ways" document.

WHEREAS the document contains five principles intended to guide the relationships between municipal governments and parties that occupy and use municipal rights-of-ways.

WHEREAS the FCM encourages municipalities to practice these principles.

WHEREAS on March 1999, Ledcor Industries Limited filed a Part VII application-requesting relief under the Telecommunications Act sections 43 and 61(2) naming the City of Vancouver as respondent.

WHEREAS on January 2001 the "Ledcor/Vancouver Construction, operation and maintenance of transmission lines in Vancouver" Decision CRTC 2001-23 was implemented.

WHEREAS this decision did not support the five principles as adopted by the FCM.

WHEREAS the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has filed an appeal on "Decision CRTC 2001-23" with the Federal Court of Appeal.

WHEREAS AT&T Canada has recently applied to the CRTC to have portions of an existing access agreement, with the City of Toronto, that conflict with CRTC Decision 2001-23 removed from their agreement.

WHEREAS the CRTC has published "Public Notice CRTC 2001-99" which seeks submissions on the question of what circumstances, if any, would justify an intervention by the CRTC to alter the terms and conditions of an existing property access contract between a carrier and a municipality.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the FCM urge the Federal Government to confirm that the CRTC has no authority to alter the terms of existing contracts between a carrier and a municipality on access to municipal rights-of-ways.

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Mr. Chan introduced Ms. Pat Broz, representing the Richmond District Parent Association and a member of the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee. Ms. Broz then displayed the yellow plastic lawn signs which would be distributed to elementary schools participating in the "Keep Our Future Safe" campaign. She stated that "Traffic Safety Awareness Week" was an important part of Richmond and that she looked forward to the program continuing in the future.

Mr. Chan noted, during the discussion, that the kick-off for the event would take place at McKinney Elementary School on March 6^th and he invited Committee members to attend.

Discussion continued briefly, during which Ms. Broz advised that community centres and public libraries would be displaying materials and providing information on the program. In response to questions about "Bike Rodeos", Ms. Broz advised that individual schools were responsible for organizing that particular program. She added, however, that the RCMP School Liaison Officers had been requested to attend each school and undertake a traffic safety presentation on how students could check their bicycles for mechanical problems. Reference was made to the increasing incidents of road racing which were occurring, and Ms. Broz advised that the Traffic Safety Awareness Week resource and information kits distributed to secondary schools contained information on a "Speed Kills" campaign. She stated that she had recommended that secondary schools be requested to undertake initiatives which would deal with this issue.

That the 2002 Traffic Safety Awareness Week (March 4-8, 2002) activities initiated by the Richmond District Parents Association, sponsored by ICBC, the Autoplan Broker RoadSense Team and the Richmond School Board with the participation of the Way to Go! School Program, be supported, and that staff involvement be endorsed, as part of the City's on-going traffic safety education strategy.

That the period March 4-8, 2002 be proclaimed as "Traffic Safety Awareness Week."

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SUBMISSION TO TRANSLINK 2002 MUNICIPAL BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM EXTENSION OF WILLIAMS ROAD BICYCLE ROUTE TO WEST DYKE
(Report: Feb. 7/02, File No.: 6360-16) (REDMS No. 610071)

The Manager, Transportation Planning, Victor Wei briefly reviewed his report with the Committee. In response to questions, he advised that the next bicycle route projects would be (i) Shell Road, Williams Road south to the South Dyke; and (ii) Shell Road, south of the Cambie Road Highway 99 overpass, to extend the bicycle route north to Bridgeport Road and possibly to the North Dyke. Mr. Wei further advised that the minimum standard for the bicycle routes was an asphalt surface, with signs erected to indicate that the path was for mixed use. He added that the provision of lighting would be dependent on the location of the bicycle route.

That the proposed project to extend the Williams Road bicycle route from No. 1 Road to the west dyke, as described in the attached report, be endorsed for submission to TransLinks 2002 Municipal Bicycle Infrastructure Program at an estimated City cost of $210,000

That the source of funding for the City's share of the above project cost, if approved by TransLink for cost-sharing, be the 2002 Major Capital Works Program for Bike Lane Improvements.

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Mr. Wei reported on the outcome of discussions with the Airport Authority about improvements to the signage (i) on the new bridge, westbound into Vancouver, and (ii) from the main terminal leading to the south terminal. He advised that the word "Vancouver" would be added to the bridge structure, and that the words "Russ Baker Way" would be added to the sign on Grant McConachie Way. Mr. Wei advised that the Airport did not wish to add the word "Richmond" because of their belief that this would cause confusion for motorists thinking that they needed to use the swing bridge to access Richmond. A brief discussion ensued between the Chair and Mr. Wei on this issue.

Mr. Wei further advised that a sign with the words "Richmond by No. 3 Road" would be mounted over the new overpass structure in the area of the Richmond off-ramp.

Reference was made to a request made to staff previously to review pedestrian safety on the Shell Road trail at Blundell Road. In response, advice was given that no action had been taken to implement improvements as yet as staff were endeavouring to create a trail warning sign which would be distinctive but not detract from the railway crossing signs.

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