MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, February 19^th, 2003, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

Councillor Kiichi Kumagai questioned whether rates had been established for those residents who wished to purchase water meters and who wished to pay only for the water they used.  Advice was given by the Director, Operations, Eric Gilfillan, that the cubic meter rate for purchased water would be the same, and in addition, there would be a rental rate for the use of the meter on the property as the City did not allow residents to purchase meters.  Mr. Gilfillan added that the rental fee would provide funds for the future maintenance of the water meters.

DELEGATION

2.

Mr. Malcolm Johnston, representing the Light Rail Committee, regarding the proposed Richmond Airport Vancouver Transportation System.
(File No.:  6520-01)
 

Mr. Johnston spoke to the Committee about the proposed Richmond Airport Vancouver Transportation system, and a copy of his submission is attached as Schedule A and forms part of these minutes.
 

The Chair thanked the delegation for his presentation, and Mr. Johnston then left the meeting.

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

3.

AWARD OF 2003 PAVING CONTRACT T.1545
(Report:  Feb. 7/03, File No.:  6340-20-P.03201) (REDMS No. 960622)

The Manager, Engineering Design & Construction, Robert Gonzales, referred to an amended Appendix A, copies of which were circulated to the Committee. 

The Chair spoke briefly about the report, stating that he would address the future handling of information tender reports to the Committee, under Managers Report later in the meeting.

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated February 7^th, 2003, from the Director, Engineering), regarding the Award of the 2003 Paving Contract T.1545 be received for information.

CARRIED

4.

AWARD OF CONTRACT T.1546 - ROADWAY AND UTILITIES CONSTRUCTION - GARDEN CITY ROAD FROM PATTERSON ROAD TO BRIDGEPORT ROAD
(Report:  Feb. 24/03, File No.:  6340-20-P.01202) (REDMS No. 964744)
 

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated February 24^th, 2003, from the Director, Engineering) regarding award of Contract T.1546 - Roadway and Utilities Construction - Garden City Road from Patterson Road to Bridgeport Road, be received for information.

CARRIED

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

5.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT URBAN TRANSPORTATION SHOWCASE PROGRAM PROPOSED INCLUSION OF RICHMOND TRAVELSMART INITIATIVE IN GVRD / GVTA SUBMISSION
(Report:  Mar. 5/03, File No.:  6460-01) (REDMS No. 975587)

Transportation Planner Joan Caravan, accompanied by the Director, Engineering, Gordon Chan, spoke briefly about the proposal.  Mr. Chan added that Richmond was one of six municipalities being considered for the program, and that the concept of the program was to influence traffic behaviour for the future to encourage individuals to take use transit rather than their vehicles.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff, during which information was provided that of the six municipalities being considered, Vancouver and Richmond would form the group which would target those individuals residing within the City Centre who chose not to use transit.  Information was also provided that the TravelSmart program would be 100% funded by others.

It was moved and seconded

That the inclusion of a TravelSmart initiative in Richmond as part of the GVRD/GVTA submission to the Federal Governments Urban Transportation Showcase Program, be endorsed.

CARRIED

6.

GATEWAY COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES -PROPOSED INCLUSION OF THE BLUNDELL ROAD / NELSON ROAD CORRIDOR IN THE SOUTHEAST RICHMOND INDUSTRIAL AREA
(Report:  Mar. 4/03, File No.:  6460-01) (REDMS No. 975307)

Mr. Chan spoke briefly about the proposal, after which discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on the proposal.  Councillor Kumagai suggested that correspondence to the Greater Vancouver Gateway Council (GVGC) should provide an outline on the various warehouse distribution developments which were either under construction or being proposed for the area south of Nelson Road, in order to give an overview of the truck traffic anticipated for the area.  He further recommended that information also be provided which would support the fact that Westminster Highway and Nelson Road cannot accommodate the increased traffic.. 

Mr. Chan in response to the comments made by Cllr. Kumagai, advised that following adoption of the recommendation by Council, that the correspondence to the GVGC would include Cllr. Kumagais suggestions.  He also urged Committee members to lobby the GVGC in support of the project.

Discussion continued briefly, during which the suggestion was made that the matter should be referred to the soon-to-be established Economic Development Task Force for its review.

It was moved and seconded

That the Greater Vancouver Gateway Council be requested to consider including the Blundell Road / Nelson Road corridor in the southeast Richmond in the list of transportation infrastructure priorities as outlined in its Major Commercial Transportation System to support the development of a comprehensive and integrated regional transportation network.

CARRIED

7.

MANAGERS REPORT

(1)

Mr. Gonzales reported that the annual public open house to explain the proposed 2003 civic construction program to Richmond residents would be held on Thursday, April 10^th, 2003, and he invited the Committee to attend the event.
 

(2)

The Chair referred to the information reports dealt with earlier in the meeting on the awarding of tenders, and directed that in future, he would like to see these matters dealt with as part of the Managers Report, with a one page report prepared on the project in question.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:34 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, March 19^th, 2003.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Rob Howard
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant