MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, October 9^th, 2002, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

2.

EXTENSION OF THE FRASER SEWERAGE AREA EAST END OF NO. 8 ROAD
(Report:  Sept. 27/02, File No.:  6400-01) (REDMS No. 867426)

The Manager, Engineering Planning, Siu Tse, in response to questions, advised that extension of the boundaries of the sewerage area would allow the connection of the Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple to the existing forcemain.  He further advised that the forcemain originally had been designed with the capacity to accommodate only the Temple property and Richberry Farms and not any other properties in the area.

It was moved and seconded

That the Administration Board of the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District be requested to extend the boundaries of its Fraser Sewerage Area to include properties owned by the Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple located at 18691 and 18791 Westminster Highway within Section 6, Block 4 North Range 4 West N.W.D.

CARRIED

3.

PHOENIX GILLNET LOFT BUILDING CONDITION ANALYSIS
(Report:  Oct. 10/02, File No.:  2050-01) (REDMS No. 677483)

The Manager, Facilities Planning & Construction, David Naysmith, briefly reviewed the report with the Committee.  Questions were raised about the historical significance, if any of the Phoenix Gillnet Loft facility, and whether funds would be diverted from other projects to fund the repairs to the gillnet loft. 

Information was provided by Planner Jenny Beran that while there had been no assessments made of the buildings on the former BC Packers property, it was her belief that because of the location of the Phoenix Gillnet Loft adjacent to the net loft on the Britannia Heritage Shipyard site, that the value of that gillnet loft would be similar to the value of the Britannia building.

It was noted during the discussion that the recommendation was only to consider this project for submission as part of the City's 2003 budget process, and that the Committee was not making a decision at this time on whether to approve the expenditure of $138,000.  As a result, the suggestion was made that the recommendation be amended to reflect that the project would be forwarded for consideration as part of the 2003 budget process.

It was moved and seconded

That a budget of $138,000 to make the Phoenix Gillnet Loft safe and secure (as outlined in Option 1 of the Phoenix Gillnet Loft Building Conditions Analysis report dated October 10, 2002 from the Director, Engineering), be forwarded for consideration in the 2003 Capital Program.

CARRIED

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

4.

APPLICATION TO CONDUCT THE ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE DAY PARADE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11^TH, 2002
(Report:  Oct. 15/02, File No.:  7400-20-PARA1) (REDMS No. 878883)
 

It was moved and seconded

That the Richmond Remembrance Day Committee of the Royal Canadian Legion be granted approval to conduct the annual Remembrance Day Cenotaph Ceremonies and Parade on Monday, November 11, 2002.
 

Prior to the question on the motion being called, the Chair suggested that the Committee might wish to consider a referral to staff to change the criteria which presently required that all parade applications be submitted to Council for approval.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff review the requirements for submitting parade applications to Council for approval, with a view to requiring that only new parade applications would have to be submitted to Council.
 

Prior to the question on the motion being called, the Director, Transportation, Gordon Chan stated that he would prepare a report to Committee, similar to the report which dealt with traffic calming measures, which would (i) require that new applications be submitted to Council for approval, and (ii) give staff the authority to approve annual parades.  He added that the appropriate bylaw amendments would be submitted in conjunction with the report.

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

5.

SHORT TERM FUNDING STRATEGY FOR NELSON ROAD UPGRADE BETWEEN BLUNDELL ROAD AND WESTMINSTER HIGHWAY
(Report:  Sept. 25/02, File No.:  6360-01) (REDMS No. 863607)

Transportation Engineer, Jim Hnatiuk, reviewed the report with the Committee. 

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on whether staff had considered the feasibility of connecting Nelson Road to Highway 91.  Advice was given that the concept had been considered, however, the City's Official Community Plan did not currently recognize such a proposal, and as well, such a connection would be secondary to the Blundell Road extension.  The comment was made in response to further questions, that while Nelson Road was closer to Highway 91, the potential for long term industrial development in the area was more centrally located closer to Highway 99, with Nelson Road being located on the eastern edge. 

Discussion also ensued on the matter of long term funding strategies, including the establishment of a local Development Cost Charge area and developer contributions, and whether City staff had approached local property owners about contributing to the upgrading of Nelson Road.  Advice was given that the issue of developer contributions was being pursued with the Fraser River Port Authority even though that agency was requesting that their contributions be capped.  Mr. Hnatiuk noted that a precedent had been set with the construction of Aberdeen Centre, and staff were hoping to use this in their discussions with the Fraser River Port Authority.

With reference to the possible inclusion of the Blundell Road/Nelson Road corridor in the Major Road Network, advice was given that TransLink was reluctant to admit any further roads because they did not want to increase their costs.  Further advice was given that staff were proposing that TransLink give the City access to its annual allocations from TransLink for capital projects, as the City had been allowed to do with the extension of Garden City Road at Sea Island Way.

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated September 25^th, 2002, from the Director, Transportation), regarding the Short Term Funding Strategy for the Nelson Road Upgrade Between Blundell Road and Westminster Highway, be received for information.

CARRIED

6.

REQUEST FOR CROSSWALK INDIA CULTURAL CENTRE OF CANADA, 8600 NO. 5 ROAD

It was moved and seconded

That the request for a controlled crosswalk in front of the India Cultural Centre of Canada, 8600 No. 5 Road, be referred to staff for review.
 

Prior to the question on the motion being called, the Director, Transportation, Gordon Chan, advised that staff were already dealing with the request and had contacted Mr. Sangra for additional information on peak times of worship.  He indicated that traffic counts in the area would also be undertaken.  Mr. Chan provided information on the City's Crosswalk Upgrade Program and explained how the request would be dealt with within that program.

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

7.

MANAGERS REPORT

Mr. Chan reported on negotiations currently underway with the Ministry of Transportation & Highways which would result in the City assuming ownership of the Provincial traffic signals in the City in mid-2003.  He stated that upgrading of the signals to meet City standards would be on an on-going basis, and that staff were negotiating with the Ministry on whether there would be a one-time payment or annual payment to the City. 

A brief discussion ensued, during which Mr. Chan advised that the benefits of such an acquisition would allow the City to connect the Provincial signals with the City's traffic signal network, which would result in the better movement of traffic through intersections.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:30 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, October 23^rd, 2002.

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Councillor Lyn Greenhill
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant